U.S. patent application number 14/969482 was filed with the patent office on 2016-04-14 for versatile protective helmet applique assembly.
The applicant listed for this patent is Velocity Systems LLC. Invention is credited to David B. Strum.
Application Number | 20160102948 14/969482 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47741505 |
Filed Date | 2016-04-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160102948 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Strum; David B. |
April 14, 2016 |
Versatile Protective Helmet Applique Assembly
Abstract
The helmet applique assembly of the present invention permits a
helmet wearer to upgrade the ballistic prevention capabilities of a
traditional helmet quickly and efficiently. The helmet applique can
be provided as part of a helmet applique system and/or assembly
that includes an internal-side connection for attaching to a helmet
and an external-side connection for receiving any of various
external items such as identification tags, mounts and external
equipment or attachments. The applique element can comprise various
types of material, including, for example, ultra-high molecular
weight polyethylene (UHMWPE).
Inventors: |
Strum; David B.;
(Amissville, VA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Velocity Systems LLC |
Dulles |
VA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
47741505 |
Appl. No.: |
14/969482 |
Filed: |
December 15, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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13594964 |
Aug 27, 2012 |
9222758 |
|
|
14969482 |
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|
61527671 |
Aug 26, 2011 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
2/2.5 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41H 1/04 20130101; A42B
3/003 20130101; A42B 3/18 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F41H 1/04 20060101
F41H001/04 |
Claims
1. A helmet applique for attachment to a helmet, comprising: a
ballistic applique element having a front profile edge and a rear
profile edge, wherein the front profile edge is formed with a
substantially U-shaped opening so as to avoid impeding the use of a
helmet attachment, wherein the applique element is semi-rigid and
includes ballistic material hermetically sealed and encapsulated
within a fabric material.
2. A helmet applique, comprising: a ballistic applique element
having a front profile edge, a rear profile edge and two side
profile edges, wherein the side profile edges are curved so as to
provide relief around edge attachments of the helmet, and wherein
the front profile edge is formed with a substantially U-shaped
opening so as to avoid impeding the use of a helmet attachment,
wherein the applique element further comprises ballistic material
hermetically sealed and encapsulated within a fabric material, and
wherein the ballistic material comprises one of: ultra-high
molecular weight polyethylene, aramid fibers, ceramics,
polycarbonate material.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application is a continuation of U.S.
application Ser. No. 13/594,964 filed Aug. 27, 2012, entitled
"Versatile Protective Helmet Applique System", which claims
priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/527,671,
filed Aug. 26, 2011 and entitled "Protective Helmet Applique System
and Method."
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention pertains to armor-enhanced headwear,
and more particularly to an armor-enhanced helmet applique assembly
including a helmet applique that is comfortable, balanced,
detachable, versatile and which protects the head from projectiles
such as ballistic projections.
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Military and law enforcement personnel have employed
armor-enhanced clothing in order to protect their bodies from
gunfire, shrapnel, explosive devices and other harmful ballistic
objects. Such personnel have further employed armor-enhanced
helmets in an effort to block ballistic objects from penetrating
traditional helmets and producing injury or grave damage to the
head of the wearer. However, prior armor-enhanced helmets are
typically heavy and awkward to wear, often causing undue neck
fatigue and even injury to the wearer.
[0004] The present invention provides a helmet applique assembly
including a helmet applique that is lighter weight, and attachable
to an existing helmet to cover one or more areas of an otherwise
exposed helmet. The applique element of the present invention can
be suitably relieved in areas where no ballistic protection is
required, or where ballistic protection would otherwise impede
certain functions of the helmet and the wearer's desired functional
capabilities. The applique element of the present invention can
comprise various types of material, including, for example, ultra
high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), aramid fibers,
ceramics, polycarbonate, steel or a combination of two or more such
materials. The applique assembly of the present invention further
includes one or more underside attachment member types for
attaching the applique to a helmet, and can optionally include one
or more external-side attachment or connector members for attaching
other articles to the outside of the applique element. Accordingly,
the applique system and/or assembly of the present invention
increases the protection level of a helmet in a specific area or
areas as a mission or threat dictates by allowing the applique
element to be donned or doffed as needed, and thereby does not
require the additional weight of the applique element to be
permanent.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] FIG. 1 is a top right perspective view of one embodiment of
the applique assembly of the present invention in position on a
helmet.
[0006] FIGS. 2 and 3 are front views of photographs of the applique
assembly of the present invention as removed from a secured
position on a helmet.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0007] As shown in FIG. 1, one embodiment of the helmet applique
assembly 30 of the present invention includes a helmet applique
element 10 attached to an underlying helmet 15. The helmet 15 can
be provided with various attachments such as a night vision device
mount 20 and a rail system 25. The rail system permits the helmet
to attach necessary or desirable articles such as lighting, camera
or other accessories as is known in the art. The applique element
10 is formed and shaped so as to avoid impeding the use and
functionality of the night vision device mount 20 and rail system
25, and can further be designed in alternative embodiments to
extend further or less in a given direction depending upon the
specific underlying helmet involved.
[0008] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the ballistic applique
element 10 of the present invention includes an external surface 12
and an internal surface in between the element 10 and the helmet
15, a front profile edge 13, a rear profile edge 14 and two side
profile edges 16, wherein the side profile edges are curved so as
to provide relief around edge attachments 25 of the helmet. The
front profile edge 13 can be formed so as to provide an opening 17
in a variety of shapes, such as rectangular, square and/or
U-shaped. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the front profile edge
13 is formed so as to provide a substantially U-shaped opening 17
in the applique element. The applique element 10 can comprise
ballistic material hermetically sealed and encapsulated within a
fabric material, wherein the ballistic material comprises one or
more of: ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, aramid fibers,
ceramics, polycarbonate material, and/or steel as described
above.
[0009] In one embodiment of the present invention, the helmet
applique assembly 30 further includes one or more connector members
secured to the internal surface of the applique element 10, with
the connector members being capable of secure engagement with one
or more counterpart connector members of the helmet 15. For
instance, hook-and-loop type fasteners, straps, snaps and other
similar attachment means can be employed. It will be appreciated
that the fastener elements can be directly secured to the fabric
material described above.
[0010] In a specific embodiment, a hook or loop fastener strip,
with adhesive on one side and hook or loop fasteners on the other,
is adhered to the internal surface of the applique element 10, such
that the adhesive side is pressed against the internal surface of
the applique element and the hook or loop side faces outwardly. A
counterpart loop or hook strip can be similarly applied to an
underlying helmet (such as helmet 15) in order to be able to
securely retain the strip affixed to the internal surface of the
applique element. It will be appreciated that multiple hook or loop
strips can be secured to the internal surface of the applique
element in locations deemed most suitable to create a secure but
releasable fit with the underlying helmet. Such an arrangement is
illustrated in the embodiments of the present invention shown in
FIGS. 2 and 3, wherein the helmet applique element 10 includes
fasteners 35 secured to the internal surface 32 thereof, and these
fasteners 35 are aligned so as to mate with counter fastener
elements 40 on the exterior surface 42 of helmet 15. When element
10 is desired to be donned, it can be attached to helmet 15 by
aligning fasteners 35 with fasteners 40, and when element 10 is
desired to be doffed, it can be lifted with sufficient pressure
from helmet 15 in order to overcome the retention strength of the
fasteners, thereby allowing element 10 to be removed.
[0011] As an alternative to hook or loop strips, the present
invention can use other connector member types, such as male or
female snap members secured to the internal surface of the applique
element, and positioned so as to mate with the counterpart female
or male snap members on the outer surface of the helmet. As a
further alternative, the connector member types can comprise one or
more straps that can be secured to the underlying helmet in known
fashion.
[0012] In the embodiment of the present invention as shown in FIG.
1, the helmet applique element 10 is applied to the frontal lobe of
the helmet. However, it will be appreciated that the helmet
applique element 10 can cover different or additional areas of the
helmet depending upon intended use and anticipated threat or
mission. Further, it will be appreciated that multiple helmet
applique elements can be employed on the same helmet when
desirable.
[0013] In one embodiment of the present invention, one or more
connector members on the internal side of the applique element 10
are evenly distributed across the helmet applique so as to mate
with appropriate mating attachment elements distributed across the
helmet. In another embodiment of the present invention, the helmet
applique element is provided as part of a helmet applique system
kit or assembly, wherein the kit includes alternative attachment
members for selection and use by the wearer or assembly personnel.
Such an assembly can further include elements that can readily be
secured to a helmet that may otherwise be incapable of receiving
the helmet applique element of the present invention. For example,
the kit can include strips of loop-type fasteners with an adhesive
substance on one side and loop fasteners on the other, such that
the adhesive side can be secured to the helmet, leaving the loop
fasteners exposed and available for receiving mating hook fasteners
secured to the underside of the helmet applique element. Similarly,
such an assembly or kit can include one or more attachment
components for attaching external elements to the external side of
the applique element 10. For instance, a loop-type fastener strip
with adhesive on one side can be secured to an identification tag
via the adhesive side, and the loop-type fastener side can then be
exposed for securing to a hook-type fastener on the external side
of the applique element 10.
[0014] The applique element of the present invention can be quickly
donned and doffed through the use of the attachment components of
the present invention. When not in position on a helmet, one
embodiment of the applique element 10 of the present invention is
semi-rigid and can be stored in stand-alone or stacked fashion.
[0015] The present invention thus provides a helmet applique
assembly including a helmet applique element that is lighter
weight, and attachable to an existing helmet to cover one or more
areas of an otherwise exposed helmet. As described above, the
present invention can be suitably relieved in areas where no
ballistic protection is required, or where ballistic protection
would otherwise impede certain functions of the helmet and the
wearer's desired functional capabilities. The applique element of
the present invention can comprise various types of ballistic
material, including, for example, ultra high molecular weight
polyethylene (UHMWPE), aramid fibers, ceramics, polycarbonate, or a
combination of two or more such materials. In one embodiment of the
present invention, the applique element can be provided in form
similar to a "soft armor" product, wherein the ballistic material
is hermetically RF heat sealed and encapsulated within a fabric
material (e.g., Cordura.TM.) in order to maintain ballistic
integrity in wet or sandy environments.
[0016] The invention may be embodied in other specific forms
without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics
thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in
all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the
invention being indicated by the claims of the application rather
than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come
within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are
therefore intended to be embraced therein.
* * * * *