Helmet mount for night vision device

A flip-up helmet mount for a night vision device having a goggle horn with variable dimensions, the flip-up helmet mount comprising:

• a helmet block for securing the flip-up helmet mount to a helmet;
• a chassis for receiving the night vision device, wherein the chassis has an adjustable mounting means for receiving the goggle horn for connection of the night vision device to the helmet mount;
• a bracket member, extending between the helmet block and the chassis for rotationally coupling the chassis to the helmet block;
• position adjustment means for adjusting the night vision device between a use position and a stowed position;
• tilt angle adjustment means for adjusting a tilt angle of the chassis relative to the bracket member;
• focal adjustment assembly for adjusting a location of the night vision device relative to the chassis;
• and
• automatic shutdown means for influencing a magnetically-responsive switching device on the night vision device, the magnetically-responsive switching device maintaining the night vision device switched on when under the influence of a sufficient magnetic field, and effecting shutdown of the night vision device when the switch is no longer under the influence of the sufficient magnetic field,
• wherein the automatic shutdown assembly comprises a magnet module adjacent the magnetically-responsive switch, the magnet module having a cavity with a substantially oval-shaped profile, the cavity including a use end adjacent the magnetically-responsive switch and a stowed end opposite the magnetically-responsive switch, and a bar magnet slidably received within the cavity, and wherein, as the night vision device is rotated between the use position and the stowed position, the magnet moves between the use end of the cavity, where the magnet provides the sufficient magnetic field required to keep the night vision device on, and the stowed end of the cavity, where the magnet does not provide the sufficient magnetic field to the switch, wherein a damping means for damping the movement of the magnet in the magnet module when the magnet moves between one of the use and stowed positions to the other of the positions so as to substantially eliminate noise associated with contact of the magnet against the magnet module,
• wherein the position adjustment means, the tilt angle adjustment means, and the focal adjustment means are all designed to allow one-handed adjustment of the flip-up helmet mount.

A flip-up helmet mount for a night vision device, the flip-up helmet mount comprising:

• a helmet block securing the flip-up helmet mount to a helmet;
• a chassis slidably receiving the night vision device;
• a bracket member, extending between the helmet block and the chassis, rotationally coupling the chassis to the helmet block;
• a one-handed position adjustment assembly within the helmet block adjusting the night vision device between a use position and a stowed position;
• a one-handed tilt angle adjustment assembly adjusting a tilt angle of the chassis relative to the bracket member;
• a one-handed focal adjustment assembly adjusting a location of the night vision device relative to the chassis;
• and
• an automatic shutdown assembly influencing a magnetically-responsive switching device on the night vision device, the magnetically-responsive switching device maintaining the night vision device switched on when under the influence of a sufficient magnetic field, and effecting shutdown of the night vision device when the switch is no longer under the influence of the sufficient magnetic field, wherein the automatic shutdown assembly includes a magnet module adjacent the magnetically-responsive switch, the magnet module having a cavity with a substantially oval-shaped profile, the cavity including a use end adjacent the magnetically-responsive switch and a stowed end opposite the magnetically-responsive switch, and a bar magnet slidably received within the cavity, and wherein, as the night vision device is rotated between the use position and the stowed position, the magnet moves between the use end of the cavity, where the magnet provides the sufficient magnetic field required to keep the night vision device on, and the stowed end of the cavity, where the magnet does not provide the sufficient magnetic field to the switch,
• wherein a damping fluid is in the cavity with the magnet to dampen the magnet movement when the magnet moves between one of the use and stowed positions to the other of the positions so as to substantially eliminate noise associated with contact of the magnet against the magnet module.