This invention relates to headgear incorporating an image capture device, particularly, but not limited to, protective headgear or breathing apparatus incorporating an image capture device.

EP 1 046 41 1 discloses a breathing apparatus face mask having an integral thermal image capture device. Such an integral image capture device is useful for providing a thermal image to a wearer of the breathing apparatus face mask. However, disadvantages arise in that the breathing apparatus face mask, which is sometimes incorporated into a helmet, is a very bulky item of equipment. Manoeuvring of the field of view of the image capture device is very difficult for a user, particularly in confined locations.

It is an object of the present invention to address the above mentioned disadvantage. According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided an article of headgear incorporating a removable image capture device and separate viewing means for viewing images captured by the image capture device.

The headgear may be a breathing mask. The headgear may be a helmet.

The image capture device may be operable to transmit captured images wirelessly, preferably to a controller. The controller may be hard wired to the viewing means.

The controller may communicate wirelessly with the viewing means. The controller may be operable to transmit images to a remote device, such as another user with second or subsequent viewing means. The controller may be adapted to be worn by a wearer of the article of headgear, preferably separate therefrom.

The article of headgear may incorporate attachment means, operable to secure the image capture device to the article of headgear.

The attachment means may incorporate the controller. The controller may be hard wired to the attachment means. The attachment means are preferably operable to allow adjustment of the position of the image capture device, when it is attached thereto. Adjustment may be possible by a detent arrangement allowing multiple locations. The adjustment may be a tilt adjustment. The adjustment may be a pan adjustment. The image capture device may be a thermal image capture device or a near infrared image capture device. The image capture device may incorporate a power supply. The image capture device may incorporate a wireless transmitter for transmission of images to the controller.

The image capture device may operate with a radio link. The image capture device may use a Bluetooth link.

The image capture device may be securable to an extension device, which may be a telescopic extension device.

The image capture device may have integral viewing means which may be an OLED screen, which may be adapted to be turned on when the image capture device is detached from the attachment means.

The separate viewing means may be an OLED screen. The separate viewing means may conform to a shape of a visor of the headgear. The separate viewing means are preferably located above an eye line of a wearer of the headgear. The invention extends to a removable image capture device and attachment means of the above aspect for use in a retrofit item. The retrofit item may include the controller.

The invention extends to an article of headgear incorporating an image capture device and separate viewing means, wherein the image capture device is operable to transmit captured images wirelessly.

For a better understanding of the invention, and to show how embodiments of the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a breathing apparatus face mask showing a detachable image capture device detached therefrom;

Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of the breathing apparatus face mask showing the detachable image capture device in an attached position; and

Figure 3 is a schematic view of a viewing end of the image capture device showing a viewing screen thereof. A positive pressure face mask 10 is used, for example, by fire fighters to enable a fire scene to be approached whilst allowing breathing by the user. A positive pressure is created within the face mask 10 by means of control gear 12 located around a mouth section of the face mask 10, as well as in a compressed air container (not shown). Compressed air is supplied to the face mask 10 by means of a pipe 14 in the usual way.

The face mask 10 has a visor section 16 that is transparent and allows a user to view his surroundings. The face mask 10 incorporates a breathing section 18 that covers a user's face and mouth to provide the clean air through the pipe 14 from the compressed air container. Straps 20 are used to secure the face mask 10 to a user in the usual way.

It is has been found that the use of an integral image capture device on a breathing apparatus face mask or helmet has disadvantages in that the device is not manoeuvrable. The surprising realisation has been made that an image capture device that incorporates its own power source and communicates images via a wireless link can be secured to a face mask 10. The benefits of continuing miniaturisation of image capture devices which can be powered with internal batteries, rather than an external power source, and which can communicate wirelessly has been used to good effect as will be described below. As shown in Figure 1 a detachable image capture device 22 has a lens 24 and a viewing screen 26 (see Figure 3). The image capture device 22 is operable to capture moving more still images, which may be taken in a visible spectrum, an infra red spectrum or other useful spectra, as appropriate. The image capture device 22 communicates by a wireless link using, for example a radio frequency. A standard such as Bluetooth may be used to communicate images from the image capture device to a viewing screen 26 located within view of a user inside the face mask 10. Images from the image capture device 22 may also be communicated by the image capture device 22 to other devices within range, such as other face masks 10 having a viewing screen 26 or to a command post located in the vicinity.

The image capture device 22 may transmit the images directly therefrom, or may communicate with a wireless controller carried by the user of the face mask 10, for example with the breathing apparatus equipment, such as on a chest strap or the like. In this way, wireless communication would be achieved between the image capture device 22 and the wireless controller and from the wireless controller to the other users of the command centre as mentioned above. Wireless standards other than Bluetooth can be used if desired, for example the IEEE 802.11 standards could be used.

As can be seen in Figure 1 , the image capture device 22 is detachable from a mounting plate 28 located on a "cheek" section of the visor section 16. The mounting plate 28 may be secured to the outside of the visor section 16 without it being necessary to break the seal of the face mask 10. This is advantageous, because further testing of the face mask beyond that originally performed on the face mask to allow it be used in practice is not necessary. This feature allows the image capture device and mounting parts as well as wireless controller to be provided as a retrofit item to an existing face mask.

The mounting plate 28 has various contact points 30 and securing points 32 to allow the image capture device 22 to be attached to and detached from the mounting plate 28. It is possible for the wireless controller to be incorporated into the mounting plate 28, given sufficient miniaturisation.

A slide rail and lock system could be used to engage the capture device 22 to the mounting plate 28. The slide rail and lock should be made of a suitable fireproof material. The viewing screen 26 receives images from the image capture device 22. The images are transmitted wirelessly from the image capture device 22 to the viewing screen 26 which may incorporate its own Bluetooth receiving circuitry. Alternatively, the viewing screen 26 may be hardwired to a Bluetooth controller forming part of the mounting plate 28 or part of the breathing apparatus support straps as mentioned above.

The viewing screen 26 is formed of an organic LED material, which provides a flexible screen which can conform to the curved shape of the visor section 16. As shown in the Figures the viewing screen 26 is located above a user's eye line so that, in use, he simply looks upward to view images on the viewing screen 26 that have been captured by the image capture device 22.

For normal use, as shown in Figure 2, the image capture device 22 is secured to the mounting plate 28. The mounting plate 28 allows movement of the image capture device, which may be pivoted up or down, or perhaps from side to side on its mounting. This allows the advantage of a user being able to obtain a forward view by pivoting the camera upwards in a situation when he must crawl with his head down in a confined space, due to the bulk and size of the face mask 10 and a helmet that he is likely to be wearing. Similarly, if a user cannot look down because of space restrictions, he may obtain a downward view by pivoting the image capture device 22 downwards. As mentioned above, and as shown in Figure 1 the image capture device 22 is detachable from the mounting plate 28. The detachment of the image capture device 22 from the mounting plate 28 may cause the viewing screen 27 of the image capture device to be powered up and ready for use. In such a situation, the detachment of the image capture device 22 from the mounting plate 28 could be done in order to allow a more specific view to be obtained by the wearer of the face mask 10. Alternatively, and as shown in part in Figure 1 , the image capture device 22 could be secured to a telescopic pole 30 which will allow the user to place the image capture device 22 into a position away from him in order to obtain images that may otherwise be not obtainable with the image capture device 22 secured to the mounting plate 28.

Images from the image capture device 22 may be transmitted straight to other users who require the images, or may be transmitted via the wireless controller associated with the face mask 10 described herein.

The image capture device 22 has been described in relation to use with a face mask for breathing apparatus. It is possible that the mounting plate and image capture device 22 could be secured to an article protective head gear generally, or may be mounted on a helmet or even worn on the body. The detachable image capture device and mounting plate are beneficially used by emergency services and the military, such as fire, police or search and rescue.

It was mentioned above that the mounting plate 28 may be secured to the visor section 16, but another possibility is to secure the mounting plate 28 to a side frame 17 of the face mask 10.

The image capture device 22, which may be of a thermal imaging camera type or a near infra red (NIR) type is advantageously provided with an internal power source separate from the mask, from which it can be detached

Consequently, it will be appreciated that the detachable image capture device described herein has many uses in relation headgear, on which it can be detachably mounted.

Attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference. All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.