EP3628077A1

EP3628077A1 - A head-worn mirror device

Info

Publication number: EP3628077A1
Application number: EP18720118.1A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Marek Adamczewski
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2017-04-07
Filing date: 2018-04-07
Publication date: 2020-04-01
Also published as: WO2018185333A1

Abstract

A head-worn mirror device (100) comprising: a mirror (130) comprising at least one side mirror area (131, 132); and a separator (160), having a non-transparent and non-reflective surface, arranged with respect to the mirror (130) such that, when the device (100) is worn on the user's head and the user observes the mirror area (131, 132), the separator (160) narrows the field of view (171) of the user's eye which is at the side opposite to the side of the observed mirror area (131, 132), from the side (172) of the observed mirror area (131, 132).

Description

A HEAD-WORN MIRROR DEVICE

DESCRIPTION TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a head-worn mirror device, which may function as a rear-view mirror.

BACKGROUND

There are known various types of observational devices in form of head-worn mirror devices, which allow observation of an area located behind a user. Such mirrors are particularly useful when riding a bicycle or similar vehicles. They may have a form of glasses with mirrors, mirrors mounted to helmets or caps. Such mirrors allow easy and quick change of the observed field of view by slightly rotating the user's head, which is impossible in case of mirrors mounted to the vehicle, such as mirrors mounted to a handlebar (which require manual adjustment). Another advantage over handlebar- mounted mirrors is that when the handlebar is rotated, the observation of the area located behind the vehicle is not possible via the handlebar mirror.

A US patent US3423150A presents glasses equipped with two mirrors installed near lenses in corners of a frame. The mirrors are rotatable about a vertical axis, what allows to adjust the angle of view of an area located behind a user. The mirrors may be also mounted on the frame which does not have lenses and is supported on ears and a nose of the user. Such frame with mirrors may be utilized by pedestrians to observe a wider field of view for example during crossing of a street, and also by soldiers for observation of the region located behind them, to avoid a back attack. This solution requires glasses with a frame having a special structure, which cannot be utilized by users wearing daily use glasses.

A US patent application US20060005303A1 presents a helmet with a mirror, which is installed under a peak of the helmet above a line of eyes of a user. The mirror allows the user (in particular a baseball player) to observe an area or objects located behind the user, without the necessity of rotating the head.

A US patent application US20130182345A1 presents a mirror attached to a head-worn headband. The mirror is attached to the headband by means of a strut, which allows adjustment of the mirror position in order to define the observed area located behind the user.

There is a need to provide an alternative construction of a head-worn mirror device that would be particularly useful for vehicle users, in particular for cyclists.

SUMMARY

There is disclosed a head-worn mirror device comprising: a mirror comprising at least one side mirror area; and a separator, having a non-transparent and non- reflective surface, arranged with respect to the mirror such that, when the device is worn on the user's head and the user observes the mirror area, the separator narrows the field of view of the user's eye which is at the side opposite to the side of the observed mirror area, from the side of the observed mirror area.

The separator may narrow the field of view of the user's eye by at least 50%, preferably 60%, or 70%, or 80%, or 90%, or 100%.

The separator may have a width (W) from 2cm to 4cm, preferably from 3cm to

4cm, more preferably from 3cm to 3.5cm.

The device may further comprise a support for mounting the mirror and the separator.

The device may further comprise glasses, wherein the first glass is adjacent to the first mirror area, and the second glass is adjacent to a second side edge of the support.

The device may further comprise a second side mirror area located at a second side edge of the support.

The separator may further comprise side areas adjacent to the mirror areas. The lower edges of the side areas of the separator may be located above lower edges of the mirror areas.

The separator may comprise a protrusion located between the side areas and having a lower edge located below the lower edges of the side areas of the separator.

The separator may be located in the same plane as the mirror areas.

The non-transparent and non-reflective surface of the separator can be grey.

At least one mirror area and the separator can be mounted pivotally about the axis being substantially in parallel to the line of eyes.

The first mirror area and the second mirror area can be mounted independently pivotally about the axis being substantially in parallel to the line of eyes. The separator can be fixed to the support.

The support may have a form of a peak located above the mirror areas and the separator.

A surface of the mirror areas can be offset from a surface of the support abutting a user's forehead by a distance (d1 ) less than 100mm, preferably less than 90mm, or 80mm, or 70mm, or 60mm, or 50mm, or 40mm, or 30mm.

A fluorescent element can be mounted on the support.

The fluorescent element may have a form of a longitudinal bar which is mounted in parallel to the line of user eyes.

An electroluminescent element can be mounted on the support.

The electroluminescent element may have a form of a longitudinal bar which is mounted in parallel to the line of eyes.

The support may have a longitudinal groove adapted to cooperate with pivotal elements on which the mirror areas and the separator are mounted.

The groove may have a substantially semi-circular cross-section.

The pivotal elements may have a substantially semi-circular cross-section.

The surface of the support can be located behind the mirror areas comprises two surfaces being in parallel to the line of eyes, wherein one surface is inclined with respect to the second surface and allows the pivotal movement of the mirror areas.

Between the mirror areas and the separator outside the area of the support there may be located sunscreen elements.

The at least one mirror area may be inclined with respect to the plane of the separator at the middle of the user's head by an angle β equal from 0,5 to 5 degrees.

The device may further comprise a headband attached to the support for mounting the support on a forehead above a line of user's eyes.

The device may further comprise a a holder attachable to a headwear for mounting the mirror and the separator to the headwear.

The device may further comprise a cap with a peak to which the holder is attached.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

This disclosure is accompanied by a drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 presents a head-worn mirror device according to a first embodiment, with two mirror areas, in an isometric view; Fig. 2 presents the head-worn mirror device in a back view (without a headband);

Fig. 3 presents a support in a back view;

Fig. 4 presents the support in a side view;

Fig. 5 presents the support with pivoting elements in a back view;

Fig. 6 presents example embodiments of the head-worn mirror device in a front view;

Fig. 7 presents another embodiment of the support;

Figs. 8A, 8B present schematically areas of view (a field of view) of user eyes when looking left, for the first and second embodiment, respectively;

Fig. 9A presents schematically the areas of view of the user's eyes when looking left, for the first embodiment, in a top view;

Fig. 9B presents schematically the areas of view of the user's eyes when looking right, for the first embodiment, in a top view;

Fig. 10 presents an example of an embodiment of the device with a separator and a protrusion and sunscreen elements.

Fig. 1 1 presents a second embodiment of the head-worn mirror device, with a single mirror area.

Fig. 12 presents the second embodiment in a bottom view;

Fig. 13A-13B present a holder attachable to a headwear.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Fig. 1 presents a head-worn mirror device 100 according to a first embodiment, comprising a support 1 10, preferably a longitudinal support 1 10, a headband 170 attached to the support 1 10, for mounting the support 1 10 on a forehead above a line of eyes, and a mirror 130 attached to the support 1 10. The device 100 allows observation of an area located behind a user without a necessity of significantly turning of the head.

The device 100 may be used when riding a bicycle or a similar vehicle. It solves, among others, a problem associated with mirrors installed on a handlebar, that do not allow observation of the area located behind the vehicle (and so behind the user), when the handlebar is turned during the ride. It can also be utilized in other situations, in which it is desirable to observe a region located behind the user just by means of eyeballs movement (not the whole head), for example when practising sports (skiing, cross-country, running etc.).

Fig. 2 presents the device 100 in a back view (without the headband). The mirror 130 comprises two areas, a first mirror area 131 located at one side edge 1 1 1 of the support 1 10 and a second mirror area 132 located at a second (opposite) side edge 1 12 of the support 1 10.

The mirror areas 131 , 132 have a height h2, which can be from 20mm to 40mm, preferably 30mm. The mirror areas 131 , 132 can be rounded at the side of the corresponding support edge according to its shape. Widths 11 , I2 of the respective mirror areas 131 , 132 can be from 25mm to 55mm, preferably 35mm.

The mirror areas 131 , 132 can protrude outside the side edges 1 1 1 , 1 12 of the support 1 10 to extend the field of view.

A separator 160 is provided between the first mirror area 131 and the second mirror area 132. The separator 160 is an area with a non-transparent, non-reflecting surface, for example the separator may be translucent or opaque. Preferably, the separator 160 is located in the plane of the mirrors. The separator may have a colour which is uniform and natural for the human eye. Neutral colour is understood as a colour which does not attract the user's attention, or attracts it as minimally as possible. For example, the surface of the separator 160 may be grey.

The separator 160 has side areas 161 , 162 adjacent to the mirror areas 131 , 132, whose lower edges 163, 164 are located above lower edges 133, 134 of the mirror areas 131 , 132 and have a height hi which can be from 10mm to 20mm, preferably 15mm. Additionally, the separator 160 in its middle portion may have a protrusion 165, whose lower edge 166 is located below the lower edges 163, 164 of the side areas 161 , 162 of the separator. A width d2 of the protrusion 165 can be equal from 25mm to 45mm, preferably 35mm. In the area of the protrusion 165, a height h3 of the separator 160 may be equal from hi to h2, preferably from 10mm to 50mm, preferably 35mm.

The lower edge 166 of the protrusion 165 is preferably located in line with the lower edges 133, 134 of the mirror areas 131 , 132, such that the height h3 of the separator is equal to the height h2 of the mirrors.

The mirror areas 131 , 132 and the separator 160 may be mounted pivotally about an axis which is in parallel to the line of eyes of the user. It allows to adjust the inclination of the mirror areas 131 , 132 and the separator 160 with respect to the support 1 10, in order to adjust the angle of their inclination to the inclination of the head.

In another embodiment, each of the mirror areas 131 , 132 may be mounted on separate pivoting elements 140 (shown in fig. 5) and therefore the inclination of the mirror areas 131 , 132 may be adjusted independently (the adjustment of the inclination of the first mirror area does not influence the inclination of the second mirror area nor the inclination of the separator). In such case, the separator 160 is fixed to the support and it constitutes its integral part and does not have a possibility to change the inclination angle.

The mirror areas 131 , 132, at a certain area of their perimeter, may protrude outside the contour of the support 1 10, in order to be easier to grasp for the user to adjust their inclination.

Fig. 3 presents the support 1 10 in a back view. A longitudinal groove 1 15 is provided under the mirror areas 131 , 132 on the support 1 10, which is adapted to cooperate with the pivotal elements 140, on which the mirror areas 131 , 132 are mounted. The grooves 1 15 may have a semi-circular cross-section, which corresponds to the substantially semi-circular cross-section of the pivotal element 140 (shown in fig. 5).

Fig. 4 presents the support 1 10 in a side view. The surface of the support 1 10 located under the mirror 130 comprises two surfaces being in parallel to the line of eyes, wherein one surface 1 13 is inclined with respect to a second surface 1 14 to allow adjustment of the inclination angle of the mirror areas 131 , 132 depending on the position of the user. Owing to this, for example, the user riding a bicycle in a straight position, may adjust the inclination of the mirror areas 131 , 132 to a different angle than when riding in an inclined position, in order to observe a region located behind the user.

The support 1 10 may have a form of a peak, which is located above the mirror areas 131 , 132 and the separator 160 and protects them for example from rain. The peak also provides a protection for the user eyes against dazzling sun. The support 1 10 in the form of the peak also prevents from the unintentional change of the inclination angle of the mirror areas 131 , 132 and the separator 160. Preferably, an upper edge 135 of the mirror 130 and the separator 160 is distanced from the inner surface of the support 1 10 forming the peak, by a distance d3, which can be from 0,5mm to 3mm, in order to allow inclination of the mirror.

Fig. 5 presents the support 1 10 with the pivoting elements 140 in an isometric back view. The support 1 10 has a groove 1 15, which cooperates with the pivoting elements 140, on which the mirror 130 is mounted. The pivoting elements 140 are made of an elastic material, which makes it possible to insert them into the groove 1 15, in such a way that their pivotal movement inside the groove is possible and simultaneously it is not possible for them to move out of the groove alone.

Fig. 6 presents example embodiments of the device 100 in a front view. On the support 1 10 there is mounted a fluorescent element 150, which may have a form of a longitudinal bar, being in parallel to the line of eyes of the user. This element is located on the outer side of the support and it emits light when illuminated by light rays. This can make the user better visible by other traffic participants.

In another embodiment, instead or in addition of the fluorescent element 150, an electroluminescent element 151 can be used. The electroluminescent element 151 emits light when connected to the power supply. A battery and a controller can be located within the support 1 10.

Fig. 7 presents another embodiment of a support 1 10A. The support 1 10A is elongated with respect to the support 1 10, in a way that during the use of the head- worn mirror device by the user, the mirror 130 and the separator 160 are located in a greater distance from the user's eyes. This distance is increased by the distance d1 , which determines the value by which the mirror surface 130 and the separator 160 is offset from the surface 1 16 of the support 1 10 abutting the forehead of the user. The distance d1 can be from 0 to 100mm, preferably less than 90mm, or less than 80mm, or less than 70mm, or less than 60mm, or less than 50mm, or less than 40mm, or less than 30mm or for example 13mm. The distance d1 is measured from the point located on the surface of the element 1 16, being the closest to the surface of the mirror 130 and the separator 160, or in other words from the supposed point of contact with the outermost point on the forehead of the user when the device is worn on the head.

Figs. 8A, 8B present schematically areas of view (a field of view) of user's eyes when looking left, in particular when observing the left mirror area 131 , for the first and second embodiment of the device, respectively. During the use of the head-worn mirror device 100, when observing the area located behind the user on the left side, the sight is directed to the left mirror area 131 (the user observes the mirror). Then, the left eye of the user receives the picture reflected in the left mirror area 131 , while the right eye does not have a possibility of observation of the left mirror area 131 and is directed to the separator 160 and in particular to the protrusion 165 of the separator. As a result, due to the separator 160 (preferably being translucent or opaque and having a neutral colour), the user focuses attention only on the picture reflected in the left mirror area 131 , which is observed by the user's left eye, while the neutral separator surface, observed by the right eye does not distract the user's attention. The use of the separator 160 prevents overlapping of two different pictures (from the left eye and the right eye), as it would take place in a situation when during the observation of the left mirror area 131 , the left eye observes the picture reflected in this area and simultaneously the right eye would have a possibility to observe the area located in front of the user.

The usefulness of the separator 160 is connected with a principle of operation of the human visual system and reception of pictures. Many people have one of their eyes as a dominant eye. The ocular dominance is a tendency of the brain to prefer to receive the picture from the dominant eye over the non-dominant eye. This phenomena does not interfere when looking ahead and both eyes receive the picture being in front of the watcher. However, when using the device as presented herein, there is a need to pay attention only on the picture received by one eye, while the picture received by the other eye is not desirable at the moment.

As a result, the use of the separator 160 increases the security of the user, because it allows a better focus of attention on the pictures (objects), which need to be observed at a given moment. The separator 160 allows to eliminate the reception of the undesired pictures in a situation when both user eyes are not able to simultaneously observe a particular area of interest (for example the area visible in the left mirror area 131 ). In the situation presented in Figs. 8A-8B, the undesired picture is the one located behind the separator, which would be observable by the right eye, when the separator 160 would not be present. Therefore, the separator 160 has a function that simulates a situation in which the user would close one eye while the other eye would observe the mirror area.

In other words, as shown in Fig. 9A, when the device is worn on the user's head, and when the user observes the mirror area (e.g. the left mirror area 131 ), the separator 160 narrows the original field of view 171 of the user's eye (e.g. of the right eye - which is originally limited from the left by the user's nose) which is at the side opposite to the side of the observed mirror area, from the side of the observed mirror area 131 (e.g. from the left side) to a narrowed field of view 173. The narrowing from the side of the observed mirror area 131 is schematically indicated by the arrow 172.

This situation occurs when the user observes the mirror area, i.e. concentrates the perception by looking at the mirror by the eye close to the mirror (e.g. the left eye). In that case, it is natural for the other eye (e.g. the right eye) to look in the same direction as the eye directed to the observed mirror area (the direction of sight is marked by the dashed line in Figs. 9A, 9B, the lines being parallel to each other). In particular, the situation can be described as that for example, when the device is worn on the user's head, the separator narrows the field of view of the user's right eye from the left side, when the user looks at the left mirror area by the left eye and the line of sight of the right eye is parallel to the line of sight of the left eye.

A similar situation occurs when observing the area located behind the user on the right side by using the right mirror area. Then the right eye receives the picture reflected in the right mirror area 132 and the line of sight of the left eye is directed towards the separator 160 (in particular towards the protrusion 165), as presented schematically in Fig. 9B.

The separator 160 preferably narrows the original field of view 171 of the user's eye by at least 50%, or by at least 60%, or by at least 70%, or by at least 80%, or by at least 90%, or by 100%.

As presented in Figs. 8A-8B, for the typical size of the user's head and correspondingly the distance between the user's eyes, the separator 160 may have a width W (as depicted in Fig. 1 1 ) from 2cm to 4cm, or from 3cm to 4cm or from 3cm to 3.5cm.

Fig. 10 presents another embodiment of the head-worn mirror device with the separator and the protrusion, wherein between the mirror areas 131 , 132 and the separator 160 or its protrusion 165, outside the perimeter of the support 1 10, there are located sunscreen elements 180, for example made of tinted or reflective glass.

Fig. 1 1 presents a second embodiment of the head-worn mirror device with a single mirror area 131 , located at the first side edge 1 1 1 of the support, and the separator 160, having a non-transparent and non-reflective surface, attached to the support 1 10. The device may further comprise glasses 181 , 182, which are transparent or translucent and may function as sunscreen elements, wherein the first glass 181 is adjacent to the first mirror area 131 (it is located between the mirror area 131 and the separator 160), and the second glass 182 is adjacent to the second side edge 1 12 of the support (it is located between the second side edge 1 12 and the separator 160).

Fig. 12 presents the second embodiment of the head-worn mirror device of Fig. 1 1 in a bottom view. The mirror area 131 may be inclined with respect to the plane of the separator 160 at the middle of the user's head by an angle β equal from 0.5 to 5 degrees, preferably 1 .5 degree.

The support 1 10, as presented in accordance to Figs. 1 -12, is an example of a solution for arranging the mirror 130 and the separator 160 with respect to each other.

An alternative solution is shown in Figs. 13A-13B, which present a holder attachable to a headwear, for example to a peak of a cap, wherein the holder 190 provides means for arranging the mirror 130 and the separator 160 with respect to each other and the headwear (Fig. 13B) and consequently with respect to the user's head when the headwear is worn by the user.

The head-worn mirror device as presented herein allows to observe the area located behind the user without the necessity of significant turning of the head. It may be used along with typical corrective glasses, because it is worn on the forehead and is not supported on the nose nor the ears. The head-worn mirror device can be also used along with wearing a helmet. Additionally it can have a function of a sunscreen peak or may be attached to a headwear for example to the peak of a cap as described earlier.

Claims

1 . A head-worn mirror device (100) comprising:

- a mirror (130) comprising at least one side mirror area (131 , 132); and

- a separator (160), having a non-transparent and non-reflective surface, arranged with respect to the mirror (130) such that, when the device (100) is worn on the user's head and the user observes the mirror area (131 , 132), the separator (160) narrows the field of view (171 ) of the user's eye which is at the side opposite to the side of the observed mirror area (131 , 132), from the side (172) of the observed mirror area (131 , 132).

2. The head-worn mirror device according to claim 1 , wherein the separator (160) narrows (172) the field of view (171 ) of the user's eye by at least 50%, preferably 60%, or 70%, or 80%, or 90%, or 100%. 3. The head-worn mirror device according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the separator has a width (W) from 2cm to 4cm, preferably from 3cm to 4cm, more preferably from 3cm to 3.5cm.

4. The head-worn mirror device according to claims 1 to 3 further comprising a support (1 10) for mounting the mirror (130) and the separator (160).

5. The head-worn mirror device according to claim 4, further comprising glasses (181 , 182), wherein the first glass (181 ) is adjacent to the first mirror area (131 ), and the second glass (182) is adjacent to a second side edge (1 12) of the support.

6. The head-worn mirror device according to claim 4, further comprising a second side mirror area (132) located at a second side edge (1 12) of the support.

7. The head-worn mirror device according to claim 6, wherein the separator (160) further comprises side areas (161 , 162) adjacent to the mirror areas (131 , 132).

8. The head-worn mirror device according to claim 7, wherein lower edges (163, 164) of the side areas (161 , 162) of the separator (160) are located above lower edges (133, 134) of the mirror areas (131 , 132).

9. The head-worn mirror device according to claim 8, wherein the separator (160) comprises a protrusion (165) located between the side areas (161 , 162) and having a lower edge (166) located below the lower edges (163, 164) of the side areas (161 , 162) of the separator (160).

10. The head-worn mirror device according to any of the previous claims, wherein the separator (160) is located in the same plane as the mirror areas (131 , 132). 1 1 . The head-worn mirror device according to any of the previous claims wherein the non-transparent and non-reflective surface of the separator (160) is grey.

12. The head-worn mirror device according to any of the previous claims wherein at least one mirror area (131 , 132) and the separator (160) are mounted pivotally about the axis being substantially in parallel to the line of eyes.

13. The head-worn mirror device according to any of claims 6 to 12 wherein the first mirror area (131 ) and the second mirror area (132) are mounted independently pivotally about the axis being substantially in parallel to the line of eyes.

14. The head-worn mirror device according to claim 13 wherein the separator (160) is fixed to the support (1 10).

15. The head-worn mirror device according to claims 4 to 14 wherein the support (1 10) has a form of a peak located above the mirror areas (131 , 132) and the separator

(160).

16. The head-worn mirror device according to claims 4 to 15 wherein a surface of the mirror areas (131 , 132) is offset from a surface (1 16) of the support (1 10) abutting a user's forehead by a distance (d1 ) less than 100mm, preferably less than 90mm, or 80mm, or 70mm, or 60mm, or 50mm, or 40mm, or 30mm.

17. The head-worn mirror device according to claims 4 to 16 wherein a fluorescent element (150) is mounted on the support (1 10).

18. The head-worn mirror device according to claim 17 wherein the fluorescent element (150) has a form of a longitudinal bar which is mounted in parallel to the line of user eyes.

19. The head-worn mirror device according to claims 4 to 18 wherein an electroluminescent element (151 ) is mounted on the support (1 10).

20. The head-worn mirror device according to claim 19 wherein the electroluminescent element (151 ) has a form of a longitudinal bar which is mounted in parallel to the line of eyes.

21 . The head-worn mirror device according to claims 4 to 20 wherein the support (1 10) has a longitudinal groove (1 15) adapted to cooperate with pivotal elements (140) on which the mirror areas (131 , 132) and the separator (160) are mounted.

22. The head-worn mirror device according to claim 21 wherein the groove (1 15) has a substantially semi-circular cross-section. 23. The head-worn mirror device according to claim 21 or 22 wherein the pivotal elements (140) have a substantially semi-circular cross-section.

24. The head-worn mirror device according to claims 4 to 23 wherein the surface of the support (1 10) located behind the mirror areas (131 , 132) comprises two surfaces (1 13, 1 14) being in parallel to the line of eyes, wherein one surface (1 13) is inclined with respect to the second surface (1 14) and allows the pivotal movement of the mirror areas (131 , 132).

25. The head-worn mirror device according to claims 7 to 24 wherein between the mirror areas (131 , 132) and the separator (160) outside the area of the support (1 10) there are located sunscreen elements (180).

26. The head-worn mirror device according to any of previous claims wherein the at least one mirror area (131 ) is inclined with respect to the plane of the separator (160) at the middle of the user's head by an angle β equal from 0,5 to 5 degrees. 27. The head-worn mirror device according to claims 4 to 26 further comprising a headband (170) attached to the support (1 10) for mounting the support (1 10) on a forehead above a line of user's eyes.

28. The head-worn mirror device according to any of previous claims further comprising a holder (190) attachable to a headwear for mounting the mirror (130) and the separator (160) to the headwear.

29. The head-worn mirror device according to claim 28, further comprising a cap with a peak to which the holder (190) is attached.