PERSONAL ALARM DEVICE FOR HEADWEAR FOR PROXIMITY DETECTION

• US 20090322512A1
• Filed: 06/25/2009
• Published: 12/31/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Strata Safety Products LLC (Strata Worldwide Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Strata Proximity Systems, LLC (Strata Worldwide Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Frederick, Larry D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,710,979 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.11
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/046 Means for detecting hazards or accidents
• CPC Class Codes: F16P 3/145 using magnetic technology
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0213 System disabling if a separation threshold is exceeded disabling electrical appliances in case of unplugging G08B13/1409
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/10 using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/36 using visible light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 7/06 using electric transmission , e.g. involving audible and visible signalling through the use of sound and light sources

Abstract

Embodiments described herein relate to an apparatus for attaching elements of a magnetic field safety system to headwear worn by a worker. In various embodiments, the headwear includes a combination of a sounder device, light assembly, personal alarm device and power source.

Claims

1. A personal alarm device comprising:

a controller; and

a warning device electrically coupled to the controller, the warning device including a sounder device adapted to be positioned proximate to a worker'"'"'s ear.

2. The personal alarm device of claim 1, wherein the warning device further comprises a visual indicator adapted to be positioned proximate to the worker'"'"'s line of sight.

3. The personal alarm device of claim 1, wherein the sounder device emits a warning sound when the personal alarm device detects a magnetic field.

4. The personal alarm device of claim 1, wherein the sounder device is adapted to be attached to the worker by an attachment means.

5. The personal alarm device of claim 1, wherein the sounder device is adapted to be attached to headwear worn by the worker.

6. The personal alarm device of claim 5, wherein the sounder device is adapted to be attached to the side of the headwear.

7. The personal alarm device of claim 1, wherein the sounder device is adapted to be attached to an upper body garment worn by the worker.

8. The personal alarm device of claim 1, wherein the sounder device is adapted to be attached to eyewear worn by a worker.

9. The personal alarm device of claim 1, further comprising a light adapted to be attached to headwear worn by the worker for illuminating an area in front of the worker.

10. The personal alarm device of claim 4, wherein the attachment means is at least one of the means selected from the group consisting of an adhesive, hook and loop fastener, tape, bolt, screw, clip with thumbscrew, and spring-loaded clip.

11. The personal alarm device of claim 1, wherein the personal alarm device further comprises a power source coupled to the controller.

12. The personal alarm device of claim 1, wherein the controller is adapted to be attached to a belt.

13. The personal alarm device of claim 1, wherein the controller is adapted to be attached to headwear worn by the worker.

14. The personal alarm device of claim 2, wherein the visual indicator further comprises a plurality of indicator lights.

15. The personal alarm device of claim 2, wherein the sounder device and visual indicator are adapted to be attached to the front of headwear and wherein visual indicator includes a headlamp.

16. The personal alarm device of claim 2, further comprising one or more of an adhesive, hook and loop fastener, tape, bolt, screw, clip with thumbscrew, and spring-loaded clip for fixing the sounder device in a position proximate to the worker'"'"'s ear.

17. The personal alarm device of claim 16, wherein the personal alarm device is attached to headwear.

18. A personal alarm device comprising:

a controller; and

a warning device electrically coupled to the controller, the warning device including a visual indicator positioned proximate to a worker'"'"'s line of sight.

19. The personal alarm device of claim 18, wherein the warning device further comprises a sounder device adapted to be positioned proximate to the worker'"'"'s ear.

20. The personal alarm device of claim 18, wherein the visual indicator emits light when the personal alarm device detects a magnetic field.

21. The personal alarm device of claim 18, wherein the visual indicator is adapted to be attached to the worker by an attachment means.

22. The personal alarm device of claim 18, wherein the visual indicator is adapted to be attached to the front of headwear worn by the worker.

23. The personal alarm device of claim 18, wherein the visual indicator is adapted to be attached to eyewear worn by a worker.

24. The personal alarm device of claim 21, wherein the attachment means is at least one of the means selected from the group consisting of an adhesive, hook and loop fastener, tape, bolt, screw, clip with thumbscrew, and spring-loaded clip.

25. The personal alarm device of claim 18, wherein the controller is adapted to be attached to a belt.

26. The personal alarm device of claim 18, wherein the controller is adapted to be attached to headwear worn by the worker.

27. The personal alarm device of claim 18, wherein the visual indicator comprises a plurality of indicator lights.

28. A safety system comprising:

a magnetic field generator; and

a personal alarm device comprising;

an antenna configured to detect a magnetic field;

a controller electrically coupled to the antenna; and

a warning device electrically coupled to the controller, the warning device including;

a sounder device adapted to be positioned proximate to the worker'"'"'s ear; and

a visual indicator adapted to be positioned proximate to the worker'"'"'s line of sight.

29. The safety system of claim 28, wherein the warning device is adapted to be attached to headwear worn by the worker.

30. The safety system of claim 29, wherein the headwear is a hardhat, helmet, sports hat, baseball cap, head band, winter hat, or visor.

31. The safety system of claim 28, wherein the sounder device and the light assembly are each attached to the headwear by at least one of the means selected from the group consisting of an adhesive, hook and loop fastener, tape, bolt, screw, clip with thumbscrew, and spring-loaded clip.

32. A method of warning a worker of danger, comprising:

generating a magnetic field using a magnetic field generator;

detecting the presence of the magnetic field using a personal alarm device worn by the worker, wherein the personal alarm device comprises a sounder device arranged proximate to the worker'"'"'s ear and a visual indicator arranged proximate to the worker'"'"'s line of sight; and

activating the sounder device and visual indicator light assembly to provide the worker a warning when the personal alarm device detects the magnetic field.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the light assembly is attached to the front of headwear worn by a worker.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein the sounder is attached to the side of the headwear.

35. A personal alarm device comprising:

a controller; and

a warning device electrically coupled to the controller, the warning device including;

a battery, and

a visual indicator positioned proximate to a worker'"'"'s line of sight.

36. The personal alarm device of claim 35, wherein the warning device further comprises a sounder device, and wherein the visual indicator, battery and sounder device are housed in a single housing.

37. The personal alarm device of claim 36, wherein the visual indicator emits light when the personal alarm device detects a magnetic field.

38. The personal alarm device of claim 37, wherein an electrically conductive cable couples the warning device to the controller.

39. The personal alarm device of claim 38, wherein the electrically conductive cable further comprises:

a first connector attached to a first end of a first part of the cable;

the controller in electrical communication with a second end of the first part of the cable;

a second connector attached to a first end of a second part of the cable; and

the warning device in electrical communication with a second end of the second part of the cable, wherein the first connector and second connector are adapted to be electrically coupled and form an electrical connection between the controller and warning device.

40. The personal alarm device of claim 39, wherein the visual indicator is adapted to be attached to the worker by an attachment means.

41. The personal alarm device of claim 39, wherein the warning device is adapted to be replaced by disconnecting the first connector and the second connector, providing a second warning device having a new second connector, and reconnecting the first connector to the new second connector.

42. The personal alarm device of claim 39, further comprising a battery charging receptacle located along the electrically conductive cable.

43. The personal alarm device of claim 39, further comprising a battery charging receptacle in electrical communication with at least one component selected from the group consisting of the controller, first connector, second connector, and warning device.