Abstract:
The current invention utilizes the common baseball-type hat or headband, to which is attached one or more arrays of light emitting diodes. It is the object of this invention to provide an efficient lighting apparatus which embodies the principles of an adjustable hat or headband worn on the head, to which a battery-powered light emitting diodeing apparatus is either permanently attached to the hat or headband, or removable attached to the hat or headband by a hook and loop concept.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The invention relates generally to a head apparatus or hat with light-emitting diodes (LEDs) mounted thereon which functions to illuminate dark areas and permits freedom of both hands and feet to perform various actions with greater efficiency and safety.  
           [0002]    Illumination by lighting apparatuses attached to a hat have long been used by mankind to improve his efficiency. Goya, in the 17th Century, placed candles around the hat to achieve a flickering light which gave an effect he sought to transfer to his paintings. The common miner&#39;s hat of the Industrial Revolution made extensive use of the carbide lamp attached to the hat for working in mineral mines and for cave explorations as well. The dry cell battery, the rechargeable, and lithium batteries are currently used in various types of headlights, which are usually spotlights. Such lights are frequently attached to hard hats and to various devices which encircle the head in a band-like fashion. These lights generally have a relatively narrow beam of the flashlight type, which beams can be focused to a given area by a reflector and a focusing lens. This limitation of general illumination of a wide area is characteristic of such headlighting apparatuses. In addition, if one wished to place the light in another location, the supporting member must be removed from the subject.  
           [0003]    Light emitting diode (LED) technology has progressed to a point where this technology can be advantageous in the present invention. It has been demonstrated that LEDs convert electricity to colored light more efficiently than incandescent type lights. More specifically, it has been reported that for red light, LEDs are 10 times more efficient. Furthermore, LEDs are more rugged and compact, some types last about 100,000 hours in contrast to the average 1000 hours for a typical incandescent light bulb.  
           [0004]    Related applications can be found in the following cross references:  
                                                 U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS                                    3,346,153   10/67   Galasso           4,406,040    9/83   Cannone           4,593,683    6/86   Blaha           4,991,068    2/91   Mickey           5,386,592    2/95   Checkeroski           5,412,545    5/95   Rising           5,567,038   10/96   Lary           5,738,431    4/98   Lary           5,911,494    6/99   Lary                      
 
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    The current invention utilizes the common head apparatus, for example a baseball-type hat or headband, to which attached is a plurality or array of light emitting diodes (LEDs). The LEDs are positioned such that when the hat is properly worn, light is projected substantially forward.  
           [0006]    LED technology has progressed to the point where brightness and battery efficiency are practical for many uses, including this present invention. This LED technology has advanced in recent years, where high-brightness of all color spectrums has been achieved. Because each individual LED emits one distinct hue, users have more control of the light waves displayed over the full spectrum. By employing differently colored LEDs together in an array, the user can adjust the combined light. The plurality or array of LEDs may therefore comprise a single color band or use various color bands to result in a synthesized color.  
           [0007]    White light can be generated by using red, green and blue LEDs which can be adjusted to feel “cooler” by turning off more of the red LEDs and/or turning on more of the blue ones. Furthermore, this flexibility extends to situations where a particular color is preferred, such as in aviation, where red light is used for viewing instruments and maps. In these applications, white incandescent, fluorescent, or halogen light must employ a colored filter to achieve the desire wavelength of light. Filtering of light for these purposes can have a negative effect on brightness.  
           [0008]    It is one of the objects of this invention to provide an efficient lighting apparatus which embodies the principles of an adjustable hat or headband worn on the head, to which a battery-powered light emitting diode (LED) lighting apparatus is attached either 1) permanently to the hat or headband or 2) removably by employing hook and loop technology. The light emitting diode(s) requires a small amount of electrical current and illuminates a larger area with a brighter illumination and more color control than prior customary light technology.  
           [0009]    The design of the apparatus permits diverse tasks to be easily performed, and increases the safety of all movements in the dark. It is particularly advantageous to pilots of aircraft and engineers to illuminate instrument panels in emergency situations when darkness prevails. Applications can be found anyplace a light is beneficial for convenience and pleasure.  
           [0010]    It is further the object of this invention to permit easy removal of the light emitting diode(s) apparatus for illumination in a stand-alone mode or with an additional attachment mechanism.  
           [0011]    A further object of the invention is to permit the attachment of various arrays of LEDs to change the color, or increase/decrease the intensity of the illumination. For example, an array of red LEDs may be employed to prevent loss of light vision in dark areas.  
           [0012]    A further object is to permit the light to be elevated for diffuse illumination of a specific area, or concentrated to a smaller area closer to the operator, such as when examining a specific object or reading. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]    [0013]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of apparatus  10  consisting of an adjustable hat  13  with an array of light emitting diodes (LEDs) contained in a housing  11 .  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the light device  11 , showing an alternated embodiment of the present invention employing hooks and loops used to removably join the LED lighting device  11  to crown  14  and bill  15 .  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 3 is a sectional view illustrating in more detail the specific method for attaching each separate and removable member including removable lens cover  12 .  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 4 is a front elevation of an embodiment of the present invention  10  showing a single array of light emitting diodes positioned, facing forward, in lighting of device  11 .  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 5 is a front elevation of an alternate embodiment of the present invention  10  showing multiple array of light emitting diodes positioned, facing forward, in lighting device  11 .  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0018]    The novel features of this invention, as well the invention itself, both as to its structure and its operation, will best be understood by the accompanying drawings, taken in conjunction with the accompanying description in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts, and in which:  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 1 illustrates the device  10  comprising an adjustable hat  13  to which is permanently attached a lightning device  11  that contains one or more arrays of light emitting diode(s) (LEDs). Because each individual LED emits one distinct hue, the array of lighting device  11  can have more control of the light waves displayed over the full spectrum. By employing differently colored LEDs together in the array, the user can adjust the combined light. Therefore, the array of LEDs may comprise a single color band or use various color bands to result in a synthesized color. For example, typical white light can be generated by employing a combination of red, green, and blue LEDs. Furthermore, the number of LEDs having a particular color emitting spectrum in the array can be adjusted to “feel cooler” by turning off more of the red LEDs and/or turning on more of the blue ones. Conversely, a particular color emitting spectrum in the array can be adjusted to “feel hotter” by turning on more of the red LEDs and/or turning off more of the blue ones. In addition, this flexibility extends to situations where a particular color is preferred, such as in aviation, where red light is used for viewing instruments and maps at night. In these applications, white incandescent, fluorescent, or halogen light must employ a colored filter to achieve the desire wavelength of light. Filtering of light for these purposes may have a negative effect on brightness. A transparent lens cover  23  may be employed to protect the LEDs from potential damage. It is completed that further enhancement of the light spectrum emanating from the LED array may be accomplish by employing a transparent colored lens cover  12  which is removably attached to the body of the lighting device  11 . In this embodiment, the lighting device  11  is permanently attached to a part of the crown  14  and the bill  15  of the hat  13 . Not shown is the concept of permanently attaching the LED lighting device  11  permanently to a headband.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 2 illustrates another embodiment the device  10  which is an adjustable hat  13 , to which is removable attached a lightning device  11  containing one or more arrays of light emitting diodes (LEDs)  41 . Further illustrated in FIG. 2 is that the lighting device  11  is also composed of a housing  19 , transparent lens shield  23  and batteries  26 . The array of LEDs are mounted on a substrate  40  that uses technology already known in the prior art, such as hard fiber or resin treated boards. The substrate boards  40  may contain an electrical conduction means to facilitate the connection of individual diodes in the array. The electrical connections and switches  25  between the diodes and power source (battery) is technology already known in the prior art and not particularly important to the present invention.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 2 also shows in more detail the method for removably attaching the lighting device  11  to the crown  14  and the bill  15  of the hat  13 . Flexible segments of loops  16  are adhesively attached to part of the top and back of the lighting device  11 . Similarly, additional segments of loops  17  are attached to the bottom of the lighting device  11 . The loops  16  attach to the hooks  18  sewn or adhesively attached by to the crown  14  of the hat  13  and the segment of loops  17  attach to the segment of hooks  20  sewn to the bill  15  of the hat  13 . FIG. 2 also illustrates segments of loops  21  adhesively attached to a portion of the center area of the top of the lens cover  12 . These loops, being of a softer consistency then the hooks, serve as a convenience in the attachment and detachment of various removable pieces. Directly opposing the loops  21  and attached partially to both the adhesive backing of loops and the lens cover is found a segment of hooks  22  which engage the segment of loops  16  and  17  on the lighting device  11 .  
         [0022]    Further study of FIG. 2 will reveal the segment of loops  16  and  17  engage the segment of hooks  22  and the segment of loops  21  engage the segment of hooks  20 , thus securing the lens cover  12  to the body of the lighting device  11  and to the bill  15  of the hat  13 . The segment of loops  21  is of small thickness and of limited length, so that it has minimal interference with the attachment of the segment of loops  17  to the segment of hooks  20 . It will be observed that when the subject uses pressure on the lighting device  11  to release the loops  16  from the hooks  18 , the bill  15  of the hat  13  is deflected downward and greater illumination of proximal objects is achieved.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 3 illustrates the transparent lens cover  12  with the centrally positioned and opposingly attached segments of loops  21  to hooks  22  at both the top and bottom. Both segments of hooks are partially attached inside the lens cover  12  to engage the segment of loops  16  and the segment of loops  17 , while the segment of loops  21  is outside the lens cover to engage the segment of hooks  20  sewn to the bill  15  of the hat  13 , as demonstrated in FIG. 2.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 3 demonstrates the position of the switch  25 , which is positioned free from the attachment of the optional lens cover  12  to the lighting device  11 .  
         [0025]    Further illustrated in FIG. 3 is the approximate length of each segment of loops and hooks. It will be noted that the segment of hooks  20  sewn to the bill of the hat  13  is shorter than the segment of loops  17  attached to the lighting device  11 . Similarly, the segment of hooks  18  sewn to the crown of the hat  14  is shorter than the segment of loops  16  attached to the lighting device  11 . Experience has shown that with repeated removal of the light from the hat  13 , separation of the adhesively attached loops from the body of the light may occur unless the segment of hooks is shorter than the segment of loops.  
         [0026]    The lens cover  12  may serve to protect the lens shield  23  of the lighting device  11 . In addition, the transparent lens cover  12  may contain various colored pigments or other components. An example would be a red pigment which would further preserve night vision by protecting the rods and cones of the retina of airplane pilots, yet still provide sufficient illumination with which to read instruments. It could also be used, for example, in film developing enclosures.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIGS. 4 and 5 demonstrate two variations of the present invention. In FIG. 4, a single tubular light emitting diode array is positioned, facing forward, in housing  19  of lighting device  11 . Positioned on the top surface of housing  19  is the on/off switch  25  which is electrically connected to the batteries  26  and light emitting diode  32 . End caps  36  are positioned on either side of housing  19  being removable to gain access to the battery storage compartment for replacing exhausted power cells (batteries)  26 . Also shown are the segments of loops  21  secured to lens cover  12  and segments of hooks  22  secured to housing  19  which are intended to engage each other for the purpose of placing over and alternately removing lens cover  12  from the lighting device  11 .  
         [0028]    In FIG. 5, an alternate variation is shown, where illustrated is two or more light emitting diode arrays, facing forward and positioned in housing  19  of lighting device  11 . Positioned on the top surface of housing  19  is the on/off switch  25  which is electrically connected to the batteries  26  and light emitting diodes  34 . End caps  36  are positioned on either side of housing  19  being removable to gain access to the battery storage compartment for replacing exhausted power cells (batteries)  26 . Also shown are the segments of loops  21  secured to lens cover  12  and segments of hooks  22  secured to housing  19  which are intended to engage each other for the purpose of placing over and alternately removing lens cover  12  from the lighting device  11 .