Helmet mounted night vision apparatus and method of separation
First Claim
1. A night vision device for a pilot of an aircraft, comprising:
- a first optical arrangement and a second optical arrangement;
positioning means for selectively positioning said first optical arrangement and said second optical arrangement in front of the eyes of said pilot;
propelling means for selectively propelling said first optical arrangement away from said pilot in a first direction, and propelling said second optical arrangement away from said pilot in a different second direction.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A helmet mounted night vision device for a pilot that is automatically propelled away from the pilot before the pilot ejects from an aircraft, thereby preventing injury to the pilot caused by the night vision device striking the ejecting pilot. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention night vision device is a binocular device, having a right optical assembly and a left optical assembly that are viewed by the right and left eyes of the pilot, respectively. The right and left optical assemblies are each attached to elongated arm members. Each of the arm members, supporting the optical assemblies, are pivotably coupled to a common mounting plate that is removably attachable to the helmet of the pilot. Prior to ejection, the left and right optical assemblies are joined in front of the eyes of the pilot, thereby forming the binocular device. Before the pilot ejects, the left and right arm members pivotably rotate in opposite directions and detach from the common mounting plate, thereby separately propelling the right and left optical assemblies away from the pilot.
49 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A night vision device for a pilot of an aircraft, comprising:
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a first optical arrangement and a second optical arrangement; positioning means for selectively positioning said first optical arrangement and said second optical arrangement in front of the eyes of said pilot; propelling means for selectively propelling said first optical arrangement away from said pilot in a first direction, and propelling said second optical arrangement away from said pilot in a different second direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12, 13)
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- 9. The night vision device according to claim 9, wherein said pivot mount assembly includes at least one spring bias means for engaging said first arm member and said second arm member, said at least one spring bias means providing a bias to pivotably rotate said first arm member and said second arm member away from said set position in opposite directions, wherein said trigger means selectively retains said first arm member and said second arm member at said set position in opposition of said spring bias means.
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14. A binocular night vision device for a pilot of an aircraft, comprising:
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a first optical assembly viewed by one eye of said pilot; a second optical assembly, coupled to said first optical assembly, and viewed by the other eye of said pilot; separation means for selectively separating said first optical assembly from said second optical assembly; propelling means for independently propelling said first optical assembly and said second optical assembly away from said pilot. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of separating a night vision device from the helmet of a pilot ejecting from an aircraft, comprising the steps of:
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separating said night vision device into a plurality of unconnected sub-component assemblies; propelling each of said sub-component assemblies away from said pilot, whereby each of said sub-component assemblies are propelled away from said pilot. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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Specification