| CLAIMS
1. A LED headgear with a visor and a LED light with LEDs (Light Emitting Diode) (110) directed forwards and an electronic control unit with a switch for controlling the light,
wherein the light comprises a frame (101 ) with two frame parts (103, 104) applicable on both sides of the visor and securing means for secur- ing the frame part(s) into the visor, and
wherein a battery is applied in the light,
characterized in that
the battery is preferably essentially bigger than a button battery and applied in a battery casing (102) arranged on the visor and wherein the battery casing has a cover or a corresponding covering part, and
the switch is a multifunctional switch controlling in addition to switching on the LEDs directed forwards also at least one other function of the light such as the lighting intensity and/or switching on/off according to the ambient lighting conditions.
2. The LED headgear according to claim 1 , characterized in that the electronic control means has a microprocessor controlling the operations of the light and that the switch also by means of the control means also controls the lighting intensity and/or switching on/off of the LEDs according to the ambient lighting conditions.
3. The LED headgear according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the LEDs are arranged side by side in the lower frame part.
4. The LED headgear according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the module is also provided with UV LEDs so that at least some of the LEDs are UV LEDs, especially for use by authorities.
5. The LED headgear according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the module is also provided with IR LEDs so that at least some of the LEDs are IR LEDs.
6. The LED headgear according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises several LEDs with different colours that operate together or separately.
7. The LED headgear according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a dim switch in order to control the light according to the ambient lighting conditions.
8. The LED headgear according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the battery is a 9 V battery or finger battery ar- rangement with one or several finger batteries like AA, AAA.
9. The LED headgear according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the securing parts are eccentric securing parts that are tightened due to the eccentric securing part(s) against the visor.
10. A LED module for a headgear with a visor wherein the module has LEDs (Light Emitting Diode) (110) directed forwards and an electronic control unit with a switch for controlling the light,
wherein the module comprises a frame (101 ) with two frame parts
(103, 104) applicable on both sides of the visor and securing means for securing the frame part(s) into the visor, and
wherein a battery is applied in the module,
characterized in that
the battery is preferably essentially bigger than a button battery and applicable in a battery casing (102) on the visor, and wherein the battery casing has a cover or a corresponding covering part, and
the switch is a multifunctional switch controlling in addition to switching on the LEDs directed forwards also at least one other function of the light such as the lighting intensity and/or switching on/off according to the ambient lighting conditions.
11. The LED module according to claim 10, characterized in that the electronic control means has a microprocessor controlling the operations of the light and that the switch also by means of the control means also controls the lighting intensity and/or switching on/off of the LEDs according to the ambient lighting conditions. |
LED HEADGEAR
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a headgear with a visor in which is applied a LED module with a frame, several adjacent LEDs and an electronic control means with a switch for controlling the LEDs and which frame comprises a securing arrangement in order to secure the module into the helmet visor which securing arrangement consists of two frame parts that are pressable to- gether between which the visor can be applied as well as a securing arrangement arranged in the frame part(s).
The present invention also relates to a LED module adaptable in a headgear visor.
PRIOR ART
WO2005005882 (Lahtinen) discloses a LED light module applicable in e.g. helmets with several adjacent LEDs, a frame, an electronic control unit wherein the frame has a fastening arrangement comprising two frame parts be- tween which the visor can be applied, and a tightening means. An disadvantage with the prior art light modules is that they use very low power batteries typically so called button batteries the capacity of which is small whereby the luminous efficiency of the module is relatively small and the durability relatively short.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to avoid the disadvantages of the prior art and to achieve a new type of a LED headgear with a microprocessor controlled switch providing multifunctionality and which is very effective and by means of which a very long operation time may be achieved.
By using the invention, it is possible to produce headgears with precision-directed LED modules for personal use that can be applied in helmet visors and may be provided with LEDs directed forwards but also LEDs that are directed downwards and having a very effective power source and arranged in the module frame in a power source casing placed on it.
The characteristic features of the invention are in detail presented in the enclosed claims.
SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the following the invention is described in more detail by means of an example by reference to the enclosed drawings wherein
Figures 1-3c present an invented LED industrial safety helmet module provided with 12 LEDs from the front, in Fig. 1 the module is secured, in Fig. 2 the module with screws loose and in Fig. 3 the module is only partly on the visor.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Figures 1 - 3 present a LED module 100 with 12 (or at least 6 pes) adjacent LEDs 110 directed forwards and securable to an industrial safety helmet 200 or alike and securable to its visor 201 whereby a LED helmet and a module secured to it is achieved that illuminates very strongly forwards.
The module comprises a plastic frame 101 and a tight battery cas- ing 102 arranged on it for preferably transverse laying installation for a preferably 9 V battery (type 6IR61 e.g. chargable).
The frame itself consists of two frame parts 103, 104 on each other between which the visor can be applied. The frame parts are to some extent jaw-like about 5 cm in the longitudinal visor direction and 10 cm in the trans- verse direction and the visor can be threaded between them and they are tightened against the visor with tightness defined by the visor thickness the front wall 105 height. The final securing is performed by means of screws 106 which have been screwed into the upper frame part with holes 107 and by turning of which the module is secured tightly to the visor. Instead of screws it is also pos- sible to use eccentric securing parts whereby the module is secured to the visor by turning those parts due to the eccentric securing part.
The battery casing has for its size been dimensioned so that it can accommodate a 9 V battery (or e.g. 2 pes of AAA or AA finger batteries if necessary) and its connections. The inner dimensions of the battery casing are such that the battery suits inside, typically min 5 cm in the transverse direction of the module, min 1.8 cm in the vertical direction and 2.8 cm in the longitudinal direction.
The battery casing has a casing part and an openable cover 108 provided with hinges or alike.
The LEDs have been arranged adjacent to each other in close proximity to each other in the front wall 105 of the lower part of the lower frame part.
In addition an electronic circuit board for LEDs provided with a microprocessor has been arranged inside the frame (lower frame part) which operates as a control unit and having resistors controlling each LED and a switch 109 controlling all the functions of the light arranged under the lower frame part. The light has been secured to the visor so that the LEDs are directed forwards so that the light illuminates the terrain in front of the person for example when the person is moving in a dark forest. The illuminating effect of the light can be adjusted by varying by means of the switch the number of parallel LEDs operating at the same time. The light may in addition to LEDs directed forwards and connected to a circuit board comprise LEDs directed downwards and connected to the same circuit board in the visor or alternatively to a vertical circuit board. The circuit board may also comprise a switch operating as a dim switch, number of forward directed LEDs that are switched on and the switching on of the LEDs directed into other directions according to a desired control algorithm.
It is obvious to the person skilled in the art that different embodiments of the invention are not limited to the example described above, but that they may be varied within the scope of the claims presented below. It may also be a water-tight (IP class 55 and upwards) encapsulated LED module designed to be attached to protective helmets (motor vehicle drivers' helmets, miners' helmets, professional divers' helmets). The module can also be provided with UV LEDs for use by authorities (for determining the authenticity of personal documents etc. on a road, in situ). Likewise, IR LEDs can be used for special functions. Vertical as well as azimuth alignment is done manually. The dim switch may operate for example so that the light is switched on by means of the switch which can be placed under the visor and then the dim switch controls the switching on of the LEDs according to the ambient lighting conditions. In addition the light may comprise green LEDs and red LEDs in the front placed side by side so that they indicate the moving direction. The number of LEDs may be 2-8 red LEDs and 4-24 white ROHS LEDs and or power LEDs. Fig. 3 further shows mounting of a LED module according to Figs. 1 or 2 in a helmet 300. The module may be provided with a charging socket for charging the battery. The multifunctional switch may be arranged either on or under the visor.