Patent Application
20050262616
Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to protective helmets, and more particularly, to protective helmets adapted to clearly allow others to visually locate a wearer in a dark environment.
Typical protective hats and caps include an energy absorbing plastic shell and suspension, or headgear, that allows a user to comfortably wear the protective hat or cap. The plastic shell is typically molded from polyethylene or polycarbonate. Often, a light-absorbing or fluorescent color additive is included within the polyethylene or polycarbonate.
Many safety helmets are equipped with fluorescent, retroreflective, or electroluminescent strips in order to make the hat more visible in dark or other such conditions of limited view (e.g., fog). Other safety helmet include light emitting diodes (LEDs) or other such illumination configured to make the helmet, and therefore, the wearer, more visible in diminished view conditions.
U.S. Pat. Des. 310,434, entitled “Motorcycle Helmet with Light,” shows a motorcycle helmet with a light mounted to the rear of the main body of the helmet.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,564,128, entitled “Safety Helmet With Electroluminescent Lamp,” discloses an electroluminescent lamp strip member that is electrically coupled to an electroluminescent actuating circuit.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,963,917, entitled “Illuminated Safety Helmet,” discloses a helmet that includes a battery powered rotating light source.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,319,308, entitled “Helmet for Providing a Sensory Effect to an Observer,” relates to a helmet having an inner portion and an outer portion that are spaced from each other to provide an interspace therebetween. A light emitting device and a power source are positioned between the two portions.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,945,458, entitled “Fireman's Helmet with Integral Front and Rear Lights,” relates to a fireman's helmet having integrally formed front and rear light assemblies.
However, such helmets typically require a power system, such as batteries or the like, in order to activate the illumination of the helmet. Power systems add size, weight and expense to the helmet.
Thus, a need exists for a cost-efficient, lightweight, protective helmet capable of being illuminated.
Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a protective helmet including a basic shell having an outer surface and a phosphorescent material that may or may not be integrally formed with the basic shell. The basic shell is adapted to cover a portion of a wearer's head. The phosphorescent material, which may include at least one of high performance rare earth doped strontium aluminate or strontium silicate crystals, radiates an illuminating light after it is exposed to light. The protective helmet may be at least 3-10% of the high performance rare earth doped strontium aluminate or strontium silicate crystals.
The phosphorescent material may include a plurality of phosphorescent crystals. The phosphorescent material may coat the outer surface of the basic shell, or it may be mixed with a polymer to form the basic shell. The phosphorescent crystals may also be positioned on strips that are affixed to the basic shell.
Certain embodiments of the present invention also provide a method of manufacturing a protective helmet configured to glow in the dark. The method includes providing a phosphorescent material that is adapted to glow in the dark, molding a polymer into a basic helmet, and integrating the phosphorescent material into the basic helmet to form a protective helmet configured to glow in the dark after the protective helmet has been exposed to light.
The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of certain embodiments of the present invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings, certain embodiments. It should be understood, however, that the present invention is not limited to the arrangements and instrumentalities shown in the attached drawings.
The protective helmet 10 may be formed from a standard polyethylene or polycarbonate base with a phosphorescent material coating the base. Optionally, the protective helmet 10 may be formed from polyetherimide, polyamide, polypropylene, Acrylonitrile-butadine-styrene (ABS), polyurethane, polystyrene, and the like.
For example, the outer shell 12 may be formed through a polyethylene or polycarbonate molding process. After the outer shell 12 is formed, a layer of phosphorescent material may be formed over the outer shell 12. Alternatively, the molding process for the outer shell 12 may include forming the outer shell from a standard polymer material mixed with a phosphorescent material. Further, the outer shell 12 may be formed from a standard polymer material after which, phosphorescent strips, or the like, are fastened to the outer surface of the outer shell 12. In other words, the entire outer shell 12 may include phosphorescent material, or, optionally, phosphorescent material may cover only portions of the outer shell 12.
The phosphorescent material may be, or include, high performance rare earth (lanthanide) doped strontium aluminate and/or strontium silicate crystals. These crystals may first be compounded into a high density polyolefin polymer such as (but not limited to) high density polyethylene or polycarbonate, to which one or more specialty lubricants are added. The phosphorescent material may be 3PLX500, sized 25 to 65 microns, which is manufactured by 3P Unlimited, Inc.
The compounded material is added and mixed into a primary plastic material used to mold the shell of the safety helmet at a ratio that yields a concentration of the high performance phosphorescent crystals throughout the primary plastic material of three to ten percent or more. Thus, the phosphorescent portions, i.e., the glowing portions, of the protective helmet 10, may have a concentration of three to ten percent or more of high performance phosphorescent crystals, with the remaining portion being high density polyethylene or polycarbonate. Optionally, other high density polymers may be used to provide the primary plastic material other than polyethylene or polycarbonate.
In one embodiment of the present invention, high performance phosphorescent crystals are molded into the outer shell 12. Once the high performance phosphorescent crystals are charged by exposure to a light source, the phosphorescent crystals remain visible for extended periods of time.
Embodiments of the present invention provide a protective helmet 10 that exhibits a strong phosphorescent photoluminescent property resulting in an afterglow (commonly referred to as glow-in-the-dark). Additionally, the helmet 10 may be used with or without the addition of fluorescent and/or retroreflective components.
In order to allow optimum comfort and mobility of the wearer, the helmet 10 does not include any attached batteries or ancillary power sources. The phosphorescence, or glow-in-the-dark, property is a result of the helmet 10 being charged by exposure to a light source prior to being moved into a darkened area. As opposed to incandescent lighting or other types of illumination, photoluminescence produces no thermal discharge. Therefore, the temperature of the helmet 10 and the wearer is unaffected. Further, by combining this phosphorescent safety helmet with preexisting fluorescent and retroreflective components, the visibility of the resulting hat is improved in both well lit and in darkened environments. The resulting safety helmet, therefore, is well suited for use around the clock.
Thus, embodiments of the present invention provide a safety helmet that allows a wearer to be visible in darkened environments. Further, embodiments of the present invention provide a helmet exhibiting luminance without the use of batteries or an ancillary power source. Additional embodiments of the present invention provide a safety helmet having phosphorescent photoluminescent properties that can be used in conjunction with adhesive and/or otherwise attached fluorescent or retroreflective media in order to improve visibility in both light and dark.
Embodiments of the present invention may be used by night construction workers, miners, firemen, and others in environments in which the wearer's visual acuity is lowered due to darkness or other diminished visibility environments (e.g., smoke, fog, dust, and the like).
While the invention has been described with reference to certain embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from its scope. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.
This application relates to and claims priority benefits from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/574,827, entitled “Improved Protective Helmet,” filed May 27, 2004, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60574827 | May 2004 | US |
