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US5559680A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Electroluminescent bicycle helmet

Assignee: AURORA TECHNOLOGIES LLC
•
Filing: 1995-04-11
•
Granted: 1996-09-24
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Expires: 2015-04-11
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Abstract

Abstract A bicycle helmet is provided having (a) a structural foam liner, (b) a plastic shell overlay the liner and having a transparent zone and an opaque zone, (c) an electroluminescent lamp film located between the liner and the shell and positioned to emit light from the transparent window, (d) a battery and (e) an inverter. The battery and inverter are housed in pockets on opposite sides (left, right) of the helmet for providing a weight balanced helmet. The battery is an electrical communication with the inverter for supplying direct current thereto. The inverter converts the direct current to alternating current and is in electrical communication with the film for causing light to be emitted therefrom. The cover units for the pockets are preferably shaped for desirable aerodynamic, structural and aethestic properties.

Inventors

  • 👤 Dennis A. Tabanera

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 20:16
CPC Classifications
A; A42; A42B; A42B3/00; A42B3/04; A42B3/0406; A42B3/0433; A42B3/044

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim 89 words
A bicycle helmet comprising: (a) a structural foam liner, (b) a plastic shell overlaying said liner, said shell comprising an opaque zone and a transparent window zone, (c) an electroluminescent lamp film positioned between said shell and said liner, said film being positioned to emit light through said transparent window zone, (d) an inverter in electrical communication with said film for supplying alternating current from said inverter to said film, (e) a battery in electrical communication with said inverter for supplying direct current from said battery to said inverter.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 89 words
A bicycle helmet comprising: (a) a structural foam liner, (b) a plastic shell overlaying said liner, said shell comprising an opaque zone and a transparent window zone, (c) an electroluminescent lamp film positioned between said shell and said liner, said film being positioned to emit light through said transparent window zone, (d) an inverter in electrical communication with said film for supplying alternating current from said inverter to said film, (e) a battery in electrical communication with said inverter for supplying direct current from said battery to said inverter.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 43 words
The helmet of claim 1 wherein said liner has a left side comprising a pocket and a right side comprising a pocket, wherein said battery is carried in one of said pockets and said inverter is carried in the other of said pockets.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 33 words
The helmet of claim 2 wherein said liner comprises an upper dome portion and a lower rim portion, said shell overlaying said dome portion, and said pockets being located in said rim portion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 25 words
The helmet of claim 3 wherein said helmet includes a power switch for controlling the flow of electrical power from said battery to said inverter.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 25 words
The helmet of claim 4 wherein said inverter is carried in the left side pocket and said battery is carried in the right side pocket.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 21 words
The helmet of claim 5 wherein a first cover unit is fixedly attached to said liner over said right side pocket.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 22 words
The helmet of claim 6 wherein a second cover unit is reasonably attached to said liner to permit access to said battery.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4319308A Cited
US4231079A Cited
EP0166534A1 Cited
US5111366A Cited
US5327587A Cited
US5469342A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1999-09-24 2000-03-25 2000-09-24 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2003-09-24 2004-03-25 2004-09-24 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2007-09-24 2008-03-25 2008-09-24 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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