This disclosure relates to a monocular bridge assembly used to couple an optical device, such as a night vision goggle, to a helmet or other headgear equipped with a suitably configured mount interface, often referred to as a shroud.
Monocular bridge mounts offer a mounting solution for attaching a monocular optical device to headgear, such as a helmet. These bridge mounts are particularly useful in scenarios where hands-free operation is essential, such as in military, law enforcement, and recreational activities. Helmets suitable for this purpose typically feature a dedicated mount, referred to as a shroud, designed to removably receive a compatible mount that is attached to the optical device. This setup ensures a stable connection between the helmet and the optical device, which is crucial for operational efficiency and user comfort. While binocular bridge mounts are available, monocular optical devices are sometimes preferred due to cost, weight, and other considerations. However, during operational use, it can be useful for users to have the flexibility to move a monocular optical device between different viewing positions, accommodating both the left and right eyes.
Accordingly, needs exist for the monocular bridge assembly disclosed herein. It is to the provision of a monocular bridge assembly configured to address these needs, and others, that the present invention is primarily directed.
It is to be understood that this summary is not an extensive overview of the disclosure. This summary is exemplary and not restrictive, and it is intended neither to identify key or critical elements of the disclosure nor delineate the scope thereof. The sole purpose of this summary is to explain and exemplify certain concepts of the disclosure as an introduction to the following complete and extensive detailed description.
Disclosed is a bridge assembly for a monocular optical device. The bridge assembly allows for an attached optical device to be selectively positioned in front of either the user's left or right eye. This repositioning of the optical device is achieved by laterally sliding the adapter plate, which connects the optical device to the bridge assembly, to align the eyepiece of the optical device with the desired eye. In some implementations, the bridge assembly is configured to enable the user to adjust the pupillary distance of the attached optical device.
An example bridge assembly comprises a mounting shoe, a stem portion attached to the mounting shoe, a sliding arm member slidably coupled to the stem portion, and an adapter plate slidably coupled to the sliding arm member. The adapter plate includes an attachment interface to which the optical device is coupled. The adapter plate is configured to be laterally displaced between a first position that places the monocular optical device in front of a first eye of a user and a second position that places the monocular optical device in front of a second eye of the user.
Like reference numerals refer to corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.
As shown best in
The mounting shoe 112 of the monocular bridge assembly 110 is configured to cooperate with and be removably coupled to a helmet mount, such as a G24 mount sold by Wilcox Industries Corp. The mounting shoe 112 is secured to the stem portion 114 of the monocular bridge assembly 110 by a threaded fastener 120.
The sliding arm member 116 of the monocular bridge assembly 110 comprises an upper portion 122, a lower portion 124, and two slots 126, 128. The upper portion 122 includes a dovetail rail 130 and the lower portion 124 includes another dovetail rail 132. The dovetail rail 130 on the upper portion 122 is sized to be slidably coupled to a rail receiving receptacle 164 on an underside of the stem portion 114; the dovetail rail 132 on the lower portion 124 is sized to be slidably coupled to a rail receiving receptacle 174 on a top side of the adapter plate 118. Each of the two slots 126, 126 extend through the sliding arm member 116, between a top side 134 and a bottom side 136 thereof. Each slot 126, 128 includes an interior annular ledge 138, dividing the slot into a top groove 140 and a bottom groove 142. Hash marks 144 or other indicia are positioned adjacent the top groove 140 of each slot, the purpose of which will be described below.
The sliding arm member 116 further comprises a longitudinally extending detent track 154 on the top side 134 and another longitudinally extending detent track 156 on the bottom side 136. The longitudinally extending detent track 154 on the top side 134 includes a longitudinally extending groove 158 having a detent 160 on each end. Each detent 160 is shaped to receive a ball. The longitudinally extending detent track 156 on the bottom side 136 includes a longitudinally extending groove 162 and the detent 152 of each overtravel stop 146, described in detail below.
An overtravel stop 146 is positioned within the bottom groove 142 of each slot 126, 128 in the sliding arm member 116. Each overtravel stop 146 is fixed in position within the bottom groove 142 of a slot 126, 128 by a fastener 148 nested within the top groove 140 of the same slot 126, 128. By loosening the fastener 148, an overtravel stop 146 can be slidably repositioned within the bottom groove 142. In this way, the user can set the pupillary distance of the attached optical device 100 for each eye. Each overtravel stop 146 comprises a cylindrical boss 150, a portion of which extends from the bottom groove 142, and a detent 152 (see, e.g.,
The stem portion 114 of the monocular bridge assembly 110 comprises the rail receiving receptacle 164 and a ball plunger assembly 166. The rail receiving receptacle 164 may include a pair of parallel engagement members 168 configured to cooperate with the dovetail rail 130 on the upper portion 122 of the sliding arm member 116 (see, e.g.,
The adapter plate 118 of the monocular bridge assembly 110 is configured to slide transversely along the sliding arm member 116 between two positions, enabling the user to alternatively position the eyepiece of the optical device in front of the right eye or left eye of the user. The adapter plate 118 comprises the rail receiving receptacle 174, a ball plunger assembly 176, two end stops 178, and an attachment interface 180. The rail receiving receptacle 174 may include a pair of parallel engagement members 182 configured to cooperate with the dovetail rail 132 on the lower portion 124 of the sliding arm member 116 (see, e.g.,
The mounting shoe 112, the stem portion 114, the sliding arm member 116, and the adapter plate 118 may be fabricated from an aluminum alloy, or another suitable material.
The monocular bridge assembly 110 can be used to alternatively position the optical device 100 in front of the right eye or the left eye of the user. In particular, the optical device 100 can be moved between the two positions by simply sliding the adapter plate 118 towards the position that places the eye piece 102 of the optical device 100 in front of the desired eye.
In operation, the adapter plate 118 will slide transversely along the sliding arm member 116, towards the desired position, until one of the end stops 178 engages the cylindrical boss 150 of an overtravel stop 146 and the spring-loaded ball 186 of the ball plunger assembly 176 engages the detent 152 of the overtravel stop 146. This positions the adapter plate 118 on one end of the sliding arm member 116. Further lateral movement of the adapter plate 118 causes the sliding arm member 116 to slide through the rail receiving receptacle 164 of the stem portion 114 until the spring-loaded ball 172 of the ball plunger assembly 166 engages the detent 160 at the end of the longitudinally extending detent track 154 on the top surface 154 of the sliding arm member 116. In this way, the optical device 100 is positioned in front of the desired eye by the user. If needed, the pupillary distance can now be adjusted by loosening the fastener 148 and repositioning the overtravel stop 146 within the bottom groove 142 of the appropriate slot (126 or 128).
The foregoing description of the invention is intended to be illustrative; it is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the claims to the precise forms disclosed. Those skilled in the relevant art can appreciate that many modifications and variations are possible in light of the foregoing description and associated drawings.
Reference throughout this specification to an “embodiment” or “implementation” or words of similar import means that a particular described feature, structure, or characteristic is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the phrase “in some implementations” or a phrase of similar import in various places throughout this specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment.
The described features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the above description, numerous specific details are provided for a thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that embodiments of the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, etc. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations may not be shown or described in detail.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/439,224, filed on Jan. 16, 2023, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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63439224 | Jan 2023 | US |