US 8,984,665 B2Granted

Helmet mounting system and mounting shoe interface

AssigneeWilcox Industries Corp.

InventorsMarc J. Celona, Dominic R. Goupil, Gary M. Lemire, James W. Teetzel, Justin D. Harris

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Abstract

An improved helmet mounting device for an optical or other viewing device is provided. The helmet mount includes a mounting assembly removably attachable to the helmet and a pivoting assembly having a first end pivotally attached to the mounting assembly and a second end opposite the first end. A fore and aft adjustment assembly is attached to the second end of the pivoting assembly and a left and right adjustment assembly is rotatably attached to the fore and aft adjustment assembly. The left and right adjustment assembly is pivotal relative to the fore and aft adjustment assembly about a first generally vertical axis. An optical device mounting member is attached to the left and right adjustment assembly and the optical device mounting member is removably attachable to the optical device. The mounting assembly includes a vertical adjust mechanism which has a base plate, a pair of guide rails attached to the base plate and defining a channel therebetween, a sliding plate slidably attached to the guide rails, and a clamping mechanism for selectively applying a clamping force to secure the sliding plate at a desired position relative to said base plate. In further aspects, modular electrical connectors and a remote battery box for providing power to the optical device or other viewing device are provided.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A mounting device for mounting an optical device on a helmet, said mounting device comprising:

a mounting assembly removably attachable to the helmet;
a pivoting assembly having a first end pivotally attached to said mounting assembly and a second end opposite the first end;
a fore and aft adjustment assembly attached to said second end of said pivoting assembly;
a left and right adjustment assembly rotatably attached to said fore and aft adjustment assembly, wherein said left and right adjustment assembly is selectively rotatable at least 180 degrees relative to the fore and aft adjustment assembly about a first generally vertical axis;
and
an optical device mounting member rotatably attached to said left and right adjustment assembly, said optical device mounting member removably attachable to the optical device, wherein said optical device mounting member is (a) selectively movable in a generally horizontal transverse direction relative to a user's line of sight and (b) selectively rotatable at least 180 degrees relative to the left and right adjustment assembly about a second generally vertical axis;
wherein said left and right adjustment assembly includes:
a sliding arm having a first opening adjacent a first end and a second opening adjacent a second end;
a first pin extending through the first opening and rotatably securing the optical device mounting member to the sliding arm;
a second pin extending through the second opening and securing the sliding arm to the fore and aft adjustment assembly, the second opening being elongated in a transverse direction relative to a line of sight of a user, the sliding arm being selectively slidable in said transverse direction in relation to the fore and aft adjustment assembly;
and
a locking mechanism on said sliding arm for securing said sliding arm at a desired transverse position.

9 more elements

A mounting device for mounting an optical device on a helmet, said mounting device comprising:

a mounting assembly removably attachable to the helmet;
a pivoting assembly having a first end pivotally attached to said mounting assembly and a second end opposite the first end;
a fore and aft adjustment assembly attached to said second end of said pivoting assembly;
a left and right adjustment assembly rotatably attached to said fore and aft adjustment assembly, wherein said left and right adjustment assembly is selectively rotatable at least 180 degrees relative to the fore and aft adjustment assembly about a first generally vertical axis;
an optical device mounting member rotatably attached to said left and right adjustment assembly, said optical device mounting member removably attachable to the optical device, wherein said optical device mounting member is (a) selectively movable in a generally horizontal transverse direction relative to a user's line of sight and (b) selectively rotatable at least 180 degrees relative to the left and right adjustment assembly about a second generally vertical axis;
said pivoting assembly rotatable between a first, operational position before the eyes of a user donning the helmet and a second, stowed position above a line of sight of a viewer donning the helmet;
a hinge pin defining a pivot axis and hingedly attaching said mounting assembly to said pivoting assembly, said hinge pin having one or more resilient protrusions;
said pivoting assembly including a pivot sleeve rotatably received about said hinge pin, said pivot sleeve rotatably defining a channel having a first groove extending parallel to the pivot axis and a second groove extending parallel to the pivot axis;
said one or more resilient protrusions removably received within said first groove when the pivoting assembly is moved to the first, operational position;
said one or more resilient protrusions removably received within said second groove when the pivoting assembly is moved to the second, stowed position;
one or more bores extending transversely relative to the pivot axis;
for each of said one or more bores, one or more spring washers received therein, said one or more spring washers compressible upon application of a predetermined force;
and
for each of said one or more bores, a plug disposed therein between said one or more spring washers and said pivot sleeve.

11 more elements

A mounting device for mounting an optical device on a helmet, said mounting device comprising:

a mounting assembly removably attachable to the helmet;
a pivoting assembly having a first end pivotally attached to said mounting assembly and a second end opposite the first end;
a fore and aft adjustment assembly attached to said second end of said pivoting assembly;
a left and right adjustment assembly attached to said fore and aft adjustment assembly, said left and right adjustment assembly;
an optical device mounting member attached to said left and right adjustment assembly, said optical device mounting member removably attachable to the optical device;
said pivoting assembly rotatable between an operational position configured to position an attached optical device before an eye of a user donning the helmet and a stowed position configured to position an attached optical device above a line of sight of the user;
a hinge pin defining a pivot axis and hingedly attaching said mounting assembly to said pivoting assembly, said hinge pin having one or more resilient protrusions;
said pivoting assembly including a pivot sleeve rotatably received about said hinge pin, said pivot sleeve rotatably defining a channel having a first groove extending parallel to the pivot axis and a second groove extending parallel to the pivot axis;
said one or more resilient protrusions removably received within said first groove when the pivoting assembly is moved to the first, operational position;
said one or more resilient protrusions removably received within said second groove when the pivoting assembly is moved to the second, stowed position;
one or more bores extending transversely relative to the pivot axis;
for each of said one or more bores, one or more spring washers received therein, said one or more spring washers compressible upon application of a predetermined force;
and
for each of said one or more bores, a plug disposed therein between said one or more spring washers and said pivot sleeve.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.