Helmet mounting systems

• US 20070214551A1
• Filed: 05/21/2007
• Published: 09/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wilcox Industries Corp.
• Original Assignee: Wilcox Industries Corp.
• Inventors: Kent, David, Teetzel, James, Lemire, Gary
• Granted Patent: US 8,826,463 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 2/422
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/04 Parts, details or accessories of helmets
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/042 Optical devices night vision goggles G02B23/12
• CPC Class Codes: F41C 27/00 Accessories; Details or attachments not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 1/00 Sighting devices for indirect laying of fire F41G3/16; bombsights F41G3/24 ; structurally associated with laser telemeters F41G3/065; mounting tubular or beam shaped aiming devices on firearms F41G11/001
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 1/30 Reflecting-sights specially adapted for smallarms or ordnance reflecting-sights in general G02B
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 1/34 combined with light source, e.g. spot light
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 11/003 Mountings with a dove tail element, e.g. "Picatinny rail systems"
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 1/04 Protection helmets crash helmets A42B3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/125 head-mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0101 characterised by optical features G02B27/0172 takes precedence

Abstract

Pivoting helmet mounts for an optical device are provided. In one aspect, a breakaway connector which is selectively configurable between breakaway and nonbreakaway configurations is provided. In a further aspect, a strap mount system for securing the helmet mount to the helmet employs a rotating ratchet assembly to adjust tension in the strap. In another aspect, a helmet mount for an optical device comprises a track assembly attached to a helmet to allow stowing of the optical device in a further retracted position. The track mount system may further include electrical connectors for attaching a power supply and an electronic device. In another aspect, a mounting bracket allows helmet-mounted optics to be shared with a weapon accessory mount. In a further aspect, a optical sighting device for a weapon combines a reflex sight a night vision goggle to allow targeting at night or in other low-light conditions.

Claims

1-8. -8. (canceled)

9. A helmet mount for an optical device, comprising:

a track assembly attached to a helmet;

a mounting plate slidably carried within said track assembly and movable between a forward position and a retracted position;

a pivoting assembly attached to the mounting plate for alternatively positioning said optical device between a first, operational position in front of the user'"'"'s eyes and a second, stowed position away from the user'"'"'s eyes when the mounting plate is in the forward position.

10. The helmet mount of claim 9, further comprising:

a first electrical connector for attaching a power supply;

a second electrical connector for attaching an electrically operated device;

electrical conductors electrically coupling the first electrical connector to the second electrical connector for electrically coupling the power supply to said electrically operated device.

11. The helmet of claim 10, further comprising a rear bracket comprising:

at least one hook adapted to attach to a rear brim portion of the helmet;

a strap attached to the track assembly for securing the track assembly to the helmet; and

a rotating ratchet assembly attached to said strap for adjusting tension in said strap.

12. The helmet mount of claim 11, wherein said ratchet assembly includes:

a gear rack attached to said rear bracket and slidably retained in a housing;

a spur gear engaging said gear rack;

said spur gear manually rotatable by a user wherein rotation of said spur gear in a first direction retracts said gear rack to tighten said strap and rotation of said spur gear in a second direction opposite the first direction advances said spur gear to loosen said strap; and

a locking member normally engaging said spur gear to permit rotation of said spur gear in the first direction only;

a release lever for disengaging said locking member from said spur gear to permit rotation of the spur gear in the second direction and loosening of said strap.

13. The helmet mount of claim 11, wherein said first electrical connector is integral with said ratchet assembly and wherein said electrical conductors pass through said strap.

14. The helmet mount of claim 10, further comprising a battery pack connected to said first electrical connector and a identification friend-or-foe transponder attached to said second electrical connector.

15. The helmet mount of claim 9, wherein said pivoting portion comprises:

a gear rack system connected to the mounting plate for adjusting a vertical position of the optical device relative to a user'"'"'s eyes;

a first pivot arm coupled to the gear rack system;

a second pivot arm pivotally attached to the first pivot arm for supporting said optical device alternatively between a first, operational position in front of the user'"'"'s eyes and a second, stowed position above the user'"'"'s line of sight;

a pair of guide rails extending generally horizontally when the second pivot arm is in said first, operational position;

a carriage member slidable along said guide rails and adapted to carry said optical device, said carriage member for adjusting a horizontal position of the optical device in front of the user'"'"'s eyes.

16. The helmet mount of claim 15, further comprising:

a connector for securing the gear rack system to the first pivot arm, said connector selectively configurable between breakaway and nonbreakaway configurations.

17. A mounting bracket for mounting a night vision goggle to a weapon, said night vision goggle being of a type having a coupling member adapted for mounted on a helmet mount apparatus and at least one image intensifier tube, the mounting bracket comprising:

a first attachment member for removably attaching the mounting bracket to a rail interface of the weapon;

a second attachment member integral with the first attachment member for removably receiving said coupling member of said night vision goggle and supporting said image intensifier tube in vertical and axial alignment with a barrel of the weapon.

18. The mounting bracket of claim 17, wherein the first attachment member includes a clamp, said second attachment member includes a trapezoidal mounting shoe, and said coupling member includes a mounting foot adapted to be received within said mounting shoe.

19. An optical sighting device for a weapon, comprising:

a reflex sight mounted to said weapon for projecting a target designator for use in aiming said weapon and which is viewable along a sighting axis; and

a night vision goggle removably mounted to said weapon in optical alignment with said reflex sight for generating a human-viewable image in low light conditions of a target scene taken along said sighting axis, wherein said target designator is superimposed on said human-viewable image.

20. The optical sighting device of claim 19, further comprising:

a pivoting helmet mount for receiving said night vision goggle; and

a mounting bracket for mounting said night vision goggle to said weapon, wherein the night vision goggle may alternatively be mounted to said pivoting helmet mount and said mounting bracket.