Abstract:
An improved helmet mounting device for an optical or other viewing device is provided. The helmet mount includes a mounting assembly removably attachable to the helmet and a pivoting assembly having a first end pivotally attached to the mounting assembly and a second end opposite the first end. A fore and aft adjustment assembly is attached to the second end of the pivoting assembly and a left and right adjustment assembly is rotatably attached to the fore and aft adjustment assembly. The left and right adjustment assembly is pivotal relative to the fore and aft adjustment assembly about a first generally vertical axis. An optical device mounting member is attached to the left and right adjustment assembly and the optical device mounting member is removably attachable to the optical device. The mounting assembly includes a vertical adjust mechanism which has a base plate, a pair of guide rails attached to the base plate and defining a channel therebetween, a sliding plate slidably attached to the guide rails, and a clamping mechanism for selectively applying a clamping force to secure the sliding plate at a desired position relative to said base plate. In further aspects, modular electrical connectors and a remote battery box for providing power to the optical device or other viewing device are provided.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) based on U.S. provisional application No. 61/300,770 filed Feb. 2, 2010, and U.S. provisional application No. 61/351,084 filed Jun. 3, 2010, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     SUMMARY 
     In a first aspect, the present disclosure relates to a helmet mounting system and method for integrating a viewing device with a field helmet and for remotely supplying power to an attached optical device from a power supply remotely located on the helmet. In a second aspect, a mounting shoe interface is provided which allows power, ground and/or signal to pass from one device to another through the interface. The mounting shoe interface herein finds utility with the helmet mounting system as shown and described herein, however, it will be recognized that the mounting system is equally applicable to any type of mounting system which can be used to provide power or a data signal to and from multiple items, wherein the items can readily be connected, disconnected and interchanged. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention may take form in various components and arrangements of components, and in various steps and arrangements of steps. The drawings are only for purposes of illustrating preferred embodiments and are not to be construed as limiting the invention. 
         FIG. 1  is a side elevational view of a helmet carrying a helmet mount according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, wherein the helmet mount supports viewing optics in an operational or viewing position. 
         FIG. 2  is a front elevational view of the embodiment shown in 
         FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is an isometric view of the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , taken generally from the front and left side (from the perspective of the wearer). 
         FIG. 4  is an isometric view of the helmet mount strap appearing in  FIG. 1 , with the viewing optics, helmet mount, and power supply removed. 
         FIG. 5  is an enlarged perspective view illustrating the helmet mount mechanism and mounting plate, taken generally from the front and the wearer&#39;s right side, with the viewing optics removed. 
         FIG. 6  is an enlarged perspective view illustrating the helmet mount mechanism and mounting plate, taken generally from the front and the wearer&#39;s left side, with the viewing optics removed. 
         FIG. 7  is an exploded view illustrating the helmet mounting assembly shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . 
         FIG. 8  is an enlarged exploded view illustrating the second pivoting segment and the left and right sliding arm assembly shown in  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 9  is a rear, bottom isometric view of the mounting assembly shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . 
         FIG. 10  is a rear, bottom isometric view of the power cable assembly of the illustrated helmet mount embodiment. 
         FIG. 11  is an elevational view of the power cable assembly appearing in  FIG. 10 . 
         FIG. 12  is an isometric view of the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 9-11 , taken generally from the front and left side (from the perspective of the wearer) showing the optical device in a first stowed position. 
         FIG. 13  is an isometric view of the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 9-11 , taken generally from the front and left side (from the perspective of the wearer) showing the optical device in a second stowed position. 
         FIGS. 14 and 15  are isometric and exploded views of a first embodiment modular mounting shoe assembly. 
         FIGS. 16 and 17  are isometric and exploded views of a second embodiment modular mounting shoe assembly. 
         FIGS. 18 and 19  are partially exploded and isometric views illustrating the manner of attachment of the modular mounting shoe assembly to a viewing device. 
         FIG. 20  is a front isometric view front view of a modular mounting shoe assembly according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 21  is a rear isometric view of the modular mounting shoe assembly appearing in  FIG. 20 . 
         FIG. 22  is an isometric view of an exemplary embodiment power supply, illustrating the mounting shoe assembly. 
         FIG. 23  is an exploded view of the power supply appearing in  FIG. 22 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1-13 , and with particular reference to  FIGS. 1-3 , there appears an exemplary helmet mounting system embodiment  500  of the present invention. The helmet mounting system  500  includes a connection bracket assembly  504  attached to the front portion of a helmet  508 . A helmet mount assembly  530  is removably attached at a first end to the connection bracket  504  and includes a second end adapted to be removably attached to an optical device  512 . The optical device  512  may be monocular or binocular night vision goggle, binoculars, helmet mounted display screen, head-up display or any other helmet mounted optical, electro-optical or other viewing device. 
     The connection bracket  504  couples to the helmet  508  utilizing a mechanical fastener  516  such as a threaded fastener or the like. Also, a pair of laterally spaced-apart front hook members  578  may be used to engage the brim of the helmet  508 , thereby providing three points of attachment of the connection bracket  504 . The hook members  578  may include noise and/or vibration dampening members  579  formed of a flexible, elastic, or resilient material. The dampening members  579  may be pads, grommets engaging holes formed in the hooks  578 , or the like. In addition, a strap  584  which is attached to a bracket  600  on the top of connection bracket  504  runs over the top of the helmet  508  and provides an additional point of attachment of the connection bracket  504 . Commonly, military helmets are provided with a single hole predrilled in the front thereof and the embodiment  500  is advantageous in that it may readily be adapted to employ such a predrilled hole for receiving the fastener  516 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 4-8 , and with continued reference to  FIGS. 1-3 , there appears a helmet mount assembly  530  which contains a pivoting assembly for moving between an operational position and a stowed position, wherein the pivoting assembly is similar to the pivoting assembly of the helmet mounting system described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/951,969 filed on Nov. 22, 2010. The aforementioned application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The helmet mount assembly  530  includes a rear plate  502  that interfaces with the connection bracket  504 . The connection bracket  504  contains guide rails  602 , a first opening, e.g., defined by lower groove lip  592 , and a second opening, e.g., defined by upper groove lip  596 . The rear plate  502  embodiment shown in  FIG. 15  includes a base member  610  and has a vertical adjust plate assembly  506  secured thereto, e.g., via fasteners  612  and  614 . The base member  610  includes a locking tongue  616  slidably carried thereon and side walls  618 . The side walls  618  mate with the guide rails  602  formed on bracket  504 . The locking tongue  616  engages the lower groove lip  592  of the bracket  504 . A tension member  620  such as a spring may be provided to prevent movement or rattling between the rear plate  502  and the connection bracket  504  and to bias the locking tongue  616  into engagement with the lower groove lip  592 . 
     The helmet mount assembly  530  includes a sliding plate  510  which slides vertically with respect to the vertical adjust plate assembly  506 . The sliding plate  510  is slidably received over locking rails  622  disposed on the plate  506 . A first cover plate  624  is secured to the upper open end of the sliding plate  510  and a second cover plate  625  is secured to the lower open end of the sliding plate  510 . The cover plates  624 ,  625  act as stops to limit the extent of sliding movement of the sliding plate  510  and to prevent the sliding plate  510  from disengaging the rails  622 . Covering the ends also helps to prevent debris from entering the space between the sliding plate  510  and the vertical adjustment plate  506 , which may interfere with the sliding movement of the plates  510  and  506  of the helmet mount assembly  530 . The sliding plate  510  is selectively positionable relative to the plate  506  to provide a vertical adjustment of the optical device relative to the eyes of the wearer and is described in greater detail below. 
     The rear plate  502  secures the helmet mount assembly  530  to the helmet  508  via the connection bracket  504 . The rear plate  502  includes the interface base member  610  with a first channel  626 . The first channel  626  receives a tension member  620 , such as a captured spring, which is secured in the channel  626  by a locking tongue member  628 . A first end of the locking tongue member  628  engages the tension member  620  and a second end includes a transverse groove or recess  630  and the locking tongue  616 . An actuator bar  590  slides into recesses  632  of the interface base  610  and the recess  630  of the locking tongue member  628 , thereby securing the tongue member  628  into the channel  626  in cooperation with pins  634  and  636  engaging aligned openings  638  and  640  in the base member  610  and locking tongue  628 , respectively. The actuator bar  590  has two elongated openings  642 , each engaging one of the pins  634 , and an elongated opening  644  engaging the pin  636 . The elongated openings  642  and  644  allow transverse sliding movement of the actuator  590  and cooperates with the tension of member  620  to enable the locking tongue member  628  to be moved from an open position to a locked or engaged position wherein the locking tongue  616  protrudes out from the rear plate  502  to engage the lower groove lip  592 . The elongate openings  642  extend transversely and the pins  634  constrain the sliding movement of the actuator  590  to transverse movement. The opening  644  extends at an angle relative to the transverse openings  642 . As the pin  636  runs in the angled opening  644 , the tongue member  628  is selectively advanced and retracted. The ends of the elongate openings  642  may be slightly enlarged such that the spring tension will assist in retaining the actuator  590  in the selected one of the locked and unlocked positions. 
     When the locking tongue  616  is moved into its engaged position, the rear plate  502  can be secured to the connection bracket  504 . To secure the rear plate  502  to the connection bracket  504 , a user would slide the actuator bar  590 , e.g., to the user&#39;s right to cause the pin  636  to ride to the upper end of the angled slot  644 , thereby retracting the locking tongue member  628  against the urging of the tension member  620 . An upper protrusion  594  on the rear plate  502  is inserted into the upper groove lip  596  and the rear plate  502  is set into place on connection bracket  504 . The actuator bar  590  is then slid to the user&#39;s left to cause the locking tongue  616  to engage the lower groove lip  592 . 
     The sliding plate  510  includes a pair of pivot arms  522 , a pivot sleeve  528  and a pivot pin assembly  524 . The pivot sleeve  528  is pivotally attached to the pivot arms  522 . The pivot arms  522 , the pivot sleeve  528  and pivot pin assembly  524  create a force to overcome mechanism which includes a pivot pin  646  extending through the transversely extending pivot sleeve  528  which carries a pivoting carriage assembly  532 . 
     Two washers  548 ,  550  are seated on the ends of the pivot sleeve  528  and fit between the pivot sleeve  528  and arms  522 . The sleeve  528  includes first and second transversely extending channels or grooves  668   a  and  668   b  on the interior surface thereof. The pivot pin  646  also extends through openings  523  in pivot arms  522  to connect the sliding plate assembly  510  and the carriage assembly  532  in hinged fashion. 
     The pivot pin  646  includes one or more bores  650  (two in the embodiment shown) extending transversely with respect to the pivot axis  670 . Each of the bores  650  includes one or more (four in the embodiment shown) spring washers  664  (e.g., wave disc springs, Belleville washers, curved disc springs, etc.) seated with the respective bore  650 . Each bore includes a plug  649  seated over the wave springs to capture the wave springs within the bore  650 . Each of the plugs  649  includes a radiused upper (in the orientation shown in  FIG. 7 ) protrusion  648 . The plugs  649  are sized such that the protrusions  648  will be urged upwardly and, absent any biasing force opposing the spring force of the spring washers  664  will stand proud of the outer surface of the pivot pin  646 . The transverse sides of the protrusions  648  may be beveled to facilitate insertion of the pivot pin  646  carrying the plugs  649  into the sleeve  528 . The pivot pin  646  does not rotate relative to the first pivoting segment  510  by virtue of the threaded rod  520  engaging an opening  652  in the facing one of the arms  522 . The rod  520  secures the tilt adjustment knob  518  engaging an elongate or eccentric opening  654  in pivot plate  524 . 
     In operation, the pivoting carriage assembly  532  is manually pivotable relative to the sliding plate assembly  510  about the pivot pin  646 . The carriage assembly  532  may be pivoted downward until the protrusions  648  engage the channel  668   b  formed in the inner wall of the sleeve  528 . The spring washers  664  urge the protrusions  648  into the channel  668   b  to secure the mount in the operative deployed position wherein the associated goggle will be positioned in front of the eye(s) of the user. When it is desired to move the goggles to the stowed position, the wearer applies a pivoting force to the goggles. When the force applied is sufficient to overcome the spring force of the spring washers  664 , the plugs  649  will be moved inwardly against the urging of the spring washers. The goggles may be pivoted upward until the protrusions  648  are aligned with the channel  668   a  at which time the spring washers  664  will urge the protrusions  648  into the channel  668   a  and provide positive retention of the goggles in the stowed position. In a preferred embodiment, the channels  668   a  and  668   b  have a first curved radius and the protrusions  648  have a second radius, wherein the radius of the protrusions  648  is slightly larger than the radius of the channels  668   a ,  668   b.    
     An angle or tilt adjustment knob  518  is also provided on the pivot pin assembly  524  for adjusting the tilt angle of the optical device  512 . The angle or tilt adjustment knob  518  includes a threaded rod  520  rotatably engaging a mating threaded opening  652  in the pivot arm  522 . The arm  522  rotates relative to the plate  524 , which includes an elongate or curvate opening or slot  654  receiving the threaded rod  520 . Loosening the knob  518  allows adjustment of the optics to a desired tilt angle according to the user&#39;s eye position and a desired line of sight, whereby the tilt angle may then be secured in the desired position by tightening the knob  518 . Alternatively, the knob  518  may include a cam  519  received in opening  654 , wherein the tilt angel is adjusted by changing the angular position of the knob  518  and cam  519 . 
     A vertical adjustment lever  514  includes a threaded screw  656  which travels through an opening  658  and engages a cam lock  660 . A spring washer  662 , e.g., a Belleville spring washer, is interposed between the lever  514  and the sliding plate assembly  510 , which is compressed to provide a locking tension when the lever  514  is pivoted to the locked position and uncompressed when the lever is in the unlocked position. The cam lock  660  interfaces with the vertical adjustment plate assembly  506  of the rear plate  502 . 
     When the lever  514  is in the unlocked position, the elongate dimension of the cam lock  660  extends parallel to the channel defined between the parallel rails  622  allowing the assembly  510  to slide freely up and down to provide an infinitely adjustable vertical adjustment mechanism. In addition, the tension is released in the spring washer  662 , allowing the cam lock  660  to move slightly upward. When the assembly  510  is at a desired vertical position relative to the plate  506  (e.g., when an attached viewing device is at the correct vertical position relative to the eyes of the user), the lever  514  is pivoted to the locked position. 
     When the lever  514  is turned to the locked position, the cam lock  660  interacts with the locking rails  622  of plate  506  securing the vertical adjustment assembly  510  in the desired position. In the depicted preferred embodiment, the cam lock  660  has ears (not shown) extending in the elongate direction of the cam lock  660 . The rails  622  cooperate with the plate  506  to define a generally T-shaped channel. The rails  622  may include a ramped or beveled edge to facilitate sliding movement of the ears (not shown) into the T channel as the lever  514  is rotated to the locked position. As the cam lock  660  is rotated, the ramped surface of the T-channel draws the cam lock  660  downward, compressing the spring washer  662  (not shown) and thus providing a tensioning force to secure the lever  514  in the locked position. As an alternative to or in addition to the ramped surface of the T channel defined by the rails  622 , the ears (not shown) could also be ramped or beveled to facilitate movement into the T-channel as the lever  514  is pivoted to the locked position. 
     Movement of the vertical adjustment assembly  510  enables adjustment of the vertical position of an optical device relative to the wearer&#39;s eye position and desired line of sight. Once a desired vertical position is located, the lever  514  is moved back to a locked position and the cam lock  660  engages with locking rails  622  preventing vertical movement of the assembly  510 . In this manner, using the vertical adjustment lever  514  and tilt adjustment knob  518  an attached optical device  512  can be positioned to a desired vertical position before the eye of the user. In the depicted embodiment, the optical device  512  is positioned before the right eye of the user. 
     A horizontal fore and aft adjustment assembly  532  is attached to the pivot sleeve  528 . The horizontal fore and aft adjustment assembly  532  includes a fore and aft sliding arm  534 , a slide carriage  536 , a release button  538 , a left and right sliding arm  544 , an adjustment knob  554 , and a helmet interface assembly  546 . The sliding arm  534  is attached to the pivot sleeve  528  via a mechanical fastener  674 . The exterior of the sliding arm  534  has a plurality of ridges  540  (eighteen in the embodiment shown) and fits within the opening of the slide carriage  536  having a release button  538 . When the release button  538  is depressed the slide carriage  536  may be moved fore or aft along the sliding arm  534 . When the user moves the optical device  512  into the desired position by sliding the slide carriage  536  along the sliding arm  534 , and releases the button  538 , the slide carriage  536  engages the plurality of ridges  540  associated with its position and locks the optical device  512  into the desired fore/aft position. The user may customize the fore and aft sliding arm  534  by attaching a stop  672  to the bottom of the sliding arm  534 . The addition of the stop  672  enables a user to easily position the optical device  512  into the desired fore/aft position after the optical device  512  has been moved away from the user&#39;s eye or placed in a stowed position by stopping the aft movement of the optical device  512  once the set position is reached. 
     As best seen in  FIG. 8 , the sliding arm  534  also has a cavity  676  which houses a position locking mechanism  678  having two arms  692   a ,  692   b , at least one elongated protrusion  542  (two in the embodiment shown), a pin  682 , a stop  684 , a spring  686 , a cover  688 , and a fastener  552 . The stop  684  engages channels  728  and  730  of arms  692   a ,  692   b  at one end and spring  686  at a second end between arms  692   a  and  692   b . The cover  688  is secured to the opening in sliding arm  534  via fastener  552  thereby preventing any debris from entering the sliding arm  534 . The arms  692   a ,  692   b  also prevent debris from entering the cavity  676  through elongated openings  680  by maintaining a constant closed position. The protrusions  542  run in the channel  680 . When the carriage horn  534  is in the deployed, viewing position, the spring  686  urges the rearward and confines the bosses  542  to the rearward, axial-extending portion, thereby preventing rotation of the optical or viewing unit and carriage assembly when the mount is in the viewing or deployed position. When the sliding horn  534  is pivoted upward to the stowed position, the contour of the channel  690  acts on the pin  682  to urge the fork member carrying the bosses  542  forward against the bias of the spring  686  so that the bosses  542  enter the transverse portion of the channel  680 , allowing the carriage assembly with attached viewing device to be rotated to the second stowed position. In other words, rotation of the carriage assembly with the viewing device is prevented while the device is deployed, such that rotation to the second stowed position can only be performed after the carriage horn  534  has been pivoted upward. In this manner, providing the carriage arm  534  having a generally circular cross-sectional shape allows both fore and aft adjustment, as well as rotation to a stowed position can be provided within a single joint, thereby reducing cost and complexity. 
     In operation, a user wishing to lock the helmet mount assembly  530  in the operational position slides protrusions  542  against the urging of spring  686  to the fore position of elongated openings  680 . When protrusions  542  are slid to a forward position the arms  692   a  and  692   b  move forward within sliding arm  534  and pin  682  slides out of engagement with a channel  690  on the pivot pin  646 . When it is desired to move the optical device  512  to the stowed position, the wearer slides the protrusions  542  to the unlocked or aft position within elongated openings  680  thereby moving pin  682  to engage with channel  690 . Once pin  682  engages channel  690  the user applies a pivoting force to the optical device  512 . When the force applied is sufficient to overcome the spring force of the spring washers  664 , the plugs  649  will be moved inwardly against the urging of the spring washers  664 . The optical device  512  may be pivoted upward until the protrusions  648  are aligned with the channel  668   a  at which time the spring washers  664  will urge the protrusions  648  into the channel  668   a  and provide positive retention of the goggles in the stowed position. If the user desires a lower profile stowed position, the user may depress release button  538  and rotate the slide carriage  536  to place the optical device  512  closer to helmet  508 . The two, alternative stowed positions are best seen in  FIGS. 12 and 13 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , the bottom of the slide carriage  536  engages the left and right sliding arm  544  at rails  556 . The slide arm  544  has a locking mechanism attached on its underside and the locking mechanism has a lever  558 , a lock shim  694 , a bushing  696 , and a pin or drawbar  698 . The user may adjust the horizontal position of the attached optical device  512  in the left and right direction by releasing the lever  558 . The user pulls down the lever  558  to release the locking mechanism and in turn the lever  558  pulls pin  698  from channel  700  thereby releasing lock shim  694  from engagement with the bottom of sliding arm  544 . Once the lever  558  is released, the user may freely move the slide carriage  536  left and right along the rails  556  of the sliding arm  544  to position the optical device  512  in the desired left/right position. Once the user has found the desired left/right position for the optical device  512 , he flips the lever  558  up to the locked position and once again secures the shim  694  to the bottom of the sliding arm  544  thereby locking the optical device  512  into the desired position. 
     In addition, to left and right adjustment of the optical device  512  the sliding arm  544  also enables the user to rotate the optical device  512  from its depicted position in front of the user&#39;s right eye to a position in front of his left eye using the locking mechanism. By releasing the lever  558  the user may slide the slide carriage  536  to engage circular channel  702  which disengages the teeth (not shown) on the bottom of slide carriage  536  enabling the user to rotate the slide arm  544  180 degrees from in front of the right eye, as shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , to in front of the user&#39;s left eye and vice versa. Once the optical device  512  is on the desired side, the user moves the lever  558  back to its locked position. In order for the optical device  512  to be operational once moved to the user&#39;s left eye the user must also rotate the position of the helmet interface assembly  546  thereby rotating the optical device  512 , which is described in greater detail below. 
     The helmet interface assembly  546  is secured to the sliding arm  544  via a knob  554  and a pin  704 . The pin  704  is inserted into opening  706  of the slide arm  544  and knob  544  is screwed onto the pin  704  to secure the power interface  560  of the helmet interface assembly  546  to the sliding arm  544 . A protrusion  598  on the top of the power interface  560  engages the rails  708  of the slide arm  544  to prevent the helmet interface assembly  546  from rotating during operation. When the user changes the side that the optical device  512  is on the user must rotate the sliding arm  544  180 degrees, as described above, and he must also rotate the interface assembly  546  180 degrees. In order to rotate the interface assembly  546  the user loosens the knob  544  which disengages the protrusion  598  from the rails  708  thereby enabling the interface assembly  546  to freely rotate the necessary 180 degrees. Once the interface assembly  546  rotates to place the optical device  512  in the desired operational position, the user tightens the knob  554  and once again secures the protrusion  598  between the rails  708  to prevent the interface assembly  546  and attached optical device  512  from rotating during operation. 
     The helmet interface assembly  546  also includes a mounting shoe receiver  564  and a lever  562 . The mounting shoe receiver  564  has a channel  710  for receiving a first interface  712 . Once the first interface  712  is inserted into the channel  710  it is secured to the mounting shoe receiver  564  via fasteners  714 . When the optical device  512  is secured to the mounting shoe receiver  564  the first interface  712  provides power to the optical device  512  through the electrical contacts (not shown) of its mounting shoe (not shown). The optical device  512  is secured to the interface assembly  546  by releasing the lever  562 , inserting the mating mounting shoe (not shown) of the optical device  512  into the mounting shoe receiver  564  and closing the lever  562 . To remove the optical device  512  from the mounting shoe receiver  564  the user releases the lever  562  and slides the mounting shoe (not shown) from the mounting shoe receiver  564 . The first interface  712  has contacts  716  electrically coupled to the power supply  400  and providing power to an attached optical device  512 . 
     The optical device  512  is electrically coupled to the power supply  400  via a replaceable power harness  800 . The replaceable power harness  800  enables a user to easily replace the power harness  800  if it becomes damaged during use. The power harness  800  includes a first interface  712 , connection interface  570 , a second interface  718 , and multiconductor cables  566  and  568 . The first interface  712  is coupled to mounting shoe receiver  564  as discussed above. The connection interface  570  has a pin  724  which fits in pivot pin  646  and is secured to pivot arm  522  via fasteners  726 . The second interface  718  is coupled to the back side of rear plate  502  via fastener  720 . The first interface  712  is coupled to the connection interface  570  via multiconductor cable  566  and the connection interface  570  is coupled to the second interface  718  via multiconductor cable  568 . The first interface  712  and the second interface  718  have electrical contacts  716  and  722 , respectively. The power harness  800  is coupled to the bracket  504  via contacts  722  of the second interface  718  on rear plate  502  and contacts  576  on the bracket  504 . The contacts  576  inside the bracket  504  are electrically coupled to the cable  572 . The cable  572  exits the bracket  504  and travels along its exterior and under the front side of helmet  508  between the hook members  578 . On the underside of helmet  508 , the cable  572  connects with the flat cable  574 . The cable  574  travels along the inside of the helmet  508  and between hook members  580 , wherein the cable  574  connects with a multiconductor cable  582  which is then coupled to the power supply  400  as described above. 
     In preferred embodiment, the helmet mount  530  includes an automatic shutoff for the optics when the pivot sleeve  528  is pivoted out of the viewing position to preserve the battery power when the optics are not being used, e.g., using a point magnet and a magnet proximity sensor as described above. For example, in a preferred automatic shutoff embodiment a magnet (not shown) is housed within the pivoting sleeve  528  and a reed switch, Hall effect sensor, or the like is housed within the connection interface  570 , such that when the helmet mount is in the normal deployed position, i.e., in the lowest detent position, the magnet is in proximity with the sensor. Once mount is pivoted to the stowed position, i.e., when the user flips the mount up, the magnet no longer engages the reed switch or other magnetic sensor in the sleeve  528  and power to the optics or other device is shut off. 
     The optical device  512  may be a monocular night vision goggle device, and may advantageously be an eNVG device. However, it will be understood that the invention can be used with other types of sighting devices, such as a monocular or binoculars, helmet mounted display screen, head-up display or any other helmet mounted optical, electro-optical, and/or viewing devices. 
     A strap  584  includes a first end connected to the bracket  504  and a second end coupled to a rear bracket  586 . The bracket  504  has hook members  578  and the rear bracket  586  has hook members  580 . The hook members  578 ,  580  may include rubber pads or grommets  579  as described above. The hook members  578  and  580  may be removably secured to the helmet by wrapping about the front and rear brim portions of the helmet  508 , respectively. If desired, the strap  584  may be adjustable, e.g., via a ratchet or other adjustable mechanical linkage (not shown) so as to be adapted for use with different sized helmets. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 14 and 15 , there appears a first embodiment mounting shoe assembly  100  including a base  102 , which is preferably made of a metal or metal alloy receiving a circuit board  104  with a plurality of electrical contacts or terminals  106  mounted to a spacer block or insulator block  108  on the board  104 . The board is received within a cavity or opening  110  within the base  102 . An alignment pin  112  may be provided which engages a complimentary depression or cavity on the board to ensure proper alignment of the board when it is assembled to the base. Conductive pins on the board  104  are electrically coupled to the contacts  106  and extend in protruding fashion through the opening  110  and mate with an aligned electrical connector on the optical device or other device when the mounting shoe assembly  100  is attached thereto. A top cover  116  is secured to the base member  102 , e.g., with threaded fasteners  118  and includes an opening  120  exposing the contacts  106 . A sealing ring or gasket  128  provides a sealing interference between the bottom of the base  102  and the night vision or other device to which the mounting shoe assembly is attached and the entire unit may be potted with a glue or other potting material. Threaded fasteners (not shown) are used to secure the mounting shoe assembly  100  to a device via the openings  122  in the top cover, aligned openings  126  in the base  102  and the opening  124  in the base. In the depicted embodiment, the contacts  106  are flat contacts adapted to make electrical contact with a spring contact, such as the contacts  716  on the mounting shoe receptacle  564 , described above. It will be recognized that the assembly  100  could be modified to employ spring contacts instead of flat contacts. It is preferred, however, that the mounting shoe assembly  100  adapted for generally permanent attachment on a night vision device or other device to be powered employ flat contacts to minimize the potential for damage to the contacts. In the depicted preferred embodiment, the board  104  has six contacts  106 . This allows for redundant power contacts, e.g., two positive, two negative, as well as two data or signal contacts. By providing multiple positive and negative power terminals, power can still be supplied to the device, even where on of the contacts is damaged or otherwise not making electrical contact with the aligned contact on the mounting shoe receiver. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 16 and 17 , there appears a second embodiment mounting shoe assembly  150  including a base  152 , which is preferably made of a metal or metal alloy receiving a circuit board  154  with a plurality of electrical contacts or terminals  156  mounted to a spacer block or insulator block  158  on the board  154 . The board  154  is received within a cavity or opening  160  within the base  152 . An alignment pin  162  may be provided which engages a complimentary depression or cavity on the board (not shown) to ensure proper alignment of the board when it is assembled to the base  152 . A plurality of wires  164  on the board  154  are electrically coupled to the contacts  156  and extend through the base for electrical coupling to the circuitry of the viewing device or other device to be powered. A top cover  166  is secured to the base member  152 , e.g., with threaded fasteners  168  and includes an opening  170  exposing the contacts  156 . A sealing ring or gasket may be provided to provide a sealing interference between the bottom of the base  152  and the night vision or other device to which the mounting shoe assembly is attached and the entire unit may be potted with a glue or other potting material. Threaded fasteners  180  are used to secure the mounting shoe assembly  150  to a device via the openings  172  in the top cover and aligned openings  176  in the base  152  and the opening  174  in the base. In the depicted embodiment, the contacts  156  are flat contacts adapted to make electrical contact with a spring contact, such as the contacts  716  on the mounting shoe receptacle  564 , described above. It will be recognized that the assembly  150  could be modified to employ spring contacts instead of flat contacts. It is preferred, however, that the mounting shoe assembly  150  adapted for generally permanent attachment on a night vision device or other device to be powered employ flat contacts to minimize the potential for damage to the contacts. In the depicted preferred embodiment, the board  154  has six contacts  156 . This allows for redundant power contacts, e.g., two positive, two negative, as well as two data or signal contacts. By providing multiple positive and negative power terminals, power can still be supplied to the device, even where on of the contacts is damaged or otherwise not making electrical contact with the aligned contact on the mounting shoe receptacle. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 18-19 , there appears a third embodiment the modular mounting shoe assembly  200 , which may be mounted to a helmet mount system for connection of a power source  300  to an optical device  112 . The mounting shoe assembly  200  includes a first plate  202  and a second plate  204  which are secured via mechanical fasteners  206 , such as screws, rivets, clips, dogs, pawls, or the like. The first plate  202  includes an opening  210  whereby a contact plate containing the conductive electrical contacts  212  extends through the first plate  202  of the mounting shoe assembly  200  enabling an electrical connection to a power supply  300  or an optical device  112 . One or more sealing rings or gaskets  214  may be provided between the first plate  202  and the contacts  212  to provide a sealing interference therebetween. The sealing rings or gaskets  214  also may be provided to provide a seal against moisture or other contamination. 
     The second plate  204  includes an opening  220 , four terminal connections  222 , and alignment pins  224 . The opening  220 , in addition to openings  226  in the top cover and aligned openings  228  on the base  204  are provided for attachment of assembly  200  to the device such as an optical device  112 , e.g., with threaded fasteners. The four terminal connections  222  are each connected to the cable  144  to deliver electric power from the battery pack  300  to a device requiring power for operation, such as the optical device  112 . The cable  144  may be passed through a hole drilled in the helmet and is electrically coupled to the front bracket  104 . Power is transferred from a power supply  300  into the mounting shoe  200  via the contacts  212 , and then out of the mounting shoe  200  via terminal connections  222  to the cable  144  which travels across the helmet  108  as described above providing power to a device, such as the optical device  112 . The alignment pins  224  may be provided to align the mounting shoe assembly  200  with a mounting member having complimentary recesses (not shown) on the helmet mount strap  134 . Although the contact  212  are shown as spring contacts, it will be recognized that the contacts could also be flat contacts as described above. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 22 and 23 , an exemplary power supply  400  is shown. The power supply may be of the type described in U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/332,225 filed on May 7, 2010. The aforementioned application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The exterior of the power supply  400  includes electrical contacts  404 , which are shown as spring contacts (although the use of flat contacts are also contemplated when the mating mounting shoe receptacle is to have spring contacts. A mounting shoe receiver  406  is provided on the housing  422  for removable connection to mating mounting shoe assembly, such as the mounting shoe on the rear portion of the helmet strap assembly as described above. The array of contacts  404  contact a set of contacts on the battery dock portion of the rear bracket  586 , wherein the battery dock may be a mounting shoe substantially as described above by way of reference to the mounting shoes appearing in  FIGS. 14-21 . 
     A locking mechanism  416  includes levers for releasable securing the cover  420  over the main housing body  422  in closed position. One or more hinge members  424  (two in the embodiment shown) are provided to pivotally attach the housing cover member  420  to the housing body  422 . The mounting shoe receiver  406  of the power supply  400  also contains a locking or release assembly having tabs  410   a ,  410   b , protrusions  412   a ,  412   b , and an alignment pin  414 . 
     To secure the power supply  400  to the mounting shoe  200 , the mounting shoe receiver  406  contains a locking assembly having tabs  410   a ,  410   b , protrusions  412   a ,  412   b , and an alignment pin  414 . The tabs  410   a ,  410   b  and protrusions  412   a ,  412   b  are resiliently biased via captured springs  415  to engage the mounting shoe  200  when the power supply  400  is slid into place. The springs are captured via cover members  423  secured to the housing  422 . 
     To remove the power supply  400  from the mounting shoe  200 , the tabs  410   a ,  410   b  are squeezed together against the bias of the springs  415  to manually disengage the protrusions  412   a ,  412   b  of the locking assembly. The protrusions  412   a  and  412   b  extend into the channel defined by the mounting shoe receiver  406 . The protrusion  412   a  is carried on the sliding tab  410   a  and the protrusion  412   b  is carried on the sliding tab  410   b  such that inward squeezing of the tabs  410   a  and  410   b  causes outward movement of the protrusions  412   a  and  412   b , thus enabling removal of the power supply  400  from the mounting shoe  200 . The alignment pin  414  extends through elongate openings in the tabs  410   a  and  410   b  to align the tabs and limit the extent of sliding movement of the tabs  410   a  and  410   b.    
     The mounting shoe receiver  406  and mounting shoe  200  may be of tapered, dove-tail configuration. In the depicted embodiment, the mounting shoe portion  200  includes angled or ramped edges  216  which engage aligned ramped edges  413   a ,  413   b  of the protrusions  412   a ,  412   b , respectively, to urge the protrusions in the transverse outward direction to allow the shoe  200  to slide therepast when the power supply  400  is connected to the mounting shoe  200 . The power supply  400  contains a locking mechanism  416  having lever locks  418  which pivot to releasably engage tabs  417  on the housing cover  420  to secure the top 420 to body  422  in a locked and closed position and to retain the plurality of batteries  340  (three in the embodiment shown, although other numbers of batteries are contemplated) within the housing  422  of the power supply  400 . A sealing ring or gasket may be provided between the cover  420  and the housing  422  to prevent entry of moisture or environmental contamination. 
     As best seen in  FIG. 23 , a plurality of batteries (preferably 2, 3, or 4) are received within the housing  422 . Although a three-battery embodiment is shown in the depicted embodiment, other numbers of batteries are contemplated. The electrical contacts  404  on the mounting shoe receiver  406  are electrically coupled to a device to be operated. The contacts are located on a board  425  and secured in an opening  427  in the housing  422  via a bezel  429 . The housing additionally encloses the circuitry including a flexible circuit  419  on a flexible substrate to electrically couple the battery terminals t 5   o  the contacts  404  in a desired circuit configuration and as described in greater detail in the aforementioned U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 61/332,225, Advantageously, the device to be powered may be an optical device, such as, a monocular or binoculars, a monocular or binocular night vision goggle device, eNVG devices, helmet mounted display screens, head-up displays or any other helmet mounted optical, electro-optical, and/or viewing devices, attached to a helmet mounting system. It will be understood, however, that the power supply herein can be used to provide electrical power to all manner of electrical and electronic devices. 
     The invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments. Modifications and alterations will occur to others upon a reading and understanding of the preceding detailed description. Therefore, it is not desired to limit the invention to the specific examples disclosed or the exact construction and operation shown and described. Rather, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.