Patent Publication Number: US-11382375-B2

Title: Modular shroud

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a 371 of International Application No. PCT/US2018/022218 filed on Mar. 13, 2018, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/470,716 filed Mar. 13, 2017 entitled “Modular Shroud”, each of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an accessory mounting device and, more particularly, to a modular shroud coupled to a helmet. 
     Helmets may be worn for protection in a variety of settings including recreational use such as rock climbing or used in industry such as by military, firefighter, construction, manufacturing, or police personnel. It is sometimes desirable to have an accessory mounted to the helmet such as a pair of night vision goggles (NVG), camera, face shield, light, battery, or mask. Traditional helmet systems do not offer many options for attaching an accessory to a helmet. Accessories attached with adhesive may become dislodged from the helmet. Accessories that are mounted with anchors such as screws may require holes to be drilled into the helmet which can detrimentally affect the structural integrity of the helmet and/or require tools to mount and detach the accessories which may be impractical in certain situations. 
     An improved shroud for attaching a variety of accessories is desired. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one embodiment, a modular shroud system may comprise a shroud configured to be coupled to a helmet and a plate configured to be detachably coupled to the shroud while the shroud is coupled to the helmet. The modular shroud system may include a coupling element configured to at least temporarily secure the plate to the shroud. The coupling element may comprise a threaded fastener configured to engage an opening in at least one of the plate and the shroud. The plate may be configured to be coupled to an accessory device. The plate may be one of a plurality of plates and the shroud may be configured to receive any of the plurality of plates. The plate may include a first engagement feature configured to be coupled to the accessory device. Another of the plurality of plates may include a second engagement feature and the second engagement feature may be different than the first engagement feature. The plate may be a universal mount plate and another of the plurality of plates may be a rail plate. The shroud may include a rail configured to overlap at least a portion of the plate when the plate may be coupled to the shroud. 
     The plate may include an engagement portion configured to engage the rail. The engagement portion may include at least one of a chamfer and a radius. The plate may include a tongue and the shroud may include a recess configured to receive the tongue. The shroud may include a shroud upper surface and the plate may include a plate upper surface configured to be co-planar with the shroud upper surface when the plate may be coupled to the shroud. The shroud may include a ledge configured to be adjacent a rear surface of the plate. The ledge may be discontinuous. 
     In a further embodiment, the modular shroud system may comprise an accessory device configured to be coupled to the plate. The accessory device may comprise at least one of night vision goggles, a camera, and a light. The shroud may include a groove configured to receive a leash coupled to an accessory device. In a further embodiment, the modular shroud system may include a leash coupled to an accessory device, wherein the leash may comprise a bungee. The shroud may include a sidewall defining a receiving area for the plate. The sidewall may include a chamfered corner. 
     In another embodiment a modular shroud system may include a shroud configured to be coupled to a helmet, a first plate, and a second plate. The first plate may include a recess configured to receive a portion of a shoe connected to an accessory device. The second plate may include a rail configured to couple to a shoe connected to an accessory device. Each of the first plate and the second plate may be configured to be detachably coupled to the shroud while the shroud is coupled to the helmet. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The following detailed description of embodiments of the modular shroud will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings of an exemplary embodiment. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. For example, although not expressly stated herein, features of one or more various disclosed embodiments may be incorporated into other of the disclosed embodiments. 
       In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a modular shroud system with an attached accessory device in a use position in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a front, perspective, exploded view of the modular shroud system of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a front elevational view of the modular shroud system of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a side, perspective, exploded view of the modular shroud system of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a top perspective, sectional view of the shroud of  FIG. 1  along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a side, perspective view of the modular shroud system of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a front elevational view of a modular shroud system in accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a front, side perspective view of the shroud of  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a front, bottom perspective view of the shroud of  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a front, side perspective view of the plate of  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a rear elevational view of the modular shroud system of  FIG. 7 ; and 
         FIG. 12  is a front, perspective view of the modular shroud system of  FIG. 7  coupled to a helmet. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein like reference numerals indicate like elements throughout, there is shown in  FIGS. 1-6  a modular shroud system, generally designated  30 , in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-2 , the modular shroud system  30  may be configured to selectively secure one or more accessory devices  34  to a helmet  32  quickly and easily without the use of tools. The modular shroud system  30  may be configured to allow a user to attach and detach an accessory device  34  from the helmet  32  while the helmet  32  is on the user&#39;s head. The accessory device  34  may be, for example but not limited to, a night vision goggle (NVG), binoculars, a light, a telescope, helmet mounted displays, visors, maxillofacial or mandible shields, thermal sight, and/or a camera. The modular shroud system  30  may include a shroud  36  configured to be attached to the helmet  32 . The shroud includes a plate  38  that is configured to releaseably couple to a corresponding feature of the accessory device  34 . The accessory device  34  may be moveable with respect to the shroud  36  while coupled to the shroud  36  between a stowed position and a use position. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-2 , the plate  38  may be detachably coupled to the shroud  36  while the shroud is coupled to the helmet  32 . The plate  38  may be attached and/or detached from a front facing surface of the shroud  36  (i.e., the direction that accessory devices mounts or detaches from the shroud  36 ). The plate  38  may be coupled to the shroud  36  by a fastener  48 . The fastener  48  may be a bolt, screw, dowel, snap fit, expanding anchor, or magnet. In one embodiment, the plate  38  includes a plate opening  50  configured to align with a pre-existing shroud opening  52 . There are two shroud openings  52  shown in  FIG. 2 , one in each lower corner of the shroud  36 , however, any number of shroud openings could be implemented (e.g. one in each corner). The shroud opening  52  may be threaded to receive a threaded bolt or screw. The plate  38  may be one of a plurality of plates configured for mounting different accessory devices  34  and the shroud  36  may be configured to interchangeably receive any of the plurality of plates while the shroud  36  is coupled to the helmet  32 . The plurality of plates may include a first plate  40  and a second plate  42 . The first plate  40  may include a first engagement feature  44  and the second plate  42  may include a second engagement feature  46 . The first engagement feature  44  may be different than the second engagement feature  46 . The first engagement feature  44  and/or the second engagement feature  46  may be selected from a rail, a slot, a track, a bar, and a protuberance. At least one of the first plate  40  and the second plate  42  may be a universal square plate, as described in greater detail below. The other of the first plate  40  and the second plate  42  may be a rail plate. The rail plate may include a rail  49  that extends above a surface of the plate  38 . The rail  49  may engage a groove in a shoe coupled to the accessory device. The rail  49  may include openings  51  configured to receive a fastener (e.g., a threaded connector such as a bolt or screw) to couple the shoe on the accessory device to the rail  49 . 
     In some embodiments, the different accessory devices  34  are configured to engage a plate having differing engagement features and a detachable plate  38  allows such different accessory devices to be coupled to the helmet  32  without detaching the shroud  36  from the helmet. The shroud  36  may be configured to be positioned on a front portion of the helmet  32 . The accessory device  34  may be positioned in front of a user&#39;s face or eyes in the use position. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3-6 , the shroud  36  may include a body  54 . The shroud  36  may include a crown  56 , a first wing  58 , and a second wing  60  coupled to the body  54 . The first wing  58  and the second wing  60  may be on opposing sides of the shroud  36 . In one embodiment, each of the crown  56 , first wing  58 , and second wing  60  include an aperture  62  configured to receive a fastener  47  (see  FIG. 1 ). The fastener  47  may be a screw, bolt, rivet, nail, weld, or heat stake. The fastener  47  may be coupled to the helmet  32  using existing bolt holes. The aperture  62  may be threaded to receive a threaded fastener. The apertures  62  may be arranged to follow a bolt pattern on the helmet  32 . In other embodiments, the shroud  36  may be permanently affixed to the helmet  34  and the plate  38  may be detachably coupled to the permanently affixed shroud. In still other embodiments, the shroud  36  and the helmet  32  may be a unitary construct. A first side  64  of the shroud  36  may be defined by a radius of curvature (best seen in  FIG. 5 ) configured to approximate an outer radius of a helmet  32 . The shroud  36  may be flexible such that the shroud  36  can adapt to the exterior surface of a selected helmet or other structure which the shroud  36  is coupled to. The shroud  36  may include a first opening or the aperture  62  configured to receive the fastener  47  and a second opening or the shroud opening  52  configured to receive the fastener  48 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3-6 , the plate  38  may be adjacent the body  54  when the plate  38  is coupled to the shroud  36 . The body  54  may include a ledge  68  configured to be adjacent a rear surface  74  of the plate when the plate  38  is coupled to the shroud  36 . In one embodiment, the ledge  68  contacts the rear surface  74  of the plate  38  when the plate  38  is coupled to the shroud  36 . The body  54  may include a sidewall  55  extending outwardly away from the ledge  68  ( FIG. 4 ). The sidewall  55  may define a receiving area for the plate  38 . The sidewall  55  may have a perimeter shape similar to a perimeter shape of the plate  38 . In one embodiment, the plate may have a length of about 40 millimeters to about 80 millimeters, about 50 millimeters to about 70 millimeters, or about 60 millimeters. In one embodiment, the plate  38  may have a width of about 30 millimeters to about 70 millimeters, about 40 millimeters to about 60 millimeters, or about 50 millimeters. In one embodiment, the sidewall  55  at least partially borders or is adjacent to a portion of the plate  38  when the plate  38  is coupled to the shroud  36 . The sidewall  55  may include a chamfered corner  57 . In other embodiments, the corner  57  may include a radius. The sidewall  55  may extend along more than one side of the plate  38  when the plate  38  is coupled to the shroud  36 . The sidewall  55  may be discontinuous. In one embodiment, the sidewall  55  may include a sidewall gap  59  such that the plate  38  may be moved through the sidewall gap  59  into engagement with the sidewall  55  and ledge  68 . The sidewall  55  may define an open ended rectangular receiving area with a chamfered corner  57 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3-6 , the body  54  may include a rail  66  configured to at least partially secure the plate  38  to the shroud  36 . The ledge  68  may include a surface  76  and at least a portion of the rail  66  may be spaced from ledge surface  76 . The rail  66  and the surface  76  may define a space  78  configured to receive at least a portion of the plate  38 . The plate  38  may include an engagement portion  80  configured to be positioned within the space  78  between the rail  66  and the surface  76 . The engagement portion  80  may include a chamfered edge at an angle of about 30° to about 60°, about 40° to about 50°, or about 45°. 
     In 2 millimeters to about 5 millimeters. The chamfered face of the engagement portion  80  may have a length of about 20 millimeters to about 30 millimeters. In other embodiments, the engagement portion  80  may include a fillet or a section of the plate  38  having a reduced thickness. The engagement portion  80  and the space  78  may have similar cross-sectional shapes to securely couple the plate  38  to the body  54  (cross-section of shroud  36  best seen in  FIG. 5 ). In one embodiment, the engagement portion  80  is shaped and configured to form a sliding dovetail joint with space  78 . The rail  66  may overlap a portion of the plate  38  when the plate  38  is engaged with the shroud  36 . 
     In one embodiment the plate  38  engages the body  54  by sliding the plate  38  along the surface  76  until the engagement portion  80  engages or aligns with the rail  66 . In one embodiment, the rail  66  secures the plate  38  to the shroud  36  and the fasteners  48  prevent relative movement between the rail  66  and the plate  38 . In another embodiment, at least one of the rail  66  and the engagement portion  80  are moveable such that the plate  38  is snap-fit into engagement with the rail  66 . In another embodiment, the body  54  does not include a rail  66  and the plate  38  is positioned on the ledge surface  76  and secured by fastener  48 . In some embodiments, plate  38  is slid through sidewall gap  59 . 
     The body  54  of the shroud  36  may include a second side or upper surface  70  ( FIG. 5 ). The sidewall  55  may extend between the upper surface  70  and the ledge surface  76 . The plate  38  may include an upper surface  72 . In one embodiment, the shroud upper surface  70  and the plate upper surface  72  may be co-planar when the plate  38  is coupled to the shroud  36 . The rail  66  may include a lower surface  82  ( FIG. 5 ). At least a portion of the lower surface  82  of the rail  66  may be positioned above the upper surface  70  of the shroud  36 . In other embodiments, the lower surface  82  and the upper surface  70  are co-planar. The lower surface  82  may be defined by a plane transverse to the ledge surface  76 . 
     The plate  38  may include a corner feature  91 . The corner feature  91  may be a chamfer or a fillet. The corner feature  91  may abut the engagement feature  80 . In one embodiment, the corner feature  91  includes a first chamfer and the engagement feature  80  includes a second chamfer. The first chamfer may extend from a front wall  93  to a sidewall  95  of the plate  38 . The second chamfer may extend from the sidewall  95  to the plate upper surface  72 . The first chamfer and the second chamfer may be transverse to each other. 
     Turning to  FIGS. 1 and 4 , the plate  38  may be a universal square plate and include a first overhang  90  and a second overhang  92 . The first overhang  90  and the second overhang  92  may each include a recess  94  configured to receive a portion of a shoe  39 . The plate  38  may include an internal opening  97 . The internal opening  97  may extend through the plate  38 . The plate  38  may include a protrusion  99  that extends into the internal opening  97  from an upper region  101  of the plate  38  toward the second overhang  92 . The protrusion  99  may be a semi-spherical protrusion. The shape of the protrusion  99  may be selected to be complementary to the shoe  39 . 
     The shoe  39  may include a latch or a retractable engagement feature such that the shoe  39  can be detachably coupled to the first overhang  90  and the second overhang  92  while the plate  38  and shroud  36  are coupled to the helmet. The shoe  39  may be configured to be coupled to a accessory device arm  41 . The accessory device arm  41  may be configured to be attached to the accessory device  34 . The accessory device  34  may be coupled to the helmet  32  such that an order of coupling elements includes the helmet  32 , the shroud  36 , the plate  38 , the shoe  39 , the accessory device mounting arm  41  and the accessory device  34 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 7-12 , there is shown another embodiment of a shroud  96 . The shroud  96  may be similar to the previously described embodiment of the shroud  36  as both may be configured to detachably receive the plate  38  while the shroud  96  is coupled to the helmet  34 . The crown  56  of shroud  96  may include a recess  108  configured to receive a portion of a plate  110  ( FIG. 9 ). In one embodiment, the dimensions of the recess  108  are about 1 millimeter to about 5 millimeters by about 1 millimeter to about 5 millimeters by about 10 millimeters to about 30 millimeters. In one embodiment, the dimensions of the recess  108  are about 2 millimeters by about 2 millimeters by about 20 millimeters. 
     The shroud  96  may include a ledge  116  and the recess  108  may extend above the surface  76  of the ledge  116 . The recess  108  may be open to a first side  64  of the shroud  96 . The first side  64  may be adjacent the helmet  32  when the shroud  96  is coupled to the helmet  32 . The plate  110  may include a tongue  112  configured to be positioned within the recess  108  when the plate  110  is coupled to the shroud  96 . The tongue  112  may extend from a front wall  118  of the plate  110 . An upper surface  120  of the tongue  112  may be coplanar with the plate upper surface  72 . The shroud  96  may include a rim  114  bordering the recess  108  and configured to prevent the tongue  112  from disengaging from the recess  108 . The upper surface  120  of the tongue  112  may be configured to be adjacent or abut the lower surface of the rim  114 . A front wall  122  of the tongue  112  may be adjacent to or abut a front wall  124  of the recess  108  when the plate  110  is coupled to the shroud  96 . 
     The ledge  116  may be discontinuous. The ledge  116  may include a first portion  126  spaced from a second portion  128 . The first portion  126  may be positioned adjacent the sidewall gap  59 . The second portion  128  may be positioned adjacent the recess  108 . The first portion  126  may be spaced from the second portion  128  such that the ledge  116  is not positioned below the rail  66 . In one embodiment, a discontinuous ledge may reduce the weight of the shroud  96  compared to a shroud with a continuous ledge. The shroud  96  may include one or more grooves  111  configured to receive a leash  103  (e.g., a rope or bungee) coupled to the accessory device (leash  103  best seen in  FIG. 1 ). The groove  111  may be formed in the front surface, the rear surface, or both the front and rear surfaces of the shroud  96 . The sides and ends of the groove  111  may include a chamfer or radius at the edge to reduce wear on the leash  103 . 
     At least one of shroud  36  and shroud  96  may be included in a kit. A method of retrofitting the shroud  36  onto a helmet may include removing an existing shroud from the helmet. The method may include coupling the shroud  36  to the helmet using an existing bolt pattern. The method may include couple one of a plurality of plates  38  to the shroud  36 . The method may include removing one plate  38  from the shroud  36  and coupling another plate  38  to the shroud  36  without removing the shroud  36  from the helmet. 
     It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could be made to the exemplary embodiments shown and described above without departing from the broad inventive concepts thereof. It is understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments shown and described, but it is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the claims. For example, specific features of the exemplary embodiments may or may not be part of the claimed invention and various features of the disclosed embodiments may be combined. The words “right”, “left”, “lower” and “upper” designate directions in the drawings to which reference is made. The words “inwardly” and “outwardly” refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the modular shroud system. Unless specifically set forth herein, the terms “a”, “an” and “the” are not limited to one element but instead should be read as meaning “at least one”. 
     It is to be understood that at least some of the figures and descriptions of the invention have been simplified to focus on elements that are relevant for a clear understanding of the invention, while eliminating, for purposes of clarity, other elements that those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate may also comprise a portion of the invention. However, because such elements are well known in the art, and because they do not necessarily facilitate a better understanding of the invention, a description of such elements is not provided herein. 
     Further, to the extent that the methods of the present invention do not rely on the particular order of steps set forth herein, the particular order of the steps should not be construed as limitation on the claims. Any claims directed to the methods of the present invention should not be limited to the performance of their steps in the order written, and one skilled in the art can readily appreciate that the steps may be varied and still remain within the spirit and scope of the present invention.