A headlamp includes a base having a front face defining a first imaginary plane along the front face and a first imaginary line orthogonal to the first plane. A light assembly is rotatably secured about the front face to the base. The light assembly includes a bezel having a rear surface defining a second imaginary plane along the rear surface and a second imaginary line orthogonal to the second plane so that the intersection of the first line and the second line defines a rotation angle that varies with the rotation of the light assembly relative to the base, thereby changing the attitude of the headlamp light assembly.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to headlamps and, more particularly, to headlamps having a movable mount for attitude adjustment of a light beam emanating therefrom.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Headlamps, whether attached directly to the head of a user or integrated into protective headgear, are useful operating under low ambient light conditions. This is especially true during prolonged activities that require unfettered use of the hands of a headlamp wearer. Additionally, depending on the activities of a wearer, it is often advantageous to be able to adjust the attitude of the headlamp to selectively light an area about the wearer. A wearer might include a motorcyclist, a bicyclist, a firefighter, a miner, a construction worker, a hiker, a farm worker, a hunter or a naturalist.

Prior art attempts to provide an adjustable attitude headlamp have resorted to a diametric pivot joint to adjust the angle of the light source relative to the headgear and/or the head of the wearer. A diametric pivot represents the weakest portion of the headlamp construction if exposed. Alternatively, a cumbersome support housing is built around the pivot to support and encompass the same thereby adding to the profile and weight of the lamp. Thus, there exists a need for a more rugged attitude adjustable headlamp.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A headlamp includes a hollow base having a first surface adapted to bear against a user's forehead and defining a first imaginary plane, a first imaginary line normal to the first plane, and a front face inclined downward relative to said first surface by a first angle. A light assembly is rotatably secured to the base. The light assembly includes a bezel having a rear surface rotatably supported relative to the front face of the base and a front surface inclined relative to said first surface by a second angle. The light assembly also includes a battery case attached to the bezel to create an enclosed volume therebetween. A battery and light source are located within the enclosed volume. A switch is provided to selectively form an electrical circuit between the light source and the battery. Rotation of the bezel rotates the light beam projected by the light assembly between a first direction in which the beam is parallel to the normal line and a second direction in which the beam is directed downwardly relative to the normal line by the first angle plus the second angle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has utility as lamp mountable to the head of a wearer or incorporated into headgear. The present invention provides a rugged and compact headlamp where the lighting assembly cants relative to a static base. The front face of a headlamp base and the rear surface of a bezel incorporated into the light assembly are complementary bevel cut features such that rotation of the bevel cut rear surface of the bezel relative to the base changes the attitude of the light assembly. The present invention details a novel canted headlamp and process for canting a light assembly relative to a static base to adjust light projection attitude.

Referring now toFIGS. 1-3, an inventive headlamp is shown generally at10. A base12is adapted to secure to the head of a wearer by way of a strap14. The base having conventional strap engaging fixtures such as posts adapted to receive a spring-loaded hinge pin (not shown) affixed to the strap14. In the preferred embodiment, the base12is hollow and capable of receiving some other portion of the inventive headlamp therein. While the present invention is detailed with respect to a headlamp that is directly mounted to the head of a wearer by way of a headband, it is appreciated that a canted headlamp as detailed herein is readily incorporated into a helmet or other headgear. The base12has a basal face20adapted to contact the head of a wearer or engage a helmet or other headgear. Preferably, a skin compatible foam material22is intermediate between the basal face20and the skin of a wearer in those embodiments of the present invention, such as those depicted inFIGS. 1-3, where the headlamp is secured directly to the head of a wearer. As shown inFIG. 3, the base12has a front face24that defines a first plane P1angled relative to the basal face20. A basal face is defined by a plane that contains the maximal number of points on the basal face20. An angle α is defined as the deviation of the front face angle relative to a normal line A to the basal face20. The front face24defines a first plane P1. A normal line N1to the plane P1extends therefrom.

A light assembly shown generally at40inFIG. 2rotates relative to the front face24of the base12such that the light assembly cants with rotation relative to the base12. The light assembly has a bezel42that has a rear surface44. The rear surface44defines a second plane P2that has a normal line N2thereto as shown in FIG.3. The intersection of normal line N1to the first plane P1with the normal line N2to the second plane P2defines a canting angle β. The canting angle β being 180° where the front surface52of the bezel42is substantially parallel to the basal face20of the base12. Rotation of the bezel42relative to the base12varies the canting angle β away from 180°. Typically, the canting angle varies between 130° and 230°. Preferably, the canting angle is between 165° and 195°. In other words, rotation of the bezel42relative to the base12rotates the beam of light projected from a direction parallel to the normal to the plane of the element20to a downward direction inclined relative to that normal line by the angle between element20and plane P1plus the angle between plane P2and the surface52.

The light assembly40has a battery case50attached to the bezel42. The battery case preferably having a circumferential flange51that is adapted to rotationally seat in contact with the front face24. An enclosed volume18is defined between the bezel42and the battery case50. A battery52and at least a portion of a light source54are located within the volume18. In a preferred embodiment, the light source54is a light emitting diode (LED). More preferably, the light source54is a plurality of light emitting diodes. It is appreciated that a light emitting diode operative herein has an emission perceptible to the human eye in a variety of colors illustratively including red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and white.

A battery operative in the present invention is chosen such that alone or in a circuit with other batteries is sufficient to drive light emissions from the light source. Batteries operative herein include cylindrical batteries such as AAA, AA, A, metal hydride and lithium containing batteries; cuboidal batteries such as an alkaline 9-volt; and button-type batteries such as lithium containing batteries. Preferably, a button type battery is used. It is appreciated that to drive certain light sources a series circuit of batteries is utilized.

The bezel42and base12are each independently formed of materials conventional to the art. Preferably, each is formed of an injection moldable thermoplastic material, although it is appreciated that the same are also formable from metals such as aluminum, brass, titanium, and steel. More preferably, the bezel rear surface44and front face24of the base12have comparable hardness values so as to slow wear at the interface therebetween.

An electrical switch60upon activation forms an electrical circuit between the light source54and the battery52. The battery case50being in electrical contact with one pole53of the battery52and thereby with the switch60upon securement of the battery case50to the bezel42. The opposing battery pole63is in electrical contact with a circuit board66to which the light source54is secured. The switch60selectively creates a circuit between the light source54and the battery52upon engagement. Preferably, a reflector68having a light reflective outer surface70encompasses at least a portion of the light source54. A jewel72is optionally provided in the illumination light path of an inventive headlamp10to create internal reflections therein and thereby create a more uniform illumination field. A crystal74is optionally seated within the bezel42and serves to protect light assembly internal components from environmental contaminants. In an alternative embodiment, a switch underlies the crystal such that depressing the crystal relative to the base selectively forms an illumination producing circuit. The details of such a switch are found, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,336,574, which is incorporated herein by reference. Preferably, access to light assembly internal components is by way of a threaded cap78engaging the rear face80of the battery case50.

The light assembly40rotates relative to the base12through the use of conventional structures allowing rotation. The inventive embodiment depicted inFIG. 2shows a circumferential race84that allows the flange51of the battery case50to rotate relative to the base12, it is appreciated that other structures such as an axial pivot pin rotatably interconnecting a light assembly and a base are also operative herein. An axial pivot pin is shown in a canting arrangement in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,590,416 which is incorporated herein by reference.

The drawings and specification collectively disclose a typical preferred embodiment of the invention. There is no intent to limit the invention by such disclosure, but rather to encompass modifications and alternate constructions apparent to one skilled in the art upon reading of the specification. The scope of the invention is intended to be defined by the appended claims.