US 12,290,130 B2
Pivot-arm assembly for a helmet mounted headset
Nathan E. Winters, Merrimack, NH (US); David C. Rogers, Carbondale, PA (US); and Michael D. Aaskov, Ketchum, ID (US)
Assigned to Gentex Corporation, Simpson, PA (US)
Filed by Gentex Corporation, Simpson, PA (US)
Filed on Mar. 5, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/810,170.
Application 16/810,170 is a continuation of application No. 15/108,358, granted, now 10,617,168, previously published as PCT/US2015/011159, filed on Jan. 13, 2015.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/927,204, filed on Jan. 14, 2014.
Prior Publication US 2020/0196698 A1, Jun. 25, 2020
Int. Cl. A42B 3/30 (2006.01); A42B 1/24 (2021.01); A42B 3/04 (2006.01); A42B 3/16 (2006.01); G02B 23/12 (2006.01)
CPC A42B 3/30 (2013.01) [A42B 1/24 (2013.01); A42B 3/04 (2013.01); A42B 3/0406 (2013.01); A42B 3/16 (2013.01); G02B 23/12 (2013.01)] 25 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A pivot-arm assembly for attaching an ear cup to a mounting feature on an exterior of a helmet, the pivot-arm assembly comprising:
a mount having parallel sides and configured to releasably couple to the mounting feature;
an arm having a first end configured to couple to the ear cup and a second end;
a hinge having two degrees of rotational freedom coupled to the second end of the arm and disposed between the arm and the mount and wherein the hinge is rotatable about a first axis and about a second axis, wherein the second axis extends generally perpendicular to the arm on a plane generally parallel to the parallel sides and the first axis extends generally perpendicular to the second axis, wherein the hinge is rotatably coupled to the second end of the arm such that the first end of the arm is rotatable relative to the mount about the first axis and the first end of the arm is rotatable relative to the mount about the second axis;
a biasing member coupled to the arm and the mount, the biasing member configured to bias the first end of the arm relative to the mount in a rotatable direction about the second axis of the hinge; and
wherein, in a start position, the first end of the arm is biased toward a wearer's head via the biasing member such that the first end of the arm is disposed proximate a wearer's ear and the ear cup is pressed against the wearer's head,
wherein, in a first locked position, the first end of the arm is rotatable about the second axis in a first direction toward the second locked position and away from the first locked position such that the ear cup is spaced a first distance away from the wearer's head and the first end of the arm is releasably retained such that it is prevented from rotating in a second direction opposite the second locked position until selective actuation,
wherein, in a second locked position, the first end of the arm is rotatable about the second axis in the first direction such that the ear cup is spaced a second distance away from the wearer's head, the second distance being greater than the first distance, and the first end of the arm is releasably retained such that it is prevented from rotating in the second direction until selective actuation.