Integrated helmet illumination system

Abstract

An integrated helmet illumination system and process for forming thereof is described. The system comprises a protective helmet, a substrate affixed to the helmet, and an electroluminescent lamp positioned between the substrate and the protective helmet. The substrate is configured be affixed to an exterior surface of the helmet to define a helmet outer shell. Also, the substrate is fabricated with a light-transmissive viewing area through which the illumination of the electroluminescent lamp is viewed. Additionally, the substrate can be formed out of a transparent light reflective material to reflect light incident upon the helmet outer shell. The integrated helmet illumination system is formed by the following process steps: a substrate is formed to have a light transmissive viewing area; then, an electroluminescent lamp is affixed to a surface of the substrate over the light transmissive area; the substrate and electroluminescent lamp affixed thereto are then vacuum molded or formed, forming the substrate into the helmet outer shell; the helmet outer shell with electroluminescent lamp thereon is then attached to an exterior surface of a protective helmet such that the lamp is positioned between the outer shell and the protective helmet.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An integrated helmet and illumination system, comprising: 
 a protective helmet;    a substrate affixed to an exterior surface of the protective helmet to define a helmet outer shell portion, the substrate having a light-transmissive viewing area; and    an electroluminescent lamp positioned between the exterior surface of the protective helmet and the substrate and aligned with the substrate viewing area.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further including a power source electrically connected to the electroluminescent lamp to provide electrical energy to the electroluminescent lamp.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , further including a control switch electrically connected to the power source for controlling discharge of electrical energy from the power source to the electroluminescent lamp at certain intervals to control illumination of the lamp.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the power source is located within the protective helmet.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the electroluminescent lamp is formed onto the viewing area of the substrate and comprises: 
 a transparent front electrode formed on the substrate viewing area;    a light emitting layer formed on the transparent front electrode; and    a rear electrode formed on the light emitting layer.    
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the transparent front electrode, the light emitting layer, and the rear electrode are printed onto the substrate.  
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the electroluminescent lamp further includes: 
 a front outlying electrode lead generally surrounding the perimeter of the transparent front electrode to bring electrical energy to the transparent front electrode; and    a rear electrode lead to bring electrical energy to the rear electrode.    
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the light emitting layer is a light emitting polymer layer.  
     
     
         9 . An integrated helmet and illumination system, comprising: 
 a protective helmet;    a substrate having an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface affixed to an exterior surface of the protective helmet to define a helmet outer shell portion, the substrate having a reserved area; and    an electroluminescent lamp affixed to the substrate outer surface over the reserved area.    
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the electroluminescent lamp comprises: 
 a rear electrode formed on the substrate outer surface;    a light emitting layer formed on the rear electrode; and    a transparent front electrode formed on the light emitting area;    
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the rear electrode, the light emitting layer, and transparent front electrode are printed onto the substrate.  
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the electroluminescent lamp further includes: 
 a front outlying electrode lead generally surrounding the perimeter of the transparent front electrode and configured to supply electrical energy to the transparent front electrode; and    a rear electrode lead configured to supply electrical energy to the rear electrode.    
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the light emitting layer is a light emitting polymer layer.  
     
     
         14 . A method for integrating an electroluminescent panel with a helmet, comprising: 
 forming a substrate with a light-transmissive viewing area;    affixing an electroluminescent lamp to a surface of the substrate over the light transmissive area;    vacuum molding the substrate and electroluminescent lamp affixed thereto to form a helmet outer shell portion; and    attaching the helmet outer shell portion to an exterior surface of a protective helmet such that the electroluminescent lamp is positioned between the helmet exterior surface and the substrate.    
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising electrically connecting a power source to the electroluminescent lamp to provide electrical energy to the electroluminescent lamp.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising controlling the transfer of electrical energy to the electroluminescent lamp from the power source through a control switch to control the transfer of electrical energy front the power supply to the electroluminescent lamp.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the step of forming a substrate with a light-transmissive viewing area comprises printing a color graphic onto a light-transmissive substrate at certain locations to leave a light-transmissive viewing area.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein step of affixing an electroluminescent lamp to a surface of the substrate comprises forming the electroluminescent lamp onto the substrate surface, wherein the electroluminescent lamp comprising: 
 a transparent front electrode formed on the substrate viewing area;    a light emitting layer formed on the transparent front electrode; and    a rear electrode formed on the light emitting layer.    
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising: 
 affixing a first electrical lead and a second electrical lead to the substrate;    electrically connecting the first electrical lead to the transparent front electrode; and    electrically connecting the second electrical lead to the rear electrode; and    whereby the first and second electrical leads supply electrical energy to the transparent front electrode and to the rear electrode to illuminate the electroluminescent lamp.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the transparent front electrode, the light emitting layer, and the rear electrode are printed onto the substrate.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the light emitting layer is a light emitting polymer layer.