Abstract:
A mirror arrangement for a rear view mirror system in an article of headgear comprises first, second and third mirrors, the first mirror, in use, being adjacent the eyes of the user and the second mirror being located between the first and third mirrors, wherein the first mirror is mounted on a movable element that is movable towards and away from a fixed element, and wherein the first mirror is rotatably mounted on the said movable element.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to an article of headgear with a rear view mirror system, and in particular to an adjuster which allows the position of a mirror element of the system to be adjusted. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Rear view mirror systems for cycling and motorcycling helmets are known, such as the helmet shown in PCT/GB94/00485 which relates to a helmet having a solid block of light transmissive material with reflective surfaces arranged within a channel in foam padding of a helmet. FR 2631789 discloses a helmet with an open, hollow channel through the helmet over the wearer&#39;s head. This helmet has two mirrors on the upper side of the channel and one mirror on the lower side of the channel. The mirrors direct light from behind the wearer to the wearer&#39;s eyes. Another helmet is known from PCT/GB96/02349 where a plurality of mirrors are arranged on a one piece mounting which is arranged in a channel in the foam padding inside the outer shell of the helment. 
         [0003]    Another helmet is known from PCT/GB99/02312 which comprises first second and third mirrors, the first mirror being a concave, off-axis parabolic mirror arranged adjacent the eyes of the user, the second mirror being substantially flat and the third mirror being a convex, off axis parabolic mirror, where the first and the third mirrors have a common focus and the parabolas are related in a prescribed manner. 
         [0004]    When the articles of headgear of PCT/GB94/00485, PCT/GB96/02349 and PCT/GB99/02312 are worn by an individual an image is presented to the wearer in the region of his eyes. PCT/GB96/002349 recognises that one configuration of mirror system may not suit all wearers or all postures of the wearer. Two solutions to this problem are proposed in this patent application. First, it is suggested that different head shapes may be accommodated by providing that the mirror proximate the wearer&#39;s eyes may be rotatable. Second, it is suggested that different mirror systems may be manufactured to suit different postures of the wearer, for example a specific mirror system configuration might be designed to suit a riding position where the rider sits with his back substantially straight and his head substantially upright. 
         [0005]    Whilst the rotatable mirror provides for some adjustment to suit individual wearers, it has been found that the amount of adjustment does not provide good rearward vision for a sufficiently large range of head shapes. Also, whilst certain styles of bike require a certain posture to be adopted other types of bike and other activities require the wearer to adopt different postures. For example, when race riding the upper body is held substantially horizontal and the head is usually held angled forward of the vertical. A rider would therefore require two helmets, one for road use and the other for racing use. 
         [0006]    It would therefore be desirable to provide an improved article of headgear. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    According to an aspect of the invention there is provided a mirror mounting arrangement for use in a rear view mirror system in an article of headgear comprising a first mirror, in use, being adjacent the eyes of the user and the second mirror being located to the rear of the first mirror, wherein the first mirror is mounted on a movable element that is movable towards and away from a fixed element, and wherein the first mirror is rotatably mounted on the said movable element. 
         [0008]    Preferably a second mirror is mounted on the fixed element. Still more preferably the system includes a third mirror, which may be mounted in fixed relationship to the second mirror. 
         [0009]    According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a helmet as specified in claim  1 . 
         [0010]    According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided an article of headgear as specified in claim  13 . 
         [0011]    Further preferred features of the invention are specified in the dependent claims, and/or the description. 
         [0012]    By mounting a rotatable mirror on a movable element, the article of headgear can be adjusted to suit different activities and different shapes of head and face of wearers. The movable element is arranged such that it may slide within a channel in the helmet, sliding of the element preferably being caused by a screw thread adjuster. This arrangement facilitates simple and accurate adjustment of the position of the element and hence the mirror. The angle of the mirror mounted on the slidable element is adjusted by rotation of the said mirror, the mounting of the mirror causing the mirror to be held securely in place once the wearer removes a rotating force therefrom. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    In the drawings, which illustrate, preferred embodiments of a mirror position adjuster, and are by way of example: 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  is a schematic representation of a slider and mirror mounting arrangement according to the invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 1   a  is a component drawing of the apparatus illustrated at  FIG. 1 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a plan view of the mounting arrangement as shown in claim  1 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is a cross-section of line A-A of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a cross-section of an article of headgear comprising the components illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 3 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a schematic representation of the components illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 3  located in a mounting viewed from above; 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is a schematic representation of the components illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 3  located in a mounting viewed from the below; and 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  is a schematic representation of the components illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 3  located in a mounting viewed from the side. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0022]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1 to 3 , a first element  1  including downwardly depending walls  2  which fit into corresponding grooves in a channel in a helmet (described in greater detail with reference to  FIGS. 5 to 7 ). The upper surface of the first element  1  mounts a bracket  3  which includes a rod receiving element comprising a portion  4 , which is substantially U-shaped in cross-section, and spaced axially from the U-shaped portion  4  a pair upward projections  6 . The projections  6  have the same curvature as the U-shaped portion, but do not meet. One end of the rod  5  is rotatably mounted in the rod receiving element. As can be seen from  FIG. 3  the rod has a region of reduced diameter  5 ′ which co-operates with the portion  4  to allow the rod  5  is to rotate freely in the rod receiving element but prevent axial movement of the said rod. 
         [0023]    The rod  5  is threaded, threads  7  providing for movement of a second element  8  towards and away from the first element  1 . The second element  8  comprises a flat plate  9  including a plurality of openings  11 , and walls  10  depending downwardly from the flat plate  9  which fit into corresponding grooves in a channel in a helmet (see  FIGS. 5 to 7 ). A bracket  12  is mounted on the upper surface of the fiat plate  9 , the walls  14  of the bracket  12  being threaded internally. The bracket  12  includes a U-shaped portion  13  which holds the rod  5  in the bracket  12 . An end portion  15  of the rod  5  includes a hexagonal opening  16  which can be engaged with an alien key to rotate the rod  5  thereby changing the position of the second element  8  relative to the first element  1 . Alternatively, or in addition to the hexagonal opening  16 , the end portion may be grasped by a wearer&#39;s fingers and rotated to change the position of the second element  8 . 
         [0024]    The end of the second element  8  remote from the first element  1  mounts a third element  17 . The second and third elements  8 ,  17  each include hinge components  18   a ,  18   b , and  19  respectively, which are aligned axially so that a hinge pin  20  may pass through the said hinge components  18   a ,  18   b , and  19  to attach the third element  17  to the second element  8  and provide for rotation between the two said elements. As can be seen best from  FIG. 1   a , the hinge pin  20  includes a longitudinal indent  21  which cooperates with protrusion  22  of the third element  17  to restrain the hinge pin  20  against rotation. The hinge components  18   a  and  18   b  are resilient and the diameter of the opening formed between these components is slightly less than the diameter of the hinge pin  20 . When assembled the hinge pin  20  forces the hinge components  18   a ,  18   b  apart slightly, the said hinge components being forced against the outer surface of the pin  20 . The effect of this Configuration is that when the third element  17  is rotated the said element retains its position when the rotating force is removed. 
         [0025]    The hinge pin  20  includes an axially extending rib  27  and indent  28 . The rib  29  engages in a recess  29  in the third element  17 , whilst an element  30  engages with the indent  28 , thereby preventing the third element  17  from moving axially with respect to the hinge pin  20 . 
         [0026]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a mirror  31  is attached to the third element. The mirror may be planar or parabolic (as may be one or more of the mirrors  41  and  60 —this being known from PCT/GB99/02312). The third element  17  (and hence the mirror  31 ) is rotatable between two limits. One of the limits consists of a stop  24  formed in the second element  8 . The third element includes an indent  32  with which the stop  24  co-operates when in the position illustrated in  FIG. 3 . The third element  17  may be rotated in the direction indicated by arrow X until the protrusion  23  engages with the front edge  32  of the second element. The third element is provided with a cover  25  to protect the hinge from ingress of debris and to present a streamline profile. 
         [0027]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , there is illustrated an article of headgear in the form of a helmet  40  comprising a first element  1  mounting mirrors  60  and  41 , a second element  8  movable with respect to the first element  1  by means of rod  5 , and a third element  17  rotatably mounted on one end of the second element  8 . In use the helmet is worn for example by a motorcyclist. The user adjusts the position of mirror  31  by rotating the third element  17  in the direction indicated by arrow X and by moving the second element  8  in the direction indicated by arrow Y by turning the rod  5  until the position of the mirror  31  suits the users&#39; physical make up and posture. 
         [0028]    Referring now to  FIGS. 5 to 7 , a part of a mounting  50  sits in channel in an article of headgear. The first and second elements  1 ,  8  are situated in the mounting  50 . The walls  2 ,  10  of the first and second elements respectively sit in channels in the sides of the mounting defined by side walls  52 , inwardly projecting walls  51  and a step  55 . The second element  8  is free to slide in the said channels. The rails  59  provide for attachment of the mounting  50  to the article of headgear. In  FIGS. 5 and 6  the angular position of the mirror  31  is at its most acute with respect to the mirror  60 . In  FIG. 7  the angular position of mirror  31  is more obtuse than in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . 
         [0029]    Referring specifically to  FIG. 6 , a mirror  60  is provided on the underside of at least a part of the first element  1 . An image is reflected from mirror  60  onto the mirror  31 , the angular of which is adjustable.