Mechanism for translating a night vision goggle

• US 7,715,125 B2
• Filed: 11/27/2007
• Issued: 05/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Elbit Systems of America LLC (Elbit Systems Limited)
• Original Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc. (ITT, Inc.)
• Inventors: Willey, Charles D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mack; Ricky L
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, VIPIN
• Application Number:
  US11/945,381
• Publication Number:
  US 20090135505A1
• Time in Patent Office: 896 Days
• Field of Search: 359/405, 359/407, 359/409, 359/480, 359/481, 359/417, 359/433, 359/180, 359/822, 359/815
• US Class Current: 359/815
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/042 Optical devices night vision goggles G02B23/12
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/125 head-mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/004 Manual alignment, e.g. micromanipulators

Abstract

A mechanism for adjusting the position of an optical device with respect to a field helmet along an axis of translation is provided. The mechanism comprises an optical device mounting component for coupling to the optical device. A field helmet mounting component for coupling to the field helmet is slideably coupled to the optical device mounting component along the axis of translation. A lever configured for selectively engaging a surface of either mounting component permits translation of the optical device mounting component along the axis of translation with respect to the field helmet. The optical device mounting component is configured to translate along the axis of translation with respect to the field helmet between an extended position and a retracted position, wherein the optical device is proximal to the helmet in the retracted position and distal to the helmet in the extended position.

Claims

1. A mechanism for adjusting the position of an optical device with respect to a field helmet along an axis of translation, said mechanism comprising:

an optical device mounting component for coupling to the optical device;

a field helmet mounting component for coupling to the field helmet and being slideably coupled to the optical device mounting component along the axis of translation; and

a lever configured for selectively engaging a surface of either the optical device mounting component or the field helmet mounting component to permit translation of the optical device mounting component along the axis of translation with respect to the field helmet,

wherein the optical device mounting component is configured to translate along the axis of translation with respect to the field helmet between an extended position and a retracted position, wherein the optical device is proximal to the helmet in the retracted position and distal to the helmet in the extended position,

wherein the optical device mounting component includes a guide pin and the field helmet mounting component includes a groove extending along the axis of translation, said guide pin positioned within the groove for guiding translation of the optical device mounting component along the axis of translation.

2. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein the lever is positionable between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein in a locked position the lever prevents translation of the optical device mounting component with respect to the field helmet mounting component, and in an unlocked position the lever permits translation of the optical device mounting component with respect to the field helmet mounting component.

3. The mechanism of claim 2, wherein the lever is spring loaded for biasing the lever to a locked position.

4. The mechanism of claim 3, wherein the spring is integral with the lever.

5. The mechanism of claim 1, further comprising gear teeth defined on the surface of either the optical device mounting component or the field helmet mounting component, said lever being positionable between gear teeth in the locked position and separated from the gear teeth in an unlocked position.

6. The mechanism of claim 5, wherein the lever includes a tooth sized for placement between adjacent gear teeth.

7. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein the lever includes a handle for moving the lever between the locked position and the unlocked position.

8. The mechanism of claim 1, said optical device mounting component including a recess extending along or parallel to the axis of translation, wherein said field helmet mounting component is slideably positioned within the recess.

9. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein the lever is positioned within a recess formed in either the optical device mounting component or the field helmet mounting component.

10. The mechanism of claim 9, the recess being sized to permit motion of the lever between the locked position and the unlocked position.

11. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein the optical device mounting component includes means for mounting to the optical device.

12. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein the optical device is a night vision device.

13. A mechanism for adjusting the position of an optical device with respect to a field helmet along an axis of translation, said mechanism comprising:

an optical device mounting component for coupling to the optical device;

a field helmet mounting component for coupling to the field helmet and being slideably coupled to the optical device mounting component along the axis of translation;

a rotatable lever positionable between the optical device mounting component and the field helmet mounting component, wherein a surface of the lever includes a gear tooth that is shaped to engage gear teeth disposed on a surface of either the optical device mounting component or the field helmet mounting component,

wherein the lever is rotatable about an axis of rotation between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein in a locked position the gear tooth of the lever is positioned between adjacent gear teeth to prevent translation of the optical device mounting component with respect to the field helmet mounting component, and in an unlocked position the gear tooth of the lever is separated from the gear teeth to permit translation of the optical device mounting component with respect to the field helmet mounting component.

14. The mechanism of claim 13, wherein the lever is spring loaded for biasing the lever to a locked position.

15. The mechanism of claim 14, wherein the spring is integral with the lever.

16. The mechanism of claim 13, wherein the lever includes a U-shaped segment disposed about the axis of rotation, wherein one end of the U-shaped segment includes the gear tooth of the lever and the other end of the U-shaped segment is spring-loaded for biasing the lever to the locked position.

17. The mechanism of claim 13, wherein the lever includes a handle for moving the lever between the locked position and the unlocked position.

18. A night vision apparatus for attachment to a field helmet comprising:

a night vision device;

an optical device mounting component coupled to the night vision device;

a field helmet mounting component for coupling to the field helmet and being slideably coupled to the optical device mounting component along the axis of translation;

a rotatable lever positionable between the optical device mounting component and the field helmet mounting components, wherein a surface of the lever includes a gear tooth that is shaped to engage gear teeth disposed on a surface of either the optical device mounting component or the field helmet mounting component,

wherein the lever is rotatable about an axis of rotation between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein in a locked position the pear tooth of the lever is positioned between adjacent gear teeth to prevent translation of the optical device mounting component with respect to the field helmet mounting component, and in an unlocked position the gear tooth of the lever is separated from the gear teeth to permit translation of the optical device mounting component with respect to the field helmet mounting component.