Abstract:
A flexible light assembly is provided. The flexible tight assembly is mountable with respect to the underside of the brim of the hat. The light assembly can be made of a flexible resilient material and be conformed to correspond to any configuration of brim. The light assembly  10  includes at least one light emitter, means for powering the light emitter, and means for controlling the emission of light. The light assembly can be completely positional under the brim of a hat. The light assembly can be removably associated with respect to a hat.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This application is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 10/440,954, filed on May 16, 2003 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,000,841. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention relates to an apparatus operable to emit light, and, more specifically, the invention provides a flexible light assembly engageable with the brim of a hat. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   It can be desirable to position a light with respect to an operator&#39;s head to provide light along the operator&#39;s line of sight and adjacent the line of sight, as well as to free the operator&#39;s hands for the performance of various tasks. For example, light assemblies can be mounted with respect to motorcycle helmets, construction helmets, mining helmets, firefighter helmets and athletic helmets. Light assemblies are configured to engage a particular style of hat. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention provides an apparatus operable to emit light and engageable with a hat brim or visor. As used herein, the term “hat” refers to any style headpiece including a brim or visor. The apparatus includes a flexible member. The flexible member defines a longitudinal axis and can bend about or along the longitudinal axis to conform to at least one surface defined by the hat. The flexible member can selectively conform to the surface such that the flexible member can be engaged with a plurality of differently configured surfaces. The flexible member can be resilient and formed from foam rubber. 
   The flexible member can engage a surface associated with the brim of the hat. For example, the surface can be an underside of the brim of the hat. The flexible member can be sized and/or shaped to be completely disposed under the brim of the hat. The thickness of the flexible member can be less than a distance defined between the underside of the brim of the hat and a sight line of a wearer of the hat. In other words, the flexible member can be sized to ensure that the flexible member does not obscure the operator&#39;s line of sight. An outer surface of the flexible member can be aligned with an edge of the brim of the hat. An inner surface of the flexible member can be aligned with a head of a wearer of the hat. 
   The invention can also include means for operably associating the flexible member with the hat. For example, the flexible member can be engaged to the hat with velcro, adhesive, or clips. The flexible member can be permanently engaged with the surface of the hat, or removable with respect to the hat. 
   The flexible member can support at least one light emitter or a plurality of light emitters. The flexible member can be bendable about a longitudinal-axis of the at least one light emitter. The invention can include a plurality of light emitters and the flexible member can be bendable about the longitudinal axis of each of the plurality of light emitters. The light emitters can be pointed in the same direction, or can be pointing in different directions. 
   Other applications of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art when the following description of the best mode contemplated for practicing the invention is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The description herein makes reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, and wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a light assembly according to an embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a front plan view of a light assembly according to the invention engaged with respect to a hat; and 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a light assembly according to the invention engaged with respect to a hat. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Various embodiments of the invention are shown throughout the figures. The figures include common elements in different operating environments. Common elements are designated with a common base numeral and differentiated with an alphabetic designation. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 1 , the invention provides a light assembly  10  operable to emit light and engageable with a hat including a flexible member  12  defining a longitudinal axis  18  and operable to selectively conform to at least one surface defined by the hat. The flexible member  12  can selectively conform to a plurality of different surfaces of a hat. The flexible member  12  can include a top surface  14  and a bottom surface  16 . The flexible member  12  can be engageable with respect to a hat adjacent either the top surface  14  or the bottom surface  16 . The flexible member  12  can also include a first or outwardly facing surface  20  and a second or inwardly-facing surface  22 . The surfaces  14 ,  16 ,  20  and  22  can cooperate to define a substantially U-shaped member. The flexible member  12  can be shaped to correspond to the shape of at least one surface of a hat. For example, the flexible member  12  can be shaped by a user to correspond to the brim of a hat. 
   The flexible member  12  can be fabricated from a flexible material. The flexible member  12  can be formed from a resilient material. For example, the flexible member  12  can be conformed to the surface of a first hat, disengaged with respect to the first hat, and conformed to a second hat. The flexible member  12  can be bendable about the longitudinal axis  18 , such as along an angular path  24 . The flexible member can be bendable along the longitudinal axis  18 , such that the longitudinal axis  18  can be arched. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the light assembly  10   a  can be engaged with a hat  26 . The flexible member  12   a  can be operable to conform to at least one surface of the bat  26 . The at least one surface can be defined by a brim  28  of the hat  26 . The at least one surface can be an underside surface  30  of the brim  28 . The flexible member  12   a  can be completely disposed under the brim  28  of the hat  26 . For example, the first surface  20   a  can be recessed with respect to a front edge  32  of the brim  28 . Alternatively, the first surface  20   a  can be substantially aligned with the front edge  32  of the brim  28  when the flexible number  12   a  is conformed with respect to the surface  30  of the hat  26 . Alternatively, the first surface  20   a  can project outwardly with respect to the front edge  32 . The second surface  22   a  can be substantially aligned with a head  34  of a wearer  36  of the hat  26  when the flexible member  12   a  is conformed with respect to the hat  26  and the hat  26  is worn by the wearer  36 . Alternatively, the second surface  22   a  can be spaced from the head  34  of the wearer  36 , as best shown in  FIG. 3 . The second surface  22   a  can be spaced to accommodate positioning of controls for a power source for a light emitter. 
   The second surface  22   a  can define an arcuate profile extending generally parallel to the head  34  of the wearer  36 . The first surface  20   a  and the second surface  22   a  can be, at least partially, substantially parallel to one another. The first surface  20   a  can be spaced with respect to the second surface  22   a  a predetermined distance substantially equal to the width of the brim  28  of the hat  26 . 
   The flexible member  12   a  can be sized such that the thickness T 1  of the flexible member  12   a  is substantially similar to the thickness T 2  of the brim  28 . The thickness T 1  of the flexible member  12   a  can be determined to ensure that a sight line of the wearer  36  is not obstructed by the flexible member  12   a . Thus, the flexible member  12   a  can be positioned between the underside along the one surface  30  of the brim  28  and the sight line of the wearer  36 . 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 1-3  the flexible member  12 ,  12   a  can include means for operably associating the flexible member  38  with respect to a hat. Means for operably associating the flexible member  38  can be Velcro or adhesive. Means for operably associating the flexible member  38  can also include at least one clip  50 .  FIG. 2 . shows a single clip  50 , however, more than one clip  50  can be positionable along the brim  28  to removably secure the flexible member  12 ,  12   a  with respect to the brim  28 . Means for operably associating the flexible member  38  can be disposed at one position along either top surface  14  or bottom surface  16 , or can be disposed at a plurality of positions along either top surface  14  or bottom surface  16 . The flexible member l 2 ,  12   a  can be removably engageable with respect to a hat  26 . For example, the flexible member  12 ,  12   a  can be engaged with a first hat, removed with respect to the first hat, and engaged with a second, differently configured hat. The hat can be any configuration of hat, especially hats defining a brim. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 1 , the light assembly  10  can also include at least one light emitter  40 . The light emitter  40  can be a light-emitting diode. The light emitter  40  can be operably supported by the flexible member  12 . The light emitter  40  can define a longitudinal axis and the flexible member  12  can be bendable about the longitudinal axis  42  of the light emitter  40 . The light assembly  10  can include a plurality of light emitters  40 ,  40   a  and  40   b . Each of the light emitters  40 ,  40   a , and  40   b  can define respective longitudinal axis  42 ,  42   a  and  42   b . One of more of the axis  42 ,  42   a  and  42   b  can be parallel with respect to the axis  18 . The flexible member  12  can be selectively bendable about one or more of the axis  42 ,  42   a  and  42   b  of the plurality of light emitters  40 ,  40   a  and  40   b . One or more of the axis  42 ,  42   a  and  42   b  can be angled with respect to one another. 
   Flexible member  12  can be removably engageable with respect to a hat to selectively position the at least one light emitter  40  relative to the brim of the hat. In other words, the flexible member  12  can be positioned to direct light in any desired direction relative to the hat. Also, the flexible member  12  can be recessed with respect to an edge  32  of the brim  28  to limit light emitted in an upward direction. Alternatively, the member  12  can be positioned with respect to the hat  26  to extend past the brim  28  to maximize the light emitted in an upward direction. The at least one light emitter can be disposed in an aperture defined by the flexible member  12 . 
   Referring now to  FIG. 1 , the light assembly can also include means  44  for powering the one or more light emitters  40 ,  40   a  and  40   b . Means  44  can include a battery in electric communication with the one or more light emitters  40 ,  40   a  and  40   b . Means such as wires  48  for communicating electrical power between the light emitters  40 ,  40   a  and  40   b  and the means  44  can be disposed internal with respect to the flexible member  12 . The light assembly  10  can also include means  46  for controlling powering means  44  to selectively power to the one or more light emitters. Means  46  can be a push button switch. Means  46  can include a flexible circuit board. Means  44  can be at least partially disposed internal with respect to the flexible member  12 . Means  44  and means  46  can be positional with the flexible member  12  adjacent the underside  30  of the brim  28 . Means  46  can include a switch to selectively engage and disengage electrical communication between means  44  and the one or more light emitters  40 ,  40   a  and  40   b . Means  46  can be positional between the first surface  20  and the hat  34  of the wearer  36 . 
   While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, which scope is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures as is permitted under the law.