Patent Abstract:
A safety light helmet is a helmet with a light affixed to the top center of the helmet for 360-degree visibility by other riders and vehicles when passing a rider wearing the helmet. The safety light detaches immediately during a collision without causing injury to the rider. The safety light helmet has a plurality of light bulbs operative for displaying a plurality of light patterns. The light is rechargeable.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part utility application of the nonprovisional utility patent application Ser. No. 13/354,828, filed on Jan. 20, 2012, in the United States Patent Office, claiming priority to the provisional patent application, Ser. No. 61/438,165 filed in the United States Patent Office on Jan. 31, 2011 and is expressly incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates generally to a helmet. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a safety light helmet worn when riding a motorcycle and similar vehicles. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Safety is among one of the greatest concerns to people who participate in motorcycling, bicycling, skateboarding, dirt biking, and any other sports, which may require protective gear to be worn by riders. This is especially true given the proximity of riders on or around busy roads and highways. The wearing of a safety helmet while participating in these activities is an important safety measure taken by riders to reduce the risk of injury in the event of an accident. 
         [0004]    Motorcycle and bicycle helmets are well-known means of protection worn by riders to protect head during collisions. Helmets have been improved to conform better to the rider&#39;s head and provide a greater degree of protection. 
         [0005]    However, there exists a need for additional measures to be taken to prevent accidents from occurring in the first place. It is also important that any preventative measure not take away the effectiveness and functionality of the protective mechanism. 
         [0006]    For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,327,587 to Marni Hurwitz entitled “Illuminated Safety Helmet” discloses a battery-powered electroluminescent strip adhered to the top exterior surface of the helmet. 
         [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,186,429 to Walter Johnson entitled “Flashing Light Safety Device for Cyclists Helmets” discloses a flashing light mounted atop a cyclists&#39; helmet to provide 360 degrees of visibility. 
         [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,327,588 to Louis Garneau entitled “Safety Helmet for Cyclists” discloses a streamlined, aerodynamically contoured safety helmet with light device anchored into an external shell cavity located in the lower end portion of the helmet. 
         [0009]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,464,369 to Mario Vega entitled “Helmet with Safety Light” discloses a helmet with a safety light disposed within a cavity on the back exterior portion of the helmet&#39;s shell. 
         [0010]    However when a light is affixed to a safety helmet, problems often encountered include a compromise of the existing aerodynamics, aesthetics, or safety functionality of the helmet. An external light may add bulkiness, which may compromise aerodynamic efficiency, rider comfort and overall aesthetics. More notably, the addition of a light may reduce the effectiveness of the helmet in preventing head injury. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,186,429 features a light affixed to the top of the helmet with an elevated position giving the rider visibility in all directions. However, there is the possibility that in the event of a collision wherein the top of the helmet is the first point to contact the pavement, another vehicle, or some other fixed object, the light fixture will be forced upon impact through the top portion of the helmet shell thereby harming the rider. Additionally, the elevated position of the light on top of the helmet could affect secondary considerations such as aerodynamic qualities and aesthetic appearance of the helmet. 
         [0011]    While these units may be suitable for the particular purpose employed, or for general use, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present disclosure as disclosed hereafter. 
         [0012]    In the present disclosure, where a document, act or item of knowledge is referred to or discussed, this reference or discussion is not an admission that the document, act or item of knowledge or any combination thereof was at the priority date, publicly available, known to the public, part of common general knowledge or otherwise constitutes prior art under the applicable statutory provisions; or is known to be relevant to an attempt to solve any problem with which the present disclosure is concerned. 
         [0013]    While certain aspects of conventional technologies have been discussed to facilitate the present disclosure, no technical aspects are disclaimed and it is contemplated that the claims may encompass one or more of the conventional technical aspects discussed herein. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0014]    An aspect of an example embodiment in the present disclosure is to provide a safer helmet for riding a motorcycle or similar vehicles. Accordingly, an aspect of an example embodiment in the present disclosure provides safety light helmet having a light on the helmet that provides 360-degree visibility. 
         [0015]    Another aspect of an example embodiment in the present disclosure is to provide a light that does not compromise aerodynamics and safety. Accordingly, the present disclosure provides a safety light that is a tapered oval positioned on the top center crown of a helmet, the light breaking away upon impact so that the safety of the rider is not compromised by the light penetrating the helmet. 
         [0016]    The present disclosure describes a safety light helmet that enhances the visibility of a rider to surrounding vehicle riders and pedestrians. Whether an example embodiment contains a flashing, constant, or intermittent lighting pattern, use of the device will reduce accidents by putting others on notice of the exact location of the rider. The light also serves as a back-up safety mechanism if a headlight or taillight were to fail while the rider is on the road. The safety light helmet is a helmet with a light affixed to the top center of the helmet providing 360-degree visibility. The safety light detaches immediately during a collision without causing injury to the rider. The safety light helmet has a plurality of light bulbs operative for displaying a plurality of light patterns. The light is rechargeable. 
         [0017]    The present disclosure addresses at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art. However, it is contemplated that the present disclosure may prove useful in addressing other problems and deficiencies in a number of technical areas. Therefore, the claims should not necessarily be construed as limited to addressing any of the particular problems or deficiencies discussed hereinabove. To the accomplishment of the above, this disclosure may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Attention is called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only. Variations are contemplated as being part of the disclosure. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]    In the drawings, like elements are depicted by like reference numerals. The drawings are briefly described as follows. 
           [0019]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an example embodiment of a safety light helmet. 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of an example embodiment of a safety light. 
           [0021]      FIG. 3   a  is a side elevational exploded view of an example embodiment of safety light attaching to a helmet, the helmet shown in cross-section. 
           [0022]      FIG. 3   b  is a top plan view of an example embodiment of the safety light. 
           [0023]      FIG. 4  is an exploded view of example embodiment of the safety light attaching to the helmet. 
           [0024]      FIG. 5  is a side elevational view of a rider wearing the safety light helmet. 
           [0025]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a further example embodiment of a safety light from the side. 
           [0026]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a further example embodiment of a safety light from the rear. 
           [0027]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a further example embodiment of a safety light from the bottom. 
           [0028]      FIG. 9  is a side elevational view of the further example embodiment of the safety light helmet. 
           [0029]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the further example embodiment of the safety light helmet. 
           [0030]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a further example embodiment of the safety light attaching to the helmet. 
           [0031]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of another example embodiment of a safety light attaching to the helmet. 
       
    
    
       [0032]    The present disclosure now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show various example embodiments. However, the present disclosure may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the example embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these example embodiments are provided so that the present disclosure is thorough, complete and fully conveys the scope of the present disclosure to those skilled in the art. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0033]      FIG. 1  shows an outside view of a safety light helmet  10  with a safety light  22 , a light switch  24 , and a rubber seal  23  installed. From this view, one is able to gain a greater appreciation for the special orientation of the safety light  22  on top of the helmet  10 . Geometrically, the safety light  22  blends into the exterior surface of the helmet  10 . The positioning of the safety light  22  is such that the helmet does not lose any of its aerodynamic or aesthetic qualities while still providing 360 degrees of visibility to surrounding vehicles and pedestrians. A light switch  24  is disposed on the side of the safety light  22  above the light base. The light switch  24  may be horizontally disposed in the center of light when viewing the light from its right side. A rubber seals  23  lines the exterior of the safety light  23  to prevent moisture from getting inside the fixture. 
         [0034]    The configuration of the light  22 , rubber seal  23 , metal washer  18 , cap  16 , and cylinder  12  is better understood with reference to  FIG. 2 . Reference number  12  shows the cylinder within which the light unit is positioned. The cylinder  12  is made of hard plastic and designed so that it breaks upon impact in the event of a collision. Thread grooves line the outer circumference of the cylinder  12  in order to provide means through which the cylinder  12  may be attached to the cap  16  on the inside of the helmet  10 . An underlying thin metal plate or washer  18  is located at the bottom of the cap  16  to prevent the cylinder  12  from protruding beyond the cap upon impact. 
         [0035]      FIG. 3  shows a side view of an example of the safety light of the present disclosure prior to installation into a helmet as well as an example of a top view of a safety light of the present disclosure. From this view, one is able to gain a greater appreciation of the configuration of the lighting unit with respect to the helmet shell. As illustrated by  FIG. 3 , panel a) the cylinder  12  is positioned through the bored hole  14  in the helmet shell to engage the cap  16  disposed inside the helmet  10 . The length of the cylinder  12  and depth of the bored hole  14  will vary with respect to the thickness of the helmet shell. Threaded grooves on the exterior of the cylinder  12  and the interior of the cap  16  allow for the cylinder  12  to engage the cap  16  by way of screwing the two parts together. The method of screwing the two parts together would require one to position the cylinder  12  through the bored hole  14  and match the cylinder  12  with the cap  16 . The bored hole  14  may also have a metal ring fitted around its circumference. The metal ring has an inner diameter, comparable to the outer diameter of the cylinder  12 , within which the cylinder  12  will be positioned.  FIG. 3   a  also exemplified the ease of detachability of the safety light  22  from the helmet  10 . By merely unscrewing the cylinder  12  from the cap  16  the user is able to detach the light from the helmet  10 . 
         [0036]      FIG. 3 , panel b) shows a top plan view of the safety light  22 . The means for lighting may consist of, but is not limited to: light-emitting diodes (“LEDs”), 12-volt powered bulbs, or some other power source located on the user or on the user&#39;s mode of transport if applicable. Furthermore, the lighting pattern may include flashing, constant, or intermittent lighting schemes. 
         [0037]    The lighting pattern is configurable for emergency personnel to duplicate the pattern used to indicate that an emergency vehicle is operating in emergency mode. The lighting pattern is configurable for non-emergency riders to distinguish the rider from a motorcycle vehicle operating in emergency mode. 
         [0038]    In one example embodiment, the switch  24  is activated and the light bulbs inside the light  22  are turned on. The switch  24  is toggled again and the lights flash. In a further example embodiment, the lights flash in an oscillating pattern. The switch  24  is toggled again and at least one light bulb lights up in the front of the light to provide a reading light. 
         [0039]      FIG. 4  shows a detailed structure of an example of a safety light helmet of the present disclosure. 
         [0040]      FIG. 5  illustrates a rider  100  wearing the safety light helmet  10 . The helmet  10  has an outer shell  20  having a curved crown. The light  22  is on the top center  20 T of the crown. The light  22  is midway between the sides  10 S of the helmet  10 . The light  22  thus situated is visible in all directions, that is, 360 degrees. Other riders, drivers and pedestrians can see the light  22  on the rider as the rider comes towards them, passes by them and continues away from them. 
         [0041]    The light  22  is selectively attachable to the helmet  10 , allowing the light  22  to be attached during dusk to dawn riding and allowing the light  22  to recharge during daylight. The rider  100  can reattach the light  22  during the day and as needed, as for example, during foggy or rainy conditions. 
         [0042]      FIG. 6  shows an example embodiment of the light  22  in detail. The light  22  has a top dome  28  that is an aerodynamically tapered oval. Inside the dome  28  is a plurality of light bulbs  26  in an array shown by broken lines. The dome  28  is constructed from material such as breakaway plastic that easily breaks away and shatters into small pieces. The light bulbs  26  are disclosed hereinabove and can display a plurality of lighting patterns. 
         [0043]    The light  22  has a switch  24  that has a plurality of positions operative for controlling the lighting patterns. The lighting patterns include flashing, constant and intermittent patterns as described hereinabove. In one example embodiment, the light bulbs  26  are LEDs capable of displaying lights of different colors. 
         [0044]      FIG. 7  shows the rear of the light  22 . In addition to the switch  24 , the light  22  has a port  30  for recharging. In one example embodiment, the port  30  is a USB port  30  for recharging using a USB (Universal Serial Bus) connector, however, other connectors for recharging are envisioned within the inventive concept. 
         [0045]      FIG. 8  shows the bottom  22 B of the light  22 . As indicated by the lines of curvature, the bottom  22 B is contoured conforming to the curve of the helmet outer shell  20 . 
         [0046]    As shown in  FIGS. 6-8 , the dome  28  has a lip  32  surrounding the contoured bottom  22 B of the light  22 . In one example embodiment, the lip  32  is configured for coupling to the top center crown of the helmet as explained hereinbelow. 
         [0047]      FIG. 9  shows in greater detail the placement of the light  22  on the helmet  10 . The light  22  is on the top center crown  20 T of the helmet shell  20 . The bottom  22 B conforms to the curve of the shell  20 . Noteworthy, is the position of the light  22 , which is optimal for 360-degree visibility, but also is placed such that a helmet visor  34  can be fully opened without interference of the light  22 . The lip  32  has a front  32 F and a rear  32 R and the rear  32 R of the lip that is taller than the front  32 F, so that bottom  22 T of the light  22  maintains conformance to the shell  20 , but also maintains the light  22  to be parallel to the ground. The light  22  in this position parallel to the ground maintains the 360-degree visibility. 
         [0048]      FIG. 11  illustration one example embodiment of the safety light helmet  10 . The helmet  10  also has an inner shell  20 N. In this example embodiment, the top center crown  20 T of the outer shell has at least one cavity  38  that extends into but not beyond the inner shell  20 N. The light  22  has at least one cylinder  40  attached to the contoured bottom  22 B of the light  22 , the at least one cylinder  40  inserting into the at least one cavity  38  at the top center crown  20 T of the shell, the at least one cylinder  40  selectively coupling the light  22  to the outer shell  20  of the helmet  10 , the at least one cylinder  40  magnetically coupling to the at least one cavity  38 . In this illustration, a magnet  36  is placed on the cylinder  40 , but the magnets can be placed in the cavity, can be in a pair, one in the cavity and one on the cylinder and other variations familiar to those of ordinary skill in the art. The contoured bottom  22 B of the light  22  constrains the light from rotating out of position on the top center crown  20 T of the helmet  10 . 
         [0049]    The light  22  is a breakaway light, the magnet  36  in the at least one cavity  38  releasing upon an impact, allowing the light  22  to decouple from the helmet  10  so that the integrity of the shell  20  is maintained preventing the light  22  from damaging the shell  20  or injuring the rider. 
         [0050]      FIG. 12  illustrates a further example embodiment of the safety light helmet  10 . A bracket  42  is coupled to the outer shell  20  at the top center crown  20 T. The bracket  42  has a groove  44  configured for coupling to the light  22 . The light  22  slides into the bracket  42  and the groove  44  engages the lip  32 , selectively mounting the light  22  onto the outer shell  20  of the helmet  10 . 
         [0051]    The lip  32  of the light  22  has a front  32 F, a rear  32 R and a pair of sides  32 S and the groove  44  of the bracket  42  extends along the sides  32 S and the rear  32 R of the light  22 . The bracket  42  has a front lock  46  operative to engage the front  32 F of the lip. 
         [0052]    The contoured bottom  22 B of the light  22  and the bracket  42  constrain the light  22  from rotating out of position on the top center crown  20 T of the helmet  10 . 
         [0053]    The light  22  in the bracket  42  is a breakaway light  22 , the front lock  46  unlocking upon an impact, allowing the light  22  to decouple from the helmet  10  so that the integrity of the shell  20  is maintained preventing the light  22  from damaging the shell  20  and injuring the rider. 
         [0054]      FIG. 10  shows an example embodiment of the safety light helmet  10  with the light  22  coupled to the outer shell  20  according to the methods described hereinabove. 
         [0055]    It is understood that when an element is referred hereinabove as being “on” another element, it can be directly on the other element or intervening elements may be present therebetween. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on” another element, there are no intervening elements present. 
         [0056]    Moreover, any components or materials can be formed from a same, structurally continuous piece or separately fabricated and connected. 
         [0057]    It is further understood that, although ordinal terms, such as, “first,” “second,” “third,” are used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another element, component, region, layer or section. Thus, “a first element,” “component,” “region,” “layer” or “section” discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings herein. 
         [0058]    Spatially relative terms, such as “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper” and the like, are used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature&#39;s relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It is understood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the example term “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device can be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly. 
         [0059]    Example embodiments are described herein with reference to cross section illustrations that are schematic illustrations of idealized embodiments. As such, variations from the shapes of the illustrations as a result, for example, of manufacturing techniques and/or tolerances, are to be expected. Thus, example embodiments described herein should not be construed as limited to the particular shapes of regions as illustrated herein, but are to include deviations in shapes that result, for example, from manufacturing. For example, a region illustrated or described as flat may, typically, have rough and/or nonlinear features. Moreover, sharp angles that are illustrated may be rounded. Thus, the regions illustrated in the figures are schematic in nature and their shapes are not intended to illustrate the precise shape of a region and are not intended to limit the scope of the present claims. 
         [0060]    In conclusion, herein is presented a safety light helmet. The disclosure is illustrated by example in the drawing figures, and throughout the written description. It should be understood that numerous variations are possible, while adhering to the inventive concept. Such variations are contemplated as being a part of the present disclosure.

Technology Classification (CPC): 5