Safety helmet lockout system

• US 6,003,156 A
• Filed: 05/28/1998
• Issued: 12/21/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Russell Jeffrey Anderson
• Original Assignee: Russell Jeffrey Anderson
• Inventors: Anderson, Russell Jeffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): Hale, Gloria M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, TAJASH D
• Application Number:
  US09/086,792
• Time in Patent Office: 572 Days
• Field of Search: 2/410, 2/417, 2/418, 2/421, 2/422, 2/424, 2/425, 2/918, 2/455, 2/456, 2/69, 340/425.5, 340/426, 340/427, 340/573.1, 340/457.1, 340/432, 340/679, 340/439, 180/271, 180/287
• US Class Current: 2/421
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/0466 Means for detecting that the user is wearing a helmet
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/08 Chin straps or similar retention devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 2/918 Head covering

Abstract

The Safety Helmet Lockout System comprised of a safety helmet with a uniqely keyed system contained within its cranial webbing and chinstrap that has the ability to sense when said helmet is securely strapped upon the wearers head. The chinstrap contains a locking buckle which releases a uniqely keyed enabling key and/or a signal upon sensing that said safety helmet is securely strapped upon the wearers head. Several means of sensing are possible, but the preferred embodiment employs physio sensors located within the cranial webbing and chinstrap of said safety helmet. The locking buckle which is located on the chinstrap, releases said enabling key or signal after recieving signals from all the physio sensors, and sensing tension in the chinstrap. The released enabling key, or emitted signal, can then be used to access vehicles, sporting goods, industrial equipment, tools, passage locks, and the like. The access locks can range from simple ignition locks and passage locks, to retracting pin or keyed brake systems, keyed clutch systems, and specialty lockout systems for certain applications (such as, but not limited to, skiis, snowboards, and snowmobiles).

Claims

1. An equipment use-prevention lockout system comprising:

an item of equipment rendered in a non-operational condition until enabled to an operational condition by an enabling means;

a protective apparatus separate from said item of equipment intended to be worn by a user during operation of said item of equipment and having a sensor system for determining that said user has properly secured said protective apparatus to said user; and

said sensor system communicating with said enabling means to permit said enabling means to alter the condition of said equipment from said non-operational condition to said operational condition only when said sensor system has determined that said user has properly secured said protective apparatus to said user, said protective apparatus comprising a protective safety helmet for wearing on a user head and having a chin strap, and a locking buckle lockable and unlockable with an enabling key;

said sensor system comprising a plurality of physio sensors disposed within said chin strap and intended to contact said user during wearing of said helmet when said chin strap is fastened, and a tension sensor for detecting tension within said chin strap;

said sensor system generating a pin or tumbler retracting signal adapted to release said enabling key from said locking buckle only when all of said plurality of physio sensors and said tension sensor indicate that said helmet is properly secured to the head of said user; and

said enabling means of said item of equipment adapted to receive said released enabling key to permit said user to render said item of equipment from said non-operational condition to said operational condition.

2. The system in claim 1, wherein:

said enabling means comprises a rotational lockout system, and said enabling key is rotatable to operate said rotational lockout system.

3. The system in claim 1, wherein:

said enabling means comprises a mechanical lock, and said enabling key is mechanical key rotatable within said lock to unlock said item of equipment.

4. The system in claim 1, wherein said physio sensor signal are amplified and sent though electromagnetic relays to facilitate retraction of restraining pins or tumblers in said locking buckle.

5. The system in claim 1, wherein said physio sensors are selected from the group consisting of:

photoelectric pulse monitors, infrared emitting diodes and infrared receiving photo transistors, pulse monitoring sensors, and combinations thereof.

6. The system in claim 1, wherein:

said protective safety helmet is associated on a one-to-one basis with one particular item of equipment so that said item of equipment cannot be enabled into said operational state except by said particular protective helmet; and

said item of equipment is selected from the group consisting of;

a vehicle, a sporting good or equipment, a passageway, a tool, a snow ski, a snow board, ski boots, an ignition system, an item of equipment employing a drive motor or engine, a ride, a sled, an item of construction equipment, industrial equipment, roller blades, a snowmobile, a motorcycle, a water craft, a go cart, a forklift, a crane, a hoist, a military vehicle, an aircraft, an amusement ride, industrial equipment, a mine, a foundry, a factory, and a dangerous access area.

7. An equipment use-prevention lockout system comprising:

an item of equipment rendered in a non-operational condition until enabled to an operational condition by an enabling means;

a protective apparatus separate from said item of equipment intended to be worn by a user during operation of said item of equipment and having a sensor system for determining that said user has properly secured said protective apparatus to said user; and

said sensor system communicating with said enabling means to permit said enabling means to alter the condition of said equipment from said non-operational condition to said operational condition only when said sensor system has determined that said user has properly secured said protective apparatus to said user;

said protective apparatus comprising a protective safety helmet for wearing on a user head and having a chin strap for securing said safety helmet to said user;

said sensor system comprising a plurality of physio sensors disposed within said chin strap and intended to contact said user during wearing of said helmet when said chin strap is fastened, and a tension sensor for detecting tension within said chin strap;

said sensor system generating an enable operation signal adapted to be received by a receiver associated with said item of equipment only when all of said plurality of physio sensors and said tension sensor indicate that said helmet is properly secured to the head of said user; and

said enabling means of said item of equipment adapted to receive said enable operation signal to render said item of equipment from said non-operational condition to said operational condition.

8. The system in claim 7, wherein said physio sensors are selected from the group consisting of:

photoelectric pulse monitors, infrared emitting diodes and infrared receiving photo transistors, pulse monitoring sensors, and combinations thereof; and

said enabling signal selected from the group consisting of;

an electrical signal, a magnetic signal, an audio signal, an optical signal, and an electromagnetic signal.

9. An equipment use-prevention system comprising:

equipment having a lockout system for rendering said equipment operational only when said lockout system is deactivated;

a protective apparatus separate from said equipment intended to be worn by a user during operation of said equipment and having a sensor system for determining if said user is actually wearing said protective apparatus;

said sensor system communicating with said lockout system to render said equipment operational only when said sensor system has determined that said user is actually wearing said protective apparatus;

said sensor system comprises a physio sensor disposed within said protective apparatus and intended to contact said user during wearing of said protective apparatus.

10. An equipment use-prevention system comprising:

an item of equipment rendered in a non-operational condition until enabled to an operational condition by an enabling means;

a protective apparatus separate from said item of equipment intended to be worn by a user during operation of said item of equipment and having a sensor system for determining that said user has properly secured said protective apparatus to said user;

said sensor system communicating with said enabling means to permit said enabling means to alter the condition of said equipment from said non-operational condition to said operational condition only when said sensor system has determined that said user has properly secured said protective apparatus to said user;

said protective apparatus comprises a protective safety helmet for wearing on a user head and having a chin strap, and a locking buckle lockable and unlockable with an enabling key;

said sensor system comprises a plurality of physio sensors disposed within said chin strap and intended to contact said user during wearing of said helmet when said chin strap is fastened, and a tension sensor for detecting tension within said chin strap;

said sensor system generating a pin or tumbler retracting signal adapted to release said enabling key from said locking buckle only when all of said plurality of physio sensors and said tension sensor indicate that said helmet is properly secured to the head of said user;

said enabling means of said item of equipment adapted to receive said released enabling key to permit said user to render said item of equipment from said non-operational condition to said operational condition;

said physio sensor signal are amplified and sent though electromagnetic relays to facilitate retraction of restraining pins or tumblers in said locking buckle,

said physio sensors are selected from the group consisting of;

photoelectric pulse monitors, infrared emitting diodes and infrared receiving photo transistors, pulse monitoring sensors, and combinations thereof;

said protective safety helmet is associated on a one-to-one basis with one particular item of equipment so that said item of equipment cannot be enabled into said operational state except by said particular protective helmet; and

said item of equipment is selected from the group consisting of;

a vehicle, a sporting good or equipment, a passageway, a tool, a snow ski, a snow board, ski boots, an ignition system, an item of equipment employing a drive motor or engine, a ride, a sled, an item of construction equipment, industrial equipment, roller blades, a snowmobile, a motorcycle, a water craft, a go cart, a forklift, a crane, a hoist, a military vehicle, an aircraft, an amusement ride, industrial equipment, a mine, a foundry, a factory, and a dangerous access area.