Headwear comprising rearview mirrors

Abstract

Headwear wearable by a user is provided having rearview mirrors mounted thereon or incorporated therein via robust mounting structures or mechanisms. The rearview mirrors can be attached to the headwear such that the mirrors are movable between a stowed or collapsed configuration in which the mirror is at least partially hidden from the user's view and a deployed configuration in which a viewing surface of the mirror is positioned to provide a rear view image to the user. The headwear may be goggles, helmets or other structures wearable on the head of a user. Rearview mirrors mountable to headwear are also provided.

1 . A helmet comprising:
 a helmet structure including a core and an outer shell, the core having an interior surface that faces a wearer when the helmet is worn and an opposing exterior surface that is at least partially concealed by the outer shell, and the helmet structure including a storage recess defined by the core of the helmet structure;   a base rigidly coupled to the core of the helmet structure; and   a mirror coupled to the base, the mirror being rotatable about a first axis of rotation about the base and rotatable at a second location about a second axis of rotation different from the first axis of rotation, the mirror movable between a deployed configuration in which a viewing surface of the mirror is positioned to provide a rear view image and a stored configuration in which the mirror is proximate the storage recess and at least partially within a projected outer profile of the helmet structure when viewed from a side of the helmet.   
     
     
         2 . The helmet of  claim 1  wherein, when the helmet is worn and the mirror is in the stored configuration, the mirror is approximately horizontal with regard to the wearer. 
     
     
         3 . The helmet of  claim 1  wherein, when the helmet is worn and the mirror is in the stored configuration, the viewing surface of the mirror faces the storage recess. 
     
     
         4 . The helmet of  claim 1  wherein the base is at least partially embedded in a peripheral portion of the core of the helmet structure. 
     
     
         5 . The helmet of  claim 1  wherein the base is rigidly coupled to the core of the helmet structure at a position such that the base is near a forehead of the wearer when the helmet is worn. 
     
     
         6 . The helmet of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a mirror mount having a disc which is received within the base to rotate about the first axis of rotation, and wherein the mirror is rotatably coupled to the mirror mount to rotate about the second axis of rotation.   
     
     
         7 . The helmet of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a mirror housing surrounding at least a portion of the mirror and including a feature formed integrally therein to rotatably mate with the mirror mount.   
     
     
         8 . The helmet of  claim 1  wherein the first axis of rotation is perpendicular to the second axis of rotation. 
     
     
         9 . The helmet of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a visor, and wherein the base is rigidly coupled to the core of the helmet structure in a region beneath the visor.   
     
     
         10 . A helmet comprising:
 a helmet structure;   a mirror base fixedly attached to the helmet structure in a region that is proximate a forehead of a wearer when the helmet is worn; and   a mirror coupled to the mirror base, the mirror being rotatable about a first axis of rotation about the mirror base and rotatable about a second axis of rotation different from the first axis of rotation, and the mirror movable between a stored configuration in which the mirror is near the helmet structure and a deployed configuration in which a viewing surface of the mirror is positioned to provide a rear view image when the helmet is worn.   
     
     
         11 . The helmet of  claim 10  wherein the first axis of rotation is perpendicular to the second axis of rotation. 
     
     
         12 . The helmet of  claim 10  wherein the helmet structure includes a storage recess and wherein, when the mirror is in the stored configuration, the mirror is proximate the storage recess and at least partially within a projected outer profile of the helmet structure when viewed from a side of the helmet. 
     
     
         13 . The helmet of  claim 12  wherein, when the helmet is worn and the mirror is in the stored configuration, the viewing surface of the mirror faces the storage recess. 
     
     
         14 . The helmet of  claim 10  wherein, when the helmet is worn and the mirror is in the stored configuration, the mirror is approximately horizontal with regard to the wearer. 
     
     
         15 . The helmet of  claim 10  wherein the mirror base is at least partially embedded in a peripheral portion of the helmet structure. 
     
     
         16 . The helmet of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a visor, and wherein the mirror base is fixedly attached to the helmet structure in a region beneath the visor.   
     
     
         17 . A rearview mirror comprising:
 a base mountable to a helmet; and   a mirror coupled to the base to provide a rear view image when the helmet is worn and the mirror is deployed, the mirror being rotatable about a first axis of rotation projecting perpendicularly from a center point of the base and rotatable about a second axis of rotation different from the first axis of rotation.   
     
     
         18 . The rearview mirror of  claim 17  wherein the first axis of rotation is perpendicular to the second axis of rotation.