Accessory attachment system for a helmet

Abstract

An accessory attachment system for a helmet and its method of use are disclosed. The accessory attachment system for the helmet may include a base configured for attachment to a helmet and an accessory attachment portion associated with the base. The accessory attachment portion may be configured to selectively attach at least one accessory. The accessory attachment portion may also be automatically secured at, and selectively movable between, at least a first predetermined position and a second predetermined position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An accessory attachment system for a helmet, comprising:
 a base configured for attachment to the helmet; and   an accessory attachment portion associated with the base and configured to selectively attach to at least one accessory, wherein the accessory attachment portion is automatically secured at, and selectively movable between, at least a first predetermined position and a second predetermined position.   
     
     
         2 . The accessory attachment system of  claim 1 , wherein the accessory attachment portion is selectively movable between at least the first and second predetermined positions in at least one of a rotational, up-down, and sideways directions. 
     
     
         3 . The accessory attachment system of  claim 1 , wherein the accessory attachment portion is automatically secured at each position until a force greater than a preselected retention force is applied to the accessory attachment portion. 
     
     
         4 . The accessory attachment system of  claim 1 , wherein the accessory attachment portion further includes a rail system to selectively attach to the at least one accessory. 
     
     
         5 . The accessory attachment system of  claim 1 , wherein the accessory attachment portion further includes at least one detent mechanism to selectively secure the accessory attachment portion in each of the at least first and second predetermined positions. 
     
     
         6 . The accessory attachment system of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one detent mechanism includes a first number of indentations and a second number of biased plungers, where the first number is greater than the second number. 
     
     
         7 . The accessory attachment system of  claim 5  wherein the at least one detent mechanism includes a series of indentations in a first pattern and a series of biased plungers in a second pattern, wherein the first pattern is different than the second pattern. 
     
     
         8 . The accessory attachment system of  claim 1 , wherein the accessory attachment portion extends from an end of the base. 
     
     
         9 . The accessory attachment system of  claim 8 , wherein the accessory attachment portion and the base form a dogleg shape. 
     
     
         10 . The accessory attachment system of  claim 1 , wherein the accessory attachment portion includes a mount, a boss associated with the mount, and a rotatable platform disposed on the boss. 
     
     
         11 . The accessory attachment system of  claim 10  further comprising at least one detent mechanism integrated between the mount and the rotatable platform to automatically secure the accessory attachment portion at each of the at least first and second predetermined positions. 
     
     
         12 . The accessory attachment system of  claim 1  wherein at least a portion of a first end of the base is contiguous with at least a portion of a second end of the accessory attachment portion, the portion of the first end being convex or concave and the portion of the second end being the other of convex or concave. 
     
     
         13 . The accessory attachment system of  claim 1  further including a helmet, and wherein the base is attached to the helmet. 
     
     
         14 . An accessory attachment system for a helmet, comprising:
 a base configured to mount to the helmet, the base including an elongated slot extending there through for receiving a fastener;   a platform including a rail system for attaching to an accessory;   a mount supporting the platform for movement between a first predetermined position and a second predetermined position, wherein the mount extends obliquely away from the base.   
     
     
         15 . The accessory attachment system of  claim 14 , wherein the base and mount have a dogleg shape. 
     
     
         16 . The accessory attachment system of  claim 14 , wherein the mount is integral with the base. 
     
     
         17 . The accessory attachment system of  claim 14 , wherein the platform is arranged for rotational movement relative to the mount between the first predetermined position and the second predetermined position. 
     
     
         18 . The accessory attachment system of  claim 14 , wherein the platform is automatically secured in the first predetermined position and the second predetermined position. 
     
     
         19 . The accessory attachment system of  claim 14 , wherein an end of the platform closest to the base has a concave or convex shape and an end of the base closest to the platform has the other of a concave or convex shape. 
     
     
         20 . A method comprising:
 providing a helmet including an accessory attachment system, wherein an accessory is mounted to the accessory attachment system;   donning the helmet on a wearer's head; and   moving the accessory attachment system, while the accessory is mounted thereto and the helmet is on the wearer's head, from a first predetermined position to a second predetermined position.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the moving act includes at least one of rotatably moving, moving non-rotatably in a front-to-rear direction of the helmet, and moving non-rotatably in a bottom-to-top direction of the helmet. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the moving act includes rotating the accessory attachment system from between 10° to 45°. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20 , further including the act of automatically locking the accessory attachment portion in the predetermined second predetermined position. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the moving step includes moving the accessory attachment portion rotatably and at least one of linearly and non-linearly.