Patent Publication Number: US-2017351096-A1

Title: Head-mounted equipment capable of displaying images

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a head-mounted equipment, and more particularly to a head-mounted equipment capable of displaying images. 
     Related Prior Art 
     A conventional cap-type HUD (head up display) includes: a cap, a reflector and an imaging module. The cap has a peak, and the reflector is pivotally disposed at the front edge of the peak. The reflector is partially reflective and partially transparent. The imaging module is removably attached to the lower surface of the peak, by way of magnetic attraction, adhesive or clipping, to project an image to the reflector, and via the reflector, the image is reflected to a user&#39;s eyes. 
     The imaging module is attached to the lower surface of the peak and will protrude from the lower surface of the peak, and as a result, when the cap is worn on the head, the imaging module is likely to hit or interfere with the user&#39;s head, or block the user&#39;s vision. Therefore, the above cap-type HUD still has room for improvement. 
     The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages. 
     SUMMARY 
     One objective of the present invention is to provide a head-mounted equipment capable of displaying images, wherein the display will neither interfere with the head of the user nor block the vision of the user. 
     To achieve the above objective, a head-mounted equipment capable of displaying images in accordance with the present invention, includes: a head-worn member with a front edge; a visor attached to the front edge of the head-worn member, and being partially reflective and partially transparent, wherein the visor is arc-shaped and has a concave surface and a convex surface; a face-worn member with a wearing surface and an opposite mounting surface; and a display mounted on the mounting surface of the face-worn member to project an image to the visor. 
     The display of the head-mounted equipment of the invention is attached to the face-worn member, unlike the prior art in which the imaging module is attached to the lower surface of the peak of the cap. When in use, the face-worn member is attached to the face of the user, so that the displays will neither interfere with the head of the user nor block the vision of the user, which facilitates the user to see the images. 
     Still, to achieve the above objective, a head-mounted equipment capable of displaying images in accordance with the present invention, includes: a head-worn member with a front edge; a visor attached to the front edge of the head-worn member, and being partially reflective and partially transparent, wherein the visor is arc-shaped; at least one bracket with a fixing end and at least one connecting end, wherein the fixing end is fixed to the visor, and the at least one bracket extends from the fixing end toward a direction away from the visor to form the at least one connecting end; and a display mounted on the at least one connecting end of the at least one bracket to project an image to the visor. 
     The at least one bracket is mounted on the visor, unlike the prior art in which the imaging module is attached to the lower surface of the peak of the cap. When in use, the head-worn member is worn on the head of the user, so that the display will neither interfere with the head of the user nor block the vision of the user, which facilitates the user to see the images. 
     These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an illustrative view of the head-mounted equipment in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention, showing that the head-worn member is worn on the user&#39;s head; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view in accordance with the first preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein the visor is separated from the head-worn member; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view in accordance with the first preferred embodiment of the present invention, showing that the displays are disposed on the face-worn member; 
         FIG. 4  is a cross sectional view taken along the line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is an illustrative view of the invention, showing the wire electrical connection between the display and the image source device; 
         FIG. 6  is an illustrative view of the invention, showing the wireless electrical connection between the display and the image source device; 
         FIG. 7  is an illustrative view of the head-mounted equipment of the first preferred embodiment of the invention, showing another embodiment of the head-worn member; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a head-mounted equipment in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention, showing that the displays are disposed on the face-worn member; 
         FIG. 9  is an operational view of the head-mounted equipment in accordance with the second preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a head-mounted equipment in accordance with a third preferred embodiment of the present invention, showing that the displays are disposed on the face-worn member; 
         FIG. 11  is a cross sectional view taken along the line  11 - 11  of  FIG. 10 ; 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a head-mounted equipment in accordance with a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention, showing that two legs are coupled to the face-worn member; 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view of a head-mounted equipment in accordance with a fifth preferred embodiment of the present invention, showing that two rope rings are coupled to the face-worn member; 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective view of the face-worn member of the head-mounted equipment in accordance with a sixth preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 15  is a cross sectional view taken along the line  15 - 15  of  FIG. 14 ; 
         FIG. 16  is an illustrative view of the head-mounted equipment of the sixth preferred embodiment of the invention, showing another embodiment of the head-worn member; 
         FIG. 17  is an operational view of the head-mounted equipment in accordance with a seventh preferred embodiment of the present invention, showing that the head-worn member is worn on the user&#39;s head; 
         FIG. 18  is an operational view of the head-mounted equipment in accordance with an eighth preferred embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the adjustment of the bracket; 
         FIG. 19  is an exploded view of the head-mounted equipment in accordance with the seventh preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 20  is an illustrative view of the invention, showing the wire electrical connection between the display and the image source device; 
         FIG. 21  is an illustrative view of the invention, showing the wireless electrical connection between the display and the image source device; 
         FIG. 22  is an illustrative view of the head-mounted equipment of the seventh preferred embodiment of the invention, showing another embodiment of the head-worn member; 
         FIG. 23  is an illustrative view of the head-mounted equipment of an eighth preferred embodiment of the invention, showing that there are three displays mounted on three connecting ends of one bracket; 
         FIG. 24  is an illustrative view of the head-mounted equipment of a ninth preferred embodiment of the invention, showing that there are two displays mounted on two connecting ends of total two brackets; and 
         FIG. 25  is an illustrative view of the head-mounted equipment of a tenth preferred embodiment of the invention, showing that there are four displays mounted on four connecting ends of total two brackets. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present invention will be clearer from the following description when viewed together with the accompanying drawings, which show, for purpose of illustrations only, the preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-6 , a head-mounted equipment capable of displaying images in accordance the first preferred embodiment of the present invention, includes: a head-worn member  10 , a visor  20 , a face-worn member  40  and two displays  60 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the head-worn member  10  has a front edge A. In this embodiment as shown in  FIG. 2 , the head-worn member  10  is a baseball cap  10  which has a peak  11 , and at two sides of the front edge A of the peak  11  are disposed two pivot holes  12 . 
     The visor  20  is attached to the front edge A of the baseball cap  10 , and is partially reflective and partially transparent, as shown in  FIG. 2 . In this embodiment, the visor  20  is provided at two ends of the top edge thereof with two pivot ears  21 , and each of the pivot ears  21  has a protrusion  211  inserted into the pivot holes  12  of the baseball cap  10 , so that the visor  20  is pivotally attached to two sides of the peak  11 . The two pivot ears  21  of the visor  20  are clamped against and produce friction with respect to the two sides of the peak  11 , so that the visor  20  can be pivotally positioned with respect to the baseball cap  10 . Moreover, the visor  20  is approximately arc-shaped and has a concave surface  22  and a convex surface  24 , and the concave surface  22  is located toward the baseball cap  10 . 
     Referring then to  FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 , the face-worn member  40  is a flexible piece with a wearing surface  41  and an opposite mounting surface  42 . The wearing surface  41  is made of a material, like silicone rubber, in order to have a sticky property, and as a result, the wearing surface  41  of the face-worn member  40  can be removably attached to the face  32  of a user  30 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the displays  60  are mounted on the mounting surface  42  of the face-worn member  40 . In this embodiment, the displays  60  are LCD (liquid crystal display). As shown in  FIG. 5 , when in use, the displays  60  are connected to an image source device  80  by a wire (not shown). The image source device  80  can be mounted on the baseball cap  10  to send an image signal (not shown) to each of the displays  60 , so as to produce an image on the displays  60 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , the displays  60  are electrically connected to the image source device  80  in a wireless manner. The image source device  80  is a smart phone (not shown) which can be held by the user  30 . To achieve wireless connection, the displays  60  each include a first wireless interface  61 , and the image source device  80  includes a second wireless interface  81 , so that the displays  60  and the image source device  80  are electrically connected via wireless frequency through the first and second wireless interfaces  61 ,  81 , and the image source device  80  can send an image signal (not shown) to each of the displays  60 , so as to produce an image on the displays  60 . 
     What mentioned above is the structure of the first preferred embodiment, and what follows is the description of the use of the first preferred embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-5 , when in use, the wearing surface  41  of the face-worn member  40  can be attached to the face  32  of the user  30 , and then the baseball cap  10  is worn on the head  31  of the user  30 . By pivoting the visor  20 , the concave surface  22  is turned toward the face  32  of the user  30 . At this moment, the two pivot ears  21  of the visor  20  are clamped against two sides of the peak  11 , and the displays  60  are located toward the concave surface  22  of the visor  20 , so that the images sent from the image source device  80  can be projected onto the visor  20  by the displays  60 , and then are directly reflected by the visor  20  to the eyes  34  of the user  30 . At this moment, the user  30  can adjust the position of the reflected images by pivoting the visor  20 , so as to better display the images. Meanwhile, the user  30  is also able to see outside scenery through the visor  20 . 
     It can be learned from the above description that the effect of this invention is that: it solves the problem of the prior art that the imaging module is attached to and will protrude from the lower surface of the peak, and as a result, when the cap is worn on the head, the imaging module is likely to interfere with the user&#39;s head, or block the user&#39;s vision. The displays  60  of the head-mounted equipment of the invention are attached to the face-worn member  40 , unlike the prior art in which the imaging module is attached to the lower surface of the peak  11  of the cap. When in use, the face-worn member  40  is attached to the face  32  of the user  30 , so that the displays  60  will neither interfere with the head  31  of the user  30  nor block the vision of the user  30 , which facilitates the user  30  to see the images. 
     It is to be noted that the arc-shaped visor  20  can have a spherical shape, and the concave surface  22  is also spherical shaped. The displays  60  are disposed at reversed phase positions (or opposite to) to the visor  20 , and the visor  20  is arc-shaped and the displays  60  are disposed at the reversed phase projection positions of the face-worn member  40 , which allows the projection content from the displays  60  to be projected more accurately to the user&#39;s eyes, without using extra image correction lenses. Hence, the structure of the displays  60  is simplified to reduce the cost. 
     There are two displays  60  in the above embodiment, which is for exemplary purposes only and not for limiting, and there can also be only one display  60 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2  again, the two pivot ears  21  of the visor  20  are clamped against and produce friction with respect to the two sides of the peak  11 , so that the visor  20  can be pivotally positioned with respect to the baseball cap  10 , which, however, does not intend to limit the invention. For example, the two pivot ears  21  of the visor  20  are just pivotally disposed at two sides of the peak  11  without clamping against the two sides of the peak  11 , so that the visor  20  is able to pivot about the baseball cap  10  but cannot be positioned. As long as the visor  20  can pivot, the image from the display  60  can be projected onto the visor  20 . Since the forgoing is understandable from the first preferred embodiment, it is no longer depicted in drawings again. 
     Moreover, the visor  20  is not limited to being pivoted to the peak  11  of the baseball cap  10 . In fact, the visor  20  can also be fixed to the peak  11  of the baseball cap  10 , as long as the image from the display  60  can be projected onto the visor  20 . 
     In the above description, the head-worn member  10  is a baseball cap  10 , which is not provided for limiting purposes, and the head-worn member  10  can also be a safety helmet  10 , as shown in  FIG. 7 . 
     Referring then to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , a head-mounted equipment capable of displaying images in accordance the second preferred embodiment of the present invention is similar to the first preferred embodiment, except that: 
     The face-worn member  40  is provided with two see-through apertures  44 , and the eyes  34  of the user  30  are aligned with the two see-through apertures  44  to receive the image reflected from the visor  20 . 
     The rest structures of the second preferred embodiment are the same as the first preferred embodiment, and therefore, no further description seems necessary. 
     Referring then to  FIGS. 10 and 11 , a head-mounted equipment capable of displaying images in accordance the third preferred embodiment of the present invention is similar to the first preferred embodiment, except that: 
     There is only one display  60 , and the display  60  is configured to conform to the shape of the face-worn member  40 . Therefore, the display  60  has a relatively large display area. 
     The rest structures of the third preferred embodiment are the same as the first preferred embodiment, and therefore, no further description seems necessary. 
     Referring then to  FIG. 12 , a head-mounted equipment capable of displaying images in accordance with the fourth embodiment of the present invention is similar to the first preferred embodiment, except that: 
     Two ear-hook members  71  are provided at two sides of the face-worn member  40 . In this embodiment, the two ear-hook members  71  are two legs  71 , each of the two legs  71  has one end connected to two sides of the face-worn member  40 , and has another end formed with a hook portion  711  to be hooked to the ears of the user  30 . Therefore, without having to be sticky or without having to abut against the face  32  of the user  30 , the wearing surface  41  of the face-worn member  40  can also be attached or fixed to the face  32  of the user  30 , 
     The rest structures of the fourth preferred embodiment are the same as the first preferred embodiment, and therefore, no further description seems necessary. 
     Referring then to  FIG. 13 , a head-mounted equipment capable of displaying images in accordance with the fifth embodiment of the present invention is similar to the first preferred embodiment, except that: 
     the two ear-hook members  72  are two rope rings  72  which are connected to two sides of the face-worn member  40  and to be hooked to the ears of the user  30 . Therefore, the wearing surface  41  of the face-worn member  40  can also be attached or fixed to the face  32  of the user  30 , without having to be sticky. 
     The rest structures of the fifth preferred embodiment are the same as the first preferred embodiment, and therefore, no further description seems necessary. 
     Referring then to  FIGS. 14-16 , a head-mounted equipment capable of displaying images in accordance with the sixth embodiment of the present invention is similar to the first preferred embodiment, except that: 
     The face-worn member  40  includes an abutting layer  46  and a substrate  48 . The abutting layer  46  is made of silicone rubber with a sticky property. The substrate  48  is provided for mounting of the displays  60  (as shown in  FIG. 1 ). In this embodiment, the outer surface of the abutting layer  46  is provided with the wearing surface  41 , and the outer surface of the substrate  48  is provided with the mounting surface  42 . 
     When in use, the abutting layer  46  of the face-worn member  40  is abutted against the face  32  of the user  30 , and the abutting layer  46  is able to be firmly attached to the face  32  of the user  30 . In this embodiment, the abutting layer  46  of the face-worn member  40  is made of (but not limited to) silicone rubber, as long as the abutting layer  46  has sticky property and can be removably attached to the face  32  of the user  30 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 14 and 15 , the abutting layer  46  is shaped to conform to the shape of the substrate  48 , and can also have a shape different from the shape of the shape of the substrate  48 , as along as the abutting layer  46  can be firmly attached to the face  32  of the user  30 . 
     The rest structures of the sixth preferred embodiment are the same as the first preferred embodiment, and therefore, no further description seems necessary. 
     Referring then to  FIGS. 17-19 , a head-mounted equipment capable of displaying images in accordance with the seventh embodiment of the present invention includes: a head-worn member  10 , a visor  20 , at least one bracket  90  and at least one display  60 . 
     The head-worn member  10  has a front edge A. In this embodiment as shown in  FIG. 19 , the head-worn member  10  is a baseball cap  10  which has a peak  11 , and at two sides of the front edge A of the peak  11  are disposed two pivot holes  12 . 
     The visor  20  is attached to the front edge A of the baseball cap  10 , and is partially reflective and partially transparent, as shown in  FIG. 19 . In this embodiment, the visor  20  is provided at two ends of the top edge thereof with two pivot ears  21 , and each of the pivot ears  21  has a protrusion  211  inserted into the pivot holes  12  of the baseball cap  10 , so that the visor  20  is pivotally attached to two sides of the peak  11 . The two pivot ears  21  of the visor  20  are clamped against and produce friction with respect to the two sides of the peak  11 , so that the visor  20  can be pivotally positioned with respect to the baseball cap  10 . Moreover, the visor  20  is approximately arc-shaped and has a first surface  22  and an opposite second surface  24 , and the first surface  22  is located toward the baseball cap  10 . The first surface  22  is a concave surface  22  and the second surface  24  is a convex surface  24 . 
     The at least one bracket  90  has a fixing end  91  and at least one connecting end  92 . The fixing end  91  is fixed to the visor  20 , and the bracket  90  extends from the fixing end  91  toward a direction away from the visor  20  to form the at least one connecting end  92 . In this embodiment, the bracket  90  has flexibility, and there is one bracket  90  as exemplary. Besides, the bracket  90  has one connecting end  92  as exemplary, and the fixing end  91  of the at least one bracket  90  is disposed at the first surface  22  of the visor  20 . 
     The at least one display  60  is disposed at the at least one connecting end  92  of the bracket  90  to project an image to the visor  20 . In this embodiment, there is one display  60 , and the display  60  is a LCD. As shown in  FIG. 20 , when in use, the display  60  is connected to an image source device  80  by a wire (not shown). The image source device  80  can be mounted on the baseball cap  10  to send an image signal (not shown) to the display  60 , so as to produce an image on the display  60 . As shown in  FIG. 21 , the display  60  is electrically connected to the image source device  80  in a wireless manner. The image source device  80  is a smart phone (not shown) which can be held by the user  30 . To achieve wireless connection, the display  60  includes a first wireless interface  61 , and the image source device  80  includes a second wireless interface  81 , so that the display  60  and the image source device  80  are electrically connected via wireless frequency through the first and second wireless interfaces  61 ,  81 , and the image source device  80  can send an image signal (not shown) to each of the display  60 , so as to produce an image on the display  60 . 
     What mentioned above is the structure of the seventh preferred embodiment, and what follows is the description of the use of the seventh preferred embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 17-19 , when in use, the baseball cap  10  is worn on the head  31  of the user  30 . By pivoting the visor  20 , the first surface  22  is turned toward the face  32  of the user  30 . At this moment, the two pivot ears  21  of the visor  20  are clamped against two sides of the peak  11 , and the display  60  is located toward the first surface  22  of the visor  20 , so that the images sent from the image source device  80  can be projected onto the visor  20  by the display  60 , and then are directly reflected by the visor  20  to the eyes  34  of the user  30 . At this moment, the user  30  can adjust the projection angle of the images of the display  60  by adjusting the flexible bracket  90 , so as to better display the images. Meanwhile, the user  30  is also able to see outside scenery through the visor  20 . 
     It can be learned from the above description that the effect of this invention is that: it solves the problem of the prior art that the imaging module is attached to and will protrude from the lower surface of the peak, and as a result, when the cap is worn on the head, the imaging module is likely to interfere with the user&#39;s head, or block the user&#39;s vision. The at least one bracket  90  is mounted to the visor  20 , and the at least one display  60  is mounted on the at least one bracket  90 , unlike the prior art in which the imaging module is attached to the lower surface of the peak  11  of the cap. When in use, the head-worn member  10  is worn on the head  31  of the user  30 , so that the display  60  will neither interfere with the head  31  of the user  30  nor block the vision of the user  30 , which facilitates the user  30  to see the images. 
     Referring to  FIG. 19  again, the two pivot ears  21  of the visor  20  are clamped against and produce friction with respect to the two sides of the peak  11 , so that the visor  20  can be pivotally positioned with respect to the baseball cap  10 , which, however, does not intend to limit the invention. For example, the two pivot ears  21  of the visor  20  are just pivotally disposed at two sides of the peak  11  without clamping against the two sides of the peak  11 , so that the visor  20  is able to pivot about the baseball cap  10  but cannot be positioned. As long as the visor  20  can pivot, and the image from the display  60  can be projected onto the visor  20 . Since the forgoing is understandable from the first preferred embodiment, it is no longer depicted in drawings again. 
     Moreover, the visor  20  is not limited to being pivoted to the peak  11  of the baseball cap  10 . In fact, the visor  20  can also be fixed to the peak  11  of the baseball cap  10 , as long as the image from the display  60  can be projected onto the visor  20 . 
     Besides, the bracket  90  of the present invention is not to being flexible. In fact, the bracket  90  can also be inflexible, as long as the display  60  can be mounted on the at least one connecting end  92  of the bracket  90  to allow direct reflection of the image from the display  60  onto the eyes  34  of the user  30  by the visor  20 . 
     In the above description, the head-worn member  10  is a baseball cap  10 , which is not provided for limiting purposes, and the head-worn member  10  can also be a safety helmet  10 , as shown in  FIG. 22 . 
     It is to be noted that the arc-shaped visor  20  can have a spherical shape, and the concave surface  22  is also spherical shaped. The display  60  is disposed at reversed phase positions to the visor  20 , and the visor  20  is arc-shaped and the display  60  is disposed at the reversed phase projection positions of the face-worn member  40 , which allows the projection content from the display  60  to be projected more accurately to the user&#39;s eyes, without using extra image correction lenses. Hence, the structure of the display  60  is simplified to reduce the cost. 
     Referring then to  FIG. 23 , a head-mounted equipment capable of displaying images in accordance with the eighth embodiment of the present invention is similar to the seventh preferred embodiment, except that: 
     The quantity of the at least one connecting end  92  of the bracket  90  is plural. In this embodiment, the quantity of the at least one connecting end  92  of the bracket  90  is three as exemplary, the quantity of the at least one display  60  is also three, and the three displays  60  are mounted on the three connecting ends  92  of the bracket  90  to achieve the effect of projecting more images. 
     The rest structures of the eighth preferred embodiment are the same as the seventh preferred embodiment, and therefore, no further description seems necessary. 
     Referring then to  FIG. 24 , a head-mounted equipment capable of displaying images in accordance with the ninth embodiment of the present invention is similar to the seventh preferred embodiment, except that: 
     The quantity of the at least one bracket  90  is plural. In this embodiment, the quantity of the at least one bracket  90  is two as exemplary, each of the brackets  90  is provided with one connecting end  92 , and the quantity of the at least one display  60  is also two, so that the two displays  60  are mounted on the two connecting ends  92  of the two brackets  90  to achieve the effect of projecting more images. 
     The rest structures of the ninth preferred embodiment are the same as the seventh preferred embodiment, and therefore, no further description seems necessary. 
     Referring then to  FIG. 25 , a head-mounted equipment capable of displaying images in accordance with the tenth embodiment of the present invention is similar to the seventh preferred embodiment, except that: 
     The quantity of the at least one bracket  90  is plural, and the quantity of the at least one connecting end  92  of each of the brackets  90  is also plural. In this embodiment, the quantity of the at least one bracket  90  is two as exemplary, and the quantity of the at least one connecting end  92  of each of the brackets  90  is also two, namely, each of the brackets  90  is provided with two connecting ends  92 , so that four displays  60  are mounted on the four connecting ends  92  of the two brackets  90  to achieve the effect of projecting more images. 
     The rest structures of the tenth preferred embodiment are the same as the seventh preferred embodiment, and therefore, no further description seems necessary. 
     While we have shown and described various embodiments in accordance with the present invention, it is clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.