Safety equipment for rescue workers, traffic policemen and the like

[57] ABSTRACT

Safety equipment is herein described for usage by rescue workers, traffic policemen and the like. The equipment includes a piece of head gear which may comprise a conventional hard hat having a continuous, horizon tally extending brim disposed thereabout. The brim may be formed with bubble-like recesses opening downwardly toward the user of the head gear. White light sources may be operatively mounted within each bubble-like recess and so disposed with respect thereto that light is directed downwardly upon the user of the head gear but, is shielded from other parties having a line of vision extending generally horizontally or downwardly toward the head gear. A second light source may be operatively mounted on top of the head gear and provided with a red lens for indicating “danger.” Electrical conductors may be provided to extend between a disconnectable source of electrical power and the various lights provided on the head gear. A transistorized flasher component may be connected within the circuitry, presented by the electrical conductors, and may be disposed on a negative side of the second light source in order to permit proper flashing thereof while minimizing interference with the remaining steady light sources.

The light source on top of the hard hat may be supported by means of a tubular bolt member extending to a base portion of the light source through an aperture formed in an upper surface of the head gear. The conductors extending between that light source and the source of electromotive power may be extended through the cylindrical space defined by the tubular bolt. A clamping member may be actuated by tightening down a nut member on the tubular bolt to clampingly engage the transistorized flasher member between the clamping member and an interior surface of the hard hat.

Claims, 6 Drawing Figures

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PATENTED M 3H973

3,749.902

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3,749,902

SAFETY EQUIPMENT FOR RESCUE WORKERS, TRAFFIC POLICEMEN AND THE LIKE

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to safety equipment and, in particular, relates to equipment including illuminated head gear especially adapted for assisting rescue workers and traffic policemen in the safe discharge of their night-time duties.

Heretofore, it has been common to use various flashing, occulting and steady lights of various colors for assisting certain public servants in the discharge of dangerous night-time duties.

The general concept of mounting such lights on safety head gear is not new. For example, U. S. Pat. No. 2,473,394 issued to Scott and U. S. Pat. No. 2,705,751 issued to Harris et al. disclose the general use of illuminated head gear. In addition, Bosely et al. in U. S. Pat. No. 3,142,883 disclose a fireman’s hard hat including a flashing light and a siren, operatively mounted therein.

Although the devices disclosed in the above-cited U. S. Patents are entirely satisfactory for various types of contingencies, certain problems have yet to be solved.

For example, when white light is provided on a piece 25 of head gear which light is in the direct line of vision of certain observers, i.e., automobile drivers, such light is exceedingly distracting and may even cause temporary blindness. Such a result is, obviously, undesirable and may ultimately cause injury to the individual wearing ³⁰such head gear.

Furthermore, head gear of the type covered by the aforementioned patents have, heretofore, been relatively complicated and have presented an expense which is greater than may be justified by many of our smaller communities.

It would therefore be advantageous, if a new and improved piece of safety equipment were provided, including illuminated head gear, which would effectively facilitate an emergency worker, or the like, in the dis- ⁴⁰charge of hazardous night-time duties.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide improved safety equipment which solves some of the problems confronting various public servants in the discharge of their night-time duties.

It is another object of the present invention to provide safety equipment which may be manufactured at a cost sufficiently low to permit smaller communities to buy such equipment in large quantities.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide safety equipment which is remarkably uncomplicated so as to be virtually, fool proof.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide safety equipment, including an illuminated hat, which may be of a proper weight so as to be comfortable to a wearer and which may be easily disconnected from auxilary equipment carried by the wearer to facilitate removal of the hat and the transferring Of the hat from one user to another, during an emergency situation.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide emergency equipment, including an illuminated hat, having electrical components uniquely exposed for ease of replacement and repair by an unskilled user of the equipment.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide safety equipment, including an illuminated hat, which will not distract or temporarily blind other parties disposed in proximity to the user of such equipment.

It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide safety equipment, including an illuminated hat, having constant and flashing light sources and including electrical circuitry so adapted as to minimize interference between the flashing light source and the constant light source.

It is still yet a further object of the present invention to provide safety equipment, including an illuminated hat, for effectively reducing the possibility of a rescue worker, or the like, from being struck by automobile drivers during night-time operations.

At least some of the above-listed objects are achieved by the provision of safety equipment, including head gear apparatus presenting a generally horizontally extending brim. The brim may be formed with at least one bubble-like recess disposed to open downwardly upon the wearer of the head gear. A light source may be mounted within the recess and may be so disposed that the brim is operable to shield the direct rays of the light source from other parties having a line of vision extending generally horizontally with or down toward the head gear.

In one feature of the invention, a second light source may be mounted on top of the head gear and may have a flasher component associated therewith which may be operatively mounted by clamping the flasher against the inside surface of the head gear.

In another feature of the invention, the light source, mounted on top of the head gear, may be secured by a tubular bolt extending through an aperture formed in an upper surface of the head gear. Electrical conductors, extending between a source of electrical power and the second light source, may be disposed to extend through the hollow bolt to the second light source.

To minimize interference between the flashing light source and any constant light source, the flasher component may be connected within the circuitry, embod45 ied within the overall apparatus, so as to be disposed on a negative side of the flashing light source.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

While the invention is particularly pointed out and 50 distinctly claimed in a concluding portion of the specification, a preferred embodiment is set forth in the following detailed description which may be best understood when read in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of a rescue worker, or the like, properly wearing safety equipment according to the present invention;

FIGS. 2 and 6 are perspective views of the safety equipment according to the present invention as illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of head gear portion of the safety equipment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view of the head gear 65 shown in FIG. 3 taken along line 4—4; and

FIG. 5 is a basic circuit diagram of the electrical system included in the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings, in which like numerals are used to indicate like parts throughout the various views thereof, FIG. 1 shows the safety equipment of the present invention to essentially include head gear 10 and an electrical power supply pack 12, attachable to the belt 14 of a user, by clip 15.

Referring to FIG. 3 and 6, it can be seen that the head 10 gear portion 10 consists of a hard hat having a continuous brim 16 extending generally horizontally from the hat 10 and formed with bubble-like receSses 18 opening downwardly therefrom. Preferrably, the head gear 10 consists of a suitable, electrically insulating material ¹³such as plastic, or the like.

Referring to FIG. 3, it can be seen that white light sources, consisting of light bulbs 20 may be operatively mounted within the bubble-like recesses 18 so as to direct a constant white light downwardly upon a user of ²θ the head gear. The brim 16 shields the direct rays of the bulbs 20 from observers having a line of sight extending generally horizontally with, or downwardly toward, the head gear 10. ₂₅

It will be noted, that the light bulbs 20 are connectable with the electrical power pack 12 by means of an electrical conductor 22 Which terminates in a male connector 24 adapted to be received within female receptacle 26, presented on the power pack 12. Addi- ₃θ tionally, a control switch 28 may be mounted on the power pack 12, for switching the light bulbs 20 on or off, as desired.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, a second light source 30 may be presented on a top portion of the head gear 10 to be directly observed by parties in the vicinity of an individual wearing equipment according to the present invention. Typically, the light source 30 would be surrounded by a red lens 32. The lens would filter out the undesirable brightness of the light source 30 from distracting other parties, such as automobile drivers, but yet would provide sufficient red light to present an effective “warning” signal.

In order to accentuate the warning effect of the second light source 30, a transistorized flasher component 56 may be connected with a conductor 34 extending between the electrical conductor 22 and the light bulb 30. The component 56 may comprise a 6 volt D.C. transistorized flasher manufactured by Dietz Lamps, Inc. of New York.

Referring to FIG. 4, the mounting arrangement for the second light source 30 is shown in enlarged detail.

The bulb 30 may be operatively engaged within a lamp socket 36 mounted on a base pedestal 38. The red lens 32 may be formed with internal threads 40 for engaging within external threads 42 formed on the pedestal member 38.

The pedestal 38 may be formed with a centrally located, axially, extending aperture for receiving a tubular bolt 44. The conductor 34 may be disposed to pass through the cylindrical space defined by the tubular bolt 44. An aperture 46 may be formed in an upper wall 48 of the head gear 10 to receive the bolt 44 therethrough for engagement with a mating nut member 50.

A clamping member 52 may be provided, having an aperture for receiving the bolt 44 and operable to clamp the flasher component 56 against an undersurface 54 of the head gear 10, in response to the tightening down of the nut 50 on the bolt 44.

Due to this unique arrangement, the red lens 32 may be readily removed for replacing a burned out bulb 30. 5 Likewise, the nut 50 may be loosened to facilitate the replacement of the flasher component 56. While this arrangement facilitates replacement of critical components, it provides greater mounting security than existing clipping members which have a tendancy to release components, held therein, upon the jarring thereof.

Referring briefly to FIG. 5, it can be seen that the transistorized flasher component 56 is connected within the overall circuitry of the preferred embodiment of the present invention to be disposed on the negative side of the second light source 30. It has been unexpectedly found, that by this particular arrangement, interference with the steady light sources 18 is minimized with respect to the operation of the flasher component 56.

SOME ADVANTAGES OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

It can thus be seen that safety equipment has been herein described, including unique head gear, which may be easily removed or transferred between workers during an emergency situation. The safety equipment according to present invention is remarkably uncomplicated so as to present a cost to a community which may be more easily justified than the cost of some existing safety devices of the same general type.

The electrical components included within the safety equipment according to present invention are easily accessable and may be replaced by unskilled individuals. The arrangement of light sources in the head gear of ³⁵ the preferred embodiment is calculated to present an effective “warning” while preventing the undesirable effects of automobile drivers, and the like, being exposed to the direct rays of white light sources.

Because of this unique arrangement of a constant ⁴θ white light source within emergency, head gear, the image of a traffic director may be outlined to automobile drivers so as to minimize the likelihood of a driver striking an individual wearing such head gear. This effect may be dramatically intensified if the individual ⁴⁵ were to wear a photo-reflective cape.

Due to the unique arrangement of electrical components, within the circuitry of the safety equipment according to the present invention, any interference be₅θ tween a transistorized flasher component, included therein, and a constant white light source is minimized.

SCOPE OF THE INVENTION

While what has been described herein is a preferred ₅₅ embodiment of the present invention, it is of course understood that various modifications and changes may be made therein without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore intended to cover in the following claims all such modifications and ₆₀ changes as may fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.