Abstract:
A helmet mount for attaching a viewing device to a helmet includes a helmet interface assembly removably attachable to the helmet. A pivot arm is attached to the helmet interface assembly and is pivotal about a horizontal, transverse axis. A carriage member is carried on the pivot arm and slidable between the distal end and the proximal end of the pivot arm. The carriage member includes a bridge member integral therewith, the bridge member including a first fastener configured to removably attach a first viewing device and a second fastener configured to attach a second viewing device.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
       [0001]    The present disclosure relates to an improved helmet mounting system for mounting a viewing device to headgear such as a tactical or military field helmet, and specifically, a mount with an integral binocular bridge attachment for same, which replaces the conventional dovetail shoe interface commonly found on existing helmet mounting systems. The integral bridge unit herein provides multiple options for monocular or binocular viewing devices and multiple flip options for moving an attached viewing device between a viewing position when the device is in use and a flipped or stowed position out of the user&#39;s line of sight when the viewing device is not in use. The integral bridge unit may be adapted to removably attach one or two viewing devices. The attached devices may be the same or different type of device and/or of the same viewing/imaging modality. The integral bridge herein may be adapted for use with any type of optical, opto-electronic, or electronic viewing device, including without limitation, night vision devices that enable viewing under nighttime or other low light conditions, such as a passive night vision goggle (NVG) device or enhanced night vision goggle (ENVG) device, thermal imaging device, short wave infra-red (SWIR) device, camera, head mounted display screen, and so forth. In a further aspect, the bridge system herein may include a plurality of side attachment members, each of which are adapted for a particular viewing device and which are removably and interchangeable attachable to the integral bridge member. 
       SUMMARY  
       [0002]    A helmet mount for attaching a viewing device to a helmet includes a helmet interface assembly removably attachable to the helmet. A pivot arm is attached to the helmet interface assembly and is pivotal about a horizontal, transverse axis. A carriage member is carried on the pivot arm and slidable between the distal end and the proximal end of the pivot arm. The carriage member includes a bridge member integral therewith, the bridge member including a first fastener configured to removably attach a first viewing device and a second fastener configured to attach a second viewing device. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0003]    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. 
           [0004]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a helmet mount with integral binocular bridge according to a first exemplary embodiment. 
           [0005]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the helmet mount appearing in  FIG. 1 , with the carriage arm in the deployed position. 
           [0006]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the helmet mount appearing in  FIG. 1 , with the carriage arm moved to the stowed position. 
           [0007]      FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the integral sliding carriage/binocular bridge member. 
           [0008]      FIG. 5  is an isometric view of the helmet mount appearing in  FIG. 1  with left and right viewing devices attached and in the deployed position. 
           [0009]      FIG. 6  is a partially exploded view of the helmet mounting system appearing in  FIG. 1  with the left and right viewing devices detached. 
           [0010]      FIG. 7  is an isometric view of the helmet mount appearing in  FIG. 1  with left and right viewing devices attached and in a first stowed position. 
           [0011]      FIG. 8  is an isometric view of the helmet mount appearing in  FIG. 1  with left and right viewing devices attached and in a second stowed position. 
           [0012]      FIG. 9  is an isometric view of the helmet mount appearing in  FIG. 1  with a pair of OASYS Technology SkeetIR thermal imaging monoculars attached. 
           [0013]      FIG. 10  is an isometric view of the helmet mount appearing in  FIG. 1  with a pair of MUM-14B passive night vision monoculars. 
           [0014]      FIG. 11  is an isometric view of a helmet mount with integral binocular bridge according to a second exemplary embodiment. 
           [0015]      FIG. 12  is a partially exploded view taken generally from the bottom of the helmet mount appearing in  FIG. 11  and a right side mounting member. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0016]    Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like or analogous components throughout the several views,  FIGS. 1-8  depict an exemplary helmet mount  100  having an integral binocular bridge  110 . The helmet mount  100  is attached to a helmet  112  to position optical devices  230 , which may be MINI N/SEAS night vision monoculars in  FIGS. 4-7  before the left and right eyes of a user. It will be recognized that the present binocular bridge may be used with all manner of viewing devices, wherein the left and right devices may be the same or different. The helmet mounting system  100  may include as helmet interface assembly  116  for attachment to a mounting bracket  114  or other helmet interface, a vertical adjustment mechanism, tilt axis adjustment mechanism, and breakaway/nonbreakaway features, and so forth, as described in commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 7,219,370 or U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2013/0083391, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The sliding carriage with integral binocular bridge is shown and described herein with a preferred pivoting helmet mount  100 . It will be recognized that the present development can be adapted for use with other helmet mounts including without limitation alternative helmet mounts available from Wilcox Industries Corp. of Newington, N.H. 
         [0017]    The helmet mount  100  attached to a bracket  114  attached to the front portion of the helmet  112 . A first pivoting segment  116  is removably attached to the bracket  114  and may include a vertical adjustment mechanism  115  for positioning the devices  230  at a desired height, a breakaway mechanism  113  e.g., in which the segment  116  (or a portion thereof) will release upon application of a predetermined force, a tilt adjustment mechanism  119  for adjusting the angle of the optical axis of the viewing devices  230 , and so forth. 
         [0018]    In the illustrated embodiment, the helmet mount  100  includes an upper locking tab  111  and a lower locking tab  121 , which engage complimentary grooves (not shown) on the bracket  114 . The helmet mount  100  may also include a breakaway selector  113  which can be moved between breakaway and nonbreakaway positions. A slider bar  156  is mechanically linked to the lower tab  121  and slidable to allow the user to selectively attach and remove the helmet mount  100  to and from the bracket  114 . When the selector  113  is moved to the breakaway position, the lower tab  121  is movable (e.g., against a biasing spring) wherein the beveled edge enables the lower tab to move upward and disengage from the groove upon the application of a sufficient force. When the selector  113  is in the nonbreakaway position, the tab  121  is rigidly retained within the corresponding groove. The breakaway setting is advantageous in that it may prevent injury to the wearer, e.g., in the event of entanglement or impact of the optical device. 
         [0019]    A second pivoting segment  118  is pivotally attached to the first pivoting segment  116  about a pivot axis or cylinder  117 . The second segment  118  extends horizontally when in the deployed position (see, e.g.,  FIGS. 1 and 2 ). The second segment  118  includes carriage rails  127  and  129  and a sliding carriage member  120  with integral binocular bridge  110 . The sliding carriage member  120  is slidable on the rails  127 ,  129  which provides a fore-and-aft adjustment mechanism for positioning the devices  230  at a desired distance or focal position in front of the user&#39;s eyes. Pivoting movement of the second segment  118  relative to the first segment  116  allows a wearer to selectively move the viewing devices between the deployed position as shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  5 , to a first stowed position wherein the viewing devices are pivoted up and out of the user&#39;s line of sight, as shown in  FIG. 7 . In preferred embodiments, further pivoting movement on the vision device interface as described below allows the vision devices  230  to be pivoted to a second stowed position, as shown in  FIG. 8 , wherein the devices  230  are moved back and over the helmet, thereby reducing torque and strain on the user&#39;s neck. 
         [0020]    As best seen in  FIG. 4 , the bridge unit  110  comprises a slide portion  123  which slidably engages the rail members  127 ,  129 . A center section  124  attached to or integral with the slide  123  includes a left and right grooves or channels  125  which are shaped or keyed to provide a stable contacting surface for providing stability and preventing wobbling of an attached viewing device  230 . The center section  124  includes an opening  135  on each side for receiving a threaded fastener  154  for securing the viewing devices  230 . 
         [0021]    The pivoting assembly  118  includes the first and second parallel arms  127 ,  129 . The first arm  127  is received within a channel  131  formed in the slide portion  123 . The second arm  129  is received within channel  133  in the slide  123  and includes a gear rack portion  137  having a plurality of spaced apart teeth  147  on an inward facing edge thereof. 
         [0022]    A slide lock member  149  includes an actuator portion  151  disposed so as to be manually actuatable by the user and locking teeth  153  engaging the gear rack  137 . One or more captured springs  155  bear against the actuator portion  151 , urging the locking teeth  153  into engagement with the gear rack  137  to secure the bridge unit  110  at a desired position on the rail  118 . The springs  155  may be coil springs or other type of spring or resilient member. 
         [0023]    In operation, to adjust the fore and aft position of the bridge member  110 , the actuator portion  151  is manually depressed by the user, against the bias of the springs  155 , to move the locking teeth  153  out of engagement with the gear rack  137  to allow the slide  123  to be moved to a desired position along the rail  118 . A cover plate  157  is secured to the slide portion  123  via fasteners  159 , such as threaded fasteners. 
         [0024]    Left and right side sections  126  are removably attachable to the center section  124  on opposite transverse sides and are generally arranged as mirror images of each other. The left and right side sections  126  are also removably attachable to the viewing devices  230  to provide an interface between the viewing device and the bridge member  110 . The sections  126  are secured to the center section via the threaded member  154  which rotatably engages the corresponding left or right opening  135  in the center section  124 . The threaded member  154  includes an enlarged diameter wheel  150  which is received within an opening  152  in the side section  126  to allow the user to manually rotate the threaded member  154 . Rotating the wheel  150  allows the side section  126  to selectively be removed from and secured to the center section  124  via fastener  135 . 
         [0025]    Each side section  126  includes a hinged mounting arm  138  hingedly attached to a viewing device mount  220  about a pivot or hinge  134 . The mounts  220  are configured to removably attach to a mounting shoe on the viewing device, such as a dovetail mounting shoe as are known in the art. 
         [0026]    Referring now to  FIGS. 11 and 12 , there appears an alternative embodiment helmet mounting system  100   a  operable to provide electrical power from an external power supply  161  to an electrically operated viewing device (e.g.,  230 ) to provide greater operation time and ready replacement of the power supply. The system  100   a  includes an electrical connector  310  which may removably connect with a mating connector (not shown) electrically coupled to the power supply  161 . For example, the connector  310  may connect to a mating connector on the helmet  112 , which may be coupled to a remote power supply, such as a power supply attached to another location on the helmet  112  or otherwise worn or carried by the user. 
         [0027]    The connector  310  is attached to a cable  311  with electrical conductors, which are electrically coupled to electrical contacts  312  in a binocular bridge member  110   a  integral with a sliding carriage  120   a.  The contacts  312  engage contacts  314  in an attached side member  126   a.  The contacts  314  may be spring biased to bear against the contacts  312 . The contacts  314 , in turn, are electrically coupled to electrical contacts  316  in the device mount portion  220   a  of the side member  126   a.  The contacts  316  engage aligned electrical contacts (not shown) on the viewing device mounting shoe to power the viewing device. 
         [0028]    Referring again to  FIGS. 1-8 , in the illustrated embodiment, the side sections  126  may be as shown and described in the above-incorporated U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2013/0083391 and may have the lateral adjustment and pivoting features as described therein. In 2013/0083391, lateral spacing, e.g., for pupillary alignment is accomplished by rotation, and is advantageous for optical viewing devices or night vision devices employing photomultiplier tubes. 
         [0029]    Referring to  FIG. 9 , in alternative embodiments, the side sections (see, e.g., side sections  126   b  in  FIG. 9 ) may be as described in commonly owned U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/819,199 filed May 3, 2013, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. The bridge side attachment sections in the aforementioned application No. 61/819,199 includes linear pupillary/transverse adjustment (see, e.g., side sections  163  in  FIG. 9 ) and are therefore particularly advantageous for use in connection with viewing devices such as a thermal imaging device  240  or other viewing device employing a display screen. 
         [0030]    Referring again to  FIGS. 1-8 , outward pivoting of each of the left and right side sections  126  about the pivot hinge  134  allows each of the attached viewing devices  230  to be moved to a non-viewing position when not in use (see  FIG. 8 ). One or both of the devices  230  can be pivoted independently of the other. This allows the user to move one or both of the viewing devices  230  up and out of the user&#39;s line of sight without the need to pivot the second segment  118  of the helmet mount  100  to the stowed position. If the user intends to stow the viewing devices for a longer period, the second segment  118  can be additionally pivoted to the stowed position to move the device further back toward the user&#39;s center of mass in order to reduce neck strain and fatigue, as shown in  FIG. 8 . 
         [0031]    Unlike some of the prior art helmet mounts, which are adapted for use with a particular model viewing device, the present development provides a universal bridge as an integral component, which allows the helmet mount  100  to function as a universal helmet mount, which can be adapted for binocular viewing with all manner of monocular viewing devices. In certain embodiments, the present development is directed to a modular system, wherein a plurality of side sections may be interchanged to provide a desired binocular system. 
         [0032]    For example,  FIGS. 6-8  illustrate a binocular system employing two MINI N/SEAS night vision monoculars. Systems employing other passive or enhanced night vision devices are also contemplated. 
         [0033]      FIG. 9  shows an alternative system wherein device interface members  126   b  are adapted for use with thermal camera systems  240 , such as the OASYS Technology SkeetIR thermal imaging monoculars. The interface members  126   b  may be as described in the above-incorporated Application No. 61/819,199. 
         [0034]      FIG. 10  shows yet another alternative embodiment wherein device interface members  126   c  are adapted for use with MUM 14-B night vision monoculars  250 . Other viewing systems include the AN/PVS-14 night vision system, visible wavelength imaging systems, and others. 
         [0035]    Although the illustrated embodiments illustrate binocular systems wherein the same type of viewing device is provided for each eye, it will be recognized that the left and right side viewing devices may be attached independently such that each eye may view devices of different types and/or imaging modalities. 
         [0036]    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. It is intended that the invention be construed as including all such modifications and alterations.