Combination head-protective helmet & communications system

Combination head-protective helmet and voice communication system for providing generally hands-free voice communication between a journeyman and another person provided with means for receiving transmit audio signals, comprising:

• a head-protective helmet for being worn by the journeyman and a flexible flame-retardant earflap mounted to said helmet and extending downwardly from said helmet, said earflap for covering and protecting at least the ears of the journeyman from heat and flames, and said earflap including an extension portion for being fastened under the chin of the journeyman;
• a transceiver for transmitting and receiving voice communication, said transceiver including interconnected transceiver circuitry, a speaker, a throat microphone and an antenna;
• first and second mounting means;
• housing means for receiving said transceiver circuitry and said speaker;
• said first mounting means for mounting said housing on said earflap to place said speaker adjacent to and in voice communication with an ear of the journeyman and said second mounting means for mounting said throat microphone on said extension portion of said earflap and upon said extension portion of said earflap being fastened under the chin of the journeyman said microphone being placed adjacent to and in voice communication with the throat of the journeyman;
• said antenna residing within said helmet;
• said transceiver circuitry comprising a control channel, a transmit channel and a receive channel including an FM receiver and wherein each channel has an input and an output, wherein said transceiver circuitry further comprises an FM transmitter having an output, wherein said inputs of said control channel and said transmit channel are connected in common with said microphone, wherein said outputs of said control channel and said transmit channel are connected to said FM transmitter, wherein said output of said FM transmitter and said input of said receive channel are connected in common with said antenna, wherein the output of said receive channel is connected to said speaker, wherein upon the journeyman transmitting voice communication to said microphone, said microphone producing transmit audio signals communicated to said control channel and to said transmit channel and wherein said transmit audio signals communicated to said control channel activate said FM receiver whereby transmit audio signals communicated to said control channel are transmitted by said FM transmitter to and broadcast by said antenna to the another person, and wherein said transmit audio signals transmitted by said FM transmitter are also communicated to said FM receiver and to said speaker permitting the journeyman to hear his voice communication transmitted to said speaker and thereby be assured that his voice communication system is operable, and wherein upon receive audio signals being received by said antenna, said received audio signals are communicated to said receive channel, to said FM receiver and to said speaker which produces voice communication received by the journeyman.

Combination head-protective helmet and voice communication system for providing generally hands-free voice communication between a group leader and a journeyman provided with means for receiving audio signals, comprising:

• a head-protective helmet for being worn by the group leader and a flexible flame-retardant earflap mounted to said helmet and extending downwardly from said helmet, said earflap for covering and protecting at least the ears of the group leader from heat and flames, and said earflap including an extension portion for being fastened under the chin of the group leader;
• a transceiver for transmitting and receiving voice communication, said transceiver including interconnected transceiver circuitry, a speaker, a throat microphone and an antenna;
• first and second mounting means;
• housing means for receiving said transceiver circuitry and said speaker;
• said first mounting means for mounting said housing on said earflap to place said speaker adjacent to and in voice communication with an ear of the group leader and said second mounting means for mounting said throat microphone on said extension portion of said earflap and upon said extension portion of said earflap being fastened under the chin of the group leader said microphone being placed adjacent to and in voice communication with the throat of the group leader;
• said antenna residing within said helmet;
• said transceiver circuitry comprising a control channel, a transmit channel and a receive channel including an FM receiver and wherein each channel has an input and an output, wherein said transceiver circuitry further comprises a switch having a first position including a first terminal and a second position including a second terminal and an FM transmitter having an output, wherein said inputs of said control channel and said transmit channel are connected in common with said microphone, wherein said output of said control channel is connected to said switch, and wherein said first contact and said output of said transmit channel are connected to said FM transmitter, wherein said output of said FM transmitter and said input of said receive channel are connected in common with said antenna, wherein the output of said receive channel is connected to said speaker, wherein upon said switch being in said first position and the group leader transmitting voice communication to said microphone, said microphone producing transmit audio signals communicated to said control channel and to said transmit channel and wherein said transmit audio signals communicated to said control channel activate said FM receiver whereby transmit audio signals communicated to said control channel are transmitted by said FM transmitter to and broadcast by said antenna to said journeyman, and wherein said transmit audio signals transmitted by said FM transmitter are also communicated to said FM receiver and transmitted to said speaker permitting the group leader to hear his voice communication transmitted to said speaker and thereby be assured that his voice communication system is operable, and wherein upon receive audio signals being received by said antenna, said received audio signals are communicated to said receive channel, to said FM receiver and to said speaker which produces voice communication received by the group leader.

Combination head gear and voice communication system for providing generally hands-free voice communications between the wearer and others, comprising:

• head-protective helmet for providing head protection to the head of the wearer of said helmet, said helmet including an external shell, an internal impact cap for being mounted internally of said external shell, a suspension system mounted to said internal impact cap and for suspending said internal impact cap and said external shell above the head of said wearer, said suspension system including a generally circular mounting member residing in a generally circular external groove provided in said internal impact cap and a plurality of straps residing internally of said impact cap and connected thereto by said circular mounting member, said straps for being engaged by the head of said wearer, said suspension system and said internal impact cap spaced apart to provide a space therebetween, and said impact cap provided with a recess;
• transceiver means for transmitting and receiving voice communications, said transceiver means including interconnected transceiver circuitry, an antenna, a bone conduction microphone, and a speaker;
• a battery residing in said recess and for providing energy to said transceiver means;
• an ear cup, said bone conduction microphone and said speaker mounted on said ear cup;
• said antenna residing internally of said helmet;
• said transceiver circuitry mounted to the underside of said internal cap and residing in said space between said internal cap and said suspension system;
• and
• a bracket mounted to said circular mounting member, a hinge pin mounted to said bracket, and said ear cup mounted pivotally on said hinge pin, and a torsion spring surrounding said hinge pin and spring biasing said ear cup inwardly to cause said microphone to engage and be placed in voice communication with a head bone of said wearer and to place said speaker in voice communication with an ear of said wearer of said helmet.