Combination head-protective helmet & communications system

• US 5,404,577 A
• Filed: 06/18/1991
• Issued: 04/04/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Globalsecure Safety Products, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Cairns & Brother, Inc.
• Inventors: Olsen, Jeffrey N., Armstrong, Robert M., Zuckerman, Lawrence H., Richter, Robert J., Gray, Robert E., Schuler, Kurt P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Urban, Edward F.
• Application Number:
  US07/716,707
• Time in Patent Office: 1,386 Days
• Field of Search: 455/89, 455/90, 455/344, 455/347, 455/348-351, 455/66, 381/7, 381/0.51, 381/0.83, 379/430, 2/5, 2/7, 343/905
• US Class Current: 455/66.1
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/30 Mounting radio sets or communication systems
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 18/08 Component parts for gas-masks or gas-helmets, e.g. windows, straps, speech transmitters, signal-devices eye-pieces for protective goggles A61F9/02; composition of materials for the windows or other transparent parts A62D7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/46 Special adaptations for use as contact microphones, e.g. on musical instrument, on stethoscope throat mountings H04R1/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/107 Monophonic and stereophonic headphones with microphone for two-way hands free communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/13 Hearing devices using bone conduction transducers

Abstract

A generally hands-free, voice communication system in combination with a head-protective helmet. The helmet protects the wearer'"'"'s head and the communications system permits voice communications between journeyman personnel, e.g. firefighters, police, military, industrial, hazardous material handling personnel, in relatively close proximity with each other and between journeymen and a group leader; and the group leader'"'"'s communication system to also permit relatively long-range communication between the group leader and a relatively distant communications center such as a fire engine or distant fire company, base station or repeater.

Claims

1. Combination head-protective helmet and voice communication system for providing generally hands-free voice communication between a journeyman and a group leader, comprising:

(a) a plurality of combination head-protective helmets and voice communication systems, each combination including;

(i) a head-protective helmet and flexible flame retardant earflap mounted to said helmet and extending downwardly from said helmet, said earflap for covering and protecting at least the ears of said wearer of said helmet from heat and flames, and said earflap including an extension portion for being fastened under the chin of the wearer of said helmet;

(ii) a transceiver for transmitting and receiving voice communication, said transceiver including interconnected transceiver circuitry, a speaker, a throat microphone and an antenna;

(iii) first and second mounting means;

(iv) housing means for receiving said transceiver circuitry and said speaker;

(v) said first mounting means for mounting said housing on said earflap to place said speaker adjacent to and in voice communication with an ear of the wearer of said helmet and said second mounting means for mounting said throat microphone on said extension portion of said earflap and upon said extension portion of said earflap being fastened under the chin of the wearer of said helmet said microphone being placed adjacent to and in voice communication with the throat of the wearer; and

(vi) said antenna residing within said helmet;

(b) one of said combination head-protective helmet and voice communication systems for being worn by the journeyman and another one of said combination head-protective helmet and voice communication systems for being worn by the group leader;

(c) said voice communication systems for transmitting and receiving voice communications between the journeyman and group leader on a first frequency;

(d) said voice communication system in combination with said helmet worn by the group leader including a switch having first and second positions;

(e) a second transceiver for being mounted on the group leader and for transmitting and receiving voice communications on a second frequency between the group leader and a distant voice communication station;

(f) conductor means interconnecting said second transceiver with said voice communication system in combination with said helmet worn by the group leader; and

(g) upon said switch being in said first position voice communication is transmitted and received between the group leader and the journeyman on said first frequency using said voice communication systems in combination with the head-protective helmets worn by the journeyman and the group leader and upon said switch being in said second position voice communication is transmitted and received between the group leader and said distant voice communication station on said second frequency using said second transceiver mounted on the group leader.

2. The combination according to claim 1 wherein upon said switch being in said first position for transmitting and receiving voice communication between the group leader and the journeyman on said first frequency said voice communication system in combination with said helmet worn by the group leader also permitting the group leader to receive voice communication from said distant voice communication station over said second frequency.

9. The combination according to claim 1, 3 or 5 wherein said extension portion of said earflap has an inner surface and wherein said second mounting means comprise a strap secured to said inner surface and wherein said throat microphone is secured to said strap, and wherein said first mounting means comprise a pocket formed in said earflap for receiving said housing.

10. The combination according to claim 1, 3 or 5 wherein said first mounting means comprise a pocket formed in said earflap which pocket opens into the interior of said earflap.

3. Combination head-protective helmet and voice communication system for providing generally hands-free voice communication between a journeyman and another person provided with means for receiving transmit audio signals, comprising:

a head-protective helmet for being worn by the journeyman and a flexible flame-retardant earflap mounted to said helmet and extending downwardly from said helmet, said earflap for covering and protecting at least the ears of the journeyman from heat and flames, and said earflap including an extension portion for being fastened under the chin of the journeyman;

a transceiver for transmitting and receiving voice communication, said transceiver including interconnected transceiver circuitry, a speaker, a throat microphone and an antenna;

first and second mounting means;

housing means for receiving said transceiver circuitry and said speaker;

said first mounting means for mounting said housing on said earflap to place said speaker adjacent to and in voice communication with an ear of the journeyman and said second mounting means for mounting said throat microphone on said extension portion of said earflap and upon said extension portion of said earflap being fastened under the chin of the journeyman said microphone being placed adjacent to and in voice communication with the throat of the journeyman;

said antenna residing within said helmet;

said transceiver circuitry comprising a control channel, a transmit channel and a receive channel including an FM receiver and wherein each channel has an input and an output, wherein said transceiver circuitry further comprises an FM transmitter having an output, wherein said inputs of said control channel and said transmit channel are connected in common with said microphone, wherein said outputs of said control channel and said transmit channel are connected to said FM transmitter, wherein said output of said FM transmitter and said input of said receive channel are connected in common with said antenna, wherein the output of said receive channel is connected to said speaker, wherein upon the journeyman transmitting voice communication to said microphone, said microphone producing transmit audio signals communicated to said control channel and to said transmit channel and wherein said transmit audio signals communicated to said control channel activate said FM receiver whereby transmit audio signals communicated to said control channel are transmitted by said FM transmitter to and broadcast by said antenna to the another person, and wherein said transmit audio signals transmitted by said FM transmitter are also communicated to said FM receiver and to said speaker permitting the journeyman to hear his voice communication transmitted to said speaker and thereby be assured that his voice communication system is operable, and wherein upon receive audio signals being received by said antenna, said received audio signals are communicated to said receive channel, to said FM receiver and to said speaker which produces voice communication received by the journeyman.

4. The combination according to claim 3 wherein the receive channel further includes a comparator having an output and a variable resistor, said output of said comparator connected to said FM receiver to provide said FM receiver with squelch control and said output of said comparator also connected to said FM transmitter to render said FM transmitter inoperable upon voice communication being received by said FM receiver.

5. Combination head-protective helmet and voice communication system for providing generally hands-free voice communication between a group leader and a journeyman provided with means for receiving audio signals, comprising:

a head-protective helmet for being worn by the group leader and a flexible flame-retardant earflap mounted to said helmet and extending downwardly from said helmet, said earflap for covering and protecting at least the ears of the group leader from heat and flames, and said earflap including an extension portion for being fastened under the chin of the group leader;

a transceiver for transmitting and receiving voice communication, said transceiver including interconnected transceiver circuitry, a speaker, a throat microphone and an antenna;

first and second mounting means;

housing means for receiving said transceiver circuitry and said speaker;

said first mounting means for mounting said housing on said earflap to place said speaker adjacent to and in voice communication with an ear of the group leader and said second mounting means for mounting said throat microphone on said extension portion of said earflap and upon said extension portion of said earflap being fastened under the chin of the group leader said microphone being placed adjacent to and in voice communication with the throat of the group leader;

said antenna residing within said helmet;

said transceiver circuitry comprising a control channel, a transmit channel and a receive channel including an FM receiver and wherein each channel has an input and an output, wherein said transceiver circuitry further comprises a switch having a first position including a first terminal and a second position including a second terminal and an FM transmitter having an output, wherein said inputs of said control channel and said transmit channel are connected in common with said microphone, wherein said output of said control channel is connected to said switch, and wherein said first contact and said output of said transmit channel are connected to said FM transmitter, wherein said output of said FM transmitter and said input of said receive channel are connected in common with said antenna, wherein the output of said receive channel is connected to said speaker, wherein upon said switch being in said first position and the group leader transmitting voice communication to said microphone, said microphone producing transmit audio signals communicated to said control channel and to said transmit channel and wherein said transmit audio signals communicated to said control channel activate said FM receiver whereby transmit audio signals communicated to said control channel are transmitted by said FM transmitter to and broadcast by said antenna to said journeyman, and wherein said transmit audio signals transmitted by said FM transmitter are also communicated to said FM receiver and transmitted to said speaker permitting the group leader to hear his voice communication transmitted to said speaker and thereby be assured that his voice communication system is operable, and wherein upon receive audio signals being received by said antenna, said received audio signals are communicated to said receive channel, to said FM receiver and to said speaker which produces voice communication received by the group leader.

6. The combination according to claim 5 wherein said voice communications transmitted and received between the group leader and the journeyman are transmitted and received on a first frequency, and wherein said voice communication system in combination with said helmet worn by the group leader further comprises a second transceiver for being mounted on the group leader and for transmitting and receiving voice communications on a second frequency between the group leader and a distant voice communication station, wherein said combination further comprises conductor means interconnecting said second transceiver with said voice communication system in combination with said helmet worn by the group leader and wherein upon said switch being in said first position voice communication is transmitted and received between the group leader and the journeyman on said first frequency using said voice communication systems in combination with the head-protective helmets worn by the group leader and the journeyman and wherein upon said switch being in said second position voice communication is transmitted and received between the group leader and said distant voice communication station on said second frequency using said second transceiver mounted on the group leader.

7. The combination according to claim 6 wherein said second transceiver includes a press to talk connection, a speaker input, a microphone input and an internal ground connection, wherein said conductor means includes first, second, third and fourth conductors, wherein said first conductor connects said press to talk connection to said second terminal of said switch, wherein said second conductor connects said speaker input to said speaker, wherein said third conductor connects said microphone input to said transmit channel, wherein said transceiver circuitry has a common ground and-wherein said fourth conductor connects said internal ground conductor to said common ground.

8. The combination according to claim 5 wherein the receive channel further includes a comparator having an output and a variable resistor, said output of said comparator connected to said FM receiver to provide said FM receiver with squelch control and said output of said comparator also connected to said FM transmitter to render said FM transmitter inoperable upon voice communication being received by said FM receiver.

11. Combination head gear and voice communication system for providing generally hands-free voice communications between the wearer and others, comprising:

head-protective helmet for providing head protection to the head of the wearer of said helmet, said helmet including an external shell, an internal impact cap for being mounted internally of said external shell, a suspension system mounted to said internal impact cap and for suspending said internal impact cap and said external shell above the head of said wearer, said suspension system including a generally circular mounting member residing in a generally circular external groove provided in said internal impact cap and a plurality of straps residing internally of said impact cap and connected thereto by said circular mounting member, said straps for being engaged by the head of said wearer, said suspension system and said internal impact cap spaced apart to provide a space therebetween, and said impact cap provided with a recess;

transceiver means for transmitting and receiving voice communications, said transceiver means including interconnected transceiver circuitry, an antenna, a bone conduction microphone, and a speaker;

a battery residing in said recess and for providing energy to said transceiver means;

an ear cup, said bone conduction microphone and said speaker mounted on said ear cup;

said antenna residing internally of said helmet;

said transceiver circuitry mounted to the underside of said internal cap and residing in said space between said internal cap and said suspension system; and

a bracket mounted to said circular mounting member, a hinge pin mounted to said bracket, and said ear cup mounted pivotally on said hinge pin, and a torsion spring surrounding said hinge pin and spring biasing said ear cup inwardly to cause said microphone to engage and be placed in voice communication with a head bone of said wearer and to place said speaker in voice communication with an ear of said wearer of said helmet.

12. The combination apparatus of claim 11 wherein said apparatus comprises a plurality of combination headgear and communications systems as defined by claim 11, wherein one of said combination headgear and communications systems is for being worn by a journeyman and another one of said combination headgear and communications systems is for being worn by a group leader, wherein the transceiver mounted on said headgear worn by said journeyman is for transmitting and receiving voice communications on a first frequency and wherein said transceiver mounted on said headgear worn by said group leader is for receiving and transmitting voice communications on a second frequency;

and wherein said apparatus further comprises module means including a first module transceiver and a second module transceiver, said first module transceiver for receiving and transmitting voice communications on said first frequency and said second module transceiver for receiving and transmitting voice communications on said second frequency, said module means further including switching means for automatically transferring voice communications from said journeyman received on said first module transceiver at said first frequency to said second module transceiver for retransmission to said group leader at said second frequency and for transferring voice communications from said group leader received by said second module transceiver at said second frequency to said first module transceiver for retransmission to said journeyman at said first frequency thereby enabling hands-free voice communications between said journeyman and said group leader.

13. The combination according to claim 12 wherein the communications provided by said combination are relatively short-range communications and wherein said combination further includes a relatively long-range transceiver for transmitting and receiving communications at a third frequency to and from a distant communications center, said long-range transceiver for being worn by said group leader and for being connected to said module means, said module means including further switching means for automatically transferring voice communications from said group leader received by said second module transceiver at said second frequency to said long-range transceiver for retransmission to said distant communications center at said third frequency and for automatically transferring voice communications from said distant communications center received by said long-range transceiver at said third frequency to said second module transceiver for retransmission to said group leader at said second frequency to enable hands-free relatively long-range communications between said group leader and said distant communications center.