Title:
WORK AND SAFETY LAMP
United States Patent 3676664
Abstract:
A work and safety lamp to be worn on the head of the user consisting of an adjustable perforated headband which is suitable for mounting on the head of the user and including a forward projecting lamp mounted on the front portion of the headband and a flashing dome lamp extending above the headband. The batteries which power the dome lamp and the head lamp are also contained in the headband, which is designed to be lightweight and compact.
Application Number:
05/062966
Publication Date:
07/11/1972
Other Classes:
340/321, 362/236
International Classes:
F21L4/00; F21V21/088; (IPC1-7): F21V21/14; G08B5/00; F21L15/14
Field of Search:
240/6.4W,1F 46
Primary Examiner:
Prince, Louis R.
Assistant Examiner:
Yasich, Daniel M.
Claims:
What is claimed is
1. A work and safety lamp to be worn on the head of the user, comprising:
2. The work and safety lamp as recited in claim 1 wherein said headband additionally comprises a sweatband secured on the internal forward portion thereof.
Description:
This invention relates to a safety lamp for mounting on to the head of a user.
More specifically, this invention relates to a safety lamp which is mounted on to the head of a user by means of an adjustable headband and is particularly suitable for use in a working environment, such as by a mechanic repairing vehicles.
Conventional lamps, which are adapted for mounting on to the head of the user, are well known in the prior art for use by pedestrians, miners and surgeons while performing routine tasks. Many of these conventional lamps suffer from the disadvantage in that they require a separate power source, such as a battery pack, to be worn by the user and connected by means of a cable to the headband. Other types of conventional utility lamps worn by the user are bulky and not particularly suitable for use by persons such as mechanics who are required to work in confined areas, such as underneath the dashboard of an automobile.
Accordingly, the present invention provides an improved work and safety light particularly suitable for mechanics who are not only required to work in confined areas, but are also required to service vehicles as they travel in and out of a service area. The work and safety light of the present invention is particularly advantageous for use at night, since it also includes a flashing dome light which is readily visible in all directions to protect service personnel from accidental injury by vehicles moving in and out of a busy service area. The work and safety light of the present invention are mounted on an adjustable headband which includes an absorbent material to absorb perspiration, and a plurality of perforations in order to permit ventilation while being worn on the head of the user. Suitable switches permit the operation of the safety lamp and the head lamp of the invention.
It is therefore an object according to the present invention to provide a work and safety lamp mounted on an adjustable headband to be worn by the user.
It is another object according to the present invention to provide a work and safety light which can be utilized by maintenance personnel for work in confined areas.
It is still a further object according to the present invention to provide a work and safety light which is simple in design, efficient in operation, and inexpensive in cost.
Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawing which discloses the embodiments of the invention. It is to be understood, however, that the drawing is designed for the purpose of illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the invention.
In the drawing, wherein similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the work and safety lamp according to the invention being worn by the user, and
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along section 2--2 of FIG. 1.
Referring to the Figures, there is shown the work and safety lamp mounted on a headband generally designated as 10 which is constructed from a flexible ribbon-type material such as leather, plastic, metal or the like, and which overlaps at its rear portion to form a strap-type fastener. One of fastener straps 12 includes a plurality of spaced-apart holes 11 which are adapted to receive one or more spaced-apart pins 14 and 15 which are secured near the end of strap 13. The plurality of spaced-apart holes 11 permit headband 10 to be adjusted in size by relocation of pins 14 and 15.
Mounted along the sides of headband 10 are batteries 16. Batteries 16 are held in place by means of battery holders 17 which are pinned to headband 10 by means of fasteners 28 and 29. Batteries 16 are electrically connected by means of conductors 27 secured along the sides of headband 10 to headlamp 25 mounted on the front of the band. Headlamp 25 also includes a lens 26 for focusing the light beam in front of the user.
The work and safety light of the invention also includes a dome light 20 mounted on the top of a strap 18. Each end of strap 18 is secured to the sides of headband 10 by means of fasteners 21 approximately halfway between the front and the rear. Band 18 may also be pivoted on fasteners 21 for adjustment by the user. Band 18 also serves to prevent headband 10 from slipping in place on the head of the user and thus permits the user to more loosely and comfortably couple the adjustment of headband 10 at its rear portion. Dome light 20 is preferably a flashing dome light having a red lens in order to give a visual warning of the presence of the user, particularly to moving vehicles.
Headband 10 also includes a sweatband 24 preferably constructed from a porous material such as foam rubber and mounted on the front portion of the band behind the headlamp so as to provide a comfortable supporting surface to the forehead of the user. A switch housing 22 is also mounted along one side of the headband and is coupled to conductors 27 and 30 in order to electrically activate headlamp 25 and domelamp 20. Housing 22 includes a manual switch 23 which may preferably be a three-position switch in order to activate headlamp 25 alone, or in a second position, the headlamp and the dome-lamp together. The third position of the switch would be the off position. Batteries 16 may be electrically connected in parallel or series with lamps 20 and 25 through conductors 27 and 30.
The work and safety lamp of the present invention is of lightweight construction and preferably utilizes long life, compact batteries which may be easily interchanged for replacement or recharging. Flashing domelight 20 provides a 360° visual indication of the user. Switch housing 22 may also be provided with a fourth position to operate only the domelamp. Lamps 20 and 25 are preferably miniature high-intensity lights which are lightweight. The protrusion of the headlamp housing on the front portion of headband 10 is kept to a minimum in order to prevent interference while the user is working in close and cramped service areas, such as underneath the dashboard of an automobile.
While only a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be understood that many changes and modifications may be made thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.