Adaptor platform for helmet

Abstract

A mounting system for mounting a plurality of devices to a helmet. The mounting system comprises a mounting halo secured around the helmet, at least one rail rotatably mounted to the halo and adapted to secure a device thereto, and an adaptor bracket mounted to a rear of the helmet. The adaptor bracket is adapted to receive therein a device whose weight counterbalances the weight of night vision equipment secured to the front of the helmet.

1 . A mounting system for attaching a plurality of devices to a protective ballistic helmet, at least a selected one of the plurality of devices comprising a rail mating portion, the adaptor platform comprising:
 a mounting halo secured around the helmet;   a standardized Picatinny rail rotatably mounted to said halo adjacent a side of the helmet, said rail extending along a longitudinal axis and rotatable relative to said halo about an axis substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, and   a mechanism for releasably securing said rail at a selected angle of rotation;   wherein said rail has formed on an outer surface thereof a device mating portion complementary with the rail mating portion, said device mating portion adapted to be engaged by the rail mating portion for removably attaching the at least one device to said rail.   
   
   
       2 . The mounting system of  claim 1 , further comprising an adaptor bracket releasably secured to said halo adjacent a rear of the helmet, said adaptor bracket comprising an equipment receiving plate adapted to receive the plurality of devices therein and a pair of mounting plates extending laterally inward from opposite edges of said equipment receiving plate for releasably mounting said adaptor bracket to said halo. 
   
   
       3 . The mounting system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one device is removably attached to said rail by sliding the at least one device over said rail in a direction of said longitudinal axis. 
   
   
       4 . The mounting system of  claim 1 , wherein said mechanism for releasably securing said rail at a selected angle of rotation comprises a ratchet mounted between an outer surface of said halo and an inner surface of said rail for rotatably mounting said rail to said halo, said ratchet limiting said selected angle to one of a plurality of discrete predetermined angles. 
   
   
       5 . The mounting system of  claim 4 , wherein a rotary movement of said base enables the at least one device attached to said rail to be lowered relative to said halo over a range of downwards positions or raised relative to said halo over a range of upwards positions, and further wherein the at least one device is lockable in at least one of said downwards positions and at least one of said upwards positions. 
   
   
       6 . The mounting system of  claim 1 , wherein said device mating portion is a male member and the rail mating portion is a complementary channel-shaped female member. 
   
   
       7 . The mounting system of  claim 1 , wherein a second one of said rail is rotatably mounted to said halo adjacent a second side of the helmet, said second side opposite to said side. 
   
   
       8 . The mounting system of  claim 1 , wherein said halo comprises a plurality of attachment means for attaching the plurality of devices thereto. 
   
   
       9 . The mounting system of  claim 1 , further comprising a bracket secured to said halo adjacent a front of the helmet for supporting night vision equipment. 
   
   
       10 . A counterweight for a night vision goggle mounted to a front of a protective ballistic helmet, the counterweight comprising:
 an adaptor bracket comprising an equipment receiving plate and a pair of mounting plates extending laterally inward from opposite edges of said equipment receiving plate for releasably mounting said adaptor bracket to a rear of the helmet; and   a ballast secured to said equipment receiving plate.   
   
   
       11 . The counterweight of  claim 10 , wherein said adaptor bracket is positioned adjacent an edge of the helmet. 
   
   
       12 . The counterweight of  claim 10 , wherein said equipment receiving plate comprises at least one attachment means for securing said ballast to said equipment receiving plate. 
   
   
       13 . The counterweight of  claim 12 , wherein said ballast is a battery pack powering the night vision goggle. 
   
   
       14 . The counterweight of  claim 13 , wherein a battery pack adaptor is secured to said equipment receiving plate using said at least one attachment means prior to securing said battery pack to said adaptor. 
   
   
       15 . An adaptor bracket for mounting to a rear of a protective ballistic helmet and receiving a plurality of devices, the adaptor bracket comprising:
 an equipment receiving plate comprising at least one attachment means for releasably attaching at least one of the plurality of devices thereto; and   a pair of mounting plates extending laterally inward from opposite edges of said equipment receiving plate for releasably mounting said adaptor bracket to the rear of the helmet.   
   
   
       16 . The adaptor bracket of  claim 15 , wherein each of said mounting plates comprises at an end thereof a threaded elongate bore adapted to receive therein a fastener and to have aligned therewith an aperture machined into the rear of the helmet, wherein said fastener is tightened into said aligned bore and aperture for releasably securing said mounting plate to the rear of the helmet. 
   
   
       17 . The adaptor bracket of  claim 16 , wherein a positioning of said adaptor bracket relative to the rear of the helmet is adjustable by adjusting a positioning of said fastener in said bore. 
   
   
       18 . The adaptor bracket of  claim 15 , wherein the adaptor bracket is shaped to conform to a contour of the rear of the helmet so as to snugly fit against the rear of the helmet when mounted thereon. 
   
   
       19 . The adaptor bracket of  claim 15 , wherein the adaptor bracket is spaced from the rear of the helmet when mounted thereon. 
   
   
       20 . The adaptor bracket of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of devices is selected from the group consisting of light sources, battery backs, adaptors, and counterweights.