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.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.