Abstract:
An assembly for mounting a visor on a helmet includes a visor assembly having a lens and a fastening element with a pair of latching prongs each with a resiliently displaceable prong end; a casing attached to the helmet and having a pair of channels each for receiving the a latching prong and a pair of fixtures, each fixture for engaging a respective prong end when displaced outwardly; and a lock having a pair of locking prongs, each locking prong being insertable into one channel from an opposite end as the latching prongs and each locking prong having a locking prong end that is positionable under a respective latching prong to prevent displacement of the latching prong end inwardly to disengage from the respective fixture.

Description:
[0001]    This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/236,993, entitled “HELMET ATTACHMENT MECHANISM FOR VISOR”, filed Sep. 20, 2011, which claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/384,389, entitled “HELMET ATTACHMENT MECHANISM FOR VISOR”, filed Sep. 20, 2010, each of which is herein incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to visors for use with helmets, and particularly for a visor and a mechanism for mounting the visor to the helmet to allow controlled actuation of the visor between deployed and stowed positions. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Visors for use in military and law-enforcement helmets are known such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,901,369 and 4,536,892. These visors provide pivot arrangements on opposite lateral sides of the visor to allow the visor to be pivoted upward away from the user&#39;s face when the visor is not deployed. The visor is held in a deployed position in front of the user&#39;s face by locking of the pivot arrangements. 
         [0004]    This headgear typically takes the form of a helmet having a hard outer shell formed of a synthetic composite material, and an inner foamed polymer lining. The hard outer shell withstands shock loads, while the resiliency of the foamed lining evenly dissipates the forces of the shock load over a wider area. This interaction between the outer shell and liner helps to protect the helmet wearer against head injury, such as a concussion. A visor or face shield is typically attached to the helmet to cover at least a portion of a helmet front opening. The visor protects the face and eyes of the wearer. A mounting mechanism attaches the visor to the helmet to permit raising and lowering of the visor between in use or deployed position and stowed position. 
         [0005]    Protective headgear comprising a helmet and a visor which is mounted via a mechanism to permit visor movement between stowed and use positions are generally known. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,901,369; 5,604,930; 5,182,816; 5,012,528; 3,833,935; and 2,860,343 all describe helmet and visor assemblies. 
         [0006]    The present inventors have recognized that there is a need for improved protective headgear for soldiers. In particular, present inventors have recognized there is a need for headgear having a mounting mechanism for a visor that allows a soldier to quickly and easily move the visor between deployed and stowed positions and also to quickly and easily remove the visor from the helmet for replacement or cleaning. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    The present invention provides a helmet adapted for fitting upon a wearer&#39;s head, a visor and a mechanism for mounting the visor to the helmet. The helmet has a forward facing front opening that permits forward viewing by the wearer. The mounting mechanism allows the visor to be moved between a deployed position wherein the visor covers the front opening to protect the wearer&#39;s face and eyes, and a stowed position wherein the visor is completely clear of the front opening so as to not obstruct the forward view of the wearer. 
         [0008]    The mounting mechanism includes a visor with a lens and a fastening element with a latching prong with a resiliently displaceable prong end, a casing attached to the helmet and having a channel for receiving the latching prong and a fixture for engaging the prong end when displaced outwardly, and a lock having a locking prong that is insertable into the channel from an opposite end as the latching prong and which has a locking prong end that is positionable under the latching prong to prevent displacement of the latching prong end inwardly to disengage from the fixture. 
         [0009]    The casing can be pivotally and slidably attached to the helmet. 
         [0010]    The lock can be spring biased in the casing to the locked position. 
         [0011]    The lock can include a locking detent that is releasably engaged to the casing to hold the lock in the locked position. 
         [0012]    The casing can be mounted onto a mounting assembly having an arcuate guide slot. The casing can have a lug that rides in the guide slot as the visor is raised from a deployed position to a tilted-up position. 
         [0013]    The casing can be pivotally fastened to a lever that is pivotally fastened to the mounting assembly. 
         [0014]    The mounting assembly can include a bracket having hooks that engage a brim of the helmet, a strap that attaches to the bracket, and a guide plate fastened to the bracket. The guide plate can provide the arcuate guide slot. An elastic cord can be fixed to the guide plate at one end and to the casing at an opposite end, the elastic cord channeled along a top of the guide plate. 
         [0015]    The mounting assembly can also be pivotally fastened to the helmet. 
         [0016]    The latching element can comprise a pair of prongs and the fixture in the casing can comprise edge portions of the casing that define opposite side windows. The latching prongs can be deflected inwardly to enter parallel channels and, when fully inserted, spring outwardly such that the latching prong ends enter the windows with the edges preventing outward retraction of the latching prongs from the casing. The locking prongs can be inserted into the locked position underlying the respective latching prongs in the parallel channels, preventing inward movement of the latching prongs. 
         [0017]    The mounting mechanism of the headgear allows a wearer of the helmet to quickly and easily move the visor between deployed and stowed positions or remove the visor from the helmet. In addition, the visor in its stowed position does not obstruct the helmet wearer&#39;s line of sight or otherwise interfere with the wearer&#39;s forward view through the helmet&#39;s front opening. Moreover, the components of the headgear are relatively easy and inexpensive to manufacture. 
         [0018]    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, from the claims and from the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a helmet assembly according to one embodiment of the invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  is a schematic side view of the helmet assembly of  FIG. 1  showing a visor in a deployed position; 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a portion of the helmet assembly of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  is a fragmentary schematic side view of the helmet assembly shown in  FIG. 2 , showing the visor in a tilted up position; 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  is a fragmentary schematic rear perspective view of the helmet assembly of  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view of a portion of the helmet assembly of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 7  is a fragmentary schematic view of a portion of the helmet assembly of  FIG. 2 , showing the visor in a locked condition; 
           [0026]      FIG. 8  is a fragmentary schematic view of the portion of the helmet assembly of  FIG. 7 , showing the visor in an unlocked condition; 
           [0027]      FIG. 9  is a fragmentary schematic view of an alternate embodiment portion of the helmet assembly of  FIG. 2 , showing the visor in a locked condition; 
           [0028]      FIG. 10  is a fragmentary schematic view of the alternate embodiment portion of the helmet assembly of  FIG. 9 , showing the visor in an unlocked condition; 
           [0029]      FIG. 11  is a side view of the helmet assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0030]      FIG. 12  is an enlarged fragmentary view of a visor connection portion of  FIG. 11  with portions removed to view underlying components, shown in an unlocked but latched configuration; 
           [0031]      FIG. 13  is an enlarged fragmentary view of a visor connection portion of  FIG. 12  with portions removed to view underlying components, shown in an unlocked and unlatched configuration; 
           [0032]      FIG. 14  is an enlarged fragmentary view of the visor connection portion of  FIG. 11  with portions removed to view underlying components, shown in a latched and locked configuration; 
           [0033]      FIG. 15  is a right side perspective view of a locking element taken from  FIG. 14 ; 
           [0034]      FIG. 16  is a left side perspective view of a locking element taken from  FIG. 15 ; 
           [0035]      FIG. 16A  is a top view of the locking element shown in  FIG. 16 ; 
           [0036]      FIG. 17  is a right side perspective view of a latch-receiving casing taken from  FIG. 14 ; 
           [0037]      FIG. 18  is a left side perspective view of the latch-receiving casing taken from  FIG. 17 ; 
           [0038]      FIG. 19  is a fragmentary side view of the visor connection portion taken from  FIG. 11  with portions removed to view underlying elements; 
           [0039]      FIG. 20  is a right side perspective view of the visor connection portion of  FIG. 19  with portions removed to view underlying elements; 
           [0040]      FIG. 21  is a left side perspective view of the visor connection portion of  FIG. 11  with portions removed to view underlying elements; 
           [0041]      FIG. 22  is a side view of the visor connection portion of  FIG. 11  with portions removed to view underlying elements; 
           [0042]      FIG. 23  is a side view of an alternate embodiment visor connection portion with portions removed to view underlying elements, the connection portion shown in a latched but unlocked condition; 
           [0043]      FIG. 24  is a side view of the alternate embodiment visor connection portion of  FIG. 23  with portions removed to view underlying elements, the connection portion shown in a latched and locked condition; 
           [0044]      FIG. 25  is a right side perspective view of an alternate latch receiving casing to receive the lock element shown in  FIG. 24 ; 
           [0045]      FIG. 26  is a rear perspective view of the casing of  FIG. 25 ; 
           [0046]      FIG. 27  is a rear perspective view of the lock element shown in  FIG. 25 ; 
           [0047]      FIG. 28  is a front perspective view of the lock element of  FIG. 27 ; and 
           [0048]      FIG. 29  is a top view of the lock element shown in  FIG. 28 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0049]    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. 
         [0050]      FIG. 1  illustrates a helmet assembly  50  that includes a helmet  54 , a visor assembly  58  and two visor connection assemblies  64 , one on each lateral side of the helmet. The visor assembly  58  can be as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/811,361, filed Jun. 9, 2007, herein incorporated by reference, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,677,517. The visor assembly  58  includes a lens  66 , a brow sealing element  68 , and latching connectors  70 , one located on each lateral side of the visor assembly  58 . The latching connectors  70  and visor connection assemblies  64  are mirror image identical across a center plane P of the helmet assembly  50 , center plane P being vertical and centered substantially between the eyes and ears of the wearer. Thus, it is only necessary to describe the left hand (from the perspective of one wearing the helmet) latching connectors  70  and visor connection assembly  64  in that the right hand latching connectors  70  and visor connection assembly  64  are mirror image identical. 
         [0051]      FIG. 2  illustrates the visor assembly  58  both in a lowered, deployed position and in an alternate tilted up position. 
         [0052]      FIGS. 2 and 3  illustrate the connection assembly  64  includes a latch casing  76  a lock element  78 , and a helmet engaging assembly  80 . 
         [0053]      FIG. 4  illustrates the helmet assembly  50  with the visor assembly  58  in a tilted up position. The helmet engaging assembly  80  includes a guide plate  86  preferably a polymer material, mounted on a bracket  88 , preferably a metallic material, such as steel. Bracket  88  includes upper and lower engaging hooks  90 ,  92  which engage a bottom rim or bottom edge  96  of the helmet  54 . The bracket  88  includes a strap slot  100  which receives a strap  102  which wraps a back surface of the helmet  54  and connects left and right brackets  88  together to hold both brackets  88  snugly onto the helmet  54 . The strap can include a length adjustment element and/or an attachment buckle  103 . The guide plate  86  includes a slot  106  which guides movement of the casing  76  when the visor is moved from the downward deployed position to the tilted-up position. 
         [0054]      FIG. 5  illustrates the casing  76  in the tilted up position.  FIGS. 5 and 6  illustrate a lever arm  110  being pivotally connected between the casing  76  and the bracket  88 . An elastic cord  114  having end anchors or heads  116 ,  118 , resiliently retains the visor in the tilted up position. The elastic cord  114  is fixed at the anchor  116  to the back plate  86  and at the anchor  118  to the casing  76  (shown in  FIG. 18 ). 
         [0055]      FIG. 7  illustrates the visor latching connectors  70  latched and locked to the visor connection assembly  64 . The latching connector  70  includes upper and lower prongs  120 ,  122 , with prong hooks  120   a,    122   a,  and a center plug  124 . The prongs  120 ,  122  are resiliently flexible toward and away from each other. The casing  76  includes upper and lower prong through channels  130 ,  132  having upper and lower windows  130   a,    132   a,  and a central through channel  134 . To connect the latching connector  70  to the casing  76 , the upper and lower prongs  120 ,  122  are resiliently urged toward each other by insertion pressure on inclined planes  120   b,    122   b  on the prong hooks  120   a,    122   a  from a user during insertion into the prong through channels  130 ,  132  until prong hooks  120   a,    122   a  resiliently rebound away from each other and into the windows  130   a,    132   a.    
         [0056]    At the same time the plug  124  snuggly fits into the central channel  134 . The connectors  70  cannot be retracted from the casing  76  due to the presence of the hooks  120   a,    122   a  in the windows  130   a,    132   a  unless the hooks  120   a,    122   a  are deflected toward each other to clear the windows  130   a,    132   a  to be slid back out through the prong channels  130 ,  132 . 
         [0057]    In  FIG. 7  the lock  78  prevents the hooks  120   a,    122   a  from being deflected toward each other to clear the windows  130   a,    132   a.  The lock  78  includes a base  138 , locking prongs  140 ,  142 , and a spring  146  extending from the base  138 . 
         [0058]    As shown in  FIG. 7 , the locking prongs  140 ,  142  are inserted into the through channels  130 ,  132  from an opposite direction as the latching prongs  120 ,  122 . The locking prongs  140 ,  142  include tapered engagement ends  140   a,    142   a  that wedge against, or at least underlie, the hooks  120   a,    122   a.  By interference, the ends  140   a,    142   a  prohibit the hooks  120   a,    122   a  from being depressed inwardly to clear the windows  130   a,    132   a.  The spring  146  is inserted into the central channel  134 . The spring  146  has a lug  146   a  that fixes an end of the spring  146  to the casing  76  by snapping into an aperture  147  through a back wall of the casing  76 . The spring  147  urges the lock  78  to the position shown in  FIG. 7 , the locked position. 
         [0059]      FIG. 8  illustrates that when a user urges the lock  78  to the right with force M, and stretches the spring  146 , the tapered engagement ends  140   a,    142   a  move away from the hooks  120   a,    122   a  so that the hooks  120   a,    122   a  can be deflected toward each other as shown by a pinching finger pressure P. A simultaneous retraction force F on the connectors  70  will release the connectors  70  from the casing  76 . 
         [0060]      FIGS. 9 and 10  illustrate an alternate embodiment lock  78 ′ which is identical to the first embodiment except that the embodiment eliminates the spring  146 , and makes the engagement of the lock  78 ′ to the prongs  120 ,  122  a strictly manual operation. This embodiment is described below in more detail with regard to  FIGS. 23-28 . 
         [0061]      FIGS. 11-16  illustrate the embodiment of  FIGS. 7 and 8  and the interaction between the latching connectors  70 , and the lock  78 , with the casing  76  removed to see underlying parts. The Figures illustrate that the lock  78  includes in actuating slider  160  that extends from the base  138 . The slider  160  is arranged to overlie a front wall  76   a  of the casing  76  (see  FIG. 11 ). Thus, for a user to shift the lock  78  to the unlock position shown in  FIG. 12 , the slider is pushed with force in the direction M. The spring  146  is stretched and the engagement ends  140   a,    142   a  becomes spaced from the hooks  120   a,    122   a.    
         [0062]    As shown in  FIG. 13 , the hooks  120   a,    122   a  are then pinched inwardly with finger pressure P to the extent necessary to retract the prongs  120 ,  122  from the through channels  130 ,  132  to be able to remove the latching connectors  70  from the connection assembly  64 . 
         [0063]      FIG. 14  illustrates the locked condition wherein the spring  146  retains the lock  78  in a position to prevent the hooks  120   a,    122   a  from being inwardly moved. 
         [0064]      FIGS. 15-16A  illustrate that the slider  160  includes a lug  162  having a slanted front surface  162   a  and an upstanding back surface  162   b.  The lug  162  is fit within an elongated slot  170  formed into the front face  76   a  of the casing  76  as shown in  FIG. 17 . The slanted front surface  162   a  allows the slider  160  to be wedged away from the spring  146  during initial assembly of the lock  78  onto the casing  76 , until the lug snaps into the slot  170 ; the spring  146  and prongs  130 ,  132  being inside the casing and the slider being outside the casing  76 . The lug  146   a  is also shown as having a front slanted surface  146   b.  This allows for the wedging of the casing open sufficiently for the lug  146   a  to snap into the slot  147  in the back wall  76   b  of the casing  76  as shown in  FIG. 18 . 
         [0065]      FIG. 18  illustrates a rear side of the casing  76 . The rear side includes the back wall  76   b  and a sliding lug  220  protruding therefrom. A raised boss  228  provides a circumferential shoulder  230  which is wrapped by the elastic cord  114  ( FIG. 5 ) and a threaded bore  234  for engagement by a screw  236  ( FIG. 6 ) to pivotally attach the link  110  to the casing  76 . Also, an anchor seat  242  is provided for receiving the anchor  118  of the elastic cord (a portion of the cord is shown dashed). 
         [0066]      FIGS. 19 and 20  illustrate the guide plate  86  mounted on the bracket  88  by screws  250 . The casing  76  is removed in this view. The guide plate  86  provides an elastic cord guide surface or contoured support  256  along its length. At one end of the support  256  is an anchor seat  260  that receives and retains the head  116  of the elastic cord (a portion of the cord is shown dashed in  FIGS. 19 and 21 ). 
         [0067]      FIG. 21  illustrates the sliding lug  220  fits within a curved raceway  266  and retains the casing  64  onto the guide plate  86  by being too large to be retracted through the slot  106  while allowing a neck portion  270  ( FIG. 26 ) to fit in and slide along the slot  106 . 
         [0068]      FIG. 22  illustrates the bracket  88  having plain holes  272  for receiving the screws  250  (see  FIG. 21 ) for attaching the bracket  88  to the guide plate  86 . Also, a screw  280  is provided for pivotally attaching the lever  110  to the bracket  88 . The bracket includes a frontal finger portion  88   a  that includes a slot  88   b  ( FIG. 2 ) for receiving a finger screw  288  for attachment to the helmet. 
         [0069]      FIGS. 23-28  illustrate an alternate embodiment latch and lock in accordance with  FIGS. 9 and 10 . This embodiment is identical to the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-8  and  11 - 22  except as described below. 
         [0070]    In the embodiment of  FIGS. 23-28 , the lock is not spring biased into the lock position. The lock  78 ′ includes a retaining plug  300  that allows a range of sliding movement between the lock  78 ′ and a modified casing  76 ′, between the unlocked position of  FIG. 23  and the locked position of  FIG. 24 . A locking arm  306  is formed in parallel with the retaining plug  300 . 
         [0071]    As shown in  FIG. 28 , the locking arm  306  includes a protrusion or detent  312  and the retaining plug  300  includes a lug  316 . When the lock  78 ′ is engaged into the casing  76 ′, the lug  316  fits into a slot  322  formed into a back wall  76   b ′ of the casing  76 ′. The length of the slot permits sliding of the lock  78 ′ between the locked and unlocked positions. When the lock  78 ′ is slid to the locked position, the protrusion  312  on the locking arm  306  snaps into a locking aperture  326  also formed into the back wall  76   b ′ of the casing  76 ′. As shown in  FIG. 29 , the protrusion  312  includes a rear slanted face  312   a  and a front slanted face  312   b.  To slide the lock from the locked position to the unlocked position, the lock  78 ′ is pulled rearward with sufficient force that sliding of the rear slanted face  312   a  against a rear edge of the aperture assists in lifting the protrusion  312  out of the aperture  326  to allow the lock  78 ′ to be retracted to the unlocked position ( FIG. 23 ). 
         [0072]    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. 
         [0073]    All references, including publications, patent applications, and patents, cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the extent that the references are not inconsistent with the present disclosure and to the same extent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicated to be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entirety herein.