Headborne Integration System

Abstract

An attachment platform for attachment to a helmet having at least four suspension mounting holes, includes a front section, a left side section, and a right side section. A plurality of primary fasteners are provided for mounting in the four suspension mounting holes of the helmet. The front section of the platform is securable alone to the helmet, by a first two of the primary fasteners extending into a first two of the mounting holes of the helmet. The front section and the side sections of the platform are securable together to the helmet, by the first two of the primary fasteners extending into the first two mounting holes of the helmet and by a second two of the primary fasteners extending into the second two mounting holes of the helmet. A novel mandible and face shield with attachment stems are provided.

1 . An attachment platform for attachment to a helmet having at least four suspension mounting holes, the platform comprising:
 a front section;   a left side section;   a right side section that is substantially a mirror image of the left side section; and   a plurality of primary fasteners for mounting in the four suspension mounting holes of the helmet;   the front section of the platform being securable alone to the helmet, by a first two of the primary fasteners extending into a first two of the mounting holes of the helmet;   the front section and the side sections of the platform being securable together to the helmet, by the first two of the primary fasteners extending into the first two mounting holes of the helmet and by a second two of the primary fasteners extending into the second two mounting holes of the helmet.   
   
   
       2 . Apparatus as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the front platform section includes a portion configured for mounting night vision goggles. 
   
   
       3 . Apparatus as set forth in  claim 2  having a recess within the goggles portion for receiving a name/rank plate. 
   
   
       4 . Apparatus as set forth in  claim 1  wherein each one of the left and right side platform sections has receptacles for releasably receiving stems of a mandible. 
   
   
       5 . Apparatus as set forth in  claim 4  further including a mandible having stems for releasable locking connection with the left and right side sections of the platform, the mandible having a rigid frame and having a soft portion of ballistic material for enabling sighting of a long arm with a telescopic sight. 
   
   
       6 . Apparatus as set forth in  claim 1  wherein each one of the left and right side sections has receptacles for releasably receiving supporting arms of a face shield. 
   
   
       7 . Apparatus as set forth in  claim 6  wherein each one of the left and right side sections has receptacles for releasably lockably receiving supporting arms of a mandible and a face shield. 
   
   
       8 . Apparatus as set forth in  claim 1  wherein at least one of the sections releasably supports a picatinny rail. 
   
   
       9 . Apparatus as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the helmet is an LWH helmet or an ACH/MICH helmet. 
   
   
       10 . Apparatus as set forth in  claim 1  further including a plurality of nuts press fit in recesses in the platform sections for supporting items on the helmet. 
   
   
       11 . Apparatus for attaching a plurality of different items to a helmet, comprising:
 an attachment platform for supporting the plurality of different items and that can be secured to the helmet by a first plurality of fasteners;   a plurality of nuts on the platform; and   a second plurality of fasteners extendable through fastener openings in the items into threaded engagement with the nuts, thereby to attach the items to the helmet.   
   
   
       12 . Apparatus as set forth in  claim 11  wherein the platform has an outer surface and an inner surface, the plurality of nuts on the platform are fitted into recesses formed on the inner surface of the platform, and the platform has through holes extending between the recesses and the platform outer surface for receiving the second plurality of fasteners. 
   
   
       13 . Apparatus as set forth in  claim 12  wherein the recesses have non-circular shapes that are complementary to the shapes of the nuts thereby to prevent rotation of the nuts in the recesses. 
   
   
       14 . Apparatus as set forth in  claim 12  wherein the nuts are press fit in the recesses. 
   
   
       15 . Apparatus as set forth in  claim 11  wherein the nuts are press fit in the platform. 
   
   
       16 . Apparatus as set forth in  claim 11  wherein the platform is a three piece platform including a front section and separate left and right side sections, and wherein the nuts are press fit in one or more of the platform sections. 
   
   
       17 . Apparatus as set forth in  claim 11  wherein:
 the attachment platform is a three piece platform including a front section and separate left and right side sections;   the platform has an outer surface and an inner surface, the plurality of nuts on the platform are fitted into recesses formed on the inner surface of one or more sections of the platform, and the platform has through holes extending between the recesses and the platform outer surface for receiving the second plurality of fasteners;   the recesses have non-circular shapes that are complementary to the shapes of the nuts thereby to prevent rotation of the nuts in the recesses; and   the nuts are press fit in the recesses in the platform.   
   
   
       18 . Apparatus comprising a mandible for attachment to a helmet, the mandible comprising:
 a hard structural frame having a pocket, and a soft ballistic textile panel in a pocket of the frame, the placement of the pocket being selected to allow the sighting of a rifle without inhibiting target acquisition time.   
   
   
       19 . Apparatus as set forth in  claim 18  further comprising additional structural material separate from the mandible and adapted to be secured in the pocket of the frame to provide additional user protection. 
   
   
       20 . Apparatus as set forth in  claim 18  further comprising an attachment platform for attaching the mandible to the helmet, the attachment platform having left and right mandible receptacles, the mandible having left and right stems that plug into the left and right mandible receptacles, respectively, of the attachment platform, to releasably lock the mandible onto the platform. 
   
   
       21 . Apparatus as set forth in  claim 20  wherein the stems and the receptacles cooperate to provide at least two positions of locking engagement of the mandible on the platform. 
   
   
       22 . Apparatus as set forth in  claim 21  wherein the mandible is releasable from the platform using a one-hand operation. 
   
   
       23 . Apparatus as set forth in  claim 22  wherein the mandible has a switch for actuating a release mechanism for simultaneously releasing both stems from locking engagement with the receptacles to enable removal of the mandible from the platform. 
   
   
       24 . Apparatus as set forth in  claim 20  wherein the left and right mandible receptacles are on left and right side sections, respectively, of the attachment platform, at positions selected to be adjacent to a user's ear when the helmet is being worn by a user. 
   
   
       25 . Apparatus for supporting a plurality of different user items at different locations on a military helmet having suspension mounting holes, comprising:
 a platform having at least two fastener openings for receiving primary fasteners for engaging in the suspension mounting holes of the helmet thereby to fasten the platform to the helmet;   the platform having at least two spaced apart platform portions adapted to receive and support at least two different user items at spaced apart locations on the platform and on the helmet.   
   
   
       26 . Apparatus as set forth in  claim 25  wherein a first one of the platform portions is a night vision goggle mounting portion of the platform, and a second one of the platform portions has at least two press fit nuts for supporting a second item, different from the night vision goggles, on the second platform portion. 
   
   
       27 . Apparatus as set forth in  claim 25  wherein a first one of the platform portions has at least two press fit nuts for supporting a first item on the first platform portion. and a second one of the platform portions has at least two press fit nuts for supporting a second item, different from the first item, on the second platform portion. 
   
   
       28 . Apparatus as set forth in  claim 25  wherein the platform includes a front section, a left side section, and a right side section that is substantially a mirror image of the left side section, the front section of the platform being securable alone to the helmet, by fasteners engaging in two of the suspension mounting holes of the helmet, and the front section and the side sections of the platform being securable together to the helmet by fasteners engaging in four of the suspension mounting holes of the helmet.