Magnet module for night vision goggles helmet mount

• US 6,862,748 B2
• Filed: 03/17/2003
• Issued: 03/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Norotos Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Norotos Incorporated
• Inventors: Prendergast, Jonathon R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lindsey, Rodney M.
• Application Number:
  US10/391,332
• Publication Number:
  US 20040181855A1
• Time in Patent Office: 722 Days
• Field of Search: 242/2, 2/62, 2/63, 2/67, 2/65, 359/409, 359/815, 200/60, 335/205, 335/285
• US Class Current: 2/422
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/04 Parts, details or accessories of helmets
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/125 head-mounted

Abstract

The present invention provides for a magnet module adapted for use in an automatic shutdown assembly of a flip-up helmet mount for a night vision device, the magnet module comprising a vertically angled cavity with a substantially L-shaped profile, the cavity including a use end and a stowed end substantially opposite the use end and a bar magnet slidably received within the cavity and movable between the use end and the stowed end.

Claims

1. A magnet module adapted for use in an automatic shutdown assembly of a flip-up helmet mount for a night vision device, the magnet module comprising:

a vertically angled cavity limited to a substantially L-shaped profile, the cavity including a use end and a stowed end substantially opposite the use end; and

a bar magnet slidably received within the cavity and movable between the use end and the stowed end.

2. The magnet module of claim 1 wherein the cavity contains a rear chamber formed adjacent to the use end of the cavity, the rear chamber being adapted to receive the bar magnet.

3. The magnet module of claim 2, wherein a magnetically-responsive switching device on the night vision device is positioned immediately adjacent the use end of the cavity, the magnetically-responsive switching device maintaining the night vision device switched on when under the influence of a sufficient magnetic field, and effecting shutdown of the night vision device when the magnetically-responsive switching device is no longer under the influence of the sufficient magnetic field.

4. The magnet module of claim 3, wherein as the night vision device is rotated between a use position and a stowed position, the magnet module is rotated in a first direction, the magnet moves between the use end of the cavity, where the magnet provides the sufficient magnetic field required to keep the night vision device on, and the stowed end of the cavity, where the magnet does not provide the sufficient magnetic field to the magnetically-responsive switching device.

5. The magnet module of claim 4, wherein as the magnet module is rotated in a direction opposite the first direction, such as when an operator of the night vision device performs a lateral or sidewards roll, the magnet moves between the use end of the cavity and the rear chamber, and a retaining surface cooperates with gravity to retain the magnet in close proximity to the magnetically-responsive switching device to provide the sufficient magnetic field required to keep the night vision device on.

6. The magnet module of claim 1, wherein a damping fluid is enclosed with the magnet in the cavity to dampen the movement of the magnet from one of the use and stowed positions to the other of the positions so as to substantially eliminate noise associated with contact of the magnet against the magnet module.

7. The magnet module of claim 2 wherein the ratio of the minimum distance the magnet must travel from the rear chamber to the stowed end to the minimum distance the magnet must move from the use end to the rear chamber is from about 8.4 to about 3.7.

8. The magnet module of claim 7 wherein the ratio of the minimum distance the magnet must travel from the rear chamber to the stowed end to the minimum distance the magnet must move from the use end to the rear chamber is from about 3.9.

9. The magnet module of claim 1, the cavity further comprising a rear wall and a side wall.

10. The magnet module of claim 9 wherein the angle formed by the rear wall and by the side wall is less than about 120°

.

11. The magnet module of claim 9 wherein the angle formed by the rear wall and by the side wall is about 90°

.

24. The magnet module of claim 1, wherein the use end of the cavity contains at least one ferrous keeper.

25. The magnet module of claim 1, wherein the range of motion required to move the magnet from the use end to the stowed end is at least about 135°

.

26. The magnet module of claim 1, wherein the use end of the cavity is located on a shorter leg of the substantially L-shaped cavity.

12. An automatic shutdown assembly adapted for use in a flip-up helmet mount for a night vision device, the automatic shutdown assembly comprising:

a magnetically-responsive switching device coupled to the night vision device;

a magnet module adjacent and adapted to influence the switching device, the magnet module having a vertically angled cavity limited to a substantially L-shaped profile, the cavity including a use end and a stowed end substantially opposite the use end, and a bar magnet slidably received within the cavity and movable between the use end and the stowed end.

13. The automatic shutdown assembly of claim 12 wherein the cavity contains a rear chamber formed adjacent to the use end of the cavity, the rear chamber being adapted to receive the bar magnet.

14. The automatic shutdown assembly of claim 13, wherein a magnetically-responsive switching device on the night vision device is positioned immediately adjacent the use end of the cavity, the magnetically-responsive switching device maintaining the night vision device switched on when under the influence of a sufficient magnetic field, and effecting shutdown of the night vision device when the switch is no longer under the influence of the sufficient magnetic field.

15. The automatic shutdown assembly of claim 14, wherein as the night vision device is rotated between a use position and a stowed position, the magnet module is rotated in a first direction, a cam is pivoted from a first position to a second position, and the magnet moves between the use end of the cavity, where the magnet provides the sufficient magnetic field required to keep the night vision device on, and the stowed end of the cavity, where the magnet does not provide the sufficient magnetic field to the switch.

16. The automatic shutdown assembly of claim 15, wherein as the magnet module is rotated in a direction opposite the first direction, such as when an operator of the night vision device performs a lateral or sidewards roll, the magnet moves between the use end of the cavity and the rear chamber, and a retaining surface cooperates with gravity to retain the magnet in close proximity to the magnetically-responsive switching device to provide the sufficient magnetic field required to keep the night vision device on.

17. The automatic shutdown assembly of claim 12, wherein a damping fluid is enclosed with the magnet in the cavity to dampen the movement of the magnet from one of the use and stowed positions to the other of the positions so as to substantially eliminate noise associated with contact of the magnet against the magnet module.

18. A flip-up helmet mount for a night vision device comprising an automatic shut down assembly adapted to influence a magnetically-responsive switching device on the night vision device, the magnetically-responsive switching device maintaining the night vision device switched on when under the influence of a sufficient magnetic field, and effecting shutdown of the night vision device when the switch is not longer under the influence of the sufficient magnetic field, the automatic shutdown assembly comprising magnet module adjacent the magnetically-responsive switch, the magnet module having a vertically angled cavity limited to a substantially L-shaped profile, the cavity including a use end and a stowed end substantially opposite the use end, and a bar magnet slidably received within the cavity and movable between the use end and the stowed end.

19. The flip-up helmet mount of claim 18, wherein the cavity contains a rear chamber formed adjacent to the use end of the cavity, the rear chamber being adapted to receive the bar magnet.

20. The flip-up helmet mount of claim 19, wherein a magnetically-responsive switching device on the night vision device is positioned immediately adjacent the use end of the cavity, the magnetically-responsive switching device maintaining the night vision device switched on when under the influence of a sufficient magnetic field, and effecting shutdown of the night vision device when the switch is no longer under the influence of the sufficient magnetic field.

21. The flip-up helmet mount of claim 20, wherein as the night vision device is rotated between a use position and a stowed position, the magnet module is rotated in a first direction, the magnet moves between the use end of the cavity, where the magnet provides the sufficient magnetic field required to keep the night vision device on, and the stowed end of the cavity, where the magnet does not provide the sufficient magnetic field to the switch.

22. The flip-up helmet mount of claim 21, wherein as the magnet module is rotated in a direction opposite the first direction, such as when an operator of the night vision device performs a lateral or sidewards roll, the magnet moves between the use end of the cavity and the rear chamber, and a retaining surface cooperates with gravity to retain the magnet in close proximity to the magnetically-responsive switch to provide the sufficient magnetic field required to keep the night vision device on.

23. The flip-up helmet mount of claim 18, wherein a damping fluid is enclosed with the magnet in the cavity to dampen the movement of the magnet from one of the use and stowed positions to the other of the positions so as to substantially eliminate noise associated with contact of the magnet against the magnet module.