Abstract:
An attachment system for attaching a mandible to a helmet. The system comprises a pair of attachment bases for holding a face shield to the helmet and for attaching to opposite sides of the helmet. The attachment bases each include a base plate covered by a body block. The base plate includes hooks for engaging an edge of the helmet. A strap assembly provides a pair of tightening straps, each engaging one attachment base. The tightening straps extend rearward and are connected together by a helmet band that extends over and around a portion of the helmet. The tightening straps each include a ratchet toothed strap body for adjusting a tension of the straps against the helmet.

Description:
[0001]    This application is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 12/202,212 filed Aug. 29, 2008 which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Nos. 60/966,645, filed Aug. 29, 2007 and 60/966,817, filed Aug. 30, 2007. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to attachment systems for use with helmets, and particularly for impact resistant face shields for use in military helmets and in law-enforcement helmets. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Face shields for use in military and a enforcement helmets are known such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,901,369 and 4,536,892. These face shields provide pivot arrangements on opposite lateral sides of the face shield to allow the face shield to be pivoted upward away from the user&#39;s face when the face shield is not deployed. The face shield is held in a deployed position in front of the user&#39;s face by locking of the pivot arrangements. 
         [0004]    Also, face shields are used with industrial safety helmets, motorcycle helmets, winter sport helmets and auto racing helmets. 
         [0005]    The present inventors have recognized that it would be desirable to provide a helmet attachment system for attaching a face shield that was compatible with different style helmets with minimum reconfiguration required. 
         [0006]    Furthermore, the present inventors have recognized that it would be desirable to provide an attachment system that was usable to attach other devices. 
         [0007]    The present inventors have also recognized that it would be desirable to provide an attachment system that was quickly and easily installed onto or removed from a helmet. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The invention provides a helmet attachment system for attaching a face shield that is compatible with different style helmets with a minimum reconfiguration required. The present invention provides a helmet attachment system that is usable to attach other devices in addition to the face shield. The present invention provides an attachment system that is quickly and easily installed onto or removed from a helmet. 
         [0009]    The helmet attachment system of the present invention comprises a pair of attachment bases, each arranged on a side of the helmet near to an ear covering of the helmet. The attachment bases each include a metal base plate covered by an attached body block. Each attachment base provides provisions for attaching devices to the attachment base, such as a mandible, a camera and/or a flashlight. The metal base plate includes hooks for enganging an edge of the helmet. A strap assembly provides a pair of tightening straps, each engaging one attachment base. The tightening straps extend rearward and are connected together by a helmet band that extends over and around the back of the helmet. 
         [0010]    The tightening straps each include a ratchet toothed strap body that is connected to the helmet band by a latch mechanism wherein a selected tooth along a length of the toothed body can be engaged by the latching mechanism. The tightening straps are each connected to an attachment base by a strap tension locking mechanism that has an unlocked position having an extended length and a folded, locked position having a reduced length to exert tension on the tightening straps. 
         [0011]    The body block of the attachment base can be fastened to either of two metal base plates that are each specifically configured to be compatible with the contours of a specific military helmet. In this way the body block of the attachment base can be a universal part, 
         [0012]    The attachment bases and the face shield provide an effective, cost efficient manner of holding the faced shield in either the downward tilted, deployed position or the upwardly tilted, non-use position. The face shield has two recesses located near to the pivot axis of the face shield, rotationally spaced apart and corresponding to the two rotational positions of the face shield, the downward tilted, deployed position or the upwardly tilted, non-use position. The attachment base includes a resilient detest that fits into the selected recess and holds the rotational position of the face shield, but can be moved into and out of the selected recess to change the rotational position of the, face shield by a firm pivoting force on the face shield by the user. 
         [0013]    Numerous other advantages and features of the presentation will be become readily apparent from the following detailed description of the invention and the embodiments thereof, and from the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a helmet outfitted with the attachment system of the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged, fragmentary, perspective view of the helmet outfitted with the attachment system shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a front perspective view of the a helmet and mandible outfitted with the attachment system of the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged fragmentary side view of the helmet and mandible outfitted with the attachment system taken from  FIG. 3  shown with the face shield tilted up; 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged fragmentary side view of the helmet and mandible outfitted with the attachment system taken from  FIG. 3  shown with the face shield tilted dow; 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged perspective view of one attachment base taken from  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  is an enlarged fragmentary outside side view of the attachment base mounted to the helmet taken from  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 8  is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view taken from  FIG. 3  with the attachment base removed to view obscured parts; 
           [0022]      FIG. 9  is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view taken from  FIG. 3  with a strap removed to view obscured parts; 
           [0023]      FIG. 10  is an enlarged fragmentary inside perspective view of the helmet and mandible with the attachment system of the invention taken from  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 11  is an enlarged fragmentary top perspective view taken from  FIG. 7  with the face shied removed to reveal obscured parts; 
           [0025]      FIG. 12  is an enlarged fragmentary side view of the attachment system of the invention taken from  FIG. 3  showing the attachment system unlocked; 
           [0026]      FIG. 13  is a helmet-side view of the attachment base; 
           [0027]      FIG. 14  is a helmet-side view of the body block of the attachment base, with a metal base plate and metal hardware removed; 
           [0028]      FIG. 15  is a helmet side view of the metal base plate and metal hardware of the attachment base with the body block removed; 
           [0029]      FIG. 16  is a outside side view of the metal base plate and metal hardware of the attachment base with the body block removed; 
           [0030]      FIG. 17  is a helmet-side view of an alternate attachment base using a different base plate; 
           [0031]      FIG. 18  is an enlarged fragmentary inside perspective, view of a helmet with the attachment system of the invention taken from  FIG. 17 ; 
           [0032]      FIG. 19  is an enlarged fragmentary rear perspective view of a portion of the helmet outfitted with the attachment system of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0033]      FIG. 20  is a right side perspective view of an alternate helmet attachment system of the invention; 
           [0034]      FIG. 21  is a right side perspective view of the alternate helmet attachment system of  FIG. 20  with a visor removed to view underlying parts; 
           [0035]      FIG. 22  is a right side perspective view of the alternate helmet attachment system of  FIG. 21  with a portion removed to view parts; 
           [0036]      FIG. 23  is a right side perspective view of a further alternate helmet attachment system with a portion removed to view underlying parts; 
           [0037]      FIG. 24  is a right side perspective view of the alternate helmet attachment system of  FIG. 23  with portions removed to view underlying parts; 
           [0038]      FIG. 25  is a right side perspective view all the farther alternate helmet attachment system of  FIG. 24  with portions removed to view underlying parts; 
           [0039]      FIG. 26  is a perspective view of a portion of the alternate and further alternate helmet attachment systems of  FIGS. 20 and 23 ; 
           [0040]      FIG. 27  is a sectional view taken generally along line  27 - 27  of  FIG. 22  and  FIG. 23 ; 
           [0041]      FIG. 28  is a right side perspective view of a portion of the alternate helmet attachment system of either  FIG. 20  or  FIG. 23 ; 
           [0042]      FIG. 29  is a left side perspective view of the portion shown in  FIG. 28 ; 
           [0043]      FIG. 30  is a perspective view of attachment portions shown in  FIGS. 22 and 23 ; 
           [0044]      FIG. 31  is a top view of an attachment portion with other portions removed for viewing underlying parts; 
           [0045]      FIG. 32  is a perspective view of the attachment portion shown in  FIG. 31 ; 
           [0046]      FIG. 33  is a right side perspective view of the attachment portion shown in  FIG. 32  with a portion removed to view underlying parts; 
           [0047]      FIG. 34  is a right side perspective view of the attachment portion shown  FIG. 33  with a portion removed to view underlying parts; and 
           [0048]      FIG. 35  is a front view of the attachment portion shown  FIG. 34  with a portion removed to view underlying parts. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [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]      FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate an attachment system  30  according to the present invention mounted to a military helmet  32 . The attachment system includes left and right attachment bases (left and right Orientations mentioned herein are according to the helmet wearer&#39;s perspective). For simplicity, only the left attachment base  40  is shown with the understanding that the right attachment base would be mirror image identical across a vertical center plane through the helmet between the wearer&#39;s eyes. 
         [0051]    A face shield  44  can be pivotally mounted to the left (and right) attachment base  40  to be movable between a deployed, tilted down position shown in  FIG. 1  or a tilted up position indicated as  44   a . The face shield can be made of polycarbonate or urethane or other transparent material. For military use particularly, it should be ballistic impact resistant. It can be of a laminated construction and can feature a variable light transmission system. Such a variable light transmission system can incorporate an electronic control system to vary the light transmission according to the ambient light conditions. For firefighting applications the face shield should be of a heat resistant material. 
         [0052]    The attachment base  40  engages the helmet as described below and s drawn rearward by a strap system  50 . Only the left side of the strap system  50  is shown in  FIG. 1  but it is to be understood that the right side would be mirror image identical across a vertical center plane through the helmet between the wearer&#39;s eyes. The strap system includes an oval-shaped helmet band  54  that braces against a rear surface of the helmet  32 . The oval-shaped helmet band provides reduced slipping of the band on the helmet and greater stability of the attachment bases. The strap system includes left and right tightening straps. Only the left tightening strap  56  is shown with the understanding that the tight tightening strap would be mirror image identical across a vertical center plane through the helmet between the wearer&#39;s eyes. Left and right strap-engaging clasps are mounted on opposite ends of the band  54 . Only the left strap-engaging clasp  62  is shown with the understanding that the right strap-engaging clasp would be mirror image identical across a vertical center plane through the helmet between the wearer&#39;s eyes. 
         [0053]    The left strap-engaging clasp  62  includes a pivotal latch  64  ( FIG. 1 ) and a base  66  ( FIG. 2 ). The latch  64  is removed in  FIG. 2  to reveal the base  66 . The strap  56  includes an elongated strap body  67  having ratchet angled teeth  68 . In operation, the latch  64  is pivoted away from the base  66  and the strap body  67  is inserted between the latch  64  and the base  66  to a selected extent. The latch is released and it engages a ratchet tooth  68  to fix the strap body  67  in positioning within the clasp  62 . The left strap-engaging clasp  62  is not described in great detail herein with the understanding that clasps of this nature are well known and in wide use to engage ski boot tightening straps and snowboard boot binding straps. The clasp can be a manual clasp or can have a ratchet lever to pull the strap body through the clasp  62  to exert a tightening force on the strap body  67 . U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,416,952; 5,887,318; 3,662,435; 5,909,850; 4,667,424; 5,606,779; 6,175,994; 5,606,779; and 5,779,259 all describe various toothed straps and clasps, and they are all herein incorporated lay reference. 
         [0054]      FIG. 3  illustrates a mandible or mouth guard  70  that is attached to the helmet  32  and fits in close conformity to the attachment bases. Only the fit to the left attachment base  40  is shown with the understanding that the fit to the right attachment base would be mirror image identical across a vertical center plane through the helmet between the wearer&#39;s eyes. 
         [0055]    For military applications particularly, the mandible should be ballistic impact resistant. The mandible could advantageously be used for motorcycle helmet, winter sport or auto racing applications. The mandible should have a high mass impact resistance. 
         [0056]    The attachment base  40  includes three pair of attachment holes  74   a ,  74   b ;  76   a ,  76   b ; and  78   a ,  78   b . These attachment holes are for the attachment of auxiliary equipment to the helmet such as a flashlight, camera or other tools or devices, or to attach a PICATINY rail to adapt standard component attachments such as for a flashlight or camera. The attachment holes can be used to attach the mandible  70  to the attachment base  40  to mount the mandible  70  to the helmet  32 . The holes  74   a ,  74   b ;  76   a ,  76   b ; and  78   a ,  78   b  can be plain or threaded. 
         [0057]      FIGS. 4-9  Illustrate the strap  56  includes a strap tension lock  86 . The tension lock  86  includes an H-shaped base  88  that is pivotally connected to a strap head  92  by pin  94 . The base is pivotally connected to the attachment base  40  by two pins  102 ,  104 . The strap head is connected to, or formed with a toothed strap body  67 . The toothed strap body  67  is selectively engaged along its length by the clasp  62 . The base  88  and the strap head  92  can be folded together as shown in  FIG. 8  to have the shortest overall combined length, or pivot away from each other as shown in  FIG. 12 , to assume the greatest overall length and, in effect, release the attachment base from tension. 
         [0058]    When the base  88  and the strap head  92  are in the folded position, the tension lock  86  fits within a recess  112  in the attachment base  40 . The attachment base  40  includes a latch or tang  120  that extends outwardly through an opening in the strap head  92  to hold the strap head  92  onto the base  88  to retain the base  88  and the strap head  92  in the folded condition to prevent the attachment base  40  from inadvertently loosening and releasing the attachment base. 
         [0059]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 6 ,  10 ,  11  and  13 - 16 , the attachment base comprises a base plate  130  and an overlying body block  132 . The base plate  130  is preferably a metal part, such as composed of hot roll, satin coat steel,  16  gauge. The body block  132  is preferably a plastic or polymer part such as nylon which can be the material ZYTEL ST801, black, available from E. I. duPont de Nemours &amp; Co., Wilmington, Del. US. 
         [0060]    The base plate  130  includes hooks  134 ,  136 ,  138  that engage a lower front edge  139  of the helmet  32 . The base plate  130  also includes two threaded bosses  142 ,  144  that fit into countersunk holes  142   a ,  144   a  ( FIG. 14 ) through the body block  132  and receive screws  146 ,  148  that fasten the base plate  130  to the body block  132 . A plurality of metal sleeves  152  are provided, each one fitting into one of the holes  74   a ,  74   b ;  76   a ,  76   b ; and  78   a ,  78   b  to reinforce the holes and/or to provide threads if needed. The sleeves  152  can be insert molded or overmolded with the body block  132 . 
         [0061]    The base plate  130  can be fitted with elastomeric or rubber bumpers or pads  153   a ,  153   b  ( FIGS. 15 and 16 ) that can be adhesively secured to the base plate or resiliently pressed into and captured by holes into the base plate as shown. The pads  153   a ,  153   b  ensure a stable contact point on the helmet. 
         [0062]    The body block  132  provides a recess or mount  162  that receives a side connecting portion  166  of the face shield  44 . The body block has a groove  174  that receives a lower side edge  176  of the face shield  44  when the face shield is tilted down to a deployed position. The face shield  44  includes a connection hole  182  at each side for connection to the attachment base  40 . A hand-turned screw  184  that penetrates the hole  182  and a spring washer  185 , on each side of the shield, attaches the face shield to a mounting anchor  188  that is connected to the body block  132 . The mounting anchor  188  can include a threaded boss  190  fit within a hole  189  ( FIG. 6 ) in the body block  132  to receive the hand-turned screw  184 . The mounting anchor  188  can be fastened to, captured by, or insert molded with the body block  132 . 
         [0063]    The face shield  44  can include two recesses  196 ,  198  that engage a detent  202  ( FIGS. 6 and 11 ) formed into the recess  162 . The detent  202  is resilient to allow the detent  202  to enter or escape each recess  196 ,  198  with a firm force to raise or lower the face shield. Thus, the face shield is held in a selected position by the corresponding recess  196 ,  198 : in the elevated position by the recess  196 , or the lowered position by the recess  198 . 
         [0064]    Another advantage of the attachment system is the flexibility to adapt the attachment base  40  fit onto different helmets.  FIGS. 17 and 18  illustrate a modified attachment base  240  comprising the body block  132  and a metal base plate  244 , different than the metal base plate  130  shown in the previous embodiment. The base plate  244  is of a different shape and has hooks  250 ,  252 ,  254  arranged to clasp a different helmet than the helmet  32  shown in  FIG. 1 . The base plate  244  fastens to the same body block  132  using screws  146 ,  148  into bosses  142 ,  144  formed on the base plate  244 . In this way the body block  132  can be a universal part for both style helmets. 
         [0065]      FIG. 19  illustrates a further aspect of the invention. A signal element  260  such as an infrared (IR) light designator (emitter) can be carried by the attachment base  40  or  240 . The signal element  260  in the form of an IR light designator is mounted within an opening  266  in a rearward facing surface  268  of the attachment base  40  or  240 . The opening can have a cone-like surface  270  with a wide end at the surface  268  to increase the dispersion of the IR signal. More than one signal element  260  can be applied to the attachment base to increase the flexibility or variance of the signal desired to be present on the attachment base. In the case of military use the signal designators can be used to identify the helmet wearer as friend or foe. Where the signal indicator is an IR designator, since it is emitting IR signals, it will be seen at night by other soldiers in the back of the helmet wearer, when the other soldiers wear night vision goggles. 
         [0066]    The attachment system  30  can also includes a top edge stop fixture between the helmet and the face shield, or a gasket that extends between the attachment bases, the details of which are disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/811,361, filed Jun. 9, 2007, herein incorporated by reference. Either embodiment resists movement of the face shield in an up and down direction and the gasket also prevents any inflammable liquid from flowing into the helmet. The face shield  44  can also have the thickness profile and properties of the face shield described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/811,361, filed Jun. 9, 2007, herein incorporated by reference. 
         [0067]      FIGS. 20-21  illustrate an alternate attachment system  300  according to the present invention mounted to a military helmet  32 . The attachment system includes left and right attachment bases (left and right orientations mentioned herein are according to the helmet wearer&#39;s perspective). For simplicity, only the left attachment base  340  is shown with the understanding that the right attachment base would be mirror image identical across a vertical center plane through the helmet between the wearer&#39;s eves. The attachment base  340  is identical to the above described base  40  except as differentiated herein. 
         [0068]    The face shield or visor  44 , as described above, can be pivotally mounted to the left (and right) attachment base  340  to be movable between a deployed, tilted down position shown in  FIG. 20  or a tilted up position such as shown in  FIG. 1  (indicated as  44   a ). 
         [0069]    The attachment base  340  engages the helmet as described below and is drawn rearward by the strap system  50  as described above. 
         [0070]      FIG. 21  illustrates a mandible or mouth guard  70  that is attached to the helmet  32  via the attachment bases  340  bases and fits in close conformity to the attachment bases. Only the fit to the left attachment base  340  is shown with the understanding that the fit to the right attachment base would be mirror image identical across a vertical center plane through the helmet between the wearer&#39;s eyes. 
         [0071]    The attachment base  340  includes various attachment holes  352 ,  354 ,  356 ,  358 ,  360 ,  362 ,  364 . The attachment holes  352 ,  354  are arranged for receiving fasteners to attach the mandible to the base  340  via holes  370   a ,  370   b  in a mandible bracket  370 . The hole  356  is arranged to receive a fastener via hole  370   c  in the mandible bracket  370 . The mandible bracket includes a perforated base  370   d  that can be overmolded by the resin of the mandible to fix the bracket  370  to the mandible. The attachment holes  356  and  358  also secure the base plate  430 , identical in configuration and function to the prior described base plate  130  except as distinguished herein, to a back side of a body block  432  of the attachment base  340 . The base plate  430  has material removed therefrom to reduce weight. The body block  432  is identical to the body block  132  except as distinguished herein. For clarity, the body block is removed in  FIGS. 22 ,  23 ,  24  and  25  to view underlying parts. 
         [0072]      FIG. 23  illustrates a further alternate embodiment identical to the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 20-22  except wherein the mandible  70  is replaced by an alternate mandible arrangement  470  that includes a rigid material mandible frame  472  and a ballistic resistant fabric  474  which hangs from the mandible frame  472 . The mandible frame  472  has material removed forming openings  475  to reduce weight. The fabric  474  is attached to an inside of the frame  472  such as by adhesive securement to, or overmolding of the frame on the fabric. The fabric covers these openings on the inside of the frame  472 , and hangs beneath the frame  472  to protect the neck area of the wearer. 
         [0073]      FIGS. 24-27  illustrate the gasket  500  and its attachment of the invention. The gasket  500  includes a somewhat rigid frame  502  that mounts to the helmet brim or rim  504  via the attachment bases  340 . The frame includes a flexible lip  506  that seals against the helmet  32 . A “D” shaped seal element  510  is adhesively secured to the frame  502 . The seal element  510  seals against the shield or visor  44 . The frame  502  includes a pair of mounting holes  502   a ,  502   b  at each end to secure the frame  502  to each attachment base  340  via the holes  360 ,  362 . 
         [0074]    As with the prior attachment base  40 , the attachment base  340  includes a plurality of metal sleeves, each uric fitting into one of the attachment holes to reinforce the holes and/or to provide threads if needed. The sleeves can be insert molded or overmolded with the body block  432 . 
         [0075]      FIGS. 28-35  illustrate an alternate mechanism to pivotally secure the visor  44  to the attachment bases  340 . The mechanism includes a base spindle  550  that has a base ring  552  with extending hook elements  554 . A clamp ring  560  includes a countersunk hole that receives the hook elements  554  and is engaged thereby to the base spindle  550 . The base spindle  550  and the clamp ring  560  are locked together such that they cannot separate or relatively rotate. The hook elements pass through a hole  566  in the visor  44  and the visor is captured between the base spindle  550  and the clamp ring  560 . The base ring  552  and the clamp ring  560  each have a circular groove each of which faces the visor  44  and holds an elastomeric o-ring  552   a ,  560   a . A screw channel  570  is present through the clamp ring  560 , between the hook element  554  and through the base ring  552 . The base ring  552  also includes four spaced apart molding holes wherein the base ring  552  is molded with or overmolded to the block  432 . A metal threaded sleeve  574  is also molded into or otherwise integrated to the block  432  into the hole  364  ( FIG. 28 ). A screw  580  having a threaded shank  582  and an enlarged head  586  passes through the channel  570  and is threaded into the sleeve  574 . Tightening of the screw compresses the o-rings against the shield  44  and by friction allows the shield to be pivoted to a variety of angles, 
         [0076]    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. It is, of course, intended to cover by the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the scope of the claims.