Head-supported illumination device

Claim 2

A high-intensity, lightweight, head-supported illumination device, comprising: a light source having a high-intensity lamp and filtering means for removing heat radiation emitted by said lamp, said filtering means including at least one dielectric mirror for separating visible light from infrared radiation; light collecting means including heat-resistant glass for receiving filtered visible light from said dielectric mirror; lightweight, plastic fiber-optic light transmitting means adapted for connection to said light collecting means; head-supported means for securing said light transmitting means to the head; and means for terminating said light transmitting means at said head-supported means in such a manner as to project light forwardly of said head-supported means.

Claim 3

An illumination device as defined in claim 1, wherein said light transmitting means includes a bundle containing a plurality of optical fibers.

Claim 4

An illumination device as defined in claim 1, wherein said filtering means includes: at least one dielectric mirror for transmitting heat radiation; and at least one dielectric mirror for reflecting heat radiation.

Claim 5

An illumination device as defined in claim 1, wherein said filtering means includes: a concave dielectric mirror for reflecting visible light only; a second dielectric mirror for reflecting visible light only; and a third dielectric mirror for reflecting heat and transmitting visible light only.

Claim 6

An illumination device as defined in claim 1, wherein said filtering means further includes a heat-resistant glass rod.

Claim 7

An illumination device as defined in claim 1, wherein said light transmitting means includes a plurality of lightweight, polymer optical fibers.

Claim 8

An illuminating device as defined in claim 6, wherein said means for terminating including means for terminating said plurality of fibers in a plurality of bundles spaced along the width of said head-supported means.

Claim 9

An illuminating device as defined in claim 6, wherein said plurality of fibers is divided into at least two bundles, and said means for terminating includes means for terminating one of said bundles on each side of said head-supported means in such a manner as to project light from said bundles forwardly of said head-supported means.

Claim 10

An illuminating device as defined in claim 8, wherein said means for terminating said bundles includes a lens for focusing and directing light projected from least one of said bundles.

Claim 11

An illumination device as defined in claims 7 or 8, wherein said means for terminating said plurality of fibers includes ends of fibers that are beveled with respect to their longitudinal axes, to focus the light projected therefrom.

Claim 12

An illumination device as defined in claim 1, wherein said head-supported means comprises an eyeglass frame.

Claim 13

An illumination device as defined in claim 1, wherein said light source is a high-intensity lamp delivering a luminous flux of more than 200 lumens.

Claim 14

A high-intensity, lightweight, head-supported illumination device, comprising: a light source having a high-intensity lamp light collecting means, and at least one mirror for reflecting visible light from said lamp to said light collecting means, said mirror separating visible light from infrared radiation whereby heat emitted by said lamp is directed away from said light collecting means while high-intensity visible light is reflected thereto; lightweight light transmitting means including a plurality of polymer optical fibers and adapted for connection at a first end to said light collecting means in said light source to transmit light from said source through said optical fibers to a second end of said transmitting means; support means for securing said second end of said light transmitting means to the head of a user of said illumination device; and termination means for said second end of said light transmitting means for terminating said optical fibers at said support means in such a manner as to cause visible light from said source which passes through said optical fibers to project forwardly of said support means, whereby an area in front of the user of said illumination device is illuminated, and the area of illumination may be controlled by movement of the head of the user.

Claim 15

A high-intensity, lightweight, head-supported illumination device, comprising: a light source having a high-intensity lamp light collecting means, and at least one mirror for reflecting visible light from said lamp to said light collecting means, said mirror separating visible light from infrared radiation whereby heat emitted by said lamp is directed away from said light collecting means while high-intensity visible light is reflected thereto; lightweight light transmitting means including a plurality of polymer optical fibers and adapted for connection at a first end to said light collecting means in said light source to transmit light from said source through said optical fibers to a second end of said transmitting means; support means for securing said second end of said light transmitting means to the head of a user of said illumination device; and termination means for said second end of said light transmitting means for terminating said optical fibers at said support means in such a manner as to cause visible light from said source which passes through said optical fibers to project forwardly of said support means, whereby an area in front of the user of said illumination device is illuminated, and the area of illumination may be controlled by movement of the head of the user.

Claim 16

An illumination device as defined in claim 13, wherein aid light collecting means comprises a heat resistant glass rod for filtering light from said high-intensity source.

Claim 17

An illumination device as defined in claim 14, wherein said light source includes a dielectric mirror for directing visible light to said glass rod, and for directing heat radiation from said lamp away from said glass rod.

Claim 18

An illumination device as defined in claim 15, wherein said termination means comprises means for securing said optical fibers in a plurality of bundles spaced along the front of said support means.

Claim 19

An illumination device as defined in claim 15, wherein said termination device includes ends of said fibers that are beveled with respect to their longitudinal axes to focus the light projected therefrom.

Claim 20

An illumination device as defined in claim 15, wherein said support means comprises an eyeglass frame.

Claim 21

An illumination device as defined in claim 15, wherein said light source comprises a high-intensity lamp delivering a luminous flux of between 1000 lumens and 2000 lumens.

Claim 22

An illumination device as defined in claim 13, wherein said light source further includes heat baffle means interposed between said high-intensity lamp and said light collecting means to shield said light collection means from heat radiated by said high-intensity lamp.

Claim 23

An illumination device as defined in claim 13, wherein said light source includes first and second dielectric mirrors for reflecting visible light and transmitting infrared radiation.

Claim 24

An illumination device as defined in claim 13, wherein said light source includes first and second dielectric mirrors, said first mirror reflecting visible light and transmitting infrared radiation, and said second mirror transmitting visible light and reflecting infrared radiation.

Claim 25

A high-intensity, lightweight, head-supported illumination device, comprising: an eyeglass frame including a bridge member and first and second side legs secured at opposite ends of said bridge member; polymer fiber optic light transmitting means having a first end adapted for connection to a high-intensity light source and a second end, said light transmitting means including a plurality of lightweight polymer optical fibers divided into first and second bundles at said second end; means rigidly securing said first bundle of fibers along said first side leg whereby said first bundle terminates adjacent a first end of said bridge member; means rigidly securing said second bundle of fibers along said second side leg, whereby said second bundle terminates adjacent a second end of said bridge member; lens means securable to said frame for terminating each of said first and second bundles, said lens means projecting and focusing light from said fibers forwardly of said frame; and means for securing said frame to the head of a user of said illumination device, whereby said light transmitting means extends along both sides of the user's head and projects light supplied to said fibers forwardly thereof.

Claim 26

A high-intensity, lightweight, head-supported illumination device, comprising: an eyeglass frame including a bridge member and first and second side legs secured at opposite ends of said bridge member; polymer fiber optic light transmitting means having a first end adapted for connection to a high-intensity light source and a second end, said light transmitting means including a plurality of lightweight polymer optical fibers divided into first and second bundles at said second end; means rigidly securing said first bundle of fibers along said first side leg whereby said first bundle terminates adjacent a first end of said bridge member; means rigidly securing said second bundle of fibers along said second side leg, whereby said second bundle terminates adjacent a second end of said bridge member; lens means securable to said frame for terminating each of said first and second bundles, said lens means projecting and focusing light from said fibers forwardly of said frame; and means for securing said frame to the head of a user of said illumination device, whereby said light transmitting means extends along both sides of the user's head and projects light supplied to said fibers forwardly thereof.