Helmet with an alarm

• US 5,697,099 A
• Filed: 06/28/1996
• Issued: 12/16/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Golden West Communications, Inc
• Original Assignee: Golden West Communications, Inc
• Inventors: Siska, William D. Jr., Lenz, Vernon C., Sopko, Timothy J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Neas, Michael A.
• Application Number:
  US08/671,839
• Time in Patent Office: 536 Days
• Field of Search: 2/5, 2/422, 2/9, 2/425, 2/410, 2/411, 2/906, 362/105, 340/539, 340/573
• US Class Current: 2/5
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/046 Means for detecting hazards or accidents
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0415 detecting absence of activity per se
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/016 Personal emergency signalling and security systems emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm activators G08B25/12

Abstract

A helmet is supplied with a personal alarm safety system (PASS) that detects the absence of motion by the wearer. This usually indicates that the user is unconscious or otherwise incapacitated. Also in the helmet is an automatic activation means which turns on the PASS system as soon as the wearer puts on the helmet. Other features such as visual alarm and inactivation means are included in the preferred embodiment.

Claims

1. A safety helmet having integral therewith activation means, a source of power, and a personal alarm safety system commonly known as "PASS", said PASS system having means to detect the absence of motion of a wearer, said PASS system integral with said helmet, said activation means having means in cooperation therewith to turn on said PASS system, said activation means comprising means inside said helmet which when contacted by said wearer'"'"'s head will immediately and automatically activate said PASS system, said PASS system also comprising inactivation means to manually inactivate said PASS system when said safety helmet is off the wearer'"'"'s head and not in use, said inactivation means comprises an inactivation button in contact with said PASS system, said inactivation button having inactivation means whereby the wearer must depress said button at least two times during a set period of time to inactivate said system, and wherein said safety helmet has flashing visible signals to assist searchers to locate said helmet and said wearer.

2. The safety helmet of claim 1 wherein said PASS system includes reset means for restarting PASS system after inactivation.

3. The safety helmet of claim 1 wherein said helmet contains a panic button and corresponding alarm which may be manually activated by a wearer when required.

4. The safety helmet of claim 1 wherein said PASS system has a movement sensor with detection means for a first signal to warn user of impending second different audible signal and alarm when detecting lack of movement.

5. The safety helmet of claim 1 wherein said PASS system has a movement sensor with detection means for a first audible signal and cancellable alarm when initially detecting lack of movement and a second different audible signal and non-cancellable alarm when detecting continued lack of movement.