US-12616265-B2 - Bridge link battery system for helmet mount assembly

Abstract

A bridge link battery interface for a helmet accessory mounting system includes a housing enclosing a circuit and an electrical and mechanical coupling interface structured and operable to connect to an attachment point on the helmet accessory mounting system. A first battery interface is configured for detachable coupling to a first battery pack and a second battery interface configured for detachable coupling to a second battery pack. First and second electrical connector assemblies are disposed on the housing and electrically coupled to the circuit, wherein the circuit is operable to selectively electrically couple the first and second battery interfaces to the first and second electrical connector assemblies.

Inventors

• James W. Teetzel
• Elliott S. Turner

Assignees

• WILCOX INDUSTRIES CORP.

Dates

Publication Date

20260505

Application Date

20240322

Claims (20)

1. 1 . A bridge link battery interface for a helmet accessory mounting system, the bridge link battery interface comprising: a housing enclosing a circuit; an electrical and mechanical coupling interface structured and operable to connect to an attachment point on the helmet accessory mounting system; a first battery interface configured for detachable coupling to a first battery pack; a second battery interface configured for detachable coupling to a second battery pack; a first electrical connector assembly disposed on the housing and electrically coupled to the circuit; a second electrical connector assembly disposed on the housing and electrically coupled to the circuit; wherein said circuit is operable to selectively electrically couple the first and second battery interfaces to the first and second electrical connector assemblies; first and second adapters; the first adapter having a first interface surface configured for removable attachment to the battery interface and a second interface surface configured for removable attachment to the first battery pack; and the second adapter having a third interface surface configured for removable attachment to the second battery interface and a fourth interface surface configured for removable attachment to the second battery pack; wherein each of the second and fourth interface surfaces are configured to detachably couple to a Small Tactical Universal Battery (STUB) battery.
2. 2 . The bridge link battery interface of claim 1 , wherein the electrical and mechanical coupling interface is a hot shoe receptacle structured and operable to detachably connect to a hot shoe assembly on the helmet accessory mounting system.
3. 3 . The bridge link battery interface of claim 1 , wherein the circuit is operable to couple the first electrical connector assembly to the second electrical connector assembly.
4. 4 . The bridge link battery interface of claim 1 , wherein the circuit comprises a switch for selectively coupling a selected one of the first and second battery interfaces to the first and second electrical connector assemblies.
5. 5 . The bridge link battery interface of claim 1 , in combination with the helmet accessory mounting system and a helmet.
6. 6 . The bridge link battery interface of claim 1 , further comprising a processing unit configured to execute program instructions and a memory storing instructions executable by the processing unit.
7. 7 . A bridge link battery interface for a helmet accessory mounting system, the bridge link battery interface comprising: a housing enclosing a circuit; an electrical and mechanical coupling interface structured and operable to connect to an attachment point on the helmet accessory mounting system; a first battery interface configured for detachable coupling to a first battery pack; a second battery interface configured for detachable coupling to a second battery pack; a first electrical connector assembly disposed on the housing and electrically coupled to the circuit; a second electrical connector assembly disposed on the housing and electrically coupled to the circuit; wherein said circuit is operable to selectively electrically couple the first and second battery interfaces to the first and second electrical connector assemblies; first and second adapters; the first adapter having a first interface surface configured for removable attachment to the battery interface and a second interface surface configured for removable attachment to the first battery pack; and the second adapter having a third interface surface configured for removable attachment to the second battery interface and a fourth interface surface configured for removable attachment to the second battery pack; wherein the first and second adapters are hinged.
8. 8 . The bridge link battery interface of claim 7 , wherein the electrical and mechanical coupling interface is a hot shoe receptacle structured and operable to detachably connect to a hot shoe assembly on the helmet accessory mounting system.
9. 9 . The bridge link battery interface of claim 7 , wherein the circuit is operable to couple the first electrical connector assembly to the second electrical connector assembly.
10. 10 . The bridge link battery interface of claim 7 , wherein the circuit comprises a switch for selectively coupling a selected one of the first and second battery interfaces to the first and second electrical connector assemblies.
11. 11 . The bridge link battery interface of claim 7 , in combination with the helmet accessory mounting system and a helmet.
12. 12 . The bridge link battery interface of claim 7 , further comprising a processing unit configured to execute program instructions and a memory storing instructions executable by the processing unit.
13. 13 . A bridge link battery interface for a helmet accessory mounting system, the bridge link battery interface comprising: a housing enclosing a circuit; an electrical and mechanical coupling interface structured and operable to connect to an attachment point on the helmet accessory mounting system; a first battery interface configured for detachable coupling to a first battery pack; a second battery interface configured for detachable coupling to a second battery pack; a first electrical connector assembly disposed on the housing and electrically coupled to the circuit; a second electrical connector assembly disposed on the housing and electrically coupled to the circuit; wherein said circuit is operable to selectively electrically couple the first and second battery interfaces to the first and second electrical connector assemblies; the first electrical connector assembly configured to mate with a first ear bracket connector assembly on a first helmet ear accessory mounting bracket; and the second electrical connector assembly configured to mate with a second ear bracket connector assembly on a second helmet ear accessory mounting bracket.
14. 14 . The bridge link battery interface of claim 13 , wherein the electrical and mechanical coupling interface is a hot shoe receptacle structured and operable to detachably connect to a hot shoe assembly on the helmet accessory mounting system.
15. 15 . The bridge link battery interface of claim 13 , wherein the circuit is operable to couple the first electrical connector assembly to the second electrical connector assembly.
16. 16 . The bridge link battery interface of claim 13 , wherein the circuit comprises a switch for selectively coupling a selected one of the first and second battery interfaces to the first and second electrical connector assemblies.
17. 17 . The bridge link battery interface of claim 13 , further comprising first and second adapters; the first adapter having a first interface surface configured for removable attachment to the battery interface and a second interface surface configured for removable attachment to the first battery pack; and the second adapter having a third interface surface configured for removable attachment to the second battery interface and a fourth interface surface configured for removable attachment to the second battery pack.
18. 18 . The bridge link battery interface of claim 13 , wherein the circuit is configured to electrically bridge the first and second helmet ear accessory mounting brackets.
19. 19 . The bridge link battery interface of claim 18 , wherein the circuit is configured to transmit one or both of data and control signals between the first and second helmet ear accessory mounting brackets.
20. 20 . The bridge link battery interface of claim 19 , in combination with the helmet accessory mounting system.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION This application claims the priority benefit of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 63/454,691 filed Mar. 26, 2023. The aforementioned application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE The subject matter of this application is related to U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 63/433,661 filed Dec. 19, 2022, and U.S. nonprovisional application Ser. No. 18/544,128 filed Dec. 18, 2023. Each of the aforementioned applications is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. BACKGROUND The present disclosure relates to a bridge link battery interface for providing power, data, and/or control signal bridge for connecting multiple branches of a helmet accessory mounting system. SUMMARY In one aspect, a bridge link battery interface for a helmet accessory mounting system includes a housing enclosing a circuit and an electrical and mechanical coupling interface structured and operable to connect to an attachment point on the helmet accessory mounting system. A first battery interface is configured for detachable coupling to a first battery pack and a second battery interface is configured for detachable coupling to a second battery pack. A first electrical connector assembly is disposed on the housing and electrically coupled to the circuit. A second electrical connector assembly is disposed on the housing and electrically coupled to the circuit. The circuit is operable to selectively electrically couple the first and second battery interfaces to the first and second electrical connector assemblies. In a more limited aspect, the electrical and mechanical coupling interface is a hot shoe receptacle structured and operable to detachably connect to a hot shoe assembly on the helmet accessory mounting system. In another more limited aspect, the circuit is operable to couple the first electrical connector assembly to the second electrical connector assembly. In another more limited aspect, the circuit comprises a switch for selectively coupling a selected one of the first and second battery interfaces to the first and second electrical connector assemblies. In another more limited aspect, the bridge link battery interface further comprises first and second adapters, wherein the first adapter has a first interface surface configured for removable attachment to the battery interface and a second interface surface configured for removable attachment to the first battery pack and the second adapter has a third interface surface configured for removable attachment to the second battery interface and a fourth interface surface configured for removable attachment to the second battery pack. In another more limited aspect, each of the second and fourth interface surfaces are configured to detachably couple to a STUB battery. In another more limited aspect, the first and second adapters are hinged. In another more limited aspect, the first electrical connector assembly is configured to mate with a first ear bracket connector assembly on a first helmet ear accessory mounting bracket and the second electrical connector assembly is configured to mate with a second ear bracket connector assembly on a second helmet ear accessory mounting bracket. In another more limited aspect, the circuit is configured to electrically bridge the first and second helmet ear accessory mounting brackets. In another more limited aspect, the circuit is configured to transmit one or both of data and control signals between the first and second helmet ear accessory mounting brackets. In another more limited aspect, the bridge link battery interface further includes the helmet accessory mounting system. In another more limited aspect, the helmet accessory mounting system comprises the first and second ear brackets. In another more limited aspect, the helmet accessory mounting system comprises a helmet-mounted identification friend foe (IFF) emitter electrically coupled to the circuit. In another more limited aspect, the bridge link battery interface further comprises the helmet accessory mounting system and a helmet. In another more limited aspect, the attachment point is a hot shoe interface disposed on a rear of the helmet, and further wherein the helmet accessory mounting system includes a front shroud, a cable cover extending between the front shroud and between and the electrical hot shoe interface; and circuitry within the cable cover for routing power, data, and control signals to the front shroud. In another more limited aspect, the bridge link battery interface further comprises a processing unit configured to execute program instructions and a memory storing instructions executable by the processing unit. In another more limited aspect, wherein the processing unit is disposed within a modular processing board cartridge which is detachably coupled to the bridge link battery interface housing. In another more limited aspect, the bridge link battery interface further comprises one or b