Helmet mounted night vision apparatus and method of separation
US5367402A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 14, 1992 |
| Grant date | Nov 22, 1994 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 14, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B23/125
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A helmet mounted night vision device for a pilot that is automatically propelled away from the pilot before the pilot ejects from an aircraft, thereby preventing injury to the pilot caused by the night vision device striking the ejecting pilot. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention night vision device is a binocular device, having a right optical assembly and a left optical assembly that are viewed by the right and left eyes of the pilot, respectively. The right and left optical assemblies are each attached to elongated arm members. Each of the arm members, supporting the optical assemblies, are pivotably coupled to a common mounting plate that is removably attachable to the helmet of the pilot. Prior to ejection, the left and right optical assemblies are joined in front of the eyes of the pilot, thereby forming the binocular device. Before the pilot ejects, the left and right arm members pivotably rotate in opposite directions and detach from the common mounting plate, thereby separately propelling the right and left optical assemblies away from the pilot.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.