Rail for mounting accessories to a helmet
AssigneeGentex Corporation
InventorsJason W. O'Connell, Duco W. Noordzij
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A mounting rail assembly comprises a rail configured to be coupled to a helmet. The rail may include a rear surface and a front surface with a mounting groove extending along a length of the front surface. The mounting groove may be open outwardly from a front surface of the rail and be configured to couple to a first accessory device at two or more positions along the length of the rail. A recess may be proximate an edge of the mounting rail assembly. The recess may be open generally perpendicular to the mounting groove and configured to receive a second accessory device. At least a portion of the recess may be positioned between the mounting groove and the rear surface of the rail.
Claims26
A rail configured to be coupled to a helmet for mounting accessories to the helmet, the rail comprising:
- a front surface;
- a mounting groove extending along a length of the front surface, the mounting groove open outwardly from the front surface of the rail and configured to adjustably couple to a first accessory device at two or more positions along the length of the front surface;
- and
- a recess proximate an edge of the rail, the recess open generally perpendicular to the mounting groove and configured to receive a second accessory device, at least a portion of the recess positioned between the mounting groove and a rear surface of the rail.
A mounting rail system comprising:
- a rail configured to be coupled to a helmet, the rail including a mounting groove extending along a length of the rail, open outwardly from the helmet, and configured to couple to a first accessory device at two or more positions along the length of the rail;
- a recess proximate an edge of the rail, the recess open generally perpendicular to the mounting groove, and configured to receive a second accessory device;
- and
- a shim removably coupled to a rear surface of the rail, the shim positioned between the rail and the helmet when the rail is coupled to the helmet, the shim forming at least a portion of the recess.
A shim configured to be removably coupled between a helmet and a rail having a mounting groove extending along a length of a front surface of the rail and configured to couple to a first accessory device at two or more positions along the length of the rail, the shim comprising:
- an outer perimeter generally shaped to match a footprint of the rail;
- and
- a recess open outwardly and configured to be closed off by the rail, the recess open upwardly to receive an accessory device when the shim is coupled between the rail and the helmet.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.