Issuing alarm signal to operatives

• US 10,497,244 B2
• Filed: 02/06/2018
• Issued: 12/03/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wearable Technologies Ltd. (Blackline Safety Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Wearable Technologies Ltd. (Blackline Safety Corp.)
• Inventors: Bernstein, Mark Jonathan
• Primary Examiner(s): Singh, Hirdepal
• Application Number:
  US15/889,251
• Publication Number:
  US 20180182220A1
• Time in Patent Office: 665 Days
• Field of Search: 340532
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/02 Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0453 worn on the body to detect health condition by physiological monitoring, e.g. electrocardiogram, temperature, breathing detecting, measuring or recording for diagnostic purposes A61B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/14 Toxic gas alarms G08B21/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/009 Signalling of the alarm condition to a substation whose identity is signalled to a central station, e.g. relaying alarm signals in order to extend communication range
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/016 Personal emergency signalling and security systems emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm activators G08B25/12
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/36 using visible light sources

Abstract

A jacket 101 has a detector, such as a gas detector, for detecting an environmental hazard. The jacket has a first warning device for issuing a first warning in response to detecting the environmental hazard. Furthermore, the jacket is provided with a transmission device for transmitting a warning signal to similar jackets worn by operatives within the environment. Each jacket includes a second warning device for issuing a second warning in response to receiving a warning signal from any other jackets or clothing.

Claims

1. An apparatus for use in a multi-operative activity, during which there is a risk of one or more of said operatives being exposed to an environmental hazard, the apparatus comprising:

a plurality of items of clothing, wherein each said item of clothing is worn by a respective operative and

a plurality of detectors for detecting an environmental hazard;

each detector configured to be detachably attached to one of said items of clothing, wherein each item of clothing comprises;

a control unit;

permanently attached light emitting devices configured to emit light in a plurality of colors;

a transmitter connected to the control unit;

a receiver connected to the control unit;

a loom of conductors within said item of clothing connecting the control unit to the light emitting devices and to the detachably attached detector;

wherein the control unit is configured to;

receive a first warning signal from the detachably attached detector and relay said first warning signal in response to detecting said environmental hazard;

illuminate one or more of the light emitting devices in a first predetermined color in response to receiving the first warning signal;

receive a remote second warning signal from a remote source; and

illuminate one or more of the light emitting devices in a second predetermined color different from the first predetermined color in response to receiving the second warning signal.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each said item of clothing includes a processing device and a battery for supplying electrical energy to said processing device, said detector, said first warning device and said second warning device via the loom of conductors.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein a substantial proportion of said loom of conductors is restrained within seams forming part of the item of clothing.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each item of clothing is a jacket.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said environmental hazard non-exclusively includes:

chemical hazards, including poisonous gases and vapours;

biological hazards; and

physical hazards including radiant heat, convected heat, ionizing and non-ionizing radiation.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, including a third warning device configured to emit an audible warning in response to a condition selected from options of:

the generation of said first warning;

the generation of said second warning; and

the generation of either said first warning or said second warning.

7. A method of warning operatives when working on a multi-operative activity of the presence of an environmental hazard, comprising the steps of:

providing each operative with an item of clothing having a detachable detector for detecting an environmental hazard;

providing a control unit within said item of clothing;

providing a loom of conductors restrained within said item of clothing;

providing light emitting devices permanently attached to said item of clothing and connecting the light emitting devices with the control unit via said loom of conductors;

providing a transmitter and a receiver attached to the control unit;

providing a base station adapted for receiving first warning signals and transmitting second warning signals;

wherein the control unit is configured to perform the steps of;

receiving the first warning signal from the detachable detector;

issuing a first warning in response to detecting said environmental hazard;

illuminating at least one of said light emitting devices in a first predetermined color responsive to said first warning;

transmitting the first warning signal;

receiving a remote second warning signal from a remote source;

issuing a second warning in response to the reception of the second warning signal; and

illuminating at least one other of said light emitting devices in a second predetermined color different from the first predetermined color responsive to said second warning.

8. The method of claim 7, including the step of activating an audible alarm in response to the issuing of said first warning.