Head harness for night vision device

• US 6,912,727 B2
• Filed: 12/30/2003
• Issued: 07/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Exelis Incorporated (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc. (ITT, Inc.)
• Inventors: Buchanan, Jr., Harrison L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lindsey, Rodney M.
• Application Number:
  US10/748,616
• Publication Number:
  US 20040156113A1
• Time in Patent Office: 553 Days
• Field of Search: 217/3, 242/1, 242/2, 220/6, 290/9, 2/62, 2/63, 2/66, 2/67, 242/0, 2/9, 241/4, 241/5, 245/2, 128/207.11, 224/181, 224/930, 359/409, 359/815
• US Class Current: 2/6.2
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/125 head-mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0176 characterised by mechanical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/002 Mounting on the human body

Abstract

A head harness for supporting a night vision device is provided. The head harness includes a frame assembly and padding coupled to the frame assembly. The padding is configured to contact at least one of a forehead and a cheek of the face of a user of the head harness.

Claims

1. A head harness for supporting a night vision device, said head harness comprising:

a frame assembly;

padding coupled to said frame assembly, said padding being configured to contact at least one of a forehead and a cheek of the face of a user of the head harness;

the frame assembly including three frame members comprising a center member and two end members; and

two hinges providing hinged interconnections between said three frame members such that the head harness may be compacted through operation of the hinged interconnections; and

the center member and the two end members providing a continuously curved surface to the frame assembly for fitting against the head of the user.

2. The head harness of claim 1 wherein said padding is coupled to said frame assembly using at least one snap fastener.

3. The head harness of claim 1 wherein said padding includes sheepskin leather provided around an interior including foam.

4. The head harness of claim 1 wherein said padding includes a plurality of pads coupled together.

5. The head harness of claim 4 wherein said pads are coupled together by a webbing material.

6. The head harness of claim 1 wherein said padding includes forehead padding and cheek padding separated by an opening positioned for receiving a portion of eyewear worn by the user of the head harness.

7. The head harness of claim 1 wherein

the padding is positioned to protect the user'"'"'s head from contact with a night vision device or a night vision device mount coupled to the frame assembly upon the night vision device being pivoted from a first position in front of the user'"'"'s line of sight to a second position above the user'"'"'s head.

8. The head harness of claim 7 wherein said padding includes a solid composite material.

9. The head harness of claim 1 wherein the center member includes a mounting assembly for mounting a night vision system to said frame assembly.

10. The head harness of claim 1 wherein the padding is coupled to at least one of said center member and said end members such that said padding contacts the face of the user when the user wears the head harness.

11. The head harness of claim 1 wherein a pad assembly is coupled to said center member via at least one strap, and is configured to contact a lower rear portion of the user'"'"'s head when the user wears the head harness, said pad assembly including a netting material.

12. The head harness of claim 1 comprising:

a plurality of straps configured to be coupled to said frame assembly using snap fasteners, said straps being adjustable by the user of the head harness.

13. The head harness of claim 12 wherein said plurality of straps includes a vertical strap for extending over the user'"'"'s head, an upper side strap configured to be coupled to the two end members of said frame assembly, and a lower side strap configured to be coupled to said two end members of said frame assembly.

14. The head harness of claim 13 wherein a first mating portion of a snap fastener of at least one of said upper and said lower side straps are configured to be coupled to one of a plurality of second mating portions of the snap fastener on said frame assembly such that a position of said at least one of said upper and said lower side straps is adjustable.

15. The head harness of claim 13 wherein said lower strap is configured to be coupled to either of said frame assembly or a chincup assembly.

16. The head harness of claim 15 wherein said chincup assembly includes a sheepskin leather covering for contacting the skin of the user.

17. The head harness of claim 15 wherein said chincup assembly is symmetric about at least one of a vertical and a horizontal axis.

18. The head harness of claim 12 wherein each of said straps includes a self locking buckle mechanism for locking a position of each of said straps upon adjustment by the user.

19. The head harness of claim 12 wherein at least one of said straps includes a quick release mechanism such that the head harness is configured to be loosened for removal upon the user operating the quick release mechanism.

20. The head harness of claim 19 wherein said quick release mechanism is included on a left side of said lower side strap.

21. The head harness of claim 12 wherein at least one of said straps includes a first mating portion of a snap fastener, said frame assembly including a plurality of second mating portions of the snap fastener, said first mating portion being configured to be mated with any of said second mating portions such that a position of said at least one of said straps may be adjusted by changing the second mating portion to which the respective first mating portion is mated.

22. The head harness of claim 12 wherein at least one of said straps includes a first mating portion of a snap fastener, and said frame assembly includes a plurality of second mating portions of the snap fastener, said first mating portion of said at least one of said straps being configured to be mated with any of said second mating portions such that a position of said at least one of said straps may be adjusted by changing the second mating portion to which said first mating portion is mated, wherein said head harness optionally includes a chincup by mating said first mating portion with a second mating portion of a snap fastener included on said chincup as opposed to a second mating portion of said frame assembly.

23. The head harness of claim 1 wherein

a mounting assembly is coupled to said frame assembly for mounting a night vision device to said frame assembly,

said frame assembly being curved inward from a center portion towards two end portions such that when a user wears the head harness, the inwardly curved end portions extend toward a face of the user.

24. The head harness of claim 1 wherein said frame assembly is curved downward from said center member towards said end members.

25. A head harness for supporting a night vision device, said head harness comprising:

a frame assembly, and

a plurality of straps configured to be coupled to said frame assembly using snap fasteners, said straps being adjustable by a user of the head harness,

wherein said plurality of straps includes a vertical strap for extending over a user'"'"'s head, an upper side strap configured to be coupled to two end portions of said frame assembly, and a lower side strap configured to be coupled to said two end portions of said frame assembly, and

a first mating portion of a snap fastener of at least one of said upper and said lower side straps are configured to be coupled to one of a plurality of second mating portions of the snap fastener on said frame assembly such that a position of said at least one of said upper and said lower side straps is adjustable.

26. A head harness for supporting a night vision device, said head harness comprising:

a frame assembly, and

a plurality of straps configured to be coupled to said frame assembly using snap fasteners, said straps being adjustable by a user of the head harness,

wherein at least one of said straps includes a first mating portion of a snap fastener, said frame assembly including a plurality of second mating portions of the snap fastener, said first mating portion being configured to be mated with any of said second mating portions such that a position of said at least one of said straps may be adjusted by changing the second mating portion to which the respective first mating portion is mated.

27. A head harness for supporting a night vision device, said head harness comprising:

a frame assembly, and

a plurality of straps configured to be coupled to said frame assembly using snap fasteners, said straps being adjustable by a user of the head harness,

wherein at least one of said straps includes a first mating portion of a snap fastener, and said frame assembly includes a plurality of second mating portions of the snap fastener, said first mating portion of said at least one of said straps being configured to be mated with any of said second mating portions such that a position of said at least one of said straps may be adjusted by changing the second mating portion to which said first mating portion is mated, wherein said head harness optionally includes a chincup by mating said first mating portion with a second mating portion of a snap fastener included on said chincup as opposed to a second mating portion of said frame assembly.