Abstract:
A helmet lighting system includes a housing configured for attachment to a helmet wherein a lighting module includes a power source, plurality of light sources, signal receiving means configured to receive operational signals from one or more associated vehicles and a controller configured to selectively control the plurality of light sources responsive to said signal receiving means receiving said operational signals. In this manner, the lighting module may mimic brake lights and strobe lights associated with a motorcycle for example thereby rendering the motorcycle and rider more visible. Flexible ends of the housing allow the housing to attach securely to different helmet styles. Alternatively the lighting module may be integrated with the helmet. An emergency mode allows the helmet to be used as a warning device.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The embodiments of the present invention relate to a helmet lighting system to increase safety for riders of motorcycles and similar vehicles. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Motorcycle riders are very vulnerable to injury or death. Riders of bicycles and similar vehicles are also very vulnerable to injury and death. To increase rider safety, many states have implemented laws requiring riders to wear helmets. Even without laws, prudent riders wear helmets. Despite the requirement and popularity of helmets, motorcycle rider deaths routinely exceed 4500 per year and continue to increase despite a decrease in total vehicle related deaths. 
     Therefore, there is a need for an improved helmet to decrease the likelihood of incidents or accidents involving motorcycles and similar vehicles. 
     SUMMARY 
     Accordingly, a first embodiment of the present invention is a lighting module comprising: a housing configured for attachment to a helmet, said housing having flexible ends for accommodating different helmet styles; a power source; a plurality of light sources; signal receiving means configured to receive operational signals from one or more associated vehicles; and a controller in communication with said plurality of light sources, said controller configured to selectively control said plurality of light sources responsive to said signal receiving means receiving said operational signals. 
     Another embodiment of the present invention is a helmet comprising: an outer surface and inner surface, said inner surface defining a space for receiving a portion of the head of a user; a light module integrated on said outer surface at a rear location of said helmet, said light module including a power source, plurality of light sources, signal receiving means configured to receive operational signals from one or more associated vehicles and a controller in communication with said plurality of light sources, said controller configured to selectively control said plurality of light sources responsive to said signal receiving means receiving said operational signals; and wherein said light module has an air-foil cross-section. 
     A helmet lighting system comprising: a housing configured for attachment to a helmet, said housing having flexible ends for accommodating different helmet styles; a power source; a plurality of light sources; signal receiving means configured to receive operational signals from one or more associated vehicles; signal transmitting means configured to transmit operational signals from one or more associated vehicles responsive to rider actions; and a controller in communication with said plurality of light sources, said controller configured to selectively control said plurality of light sources responsive to said signal receiving means receiving said operational signals. 
     The embodiments of the present invention create more visibility for riders of motorcycles, bicycles and similar vehicles by generating running and brake lights on the helmet of a rider. In one embodiment of the present invention, a helmet fitted with a lighting module may be turned to an emergency mode and used akin to a road flare to warn others of a disabled vehicle or similar trouble on a roadway. In another embodiment, the lighting module is configured for use by police officers on motorcycles such that the lighting module works in a strobe state. 
     Other variations, embodiments and features of the present invention will become evident from the following detailed description, drawings and claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a block diagram detailing various components of a lighting module according to the embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of a lighting module positioned adjacent to a motorcycle helmet according to the embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a side view of the lighting module affixed to a motorcycle helmet according to the embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates an upper view of the lighting module positioned adjacent to a motorcycle helmet according to the embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates an upper view of the lighting module affixed to a motorcycle helmet according to the embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a front view of the lighting module affixed to a motorcycle helmet according to the embodiments of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a rear view of the lighting module affixed to a motorcycle helmet according to the embodiments of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles in accordance with the embodiments of the present invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. Any alterations and further modifications of the inventive feature illustrated herein, and any additional applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated herein, which would normally occur to one skilled in the relevant art and having possession of this disclosure, are to be considered within the scope of the invention claimed. 
     The embodiments of the present invention relate to making riders of certain vehicles (e.g., motorcycles) more visible to other traffic. Those skilled in the art will recognize that riders of many types of vehicles may benefit from the embodiments of the present invention. However, while the embodiments of the present invention may be suitable for many vehicle types, the detailed disclosure herein focuses on motorcycle riders. 
       FIG. 1  shows a block diagram  100  detailing various components of a lighting module according to the embodiments of the present invention. The lighting module  105  includes a controller  110 , a power source  115 , series of light sources  120 , on-off switch  125 , emergency mode switch  130 , motion detector or sensor  135  and transceiver  140 . As shown, the components are connected using wired connections  145  but such connections may also be wireless. The controller  110  may be any type of microprocessor or similar device suitable to control the basic operations of the lighting module  105 . The power source  115  may be one or more conventional batteries, rechargeable batteries, rechargeable power source, or solar converter means. In one embodiment, because of lower power requirements and high brightness levels, the series of light sources  120  comprise light emitting diodes (LEDs). Other light sources may be used as well. The on/off switch  125  and emergency mode switch  130  are conventional in nature and, as set forth below, allow a user to turn the lighting module on and off and switch to an emergency mode when needed. The motion detector  135  may be an accelerometer, vibration sensor, micro electro-mechanical sensor or similar device to detect movement of the lighting module  105 . The transceiver  140  may also be a transmitter-receiver or similar devices, including multiple components allowing the lighting module  105  to communicate with a vehicle system to which it is linked. In one embodiment, the transceiver  140  is wireless such that is communicates with the vehicle system wirelessly. It can be wired as well. 
       FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of a lighting module  200  adjacent to a motorcycle helmet  210  to which it may be affixed as shown in the side view of  FIG. 3 . In one embodiment, the lighting module  105  is fabricated of a rigid material (e.g., plastic, composite, metal alloy, etc.) to withstand environmental conditions. In one embodiment, ends  220  of the lighting module  200  are either configured to be flexible or fabricated of a flexible material. Configuring the ends  220  comprises fabricating the ends  220  of such a thickness that the ends  220  become flexible. Alternatively, the material used to fabricate the ends  220  is flexible. The flexibility of the ends  220  permits the lighting module  200  to fit snugly on different helmet types and designs. Between the ends  220 , is a housing  230  which contains the components, as shown in  FIG. 1 . The housing  230  is configured as an air foil to maintain an aerodynamic air flow associated with the motorcycle helmet  210 . As such an upper surface  240  of the housing  230  slopes upward to direct air flow off the motorcycle helmet  210  thereby reducing turbulence and creating an aerodynamic helmet/lighting module combination. 
       FIGS. 4 and 5  show upper views of the lighting module  200  adjacent to, and affixed to, the rear portion of the motorcycle helmet  210 . The lighting module  200  may be affixed to the motorcycle helmet  210  using adhesives, mechanical fasteners (e.g., rivets, screws), magnets or other affixation means. In another embodiment, the lighting module  200  is fabricated integral with the motorcycle helmet  210  such that the lighting module  200  and motorcycle helmet  210  are a single integral unit. LEDs  240  are viewable through rear openings in the housing  230 .  FIG. 6  shows a rear view of the lighting module  200  attached to the helmet  210  with the light sources  250  (e.g., LEDs) visible. 
       FIGS. 6 and 7  show front and rear views of the lighting module  200  affixed to the motorcycle helmet  210 . The front view of  FIG. 6  shows the lighting module  200  positioned such that the air flow over the helmet  210  is deflected upward by the upper surface  240  thereby reducing drag. The light sources  120  are visible in  FIG. 7 . While a single row of five light sources  120  is shown, those skilled in the art will recognize that more or less light sources  120  may be used and the light sources  120  may be configured in multiple rows, columns or other designs. 
     In practice, the lighting module  200  is linked with the motorcycle&#39;s braking system to trigger the illumination of red LEDs in the lighting module  200 . The link is provided via a transmitter or transceiver (not shown) installed on the motorcycle. The transceiver or transmitter is connected to the brake system of the motorcycle such that the transceiver or transmitter generates a wireless signal responsive to the brakes of the motorcycle being activated. Once the wireless signal is detected by the transceiver or receiver  140  of the lighting module  200 , the red LEDs are illuminated to alert others that the motorcycle is slowing. In one embodiment, the transceiver or receiver  140  is linked by frequency with the transceiver or transmitter installed on the motorcycle. One transceiver or receiver  140  may also link to various motorcycle transceivers or transmitters (having the same or different frequencies) allowing a single helmet  210  to be used with multiple motorcycles. In another embodiment, the lighting module  200  can be programmed by the user to link to multiple frequencies (e.g., 5) such that the lighting module  200  may be used with multiple vehicles. For example, the helmet with the affixed lighting module  200  may be used with 5 different motorcycles which transmit five different frequencies. In one such embodiment, the lighting module  200  is pre-programmed to link with multiple transmitters provided with the lighting module  200 . In another embodiment, the user is responsible to link the lighting module  200  and multiple transmitters using user input means integrated with the lighting module  200 . 
     Between braking, the lighting module  200  may be dormant or may display running lights to cause the motorcycle rider to be more visible at all times. The running lights are generated by yellow LEDs in the lighting module  200 . In one embodiment, the lighting module  200  contains both red and yellow LEDs. Alternatively, multi-color LEDs may be used. 
     In one embodiment, the helmet  200  may be used as an emergency warning device. In this embodiment, the emergency mode switch  130  is switched to the on position causing the LEDs to flash intermittently. While in the emergency mode the helmet  210  may be placed on or near a disabled vehicle in the road or shoulder to warn others of the disabled vehicle. 
     In another embodiment, the lighting module  200  is configured for use with motorcycles used by municipal police departments. In this embodiment, the lighting module  200  includes the brake light and optional running light mode detailed above but also includes a strobe mode. The strobe mode is triggered responsive to activation of the emergency strobe lights of the police motorcycle. In this manner, the police motorcycle becomes more visible with the helmet module in strobe mode. 
     In one embodiment, the motion sensor  135  is configured to detect helmet movement. Responsive to non-movement for a pre-established period of time (e.g., 5 minutes), the controller  110  triggers the lighting module  105  to turn off in order to save power. 
     Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to several embodiments, additional variations and modifications exist within the scope and spirit of the invention as described and defined in the following claims.