US20030019016A1

US20030019016A1 - Crash helmet with adjustably tinted visor

Info

Publication number: US20030019016A1
Application number: US09/901,759
Authority: US
Inventors: Daniel Cooper
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-07-10
Filing date: 2001-07-10
Publication date: 2003-01-30

Abstract

A crash helmet with adjustably tinted visor including a helmet portion dimensioned for receiving a wearer's head therein. The helmet portion has an open lower end and a closed upper end. The helmet portion has a front section, a back section, and opposed side sections. The front section has an opening therein to allow the wearer to see therethrough. A transparent front panel is hingedly coupled with the opening in the front section of the helmet portion. The front panel is fabricated of an electro-sensitive crystal material to allow the front panel to vary in shades of tints. The electro-sensitive crystal material includes a logic control circuit. A control panel is disposed within one of the side sections of the helmet portion. The control panel is in communication with the logic control circuit for adjusting the shade of tints of the transparent front panel.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a crash helmet with adjustably tinted visor and more particularly pertains to allowing a wearer to adjust the visor according to an amount of glare present.

The use of glare protective devices is known in the prior art. More specifically, glare protective devices heretofore devised and utilized for the purpose of providing protection against glare are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.

By way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,258,607 to Agostini discloses an electro-sensitive screen comprised of a glass strip with a liquid crystal layer capable of being used with a crash helmet. U.S. Pat. No. 5,652,964 to Reinheardt discloses a visor for a crash helmet that automatically adjusts; however, it appears to be photo chromatic and sensitive to the ambient light conditions. U.S. Pat. No. 6,070,264 to Hamilton discloses a welding helmet with a liquid crystal shutter for adjusting the darkness of the shade with a user operated push buttons.

While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objective and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not describe a crash helmet with adjustably tinted visor for allowing a wearer to adjust the visor according to an amount of glare present.

In this respect, the crash helmet with adjustably tinted visor according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of allowing a wearer to adjust the visor according to an amount of glare present.

Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for a new and improved crash helmet with adjustably tinted visor which can be used for allowing a wearer to adjust the visor according to an amount of glare present. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In the view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of glare protective devices now present in the prior art, the present invention provides an improved crash helmet with adjustably tinted visor. As such, the general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new and improved crash helmet with adjustably tinted visor which has all the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages.

To attain this, the present invention essentially comprises a helmet portion dimensioned for receiving a wearer's head therein. The helmet portion has an open lower end and a closed upper end. The helmet portion has a front section, a back section, and opposed side sections. The front section has an opening therein to allow the wearer to see therethrough. A transparent front panel is hingedly coupled with the opening in the front section of the helmet portion. The front panel is fabricated of an electro-sensitive crystal material to allow the front panel to vary in shades of tints. The electro-sensitive crystal material includes a logic control circuit. The control circuit is powered by a rechargeable battery. The battery has a recharge port accessible at the back section of the helmet portion. A control panel is disposed within one of the side sections of the helmet portion. The control panel is in communication with the logic control circuit for adjusting the shade of tints of the transparent front panel. The control panel includes a button allowing the shade of tints of the transparent front panel to darken and a button allowing the shade of tints of the transparent panel to lighten.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved crash helmet with adjustably tinted visor which has all the advantages of the prior art glare protective devices and none of the disadvantages.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved crash helmet with adjustably tinted visor which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved crash helmet with adjustably tinted visor which is of durable and reliable construction.

An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved crash helmet with adjustably tinted visor which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such a crash helmet with adjustably tinted visor economically available to the buying public.

Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved crash helmet with adjustably tinted visor for allowing a wearer to adjust the visor according to an amount of glare present.

Lastly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved crash helmet with adjustably tinted visor including a helmet portion dimensioned for receiving a wearer's head therein. The helmet portion has an open lower end and a closed upper end. The helmet portion has a front section, a back section, and opposed side sections. The front section has an opening therein to allow the wearer to see therethrough. A transparent front panel is hingedly coupled with the opening in the front section of the helmet portion. The front panel is fabricated of an electro-sensitive crystal material to allow the front panel to vary in shades of tints. The electro-sensitive crystal material includes a logic control circuit. A control panel is disposed within one of the side sections of the helmet portion. The control panel is in communication with the logic control circuit for adjusting the shade of tints of the transparent front panel.

These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: [0019]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the crash helmet with adjustably tinted visor constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention. [0020]
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the visor portion of the present invention. [0021]
FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of the operation of the present invention. [0022]
FIG. 4 is an elevated rear view of the present invention. [0023]
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the present invention.[0024]
The same reference numerals refer to the same parts through the various figures. [0025]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular, to FIGS. 1 through 5 thereof, the preferred embodiment of the new and improved crash helmet with adjustably tinted visor embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the [0026] reference number 10 will be described.
Specifically, it will be noted in the various Figures that the device relates to a crash helmet with adjustably tinted visor for allowing a wearer to adjust the visor according to an amount of glare present. In its broadest context, the device consists of a helmet portion, a transparent front panel, and a control panel. Such components are individually configured and correlated with respect to each other so as to attain the desired objective. [0027]
The [0028] helmet portion 12 is dimensioned for receiving a wearer's head therein. The helmet portion 12 has an open lower end 14 and a closed upper end 16. The open lower end 14 allows the wearer to position their head within the helmet portion 12. The helmet portion 12 has a front section 18, a back section 20, and opposed side sections 22. The front section 18 has an opening 24 therein to allow the wearer to see therethrough. The helmet portion 12 resembles and operates in a manner similar to that of standard crash helmets.
The transparent [0029] front panel 26 is hingedly coupled with the opening 24 in the front section 18 of the helmet portion 12. The front panel 26 is fabricated of an electro-sensitive crystal material 28 to allow the front panel 26 to vary in shades of tints. The electro-sensitive crystal material 28 includes a logic control circuit 30. The control circuit 30 is powered by a rechargeable battery 32. The battery 32 has a recharge port 34 accessible at the back section 20 of the helmet portion 12.
The [0030] control panel 35 is disposed within one of the side sections 22 of the helmet portion 12. The control panel 35 is in communication with the logic control circuit 30 for adjusting the shade of tints of the transparent front panel 26. The control panel 34 includes a button 36 allowing the shade of tints of the transparent front panel 26 to darken and a button 38 allowing the shade of tints of the transparent front panel 26 to lighten. Thus, the present invention prevents the wearer from having to change visors when confronted with differing conditions. When the sun is shining, the wearer will select the button 36 to darken the front panel 26. When night is approaching and the sun is not shining, the wearer will select the button 38 to lighten the front panel 26. The front panel 26 can be lightened or darkened along a variable scale to achieve the optimal viewing protection for the eyes of the wearer.
As to the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. [0031]
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and the manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. [0032]
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modification and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modification and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention. [0033]

Claims

What is claimed as being new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows:

1. A crash helmet with adjustably tinted visor for allowing a wearer to adjust the visor according to an amount of glare present comprising, in combination:

a helmet portion dimensioned for receiving a wearer's head therein, the helmet portion having an open lower end and a closed upper end, the helmet portion having a front section, a back section, and opposed side sections, the front section having an opening therein to allow the wearer to see therethrough;

a transparent front panel hingedly coupled with the opening in the front section of the helmet portion, the front panel being fabricated of an electro-sensitive crystal material to allow the front panel to vary in shades of tints, the electro-sensitive crystal material including a logic control circuit, the control circuit being powered by a rechargeable battery, the battery having a recharge port accessible at the back section of the helmet portion; and

a control panel disposed within one of the side sections of the helmet portion, the control panel being in communication with the logic control circuit for adjusting the shade of tints of the transparent front panel, the control panel including a button allowing the shade of tints of the transparent front panel to darken and a button allowing the shade of tints of the transparent panel to lighten.

2. A crash helmet with adjustably tinted visor for allowing a wearer to adjust the visor according to an amount of glare present comprising, in combination:

a transparent front panel hingedly coupled with the opening in the front section of the helmet portion, the front panel being fabricated of an electro-sensitive crystal material to allow the front panel to vary in shades of tints, the electro-sensitive crystal material including a logic control circuit; and

a control panel disposed within one of the side sections of the helmet portion, the control panel being in communication with the logic control circuit for adjusting the shade of tints of the transparent front panel.

3. The crash helmet with adjustably tinted visor as set forth in claim 2, wherein the control circuit is powered by a rechargeable battery.

4. The crash helmet with adjustably tinted visor as set forth in claim 3, wherein the battery has a recharge port accessible at the back section of the helmet portion.

5. The crash helmet with adjustably tinted visor as set forth in claim 2, wherein the control panel includes a button allowing the shade of tints of the transparent front panel to darken and a button allowing the shade of tints of the transparent panel to lighten.