SAFETY LOCKOUT SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• US 20130214903A1
• Filed: 02/22/2013
• Published: 08/22/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Master Lock Company LLC (Fortune Brands Innovations, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Master Lock Company (Fortune Brands Innovations, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kalous, Scott, MacCourt, Kieran
• Granted Patent: US 9,501,046 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.61
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 65/48 Hasp locks hasp fastenings other than locks E05C19/08
• CPC Class Codes: F16P 3/147 using electro-magnetic technology, e.g. tags or radar
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 1/01 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10297 arrangements for handling protocols designed for non-contact record carriers such as RFIDs NFCs, e.g. ISO/IEC 14443 and 18092 cryptographic protocols H04L9/00; network security protocols H04L63/00; real-time communication protocols in data switching networks H04L65/00; network protocols for data switching network services H04L67/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 1/32 Time-recording locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00769 with data transmission performed by wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00817 where the code of the lock can be programmed
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00896 specially adapted for particular uses

Abstract

A lockout-tagout system for use with at least one securing item may include at least one lock for locking the securing item in place. The lockout-tagout system may further include at least one lockout tag on or near the securing item or lock. The lockout tag may have a wireless identification device. The lockout-tagout system may further include a reader configured to read the wireless identification device.

Claims

1. A computerized method, comprising:

receiving information regarding the appropriate lockout-tagout procedure for a given location or device;

recalling a lockout-tagout procedure in response to the received information;

presenting feedback instructions to the user regarding the lockout-tagout procedure and lockout-tagout devices to be read;

reading identifying information for lockout-tagout devices placed or removed as a part of the lockout-tagout procedure;

causing the lockout-tagout devices to be associated with the location or device in a memory when the read lockout-tagout devices are determined to comply with the recalled lockout-tagout procedure, wherein the association is made in accordance with the recalled lockout-tagout procedure.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the reading is completed via optical recognition.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the reading is completed via RFID recognition.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the information regarding the appropriate lockout-tagout procedure for a given location or device is received via a user input device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the information regarding the appropriate lockout-tagout procedure for a given location or device is received in response to reading a location tag via optical or RFID recognition and providing information from the location tag read to a module for determining the lockout-tagout procedure corresponding with the location tag.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the lockout-tagout devices do not automatically determine or communicate their state as a part of the method.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

processing the associations in memory to cause user feedback to be output in response to a lockout-tagout procedure which has not been completed or completed properly.

8. A lockout-tagout system, comprising:

a location tag having a first wireless identification device;

at least one securing item having a second wireless identification device;

at least one lock for locking the securing item in place, the lock having a third wireless identification device;

at least one lockout tag having a fourth wireless identification device; and

a reader configured to read the first, second, third, and fourth wireless identification devices of the location tag, the at least one securing item, the at least one lock, and the at least one lockout tag.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the reader is configured to forward the information read from the wireless identification devices to a computer for processing.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the reader is configured to recall a lockout-tagout procedure from memory or from another device upon reading the location tag;

wherein the reader is configured to check the information read from the wireless identification devices relative to the recalled lockout-tagout procedure.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the reader is configured to prompt the user to take a photograph of the lockout-tagout system upon completion of the lockout-tagout procedure;

and

wherein the reader is configured to transmit the photograph to the remote system with the information read from the wireless identification devices.

12. The system of claim 8, further comprising:

a user identification tag having a fifth wireless identification device;

wherein the reader is configured to read the user identification tag and to associate the reads of the wireless identification devices with the user.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the reader is configured to write information regarding a completed lockout-tagout procedure to the wireless identification device of the location tag.

14. The system of claim 8, further comprising:

a remote computer configured to receive the information from the wireless identification devices from the reader.

15. A lockout station system for use with a plurality of lockout-tagout devices, comprising:

a lockout station housing;

a first wireless identification device associated with the lockout station housing;

a lockout-tagout procedure listing associated with the lockout station housing and having a second wireless identification device; and

a reader configured to read the second wireless identification device;

wherein the reader is configured to instruct the user to check out certain of the lockout-tagout devices based on information read from the second wireless identification device;

wherein the reader is configured to check out at least one of the plurality of lockout-tagout devices using wireless communications and according to the instructions;

wherein the reader is configured to write the check out information to at least one of the first wireless identification device and the second wireless identification device.

16. The lockout station system of claim 15, wherein the reader is configured to transmit the check out information to a remote computer.

17. The lockout station system of claim 15, wherein the reader is configured to check the devices back into the lockout station and is configured to write the check in information to the first wireless identification device and/or the second wireless identification device.

18. A location sign for use in a lockout-tagout system, comprising:

a wireless communications device; and

memory storing a unique identifier for the location sign and an identifier of a lockout-tagout procedure for use with the location sign;

wherein the memory further comprises writable fields of information for at least two steps of the lockout-tagout procedure.

19. The location sign of claim 18, wherein the writable fields comprise a timestamp for application of a relevant lockout-tagout device, a timestamp for removal of a lockout-tagout device, and a user identifier associated with the user conducting the application or removal of the lockout-tagout device.

20. A portable electronic device for reading lockout-tagout devices, comprising:

a transceiver configured to use wireless communications to read the lockout-tagout devices;

a display; and

a processing circuit coupled to the transceiver and the display, the processing circuit configured to recall a lockout-tagout procedure from memory and to cause instruction steps to be shown on the display, wherein the instruction steps comprise reading the lockout-tagout devices during the lockout-tagout procedure and checking the read lockout-tagout devices relative to the lockout-tagout procedure.