US-12616267-B2 - Joint assembly for a helmet system

US12616267B2US 12616267 B2US12616267 B2US 12616267B2US-12616267-B2

Abstract

Disclosed is a joint assembly for a helmet system. The joint assembly comprises an assembly base, an ear cup arm, a locking element, and a spring assembly. The ear cup arm is pivotably arranged to the assembly base. The locking element is configured to lock the ear cup arm in a first position relative to the assembly base. The spring assembly is configured to move the ear cup arm to a second position relative to the assembly base upon release of the locking element.

Inventors

Klaus Sommer Ipsen

Assignees

FALCOM A/S

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20241113
Priority Date: 20231124

Claims (13)

1 . A joint assembly for a helmet system, the joint assembly comprising: a base assembly; an ear cup arm; a locking element; and a spring assembly; wherein the ear cup arm is pivotable with respect to the base assembly, the locking element is configured to lock the ear cup arm in a first position relative to the base assembly, wherein the spring assembly is configured to bias the ear cup arm away from a user of the helmet system, and to move the ear cup arm to a second position relative to the base assembly upon release of the locking element; and wherein the spring assembly comprises a first spring element configured to move the ear cup arm to the second position, and a second spring element configured to move the locking element to a locking position.
2 . The joint assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the locking element comprises a first locking surface configured to lock the ear cup arm in the first position relative to the base assembly.
3 . The joint assembly according to claim 2 , wherein the locking element comprises a second locking surface offset from the first locking surface, and wherein the second locking surface is configured to lock the ear cup arm in a third position relative to the base assembly.
4 . The joint assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the locking element is movably arranged in relation to the ear cup arm between the locking position and a release position.
5 . The joint assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the locking element is slidably arranged on the ear cup arm along an axis parallel to the ear cup arm between the locking position and a release position.
6 . The joint assembly according to claim 5 , wherein the locking element comprises a first locking surface at a first distance from the ear cup arm in a direction perpendicular to the ear cup arm, and is configured to engage the base assembly.
7 . The joint assembly according to claim 6 , wherein the locking element comprises a second locking surface at a second distance from the ear cup arm in the direction perpendicular to the ear cup arm, and is configured to engage the base assembly.
8 . The joint assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the locking element is pivotably arranged with respect to the base assembly, and is configured to engage the ear cup arm when the ear cup arm is in the first position.
9 . The joint assembly according to claim 8 , wherein the locking element comprises a first locking surface at a first distance from the base assembly in a direction perpendicular to the base assembly and is configured to engage the ear cup arm.
10 . The joint assembly according to claim 9 , wherein the locking element comprises a second locking surface at a second distance from the base assembly in a direction perpendicular to the ear cup arm, and is configured to engage the ear cup arm.
11 . The joint assembly according to claim 1 , wherein a proximal end of the ear cup arm is pivotably arranged with respect to the base assembly.
12 . The joint assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising an ear cup at a distal end of the ear cup arm.
13 . The joint assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the base assembly comprises a mounting element configured to mount the joint assembly to a helmet.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION DATA This application claims priority to, and the benefit of, European patent application No. 23212055.0 filed on Nov. 24, 2023. The entire disclosure of the above application is expressly incorporated by reference herein. FIELD The present disclosure pertains to the field of helmet systems, such as tactical helmet system. The present disclosure relates to a joint assembly, such as an ear protector joint assembly, for arranging an ear protector to a helmet of the helmet system. BACKGROUND Tactical helmet systems typically comprise hearing protecting means, such as ear protectors, arranged to the helmet for protecting the hearing of the user of the helmet system. The ear protectors are typically movably arranged to the helmet system between an open position in which the ear protectors do not cover the ears of the user and a closed position in which the ear protectors cover the ears of the user. Known hearing protecting means for tactical helmet systems comprise an ear cup secured to the helmet system via a mounting arrangement. The mounting arrangement typically comprises a pivotable arm which can be pivoted around a pivot point between an outward, such as an open, position and an inward, such as a closed, position relative to the helmet. The arm may comprise a sliding surface, such as a slit, over which a pin is configured to slide when the ear cup is moved outwardly or inwardly. A spring member may be connected at one end to the helmet and at the other end to the slidable pin for normally holding the ear hood against the ear. When the ear hood is moved outwardly from the helmet, such as from an ear of the user, the pin slides over the sliding surface from one end of the sliding surface to the other end of the sliding surface. The attachment point of the spring member relative to the arm is thus moved from one end of the sliding surface to the other end of the sliding surface when the ear cup is moved between the outward position and the inward position. By moving the attachment point of the spring, the force of the spring on the pin can be moved to opposite sides of a pivot point of the arm, so that the spring member secures the arm in either position depending on the position of the pin in relation to the sliding surface. The arm is thus held in its position only by means of the spring force. Such a mounting arrangement has the drawback that the pin sliding over the sliding surface causes wear on the pin, the sliding surface and/or the spring member, which can lead to play between the components. Once the play gets to extensive, the arm may no longer be sufficiently secured in either position and may undesirably move from these positions. This may be an annoyance and/or a health hazard for the user of the helmet system in case the ear cups move away from the closed position in a noisy environment, such as during combat. During movement of the arm between the outward position and the inward position, the sliding pin will further pass a point of equilibrium. Once the pin has passed the point of equilibrium the spring member will forcefully pull the sliding pin towards the end position of the sliding surface. This may cause a loud noise, such as a bang, when the pin hits the end position, which in itself may hurt the hearing of the user of the tactical helmet system. SUMMARY Accordingly, there is a need for a joint assembly for a helmet system, which mitigates, alleviates, or addresses the shortcomings existing and provides a more secure and less noisy means for attaching an ear protector system to a helmet system. Disclosed is a joint assembly for a helmet system. The joint assembly comprises an assembly base, an ear cup arm, a locking element, and a spring assembly. The ear cup arm is pivotably arranged to the assembly base. The locking element is configured to lock the ear cup arm in a first position relative to the assembly base. The spring assembly is configured to move the ear cup arm to a second position relative to the assembly base upon release of the locking element. It is an advantage of the present disclosure that the spring assembly is configured to force the ear cup arm in one single direction. The securing of the ear cup arm is done by the locking element. No movable parts are therefore required for moving the connection point of the spring assembly to opposite sides of the pivot point of the arm, as is required in known solutions where the spring force secures the arm in position. By providing a dedicated locking element configured to lock the ear cup arm in a first position relative to the assembly base a more secure engagement of the ear cup arm in the first position, with no or limited risk for unintended release of the ear cups from the ears of the user, can be provided. Furthermore, since the connection point of the spring assembly can be fixed, wear of the components of the joint assembly and the noise caused by movement of the joint assembly can be reduced, thereby