Condensed breath vapor is removed from visors on helmets adapted to be used by drivers of open air outdoor vehicles, such as snowmobiles, motorcycles, and all terrain vehicles, by applying electric current to a resistance heater coil on the visor. The heating coil is electrically connected to a connector mounted on the visor. The connector is electrically connected by a helically coiled cable to an assembly mounted on the vehicle dashboard. The assembly includes a female jack for receiving a male jack at the end of the coiled helical cable. The assembly also includes a switch for connecting the jack to a power supply of the vehicle, so that electric energy from the power supply can be coupled selectively to the female jack at two power levels.

TECHNICAL FIELD 
The present invention relates generally to visors for open air outdoor 
vehicles, such as snowmobiles, motorcycles and all terrain vehicles, and 
more particularly to a method of and apparatus for preventing the 
formation of and/or removing condensed breath vapor and/or ice from such 
visors by the application of electric energy thereto. 
BACKGROUND ART 
For safety reasons, operators of outdoor vehicles, such as snowmobiles, 
motorcycles, and all terrain vehicles, frequently wear, and in many 
instances are required to wear, helmets. The helmets frequently include 
face shields or visors made of optically transparent material to enable 
the operator to see where he is going, while protecting him from debris. 
It has been found, however, that when these outdoor vehicles are operated 
in the winter there is a tendency for vapor from the breath of the 
operator to condense on the visor and render it opaque to optical energy. 
Thereby, the operator of the vehicle is not able to see where he is going 
and the visor presents a safety hazard, to defeat the original purpose 
thereof. To my knowledge, there has been no solution to this problem, even 
though it has existed for several years. 
It is, accordingly, an object of the present invention to provide a new and 
improved apparatus for removing condensed breath vapor of an operator from 
a visor worn by the operator of an open air outdoor vehicle. 
Another object of the invention is to provide an improved, relatively 
inexpensive breath vapor removing visor that is particularly adapted for 
use with open air outdoor vehicles, such as snowmobiles, motorcycles, and 
all terrain vehicles. 
An additional object of the invention is to provide an optically 
transparent visor particularly adapted to be used by operators of open air 
outdoor vehicles, wherein the visor includes electric heating means for 
removing and preventing the formation of condensed breath vapor on the 
visor, wherein the electric heater is connected to a power supply of the 
vehicle in such a manner as to enable the operator to move freely and a 
lead on the connection means does not interfere with the operator to any 
appreciable extent. 
A further object of the invention is to provide a visor with electric 
heating means for preventing and removing condensed breath vapor of an 
operator wearing the visor, wherein the electric heating means is 
connected to an electric power supply of an open air outdoor vehicle by a 
connection device that easily pulls away from a connector mounted on the 
vehicle in the event of an emergency. 
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION 
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, condensed breath 
vapor on a visor of a helmet worn by an operator of an outdoor vehicle is 
removed by applying electric heat to the visor. Electric energy is applied 
to the visor at a plurality of power levels, preferably as selected by the 
operator, as a function of the amount of condensate on the visor, which in 
turn is a function of the temperature of the outdoor environment where the 
vehicle is being operated. 
In accordance with the preferred embodiment, the electric heat is applied 
to the visor by an electric resistance heating coil secured to the visor 
in such a manner as not to obstruct the vision of the operator. An 
electric connector for the resistance heating coil is fixedly mounted on 
the visor in a position considerably out of the line of sight of the 
operator. The electric connector mounted on the visor provides permanent 
connections to one end of a helically coiled cable, having a second end 
terminating in a male jack. The vehicle is equipped with a housing 
containing a female jack for the male jack at the end of the helical 
cable. The housing also includes a multiposition switch for selectively 
connecting the vehicle power supply to the female jack. The multiposition 
switch is connected to circuitry within the housing to enable the power 
coupled between the vehicle power supply and the resistance heating coil 
to be varied, to provide the required amount of heat to remove the 
condensed breath vapor, while enabling the power drain on the vehicle 
power supply to be relatively constant at a minimum level. 
The helical coil is particularly advantageous because it enables the 
operator to easily move on the seat of the vehicle. In the event of an 
emergency, the operator is able to escape because the male jack easily 
pulls from the female jack in the housing mounted on the vehicle 
dashboard. 
The above and still further objects, features and advantages of the present 
invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following 
detailed description of one specific embodiment thereof, especially when 
taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
Reference is now made to FIG. 1 of the drawing wherein conventional 
snowmobile 11, an outdoor, open air vehicle adapted to be operated in 
winter climates, is illustrated. Snowmobile 11 includes the usual internal 
combustion engine, driven belt, starter, etc. (none of which are shown), 
as well as steering skids 12, optically transparent plexiglass windshield 
13, an electric power supply in the form of a battery 14 or an exciter 
coil of the engine, and dashboard 15 in a cockpit where operator 16 is 
seated. The cockpit includes the usual controls, such as a steering wheel, 
and accelerator pedal (not shown). For safety purposes, operator 16 is 
equipped with a conventional helmet 17 to which is connected optically 
transparent, electrically insulating face shield or visor 18 that is 
either permanently or removably secured to a helmet 17, in a manner well 
known to those skilled in the art; typically visor 18 is made of a 
suitable plastic, such as plexiglass. 
Because of the cold climatic conditions which usually subsist during 
operation of snowmobile 11 by operator 16 the operator exhales a 
considerable amount of breath vapor that condenses on the interior surface 
of optically transparent visor 18. The human breath vapor condensed on the 
interior of visor 18 has a tendency to render the visor opaque, or at the 
best translucent, thereby severely limiting the ability of operator 16 to 
see where he is going and operate snowmobile 11 in a safe manner. 
Generally, as the temperature in the environment where snowmobile 11 is 
being operated decreases, there is an increasing tendency for the 
deposition of vapor on the interior of visor 18. Frequently, the condensed 
vapor freezes on the interior of the visor, making the visor completely 
inoperative. Hence, it frequently happens that operator 16 removes visor 
18 from helmet 17, with the likelihood of an object striking the face of 
the operator. 
In accordance with the present invention, condensation of human breath 
vapor on visor 18 is prevented and/or the condensed breath is removed by 
heating the visor with electric energy derived from supply 14. To this 
end, the interior of visor 18 is provided with electric resistance heating 
coil 19, having ends electrically and mechanically connected to terminals 
in connector housing 21, also fixedly mounted on visor 18. Housing 21 
includes fixed connections to first ends of a pair of leads in two-lead 
helically coiled cable 22, having a second end connected to male jack 23, 
preferably of the phono type. Phono jack 23 is inserted by operator 16 
into female receptacle 24 therefor; receptacle 24 is carried by switch 
assembly 25, mounted on dashboard 15. To avoid shock hazards, it is 
important for cable 22 to be fixedly secured to housing 21 and visor 18. 
In experiments that I have conducted with cables connected to visor 18 by 
a quick disconnect structure, I have found that the cable becomes 
inadvertently detached from the visor while in use due to contact with 
unavoidable obstructions, such as tree limbs. This is unsafe because cord 
22 remains connected to the power supply 14 and is left dangling in such a 
manner as to create a possible short circuit. 
Receptacle 24 is electrically connected by leads 26 to terminals of supply 
14. When jack 23 is inserted into receptacle 24 and suitable connections 
are established by operator 16 activating a toggle (not shown in FIG. 1) 
of switch assembly 24, supply 14 supplies electric current to resistance 
heating coil 19. For very cold conditions, operator 16 adjusts the toggle 
of housing 25 to cause supply 14 to supply maximum current to coil 19. If, 
however, snowmobile 11 is operating in a warmer winter environment, 
decreased energy is supplied by supply 14 to coil 19 in response to the 
operator activating the toggle of housing 25 which causes a resistor (not 
shown in FIG. 1) contained in housing 25 to be connected between supply 14 
and coil 19. If the operator does not believe that any additional heat is 
necessary, the toggle on housing 25 can be adjusted to an off position, to 
disrupt the connection of supply 14 to coil 19, even though jack 23 
remains in receptacle 24. 
Heating coil 19 is positioned on visor 18 so that the heating coil does not 
adversely affect the field of view of operator 16. Cable 22 has a length 
and is coiled in such a way as to enable operator 16 to move freely about 
in the cockpit of snowmobile 11, while jack 23 remains connected to 
receptacle 24. If, however, an emergency should occur and it is necessary 
for operator 16 to leave the cockpit of snowmobile 11 suddenly, jack 23 
easily and quickly pulls out of receptacle 24 in response to the force 
exerted on cable 22 by the sudden movement of head of operator 16 in such 
a situation. 
Reference is now made to FIG. 2 of the drawing, a plan view of visor 18, as 
viewed by operator 16 when helmet 17 is in situ, in combination with 
connector housing 21, cable 22 and jack 23. Resistance heating coil 19, 
which may be preformed and adhered by suitable adhesive to visor 18 or be 
an electric conducting paint coated on the visor, is fixedly adhered to 
the interior of visor 18, i.e., the face of the visor closest to the face 
of operator 16 when the visor is positioned on helmet 17 and the helmet is 
being warn by the operator. Resistance heating coil 19 has a tortious path 
that does not block the field of view for the eyes of opeator 16 and 
includes four horizontal segments 31-34, each having a width of 
approximately one-eighth inch and extending from adjacent one edge of 
visor 18 to adjacent the other edge; segments 31-34 are spaced from the 
edges of the visor by approximately one inch. Coil 19 also includes 
vertically extending segments 35-38, arranged such that segments 35-37 
connect the ends of adjacent horizontal segments together; i.e., vertical 
segment 35 connects the right ends of horizontal segments 31 and 32 to 
each other, vertical segment 36 connects the left ends of horizontal 
segments 32 and 33 to each other, and vertical segment 37 connects the 
right ends of segments 33 and 34 to each other. The left end of horizontal 
segment 31 is connected to a terminal in connector housing 21, while the 
left end of segment 34 is connected to another terminal in housing 21 by 
vertically extending segment 38. Housing 21 is positioned in the lower 
left corner of visor 18, on the exterior face of the visor so that the 
connector is out of the field of view of operator 16 and cannot contact 
the face of the operator. 
Housing 21 is fabricated of an electrically insulating material, preferably 
a molded polymer resin. The resin is molded about and holds in situ 
metallic cylindrical posts 41 and 42, having internally threaded bores 43 
and 44. Cylinders 41 and 42 are positioned in housing 21 in such a manner 
that the longitudinal axes thereof are parallel to each other and at right 
angles to planar face 45 that abuts against the exterior of visor 18. 
Cylinders 41 and 42 are positioned so that they are respectively aligned 
with horizontal resistive segment 31 and vertical resistive segment 38, 
with the segments extending only slightly beyond the posts. Metal bolts 46 
and 47 respectively impale segments 31 and 38 and respectively fit into 
bores 43 and 44 to provide electric connections between segments 31 and 38 
and cylinders 41 and 42. In addition, threaded bolts 45 and 46 provide a 
fixed mechanical connection between connector housing 21 and visor 18. One 
end of each of cylindrical posts 41 and 42 is coplanar with face 45 of 
connector housing 21. 
Cylinders 41 and 42 electrically connect segments 31 and 38 to leads 51 and 
52 in cable 22. To this end, the ends of leads 51 and 52 remote from jack 
23 are mechanically and electrically connected to electrical terminal lugs 
53 and 54, respectively. Lugs 53 and 54 are captured by the heads of bolts 
55 and 56 which are respectively threaded into bores 43 and 44 to provide 
mechanical and electrical connections between lugs 53 and 54 and cylinders 
41 and 42. Segments 31 and 38 and the heads of bolts 46 and 47 are 
dimensioned so that the bolts, when screwed into bores 43 and 44 bear 
against the exterior portions of the resistive coil segments and the 
exterior face of visor 18. Thereby, bolts 46 and 47 perform the dual 
functions of securing housing 21 to visor 18 and providing electric 
connections between opposite ends of resistance heating coil 19 to the 
leads in cable 22 by way of electric connections established by cylinders 
41 and 42, as well as lugs 53 and 54. 
Housing 21 is formed by being molded about the posts, lugs, leads and bolts 
55 and 56. Housing 21 includes a semicircular upper surface 57 to provide 
a smooth surface that is not objectionable to the feel of operator 16. The 
other end of cable 22 is connected to a conventional coaxial, male phono 
jack 23. Exterior prongs 61 of jack 23 are electrically connected in 
parallel to lead 51, while interior probe 62 is connected to lead 52. 
Reference is now made to FIGS. 4 and 5 wherein switch assembly 25 is 
illustrated. Switch assembly 25 includes female receptacle 24 for male 
jack plug 23, connections to leads from supply 14, as well as a toggle for 
controlling whether maximum current, or reduced current, or no current is 
supplied to jack 23 by supply 14. To these ends, housing 25 is a molded 
plastic right parallelepiped having rounded corners with a face 71 that 
abuts against dashboard 15 of snowmobile 11. Extending downwardly from 
face 71 are threaded bolts 72 which are anchored in housing 25 and are 
secured by nuts 73 to the face of dashboard 15 opposite from the dashboard 
face against which housing face 71 abuts. Extending from face 74 of 
housing 25 opposite from housing face 71 are coaxial receptacle 24, 
three-position toggle switch lever 75 and colored lens 76 that is received 
in a lamp receptacle (not shown) into which an incandescent lamp is 
screwed. Extending from face 71 and through aperture 79 of dashboard 15 
are leads 77 and 78, which are the same as or are connected to leads 28, 
thence to supply 14. 
In the illustrated, central position of lever 75, no current is supplied by 
supply 14 via leads 77 and 78 to receptacle 24 or lamp 76, whereby coil 19 
and the incandescent lamp are de-energized. In response to lever 75 being 
turned to the left, as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, maximum current is 
supplied by supply 14 via leads 77 and 78 to receptacle 24, whereby 
maximum heating is provided by resistance coil 19, as is required for very 
low temperature operation of snowmobile 11. In response to lever 75 being 
activated to the right, as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, a resistor within 
housing 25 is connected in series between one of leads 77 and 78 and a 
terminal of female receptacle 24, so that reduced current is supplied to 
resistance coil 19, and sufficient heat is supplied by the coil to visor 
or face shield 18 to prevent and/or remove condensation from the visor for 
higher temperature situations. When maximum current is supplied to 
receptacle 24 by leads 77 and 78, as subsists when lever 75 is in the left 
position, the resistor in housing 25 and the incandescent lamp are 
connected in series in a branch circuit directly across leads 77 and 78. 
When lever 75 is turned so that it is on the right side, the incandescent 
lamp is connected directly across leads 77 and 78. Thereby, a 
substantially constant impedance is provided to leads 77 and 78 regardless 
of whether lever 75 is positioned to the left or to the right. 
Reference is now made to FIG. 6 of the drawing, a circuit diagram of the 
connections between leads 77 and 78 and resistance heating coil 19, 
assuming that male jack 23 is inserted into female receptacle 24. Leads 77 
and 78 are respectively connected to positive and negative terminals of 
supply 14, with lead 77 being directly connected to armature 81 of 
three-position toggle switch 82, that is controlled by lever 75. Toggle 
switch 82 is illustrated in the central position of lever 75, whereby 
armature 81 is disconnected from contacts 83 and 184 of the toggle switch, 
which are engaged by the armature when lever 75 is respectively shifted to 
the left and right, as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. With lever 75 shifted 
to the left position, whereby armature 81 engages contact 83, lead 77 is 
connected to the central terminal of receptacle 24, thence to pin 62 of 
jack 23 and to lead 52. A direct, permanent connection subsists between 
lead 78 and outer terminal 85 of receptacle 24 by way of wire 86. Thereby, 
a direct connection is established between leads 77 and 78 through 
armature 81 and contact 83 to resistance heating coil 19 and the voltage 
of supply 14 is applied directly across the resistance heating coil, with 
maximum current thereby being supplied to the coil. 
Simultaneously with maximum current being supplied by supply 14 to heating 
coil 19, indicator lamp 87, mechanically positioned beneath lens 76, is 
supplied with current by a path established from armature 81 through 
contact 83 and resistor 88. Incandescent lamp 87 is thus series connected 
with resistor 88 in a branch circuit shunting leads 77 and 78, to provide 
protection to the lamp while full current is being supplied to heating 
coil 19. 
In response to lever 75 being shifted to the right, as illustrated in FIGS. 
4 and 5, armature 81 engages contact 184, to establish a series circuit 
from lead 77 through resistor 88 to resistive heating coil 19 by way of 
receptacle 24, jack 23, and cable 22. Thereby, a lower current level is 
supplied by supply 14 to heating coil 19 because resistor 18 is connected 
in series with the heating coil. Simultaneously, indicator lamp 87 is 
connected directly in shunt with leads 77 and 78. Because of the reduced 
current supplied by supply 14 to resistive heating coil 19 by way of 
resistor 18, there is a lower voltage drop across incandescent lamp 87 at 
this time than subsists across the series circuit including lamp 87 and 
resistor 88 when armature 81 engages contact 83. Thereby, lamp 87 is also 
protected while armature 81 engages contact 184 even though the lamp is 
directly across leads 77 and 78. The particular circuit arrangement of 
FIG. 6 has the advantage of providing a substantially constant impedance 
to leads 77 and 78 regardless of whether armature 81 engages contact 83 or 
contact 184. This is advantageous because the battery load remains 
constant and therefore does not adversely affect the other electric 
devices connected to supply 14 as a function of the position of armature 
81 on contact 83 or 184. 
In many instances it is desired for cord 21 to be stowed on visor 18 or 
helmet 17 when the cord is not in use. To this end, cord holding fabric 
strip 91, FIGS. 2 and 7, is fixedly attached to the exterior of visor 18 
just above connector 21 by adhesive strip 92, bonded on opposite faces to 
the visor and one face of the fabric strip. Strip 91 is folded on itself 
to selectively form upper loop 93 into which cable 21 is inserted and to 
form permanent lower loop 94 that comprises a handle for enabling loop 93 
to be opened and closed. Loop 93 is formed by connecting end 95 of strip 
91 where strip 91 is bonded to visor 18 to midportion 96 of the fabric 
strip. The connection is preferably provided by sewing hook and loop 
strips 97 and 98, preferably Velcro, to the faces on end 95 of strip 91 
opposite from the face carrying adhesive strip 92 and the inside face of 
midportion 96, respectively. The same stitching which holds loop strip 98 
on fabric strip 91 holds the end of strip 91 opposite from end 95 in place 
to form loop 94. I have found this configuration to be quite convenient 
for holding and stowing cable 22 in place when the cable is not used and 
to minimize forces which might otherwise be exerted on the connections 
between the cable and connector 21. Further, if an operator decides he 
does not need the defrosting capability of the invention, cable 22 is 
stowed so jack 23 is in loop 93 and the cable does not interfere with his 
vision. When the operator decides to use the defrosting capability, he can 
pull on loop 94 with his glove on his hand and easily insert jack 23 into 
plug 24. 
While there has been described one specific embodiment of the invention, it 
will be clear that variations in the details of the embodiment 
specifically illustrated and described may be made without departing from 
the true spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended 
claims.