Latch for mounting a goggle system to a face mask

• US 4,592,096 A
• Filed: 07/05/1984
• Issued: 06/03/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Baird Corporation
• Original Assignee: Baird Corporation
• Inventors: Glasheen, W. Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): NERBUN, PETER P
• Application Number:
  US06/627,960
• Time in Patent Office: 698 Days
• Field of Search: 2/427, 2/453, 2/6, 2/9, 2/422, 2/10, 350/547, 350/548, 350/549, 350/145, 350/146, 250/213 VT, 24/580, 24/581, 24/584, 403/321, 403/322, 403/325, 403/326, 403/330
• US Class Current: 2/427
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/042 Optical devices night vision goggles G02B23/12
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/029 Additional functions or features, e.g. protection for other parts of the face such as ears, nose or mouth; Screen wipers or cleaning devices
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/125 head-mounted

Abstract

An improved latch to mount a night vision goggle system to a face mask is disclosed. The latch comprises a part secured to the face mask and parts secured to the goggle system. Specifically, it includes a tongue, which angularly adjustably is secured to the face mask. In one embodiment, the goggle system is provided with a receiver, a switch to render the system operational mounted adjacent the receiver and means mounted in operative association with the receiver both releasably to secure the goggle system to the face mask via the tongue and also to actuate the switch. In a second embodiment, the goggle system is provided with a receiver and a leaf spring releasably to secure the goggle system to the face mask via the tongue.

Claims

1. A latch to mount a goggle system to a face mask comprising:

(a) mounting means secured to said face mask;

(b) a tongue angularly adjustably secured to said mounting means; and

(c) receiving means for said tongue secured to said goggle system, including means for securing said tongue within said receiving means;

(d) said mounting means comprising a pair of wires formed of horizontal and vertical sections, said pair of wires in said horizontal section being offset vertically so as to form a top and a bottom wire, a member secured about said top wire and operatively connected to said tongue to secure said tongue angularly adjustably about said horizontal section.

2. The latch of claim 1 wherein said member is provided with an arcuate slot and said tongue with a stud to extend through said slot, and a wing nut for securing said stud, and thereby said tongue, in a position along the length of said arcuate slot.

3. The latch of claim 1 wherein said tongue has a front and a rear, and is formed with a U-shaped cutout at said front and a transverse bore at said rear, said tongue being further provided with a pair of parallel spaced alignment grooves.

4. A latch to mount a goggle system to a face mask comprising:

(a) mounting means secured to said face mask;

(b) a tongue angularly adjustably secured to said mounting means; and

(c) receiving means for said tongue secured to said goggle system, including means for securing said tongue within said receiving means;

(d) said receiving means for said tongue comprising a receiver having a front end and a flared rear end, an actuator formed of a hub and a pair of flat portions operatively connected to said hub, one of said flat portions designed for manual actuation and the other of said flat portions designed for actuation by said tongue upon entering said receiver.

5. The latch of claim 4 wherein said goggle system is further provided with a switch to render said system operational, and wherein said hub is a spring-loaded ball plunger mounted in operative association with said switch, whereby downward displacement of said ball plunger effected by the actuation of one of said pair of flat portions actuates said switch.

6. The latch of claim 4 wherein said means for receiving said tongue within said receiving means includes a plurality of detents formed on said tongue and at least one indent formed on one of said pair of flat portions to cooperate with said plurality of detents, whereby said tongue can be secured depthwise variably within said receiving means.

7. The latch of claim 5 wherein said receiving means is secured to said goggle system with a pair of screws.

8. The latch of claim 4 further including a bracket formed on the underside of said receiver, wherein said one of said pair of flat portions designed for actuation by said tongue is secured to said bracket.

9. The latch of claim 8 further including a transverse groove formed midway in said one of said pair of flat portions designed for actuation by said tongue and a pin designed to fit within said transverse groove so as to flexibly mount the same to said bracket.