Goggle attachment system with a tail for a helmet

Abstract

A protective goggle assembly includes a protective goggle having two side straps, each side strap comprises a free end and a first surface attachment region adjacent to the free end on at least one surface of each side strap; and a strap assembly that encircles the user's head, on each side of the strap assembly a second surface attachment region is provided that is configured to engage the first surface attachment region of the side straps. Free ends of the base band of the strap assembly are connected to an elastic ring to form a complete encircling band. The base band has a tail for securing the base band in position on a helmet. The complete encircling band is configured to fit around a soldier's helmet and the elastic ring being configured to fit over and around a night vision goggle mount at a front of the helmet.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to an attachment system for protective goggles, particularly an attachment system for mounting protective goggles to a protective helmet.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

For military use, it is known to provide a helmet mount for night vision goggles. Such a helmet mount is described for example in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,457,179; 6,472,776; 5,506,730 and 6,992,275. U.S. Pat. No. 5,469,578 describes a similar arrangement for a head harness. According to the mounting arrangement of these patents, a single strap extends from a rear of a helmet over a top of the helmet to a top front area of the helmet where the strap connects to a night vision goggle mount. A hook mechanism connects the night vision goggle mount to a front part of the brim of the helmet. The night vision goggle mount can allow for the removal of the night vision goggles assembly or for the flipping down or up of the night vision goggles assembly for use and non use positions, respectively.

For daytime operations, protective goggles are typically worn. It is known to provide protective goggles having an encircling strap to hold the goggles onto a user's face wherein the strap encircles a helmet worn by the user. The strap, however, must encircle the helmet over and around the attachment and adjustment mechanisms of the night vision goggle assembly strap. Putting on and taking off the protective goggles can require the use of both hands, particularly to position the protective goggle strap to clear snags or obstructions between the strap of the protective goggles and hardware of the night vision goggles.

The present inventors have recognized the desirability of providing a protective goggle mounting assembly that allowed protective goggles to be easily switched from a use to a non-use position, preferably by using only one hand.

The present inventors have recognized the desirability of providing a protective goggle mounting assembly that allowed for the protective goggles to be carried in a non-use position on the helmet.

The present inventors have recognized the desirability of providing a protective goggle mounting assembly that was compatible with periodic night vision goggle usage.

The present inventors have recognized the desirability of providing a protective goggle mounting assembly that does not interfere with, ensnare or catch on night vision goggle assembly mounting mechanisms, particularly during putting on or taking off of the protective goggles. The present inventors have recognized the desirability of providing a protective goggle mounting assembly which is compatible to be worn with a night vision goggle assembly and which is easy to put on or take off the user's face.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a protective goggles mounting system to be used in conjunction with a helmet or a head harness that is easy to install, easy to position between use and nonuse positions, securely fastens to the helmet, and is cost effectively manufactured.

The present invention provides a protective goggle assembly comprising a protective goggle having side straps, each side strap comprising a free end and an area of surface attachment material adjacent to the free end on at least one surface of the side strap.

A mounting harness is provided having a base band with opposite free ends that are connected to an elastic ring to form a complete encircling band. The elastic ring is configured to fit over and around the night vision goggle mount at a front of the helmet. On each side of the base band a surface attachment region is provided that is configured to engage the surface attachment region of the goggle side straps.

The base band comprises a short strap portion or tail designed to wrap around the rear bottom edge of a helmet to secure the base band in position on the exterior of the helmet. The tail has two attachment areas, one on each side of the tail. In order to secure the tail to the helmet, one or more cushioning pads on the inside of the helmet are removed from the rear inside portion of the helmet to expose the pad attachment areas. When the base band is in position on a helmet, the tail is wrapped around the bottom rear edge of the helmet, and the first attachment area attaches to one or more pad attachment areas on the inside of the helmet. The removed pads may then be placed back into their previous positions on the inside of the helmet, attaching to the second attachment area of the tail and any unobstructed pad attachment areas. The tail is secured between the pad attachment areas and the pads on the inside of the helmet.

Two securement straps are connected to the base band. Each securement strap is fixed at a base end thereof to the base band and has a free end. The securement straps each include a surface attachment region facing the base band. The goggle side straps include an opposite surface attachment region that faces the surface attachment region of the securement straps. In operation, to position the protective goggles in a non-use position one goggle strap can be disengaged by disengaging first the securement strap and then the goggle strap. The goggle can hang loose supported from the remaining goggle strap to the base band of the mounting band. Alternately, the goggle strap can be disengaged from the base band and hung from the securement strap during non-use of the protective goggles. As the situation warrants, the night vision goggles can be deployed for use over the protective goggles or over the naked eye while the protective goggles are in a non-use position, the protective goggles being supported from the helmet by one goggle strap.

Numerous other advantages and features of the present invention will be become readily apparent from the following detailed description of the invention and the embodiments thereof, and from the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary front view of a user wearing a protective helmet, the helmet having a flip down mount for night vision goggles and having the protective goggles system according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary right side view of FIG. 1 showing the night vision goggles schematically in a non-use position above the protective goggles 1;

FIG. 2A is a fragmentary right side view showing the night vision goggles in a use position over the protective goggles;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of the protective goggles system according to the invention;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary left side view of FIG. 1 showing the protective goggles in a stage of removal;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view taken generally along line 5-5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a front view of protective goggles in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary right side view of FIG. 1 showing the protective goggles in a non-use orientation while the night vision goggles are being used;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary right side view according of FIG. 1 showing the protective goggles in an alternate non-use orientation while the night vision goggles are being used;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken generally along line 9-9 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken generally along line 9-9 of FIG. 2 showing an alternate embodiment arrangement;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary right side view of FIG. 1 showing a tail of the goggles system with certain other elements removed for clarity;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary perspective view of a tail in a wrapped around engaged position on the underside of a helmet; and

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary perspective view of a tail in a wrapped around engaged position on the underside of a helmet with a pad placed over the tail.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there are shown in the drawings, and will be described herein in detail, specific embodiments thereof with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated.

FIGS. 1-2A illustrate a military helmet 20 having a conventional flip down mount 26 for night vision goggles 27 (shown schematically). Such a night vision goggle arrangement is disclosed for example in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,457,179; 6,472,776; 5,506,730, 5,469,578, and 6,992,275, all herein incorporated by reference.

The mount 26 is carried on the helmet 20 by a strap 32 (FIG. 2) that is adjustably connected at a rear of the helmet, and a hook bracket 36 that engages a brim 38 of the helmet 20.

In FIGS. 1 and 2 the mount 26 is shown in a flipped up, with the night vision goggles in a non-use orientation. In FIG. 2A the mount 26 is shown in a flipped down, night vision goggle in use orientation.

In FIGS. 1-2A protective goggles 50 are shown worn by the user. The protective goggles 50 can be as described in U.S. Ser. No. 11/435,546 filed May 17, 2006, herein incorporated by reference, or can be DESERT LOCUST™ goggles available from Revision Military of Montreal, Canada, or Revision Eyewear, Ltd. of Essex Jct., Vt., USA.

The goggles 50 include a frame 54 that mounts a protective lens 56. On each side of the frame, a strap clip 60, 62 mounts an elastic fabric strap 66, 68. The straps 66, 68 include a sewn loop 66a, 68a that encircles a bar 60a, 62a of the clips 60, 62 for attachment thereto (FIG. 6). The straps 66, 68 can be composed of a woven, polyester or cotton yarn wherein the straps are elasticized by a fire-resistant rubber.

The straps 66, 68 each have a free end 66b, 68b. A first rectangular region of surface attachment material 72 is applied to the straps adjacent to each free end 66b, 68b applied to the strap face that faces toward the helmet, and a second rectangular region of surface attachment material 74 is applied to the straps adjacent to each free end 66b, 68b to the strap face that faces away from the helmet 20 (FIG. 6).

The goggles 50 are mounted to the helmet using a protective goggle mounting harness 79. The protective goggles 50 and the harness 79 are constructed symmetrically across a vertical center plane thereof that is centered between the user's eyes. Thus, a description of one side is sufficient to describe both sides.

The protective goggle mounting harness 79 (FIG. 3) includes a base band 80 that has free ends 84, 86 that are sewn into loops 84a, 86a at each free end to capture a circular elastic ring 90. The ring 90 has a substantially circular cross-section. The ring can be composed of ethylene-propylene.

On an outside facing surface of the base band 80 are rectangular surface attachment regions 96 located on the band 80 to be on opposite sides of the helmet. Adjacent to the regions 96 are securement straps 106, 108. The securement straps 106, 108 are sewn at base ends 106a, 108a to the base band 80 behind the regions 96 and have lengths to free ends 106b, 108b thereof to extend forwardly over the regions 96. Each securement strap 106, 108 includes a securement surface fastener region 112 facing toward the helmet.

The base band 80 may comprise a short strap portion or tail 88a as shown in FIGS. 3, 11, 12, and 13. The tail is located on the base band opposite the ring 90. A tail 88a extends substantially perpendicularly from the base band 80 when the base band is properly attached to a helmet in a right-side up position. The tail 88a is designed to wrap around the rear bottom edge of a helmet to secure the base band in position on the exterior of the helmet 89c as shown in FIGS. 11, 12, and 13. The tail 88a prevents or inhibits the base band from riding up on the helmet. The tail 88 has a first attachment area 88b (shown in FIGS. 3 and 12) and a second attachment area 88c (shown in FIG. 12). The first attachment area 88b and the second attachment area 88c are on opposite sides of the tail 88a. The first attachment area 88b is designed to attach to one or more pad attachment areas 89b (FIG. 12) generally found on the inside of a helmet. Helmets may have pad attachment areas 89b for attaching pads 89a. The pads 89a cushion and inter-space the area between a users head and the hard helmet 89c. The first attachment area 88h may also attach to any other type of attachment areas on the inside of a helmet.

In order to secure the tail to the helmet, one or more pads are removed from the rear inside portion of the helmet to expose the pad attachment areas 89b as shown in FIG. 12. When the base band is in position on a helmet, the tail 88a is wrapped around the bottom rear edge 89d of the helmet, and the first attachment area 88b attaches to one or more pad attachment areas 89b on the inside of the helmet. Then, as shown in FIG. 13, the removed pad(s) may be placed back into their previous positions on the inside of the helmet, attaching to the second attachment area 88c of the tail 88a and any unobstructed pad attachment areas 89b. The tail 88a is secured between the pad attachment areas 89b and the pads on the inside of the helmet.

The base band, securement straps, and tail, can be composed of a woven, polyester or cotton yarn wherein the base band and securement straps are elasticized by a fire-resistant rubber.

Preferably, the surface fastener regions 74, 96, and the first attachment area 88b comprise organized patterns of loops or disorganized or tangled fabric loops. Preferably, the surface fastener regions 72, 112, the second attachment area 88c, and the pad attachment areas 89b comprise hooks that are configured to engage the loops or tangled fabric looks. Reversing the hooks and loops or providing mixed hooks and loops on mutually engageable surfaces or providing mutually engageable surfaces having only engageable hooks or mushrooms, or other known configurations of hook and loop type fasteners are encompassed by the invention. FIG. 9 illustrates the layers of the attachment system, wherein thicknesses are exaggerated.

FIG. 4 illustrates the securement strap 106 pulled away from the goggle strap 66 as a first step in removing one side of the goggles from the harness 79. The securement strap 106 is looped backward and re-engaged to the surface region 96. The elastic band 90 surrounds a base portion 26a of the mount 26 (FIGS. 4 and 5). The elastic band 90 provides sufficient elasticity to be stretched over the mount 26 as needed.

FIG. 7 illustrates the helmet 20 with the protective goggles 50 disengaged and the night vision goggles mount 26 flipped down for use. The night vision goggles 27 could be used with or without the protective goggles 50 as the situation warrants. The protective goggles 50 are shown somewhat schematically. The protective goggles 50 have been disengaged from the right side of the helmet 20 by disengagement of the securement strap 106 and the goggle strap 66 from the base hand 80. As to be seen in FIG. 7, the goggle strap 68 twists slightly under force of gravity and the goggles 50 hang vertically in a non-use position.

FIG. 8 illustrates the helmet 20 with the protective goggles 50 disengaged and the night vision goggles mount 26 flipped down for night vision goggle use. The protective goggles are shown somewhat schematically. The protective goggles 50 have been disengaged from the right side of the helmet 20 by disengagement of the securement strap 106 and the goggle strap 66 from the base band 80. The goggle strap 68 has been disengaged from the base band 80 surface region 96, but is retained to the securement strap 108. As to be seen in FIG. 8, the securement strap 108 twists slightly under force of gravity and the goggles 50 hang vertically in a non-use position to a lower elevation compared to FIG. 7.

A lower or higher position of the protective goggles in the non-use position may be desired by the individual user based on other equipment carried by the user or personal preference.

In this regard, the pull-free strength of the surface fastener connections, either the connection between the goggle strap and the securement strap or the connection between the goggle strap and the base band, can be pre-selected to have a built in preference for either the non-use configuration of FIG. 7 or the non-use configuration of FIG. 8 when the securement strap is pulled by the user.

FIG. 10 illustrates an alternate embodiment wherein the securement straps 106, 108 and the regions 112 of each securement strap have sufficient lengths to expand over the region 74 in order for the region 112 to engage the region 74 and to also extend over the region 96 to also engage the region 96. This configuration could provide some additional security for holding goggles to the helmet.

From the foregoing, it will be observed that numerous variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific apparatus illustrated herein is intended or should be inferred.

Claims

1. A protective goggle assembly comprising: a protective goggle having two side straps, each side strap comprising a free end and a first surface attachment region adjacent to the free end on at least one surface of each side strap;a strap assembly that horizontally encircles the user's head, to be supported about a user's head independent of the protective goggle; andthe strap assembly having second attachment regions on each side of the strap assembly configured to engage the first surface attachment region of the side straps;the strap assembly having a configuration where the first surface attachment region of each of the side straps is configured to be releasable from securement to one of the second surface attachment regions of the strap assembly by a releasing force while the strap assembly is retained in a deployed position about the user's head such that the side straps can be disengaged from the strap assembly and the strap assembly remains encircled about the user's head; andthe strap assembly having a rear tail for securing the strap assembly to a rear portion of a user's helmet when the strap assembly encircles a helmet;wherein said strap assembly comprises a base band with opposite free ends and an elastic ring, said free ends of said base band connected to said elastic ring to form a complete encircling band, said second surface attachment region carried on two locations of said base band, said complete encircling band configured to fit around a soldier's helmet and said elastic ring being configured to fit over and around a night vision goggle mount at a front of said helmet; the rear tail located on the encircling band substantially opposite the elastic ring.

2. The protective goggle assembly according to claim 1, wherein said strap assembly further comprises two securement straps connected to said base band, each securement strap is fixed at a base end thereof to the base band and has a free end, said securement straps each include a third surface attachment region facing said base band, and said goggle side straps include an opposite, fourth surface attachment region that faces the third surface attachment region of the securement straps and said third and fourth surface attachment regions being mutually engagable.

3. A protective goggle assembly comprising: a protective goggle having at least one side strap, said side strap comprising a free end and a first surface attachment region adjacent to the free end on at least one surface of said side strap; anda strap assembly that encircles the user's head, said strap assembly having a second surface attachment region that is configured to engage the first surface attachment region of said side strap; andthe strap assembly comprises a base band with opposite free ends and a ring, said free ends of said base band connected to said ring to form a complete encircling band, said second surface attachment region carried on said base band, said complete encircling band configured to fit around a soldier's helmet and said ring being configured to fit over and around a front mount of said helmet;the strap assembly having a rear tail located opposite the ring configured to secure the strap assembly to a rear portion of the helmet when the strap assembly encircles a helmet.

4. The protective goggle assembly according to claim 3, wherein the tail comprises a first attachment area for attaching the tail to one or more pad attachment areas on an inside rear portion of a helmet.

5. The protective goggle assembly according to claim 3, wherein the ring is an elastic ring and wherein the ring is configured to fit over and around a night vision goggle mount at a front of said helmet.

6. The protective goggle assembly according to claim 5, wherein said strap assembly further comprises a securement strap connected to said base band, said securement strap being fixed at a base end thereof to the base band and has a free end, said securement strap including a third surface attachment region facing said base band, and said goggle side strap includes an opposite, fourth surface attachment region that faces the third surface attachment region of the securement strap and said third and fourth surface attachment regions being mutually engagable.

7. A protective goggle assembly for a helmet, comprising: a protective goggle having a pair of side straps, each side strap comprising a free end and a first attachment region adjacent to said free end; anda strap assembly that horizontally encircles the helmet and is configured to be supported on the helmet independent of the protective goggle,the strap assembly having second attachment regions on each side of the strap assembly configured to engage the first attachment region of said side straps; the strap assembly having a configuration where the first surface attachment region of each of the side straps is configured to be releasable securement to one of the second surface attachment regions of the strap assembly by a releasing force while the strap assembly is retained in a deployed position about the helmet such that the pair of side straps of the goggle can be disengaged from the strap assembly and the strap assembly remains encircled on the helmet;the strap assembly having a rear tail at a rear portion of the strap assembly for securing the strap assembly to a rear portion of the helmet;wherein said strap assembly comprises a base band with opposite free ends and an elastic ring, said free ends of said base band connected to said elastic ring to form a complete encircling band, said second attachment carried said base band, said complete encircling band configured to resiliently fit around a soldier's helmet.

8. The protective goggle assembly according to claim 7, wherein tail is located on a portion on the encircling band that is substantially opposite of the elastic ring.

9. The protective goggle assembly according to claim 7, wherein said strap assembly further comprises a securement strap connected to said base band, said securement strap being fixed at a base end thereof to the base band and has a free end, said securement strap including a third attachment facing said base band, and said goggle side strap includes an opposite, fourth attachment that faces the third attachment of the securement strap and said third and fourth attachments being mutually engagable.

10. The protective goggle assembly according to claim 9, wherein said first, second third and fourth attachments comprise hook and loop fastening tapes.

11. The protective goggle assembly according to claim 7, wherein said protective goggle comprises a frame supporting a lens and said pair of side straps, one side strap extending from each side of said frame, and said first attachment region comprises a first surface fastener region carried on each of said side straps facing said strap assembly, and each said second attachment regions comprise a second surface fastener region and arranged to mutually engage a respective one of said first surface fastener regions of said side straps to snugly mount said protective goggle on the face of a user.

12. The protective goggle assembly of claim 7, wherein the tail comprises a second attachment area, the first attachment area and the second attachment area being on opposite sides of the tail, the second attachment area is configured to support helmet padding.

13. The protective goggle assembly of claim 1, wherein the tail comprises a second attachment area, the first attachment area and the second attachment area being on opposite sides of the tail, the second attachment area is configured to support helmet padding.

14. The protective goggle assembly according to claim 1, wherein the tail comprises a first attachment area for attaching the tail to one or more pad attachment areas on an inside portion of a helmet.

15. The protective goggle assembly according to claim 7, wherein the tail comprises a first attachment area for attaching the tail to one or more third attachment areas on an inside rear surface of a helmet.

16. The protective goggle assembly according to claim 7, wherein tail comprises a second attachment area, the first attachment area and the second attachment area being on opposite sides of the tail.

17. The protective goggle assembly according to claim 7, wherein the tail extends downward from a rear portion of the strap assembly.

18. The protective goggle assembly according to claim 7, wherein the tail comprises a first attachment a for attaching the tail to one or more pad attachment areas on an inside rear surface of a helmet, the first attachment area and the one or more pad attachment areas comprise hook and loop fasteners.