Retractable displays for helmets

• US 9,913,507 B2
• Filed: 11/08/2013
• Issued: 03/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tahoe Research Limited (f/k/a Learndale Limited) (Vector Capital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Abdollahi, Hamad, Leung, Raymond C. M.
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, VIET DAVID
• Application Number:
  US14/075,982
• Publication Number:
  US 20140130241A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,586 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/042 Optical devices night vision goggles G02B23/12
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0176 characterised by mechanical features
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/16 Constructional details or arrangements

Abstract

The present invention relates to a helmet that includes an outer shell, a heads-up information system that comprises a display, and an attachment assembly. The heads-up information system is movable from a storage position within the outer shell to a use position in which the display of the heads-up information system is visible by a user, without obstructing the field of vision of the user, when the helmet is worn by the user. The attachment assembly is coupled to outer shell and the heads-up information system, and is operable to move the heads-up information system between the storage position and the use position.

Claims

1. A helmet comprising:

an outer shell;

a heads-up information system comprising a display, the heads-up information system movable from a storage position within the outer shell to a use position in which the display of the heads-up information system is visible by the user, when the helmet is worn by the user; and

an attachment assembly coupled to the outer shell and the heads-up information system and operable to move the heads-up information system between the storage position and the use position;

wherein, the use position extends up from the storage position which is disposed substantially below the user'"'"'s line-of-sight.

2. The helmet of claim 1, comprising an inner liner disposed within the outer shell, wherein the outer shell and the inner liner comprise a cut-out and wherein the heads-up information system is retained with the cut-out when the heads-up information system is in the storage position.

3. The helmet of claim 1, wherein the attachment assembly comprises a spring connected to bias the heads-up information system toward the use position, a first end of the spring being coupled to a housing of the heads-up information system and a second end of the spring being coupled to the outer shell of the helmet.

4. The helmet of claim 3, wherein the spring comprises a compression spring which is compressed when the heads-up information system is in the storage position and decompressed when the heads-up information system is in the use position.

5. The helmet of claim 1, wherein the attachment assembly comprises a latching mechanism configured to retain the heads-up information system in the storage position and release the heads-up information system such that the heads-up information system moves to the use position.

6. The helmet of claim 4, wherein the attachment assembly comprises a latching mechanism configured to retain the heads-up information system in the storage position and release the heads-up information system such that the heads-up information system moves to the use position.

7. The helmet of claim 1, wherein the attachment assembly comprises a push-push mechanism for moving the heads-up information system from the storage position to the use position when the push-push mechanism is actuated.

8. The helmet of claim 1, wherein the heads-up information system is pivotally attached to the attachment assembly for adjusting a pitch of a display of the heads-up information system.

9. The helmet of claim 4, wherein the heads-up information system is pivotally attached to the attachment assembly for adjusting a pitch of a display of the heads-up information system.

10. The helmet of claim 1, wherein the heads-up information system is rotatably attached to the attachment assembly for adjusting a yaw of a display of the heads-up information system.

11. The helmet of claim 9, wherein the heads-up information system is rotatably attached to the attachment assembly for adjusting a yaw of a display of the heads-up information system.

12. The helmet of claim 1, wherein the heads-up information system is slideably attached to the attachment assembly for adjusting a distance between the heads-up information system and an eye of a user wearing the helmet.

13. The helmet of claim 11, wherein the heads-up information system is slideably attached to the attachment assembly for adjusting a distance between the heads-up information system and an eye of a user wearing the helmet.

14. The helmet of claim 1, wherein the heads-up information system comprises a wireless receiver for receiving information from a vehicle, and the heads-up information system is configured to display the information received from the vehicle on the display.

15. The helmet of claim 14, wherein the heads-up information system comprises a Bluetooth receiver for wirelessly receiving information from the vehicle.

16. The helmet of claim 1, comprising a power unit disposed in the outer shell for providing power to the heads-up information system.

17. The helmet of claim 1, comprising a face-protection element comprising an outer shell and an inner liner, and wherein the attachment assembly is coupled to the outer shell of the face-protection element.

18. The helmet of claim 1, comprising an eye-protection element.

19. The helmet of claim 1, wherein the outer shell comprises at least one user-interface controller for interacting with the heads-up information system.