Helmet accessory attachment system

Abstract

A helmet accessory attachment member includes a finger-actuatable lock configured to secure an accessory attachment member mount to a helmet mount as part of securing an accessory such as a mandible guard to a helmet. The lock includes a pivot arm with a rotation axis that is parallel to the helmet surface, and also includes one or more blocking surfaces on the pivot arm to engage with grooves on the helmet mount. The lock may be positioned on a slidable insert of the accessory attachment member.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A helmet accessory attachment system comprising:
 a helmet mount having a helmet-facing surface;   an accessory attachment member having an accessory attachment member mount configured to engage with the helmet mount such that the engagement of the accessory attachment member with the helmet mount supports the accessory attachment member from the helmet mount;   a lock to secure the accessory attachment member to the helmet, the lock including a pivot arm and a first blocking surface, and the pivot arm having an unlocked position and a locked position;   wherein the pivot arm is pivotable about a pivot axis that is not perpendicular to the helmet-facing surface of the accessory attachment member mount at the pivot axis location; and   wherein when the pivot arm is in the locked position, the first blocking surface is positioned relative to a second blocking surface on the helmet mount to prevent movement of the accessory attachment member mount relative to the helmet mount.   
     
     
         2 . A helmet accessory attachment system as in  claim 1 , wherein the pivot arm pivot axis is substantially parallel to the helmet-facing surface of the accessory attachment member mount at the pivot axis location. 
     
     
         3 . A helmet accessory attachment system as in  claim 1 , wherein the pivot arm pivot axis is parallel to the helmet-facing surface of the accessory attachment member mount at the pivot axis location. 
     
     
         4 . A helmet accessory attachment system as in  claim 1 , wherein the helmet mount includes an elongate slot, and the accessory attachment member mount includes a slidable insert which is slidable within the elongate slot to engage the slidable insert with the helmet mount. 
     
     
         5 . A helmet accessory attachment system as in  claim 4 , wherein the pivot arm pivot axis is parallel to a longitudinal direction of the elongate slot. 
     
     
         6 . A helmet accessory attachment system as in  claim 4 , wherein the pivot arm is attached to the slidable insert. 
     
     
         7 . A helmet accessory attachment system as in  claim 4 , wherein the pivot arm includes a first lock protrusion, and the first blocking surface is on the first lock protrusion. 
     
     
         8 . A helmet accessory attachment system as in  claim 4 , wherein the pivot arm causes a first lock protrusion to rotate when the pivot arm rotates, and the first blocking surface is on the first lock protrusion 
     
     
         9 . A helmet accessory attachment system as in  claim 7 , wherein the pivot arm further includes a second lock protrusion, and the second lock protrusion includes a third blocking surface such that when the pivot arm is in the locked position, the third blocking surface is positioned relative to a fourth blocking surface on the helmet mount to prevent movement of the accessory attachment member mount relative to the helmet mount. 
     
     
         10 . A helmet accessory attachment system as in  claim 4 , wherein the helmet mount includes a rail and the rail includes the elongate slot. 
     
     
         11 . A helmet accessory attachment system as in  claim 4 , wherein the lock includes a snap lock to hold the pivot arm in a locked position. 
     
     
         12 . A helmet accessory attachment system as in  claim 1 , further comprising a mandible guard attached to the accessory attachment member. 
     
     
         13 . A helmet accessory attachment system as in  claim 1 , further comprising a helmet, and wherein the helmet mount is attached to the helmet. 
     
     
         14 . A helmet accessory attachment system as in  claim 1 , further comprising a second helmet mount having a second helmet-facing surface, the second helmet mount being positioned on a lateral side of the helmet opposite to the helmet mount;
 a second accessory attachment member having a second accessory attachment member mount configured to engage with the second helmet mount such that the engagement of the second accessory attachment member with the second helmet mount supports the second accessory attachment member from the second helmet mount;   a second lock to secure the second accessory attachment member to the helmet, the second lock including a second pivot arm and a third blocking surface, and the second pivot arm having an unlocked position and a locked position;   wherein the second pivot arm is pivotable about a second pivot axis that is not perpendicular to the second helmet-facing surface of the second accessory attachment member mount at the second pivot axis location; and   wherein when the second pivot arm is in the locked position, the third blocking surface is positioned relative to a fourth blocking surface on the second helmet mount to prevent movement of the second accessory attachment member mount relative to the second helmet mount.   
     
     
         15 . A mandible guard attachment system comprising:
 a helmet mount having a helmet-facing surface;   a mandible guard attachment member having a mandible guard attachment member mount configured to engage with the helmet mount such that the engagement of the mandible guard accessory attachment member mount with the helmet mount supports the accessory attachment member from the helmet mount;   a lock to secure the mandible guard accessory attachment member to the helmet, the lock including a pivot arm and a first blocking surface, and the pivot arm having an unlocked position and a locked position, wherein the lock is positioned on the mandible guard attachment member mount; and   wherein when the pivot arm is in the locked position, the first blocking surface is positioned relative to a second blocking surface on the helmet mount to prevent movement of the accessory attachment member mount relative to the helmet mount.   
     
     
         16 . A mandible guard attachment system as in  claim 15 , wherein when the pivot arm is in the locked position, the first blocking surface protrudes from the mandible guard attachment member mount. 
     
     
         17 . A mandible guard attachment system as in  claim 15 , wherein:
 the helmet mount includes an elongate slot;   the mandible guard attachment member mount includes a slidable insert slidable in the elongate slot; and   when the pivot arm is in the locked position, the first blocking surface protrudes from an underside of the slidable insert.   
     
     
         18 . A mandible guard attachment system as in  claim 17 , wherein the slidable insert is slidable into the elongate slot at a temple region of the helmet, and the lock is positioned on the slidable insert at the temple region of the helmet. 
     
     
         19 . A helmet accessory attachment system as in  claim 15 , further comprising a helmet, and wherein the helmet mount is attached to the helmet. 
     
     
         20 . A helmet accessory attachment system comprising:
 a helmet mount having a helmet-facing surface;   a helmet accessory attachment member having a slidable insert configured to engage with the helmet mount such that the engagement of the slidable insert with the helmet mount supports the helmet accessory attachment member from the helmet mount; and   a lock to secure the helmet accessory attachment member to the helmet, the lock including a pivot arm and a first blocking surface, and the pivot arm having an unlocked position and a locked position, wherein the lock is positioned on the slidable insert;   wherein when the pivot arm is in the locked position, the first blocking surface is positioned relative to a second blocking surface on the helmet mount to prevent movement of the slidable insert to the helmet mount; and   when the pivot arm is in the locked position, the first blocking surface protrudes from an underside of the slidable insert.   
     
     
         21 . A helmet accessory attachment system as in  claim 20 , wherein the helmet mount includes an elongate slot into which the slidable insert is slidable. 
     
     
         22 . A helmet accessory attachment system as in  claim 20 , wherein the pivot arm pivot axis is substantially parallel to the helmet-facing surface of the accessory attachment member mount at the pivot axis location. 
     
     
         23 . A helmet accessory attachment system as in  claim 20 , wherein the pivot arm pivot axis is parallel to the helmet-facing surface of the accessory attachment member mount at the pivot axis location. 
     
     
         24 . A helmet accessory attachment system as in  claim 20 , further comprising a helmet, and wherein the helmet mount is attached to the helmet.