Patent Application
20170049176
Disclosed embodiments are related to helmet attachment systems.
Those who are at risk of exposure to trauma to the head (e.g., soldiers, emergency responders, law enforcement officers, military personnel, etc.) may wear protective headgear, such as a helmet. In some cases, it may be desirable for helmets to include an accessory, such as an illuminator, camera, video recorder, laser pointer, communications device, identification friend or foe (IFF) device, night vision goggles, or other item, to aid the helmet wearer in the performance of duties while in the field. Such accessories are sometimes removably attached to a helmet via a mounting plate.
In one embodiment, a helmet system includes a helmet shell, an anchor connected to the helmet shell, and a carrier that selectively attaches one or more accessories to the helmet shell. A first interlocking feature associated with the anchor and a corresponding second interlocking feature associated with the carrier interact to support and maintain an orientation of the carrier relative to the helmet shell when mounted thereon. The interlocking feature of the carrier and interlocking feature of the anchor are engagable with one another when the carrier is mounted on the helmet shell with the anchor already connected to the helmet shell.
In another embodiment, a helmet system includes a helmet shell, a carrier connected to the helmet shell, and an accessory attachment mount selectively connectable to the carrier. The selective connection between the accessory attachment mount and the carrier does not include a bolt passing through the helmet shell. Additionally, the accessory attachment mount is selectively connectable to one or more accessories.
In yet another embodiment, a helmet system includes a helmet shell, a first portion of a connection disposed on the helmet shell, and a first alignment feature disposed on the helmet shell. The helmet system also includes an accessory attachment mount including a second portion of the connection and a second alignment feature. The first and second portions of the connection are selectively connectable to attach the accessory attachment mount to the helmet shell and the first and second alignment features interact to maintain an orientation of the accessory attachment mount relative to the helmet shell when the accessory attachment mount is attached thereto.
In another embodiment, a method for assembling a helmet system includes: connecting an anchor to a helmet shell; mounting a carrier that selectively attaches one or more accessories to the helmet shell; and engaging a first interlocking feature associated with the anchor and a corresponding second interlocking feature associated with the carrier when the carrier is mounted on the helmet shell with the anchor already connected to the helmet shell. The first and second interlocking features interact to support and maintain an orientation of the carrier relative to the helmet shell when mounted thereon.
It should be appreciated that the foregoing concepts, and additional concepts discussed below, may be arranged in any suitable combination, as the present disclosure is not limited in this respect. Further, other advantages and novel features of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following detailed description of various non-limiting embodiments when considered in conjunction with the accompanying figures.
The accompanying drawings are not intended to be drawn to scale. In the drawings, each identical or nearly identical component that is illustrated in various figures may be represented by a like numeral. For purposes of clarity, not every component may be labeled in every drawing. In the drawings:
The inventors have recognized that typical helmet attachments include a bolt, or other structures such as rivets, that pass through a helmet shell resulting in holes being present in the helmet shell. Eliminating or redirecting the number of holes through the helmet shell may strengthen the final structure which may be desirable in some applications. The inventors have recognized the benefits associated with various types of connections for quickly and securely connecting accessories to a helmet shell which, in some instances, may not include connections that pass through the helmet shell.
In some embodiments, it may be desirable to provide a structure which aids in positioning and maintaining the orientation of one or more components relative to a helmet shell. In one such embodiment, a helmet system includes a helmet shell, an anchor connected to the helmet shell, and/or a carrier. The carrier is selectively attachable to the helmet shell and to one or more accessories. Thus, the carrier may be used to selectively attach the one or more accessories to the helmet shell. The carrier and the anchor include one or more corresponding interlocking features. The interlocking features are arranged such that they interact with one another to support and maintain an orientation of the carrier relative to the helmet shell when the carrier is mounted thereon.
In other instances, it may be desirable to connect one or more components to a helmet shell without the use of connections that pass through the helmet shell as noted above. In one such embodiment, a carrier is connected to a helmet shell. A corresponding accessory attachment mount is selectively connectable to the carrier. In addition, one or more accessories are attached to the accessory attachment mount using any appropriate connection mechanism. For example, in some embodiments, a receptacle formed in the accessory attachment mount may receive a mounting interface, such as a mounting plate or other type of attachment, for attaching an accessory thereto. Thus, the accessory attachment mount may be used to selectively attach one or more accessories to a helmet shell via a connection to the carrier.
In yet another embodiment, a helmet system may provide a quick and easy-to-use connection that maintains the orientation of an attached accessory. Such a system may include a clip connection associated with the helmet shell and a corresponding accessory attachment mount. Depending on the particular embodiment, the clip connection may simply hold the accessory attachment mount proximate to the helmet shell. In other embodiments, the connection also may support the accessory attachment mount relative to the helmet shell. One or more corresponding alignment features associated with the helmet shell and accessory attachment mount also may interact with one another to maintain an orientation of the accessory attachment mount when positioned on the helmet shell. Thus, the clip connection and the alignment features may interact to both support and maintain an orientation of an accessory relative to the helmet shell when attached thereto.
The accessory attachment systems described herein may be used to mount any number of different accessories to a helmet or other appropriate structure. For example, suitable accessories may include, but are not limited to, an illuminator, camera, video recorder, laser pointer, communications device, identification friend or foe (IFF) device, night vision goggles, and/or any other item that may be suitable for carriage by a helmet or as may be dictated by a mission specific requirement.
In addition to the above, it should also be noted that any suitable type of connection may be used to attach any of the components described herein together. The connection types may include the use of bolts, rivets, screws, or other connections that pass through a helmet shell. However, in some embodiments, a boltless connection between two or more components may be used. In such an instance, any suitable manner of connecting two or more components together without the use of a bolt or other mechanism that passes through both, or one, of the components may be used. Examples of boltless connections include, but are not limited to, adhesives, welds, brazes, mechanically interlocking features (e.g. pins, protrusions, holes, snaps, interference fits, clip connections, etc.), touch fasteners, integrally formed features, and/or any other suitable attachment mechanism.
For the sake of clarity, the embodiments described herein are directed to an accessory attachment system for a helmet system. However, the current disclosure is not limited in this fashion, and it should be understood that the accessory attachment systems described herein could be used with any appropriate device, protective article, vehicle, or other appropriate structure that includes one or more surfaces where a carrier and/or accessory attachment mount may be supported.
Turning now to the figures, several non-limiting embodiments are described in more detail. However, it should be understood that the current disclosure should not be limited to only the depicted embodiments. Instead, various embodiments, features, components, and methods and/or their alternatives may be combined in an appropriate manner as the disclosure is not so limited.
As illustrated in
As shown in
In addition to the above features, a carrier also may include an opening 8b formed in a central portion of the carrier. In one embodiment, the opening 8b is formed in the carrier 8 is sized and shaped to receive a correspondingly sized and shaped anchor 12, see
In some embodiments, it also may be desirable to maintain an orientation of a carrier 8 relative to a helmet shell 2. Thus, a carrier may include one or more interlocking features such as tabs 8c illustrated in
Referring again to
After attaching an anchor to the helmet shell, a carrier 8 is then moved proximate to the anchor such that anchor is received in an opening 8b of a central portion 8a of the carrier. In the depicted embodiment, the arms 8g are positioned such that they extend rearwardly from the central portion of the carrier and toward a temple region of an individual wearing the helmet. In addition to the above, as the carrier is positioned on the anchor, the interlocking features 8c and 12b of the carrier and anchor are engaged with one another as the anchor is received in the carrier opening. Similarly, in some embodiments, one or more sides of the anchor are engaged with one or more sides of the carrier opening. This engagement between the interlocking features and/or sides of the anchor and carrier opening may help to maintain a position and orientation of the carrier relative to the helmet shell. Once appropriately positioned on the helmet shell relative to the anchor, the carrier is then attached to the helmet shell using any suitable manner including boltless attachment methods. While a carrier including an opening for receiving the anchor has been described above, instances where the anchor is received in a cavity, separate structure, or other feature are also contemplated.
Turning now to
In instances where additional support is desired, an accessory attachment mount may include one or more support features such as wings 6c that extend outwardly from the frame. The wings are sized and shaped to rest against a corresponding surface, and/or engage a corresponding support feature, of a carrier. For example, the wings 6c may rest against an upper surface of the carrier arms 8g and be engaged with similarly shaped wing 8e extending out from a central portion 8a of the carrier as shown in
In some embodiments, it is desirable to attach an accessory attachment mount to a helmet shell using a connection to the carrier that avoids the use of an attachment that passes through the helmet shell. In such an embodiment, the wings, or other appropriate portion of the accessory attachment mount, include a connection point for attachment to any desired portion of the carrier. Suitable connections include snap connections, interference fits, bolts, adhesives, welding, brazing, touch fasteners, or any other appropriate attachment method. For example, as depicted in the figures, through holes 6e are formed in a portion of the accessory attachment mount frame 6a, such as the wings 6c, and are aligned with the threaded holes 8d located on the carrier when the accessory attachment mount is attached thereto, see
Depending on the embodiment, an accessory attachment mount may include a clip connection for attachment to an associated helmet shell. This connection may provide benefits such as quick and simple attachment of an accessory to the helmet shell.
While a particular clip connection has been described above including a hook and slot combination, it should be understood that any appropriate connection capable of attaching an accessory attachment mount to the helmet shell may be used. For example, other possible connections that might be used include, but are not limited to: a hook and slot arrangement oriented in different directions and/or located in different positions; flexible interlocking elements such as spring arms associated with corresponding grooves and/or slots; corresponding magnets; touch fasteners; deformable interlocking features such as a mushroom head received in a hole formed in a deformable elastomeric material; as well as any other appropriate attachment mechanism as the disclosure is not so limited.
As noted previously, in some embodiments, it may be desirable to aid in maintaining an orientation of an accessory attachment mount 6 relative to a helmet shell 2. In such an embodiment, one or more alignment features may be associated with the accessory attachment mount as well as the helmet shell. Depending on the particular embodiment, alignment features associated with the helmet shell may either be attached to, disposed on, and/or integrated with one or more of the helmet shell itself or an anchor 12 disposed on the helmet shell, a carrier 8 disposed on the helmet shell, and/or any other appropriate component associated with the helmet shell. Referring
While a particular pair of corresponding alignment features are described above, it should be understood that any appropriate combination of features capable of maintaining an orientation of the accessory attachment mount relative to the helmet shell may be used. For example, suitable features include, but are not limited to, grooves, slots, lips, pins, holes, tabs, indentations, recesses, projections, as well as arrangements of magnetic materials to name a few.
As noted above, a mounting interface 10 may be used to selectively attach an accessory to an accessory attachment mount 6. In some embodiments, to facilitate the attachment of the mounting interface to the accessory attachment mount, the accessory attachment mount includes a receptacle 6a formed therein. The receptacle is sized and shaped to receive at least a portion of the mounting interface. Once received in the receptacle, through holes 6d formed in the accessory attachment mount are aligned with corresponding threaded holes formed in the mounting interface (not shown). The mounting interface is then attached to the accessory attachment mount using a suitable fastener. However, other attachment mechanisms as previously discussed herein might also be used.
In instances where water may flow into the a slot 12a formed in an anchor, or other appropriate structure, it may be desirable to provide drainage to prevent the buildup and retention of water. In some embodiments, a slot may include one or more drainage points that provide fluid communication between the slot interior and an exterior of the component in which the slot is formed. For example, one or more drainage holes 12c are located in a bottom portion of the slot opposite the slot opening as best illustrated in
Having described the various components of a mounting interface, an accessory attachment mount, a carrier, and an anchor, the assembly of a mounting interface and accessory attachment mount to a helmet shell including an assembled anchor and carrier is described in more detail with reference to
Initially, a mounting interface 10 is positioned in a receptacle 6a of an accessory attachment mount 6 to align through holes 6d with a corresponding pair of threaded features on the mounting interface, not depicted. A pair of threaded fasteners 14 are then passed through the through holes 6d and are bolted into the threaded features on the mounting interface.
As an accessory attachment mount 6 is moved proximate to a carrier 8 disposed on a helmet shell 2, the first and second portions of a clip connection corresponding to a slot 12a and hook 6f formed on the accessory attachment mechanism and an anchor disposed on the helmet shell are engaged with one another to retain the accessory attachment mount on the helmet shell. As the clip connection is engaged, alignment features 6g and 8f of the accessory attachment mount and the carrier are brought into engagement to properly orient the accessory attachment mount relative to the helmet shell. Further, in some embodiments, additional support features such as wings 8e of the carrier are positioned in corresponding recesses 6h formed in similarly shaped wings 6c of the accessory attachment mount. As depicted in the figures, one or more surfaces of the wings 6c of the accessory attachment mount also may rest on an appropriate support surface such as the arms 8g of the carrier or other appropriate structure. Once the accessory attachment mount is properly seated, through holes 6d formed in a portion of the accessory attachment mount carrier frame 6a are aligned with corresponding threaded holes 8d formed in the carrier. Threaded fasteners 16 are then passed through the through holes and attached to the threaded holes in the carrier to further secure the accessory attachment mount to the carrier and helmet shell. However, other types of attachment methods as discussed herein also may be used.
When it is desirable to disassemble an accessory attachment system, or remove an accessory, the reverse of the above noted fastening steps may be performed. Depending on what is being done, in some instances, the disassembly may be a partial disassembly. For example a user may only removing the accessory attachment mount to remove and/or change an accessory which is subsequently attached to the helmet shell. Alternatively, in some embodiments, the entire accessory attachment system may be removed from the helmet shell.
It should be understood that while a combination of various attachment and orientation features are described above, different types and/or combinations of attachment features may be used for attaching an accessory to a helmet shell as the current disclosure is not limited to any particular connection type or arrangement of features. Additionally, while the present teachings have been described in conjunction with various embodiments and examples, it is not intended that the present teachings be limited to such embodiments or examples. On the contrary, the present teachings encompass various alternatives, modifications, and equivalents, as will be appreciated by those of skill in the art. Accordingly, the foregoing description and drawings are by way of example only.
