Hinged Attachment of Headgear to a Helmet

Abstract

A hinge mechanism for attaching ear accessories to a helmet allows an accessory to be attached at a point outside the helmet shell utilizing, for example, a slidable mounting rail, and to reach under the edge of the helmet shell so that the accessory is supported in contact with the wearer's head. The hinge mechanism is well suited for use in connection with military helmets that have a “bulge” or protrusion over the ear.

1 . A mounting facility for a safety helmet of the type having a bulge or protrusion on a side thereof to form a cavity therein, the cavity extending to a terminal edge of the helmet and overlying a wearer's ear, the mounting facility comprising:
 a. a fixture configured for attachment to the helmet above the bulge; and   b. attached to the fixture, an articulating arm assembly for receiving an ear accessory, the arm assembly facilitating insertion of the ear accessory into the cavity and its removal therefrom around the terminal edge.   
     
     
         2 . The mounting facility of  claim 1  wherein the fixture has a plurality of apertures aligning with existing through-holes in the helmet shell for facilitating affixation thereto. 
     
     
         3 . The mounting facility of  claim 1  wherein the fixture comprises a rail for slidably receiving an end of the articulating arm assembly. 
     
     
         4 . The mounting facility of  claim 1  wherein the articulating arm assembly includes a joint mechanism facilitating rotational downward and inward movement of the ear accessory relative to the terminal edge. 
     
     
         5 . The mounting facility of  claim 4  wherein the joint mechanism comprises first and second hinges. 
     
     
         6 . The mounting facility of  claim 4  wherein the articulating arm assembly comprises a flexible member that resists outward movement of the ear accessory relative to the wearer's head, thereby holding the ear accessory in contact with the wearer's head. 
     
     
         7 . The mounting facility of  claim 1  further comprising means facilitating rotation of the articulating arm to place the ear accessory behind the helmet. 
     
     
         8 . The mounting facility of  claim 1  wherein the articulating arm assembly comprises means for adjusting a distance between the ear accessory and the terminal edge of the helmet. 
     
     
         9 . The mounting facility of  claim 5  further comprising means for adjustably limiting rotation of at least one of the hinges. 
     
     
         10 . An articulating arm assembly for use with a safety helmet of the type that has a bulge or protrusion on a side thereof to form a cavity therein, the cavity extending to a terminal edge of the helmet and overlying a wearer's ear, the arm assembly comprising:
 a. means for engaging an ear accessory; and   b. means facilitating insertion of the ear accessory into the cavity and its removal therefrom around the terminal edge.   
     
     
         11 . The arm assembly of  claim 10  wherein the insertion-facilitating means includes a joint mechanism facilitating rotational downward and inward movement of the ear accessory relative to the terminal edge. 
     
     
         12 . The arm assembly of  claim 11  wherein the joint mechanism comprises first and second hinges. 
     
     
         13 . The arm assembly of  claim 10  wherein the insertion-facilitating means includes a flexible member that resists outward movement of the ear accessory relative to the wearer's head, thereby holding the ear accessory in contact with the wearer's head. 
     
     
         14 . The arm assembly of  claim 10  further comprising means facilitating rotation to place the ear accessory behind the helmet. 
     
     
         15 . The arm assembly of  claim 10  further comprising means for adjusting a distance between the ear accessory and the terminal edge of the helmet. 
     
     
         16 . The arm assembly of  claim 12  further comprising means for adjustably limiting rotation of at least one of the hinges. 
     
     
         17 . The arm assembly of  claim 10  further comprising a headband affixed to the insertion-facilitating means, the headband permitting use of the ear accessory without a helmet. 
     
     
         18 . A safety helmet comprising:
 a. a bulge or protrusion on a side thereof to form a cavity therein, the cavity· extending to a terminal edge of the helmet and overlying a wearer's ear;   b. a fixture attached to the helmet above the bulge; and   c. attached to the fixture, an articulating arm assembly for receiving an ear accessory, the arm assembly facilitating insertion of the ear accessory into the cavity and its removal therefrom around the terminal edge.   
     
     
         19 . The helmet of  claim 18  wherein the fixture comprises a rail for slidably receiving an end of the articulating arm assembly. 
     
     
         20 . The helmet of  claim 18  wherein the articulating arm assembly includes a joint mechanism facilitating rotational downward and inward movement of the ear accessory relative to the terminal edge. 
     
     
         21 . The helmet of  claim 20  wherein the joint mechanism comprises first and second hinges. 
     
     
         22 . The helmet of  claim 20  wherein the articulating arm assembly comprises a flexible member that resists outward movement of the ear accessory relative to the wearer's head, thereby holding the ear accessory in contact with the wearer's head. 
     
     
         23 . The helmet of  claim 18  further comprising means facilitating rotation of the articulating arm to place the ear accessory behind the helmet. 
     
     
         24 . The helmet of  claim 18  wherein the articulating arm assembly comprises means for adjusting a distance between the ear accessory and the terminal edge of the helmet. 
     
     
         25 . The helmet of  claim 21  further comprising means for adjustably limiting rotation of at least one of the hinges.