Rear viewing apparatus for attachment to headgear and related methods

Abstract

The present invention provides improved mirror assembly for safety headgear and the like. The mirror assemblies of the present invention may advantageously allow the wearer to quickly view areas peripheral to and behind the forward field of vision quickly without the need for large movements. Additionally, the mirror assembly includes anchoring mechanisms that sturdily attach the mirror assembly to the headgear such that it is unlikely to be displaced or jostled during violent movement or a collision.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . An attachable mirror device, comprising:
 a. at least one anchoring member for attaching to a structure on a helmet,
 i. said anchoring member having at least two clamping members that apply pressure to structure on said helmet, and 
 ii. a locking mechanism for arresting the position of said at least two clamping members relative to one another; 
   b. a housing attached to said at least one anchoring member; and   c. a convex mirror attached to said housing through a rotatable joint, wherein said convex mirror has an elongate structure providing a broad field of vision of the areas that are peripheral and behind the helmet.   
     
     
         2 . The attachable mirror device of  claim 1 , wherein said rotatable joint between said convex mirror and said housing includes a locking mechanism that arrests the position of the mirror relative to the housing when the locking mechanism is engaged. 
     
     
         3 . The attachable mirror device of  claim 1 , wherein said housing is attached to said at least one anchoring member by a rotatable anchor joint that allows the position of the anchoring member relative to the housing to be adjusted. 
     
     
         4 . The attachable mirror device of  claim 3 , wherein said rotatable anchor joint allows rotation of the clips along an axis that is parallel to major axis of the elongate convex mirror. 
     
     
         5 . The attachable mirror device of  claim 3 , wherein said rotatable anchor joint allows rotation of the clips along an axis that is parallel to minor axis of the elongate convex mirror. 
     
     
         6 . The attachable mirror device of  claim 3 , wherein said rotatable anchor joint allows rotation of the clips along an axis that is parallel to a major axis of the elongate convex mirror and to an axis that is parallel to minor axis of the elongate convex mirror. 
     
     
         7 . The attachable mirror device of  claim 1 , wherein said elongate convex mirror has an ellipsoidal perimeter shape. 
     
     
         8 . The attachable mirror device of  claim 1 , wherein said attachable mirror device includes two anchoring members, wherein said anchoring members are alligator-style clamps. 
     
     
         9 . The attachable mirror device of  claim 1 , wherein said housing includes a protective plate that covers the back side of the elongate convex mirror to prevent dislodging of the mirror due to contact with the attachable mirror device. 
     
     
         10 . An attachable mirror assembly for attachment to safety headgear, comprising:
 a. at least two anchoring members for attaching to a structure on said safety headgear, each of said at least two anchoring members including
 i. at least two clamping members that apply pressure to structure on said safety headgear, and 
 ii. a locking mechanism for arresting the position of said at least two clamping members relative to one another; 
   b. a housing attached to said at least two anchoring members, wherein said housing is attached to each of said at least two anchoring members by a rotatable anchor joint and said rotatable anchor joints are lockable to hold said at least anchoring members in a constant position relative to said housing; and   c. a convex mirror attached to said housing through a rotatable joint, wherein said convex mirror has an elongate structure providing a broad field of vision of the areas that are peripheral and behind the helmet.   
     
     
         11 . The attachable mirror assembly of  claim 10 , wherein said rotatable joint between said convex mirror and said housing includes a mirror position locking mechanism that arrests the position of the mirror relative to the housing when the locking mechanism is engaged. 
     
     
         12 . The attachable mirror assembly of  claim 10 , wherein said rotatable anchor joints allow rotation of the anchoring members along an axis that is parallel to major axis of the elongate convex mirror. 
     
     
         13 . The attachable mirror assembly of  claim 10 , wherein said rotatable anchor joints allow rotation of the anchoring members along an axis that is parallel to minor axis of the elongate convex mirror. 
     
     
         14 . The attachable mirror assembly of  claim 10 , wherein said rotatable anchor joints allow rotation of the anchoring members along an axis that is parallel to a major axis of the elongate convex mirror and to an axis that is parallel to minor axis of the elongate convex mirror. 
     
     
         15 . The attachable mirror assembly of  claim 10 , wherein said elongate convex mirror has an ellipsoidal perimeter shape. 
     
     
         16 . The attachable mirror assembly of  claim 10 , wherein anchoring members are alligator-style clamps. 
     
     
         17 . The attachable mirror assembly of  claim 10 , wherein said housing includes a protective plate that covers the back side of the elongate convex mirror to prevent dislodging of the mirror due to contact with the attachable mirror assembly. 
     
     
         18 . The attachable mirror assembly of  claim 10 , wherein said attachable mirror assembly is operable to be attached to surfaces positioned at various angles while positioning said convex mirror in a substantially vertical position. 
     
     
         19 . An attachable mirror assembly for attachment to safety headgear, comprising:
 a. at least two anchoring members for attaching to a structure on said safety headgear, each of said at least two anchoring members including
 i. at least two clamping members that apply pressure to structure on said safety headgear, and 
 ii. a locking mechanism for arresting the position of said at least two clamping members relative to one another; 
   b. a housing attached to said at least two anchoring members, wherein said housing is attached to each of said at least two anchoring members by a rotatable anchor joint and said rotatable anchor joints are lockable to hold said at least anchoring members in a constant position relative to said housing;   c. a convex mirror attached to said housing through a rotatable joint, wherein said convex mirror has an elongate structure providing a broad field of vision of the areas that are peripheral and behind the helmet, and said rotatable anchor joints allow rotation of the anchoring members along an axis that is parallel to a major axis of the elongate convex mirror; and   d. a mirror position locking mechanism that arrests the position of the mirror relative to the housing when the mirror position locking mechanism is engaged.   
     
     
         20 .