Portable lamp, adapted to be worn on the head of a user

To provide for adjustability of the direction of light from a lamp unit ( preferably retaining a halogen incandescent lamp (13), the lamp unit is retained on a headband (4) by a ball-and-socket joint (6) secured, in part, to an angle element (5), in which the angle legs (5a, 5b) are angled by about 115.degree., the lamp unit (3) being a lightweight molded plastic unit, connected by a cable (2) to a battery housing (1) for supply of electrical energy. Preferably, the battery housing also includes a receptor for the ball of the ball-and-socket joint, so that the lamp unit (3) can be attached to the battery housing (1). The headband is universally adjustable by a VELCRO.RTM. fastener, the lamp, also, carrying a VELCRO.RTM. attachment, for individual attachment to the headband; the angle unit, likewise, is attachable by a VELCRO fastener to the headband for positioning at selected locations.

The present invention relates to a portable lamp, and more particularly to 
a lamp which is adapted to be worn on the head of a user, to provide 
illumination while the user is engaged in various activities while it is 
dark, and to free the hands of the user, while directing the light where 
needed. 
BACKGROUND 
It has previously been proposed to separate a source of electrical energy, 
for example flashlight batteries, rechargeable batteries or the like, from 
a light source, and to connect a housing retaining the electrical energy 
source to a lamp unit by a cable. The lamp unit itself may be carried in 
various ways, for example on the arm, wrist, or belt, or on the head. Lamp 
units to be carried on the head, particularly for use by mountaineers and 
climbers have been known which, however, typically provide for attachment 
of a standard flashlamp on a headband, so that the headband has to support 
not only the lamp unit, but the batteries as well. In some arrangements, 
the battery housings may be separated and are adapted to be carried, for 
example on the belt of the user and connected by a cable; in some other 
installations, the battery unit is separated from the lamp unit itself and 
likewise attached to the headband. In many such structures, however, the 
relatively heavy batteries must be carried on the headband. Other units 
are so arranged that the batteries and lamp unit itself are combined in a 
single housing, adapted to be worn, for example, on the belt. 
Some lamps have been provided in which a separate light, or lamp unit is 
secured to the headband by an attachment element which projects from the 
headband. Such an arrangement requires a connector which has a substantial 
projection distance from the headband itself in order to permit adjustment 
of the angle of the headlamp with respect to the head; this attachment 
element, in turn, must be retained against the head by a relatively stiff 
backup unit or structure which is uncomfortable to wear, while providing 
only limited directivity to the reflector or lamp unit. Since the 
reflector or lamp unit projects away from the head, it is subject to 
damage upon movement of the head if the additional projecting distance is 
not adequately considered. 
THE INVENTION 
It is an object to provide a portable light source or lamp which is adapted 
to be worn on the head of a user, which is light, versatile in use, and 
easily adjustable for directing the light, and which can be located close 
to the head of the user. 
Briefly, a carrying headband, preferably infinitely adjustable by a 
VELCRO.RTM. closure, has attached thereto one leg of an angle element, the 
other leg of the angle element preferably being offset with the first 
angle by about 115.degree.; the lamp unit itself, which can be made of 
lightweight plastic and furnished with a halogen incandescent lamp, is 
attached to the second leg of the angle element by a universal joint, for 
example and preferably a ball-and-socket joint, molded on the angle 
element, and on the lamp-reflector housing, respectively, and 
interengageable by an interference fit. Electrical power for the halogen 
incandescent lamp is provided by a cable which is attached to a remote 
carried battery holder. 
The arrangement has the advantage that the lamp-reflector unit can be 
readily separated from the headband; the headband is infinitely 
adjustable, and the angle unit permits placement of the lamp-reflector 
unit close to the head, while being adjustable in position due to the 
universal adjustability of the ball-and-socket connection. 
DRAWINGS 
FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of the headlamp and battery housing unit, 
illustrating the lamp in two positions, one in solid and one in broken 
lines; and 
FIG. 2 is a top view of the battery unit and illustrating the arrangement 
with the lamp unit attached to the battery unit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
The illumination device in accordance with the present invention has two 
separate units, a battery housing 1 and a remote lamp unit 3. The housing 
1, which can retain primary cells, rechargeable batteries or secondary 
cells, is connected by a cable 2, which, preferably, includes a spiral 
cable portion 2a (FIG. 2) with the lamp unit 3. Lamp unit 3 is secured to 
a head carrier band 4 by an intervening holding bracket 5. Holding bracket 
5 is an angle element having one angle leg 5a attached to the headband 4, 
and another angle leg 5b formed with a receiving socket for a 
ball-and-socket joint 6, the ball of which is secured to the lamp unit 3. 
The ball-and-socket joint 6 permits universal adjustability of the unit 3. 
The leg 5a is attached to the front of the head carrier band 4. The rear 
side of the band may be padded. 
The ball-and-socket joint 6 can be constructed in a simple manner. A pin is 
secured to the head lamp unit 3, for example by being integrally molded 
thereon, which at the end carries a ball. The ball fits within a 
cylindrical bore in the leg 5b of the angle unit 5, the cylindrical bore 
having a diameter which is just slightly smaller than the diameter of the 
ball. By constructing both the angle and the unit 3, or at least the unit 
3, of a plastic material which is slightly elastically deformable, the 
ball can be fitted into the cylindrical bore and the position of the lamp 
unit 3 with respect to the angle leg 5a will be maintained due to 
frictional force based on the interference fit between the ball and the 
cylindrical bore of the ball-and-socket joint 6. 
In accordance with a preferred feature of the invention, the legs of the 
angle element 5 are arranged at an angle of about 115.degree.. While this 
angle is not critical, it has been found particularly advantageous since 
it permits holding the lamp unit 3 vertically and parallel to the leg unit 
5a, and hence close to the head of a user, who has strapped the carrier 
band 4 about the head. Yet, the angle permits wide adjustment of the 
headlamp unit 3 and pivoting of the lamp unit 3 to a position which may be 
about 50.degree. away from a vertical plane, that is, over an angle of 
50.degree. with respect to the leg portion 5a. Wider or larger 
deflections may be possible by changing the angle or extending the length 
of the pin between the unit 3 and the ball-and-socket joint 6. A close 
connection, however, between the bottom of the lamp unit 3 and the ball of 
the ball-and-socket joint is desirable for good balance. Of course, the 
relative position of the ball and the socket of the joint 6 on the leg 
part 5b and on the lamp unit 3 may be reversed. 
A shield or shading portion 7 is formed on the lower side of the lamp unit 
3 which prevents glare from a lamp 13 located within a reflector 14 in the 
lamp unit 3 from shining into the eyes of a user. 
Uniform light distribution is obtained if, in accordance with a feature of 
the invention, the light source 13 is a low-voltage halogen incandescent 
lamp, located within a reflector 14, located within, or molded into the 
lamp unit 3. Preferably, a plastic lens 8 (FIG. 2) which may be formed 
with profiled or light-directing ribs or prisms, closes off the free side 
of the lamp unit 3. 
The headband 4, in accordance with a preferred feature of the invention, 
carries on one side of the outside thereof, one part of a peel-off 
VELCRO.RTM. attachment, the other part of the free headband carrying the 
counter element. Preferably, the plush side of the VELCRO.RTM. combination 
faces toward the outside from the headband, and the hook portion of the 
VELCRO.RTM. fastener towards the inside. Holding loops are preferably 
provided, to prevent loose portions of the headband from dangling if the 
headband is adjusted for a very small diameter. 
The angle part 5a is secured to the carrier band 4 likewise by a portion of 
VELCRO.RTM., so arranged that the rearward or right side (with respect to 
FIG. 1) of the leg portion 5a carries the matching part of the VELCRO.RTM. 
fastener, to match the outwardly facing part of the VELCRO.RTM. fastener 
of the headband. This permits locating the angle element 5 at any desired 
position on the headband. The lamp unit 3, preferably, also has a 
VELCRO.RTM. strip attached thereto so that it can be attached direction to 
the headband, for example to the portion which is at the outside of the 
headband 4, when in use, or, selectively, on other portions of equipment 
which may receive a VELCRO.RTM. attachment. The battery unit 1, for 
example, may also be furnished with a strip of VELCRO.RTM., for example 
for attachment of the headlamp thereto. 
The carrier headband 4 has holding straps 9 attached thereto which, also 
formed with a VELCRO.RTM. strip, provide holding arrangements for the 
cable 2 to guide the cable along the headband 4. This arrangement prevents 
dangling of the cable directly off the lamp unit 3, and permits guiding 
the cable, for example somewhat behind the ear of the user, down along the 
neck towards the battery housing. The cable 2, preferably, is spiralled at 
least in part, as shown at 2a in FIG. 2, so that it can be readily 
stretched or matched to various body sizes of the user and becomes 
independent on the location where the battery unit 1 is carried--in a 
breast pocket, in a trouser pocket, on a belt, or the like. 
The housing unit 1 includes a switch 10 and, further, an opening 1a, for 
example cylindrical, and similar to the opening in the leg unit 5b to 
permit the ball unit of the ball-and-socket joint 6 to be attached to the 
battery unit directly. The battery unit 1 further has a holding clamp 11; 
the opening 1a is, preferably, located in parallel to the clamp 11 so 
that, for example, the battery unit 1 can be carried in the breast pocket 
of a jacket and the lamp unit 3 snapped into the opening 1a to provide for 
forwardly extending illumination with both hands free. 
Since the lamp unit 3 is readily separable by the ball-and-socket joint 6 
from either the angle 5 or the lamp unit 1, it can be used as a hand-held 
light source for specific direction of light, for example for repair use 
in a vehicle at night. 
The illumination unit or lamp is primarily provided for sport use. It may 
be used, for example, by joggers, cross-country skiers and the like, 
particularly in wintertime when it gets dark early, as an illumination for 
a selected path or as a warning light for oncoming traffic. The position 
of the lamp with respect to the selected path can be readily adjusted by 
moving the lamp unit 3 within the ball-and-socket joint 6, and thereby 
also permits matching of the direction of the light path to the height of 
the user. 
The light source has a specific advantage for rock climbers and 
mountaineers; the unit 3, attached to the head, can be very lightweight, 
formed of lightweight plastic, with a reflector 14 likewise of reflective 
plastic material. Halogen incandescent lamps, such as lamp 13, provide 
intense bright light with minimum electrical energy consumption and also 
are lightweight. Since the energy source, batteries within the housing 1, 
is remote from the light source itself, carrying the lamp will not 
interfere with free head movement or cause fatigue. The lamp is also 
particularly suitable for repair work, for example on vehicles, since the 
hands are freed and the light can be directed by head movement alone. 
Various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the 
inventive concept.