Side positioned vision enhancement device mount

• US 8,127,374 B2
• Filed: 01/16/2009
• Issued: 03/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Exelis Incorporated (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Exelis Incorporated (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Willey, Charles D., Bandy, Gregory S., Schlirf, Kevin C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nash, Brian D
• Application Number:
  US12/355,198
• Publication Number:
  US 20100180364A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,145 Days
• Field of Search: 242/2, 220/51, 2/67, 2/62, 241/0, 242/1, 345/8
• US Class Current: 2/422
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/042 Optical devices night vision goggles G02B23/12

Abstract

A device mount for mounting a vision enhancement device to an article worn on a user'"'"'s head includes a first adjustment member operable to move a mounted vision enhancement device in a cranial-caudal direction with respect to the user. A second adjustment member which extends from the first adjustment member is operable to move a mounted vision enhancement device along a medial-lateral adjustment axis with respect to the user. A third adjustment member includes an extension arm extending from the second adjustment member that rotates with respect to the medial-lateral adjustment axis of the second adjustment member. A helmet apparatus includes a device mount and power supply that are offset from an anterior-posterior axis of the helmet in a counterbalancing arrangement.

Claims

1. A device mount for mounting a vision enhancement device to an article worn on a user'"'"'s head, the device mount comprising:

a first adjustment member operable to move a mounted vision enhancement device in a cranial-caudal direction, the first adjustment member comprising a vertical rail having a rack, and a slide member that releasably engages the rack;

a second adjustment member extending from the first adjustment member and operable to move a mounted vision enhancement device along a medial-lateral adjustment axis; and

a third adjustment member comprising an extension arm extending from the second adjustment member, the extension arm being rotatable with respect to the medial-lateral adjustment axis of the second adjustment member.

2. The device mount of claim 1, wherein the second adjustment member comprises a collet and a collet nut that is rotationally displaceable around the collet between an unlocked position and a locked position.

3. The device mount of claim 2, wherein the third adjustment member comprises a shaft that is axially displaceable through the collet along the medial-lateral adjustment axis.

4. The device mount of claim 3, wherein the shaft is displaceable through the collet along the medial-lateral adjustment axis when the collet nut is in the unlocked position, and fixed with respect to the medial-lateral adjustment axis when the collet nut is in the locked position.

5. The device mount of claim 1, wherein the extension arm comprises a first end pivotally coupled to the second adjustment member, and a second end coupled to a connector for connecting to a vision enhancement device, the extension arm being rotatable about the medial-lateral adjustment axis.

6. The device mount of claim 5, wherein the extension arm releasably engages the second adjustment assembly in a number of different locked positions, the extension arm being lockable in a normal position in which the second end is rotated posteriorly with respect to the first end, and a stowed position in which the second end is rotated anteriorly with respect to the first end.

7. The device mount of claim 6, wherein the extension arm releasably engages the second adjustment member in an intermediate position in which the second end is rotated to a position between the normal position and the stowed position.

8. The device mount of claim 5 comprising a fourth adjustment member pivotably coupled with the second end of the extension arm, the fourth adjustment member operable to tilt the connector about a pivot axis that is parallel to the medial-lateral adjustment axis.

9. The device mount of claim 8, wherein the fourth adjustment member includes a pivot lock operable in a locked condition to fix the orientation of the connector, and a released condition to permit the connector to pivot with respect to the pivot axis, the pivot lock being biased in the locked condition.

10. A helmet apparatus comprising:

a helmet body having an anterior end, a posterior end and an anterior-posterior axis;

a vision enhancement device extending from the helmet body;

a device mount supporting the vision enhancement device, the device mount being attached to the anterior end of the helmet body in a position offset from the anterior-posterior axis of the helmet body, the device mount comprising;

a first adjustment member operable to move a mounted vision enhancement device in a cranial-caudal direction with respect to the user, the first adjustment member comprising a vertical rail having a rack, and a slide member that releasably engages the rack;

a second adjustment member extending from the first adjustment member and operable to move a mounted vision enhancement device along a medial-lateral adjustment axis with respect to the user; and

a third adjustment member comprising an extension arm extending from the second adjustment member, the extension arm being rotatable with respect to the medial-lateral adjustment axis of the second adjustment member; and

a power supply attached to the posterior end of the helmet body in a position offset from the anterior-posterior axis of the helmet body in a position generally opposite the device mount.

11. The helmet apparatus of claim 10, wherein the second adjustment member comprises a collet and a collet nut that is rotationally displaceable around the collet between an unlocked position and a locked position.

12. The helmet apparatus of claim 11, wherein the third adjustment member comprises a shaft that is axially displaceable through the collet along the medial-lateral adjustment axis.

13. The helmet apparatus of claim 12, wherein the shaft is displaceable through the collet along the medial-lateral adjustment axis when the collet nut is in the unlocked position, and fixed with respect to the medial-lateral adjustment axis when the collet nut is in the locked position.

14. The helmet apparatus of claim 10, wherein the extension arm comprises a first end pivotally coupled to the second adjustment member, and a second end coupled to a connector for connecting to a vision enhancement device, the extension arm being rotatable about the medial-lateral adjustment axis.

15. The device mount of claim 14, wherein the extension arm releasably engages the second adjustment assembly in a number of different locked positions, the extension arm being lockable in a normal position in which the second end is rotated posteriorly with respect to the first end, and a stowed position in which the second end is rotated anteriorly with respect to the first end.

16. The device mount of claim 15, wherein the extension arm releasably engages the second adjustment member in an intermediate position in which the second end is rotated to a position between the normal position and the stowed position.

17. The helmet apparatus of claim 14 comprising a fourth adjustment member pivotably coupled with the second end of the extension arm, the fourth adjustment member operable to tilt the connector about a pivot axis that is parallel to the medial-lateral adjustment axis.