Accessory mounting system and helmet including same

Abstract

An accessory mounting system ( 30 ) and a helmet ( 10 ) that includes such systems are disclosed. The accessory mounting system ( 30 ) includes a plate ( 32 ) adapted to be permanently connected to a substantially continuous portion of a ballistic layer ( 12 ) of a helmet, where the ballistic layer has an outer surface ( 14 ). The plate ( 32 ) includes an inner surface ( 34 ) and an outer surface ( 36 ), where the inner surface of the plate is adapted to be disposed in contact with an outer surface of the ballistic layer. The accessory mounting system also includes an accessory rail ( 50 ) adapted to be removably connected to the plate, where the accessory rail includes an inner surface ( 52 ) and an outer surface ( 54 ). The inner surface of the accessory rail is adapted to be disposed in contact with the plate.

1 . An accessory mounting system comprising:
 a rigid plate having an elastic modulus (Young's Modulus) of at least 0.1 GPa and no greater than 1000 GPa as measured using ASTM E111-04(2010) and adapted to be permanently connected to a substantially continuous portion of a ballistic layer of a helmet by an attachment element, the ballistic layer having an outer surface, and wherein the plate comprises an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the inner surface of the plate is adapted to be disposed in contact with the outer surface of the ballistic layer; and   an accessory rail adapted to be removably connected to the plate, wherein the accessory rail comprises an inner surface and an outer surface, and wherein the inner surface of the accessory rail is adapted to be disposed in contact with the plate,   wherein the attachment element does not penetrate through a thickness of the helmet.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment element comprises a permanent adhesive. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment element comprises a threaded screw having a length that is less than a thickness of the ballistic layer of the helmet. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment element comprises a barb having a length that is less than a thickness of the ballistic layer of the helmet. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising an accessory mount adapted to engage a groove of the accessory rail and connect an accessory to the accessory rail. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the accessory rail comprises a recess disposed in the inner surface of the accessory rail that is adapted to receive the plate. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the accessory rail is connected to the plate with a threaded screw inserted through a screw hole disposed through the accessory rail and a boss disposed in the plate, wherein the boss disposed in the plate has a depth that is less than a thickness of the plate such that the boss does not extend to the inner surface of the plate. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plate comprises a slot adapted to slidably receive a tab disposed on the inner surface of the accessory rail. 
     
     
         10 . A helmet comprising:
 a ballistic layer comprising an inner surface and an outer surface; and   an accessory mounting system comprising a rigid plate having an elastic modulus (Young's Modulus) of at least 0.1 GPa and no greater than 1000 GPa as measured using ASTM E111-04(2010) and an accessory rail removably connected to the plate, wherein the plate comprises an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the inner surface of the plate is permanently connected to a substantially continuous portion of the ballistic layer by an attachment element, wherein the accessory rail comprises an inner surface and an outer surface, and further wherein the inner surface of the accessory rail is in contact with the plate when the accessory rail is connected to the plate,   wherein the attachment element does not penetrate through the inner surface of the ballistic layer.   
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The helmet of  claim 10 , wherein the attachment element comprises an adhesive or a threaded screw. 
     
     
         13 . The helmet of  claim 10 , further comprising an accessory mount releasably connected to a groove of the accessory rail, and an accessory releasably connected to the accessory mount. 
     
     
         14 . The helmet of  claim 13 , wherein the accessory is retained on the accessory mount with an accessory retention force, wherein the accessory retention force does not exceed a maximum accessory retention force, the accessory mount is retained on the accessory rail with a mount retention force, and the accessory rail is retained on the plate with a rail retention force, wherein the accessory retention force is less than the mount retention force, and further wherein the mount retention force is less than the rail retention force. 
     
     
         15 . The helmet of  claim 14 , wherein the plate is retained on the helmet with a plate retention force, wherein the rail retention force is less than the plate retention force. 
     
     
         16 . A method comprising:
 permanently connecting a rigid plate having an elastic modulus (Young's Modulus) of at least 0.1 GPa and no greater than 1000 GPa as measured using ASTM E111-04(2010) to an outer surface of a ballistic layer of a helmet by an attachment element that does not penetrate through a thickness of the helmet;   connecting an accessory rail to the plate;   connecting an accessory to the accessory rail;   removing the accessory from the accessory rail; and   removing the accessory rail from the plate by moving the accessory rail in a direction orthogonal to an outer surface of a ballistic layer of the helmet.   
     
     
         17 . A method comprising:
 disposing a template on an outer surface of a ballistic layer of a helmet, wherein the template comprises an opening that exposes a portion of the ballistic layer;   disposing an adhesive on the exposed portion of the ballistic layer through the opening of the template;   connecting a plate to the exposed portion of the ballistic layer utilizing the adhesive;   applying pressure to the plate; and   curing the adhesive such that the plate is permanently attached to the ballistic layer of the helmet.   
     
     
         18 . An accessory mounting system kit comprising:
 a template adapted to be disposed on an outer surface of a ballistic layer of a helmet, wherein the template comprises an opening that is adapted to expose a substantially continuous portion of the ballistic layer of the helmet;   an adhesive;   a surface cleaning component adapted to clean the substantially continuous portion of the ballistic layer of the helmet;   an abrasive element adapted to abrade the substantially continuous portion of the ballistic layer of the helmet;   a plate adapted to be permanently connected to the substantially continuous portion of the ballistic layer of the helmet;   an accessory rail adapted to be removably connected to the plate; and   a fixturing plate adapted to be connected to the helmet and apply pressure to the plate as the plate is connected to the substantially continuous portion of the ballistic layer of the helmet.