Abstract:
A headgear system which includes headgear with an upper headgear portion for being worn on a user&#39;s head. A lower headgear portion extends forwardly relative to a lower front portion of the user&#39;s head and below the user&#39;s eyes. A display assembly is mounted to the lower headgear portion for being located below at least one of the user&#39;s eyes so as not to obstruct the user&#39;s vision. The display assembly has a display that is visible when the at least one of the user&#39;s eyes looks downwardly. The display assembly is configured to be adjustable by the user while the headgear system is worn by the user for changing the orientation of the display for suitable viewing.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/405,788, filed Aug. 23, 2002. The entire teachings of the above application are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND  
         [0002]    Helmet display systems often include a display which is positioned directly in front of one of the user&#39;s eyes for displaying images and/or information. The display is typically mounted to the helmet at a location above or to the side of the eye. A drawback with such an approach is that the user&#39;s field of vision can be reduced by the display. Other helmet display systems display images and/or information on a visor or shield positioned in front of the user&#39;s face. However, this approach requires the visor to be in place to view the displayed images and/or information. Depending upon the contours of the visor, vision can also be distorted through certain areas of the visor.  
         SUMMARY  
         [0003]    The present invention provides a headgear system with a display which minimizes the obstructions to a user&#39;s vision, and distortion.  
           [0004]    The present invention includes a headgear system having headgear with an upper headgear portion for being worn on a user&#39;s head. A lower headgear portion extends forwardly relative to a lower front portion of the user&#39;s head and below the user&#39;s eyes. A display assembly is mounted to the lower headgear portion for being located below at least one of the user&#39;s eyes so as not to obstruct the user&#39;s vision. The display assembly has a display that is visible when the at least one of the user&#39;s eyes looks downwardly. The display assembly is configured to be adjustable by the user while the headgear system is worn by the user for changing the orientation of the display for suitable viewing.  
           [0005]    In preferred embodiments, the headgear is a helmet and the lower headgear portion is a chin or face bar of the helmet. The display assembly includes at least one rotatable joint having frictional resistance so that the joint remains in a particular orientation until moved by the user. The display is sized for viewing by one of the user&#39;s eyes when looking downwardly. The display displays images which are focused at about optical infinity so that the user does not need to refocus his/her eyes when viewing the images.  
           [0006]    In one embodiment, the display assembly has a rotatable horizontal axis for allowing the display to be tilted upwardly and downwardly, and a rotatable vertical axis for allowing the display to be tilted side to side, relative to the user&#39;s head. The display assembly includes a base for mounting to the face bar of the helmet. The base has a circular recess that is connected to an entrance slot. A rotatable member having a generally circular portion has a snap fit into the circular recess of the base through the entrance slot. The rotatable member is rotatable within the circular recess about the vertical axis. Two side members extend from the rotatable member between which the display is rotatably mounted along the horizontal axis. The display assembly is mounted to the face bar of the helmet for being below a first eye of the user. A second base is mounted to the face bar for being below a second eye of the user to allow the user to select the position of at least one display by snap fitting an associated rotatable member into the desired base. A display can be positioned under either the first or the second eye. If desired, a display can be positioned in each base under each eye.  
           [0007]    The present invention also provides a headgear system including headgear for being worn by a user. A display assembly having a display is mounted to the headgear. The display assembly is configured to be adjustable by the user while the headgear system is worn by the user for changing the orientation of the display. The display assembly has a rotatable horizontal axis for allowing the display to be tilted upwardly and downwardly, and a rotatable vertical axis for allowing the display to be tilted side to side, relative to the user&#39;s head.  
           [0008]    In preferred embodiments, the display assembly includes a base for mounting to the headgear. The base has a circular recess that is connected to an entrance slot. A rotatable member having a generally circular portion has a snap fit into the circular recess of the base through the entrance slot. The rotatable member is rotatable within the circular recess about the vertical axis. Two side members extend from the rotatable member with the display being rotatably mounted between the side members along the horizontal axis.  
           [0009]    The present invention additionally provides a method of displaying information to a user including providing the user with headgear having an upper headgear portion for being worn on the user&#39;s head. A lower headgear portion extends from the upper headgear portion for extending forwardly relative to a lower front portion of the user&#39;s head and below the user&#39;s eyes. A display assembly is mounted to the lower headgear portion below at least one of the user&#39;s eyes so as not to obstruct the user&#39;s vision. The display assembly has a display for displaying information that is visible when said at least one of the user&#39;s eyes looks downwardly. The display assembly is configured to be adjustable by the user while the headgear system is worn by the user for changing the orientation of the display for suitable viewing.  
           [0010]    The present invention further provides a method of displaying information to a user including providing the user with headgear for being worn on the user&#39;s head. A display assembly having a display for displaying information is mounted to the headgear. The display assembly is configured to be adjustable by the user while the headgear is worn by the user for changing the orientation of the display for suitable viewing. The display assembly has a rotatable horizontal axis for allowing the display to be tilted upwardly and downwardly, and a rotatable vertical axis for allowing the display to be tilted side to side relative to the user&#39;s head. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]    The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an embodiment of a display assembly in the present invention.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the display assembly of FIG. 1.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the display assembly of FIG. 1.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 4 is a bottom perspective view of the interior of an embodiment of a helmet system in the present invention with a display assembly mounted to the face bar of the helmet at the right and an alternative left base mount also mounted to the face bar.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of the helmet system of FIG. 4 worn by a user.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0017]    Referring to FIGS.  1 - 3 , display assembly  10  is one embodiment of a display assembly in the present invention and can be mounted to a headgear such as in a helmet  30  (FIGS. 4 and 5) as part of a headgear or helmet system  40  for providing the user  32  with information and/or images. For example, in motorcycle applications, or in auto racing applications, displayed information can include speed, revolutions per minute (RPM), oil pressure, time, basic GPS data, pager indicia, etc. Display assembly  10  includes a display module  20  having viewing optics for displaying the information and/or images. The display  20  is rotatably mounted by a horizontal first joint about a horizontal first axis H (FIG. 1) between two yoke or side members  18  about pivot points  19  to allow the display  20  to be pivoted upwardly and downwardly relative to the user&#39;s  32  face. Display  20  is rotatably mounted to side members  18  in a frictional manner where display  20  will stay in a particular orientation until moved by user  32 . Enough frictional drag is provided to allow adjustment yet survive shock and vibration.  
         [0018]    The side members  18  are in turn mounted within recesses  16   a  on opposite sides of a generally planar bottom plate  16 . The bottom plate  16  has a central opening  16   b  which engages the neck  14   b  and shoulder  15  of a generally circular rotatable member or swivel ring  14 , and is secured thereto. The swivel ring  14  has an outwardly extending generally circular flange  14   c  with an angled top surface  17  and can have a flat  21 . The swivel ring  14  is snap fitted and captured within a generally planar base  12 .  
         [0019]    The base  12  has a circular recess or hole  12   b  therethrough which is connected to an entrance slot  11  extending from one edge with two base legs  12   c  being on opposite sides thereof. A dove tail groove  12   a , generally having the cross sectional shape of the flange  14   c  with a flat bottom surface and an angled top surface, extends through the base legs  12   c  and into a circular annular recess  13  within base  12 . Circular recess  13  concentrically surrounds recess or hole  12   b . The circular recess  13  has the same shape as flange  14   c  and is sized to allow frictional rotation of the flange  14   c  therein. In addition, the outer diameter of shoulder  15  and hole  12   b  are also sized to provide frictional rotation of the shoulder  15  relative to hole  12   b . The combination of these two regions forms a separate vertical second joint which provides swivel ring  14  with frictional rotation about a vertical second axis V (FIG. 1) so that the display  20  can be pivoted side to side relative to the user&#39;s  32  face. As a result, swivel ring  14  is rotatably mounted to base  12  in a frictional manner where swivel ring  14  will stay in a particular orientation until moved by user  32 . As with axis H, the proper amount of frictional drag is provided. The angles of the groove  12   a  and interference dimensions of the contacting regions create the appropriate amount of drag required. The slot  11  is dimensioned to be narrower than the outer diameter of shoulder  15  to provide swivel ring  14  with a snap fit into base  12  where legs  12   c  deflect slightly outward when shoulder  15  passes through slot  11 . Alternatively, slot  11  can include protrusions to provide the snap fit. Hole  12   b  in base  12  and hole  14   a  in swivel ring  14  allow access and passage of cables and wires  28  therethrough to display  20  (FIG. 4).  
         [0020]    Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, in use, the base  12  of display assembly  10  can be mounted to the upper edge  26  of the chin or face bar  24  of a helmet  30 , typically, by fasteners  29 . The display assembly  10  is positioned on face bar  24  to be below one of the user&#39;s  32  eyes, for example, position R under the right eye  34 , as shown. A second base  12  can be mounted to the face bar  24  to be below the other eye, for example, position L under the left eye  36 , as shown. This allows the display  20  to be moved under either eye according to one or more user&#39;s  32  preference, for example, the dominant eye. The snap fit feature of the swivel ring  14  with base  12  allows for easy removal and insertion between the two bases  12  so as to be right or left eye compatible. In addition, adjustment of the position or orientation of display  20  is desired because each user  32  can have different head and face dimensions, for example, the horizontal or lateral distance between the eyes  34  and  36  can differ as well as the vertical distance between the eyes  34  and  36 , and the face bar  24 . Furthermore, even for the same user  32 , the position of the face bar  24  relative to the eyes  34  and  36  can change with helmet movement, for example, the helmet  30  can sit differently on the user&#39;s  32  head when leaning forward, in comparison when sitting upright. The display assembly  10  can be adjusted by the user  32  even when wearing gloves while the helmet  30  is being worn and during driving to position display  20  in a location and orientation suitable for viewing depending upon eye location.  
         [0021]    Tilting the display  20  up and down relative to the user&#39;s  32  head about the horizontal axis H typically adjusts for the vertical distance between the eyes  34  and  36 , and the face bar  24  or in other words, the vertical position of eye  34  or  36 . Pivoting the display  20  side to side relative to the user&#39;s  32  head about vertical axis V typically adjusts for different lateral distances between different users&#39;  32  eyes  34  and  36 , interpupilary distance (IPD), to adjust to the horizontal or lateral position of a particular eye. These adjustments change the position of display  20  about two axes of rotation which tilts the display into an orientation suitable for viewing for a particular location of the eye  34  or  36 . The terms horizontal joint and axis H, vertical joint and axis V, upwardly, downwardly, and side to side, are used to describe the relationship of the display assembly  10  relative to the normal upright vertical orientation of a user&#39;s  32  head. It is understood that the user&#39;s  32  head can be orientated at angles, or horizontally which would also change the orientation of the display assembly  10  accordingly. As a result, the two rotational axes H and V can also be described as being orthogonal relative to each other with axis V extending generally in a longitudinal direction relative to the user&#39;s  32  head, and axis H extending generally in a lateral direction in front of the user&#39;s  32  face, for providing tilt and rotation of display  20 .  
         [0022]    Typically, the display  20  is positioned below the users  32  eye, such as the right eye as shown  34 , so that for normal distance vision, the line of sight of the right eye  34  passes over the display  20 . Such a position does not significantly obscure the users  32  field of vision of the real world scene. This also provides sufficient space to allow use by users  32  who wear glasses. In order to view the information and/or images on display  20  with right eye  34 , the user  32  merely glances downward. The information and/or images displayed on display  20  are focused in a manner to achieve or approximate optical infinity so that the user  32  does not need to refocus eye  34  to view display  20 , which saves time. This can be advantageous for motorcycle or automotive racing situations because the user&#39;s  32  attention can remain on the road. Time spent refocusing one&#39;s eyes can cause a racer to lose an opportunity to make a move, or can be dangerous. If a driver has to shift his/her eyes to a conventional instrument panel in a vehicle, the eyes must refocus to look down and then again to look up at the road.  
         [0023]    In the embodiment of the display assembly  10  depicted in FIGS.  1 - 3 , the shape and configuration of the dove tail groove  12   a  and the swivel ring  14  with the flange  14   c  is a design that allows the display assembly  10  to be made small if desired, which allows display assembly  10  to be mounted within a helmet  30  and can also fit behind a face shield. The display assembly  10  can also be retrofitted into existing helmets. In one embodiment, the entire display assembly  10  can be made about 1.35 inches tall, with the base  12  being about 1.25 inches long by 1.2 inches wide and 0.250+/−0.005 inches thick. In addition, swivel ring  14  can have a flange  14   c  with an outer diameter of 0.938+0.000/−0.001 inches and a shoulder  15  with an outer diameter of 0.783+0.000/−0.001 inches. The flange  14   c , the dove tail groove  12   a  and circular recess  13  in base  12  have a top surface that is angled at about 52°. The circular recess  13  and the dove tail groove  12   a  have a diameter and width, respectively, of 0.938+0.001/−0.000 inches. Slot  11  in base  12  is 0.750+0.000/−0.001 inches and hole  12   b  is 0.783+0.001/−0.000 inches. Such dimensions can provide suitable frictional drag and capture characteristics, but it is understood that other suitable dimensions are possible depending upon the situation at hand. The tolerances on the dimensions allow for interchangeability of parts. The components of display assembly  10  can be made of materials such as plastics, suitable metals, or combinations thereof. Typically, the parts of display assembly  10  are light weight and solid for crash safety. The helmet&#39;s  30  crash worthiness is not compromised. Display assembly  10  can have a matte finish for low glare where reflections of ambient light are minimized.  
         [0024]    The display  20  depicted in the figures is manufactured by Kopin Corporation, but it is understood that other suitable displays can be employed. The display  20  can be either monochrome or full color. The brightness of display  20  can be adjusted for readability purposes, for example, in sunlight. Typically, display  20  has about a 10° to 30° field of view and infinite adjustment resolution. The optics of display  20  can be folded or in-line. Power to display  20  can be provided by cable or internal battery and signals to display  20  can be provided by wired or wireless interface. Miniature electronics can be provided in the face bar  24  that interfaces to a wide range of driver platforms.  
         [0025]    While this invention has been particularly shown and described with references to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention encompassed by the appended claims.  
         [0026]    For example, although particular embodiments have been shown and described, it is understood that rotation of display  20  about two axes can be achieved by other suitable means in addition to that shown, for example, by a ball joint. A ball joint can provide rotation about vertical and horizontal axes in one joint. Also dove tail groove  12   a  and circular recess  13  can be omitted with swivel ring  14  having flanges that extend above and below base  12  for capturing the base  12  therebetween. Although the headgear system in the present invention has been shown to include a helmet  30 , it is understood that the headgear does not have to be a helmet and instead can be or include a headband, mask, eye wear, etc. In addition, the display assembly  10  can also be attached at other suitable locations of the headgear, which includes attachment to the headgear above the eyes, such as at the forehead, or to the side of the eyes. Furthermore, if desired, the display assembly  10  can be employed for positioning display  20  directly in front of an eye. Also, although examples of vehicle related information and/or images for display have been described above, it is also contemplated that computer and TV/video capabilities can also be displayed. The present invention headgear system can also be used in sports, such as for signaling plays to a quarterback, pitch selection to a catcher, etc. If desired, the display  20  can be made larger so that information and/or images can be viewed by both eyes instead of by just one. Alternatively, two displays  20  can be employed, one for each eye. For example, referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, a display  20  can be mounted in each base  12  at positions R and L. Such a configuration can provide binocular capabilities. If desired, swivel ring  14  does not have to be snap fitted into base  12  but instead can be rotatably mounted by other conventional means.