Detection apparatus for safety eyewear

• US 5,023,597 A
• Filed: 02/28/1990
• Issued: 06/11/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: David Wolff
• Original Assignee: Cabot Safety Corp (3M Company)
• Inventors: Salisbury, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Swann, III, Glen R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mullen, Jr., Thomas J.
• Application Number:
  US07/486,537
• Time in Patent Office: 468 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572, 340/573, 340/576, 340/522, 340/556, 340/539, 340/542, 180/287, 180/272, 307/115-116, 361/175, 2/426, 250/221, 250/222.1
• US Class Current: 340/573.4
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/18 Status alarms G08B21/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/22 responsive to presence or absence of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms

Abstract

A detection apparatus for monitoring specified safety eyewear being worn by persons who are either passing into or are located in the designated area which requires that a person in the area be wearing the specified safety eyewear. The detection apparatus includes an infrared reflector which is located on the specified eyewear, an infrared transmitter for transmitting a beam of infrared radiation towards the person, an infrared receiver which receives reflected radiation from the infrared reflector on the safety eyewear being worn by the person and an alarm which is normally inactive and which remains inactive as long as infrared radiation from the transmitter is reflected back to the infrared receiver from the reflector. The alarm is activated when infrared radiation is transmitted to the person and not reflected to the receiver due to the absence of specified safety eyewear which contains the appropriate infrared reflector.

Claims

1. A detection apparatus for monitoring specified safety eyewear being worn by persons who are passing through an entryway into a designated area which requires that persons in said area be wearing said specified safety eyewear, said detection apparatus comprising:

(a) an infrared reflector which reflects infrared radiation and which is fixed to said specified eyewear,

(b) an infrared transmitter which is located at one side of said entryway for transmitting a beam of infrared radiation toward the opposite side of said entryway so that at least a portion of said beam is reflected back to said one side by the reflector of said specified eyewear which is worn by a person who is passing through said entryway,

(c) a receiver which is located at said one side of said entryway for receiving said reflected infrared radiation, and

(d) an alarm which is normally inactive and which is operatively connected to said transmitter and said receiver, said alarm remaining inactive when a beam of infrared radiation is transmitted by said transmitter and reflected to said receiver, said alarm being activated when a beam of infrared radiation is transmitted by said transmitter and no reflected infrared radiation is received by said receiver.

2. A detection apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said transmitter and said receiver are housed in a single transceiver unit.

3. A detection apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said transmitter is normally inactive and activated to transmit a beam of infrared radiation upon receiving a predetermined electrical signal and wherein said detection apparatus comprises an electronic sensor which is operatively connected to said transmitter and which is located at said entryway for sensing a person who is passing through said entryway and for transmitting said predetermined electrical signal to said transmitter when a person passes through said entryway.

4. A detection apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein said electronic sensor comprises:

(a) a lamp which is located at one side of said entryway for projecting a beam of light toward the opposite side of said entryway, and

(b) a photo receptor which is located on the side of said entryway opposite from said lamp for receiving said beam of light, said receptor being operatively connected to said transmitter for transmitting said predetermined electrical signal to said transmitter upon the interruption of said beam of light by a person who is passing through said entryway.

5. A detection apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said transmitter is a first transmitter and said receiver is a first receiver, wherein a second infrared transmitter is located at the opposite side of said entryway for transmitting infrared radiation toward said first side and a second infrared receiver is located at said opposite side for receiving reflected infrared radiation from said first side, wherein there are two infrared reflectors, a first infrared reflector which is fixed to one side of said designated eyewear for reflecting infrared radiation from said first transmitter to said first receiver and a second reflector for reflecting infrared radiation from said second transmitter to said second receiver and, wherein said alarm is operatively connected to said first and second transmitters and said first and second receivers, said alarm remaining inactive when infrared radiation is transmitted by said first and second transmitters and reflected from said first and second reflectors, respectively, to said first and second receivers, respectively, said alarm being activated when infrared radiation is transmitted by said first and second transmitters and no reflected infrared radiation is received by at least one of said receivers.

6. A detection apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said transmitter is a first transmitter and said receiver is a first receiver, wherein a second infrared transmitter is located at the opposite side of said entryway for transmitting infrared radiation toward said first side and a second infrared receiver is located at said opposite side for receiving reflected infrared radiation from said first side, wherein there are two infrared reflectors, a first infrared reflector which is fixed to one side of said designated eyewear for reflecting infrared radiation from said first transmitter to said first receiver and a second reflector for reflecting infrared radiation from said second transmitter to said second receiver and, wherein said alarm is operatively connected to said first and second transmitters and said first and second receivers, said alarm remaining inactive when infrared radiation is transmitted by said first and second transmitters and reflected from at least one of said first and second reflectors, respectively, to at least one of said first and second receivers, respectively, said alarm being activated when infrared radiation is transmitted by said first and second transmitters and no reflected infrared radiation is received by either of said receivers.

7. A detection apparatus for monitoring specified safety eyewear being worn by persons who are approaching an entryway to a designated area which is closed by a door which has an electrically controlled lock, said lock being normally locked and being unlocked upon receiving a predetermined electrical signal, said detection apparatus comprising:

(a) a infrared reflector which reflects infrared radiation and which is fixed to said specified eyewear,

(b) a transmitter which is located at one side of said entryway in front of said door for transmitting a beam of infrared radiation toward the opposite side of said entryway so that at least a portion of said beam is reflected back toward said one side by the reflector of said specified eyewear which is worn by a person who is approaching said door, and

(c) a receiver which is operatively connected to said electrically controlled lock and which is located at said one side of said entryway in front of said door for receiving said reflected infrared radiation and for transmitting said predetermined electrical signal to said lock for unlocking said lock when infrared radiation is transmitted by said transmitter and reflected infrared radiation is received by said receiver.

8. A detection apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein said transmitter and said receiver are housed in a single transceiver unit.

9. A detection apparatus as recited in claim 8, further comprising an electronic sensor which is operatively connected to said transmitter and which is located in front of said door for sensing a person who is approaching said door, said transmitter being normally inactive and activated to transmit a beam of infrared radiation when said electronic sensor senses a person who is approaching said door.

10. A detection apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein said electronic sensor comprises:

(a) a lamp which is located at one side of said entryway for projecting a beam of light toward the opposite side of said entryway, and

(b) a photo receptor which is located on the side of said entryway opposite from said lamp for receiving said beam of light, said photo receptor being operatively connected to said transmitter for activating said transmitter when said beam of light is interrupted by a person who is approaching said door.

11. A detection apparatus for monitoring specified safety eyewear being worn by persons who are passing through an entryway into a designated area which requires that such persons in said area be wearing said specified safety eyewear, said detection apparatus comprising:

(a) a reflector which reflects infrared radiation only and which is fixed to said specified eyewear,

(b) a transmitter which is located at one side of said entryway for transmitting a beam of infrared radiation toward the opposite side of said entryway so that at least a portion of said beam is reflected back to said one side by the reflector of said specified eyewear which is worn by a person who is passing through said entryway,

(c) a receiver which is located at said one side of said entryway for receiving said reflected infrared radiation,

(d) an electronic sensor which is located at said entryway for sensing a person who is passing through said entryway, and

(e) an alarm which is operatively connected to said receiver and said electronic sensor which is normally inactive and activated only when said electronic sensor senses a person passing through said entryway and no reflected infrared radiation is received by said receiver.

12. A detection apparatus for monitoring specified safety eyewear being worn by a person who is located at a designated position for operating an electrically driven machine which requires the wearing of said specified eyewear by a person who is operating said machine, said detection apparatus comprising:

(a) an infrared reflector which reflects infrared radiation and which is fixed to said specified eyewear,

(b) an infrared transmitter which is located at one side of said designated position for transmitting a beam of infrared radiation across said designated position to a side of said designated position which is opposite said one side so that at least a portion of said beam is reflected back to said one side by the infrared reflector of said specified eyewear by a person who is located at said designated position,

(c) a receiver which is located at said one side of said designated position for receiving said reflected infrared radiation, and

(d) control circuitry for said machine which is operatively connected to said transmitter and said receiver said control circuitry being effective to maintain said machine normally inoperative and to enable said machine to operate only when radiation is transmitted by said transmitter and reflected from said reflector to said receiver.

13. A detection apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein said machine has a normally open starting switch is operatively connected to said control circuitry and wherein said transmitter is normally de-energized and is energized when said starting switch is closed, said transmitter being maintained energized and said machine being maintained operative as long as reflective infrared radiation from said reflector is received by said receiver, said transmitter being de-energized and said machine being rendered inoperative when no reflective infrared radiation is received by said receiver.

14. A detection apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein said transmitter and said receiver are housed in a single transceiver unit.