Patent Publication Number: US-2009231435-A1

Title: Protective helmet

Description:
RELATED FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a protective helmet, and more particularly, to a protective helmet having a recording device. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Conventionally, a helmet is used for protecting a head of a wearer. When an unexpected accident happens, the wearer may be rescued, but details of the accident are not recorded. 
     It is desired to provide a protective helmet, which can overcome the above-described deficiency. 
     SUMMARY 
     A protective helmet includes a main body defining an opening therein, a recording device, a dry battery, a light energy storage device, and a selection switch. The recording device is received in the opening. The memory unit is electrically connected to the recording device and mounted on the main body, and is configured for storing the information recorded by the recording device. The dry battery is electrically connected to the recording device and configured for providing power to the recording device. The light energy storage device is electrically connected to the recording device and configured for providing power to the recording device. The light energy storage device includes a solar cell plate and a storage battery electrically connected to the solar cell plate. The storage battery is configured for storing electric power produced by the solar cell plate. The selection switch is electrically connected to the recording device, the light energy storage device and the dry battery. The selection switch is configured for selecting either of the light energy storage device and the dry battery to provide power to the recording device. 
     Other novel features and advantages will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention is described in detail hereinafter, by way of example and description of an exemplary embodiments thereof and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a protective helmet according to the exemplary embodiment; and 
         FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the protective helmet of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
     A detailed explanation of a protective helmet having a recoding device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will now be made with reference to the drawings attached hereto. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a protective helmet  100  according to the exemplary embodiment is shown. The protective helmet  100  includes a main body  10  where an opening  101  is formed on, a recording device  11 , a memory unit  12 , a power unit  13  electrically connected to the recording device  11 , and a selection switch  14 . 
     The main body  10  is configured for covering the head of the wearer and includes an outer portion  102  and an inner portion  103  connected to the outer portion  102 . The outer portion  102  is made of stiff material, such as metal, stiff plastic, or the like, for protecting the head of the wearer. Understandably, for comfort, the inner portion  103  is made of soft material, such as sponge, soft plastic, or the like, and is glued or otherwise adhered to an interior side of the outer portion  102 . The opening  101  is disposed on the outer portion  102  and configured for receiving the recording device  11 . The opening  101  can be disposed on any position of the outer portion  102 . In the present embodiment, the opening  101  is disposed at top portion of the main body  10 . Hence, the recording device  11  of the protective helmet  100  has substantially the same field of view as the wearer in this position. 
     The recording device  11  includes a camera unit  111  and an audio recorder  112 . The camera unit  111  is of small size and light weight and can includes a single-chip image sensor, which can be a single-chip color CMOS image sensor or a charge coupled device (CCD) image sensor, and so on. The camera unit  111  is configured for capturing images of an exterior environment. The audio recorder  112  can be a microphone and configured for recording sound of the exterior environment. 
     The memory unit  12  is electrically connected to the recording device  11  and configured for storing data recorded by the recording device  11 . 
     The power unit  13  includes a dry battery  131  and a light energy storage device  132 . In other embodiments any kind of battery of sufficiently small size and having enough power can be applied to the power unit  13 . The dry battery  131  is electrically connected to the recording device  11  and configured for providing power to the camera unit  111  and the audio recorder  112  of the recording device  11 . The light energy storage device  132  is configured for converting light energy incident on a solar cell plate  133  of the light energy storage device  132  into electrical energy and storing the electrical energy in a storage battery  134  of the light energy storage device  132  electrically connected to the solar cell plate  133 . The solar cell plates  133  is disposed on the outer portion  102 . 
     The selection switch  14  can be a multi-channel switch or a single-pole multi-throw switch. The selection switch  14  includes an output end  141 , two input ends  142 ,  143 , and a pole  144 . The pole  144  is electrically connected to the output end  141 . The recording device  11  is electrically connected to the output end  141 . The two input ends  142 ,  143  are respectively connected to the light energy storage device  132  and the dry battery  131 . Thus, the selection switch  130  can be used to select either of the light energy storage device  132  and the dry battery  131  to provide energy to the recording device  11 . 
     As described above, the protective helmet  100  can record information including images and sound utilizing the camera unit  111  and the recorder  112 . Therefore, when an accident happens to a wearer wearing the protective helmet  100 , the details can be recorded by the protective helmet  100  and data stored in the protective helmet  100  can be retrieved and analyzed. 
     It should be understood that the above-described embodiment is intended to illustrate rather than limit the invention. Variations may be made to the embodiments without departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the scope of the invention.