WO1991012553A1

WO1991012553A1 - Headlight glare reducing device

Info

Publication number: WO1991012553A1
Application number: PCT/AU1991/000037
Authority: WO
Inventors: Roy Thomas Brown
Original assignee: Roy Thomas Brown
Priority date: 1990-02-07
Filing date: 1991-01-05
Publication date: 1991-08-22

Abstract

A headlight glare reducing device comprises a light filter (25) suitably of tinted optical material having two spaced light filtering portions (26, 27) each portion having an inclined side edge (28, 29). The device can be strapped or otherwise supported to a wearer's head, and allows the wearer to directly view the area directly ahead while viewing the area to one side through the light filtering portions (26, 27). The device is suitable for night driving applications to reduce the glare from oncoming vehicle headlights.

Description

TITLE HEADLIGHT GLARE REDUCING DEVICE

THIS INVENTION relates to a headlight glare reducing device and particularly to a headlight glare reducing device which can be worn by a driver of a vehicle to reduce the glare from the lights of oncoming vehicles.

One of the many dangers of night driving is the temporary blinding effect caused by the headlights of oncoming vehicles. This temporary blinding effect makes it difficult for a driver to see the road directly ahea .

During daytime driving, glare can be effectively reduced by the use of light filters such as sunglasses or the use of tinting on the windscreen of the vehicle. However, such light filters are dangerous for night driving as they reduce light trans ittance. Shields and screens to intercept the glare from oncoming vehicles are also not suitable as they obstruct the view of the oncoming road and need to be constantly manipulated by the driver. This can result in accidents occurring.

It is an object of the invention to provide a headlight glare reducing device which may overcome some of the abovementioned disadvantages or provide the public with a useful choice.

In one form the invention provides a headlight glare reducing device for reducing glare from lights of oncoming vehicles including a light filter positionable in front of a wearer's eyes and supported by the wearer's head, said filter having a configuration to allow the wearer travelling along a carriageway to view the side of the carriageway containing oncoming vehicles substantially through the light filter while being able to view the carriageway directly ahead without the light filter.

The light filter may comprise a sheet or plate of optical material which can be darkened or tinted to give the desirable light filtering effect. The optical material may comprise plastics, glass or a laminate. The sheet or plate of optical material may be substantially flat or may be curved around a wearers eyes or face. The light filter may be coated or may contain other optically adjusting means such as polarizing filters, "mirror" type coatings, scratch resistant coatings, colour tinting and the like. Preferred tints include green, blue and red.

The light filter may include first and second light filtering portions which, in use, are positioned in front of a driver's eyes. Each portion preferably has an inclined side edge which may be substantially in line with the centre line of the carriage way or an imaginary centre line of the carriage way. For carriage ways having oncoming vehicles passing to the right (ie. the english system), the inclined side edge is positioned on the left hand side of each portion when viewed by a driver. For carriage ways where oncoming vehicles pass to the left (ie. the U.S. system), the inclined side edge is positioned on the right hand side of each portion.

The spacing between the portions may be adjustable to suit the distance between the eyes of various wearers. The spacing is preferably such that the spacing between the side edges of adjacent portions corresponds to the distance between the pupils of a wearer.

The light filtering portions may, in use, depend from a transverse support member. The transverse support member may be of an integral construction with the light filtering portions or may comprise separate components fixed together. In an alternative form, the portions may be part of a substantially continuous sheet or plate member. The sheet or plate member may include the light filtering portions with the remainder of the continuous sheet or plate material being substantially optically clear.

The light filter may be positioned in front of the driver's eyes in a variety of fashions. The filter may be clipped or otherwise attached to the brim or peak of a hat or cap. Alternatively, the light filter may be clipped or otherwise attached to spectacles. In yet a further alternative, the light filter may include wings which are adapted to extend along each side of a wearers head and to engage with the ears of the wearer. The wings may be adjustable in length to adjust the spacing between the light filter and the eyes of the wearer. The wings may further include or comprise a strap or band to encircle the wearers head.

In yet a further alternative, the headlight glare reducing device may comprise a forehead engaging portion, at least one arm extending outwardly from the forehead engaging portion with the light filter being attached to the arm. The arm functions to space the light filter from the wearers eyes and may be adjustable in length. Preferably, the light filter is spaced between 2-3 inches from the eyes of the wearer. The arm may also be pivotally mounted to the forehead engaging portion to allow the light filter to be pivoted away from the wearers eyes when not needed. It is preferred that a pair of arms extend outwardly from the forehead engaging portion and the pair of arms may extend outwardly from a position substantially above the wearers eyes. The arms may be replaced by a continuous or partially continuous web extending from between the forehead engaging portion to the light filter. The forehead engaging portion may comprise a curved strip or strap which may be cushioned for comfort. A band or strap may extend from the forehead engaging portion around the wearers head.

The invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of one preferred embodiment thereof in which

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a headlight glare reducing device according to an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view according to a second embodiment in use.

Figure 1 discloses a headlight glare reducing device comprising a forehead engaging portion 10 in the form of a curved strip adapted to engage the forehead of a wearer. The strip is provided with eyelets 11 on each end thereof through which an band 12 is fixed and which can pass around a wearer's head thereby securing the device to the wearers head. The band can be adjusted in length by velcro tabs as shown in Figure 1. An arms 13 is fixed to the forehead engaging portion 10 and extends outwardly and downwardly therefrom. A light filter 14 is formed with the free end of arm 13. The light filter is positioned approximately 2 to 3 inches from strip 10. The light filter 14 comprises a unitary substantially planar plate of optically transmitting plastic which is darkened to reduce its optical transmittanσe. The filter 14 comprises first and second light filtering portions 15,16 which are positioned substantially in front of a wearer's eyes. Each of portions 15 and 16 are provided with an inclined side edge 18 on the left hand side of portions 15 and 16 when viewed by a wearer. This type of arrangement is suitable for right-hand drive vehicles and it should be appreciated that for left-hand drive vehicles the inclined side edges 18 will be formed' on the right hand side of portions 15 and 16 when viewed by a wearer. Portion 15 is larger in size than portion 16 to improve the reduction in the glare of the lights of oncoming vehicles. Again it should be appreciated that for left hand drive vehicles, portion 16 will be of the larger size. Figure 2 discloses a second embodiment of the headlight glare reducing device according to the invention. In this embodiment, the device comprises a forehead engaging portion 20 in the form of a curved strip. The strip is provided with eyelets 21 adjacent its ends through which a headband 23 can pass to secure the device to the wearers head. Band 23 can be adjusted in length by the use of velcro tabs as shown in Figure 2 although it should be appreciated that this is only a preferred form of securing the headband to strip 20. A pair of arms 24 are integrally formed with strip 20 and extend outwardly from the strip. The ends of arms 24 support a light filter 25 which is integrally formed with arms 24. Thus, in this embodiment, strip 20, arms 24 and light filter 25 can be formed from a single piece of plastics material. Light filter 25 is configured to define first and second light filtering portions 26, 27 which in use are positioned in front of the wearers eyes. Each of portions 26, 27 include an inclined side edge 28, 29 in a manner similar to that described above.

In use, the device is positioned on the wearer's forehead as depicted in figure 2 and may also be positioned slightly above the wearer's eyes (not shown). The part of the carriage way directly ahead of the wearer can be viewed directly and without obstruction of the light filter due to the configuration of the inclined side edges of the light filtering portions. However, the right hand side of the carriage way (ie. the oncoming traffic) is viewed through the light filter. If the light filter is positioned slightly above the wearer's eyes in use, the wearer is merely required to slightly lower his head to view oncoming traffic through the light filter.

It can therefore be seen that one advantage of the night driver's aid according to the invention is that only the oncoming traffic is viewed through a light filter while there is an unobstructed view of the road and traffic directly ahead. The night driving aid is therefore suitable for night driving and allows the driver to view oncoming vehicles without being temporarily blinded by the lights.

It should be appreciated that various other changes and modification may be made to the embodiment without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims..

Claims

CLAIMS :

1. A headlight glare reducing device for reducing the glare of oncoming vehicles, including a light filter positionable in front of a wearer's eyes and supportable by the wearer's head, said filter having a configuration to allow the wearer travelling along a carriageway to view the side of the carriageway containing oncoming vehicles substantially through the light filter while being able to view the carriageway directly ahead without the light filter.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said light filter comprises one or more optical members.

3. The device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said light filter comprises first and second light filtering portions which in use are positioned in front of the wearer's eyes.

4. The device as claimed claim 3, wherein each of said light filtering portions include an inclined side edge.

5. The device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said inclined side edges are in a substantially parallel relationship relative to each other.

6. The device as claimed in claim 1, including a head engaging portion.

7. The device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the head engaging portion comprises a forehead engaging strip and a band extendable about the wearers head.

8. The device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said light filter is supported from one or more arms which extend outwardly from said forehead engaging strip.

9. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said light filter comprises one or more tinted optical members.

10. A headlight glare reducing device for reducing the glare of oncoming vehicles including a light filter positionable in front of a wearer's eyes and comprising a pair of spaced light filtering portions located in front of the wearer's eyes in use each portion having an inclined side edge, said side edges being parallel with respect to each other, and a head engaging portion to support the light filter in front of the wearer's eyes in use.