Safety helmet

1. A safety helmet device for a cyclist which includes:

a plurality of lights including a front illumination light, a rear-facing light, a plurality of right side lights, and a plurality of left side lights, which are operatively connected to a power supply; and

at least one motion sensor which detects a behavioural characteristic of the cyclist and provides input signals to a controller, the controller operates in accordance with an algorithm whereby the input signals are processed to determine an appropriate time delay before activation of a first lighting characteristic for the plurality of right side lights and/or the plurality of left side lights, in dependence upon the behavioural characteristic detected, and thereafter a timing for activation of a second lighting characteristic different from the first lighting characteristic for the plurality of right side lights and/or the plurality of left side lights for a time period after registering a prolonged period of directional change indicated by the at least one motion sensor;

wherein switching signals from the controller switch on the plurality of right side lights and/or the plurality of left side lights as a sequence of lights to indicate actual or intended direction of travel.

2. The safety helmet device according to claim 1 wherein

the plurality of left side lights and the plurality of right side lights extend around substantially an entire circumference of the helmet.

3. The safety helmet device according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of lights include light emitting diodes (LEDs) or laser LEDs.

4. The safety helmet device according to claim 1 , further including a global positioning (GPS) sensing means.

5. The safety helmet device according to claim 1 , further including an accelerometer arranged to sense a rate of braking, and to provide a signal indicative of the rate of braking in order to affect a variation to light colour and/or brightness of at least some of the plurality of lights.

6. The safety helmet device according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of lights are detachably fitted to the helmet.

7. The safety helmet device according to claim 1 , further including an ambient light sensor which is adapted to activate the plurality of lights at a pre-set light level.

8. The safety helmet device according to claim 1 , further including a compass in communication with the controller.

9. The safety helmet according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of lights, the at least one motion sensor and the controller are supplied as a kit for attaching to a cycle helmet, the safety helmet device further including: a support means shaped and formed appropriately so as to enable the safety helmet device to be connected to the cycle helmet.

10. A safety helmet device for a cyclist which includes:

a plurality of separately-powered lights which are operatively connected to separate power supplies, the plurality of separately-powered lights being adapted for separate mounting to a helmet at at least four different circumferential positions; and

at least one motion sensor which detects a behavioural characteristic of the cyclist and provides input signals to a controller, the controller operates in accordance with an algorithm whereby the input signals are processed to determine an appropriate time delay before activation of a first lighting characteristic for the plurality of separately-powered lights, in dependence upon the behavioural characteristic detected, and thereafter a timing for activation of a second lighting characteristic different from the first lighting characteristic for the plurality of separately-powered lights for a time period after registering a prolonged period of directional change indicated by the at least one motion sensor;

wherein switching signals from the controller switch on the plurality of separately-powered lights in sequence to indicate actual or intended direction of travel.