Adjustable headgear mount system

An adjustable headgear mount device and system is presented. The mount system comprises an adjustable locking catch that is adjustable by the user to accommodate a various range of male bayonet parts. A receiver element defines a slot that the adjustable locking catch is positioned in. The user can slide the catch into a desired position in the slot and securedly fix the catch in the desired position with at least one set screw. In the desired position, the catch can engage a portion of the male bayonet. The catch can be moved to a different position by the user if a different size male bayonet part is desired to be attached to the headgear.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to a mount for use with a headgear. More specifically, the invention relates to an adjustable mount system to mount various components to a headgear.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention is particularly suited for use with night vision devices or other components for mounting on a headgear, such as a helmet and the like. For the purposes of discussion, we'll discuss night vision devices that are commonly used by military personnel for conducting operations in low light or night conditions. The night vision devices used by the military typically include image intensifier tubes and associated optics that convert infrared and near infrared light into viewable images.

Night vision mounting assemblies allow a user's hands to remain free while the user views a scene through the night vision device. Various assemblies for attaching night vision goggles to a night vision goggle headgear mount exist, including a goggle horn or bayonet assembly and a dovetail assembly.

Various manufacturers make each type of connector to mount their apparatuses thereon the top of a headgear. Accordingly, the size of each of the different manufacturers' design may not be exactly the same. As such, a dovetail male assembly of one manufacturer may not fit perfectly with a dovetail female assembly of another manufacturer. The same is true for the bayonet configuration. If there is not a snug, secure fit, the devices may rattle, jiggle, or fall off, which is a major issue.

What is needed in the art is a universal assembly that works with many, if not all, brands of mounts.

SUMMARY

Presented herein is an adjustable headgear mount device and system for securedly and easily mounting bayonet devices of varying size to a headgear. A conventional bayonet device comprises a male protrusion with a clipping lever and a female receiver. In one aspect, the mount system comprises an adjustable catch and a receiver element. In another aspect, a female receiver cavity can be defined in a portion of the receiver element, the cavity configured to receive at least a portion of the male protrusion of the bayonet device therein. An elongate slot can be defined in the receiver element adjacent to the female receiver cavity.

In another aspect, a portion of the adjustable catch can be positioned in the female receiver cavity and can slide longitudinally forward and rearward in the slot. A tooth of the adjustable catch can extend into the female receiver cavity and can be configured to engage the clipping lever of the bayonet device. The catch can be adjusted to a desired position relative to the front of the mount system by the user to accommodate a various range of male bayonet parts. In the desired position, the male protrusion of the bayonet device can be inserted into the female receiver cavity of the mount system, and the catch can engage the clipping lever to securedly attach the bayonet device to the mount system.

Related methods of operation are also provided. Other apparatuses, methods, systems, features, and advantages of the adjustable headgear mount system will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional apparatuses, methods, systems, features, and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the adjustable headgear mount system, and be protected by the accompanying claims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention can be understood more readily by reference to the following detailed description, examples, and claims, and their previous and following description. Before the present system, devices, and/or methods are disclosed and described, it is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the specific systems, devices, and/or methods disclosed unless otherwise specified, as such can, of course, vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular aspects only and is not intended to be limiting.

As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to a “mount” includes aspects having two or more mounts unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

Terms used herein, such as “exemplary” or “exemplified,” are not meant to show preference, but rather to explain that the aspect discussed thereafter is merely one example of the aspect presented.

Additionally, as used herein, relative terms, such as “substantially”, “generally”, “approximately”, and the like, are utilized herein to represent an inherent degree of uncertainty that may be attributed to any quantitative comparison, value, measurement, or other representation. These terms are also utilized herein to represent the degree by which a quantitative representation may vary from a stated reference without resulting in a change in the basic function of the subject matter at issue.

In one aspect, presented herein is a headgear mount device and system10for attaching a device having a bayonet connector12to a headgear mount14, as shown inFIGS. 1-6. Generally, bayonet devices comprise a male protrusion with a clipping lever16. In one aspect, the headgear mount system defines a female receiver cavity18configured to receive at least a portion of the male protrusion of the bayonet connector. The headgear mounting device and system can be an adapter device configured to be adjustable so that a variety of different sized bayonet connectors can be securedly and easily attached to the headgear mount.

The headgear mount system10comprises an adjustable catch20positioned therein the female receiver cavity, the catch being adjustable by the user to accommodate and/or engage a various range of male bayonet parts. For example, the position of the catch can be adjusted forward relative to the headgear mount14in order to accommodate and/or engage a portion of a small bayonet connector12. In another example, the position of the catch20can be adjusted rearward relative to the headgear mount in order to accommodate and/or engage a portion of a large bayonet connector.

As illustrated inFIG. 1, the female receiver cavity18can be defined in a receiver element22. In one aspect, the receiver element can comprise a receiver top element23and a receiver bottom element24that are coupled together and that cooperate to define the female receiver cavity. Optionally, the receiver element cavity can be defined in a single monolithic receiver element. As can be appreciated, an upper surface26of the bottom element forms a lower surface of the female receiver cavity16. In a further aspect, the upper surface can be tapered from the front surface28of the receiver bottom element24toward the rear surface30such that the cavity height decreases from the front surface28of the receiver bottom element24toward the rear. Similarly, a first sidewall32and/or a second sidewall34of the receiver bottom element24can be tapered from the front surface of the receiver bottom element toward the rear30such that the cavity width decreases from the front surface28of the receiver bottom element24toward the rear. In still a further aspect, the headgear mount system10further comprises a mounting bracket36. The mounting bracket can be configured to couple the headgear mount system to the headgear mount14.

As illustrated inFIG. 4, in one aspect, a slot38can be defined in the upper surface26of the receiver bottom element24. In this aspect, the slot can be sized and shaped such that, when assembled, at least a portion of the adjustable catch20can be positioned in the slot38, and a portion of the adjustable catch can extend upward from the slot and into the female receiver cavity18. In another aspect, the slot can permit the catch20to be selectively adjusted adjust forward and/or rearward relative to the front surface28of the receiver bottom element24by a user. For example, the slot38can be a longitudinal slot sized and shaped to allow a portion of the catch to slidingly engage the walls40of the slot in a direction extending between the front surface28and the rear surface30of the receiver bottom element. Similarly, the slot38can be sized and shaped to restrict or prevent left-to-right and right-to-left movement of the catch20relative to the receiver bottom element24.

Referring now toFIG. 5, a first aperture42can be defined in a lower surface44of the receiver element22. In one aspect, the first aperture can extend from the lower surface through at least a portion of the receiver element and to the slot38. In this aspect, the first aperture42can be sized and shaped such that a first set screw46can pass through the first aperture and to the catch20. In a further aspect, the first aperture42can be an elongate aperture so that the position of the first set screw relative to the receiver bottom element24can be selected by the user. That is, in use and described more fully below, the position of the catch and the position of the first set screw46can be selected by a user before tightening the first set screw to the catch. As such, loosening of the first set screw46can permit longitudinal movement of the catch20relative to the headgear mount system10. For example, when matingly engaged with the catch, the first set screw can prevent a catch platform52(illustrated inFIG. 6) of the catch from undesirably moving out of the slot38of the receiver element22. In another example, when matingly engaged with the catch20, the first set screw46can prevent the catch platform from undesirably sliding in the slot of the receiver element.

A second aperture43can be defined in the front surface28of the receiver element22, according to one aspect. The second aperture can extend from the front surface through at least a portion of the receiver element and to the slot38. In this aspect, the second aperture43can be sized and shaped such that a second set screw58can pass through the second aperture and to the catch20. In use and described more fully below, the position of the catch and the position of the second set screw58can be selected by a user to prevent longitudinal movement of the catch toward the front surface28of the receiver element22beyond a predetermined distance. That is, instead of engaging threads in the catch20, the second set screw can act as a stop to limit longitudinal movement of the catch. For example, the second set screw can extend into the slot38and can prevent the catch20from sliding in the slot beyond the end of the second set screw58. In another aspect, a longitudinal axis of the first aperture42and a longitudinal axis of the second aperture43can be substantially normal. Alternatively, the longitudinal axis of the first aperture can be at an acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the second aperture.

In one aspect, the adjustable catch20can comprise a tooth48extending upward from an upper surface50of the catch platform52, as illustrated inFIG. 6. The platform can have a platform width sized to slidingly engage the slot38of the receiver bottom element24. That is, the platform width can be sized so that the platform52can slide longitudinally along the slot without twisting relative to the slot38. In another aspect, the platform can have a platform length that is less than the length of the slot. The platform can also have a lower surface54opposed to the upper surface and a front surface56configured to engage a second set screw58. In a further aspect, a bore60in the lower surface can extend through the platform52and to the upper surface50. In this aspect, the bore can be sized and shaped to matingly engage the first set screw46.

The tooth48of the adjustable catch20can have a front surface60substantially parallel to the front surface56of the catch platform52. The tooth can also have an upper surface62beveled relative to the front surface of the tooth48. The beveled upper surface of the catch can be configured to allow a portion of the male protrusion12to more easily slide from the front surface of the tooth, over the upper surface62and to a rear surface64of the tooth48.

To assemble the headgear mount system10, the adjustable catch20can be positioned in the slot38of the female receiver cavity18. When assembled, in one aspect, at least a portion of the tooth48can extend upward from the upper surface26of the receiver bottom element24and into the female receiver cavity. In another aspect, the tooth can extend into the female receiver cavity18a predetermined distance from the upper surface26. The predetermined distance can be selected, for example, to allow the tooth to engage the male protrusion of any bayonet connector12. In still a further aspect, the tooth40can have a catch width sized so that when the tooth is engaged with the clipping lever16of the bayonet connector12, the tooth has a surface area sufficient enough to securedly attach to the clipping lever. It is contemplated that the headgear mount system can be held together with conventional fasteners such as screws64, dowel pins66and the like.

When assembled, the catch20can slide therein the slot38of the female receiver cavity18a predetermined distance. For example, the catch can slide about and between a first catch position, in which the catch20is a first distance from the front surface28of the receiver element22, and a second catch position in which the catch is a second distance from the front surface of the receiver element that is less than the first distance. Thus, the catch can slide in the female receiver cavity18longitudinally relative to the receiver element so that the clipping lever16of a bayonet connector12can be securedly attached to the headgear mount system10regardless of the size of the bayonet connector.

In use, the clipping lever16of the bayonet connector12can be inserted into the female receiver cavity18of the headgear mount system10, as shown inFIG. 3B. If the clipping lever16does not engage the tooth48of the catch20when the bayonet connector12is inserted into the cavity, the connection between the bayonet connector and the headgear mount system can became loose. To avoid this situation, the catch20can be adjustable forward and/or rearward by loosening the first set screw46and/or the second set screw58and moving the catch20longitudinally into a position in which the clipping lever can engage the tooth. In this engaging position, the first set screw can be tightened to securedly fix the position of the catch20relative to the receiver bottom element24. Then, the second set screw can be tightened to exert a longitudinal force onto the catch20. Tightening of the first set screw46can frictionally hold the catch in place and positioning of the second set screw58can provide for additional securement of the catch20relative to the receiver bottom element.

With the catch20in the desired, engaging position relative to the female receiver cavity18, the clipping lever16of the bayonet connector12can be inserted into the female receiver cavity of the headgear mount system10and the clipping lever can engage the tooth48of the catch20to securedly attach the bayonet connector to the headgear mount system. Upon disengagement of the clipping lever16from the tooth and removal of the bayonet connector from the headgear mount system, the position of the catch can be adjusted, if desired, so that the headgear mount system10can accommodate a bayonet connector12having a different size.