HEADGEAR

FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to protective headgear used by service personnel. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a modular accessory connecting system for a headgear.

DEFINITIONS

As used in the present disclosure, the following terms are generally intended to have the meaning as set forth below, except to the extent that the context in which they are used indicate otherwise.

Headgear - The term ‘Headgear’ used hereinafter in the disclosure refers to any covering or protective device worn by a person on the head including, but not limited to, a helmet, a hat, a cloth and a skull cap.

BACKGROUND

The background information herein below relates to the present disclosure but is not necessarily prior art.

Protective headgears are commonly utilized to protect a wearer’s head from injury. Typically, protective headgears are designed specific to their application. For example, protective headgears wore by service personnel such as firefighters, health workers, rescue personnel, etc. may need various accessories like Night Vision Devices (NVD), lamps, face visors, ballistic mandible, oxygen masks and cameras to be installed thereon. These accessories are attached to the headgear to allow handsfree movement of the service personnel, thereby allowing them to use their hands to perform their tasks or to hold other objects.

However, for facilitating installation of these accessories, the currently available helmet shells are drilled with holes and provided with fastening means such as bolted joints and rivets. Such installations need to be made separately for each distinct helmet/ headgear. Additionally, the conventional helmets/ headgears do not facilitate modular installation of the accessories thereon. This creates difficulty in the process of assembling as well as disassembling of the accessories, which is not desired.

There is, therefore, felt a need for a modular accessory connecting system for a headgear that alleviates the above-mentioned drawbacks.

OBJECTS

Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfies, are as follows:

It is an object of the present disclosure to ameliorate one or more problems of the prior art or to at least provide a useful alternative.

An object of the present disclosure is to provide a modular accessory connecting system for a headgear.

Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a modular accessory connecting system for a headgear that is simple to assemble and disassemble.

Still another object of the present disclosure is to provide a modular accessory connecting system that can be mounted on headgears/helmets without making any holes on the helmet shell.

Yet another object of the present disclosure is to provide a system that facilitates mounting of advanced military gadgets onto a headgear to make the wearer safe and efficient.

Still another object of the present disclosure is to provide a modular accessory connecting system that can be removably attached to a headgear, thereby enabling the wearer to be mission ready or to instantly reduce the weight of helmet by removing the side rails, shroud, and counterweights, whenever required. Yet another object of the present disclosure is to provide a modular accessory connecting system that eliminates the requirement of a separate fastening arrangement for connecting accessories.

Still another object of the present disclosure is to provide an accessory connecting system for a headgear that is modular in construction.

Yet another object of the present disclosure is to provide a modular accessory connecting system for a headgear that can be installed on helmet shells of different sizes.

Still another object of the present disclosure is to provide an accessory connecting system for a headgear that facilitates mounting of one or more counterweights thereon to compensate for the weight of mounted accessories and gadgets.

Other objects and advantages of the present disclosure will be more apparent from the following description, which is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure envisages a modular accessory connecting system for a headgear. The headgear may be selected from the group consisting of a ballistic helmet of Personnel Armor System for Ground Troops (PASGT), an Advanced Combat Helmet (ACH), and a Mid-cut or Hi-cut ACH Ballistic helmet.

The system comprises a band a frontal shroud, a pair of rails, counterweights, and a toggle ratchet. The band is detachably mounted on the headgear and encircles the headgear. The frontal shroud is detachably mounted on an operative front portion of the band. The rails comprise a left-side rail detachably connected to an operative left surface of the band and a right-side rail detachably connected to an operative right surface of the band. Each of the frontal shroud and the rails comprises a modular fixation mechanism to allow one or more accessories to be removably attached to the headgear. The counterweights are removably mounted on an operative back portion of the band. The toggle ratchet is configured to be mounted on an operative rear surface of the headgear for facilitating fastening and adjustable locking of the band on the headgear.

In an embodiment, the band is configured with at least one first slot, at least one projection, and at least one molded threaded insert.

In an embodiment, the modular fixation mechanism comprises at least one hook and at least one second slot. The hook is configured to fit into and slide on the at least one first slot of the band. The second slot is configured to allow the at least one projection of the band to pass therethrough for facilitating modular fixation of accessories onto the band.

In an embodiment, the counterweights have threaded projections which facilitate mounting on or removing of the counterweights from the band by screwing into or unscrewing from the molded threaded insert configured on the band.

In another embodiment, each of the counterweights is configured with a threaded hole at a top surface thereof for facilitating fitment of one or more other counter weights for increasing or decreasing the weight, as and when required.

Advantageously, the system includes a pocket fastened to the rear end of the headgear. The pocket may be used for accommodating additional counterweights to compensate for the weight of night vision devices and other front-mounted devices.

In an embodiment, the frontal shroud comprises a plurality of slots for facilitating mounting of a plurality of standard accessories. Further, each of the rails has a slotted track to facilitate one-hand mounting of standard military gadgets thereon.

The accessories that can be mounted include Night Vision Devices (NVD), lamps, ballistic visors, ballistic mandibles, and oxygen masks.

The band, the frontal shroud, the rails, the toggle ratchet and the counterweights are made of a material from the group consisting of polymer, elastomer, textile, rubber, metallic alloy, composites, carbon and hybrid composites. In an embodiment, the band comprises a plurality of damping elements configured on an operative interior surface thereof. The damping elements are configured to mate with the headgears of different contours. The damping elements can be made of a material selected from the group consisting of rubber, foam, polymers and elastomeric materials.

Advantageously, the toggle ratchet facilitates adjustable clamping and tightening of the band on the headgears of different sizes.

Advantageously, the system enables the headgear to be equipped with a ballistic visor to protect a wearer from lethal ammunitions.

Advantageously, the system enables the headgear to be equipped with a ballistic / non- ballistic mandible protector to ensure the protection of wearer’s face from several ballistic and non-ballistic threats ammunitions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ACCOMPANYING DRAWING

A modular accessory connecting system for a headgear of the present disclosure will now be described with the help of the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 shows an exploded view of a modular accessory connecting system for a headgear, in accordance with the present disclosure;

Figure 2 shows an isometric view of a band of the system of Figure 1;

Figure 3 shows a front view of the band of Figure 2;

Figure 4 shows a tops view of the band of Figure 2;

Figure 5 shows a side view of the band of Figure 2;

Figure 6 shows an isometric view of the system of Figure 1;

Figure 7 shows a top view of the system of Figure 1;

Figure 8 shows a side view of the system of Figure 1;

Figure 9 shows a front view of the system of Figure 1;

Figure 10 shows an isometric view of a frontal shroud of the system of Figure 1; Figure 11 shows a top view of the frontal shroud of Figure 10;

Figure 12 shows another isometric view of the frontal shroud of Figure 10;

Figure 13 shows a side view of the frontal shroud of Figure 10;

Figure 14 shows a rear view of the frontal shroud of Figure 10;

Figure 15 shows a front view of the frontal shroud of Figure 10;

Figure 16 shows a bottom view of the frontal shroud of Figure 10;

Figure 17 shows a front view of a left side rail of the system Figure 1;

Figure 18 shows a rear view of the left side rail of Figure 17;

Figure 19 shows a front view of a right side rail of the system Figure 1;

Figure 20 shows a rear view of the right side rail of Figure 19;

Figure 21 shows an isometric view of the headgear with a pocket at the rear end for holding counterweights;

Figure 22 shows a first isometric view of the band with a threaded insert for receiving a threaded projection of the counterweight;

Figure 23 shows a second isometric view of the band along with the counterweight having a threaded hole for attaching additional counterweights;

Figure 24 shows a semi-exploded right-hand side view of the band, rail and the frontal shroud of the system of Figure 1;

Figure 25 shows a semi-exploded left-hand side view of the band, rail and the frontal shroud of the system of Figure 1;

Figure 26 shows an isometric view of the headgear equipped with a ballistic visor; and

Figure 27 shows an isometric view of the headgear equipped with a ballistic/ non- ballistic mandible protector. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS USED IN DETAILED DESCRIPTION AND DRAWING

100 - System 5 - Headgear/ Helmet

10 - Band

11 - First slot

12 - Damping element

13 - Projections

14 - Threaded inserts

15 - Back J hook 18 - J-type hook 20 - Frontal shroud 22, 42 - Hooks

24, 44 - Second slots 25 - Ballistic visor 35 - Mandible protector 30 - Left-side rail 40 - Right-side rail 50 - Toggle ratchet 60 - Counterweights 62 - Threaded projections

64 - Threaded holes 70 - Pocket

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments, of the present disclosure, will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

Embodiments are provided so as to thoroughly and fully convey the scope of the present disclosure to the person skilled in the art. Numerous details, are set forth, relating to specific components, and methods, to provide a complete understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to the person skilled in the art that the details provided in the embodiments should not be construed to limit the scope of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, well-known processes, well-known apparatus structures, and well-known techniques are not described in detail.

The terminology used, in the present disclosure, is only for the purpose of explaining a particular embodiment and such terminology shall not be considered to limit the scope of the present disclosure. As used in the present disclosure, the forms "a,” "an," and "the" may be intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly suggests otherwise. The terms "comprises," "comprising," “including,” and “having,” are open ended transitional phrases and therefore specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, modules, units and/or components, but do not forbid the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

When an element is referred to as being "mounted on," “engaged to,” "connected to," or "coupled to" another element, it may be directly on, engaged, connected or coupled to the other element. As used herein, the term "and/or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed elements.

The currently available helmets/headgear shells have to be drilled with holes and provided with fastening means such as bolted joints and rivets to facilitate mounting/installation of accessories thereon. Such installations need to be made separately for each distinct helmet. Additionally, the conventional helmets do not facilitate modular installation of the accessories. This creates difficulty in the process of assembling as well as disassembling of the accessories.

Further, as a result of drilling or making holes in the helmet shells, the ballistic property of the shell gets compromised.

To overcome the aforementioned drawbacks, the present invention envisages a modular accessory connector system that is mounted on the helmet shells without making holes in the shells. Due to this, the ballistic property of the shells is enhanced. The modular accessory connecting system of the present disclosure (hereinafter referred to as “system 100”) for a headgear 5 is now being described with reference to Figures 1 through Figure 27.

Referring to Figures 1, 6 and 7, the modular accessory connecting system 100 for a headgear 5 comprises a band 10 detachably mounted on the headgear 5, a frontal shroud 20, a pair of rails (30, 40), counterweights 60, and a toggle ratchet 50.

The headgear 5 may be a ballistic helmet of Personnel Armor System for Ground Troops (PASGT), an Advanced Combat Helmet (ACH), or a Mid-cut or Hi-cut ACH Ballistic helmet. Additionally, the headgear 5 may be an article selected from the group consisting of, but not limited to, a hat, a helmet, a bandana, a skull cap, and a cloth worn by service personnel.

As shown in Figure 25, the band 10 includes at least one first J-type hook 18 for facilitating smooth fitment of band 10 on the headgear 5. Figures 2-5 illustrate various views of the band 10 of the system 100.

The toggle ratchet 50 is configured to be mounted on an operative rear surface of the headgear 5 for facilitating adjustable locking of the band 10 on the headgear 5.

The frontal shroud 20 is detachably mounted on an operative front portion of the band 10. The band 10 mounted with the frontal shroud 20 is shown in Figure 9. The rails (30, 40) comprise a left-side rail 30 detachably connected to an operative left surface of the band 10 and a right-side rail 40 detachably connected to an operative right surface of the band 10. Figure 8 shows the band 10 with the left-side rail 30 mounted thereon. Each of the frontal shroud 20 and the rails (30, 40) comprises a modular fixation mechanism to allow one or more accessories to be removably attached to the headgear 5. The accessories may include, but are not limited to, Night Vision Devices (NVD), lamps, ballistic visors, ballistic mandibles, and oxygen masks.

The counterweights 60 are removably mounted on an operative back portion of the band 10.

The band 10 of the system 100 allows the frontal shroud 20, the left-side rail 30, the rail 40, and the counterweights 60 to be quickly mounted thereon without using any metallic/ polymer screws and bolts or any external fastening methods like hook and loop, textile, fabric, adhesive, and the like.

With reference to Figures 22, 23, 24 and 25, the band 10 is configured with at least one first slot 11, at least one projection 13, and at least one molded threaded insert 14.

In an embodiment of Figures 24 and 25, the modular fixation mechanism comprises at least one hook (22, 42) and at least one second slot (24, 44). The hook (22, 42) is configured to fit into and slide on the at least one first slot 11 of the band 10. The second slot (24, 44) is configured to allow the at least one projection 13 of the band 10 to pass therethrough for facilitating modular fixation of accessories onto the band 10.

In an embodiment of Figures 22 and 23, the counterweights 60 have threaded projections 62 which facilitate mounting on or removing of the counterweights 60 from the band 10 by screwing into or unscrewing from the molded threaded insert 14 configured on the band 10. In another embodiment, the counterweights 60 have projections 62 which can be used to quickly mount them on or remove them from the band 10 by pushing them into or pulling them out of the molded insert 14 provided in band 10. Thus, the counterweights 60 can be quickly mounted or removed from the system 100 without using any tool.

Advantageously, the system 100 may include a back J hook 15 for providing support from the back edge of helmet 5. In another embodiment, each of the counterweights 60 is configured with a threaded hole 64 at a top surface thereof for facilitating fitment of one or more other counter weights 60 for increasing or decreasing the weight, as and when required.

In a further embodiment, with reference to Figure 21, the system 100 includes a pocket 70 fastened to the rear end of the headgear 5. The pocket 70 may be used for accommodating additional counterweights 60 to compensate for the weight of night vision devices and other front-mounted devices.

In an embodiment, the pocket 70 may be fitted at the rear end of the headgear 5 with the help of a hock- loop. In another embodiment, the pocket 70 may be configured with one or more projections. The band 10 may be configured with one or more threaded holes for receiving the projections of the pocket 70 therein.

In an exemplary embodiment, a wearer may first wear the headgear 5. Then the wearer may, using the toggle ratchet 50, clamp and tighten the band 10 on to the headgear 5. After adjusting the band 10 on the headgear 5, the wearer may attach/ affix the frontal shroud 20 and the rails (30, 40) on the band 10. For facilitating this attachment, the band 10 is provided with the first slots 11 and the projection 13. The frontal shroud has hooks 22 which fit into and slide on the first slots 11 of the band 10. The frontal shroud 20 further has the second slot 24 which allows the projections 13 of the band 10 to pass therethrough. Similarly, the left and right rails (30, 40) have the hooks 42 which fit into and slide on the first slots 11 of the band 10. The rails (30, 40) further have the second slot 44 which allow the projections 13 of the band 10 to pass therethrough. Thus, the frontal shroud 20 and the rails (30, 40) may be snap-fitted to the band 10, which is in turn affixed on the headgear 5. The wearer may attach accessories or gadgets onto the frontal shroud 20 and the rails (30, 40) as per the requirement. To balance the weight of the attached accessories, the wearer may attach counterweights 60 to the band 10. The counterweights 60 may be attached by screwing them into the molded threaded inserts 14 on the rear side of the band 10 or by accommodating the counterweights 60 into the pocket 70 fitted on the rear end of the headgear 5.

The entire assembly including the band 10, the left-side and right-side rails (30, 40), the frontal shroud 20 and the counterweights 60 can be attached or removed from helmet 5 without using any tolls. Thus, there is no requirement of drilling holes into the helmet 5. Due to this, the ballistic property of the helmet 5 is enhanced considerably. Also, the system 100 gives the liberty to a wearer to be mission ready by attaching accessories to the headgear 5 or to reduce the weight of headgear 5 instantly in order to increase the capability of wearer, whenever required.

As shown in Figures 10-16, the frontal shroud 20 comprises a plurality of slots for facilitating mounting of a plurality of standard accessories. Similarly, each of the rails (30, 40) has a slotted track, as shown in Figures 17-20, to facilitate one- hand mounting of standard military gadgets thereon.

The band 10, the frontal shroud 20, the rails (30, 40), the toggle ratchet 50 and the counterweights 60 can be made of a material from the group consisting of polymer, elastomer, textile, rubber, metallic alloy, composites, carbon and hybrid composites.

Advantageously, the toggle ratchet 50 facilitates adjustable clamping and tightening of the band 10 on headgears 5 of different sizes.

In an embodiment, the band 10 comprises a plurality of damping elements 12 configured on an operative interior surface thereof. The damping elements 12 are configured to mate with the headgears 5 of different contours. The damping elements 12 may be made of a material selected from the group consisting of rubber, foam, polymers and elastomeric materials.

Advantageously, as shown in Figures 26 and 27, the system 100 enables the headgear 5 to be equipped with a ballistic visor 25 to protect a wearer from lethal ammunitions such as .44 magnum, 9x19 mm Full Metal Jacket (FMJ) and various other fragments and projectiles. Further, the system 100 enables the headgear 5 to be equipped with a ballistic/ non- ballistic mandible protector 35 to ensure the protection of wearer’s face from several ballistic and non-ballistic threats such as 7.62 caliber, .44 magnum, 9x19 mm FMJ, pelting stones, sticks, and grenades. Both visor and mandible have multiple open positions to fulfill the requirements of user as shown in Figure 27. The technical advancement of the system 100 lies in its modular construction which enables users to easily attach or remove accessories/ gadgets from a headgear. Thus, the system 100 provides the advantage of ease of assembly as well as disassembly of the components without requiring an external fastening arrangement. Additionally, the system 100 allows weight of the headgear 5 to be adjusted instantly based on the requirement of the wearer by removing or demounting unwanted accessories from the headgear 5. Moreover, the system 100 is versatile/ flexible and can be mounted on various helmet shells of different sizes/contours and meant for different applications.

The system 100 is simple in construction and robust and caters to several environmental, demographical and situational challenges such as temperature extremes hot and cold both, humidity, ultraviolet exposures, impact, shock, vibration, ageing/deterioration and degradation caused by various fungal and microbiological microorganisms, and low intensity fires in order to provide efficient and uncompromised protection.

The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Individual components of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, are interchangeable. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the present disclosure, and all such modifications are considered to be within the scope of the present disclosure.

TECHNICAL ADVANCES AND ECONOMICAL SIGNIFICANCE

The present disclosure described herein above has several technical advantages including, but not limited to, the realization of a modular accessory connecting system for a headgear that:

• is simple to assemble and disassemble;

• can be mounted on headgears/helmets without making any holes on the helmet shell, thereby enhancing the ballistic property of the helmet shell; • facilitates mounting of advanced military gadgets onto a headgear to make the wearer safe and efficient;

• can be removably attached to a headgear, thereby enabling the wearer to be mission ready or to reduce the weight of helmet whenever required;

• eliminates the requirement of a separate fastener arrangement for connecting accessories;

• is modular in construction;

• facilitates mounting of one or more counterweights thereon to compensate for the weight of mounted accessories and gadgets; and

• can be installed on helmet shells of different sizes.

The foregoing description of the specific embodiments so fully reveals the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.

Throughout this specification the word “comprise”, or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising”, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps. The use of the expression “at least” or “at least one” suggests the use of one or more elements or ingredients or quantities, as the use may be in the embodiment of the disclosure to achieve one or more of the desired objects or results.

Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like that has been included in this specification is solely for the purpose of providing a context for the disclosure. It is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form a part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the disclosure as it existed anywhere before the priority date of this application.

While considerable emphasis has been placed herein on the components and component parts of the preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated that many embodiments can be made and that many changes can be made in the preferred embodiments without departing from the principles of the disclosure. These and other changes in the preferred embodiment as well as other embodiments of the disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein, whereby it is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the disclosure and not as a limitation.