Field of the Invention

The present disclosure relates to improvements in ballistic helmets and associated mandibles.

Background of the Invention

Conventional ballistic helmets have a single shell crown, brim and mandible that is not adaptable to different users or uses. Humans come in a variety of sizes, and situations encountered that require a helmet can vary greatly. Accordingly, there exists a need to provide an improved, versatile ballistic helmet with interchangeable crown, brim and mandible that can be adapted to fit different user sizes, different climatic conditions, and different activities such as high impact, high vibration, or high-speed activities.

The present disclosure seeks to provide an improved, versatile ballistic helmet with an interchangeable crown, brim and mandible, without adding additional weight. Neck injury can result from wearing weighted helmets, particularly during high vibration activities.

Summary

The present disclosure in one preferred aspect provides for a combat helmet having a ballistic protective shell with a rim and an interchangeable crown to protect a head of a wearer. The helmet includes a ballistic protective shell, the shell including: a rim encircling the head and covering the front of the head defining a full ballistic coverage to forward, rearward, and lateral areas of the cranium. The helmet further includes a crown portion detachably connected to the encircling rim which encloses the head, and may be configured to suit multiple wearers in multiple roles.

In another preferred aspect, the present disclosure describes a method of connecting a crown portion of a ballistic helmet to a rim of the ballistic helmet. The method includes providing a helmet rim that is configured to encircle a head of a wearer, the rim having an upper opening that exposes a majority of a top of a head of the wearer when worn; and providing a crown portion made of a ballistic material adapted to deflect a bullet and/or shrapnel, the crown portion being dimensioned to precisely fit the upper opening of the helmet rim, the crown portion being lockably detachable to the helmet rim.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed. In the present specification and claims, the word “comprising” and its derivatives including “comprises” and “comprise” include each of the stated integers, but does not exclude the inclusion of one or more further integers.

It will be appreciated that reference herein to “preferred” or “preferably” is intended as exemplary only. The claims as filed and attached with this specification are hereby incorporated by reference into the text of the present description.

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate several embodiments of the invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

Brief Description of the Figures

Fig. 1 shows isometric, front, rear and side views of a combat helmet in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the description.

Fig. 2 shows further side view and front views of the components of the combat helmet of Fig. 1 .

Fig. 3 is a side view of the combat helmet of Fig. 1 showing anthropomorphic eye movement ranges.

Fig. 4 is a side view of the combat helmet of Fig. 1 showing the attachment rails and side rails. Detailed Description of the Drawings

Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 shows a combat helmet 100 having a ballistic protective shell 101 , a rim 102, a crown 103 portion, a mandible guard 106, and a strap 116. Parts of helmet 100 are adaptable and interchangeable to facilitate ease of use, and provide enhanced protection and comfort to the wearer. The preferred elements of combat helmet 100 and their interrelationship are described below.

Referring to Fig. 1 , crown 103 is configured to engage with ballistic protective rim 102 for easy interoperability. Crown portion 103 is preferably substantially flat (small, rounded curvature), having a tooth-like configuration at its forward end to configuratively engage a corresponding tooth-like configuration on rim 102.

Rim 102 is preferably configured to cover at least the forehead region of the wear, in addition to having a protruding section that offers at least some sun protection for the wearer’s eyes. More preferably, the forehead section of rim 102 makes up roughly 20-30%, even up to 60% of the entire exterior helmet region of the helmet. As shown in Fig. 1 , rim 102 preferably encircles the entirety of the wearer’s head, and forms a rim for the entire circumference of the helmet. The rim 102 preferably has an attachment rail 104 at each side of the rim 102. Protective shell 101 itself includes a crown region 103. Rim 102 is preferably non-expandable (e.g., structurally solid, inflexible).

Fig. 2 shows rim 102 and an interchangeable ballistic mandible guard 106.

Preferably, the rim encircles the head of the wearer and covers the front of the head defining a full ballistic coverage to the critical areas of the head, being forehead, temple, occipital curve and epicranius. The crown encloses the head and may be configured to suit multiple wearers in multiple roles. When fixed together, the rim and the crown preferably provide a complete ballistic protective helmet. The rim and the crown may interlock to define one or more differential protection areas.

With continued reference to Fig. 2, a bump crown 112 or a ballistic crown 114 may be attached to the rim 102 to maximise ballistic protection whilst alleviating the risk of neck injury in high impact, high vibration uses. Crowns 112 and 114 each may make up to 40% of the protective surface of the helmet. This percentage advantageously provides a lighter helmet without compromising ballistic protection. To attach crown 103 to rim 102, crown 103 is preferably slid over the exterior of rim 102 along a preconfigured groove or channel in rim 102, then interlocked with rim 102, via, for example only, a snap-fit locking engagement. The interface between the crown and rim may include an overlap of ballistic material to a specific width to meet the requirements of ballistic testing to the desired protection standard.

The rim and the crown are seated with one or more of a conformable washer and a gasket. The washer and gasket may reduce or eliminate vibration and fix the rim and the crown to each other or to the head of the wearer.

The crown is preferably fixed to one or more other components of the ballistic protective shell, such as the washer or gasket, with one or more bolt or screw. The one or more bolt or screw may serve to reduce vibration of the components of the combat helmet. The crown can be interchanged by a person with the removal of one screw at the rear of the combat helmet. The affixing of the crown 103 to rim 102 provides consistent ballistic coverage across substantially the entire helmet surface shell 101 .

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the combat helmet preferably includes a transparent ballistic mandible guard 106. The transparent ballistic mandible guard may cover the wearer’s mouth and nose. The transparent ballistic mandible guard is composed of material to provide ballistic protection against projectiles such as bullets and/or shrapnel. Preferably the ballistic protection provided by the mandible guard is less than the ballistic protection provided by the rim or crown. Alternatively, the mandible guard may be configured to provide more ballistic protection than that provided by the rim or crown. Transparent ballistic mandible guard 106 does not obstruct, minimise or occlude downwards peripheral vision. In a preferred embodiment the transparent ballistic mandible guard permits a direct field of view up to 40 degrees below a horizontal plane drawn central to the wearer’s eye.

Referring to Fig. 2, preferably, a portion of the transparent ballistic mandible guard that covers the wearer’s mouth and nose is aligned with a midpoint of the combat helmet when the transparent ballistic mandible guard is attached to the attachment mountings. A portion of the transparent ballistic mandible guard that covers the wearer’s mouth and nose is secured to the combat helmet with one near vertical attachment arm on each side of the head which affix to an adaptor or the accessory adaptor rail. A portion of the transparent ballistic mandible guard that covers the wearer’s mouth and nose is secured to the combat helmet with a second near horizontal attachment arm on each side which affix to an adaptor or the accessory adaptor rail.

Ballistic mandible guard 106 is preferably made of a transparent material, such as a durable, scratch-resistant polymer or plastic. The transparent ballistic mandible guard 106 has near vertical attachment arms 107 adapted to attach to attachment rails 104 on the ballistic protective rim 102 as shown in Fig. 2. Arms 107 may be configured to engage with a corresponding pair of adaptor rails as desired. An example of a transparent ballistic mandible guard is described in Australian Patent Application No. 2021902673, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

As shown in Fig. 2, combat helmet 100 may be fitted with an environmental/cooling brim 108 or a bumper brim 110 to the front of rim 102 to provide protection from sun into a wearer’s eyes and to direct air up over the head to provide ventilation. Combat helmet 100 may be fitted with bumper brim 110 to provide low drag protection for high-speed uses such as parachuting or other roles as needed. Fig. 3 shows transparent ballistic mandible guard 106 permitting a direct field of view up to 40 degrees below a horizontal plane drawn central to the wearer’s eyes. Mandible 106 preferably covers the mouth and nose of the wearer to provide a third level of protection that is preferably less than the protection provided by rim 102 (which can be the first level of protection), and preferably more or less than the protection provided by the crown (which can be the second level of protection).

Referring again to Fig. 2, different parts (e.g., rim 102, crowns 112, 114, mandible 106) may be interconnected together with one or more bolts, or other securement means as desired, for example, screws, hook and loop fasteners (e.g., Velcro™), or even a snap-locking engagement depending upon the desired use. The attachment mounting(s) may be removed to enable fitting of generic soldier architecture compliant power and data cabling. The attachment mounting(s) may be an accessory rail and the accessory rail may have a void channel that can securely house generic soldier architecture compliant power and data cabling with one or more apertures to route the cabling out of or into the void and one or more ports to affix generic solder architecture compliant power and data connectors with proximal access to the cable routing void channel for the attached power and data cable and a quickly detachable face to enable access to the cabling void while in the field. The detachable face may be secured in a closed position by attached equipment using the accessory rail. The accessory rail may have on its surface, incorporate, or may be compatible with, standard ARC or Picatinny attachment rails and one or more ports for internal routing of soldier architecture compliant power and data cabling and affixing of soldier architecture compliant power and data connectors. The attachment mounting may mount various centrally powered or internally powered accessories to aid and/or protect the wearer for a specific activity or environment.

Referring to Fig. 4, the combat helmet preferably has an attachment means such as a strap 116 connected to ballistic protective shell 101 . Strap 116 may be connected to ballistic shell 101 at one or more attachment points 117 and may be configured to secure the combat helmet to the head of the wearer. With continued reference to Fig. 4, attachment rails 104 preferably have an internal void 118 that can securely house generic soldier architecture compliant power and data cabling with one or more apertures 119 to route power or data cabling out of or into void 118.

The helmet may include a plastic or other conformable material clasp affixed to the rear of the helmet using a securing means that will function as an additional retention for one or more of a goggle, respirator, or glasses (straps), or additional cable routing.

The rim is preferably composed of a lightweight composite material to provide ballistic protection. The crown may be composed of either a lightweight composite material or carbon fibre material or other ballistic materials to provide ballistic protection. The rim and the crown may be manufactured using new ballistic materials as technology advances. Where suitable, fibrous material may be a mesh like material to facilitate an overall weight reduction.

Ballistic protection provided by the crown may be less than the ballistic protection provided by the rim.

The rim includes approximately 60% of a protective surface of the helmet and the crown includes approximately 40% of a protective surface of the helmet.

The interchangeable crown has differential ballistic protection and different bump protection options to lighten the helmet and alleviate neck injury in high impact, high vibration uses. Whereas certain mission specific roles currently require the person to wear a bump helmet due to weight and ergonomic restrictions, the combat helmet may be worn using the ballistic rim with a bump crown, to provide optimised ballistic protection at all times. Preferably, the combat helmet will be 20% to 40% lighter than equivalent single shell helmets without compromising ballistic protection. The combat helmet preferably has a reduced surface area when compared with single shell helmets.

The combat helmet has an interchangeable brim at the front of the combat helmet. The brim is an environmental brim to provide protection from sun into a wearer’s eyes. The brim may form a cooling brim configured to direct air up over the head to provide ventilation and cool the wearer. The brim may include a bumper brim to provide low drag protection for high-speed uses such as parachuting or other roles as required.

The combat helmet may have side rails. The side rails may incorporate, or may be compatible with, standard ARC or Picatinny attachment rails and one or more ports for internal routing of soldier architecture compliant power and data cabling and affixing of soldier architecture compliant power and data connectors.

The combat helmet may have one or more hook and loop fasteners to enable attachment of identification patches with hook and loop fastener hooks.

The combat helmet may have a clasp affixed to the rear of the helmet by a screw or a bolt that functions as a retainer for one or more of additional cable routing, and goggle, respirator or glasses strap(s). The clasp may be of plastic or conformable material.

The combat helmet may include a camouflage pattern to enhance undetectability of a wearer of the combat helmet.

The foregoing description is by way of example only, and may be varied considerably without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. For example, various features may be incorporated into the helmet to enhance operability and communication with others. For communication, wireless communications means such as a Wi-Fi module or processor, a Bluetooth module, and/or a cellular phone module may be integrated within, or adjacent to the helmet as desired.

The features described with respect to one embodiment may be applied to other embodiments, or combined with or interchanged with the features of other embodiments, as appropriate, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

The present disclosure in a preferred form provides the advantages of interchangeability of components, for adaptability of the combat helmet to suit different users, activities and environmental conditions, allowing the user to wear the combat helmet in more circumstances for ballistic protection, minimising the risk of injury due to weight, and receiving other advantages such as assistance with environmental conditions, and housing of cabling and other items. The interconnection may be configured for quick detachability to facilitate efficient changing of parts such as the crown portion, depending upon the environment encountered. Interchangeability of the crown portion also permits greater versatility to accommodate a variety of situations, such as combat situations (requiring greater protection) or more lightweight (suitable for adverse climatic environments, such as heat and humidity).

Other embodiments of the disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of forms of the embodiments disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope and spirit of the disclosure being indicated by the following claims.