Flight helmet with headset

• US 5,003,631 A
• Filed: 10/05/1989
• Issued: 04/02/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Northrop Corporation
• Original Assignee: Northrop Corporation
• Inventors: Richardson, William T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schroeder, Werner H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Neas, Michael A.
• Application Number:
  US07/417,331
• Time in Patent Office: 544 Days
• Field of Search: 2/6, 2/209, 2/413, 2/414, 2/423
• US Class Current: 2/6.1
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/166 Integral hearing protection
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/30 Mounting radio sets or communication systems
• CPC Class Codes: A42C 2/007 Manufacturing custom-sized helmets
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 11/14 external, e.g. earcaps or earmuffs
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 2/909 Head protector, e.g. helmet, goggles

Abstract

A helmet formed of a rigid shell and, internally thereof, a liner sized and shaped to the head of the wearer with ear cups secured to the liner. The ear cups have a peripheral surface positionable in contact with the wearer'"'"'s head. The peripheral surface includes a first annular tube filled with a gel material in contact with the wearer'"'"'s head around the ears and a second annular tube for urging the first annular tube into conforming contact with the wearer'"'"'s head. The second annular tube is inflatable and includes tubing means extending through the shell with valve means for inflation and deflation thereof. Also disclosed is the method of fabricating the shell to fit an individual wearer.

Claims

1. A flight helmet with headset custom fit to the head and ears of a particular individual comprising an outer shell of rigid material shaped to cover the head of the wearer and having a peripheral edge lying along the back of the neck and extending forwardly beneath the ears,

an inner layer of resilient elastomeric material,

a conformable liner of thermoplastic material formed with a generally hemispherical shape, said liner being heated to a temperature at which it can be shaped and inserted into the shell which is then placed on and forced into conformity with the head of the individual for whom it will fit,

adhesive means for securing the liner, the layer and the shell together as a unitary structure,

means forming left and right ear apertures in the shell,

left and right ear cups selected to fully cover the ears of said individual, said ear cups being placed in said apertures, respectively, and positioned while the helmet is worn by said individual so that the ear cups are in a proper sealing position relative to the individual'"'"'s ear positions,

adhesive means for permanently affixing the ear cups to the helmet and liner,

an expandable seal surrounding the ear cups so that between the earcup and the head of the wearer a close, noise isolating seal is formed completely around each ear between the head and each earcup.

2. The helmet as in claim 1 in which said ear cups have an expandable seal positionable in contact with the wearer'"'"'s head, the expandable seal including a first annular tube filled with a gel material in contact with the wearer'"'"'s head around the ears and a second annular tube for urging the first annular tube into conforming contact with the wearer'"'"'s head.

3. The helmet as set forth in claim 1 wherein the second annular tube is inflatable.

4. The helmet as set forth in claim 2 wherein the second annular tube includes tubing means extending through the shell with valve means for inflation and deflation thereof.

5. The helmet as set forth in claim 3 and further including bellows formed in the shell for inflation purposes.

6. The headset as in claim 1, wherein a peripheral surface of each ear cup is positioned in contact with the wearer'"'"'s head around his ears, and is formed as a toroidal tube filled with a gel to conform with the head of the wearer.

7. The headset as set forth in claim 5 and further including a pneumatic ring to urge contact between the toroid tube and the wearer'"'"'s head.

8. The headset as set forth in claim 6 wherein the pneumatic ring is inflatable.

9. The headset as set forth in claim 7 wherein the pneumatic ring includes tubing means to the exterior of the earcup with valve means for inflation and deflation of the pneumatic ring.

10. The headset as set forth in claim 8 wherein the tubing means is a single tube with a one-way valve at an external end thereof.

11. The headset as set forth in claim 8 wherein the tubing means is a pair of tubes each with a one-way valve at an external end.

12. The headset as set forth in claim 10 and further including a bellows on an end of one of the valves.