Carriage and socket assembly for a night vision goggle mount

• US 8,239,971 B2
• Filed: 03/05/2009
• Issued: 08/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Norotos Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Norotos Incorporated
• Inventors: Prendergast, Jonathon R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Nkeisha
• Application Number:
  US12/398,864
• Publication Number:
  US 20090268288A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,258 Days
• Field of Search: 248/220.21, 248/223.41, 248/224.51, 248/224.61, 248/551, 2/61, 2/62, 2/63, 2/66, 2/9, 241/0, 242/2, 242/4, 359/418, 224/181
• US Class Current: 2/422
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/125 head-mounted

Abstract

A carriage for a headgear mount including a base having a top surface and a bottom surface, the carriage attachable to the headgear mount. At least one rail extends from the bottom surface, the rail adapted to receive night vision goggles and the rail being integral with the base.

Claims

1. A night vision goggle mount assembly comprising:

a carriage comprising;

a base having opposing side walls each having an aperture configured to accommodate a fastener; and

at least one rail integral with and extending along the base, the at least one rail having a substantially constant cross-sectional shape along a length thereof; and

a socket assembly configured to be coupled to a mount for night vision goggles, the socket assembly comprising at least one channel configured to be attached to the at least one rail of the carriage to permit sliding of the socket assembly along the at least one rail and a lock assembly for locking the socket assembly in a locked position by compression at any position along the at least one rail, wherein the lock assembly contacts the at least one rail in the locked position.

2. The night vision goggle mount assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one rail has a generally T-shaped cross-section.

3. The night vision goggle mount assembly of claim 1, further comprising a first stop for preventing the socket assembly from disengaging from the carriage.

4. The night vision goggle mount assembly of claim 1, wherein the carriage comprises two rails and the socket assembly comprises two channels.

5. The night vision goggle mount assembly of claim 1, wherein a cross-section of the at least one channel substantially corresponds to a cross-section of the at least one rail.

6. The night vision goggle mount assembly of claim 1, wherein the lock assembly comprises a cam shaft rotatable to place the lock assembly in contact with the at least one rail.

7. A carriage and socket assembly for a headgear mount comprising a carriage and a socket assembly, the carriage comprising:

a base configured to be attached to the headgear mount such that the base is rotatable with respect to the headgear mount; and

at least one rail integral with and extending along the base, the at least one rail having a substantially constant width along an entire length of the at least one rail and configured to receive the socket assembly and to position the socket assembly at any position along the at least one rail; and

the socket assembly comprising;

a lock assembly comprising a lock adapted to contact the at least one rail to lock the socket assembly at any position along the at least one rail,

wherein the lock has a shoulder having a substantially planar surface that abuts the at least one rail to lock the socket assembly to the carriage.

8. The carriage and socket assembly of claim 7, wherein the at least one rail has a substantially identical cross-section along a length of the at least one rail.

9. The carriage and socket assembly of claim 7, wherein the at least one rail is configured to slidably receive the socket assembly.

10. The carriage and socket assembly of claim 7, wherein the at least one rail has a generally T-shaped cross-section.

11. The carriage and socket assembly of claim 7, wherein the at least one rail has a ledge onto which the socket assembly is attachable.

12. The carriage and socket assembly of claim 7, further comprising a first stop for preventing an attached night vision goggle assembly from disengaging from the carriage.

13. The carriage and socket assembly of claim 12, wherein the first stop is positionable to avoid interfering with attachment of the socket assembly onto the at least one rail.

14. The carriage and socket assembly of claim 12, further comprising a second stop for preventing an attached night vision goggle assembly from disengaging from the carriage.

15. The carriage and socket assembly of claim 7, wherein the base comprises first and second side walls configured to attach the carriage to the headgear mount.

16. The carriage and socket assembly of claim 7, wherein the carriage is a single integral structure.

17. The carriage and socket assembly of claim 7, wherein the lock assembly further comprises a lock lever coupled to the lock by a shaft, wherein rotation of the lock lever causes the lock to move proximally towards or distally from the at least one rail.

18. The carriage and socket assembly of claim 7, wherein the shaft is a cam shaft.