Lighted hat

• US 9,568,173 B2
• Filed: 05/30/2014
• Issued: 02/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Michael Waters
• Original Assignee: Michael Waters
• Inventors: Waters, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Neils, Peggy
• Application Number:
  US14/292,592
• Publication Number:
  US 20140268684A1
• Time in Patent Office: 991 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 1/244 Means for mounting lamps
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/084 Head fittings
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/14 Adjustable mountings

Abstract

Lighted headgear is described having a light assembly mounted thereto. The light assembly includes a power source, a switch device, and one or more light sources. The light sources are mounted to the headgear within a transparent or translucent light holder configured to orient the light sources to project light along desired axes.

Claims

1. A light holder configured to be mounted to headgear in combination with the headgear, the combination comprising:

the light holder comprising;

a base portion having a fore-and-aft axis;

a light holding portion of a transparent or translucent material projecting away from the base portion and including an inclined portion that extends at an oblique angle of inclination with respect to the fore-and-aft axis of the base portion, the inclined portion having an outer wall and a distal end wall;

a cavity of the inclined portion configured to receive a light source therein and orient the light source to project light along an oblique projection axis with respect to the fore-and-aft axis of the base portion, the cavity being configured to orient the light source to project light through the distal end wall of the inclined portion;

the headgear comprising;

a head-fitting portion configured to be received on a wearer'"'"'s head; and

a brim portion extending from a forward, lower edge of the head fitting portion, the light holder being mounted to the brim portion for orienting a light source forwardly and/or downwardly therefrom for project light in a forward and/or downward direction from the brim portion;

a light assembly including;

a light source disposed within the light holder;

a power source mounted to the head-fitting portion and electrically coupled to the light source to provide power thereto; and

a switch device mounted to the brim portion and electrically coupled to the power source and the light source for selectively energizing the light source;

wherein the brim portion includes a brim insert and covering material having an opening therein extending thereover, and the light holder is mounted to the brim portion so that the base portion is received between the brim insert and the covering material and the light holding portion projects through the opening of the covering material.

2. The light holder of claim 1 wherein the light holding portion further includes an opaque material disposed on portions of the outer wall thereof configured to block incident light from the light source.

3. The light holder of claim 2 wherein the opaque material is configured to define a logo that is illuminated with incident light passing through the transparent or translucent material of the light holder.

4. The light holder of claim 1 wherein the light holder has portions with different thicknesses configured such that a pattern is illuminated by incident light passing through the transparent or translucent material of the light holder.

5. The light holder of claim 1 wherein the base portion is of the transparent or translucent material.

6. The light holder of claim 1 wherein the base portion includes a rear surface and stand-off structure extending away from the rear surface configured to space the rear surface from an adjacent mounting surface.

7. The light holder of claim 6 wherein the stand-off structure comprises an outer upstanding wall extending around a perimeter of the base portion.

9. The combination of claim 1 further comprising an applique mounted to an outer surface of the covering material around the opening thereof to at least partially overlap the base portion.

8. A light holder configured to be mounted to headgear, the light holder comprising:

a base portion having a fore-and-aft axis;

a light holding portion of a transparent or translucent material projecting away from the base portion and including an inclined portion that extends at an oblique angle of inclination with respect to the fore-and-aft axis of the base portion, the inclined portion having an outer wall and a distal end wall;

a cavity of the inclined portion configured to receive a light source therein and orient the light source to project light along an oblique projection axis with respect to the fore-and-aft axis of the base portion, the cavity being configured to orient the light source to project light through the distal end wall of the inclined portion;

wherein the base portion includes a rear surface and stand-off structure extending away from the rear surface configured to space the rear surface from an adjacent mounting surface

wherein the stand-off structure comprises an outer upstanding wall extending around a perimeter of the base portion;

wherein the stand-off structure further comprises an inner upstanding wall extending around an interior portion of the base portion, the inner upstanding wall including a recessed or cut-out portion configured to receive electrical connections therethrough connecting the light sources to other electrical components mounted to the headgear.

10. A lighted hat comprising:

a light holder including;

a base portion having a fore-and-aft axis;

a light holding portion of a transparent or translucent material projecting away from the base portion and including an inclined portion that extends at an oblique angle of inclination with respect to the fore-and-aft axis of the base portion, the inclined portion having an outer wall and a distal end wall;

a cavity of the inclined portion configured to receive a light source therein and orient the light source to project light along an oblique projection axis with respect to the fore-and-aft axis of the base portion, the cavity being configured to orient the light source to project light through the distal end wall of the inclined portion;

a head-fitting portion configured to be received on a wearer'"'"'s head;

a brim portion extending from a forward, lower edge of the head fitting portion, the light holder being mounted to the brim portion for orienting a light source forwardly and/or downwardly therefrom for project light in a forward and/or downward direction from the brim portion;

a light assembly including;

a light source disposed within the light holder;

a power source mounted to the head-fitting portion and electrically coupled to the light source to provide power thereto; and

a switch device mounted to the brim portion and electrically coupled to the power source and the light source for selectively energizing the light source;

an applique of an opaque material and having an opening therein, the applique mounted to the brim portion to overlap the base portion of the light holder such that the light holding portion thereof projects through the opening of the applique.