Head safety device with integrated display

• US 20080023002A1
• Filed: 07/26/2007
• Published: 01/31/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Rex Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Rex Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Fenske, Kurt J., Guelzow, Thomas Kent
• Application Number:
  US11/881,218
• Publication Number:
  US 20080023002A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/201.24
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/042 Optical devices night vision goggles G02B23/12
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 18/02 Masks gas-masks for animals A62B18/06; masks for welders A61F9/06
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 18/08 Component parts for gas-masks or gas-helmets, e.g. windows, straps, speech transmitters, signal-devices eye-pieces for protective goggles A61F9/02; composition of materials for the windows or other transparent parts A62D7/00

Abstract

A safety device is disclosed. The safety device includes a protective component wearable on a user'"'"'s head. The safety device further includes a display unit configured to present status information at position in the periphery of the field of view of the user. The safety device includes a communications unit connectable to a wireless communication network and configured to send or receive status information.

In certain embodiments, the safety device is a breathing apparatus or a head protection device. A method of presenting information to a user of the breathing apparatus is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A safety device for a user, the safety device comprising:

a protective component wearable on a user'"'"'s head;

a display unit configured to present status information at position in the periphery of a field of view of the user; and

a communications unit connectable to a wireless communication network and configured to send or receive status information.

2. The safety device of claim 1, wherein the protective component is a transparent mask.

3. The safety device of claim 1, wherein the status information includes emergency response information.

4. The safety device of claim 1, wherein the protective component is a helmet.

5. The safety device of claim 1, wherein the display unit includes a plurality of sensors configured to detect environmental conditions.

6. The safety device of claim 1, wherein the display device includes one or more video capture devices.

7. The safety device of claim 1, further comprising a communication unit configured to communicatively connect to a wireless communication network.

8. The safety device of claim 7, wherein the communication unit communicates data detected at the location of the safety device to a computing system communicatively connected to the wireless communication network.

9. A breathing apparatus comprising:

a protective shield presenting a field of view;

a ventilation portion;

a display unit configured to present information at position in the periphery of the field of view; and

a communications unit connectable to a wireless communication network and configured to send or receive status information.

10. The breathing apparatus of claim 9, wherein the display unit is further configured to be located between a user'"'"'s face and the protective shield.

11. The breathing apparatus of claim 9, wherein the display unit is a heads up display.

12. The breathing apparatus of claim 11, wherein the heads up display is a binocular heads up display.

13. The breathing apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a control unit interfaced with the display unit and configured to control the display unit.

14. The breathing apparatus of claim 9, further comprising one or more peripheral devices interfaced to the breathing apparatus.

15. The breathing apparatus of claim 14, wherein the one or more peripheral devices are selected from the group consisting of:

an imaging unit;

a power unit;

a temperature sensor unit;

a hazard sensor unit; and

a vital signs unit.

16. The breathing apparatus of claim 9, wherein the communication unit communicates data detected at the location of the breathing apparatus to a computing system communicatively connected to the wireless communication network.

17. A method of presenting information to a user of a breathing apparatus having a protective shield and a ventilation portion, the method comprising:

associating one or more peripheral devices with a display configured to present information at position peripheral to the user'"'"'s field of view;

receiving information from the one or more peripheral devices;

presenting the information using the display.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the display is located between the protective shield and a user'"'"'s face.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein presenting the information on the display comprises presenting information on a heads up display.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the heads up display is a binocular heads up display.

21. The method of claim 17, further comprising communicating the information on a wireless communication network.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein the one or more peripheral devices are selected from the group consisting of:

an imaging unit;

a power unit;

a temperature sensor unit;

a hazard sensor unit; and

a vital signs unit.

23. A head protection device for an emergency responder comprising:

a head protection portion;

a display unit mounted on the head protection portion and configured to present information at position in the periphery of a user'"'"'s field of view; and

a communications unit connectable to a wireless communication network and configured to send or receive status information.

24. The head protection device of claim 23, wherein the head protection portion comprises a fire helmet.

25. The head protection device of claim 23, further comprising one or more peripheral devices attached to the device.

26. The head protection device of claim 25, wherein the one or more peripheral devices are selected from the group consisting of:

an imaging unit;

a power unit;

a temperature sensor unit;

a hazard sensor unit; and

a vital signs unit.

27. The head protection device of claim 23, wherein the head protection device forms a communication node in an emergency response communication network at an emergency site.

28. The head protection device of claim 23, wherein the communication unit communicates data detected at the location of the device to a computing system communicatively connected to the wireless communication network.

29. The head protection device of claim 23, wherein the display unit includes a binocular heads up display.