WO2010126441A1

WO2010126441A1 - Mounting system for head-worn equipment

Info

Publication number: WO2010126441A1
Application number: PCT/SE2010/050469
Authority: WO
Inventors: Håkan SPUHR
Original assignee: Spuhr I Dalby Ab
Priority date: 2009-04-29
Filing date: 2010-04-28
Publication date: 2010-11-04

Abstract

A mounting system for head-worn equipment, comprising: -a mount for mounting the system to the head of a user, -an attachment for attachment of head-worn equipment, -a flip joint arranged between the mount and the attachment capable of assuming two positions; a use position in which the head-worn equipment may be used by a user, and a flipped-up position, -a tilt joint for adjustment of an angle of the head-worn equipment in the use position,where in the relative position of the mount and mounted head-worn equipment, in the flipped-up position, may be constant for all angles of the tilt joint.

Description

MOUNTING SYSTEM FOR HEAD-WORN EQUIPMENT

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a mounting system for head- worn equipment, and in particular to a mounting system for one or more monocular night- vision goggles for attachment to the head or a piece of head gear of a user.

Technical background

Several mounting systems have been developed for the above purposes, yet there are still improvements to be made. A typical field of use is when attaching night- vision goggles to a helmet. It may also be used for rescue service, police, firefighters, in search and rescue operations, etc.

When using monocular night-vision goggles several parameters have to be adjusted in order to conform the goggle assembly to a specific user. Examples include adjusting a lateral and a vertical position of the goggle, such that the goggle is directly in front of the eye of the user. Also the eye-distance, i.e. the distance between the eye of the user and an entrance window of the goggle, may need to be adjusted. Further it is beneficial if, in the case of a monocular goggle, the goggle may be arranged in front of either of the eyes, and is easily removable from the system. Also, the horizontal angle of the system in should be adjustable, such that a user may vary the angle up and down relative to the horizontal. The system preferably has a flip-up system, such that it is possible to pivot a part of the system, including the goggle or goggles, from a use position to a flipped-up position, such that the system may be moved away from the user's field of view.

A mounting system of this type is disclosed in the published patent application US 2007/0214551. There are, however still improvements that can be made, in respect of simplicity and functionality as well as performance.

Summary

The present invention achieves some of the possible improvements by the provision of a mounting system for equipment to be carried on the head of a user, comprising a framework having attachments for head- worn equipment in one end of the system, and a mount for mounting the system to the head of a user in the other end. In between these two ends a flip joint is arranged, said flip joint being variable between a use position and a flipped-up position, and a tilt joint capable of being adjusted in order to vary the horizontal angle of the head- worn equipment in the use position, wherein the relative position of the mounts and the attachment is independent of the horizontal tilt angle of the optical equipment in the use position. In other words the flip joint and the tilt joint are configured to enable a relative position of the mount and the mounted head- worn equipment in the flipped-up position, to be constant for all angles of the tilt joint. Further it may be beneficial to have the two functions, the flip and the tilt, separable since a user benefits from knowing exactly what position the head-worn device will be located in when it is flipped to the use position. Systems only having the tilt function, where the head- worn device basically is tilted from a use position to the flipped-up position would not have this predictable behavior. In the flipped-up position the assembly should preferably be located as close to the head, or helmet, as possible. In this way the center of gravity is located as close to the center of gravity of the head of the user as possible, which makes the weight of the assembly easier to wear and maneuver. Also, the user will be more intuitively aware of the location/position of the assembly, such that unintentional bumps into beams, branches, constructions etc may be avoided. With the inventive device it is possible to fix an absolute flipped-up position regardless of the inclination of the assembly in the use position, which is a great advantage in view of prior art.

In a preferred embodiment the horizontal adjustment may be performed in a continuous, stepless, manner between an upper angle and a lower angle. Systems based on horizontal adjustment that may be performed in increments often suffer from having play in the constructions. Even if the play of a locking device in the joint is 1/100 mm, the play will be noticeable. The head-worn device is usually located some 10 cm:s from the pivot point it the tilt joint, which magnifies the effect of the play. As the locking device gets worn, the play will increase. In another embodiment the flip joint and the tilt joint are combined in one joint.

Having both functions within the same joint provides a rugged and low-weight solution in which the tilt and flip are separated in terms of function while overlapping constructional features still may be shared.

In one or more embodiments a beam being adapted to receive pressure from an eccentric cam is hollow, such that it will be resilient as the pressure from the cam is applied. There are at least two beneficial effects emanating from this, the first being that the total weight of the assembly may be reduced. Secondly, the resilient cooperation between the cam and the beam results in a perfect fit, without clearance. In a locked position the cam and beam will still be biased towards the locked position, such that any play is eliminated.

In one or more embodiments the eccentric cam is also conical, with an angle corresponding to the angle of the surface of the beam with which it cooperates. This makes engagement between the cam and the beam less sensitive to wear and forces the beam towards secure engagement without play. In a mounting system according to the invention several cam/beam engagement may be arranged, e.g., in every position where a continuously variable positioning along a rectilinear path is required. Examples include distance between eyes of the user, distance between eye of the user and entrance optics of the goggle, height of the goggle relative to the eyes of a user, etc. These locations are obvious from the drawings. As will be clear from the following detailed description the system has no play in a use position, that is, there is no clearance between cooperating parts in the locked use position. The main reason is that all cooperating parts are interlocked such that they are biased towards the locked position. The system described herein provides this effect using few parts, and rugged and reliable mechanics. The system is also highly versatile and may be used in several different ways, which is also clear from the following detailed description.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an inventive system according to one embodiment thereof.

Figs. 2a and 2b are plan views of components of a head mount according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 3 a is a detailed view of a component of a joint used in one embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 3b is a perspective view of another component, adapted to engage with the component of Fig. 3a.

Fig. 4a is a side view illustrating the system of Fig. 1 in a use position, and Fig. 4b the same system in a flipped-up position.

Fig. 5 is a cross section along the line IV-IV of Fig. 1. Figs. 6a-6c are views from below of a monocular mount as used in one embodiment of the present invention.

Description of Embodiments Referring to the perspective view of Fig. 1, a mounting system according to a first embodiment of the invention is shown. The system 101 comprises a head mount 102, with which the system is attached to a head, via a harness 104, or to a helmet, with the help of bolts, adhesive or other attachment means. A first leg 106 of a flip-up joint 108 is releasably attached to the head mount 102. The leg 106 has a frustoconical cross section and may be inserted in a wide groove 110 of the head mount 102. By use of a lever 112 having an eccentric cam 116 (Fig. 2a) the leg 108 may be fixed to the head mount 102. The head mount 102 also comprises an adjustment wheel 114. Turning the wheel 114 adjusts the position of a guide pin 118 (Fig. 2b) along the length of the groove 110. The guide pin 118 will abut the leg 106 at the desired position, and thus locate it within the groove 110 such that a preferred position of the leg 108 in the head mount 102 may be selected. In this way the mounting assembly comprising the leg 108 and components downstream thereof may simply be slid into position in the groove 110, positioned by the guide pin and fixed by turning the lever 112, assuring that the mounting assembly has the correct position for that particular user. The leg 106 is operably connected to the flip-up joint 108, which in this embodiment also functions as tilt joint. The function of this dual-purpose joint will be described in more detail referring to Figs. 3a-b, yet for the present description it suffices to disclose that the flip-up function is actuated by means of depressing the actuator 120, and the tilt function is actuated by turning the knob 122. A second leg 124, is operably attached to the joint 124, and comprises an axial beam portion 126, along which the downstream assembly may be slid and secured. In this way an eye distance may be adjusted in a continuous manner. In the embodiment of Fig. 1 a first half of the assembly is slidably and releasably attached to the axial beam portion 126 by means of the eccentric fastener actuated by the lever 128. This first half of the assembly also comprises and axial beam portion 130 onto which a monocular mount 132 may be slidably and releasably attached. As for the other corresponding axial beam portions the beam portion 130, having a generally frustoconical cross section fits in a matching groove 134, also having a generally frustoconical cross section. A lever 136 actuates an eccentric fastener 138 operable to secure the beam portion 130 in the groove 134. To that end the beam portion 130 may be hollow, having a tapered U- shaped cross section, at least in the area of cooperation between the beam portion 130 and the eccentric fastener 138. This will give the beam portion 130 some resilience and will make the cooperation less sensitive to manufacturing tolerances. This feature may be applied to all beam portions. The actual monocular 140 comprises a tapered attachment flange, which snap- fits in a correspondingly tapered attachment groove. Actuation of the levers 141, 142 releases the snap-fit, whereby the flange may be removed from the groove.

On the opposite end of the beam portion 126 of the second leg the first half of the assembly comprises a generally conical tap 144 (only the top of which is visible). A second half of the assembly has a matching bore 146 which may be slid onto the tap. Thereafter the second half of the assembly may be rotated into place. This is shown in some more detail in Figs.Za-c. A pivotable lever 148, spring biased towards a locking position, secures the second half of the assembly into place. By depressing one end 150 of the lever 148 the second half of the assembly may be rotated and released from the first half of the assembly. The end opposite to end 150 has a conical engagement between a hook and a bore. If the hook or the bore gets worn they will automatically slip into a new locked position without play. As such the engagement is biased in a locked position. The second half of the assembly may carry a second monocular tube 152, and the quick-release function may be important when a user needs to remove the second monocular tube 152 from the line of sight, e.g. in order to be able to observe an object via a sight system for a weapon. The construction of the quick-release function provides plenty of space around the eye of a user when the second half of the assembly is removed. Apart from the above the second half of the assembly resembles the first half of the assembly, which is obvious from the appended figures. It should be noted that the first and second half of the assembly may be removed as an assembled unit by actuation of the lever 128. In this state the first and second half of the assembly are integrated, and may be used as binoculars.

If a mount having a groove corresponding to the tapered attachment groove is arranged on an auxiliary device, such as a weapon, either of the monocular tubes may readily be moved from the mounting assembly to the weapon and positioned in a well defined position.

Referring to Figs. 2a-b, a more detailed description of the head mount 102 follows. Fig. 2a illustrates the adjustment wheel 114, which is a component of the head mount 102. The adjustment wheel 114 has a helical slit 154, to which a fitting 156 is slidably fitted. The fitting 156 is arranged in a rectilinear slit 158 of the head mount 102, and the skilled person will realize that rotation of the wheel around its axis of symmetry will result in movement of the fitting 156 along the rectilinear slit 154. The fitting comprise guide means for the leg 106, and therefore a designated position for the leg 106 may be preset so that the optical equipment attached thereto always will be positioned in a correct manner as they are attached to the head mount 102. Indentations 160 along the circumference of the adjustment wheel 114 may cooperate with a biased ball (not shown) so as to cause a discrete number of locked positions in a straightforward manner.

Once the beam portion of the leg 106 is arranged in the groove, and positioned by the positioning means 118 it may be locked into place by means of the lever 112. The lever pivots around a pivot point 162 and has an eccentric end. The eccentric end acts as a cam, pushing a boss 164 into engagement with the beam portion of the leg 106. The lever 112 may comprise a biased pin or ball (not shown) cooperating with an indentation 164 such that it may be secured in a locked position. The function of the flip-up joint is described in more detail in the following, referring to Figs. 3a-b. The aim of the description is to facilitate the technical understanding, not to disclose a too detailed description of the construction, yet a skilled person studying the description and drawings will understand the construction.

The first leg 106 and the second leg 124 are both constructional parts of the joint. A sleeve 166 is slid over an interior actuator portion 168 of the joint. The actuator portion comprises an inner cylinder having a guide pin 170 extending radially from it. The sleeve 166 has a slit 172 in which the pin 170 may slide. The slit 172 is essentially U-shaped, having two slit portions (visible in Fig. 3a) dimensioned to a close fit relative to the pin 170, and one slit portion being substantially larger. The shorter slit portion extending in an axial direction in Fig. 3a may in one or more embodiments be tapered, such that the pin 170 always will be positioned without play, in a biased state. The sleeve 166 has a certain thickness, and though the exact measure is irrelevant it is important for the function that the pin 170 extends beyond the outermost surface of the sleeve 166. The inner cylinder and thus the guide pin 170 is spring biased towards a locked position, i.e. a position as shown in Fig. 3a, where it prevents the cylinder from rotating relative to the second leg 124. The cylinder is in operative contact with the actuator 120 and by depressing the actuator 120 the pin 170 may be released from the locked position shown in Fig. 2a, thereafter it is possible to rotate the second leg 124 relative to the first leg 106. The first leg 106, shown in perspective in Fig. 3b, has an end cylinder portion 174, which may be slid over the assembly of Fig. 3a. In the inner circumference of the end cylinder portion 174 a groove 176 is arranged. The groove 176 is essentially U- shaped, having one groove portion 178 dimensioned to a close fit relative to the pin 170. The remaining portions have larger dimensions, and in particular a second end of the groove (not visible in Fig. 3b) has significantly larger dimensions than the groove portion 178. The cylinder portion 174 and thus the first leg 106 may be locked in position relative to the sleeve 166, and thereby relative to the second leg 124. This is performed by turning the knob 122, thus frictionally locking the parts together in a continuous manner.

Having established the constructional details of the joint, its function may be better understood. Fig. 3a shows the system in a use position, with the monoculars in front of the eyes of a user. The pin 170 is locked in a fixed position by the short axial portion of the slit 168. In this position too the pin 170 extends beyond the sleeve 166 and into the cylinder portion 174 of the first leg. Here it is positioned in said second end of the groove, which has a significantly larger dimension than the pin 170. The clearance resulting from the difference in dimensions makes it possible to adjust the tilt angle of the system loosening the knob 122, adjusting the tilt angle, and tighten the knob 122. The tilt angle thus is defined by the position of the sleeve 166 relative to the cylinder portion 174.

When the user desires to reposition the system to a flipped-up position, the actuator 122 is depressed such that the guide pin 170 enters the radial portion of the slit 168. As mentioned earlier the guide pin 170 is biased in the direction of the actuator 122, and the next available position for the guide pin 170 to snap into will be the groove portion 178 of the cylinder portion 174, which is a well defined position. To accommodate the range available resulting form the variable tilt angle the guide pin 170 will at this time be located in the axial slit section having larger dimensions of the sleeve 166. The flipped-up position will thus depend on the position of the cylinder portion 174 relative to the pin 170, which is constant. Thus the position of the first leg 106 relative to the second leg 124 will be constant in the flipped-up position, irrespective of tilt angle.

Fig. 4a and Fig. 4b shows a side view of the system in a use position and a flipped-up position, respectively. Components of the system already described are readily recognized. The mounting system comprises several beams and components are arranged to be translated in a stepless manner along the beams. After translation a components may be fixed to the beam by means of an eccentric fastening device comprising a lever and an eccentric cam. One example thereof is disclosed in the sectional view of Fig. 5, which is a cross section along the line IV-IV of Fig. 1. The lever 136 is illustrated in a released position, the beam portion 136 is shown in engagement with the cooperating groove 134 of the component carrying the monocular 140. The lever 136 is rotatable around the pivot axis 192, and since its end portion is eccentric it will lead to fixation of the beam portion 136 in the groove 134. The hollow nature of the beam portion 136 is clearly visible in Fig. 5.

In one or more embodiments a beam being adapted to receive pressure from an eccentric cam is hollow, such that it will be resilient as the pressure from the cam is applied. There are at least two beneficial effects emanating from this, the first being that the total weight of the assembly may be reduced. Secondly, the resilient cooperation between the cam and the beam results in a perfect fit, without clearance. The cam and beam will in other words be locked in a biased state.

Figs. 6a-c is a series disclosing the function and construction of the monocular mount, i.e. the attachment for the head- worn equipment. The fitting 176 is arranged on the monocular, or whatever piece of equipment that is to be mounted to the system. The fitting 176 builds about 3 mm, which is an especially beneficial feature. The feature is particularly desirable if the monocular is to be possible to remove from the system and arranged on a fire arm, e.g. behind a regular red dot sight or telescopic sight. The shape of the fitting 176 is clarified by Fig. 6a, and it is generally frustoconical. The barb like extensions 178, 180 are resilient, and the lateral edges defined by the extensions 178, 180 are tapered and fits into a wide groove of a mount base part 182. As the fitting 176 is inserted into the groove 182 the extensions 178, 180 will be forced towards each other, as shown in Fig. 6b. When the fitting 176 has been fully inserted to the position of Fig. 6c, the free end of each extension will flex into a hatch 184, 186 of the tapered groove 182, and thus lock the fitting 176 into place. Play in an axial direction is eliminated by the properties of the surfaces coacting with the ends of the barb like extensions 178, 180. These surfaces are angled relative to the ends such that the force acting to separate the extensions 178, 180 when biased inwardly will generate a force biasing the monocular mount towards the locked position. If the ends are worn they will find a new point of contact with said surfaces, thus keeping the biasing force. Actuation of the levers 141, 140 will disengage the extensions in a way obvious from the drawings, whereby the fitting 176 may be removed. This is easily performed using one hand only. Further the conical shape of the groove and fitting makes it easier for user to arrange the fitting without removing the system from the head.

The disclosed system allows the user to carry two monoculars; to carry one monocular in front of either eye; to sight through a weapon or use other equipment with the free eye, to adjust the angle of the monocular(s) in a use position, to adjust the spatial position of the monocular(s) relative to the eye in a use position (left-right, up- down, closer-further away), to remove one monocular and mount it on a weapon, to remove both monoculars in one integrated unit and use them as binoculars, to readily arrange monoculars or the entire system in a well defined position while carrying the system, to rely on that the flipped-up position is constant, etc. The system is thus highly versatile, yet the skilled person realizes from the appended drawings that it still is a very rugged construction.

The skilled person realizes that though the inventive system has been described referring to goggle mount it may as well be used for other imaging systems, such as binoculars, or recording systems, such as a video camera, or any other system suitable to be carried in this manner, and the invention as claimed should not be limited in this respect. Still another example relates to eye-guided control systems, such as the ones used by some pilots. Further, the characterizing features as disclosed in the claim, and particular features mentioned in the description, may be used in any combination for the formation of an embodiment of the inventive mount, unless structurally impossible.

The preferred material for the device is aluminum, except for some screws and such that may be made of stainless steel. Key properties for the chosen material are low weight and durability, and there are alternatives to aluminum such as PEEK (Polyetheretherketone), which may be reinforced, and other durable plastic or composite material that may be used for part of the construction. The present invention should not be limited in this respect.

Claims

1. A mounting system (101) for head-worn equipment, comprising: a mount ( 102) for mounting the system to the head of a user, - an attachment (126) for attachment of head- worn equipment, a flip joint (108) arranged between the mount and the attachment capable of assuming two positions; a use position in which the head- worn equipment may be used by a user, and a flipped-up position,, a tilt joint ( 108) for adjustment of an angle of the head- worn equipment in the use position, characterized in that the flip joint and the tilt joint are configured to enable a relative position of the mount (102) and the mounted head- worn equipment in the flipped-up position, to be constant for all angles of the tilt joint (102).

2. The mounting system of claim 1 , wherein the tilt joint may be adjusted in a continuous manner between a first and a second angle.

3. The mounting system of any preceding claim, wherein the flip joint is adapted to be secured in a locked state; in the use position or the flipped-up position, by a pin cooperating with a slit or groove.

4. The mounting system of claim 3, wherein the slit is tapered in an area of cooperation with the pin, such that automatic wear compensation is achieved.

5. The mounting system of any preceding claim, wherein the tilt function and the flip function is accomplished by pivoting around the same axis, i.e. by the same joint.

6. The mounting system of any preceding claim, wherein eccentric cams are used to secure assemblies movable along a beam of the device.

7. The mounting system of claim 6, wherein beams adapted for cooperation with an eccentric cam are hollow, with e.g. an essentially U-shaped cross section.

8. The mounting system of claim 6 or 7, wherein the cam is tapered and a wherein a cooperating surface of the beam is inclined with the same angle.

9. The mounting system of any preceding claim, wherein all movable components are arranged in a biased state in the use position, such that there is no play.

10. The mounting system of any preceding claim, wherein the head- worn equipment may be removed using one hand.

11. The mounting system of any preceding claim, wherein a mount for the head- worn equipment builds about 3 mm or less.

12. The mounting system of any preceding claim, wherein the device may optionally carry one or two head- worn equipments.

13. The mounting system of any preceding claim, wherein the head- worn equipment is a night vision goggle.