Angled Shoe Interface for Night Vision Line-of-Sight Alignment

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional helmet-mounted night vision devices lack the ability to adjust the angular orientation of the night vision device relative to the wearer's line of sight, leading to improper alignment due to variations in head size and helmet fit.

Innovation Solution

The angled shoe interface provides a mechanical connection that allows for selective angular orientation of the night vision device relative to the mount rail, using a wedge-shaped body with angled top and bottom surfaces, enabling users to interchange different interfaces based on head shape and helmet fit.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If conventional linear adjustment mounts are used, then the night vision device can be positioned up and down and back and forth, but the angular orientation relative to the wearer's line of sight cannot be adjusted

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovePosition adjustment capabilityVSAvoidAngular orientation adaptability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The shoe interface incorporates a pivot mechanism that allows the night vision device to rotate angularly relative to the mount rail, transforming the static linear adjustment system into a dynamic system that can adapt to different wearer head shapes and helmet fits while maintaining ease of operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The mounting system is divided into separate functional components: the mount rail provides linear positioning, while the shoe interface with its pivot mechanism provides angular orientation adjustment. This segmentation allows each component to optimize its specific function without compromising the other

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Device complexity

If a fixed shoe interface is used, then the device structure is simple, but it cannot accommodate variations in head size and helmet fit

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveMount structure complexityVSAvoidFit adaptability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The shoe interface incorporates a pivot mechanism that allows the night vision device to rotate angularly relative to the mount rail, transforming the static linear adjustment system into a dynamic system that can adapt to different wearer head shapes and helmet fits while maintaining ease of operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The pivot mechanism changes the angular parameter of the night vision device orientation, allowing adjustment of the line of sight angle relative to the mount rail to accommodate various head sizes and helmet fits without increasing overall structural complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If conventional mounts are used, then the night vision device can be detached and repositioned, but proper alignment with the wearer's line of sight cannot be achieved

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveDevice repositioning capabilityVSAvoidAlignment precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The shoe interface incorporates a pivot mechanism that allows the night vision device to rotate angularly relative to the mount rail, transforming the static linear adjustment system into a dynamic system that can adapt to different wearer head shapes and helmet fits while maintaining ease of operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The conventional rigid mechanical connection is replaced with a pivot-based mechanical system that allows controlled rotation, enabling precise angular alignment of the night vision device with the wearer's line of sight while maintaining detachability and repositioning capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS20250216667A1Angled Shoe Interface for Night Vision Devices

Publication Date: 2025.07.03 SEUK JO WON

AI summary

The angled shoe interface provides a mechanical interface for connecting night vision devices to the sliding carriage of a conventional night vision device mount to selectively orient the line of sight of the night vision device relative to the longitudinal axis of the mount rail. Each angled shoe interface has a wedge-shaped body with differing angled top and bottom surfaces to provide the desired angular orientation of the line of sight of night vision device relative to the longitudinal axis of the mount rail. Individual users can interchange different angled shoe interfaces to properly orient the night vision device's line of sight based on the shape and size of the user's head and how the helmet is donned.