HELMET ACCESSORY ATTACHMENT SYSTEM

• US 20140033406A1
• Filed: 07/31/2012
• Published: 02/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Galvion Ltd. (Galvion Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Revision Military Incorporated (Revision Military)
• Inventors: Lebel, Stphane, Giroux Bernier, Dominic, McGinn, Michael James
• Granted Patent: US 9,433,252 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 2/422
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/04 Parts, details or accessories of helmets
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/221 Attaching visors to helmet shells, e.g. on motorcycle helmets
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/326 Helmets with movable or separable chin or jaw guard

Abstract

A helmet accessory attachment system may include an attachment portion comprising a biasing element, a position member, and a movable member. The movable member may be selectively moveable between a home position which is a first distance from the position member and a release position which is a second distance from the position member. The biasing element may bias the movable member toward the home position. The helmet accessory attachment system also may include a mounting portion attachable to a helmet. The mounting portion may include a first channel to receive the movable member at a first opening and a second channel to receive the position member at a second opening. A third distance between the first opening of the first channel and the second opening of the second channel may be greater than the first distance from the movable member to the position member in the home position.

Claims

1. A helmet accessory attachment system comprising:

an attachment portion comprising a biasing element, a position member, and a movable member, the movable member being selectively moveable between a home position which is a first distance from the position member and a release position which is a second distance from the position member, wherein the biasing element biases the movable member toward the home position; and

a mounting portion attachable to a helmet, wherein the mounting portion comprises a first channel to receive the movable member at a first opening and a second channel to receive the position member at a second opening, wherein a third distance between the first opening of the first channel and the second opening of the second channel is greater than the first distance from the movable member to the position member in the home position.

2. The helmet accessory attachment system of claim 1, wherein the third distance between the first opening of the first channel and the second opening of the second channel is less than the second distance.

3. The helmet accessory attachment system of claim 1, wherein the movable member is a slide member.

4. The helmet accessory attachment system of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of corresponding attachment portions and mounting portions.

5. The helmet accessory attachment system of claim 1, wherein the movable member is linearly movable.

6. The helmet accessory attachment system of claim 1, wherein the attachment portion is configured to selectively retain at least one accessory.

7. The helmet accessory attachment system of claim 3, wherein the at least one accessory includes at least one of an illuminator, a camera, a video recorder, a laser pointer, a communications component, an IFF device, an attachment arm, a visor, a face shield, and goggles.

8. The helmet accessory attachment system of claim 3 wherein the at least one accessory includes a mandible guard.

9. The helmet accessory attachment system of claim 1, wherein the movable member is pivotable within the first channel.

10. The helmet accessory attachment system of claim 1, wherein the first channel is oriented substantially parallel to, or in alignment with, the second channel.

11. The helmet accessory attachment system of claim 1, wherein the mounting portion is selectively attachable to a rail on the helmet.

12. The helmet accessory attachment system of claim 1, wherein the mounting portion is integrally formed with the helmet.

13. The helmet accessory attachment system of claim 1, wherein the biasing element comprises a resilient ring.

14. The helmet accessory attachment system of claim 1, wherein the biasing element comprises a spring.

15. The helmet accessory attachment system of claim 1, wherein the biasing element applies a force to the position member and movable member to bias the movable member to the home position.

16. The helmet accessory attachment system of claim 1, further comprising the helmet, wherein the mounting portion is attached to the helmet.

17. A helmet accessory attachment system comprising:

an attachment portion comprising a biasing element, a position member, and a movable member selectively moveable between a home position and a release position, wherein the biasing element biases the movable member toward the home position; and

a mounting portion attachable to a helmet, wherein the mounting portion comprises a first channel to receive the movable member, and a second channel to retain the position member when the movable member is in the home position and release the position member when the movable member is in the release position.

18. The helmet accessory attachment system of claim 17, wherein the attachment portion is pivotable about the movable member when the movable member is positioned within the first channel.

21. The helmet accessory attachment system of claim 17, wherein the movable member is linearly movable.

22. The helmet accessory attachment system of claim 17, wherein the attachment portion is configured to selectively retain at least one accessory.

24. The helmet accessory attachment system of claim 22, wherein the at least one accessory includes a mandible guard.

25. The helmet accessory attachment system of claim 17, wherein the first channel is oriented substantially parallel to, or in alignment with, the second channel.

28. The helmet accessory attachment system of claim 17, wherein the biasing element comprises a resilient ring.

32. The helmet accessory attachment system of claim 17, wherein the first channel comprises a first opening and the second channel comprises a second opening, wherein a first distance between the first opening and second opening is greater than a second distance from the movable member to the position member in the home position.

33. The helmet accessory attachment system of claim 17, wherein the first channel comprises a first opening and the second channel comprises a second opening, wherein a first distance between the first opening and second opening is less than a second distance from the movable member to the position member in the release position.

19-20. -20. (canceled)

23. (canceled)

26-27. -27. (canceled)

29-31. -31. (canceled)

34. A method for removably attaching an accessory to a helmet, the method comprising:

providing an attachment portion comprising a biasing element, a position member, and a movable member selectively moveable between a home position and a release position, wherein the biasing element biases the movable member toward the home position;

moving the movable member into a first channel of a mounting portion;

moving the movable member to the release position;

rotating the attachment portion to align the position member with a second channel of the mounting portion; and

releasing the attachment portion such that the position member is drawn into the second channel of the mounting portion as the movable member returns to the home position.

35. The method claim 34, wherein rotating the attachment portion comprises pivoting the attachment portion about the movable member.

36. The method of claim 34, further comprising:

moving the movable member to the release position such that the position member is removed from the second channel of the mounting portion;

rotating the attachment portion to take the position member out of alignment with the second channel of the mounting portion; and

removing the movable member from the first channel of the mounting portion.

37. The method of claim 34, wherein the movable member comprises a slide member, and moving the movable member into a first channel of a mounting portion comprises sliding the slide member.

38. The method of claim 34, further comprising attaching an accessory to the attachment portion.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein attaching an accessory to the attachment portion further comprises attaching at least one of an illuminator, a camera, a video recorder, a laser pointer, a communications component, an IFF device, an attachment arm, a visor, a face shield, and goggles to the attachment portion.

40. The method of claim 34, wherein attaching an accessory to the attachment portion further comprises attaching at least a mandible guard to the attachment portion.

42. The method of claim 34, wherein moving the movable member to the release position further comprises moving the movable member to a first distance from the position member, wherein the first distance is greater than a second distance between a first opening of the first channel and a second opening of the second channel.

43. The method of claim 34, wherein releasing the attachment portion further comprises moving the movable member to a first distance from the position member, wherein the first distance is less than a second distance between a first opening of the first channel and a second opening of the second channel.

41. (canceled)

44. A helmet accessory attachment system comprising:

an accessory;

an attachment portion attachable to the accessory, wherein the attachment portion comprises a biasing element, a position member, and a movable member, the movable member being selectively movable between a home position and a release position, wherein the biasing element biases the movable member toward the home position, and wherein the position member is retainable in a channel of a mounting portion when the movable member is in the home position, and releasable from the channel of the mounting portion when the moveable member is in the release position.

45. The helmet accessory attachment system of claim 44, wherein the accessory comprises a mandible guard.

47. The helmet accessory attachment system of claim 44, wherein the movable member is linearly movable.

46. (canceled)

48. (canceled)