BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to a modular interface for a helmet and, in particular, to a modular helmet mount system to accommodate the mounting of various accessory devices to a protective helmet such as a ballistic combat helmet or other protective helmet or headgear.

Prior art helmet mounting systems commonly rely on one or more holes formed in the helmet for attaching a night vision mounting system. Exemplary hole patterns include single-hole patterns, such as the Standard One-Hole pattern, multiple-hole patterns, such as the Standard Three-Hole pattern.

Ballistic helmets derive their ballistic protection from a shell formed of highly consolidated layers of polymer impregnated aramid fiber (e.g., Kevlar fabric impregnated with a polyvinyl butyral (PVB)-phenolic resin). When one or more holes are drilled in the shell, the ballistic integrity is compromised, both because of the voids such holes create in the ballistic structure, as well as because of the ability of moisture to infiltrate the composite material at the site of the hole and cause separation of the ballistic plies over time.

When holes are drilled in the ballistic shell, the ballistic integrity of the shell may be compromised. This can be mitigated somewhat when the holes are drilled by the manufacturer at the factory before the shells are sprayed with a sealant finish to insure the holes are sealed from moisture, which would otherwise cause the ballistic fabric layers to separate over time and lose their ballistic protective properties. Nonetheless, even when properly sealed at the factory, the underlying ballistic structure of the helmet is weakened where the holes are drilled and must be mitigated by the use of ballistic grade mounting hardware, including, e.g., the threaded inserts bonded into the holes by the manufacturer and ballistic screws used for securing hardware to the helmet, even when the holes are not being used.

Sometimes it is desired to attach mounting hardware to a helmet that has been predrilled with a hole pattern differing from the hole pattern of the mounting hardware. In such cases, a user will drill new holes to accommodate the mounting hardware. Drilling new holes disrupts the sealant finish on the helmet, which may allow the ballistic fabric layers to separate due to moisture absorption, and weakens the composite structure of the helmet. When holes are drilled by the end user, there is also a risk that the holes may not be in the correct position on the helmet.

The present disclosure contemplates a new and improved helmet mounting interface and method which does not require holes to be drilled in the ballistic shell of the helmet.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, a helmet mount system for attaching a device to a helmet comprises a mounting cleat having an outer portion and a threaded insert within a cavity formed in the outer portion. The outer portion has an inward facing surface configured to receive an adhesive layer for coupling the inward facing surface to the helmet surface.

In another aspect, a helmet mount system for attaching a device to a helmet comprises one or more mounting cleats, each of the one or more mounting cleats having an outer portion and a threaded insert received within a cavity formed in the outer portion. The outer portion of the mounting cleats have inward facing surfaces configured to receive an adhesive layer for coupling the inward facing surface to a surface of the helmet.

In yet another aspect, a helmet mount system for attaching a device to a helmet comprises a mounting cleat, the mounting cleat having an outer portion and a threaded insert received within a cavity formed in the outer portion. The outer portion has an inward facing surface configured to receive an adhesive layer for coupling the inward facing surface to a surface of the helmet. A securing member has a back surface, the back surface configured to couple to a surface of the helmet via an adhesive bond.

One advantage of the present development is that it does not require holes to be drilled through the ballistic shell of the helmet, thereby maintaining ballistic integrity of the helmet.

Another advantage resides in adaptability for interchangeably attaching a variety of devices to be mounted, including without limitation, night vision devices, battery packs, illuminating devices, friend foe systems, rail-type accessory mounts including Picatinny, NATO Accessory Rail (NAR), Standardization Agreement (STANAG) 2324 rail, MIL-STD 1913 rail, and other rail-type mounts, to provide a modular helmet system.

Another advantage of the present helmet mounting interface system is that it is independent of the helmet material and the geometric shape and size of the helmet.

Still another advantage of the present system resides in its relatively low profile, which reduces the snag hazards associated with the mounting interface, and which snag hazard is further mitigated with removable covers.

Yet another advantage of the present development is that it is readily amenable to standardization, which enables it to define a common interface that multiple manufactures can design to, thereby further increasing the modularity of the system and the range of accessory options available. Just as the Picatinny weapon rail interface standard has greatly increased intercompatibility among weapon-mounted accessory devices, it is contemplated that the present development can be standardized to increase intercompatibility among helmet-mounted accessory devices.

