Non-Intrusive Fall Protection Device, System and Method

• US 20060001545A1
• Filed: 05/04/2005
• Published: 01/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Brian Wolf
• Original Assignee: Brian Wolf
• Inventors: Wolf, Brian
• Application Number:
  US10/908,251
• Publication Number:
  US 20060001545A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/573.100
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 17/02 Body supports, other than seats, for closets, e.g. handles, back-rests, foot-rests; Accessories for closets, e.g. reading tables devices for lifting patients or disabled persons A61G7/10
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 3/001 Accessories for baths, not provided for in other subgroups of group A47K3/00 bath lifting devices for sick persons and invalids A61G7/10; Insertions, e.g. for babies; Tubs suspended or inserted in baths; Security or alarm devices; Protecting linings or coverings; Devices for cleaning or disinfecting baths; Bath insulation
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 11/163 Protecting means for edges or corners
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 15/02 Flooring or floor layers composed of a number of similar elements of webs E04F15/16
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 15/10 of other materials, e.g. fibrous or chipped materials, organic plastics, magnesite tiles, hardboard , or with a top layer of other materials
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 15/225 Shock absorber members therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0446 worn on the body to detect changes of posture, e.g. a fall, inclination, acceleration, gait
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0461 integrated or attached to an item closely associated with the person but not worn by the person, e.g. chair, walking stick, bed sensor
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0476 Cameras to detect unsafe condition, e.g. video cameras

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a fall protection system and related method comprising a sensor; a computerized device receiving detections from the sensor, for deducing fall conditions from the body of a person to be protected, indicating that the person is beginning to fall; and at least one cushion not carried with the person, for deployment at at least one projected impact location where it is projected that impact from the fall will occur, for reducing a force of the impact, in response to detecting fall conditions. Also disclosed is a flooring system and related method which changes from a hard state to a cushioned state upon receiving a signal to effectuate said change, comprising: a floor surface; a cushioning material beneath said floor surface; a hard floor support for maintaining said floor in said hard state during normal use; and a hard floor support release for releasing said at least part of said hard floor support responsive to receiving said signal, such that once said hard floor support is removed, said floor becomes supported by said cushioning material.

Claims

1. A fall protection system comprising:

a sensor;

a computerized device receiving detections from said sensor, for deducing fall conditions from the body of a person to be protected, indicating that said person is beginning to fall; and

at least one cushion not carried with the person, for deployment at at least one projected impact location where it is projected that impact from said fall will occur, for reducing a force of said impact, in response to said detecting fall conditions.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein:

said computerized device deduces said fall conditions by analyzing movement patterns of the person'"'"'s body and comparing said movement patterns to stored data regarding fall and non-fall movement.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein:

said stored data regarding fall and non-fall movement is machine learning data acquired from tests involving humans.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein:

said sensor is carried with the person.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein:

said computerized device deduces said fall conditions by analyzing inertial data from said sensor regarding movement patterns of the person'"'"'s body and comparing said movement patterns to stored data regarding fall and non-fall movement.

6. The system of claim 1, said sensor comprising:

an inertial detector for detecting an inertial state of the person'"'"'s body for said detecting fall conditions.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein:

said sensor is not carried with the person.

8. The system of claim 7, said sensor comprising:

an optical element for optically detecting movement of the person'"'"'s body for said detecting fall conditions.

9. The system of claim 7, said sensor comprising:

a radar element for radar detecting movement of the person'"'"'s body for said detecting fall conditions.

10. The system of claim 7, said sensor comprising:

a sonic element for sonically detecting movement of the person'"'"'s body for said detecting fall conditions.

11. The system of claim 7, said sensor comprising:

an infrared detection element for detecting via infrared emissions, movement of the person'"'"'s body for said detecting fall conditions.

12. The system of claim 7, said sensor comprising:

a pressure detector for detecting pressure from the person'"'"'s body for said detecting fall conditions.

13. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

an identifying device carried by said person identifying said person to said system, and basing the cushion deployment on the identity of said person.

14. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a computerized device for projecting said projected impact location, based on information detected by said sensor.

15. The system of claim claim 14, further comprising:

said computerized device for determining which of the cushions to deploy based on said projecting said projected impact location.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein:

at least one of said cushions, prior to said deployment, is positioned behind a riser of a stairway; and

said cushion deploys by inflating and passing through said riser from behind said riser.

17. The system of claim 16:

said cushion comprising an adhesive for adhering to said person and thereby restraining said fall.

18. system of claim 16:

said cushion comprising a balloon airbag substantially obstructing a descent of said person down said stairway and thereby restraining said fall.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein:

at least one of said cushions, prior to said deployment, is positioned beneath a step of a stairway; and

said cushion deploys by inflating and passing through said step from beneath said step.

20. The system of claim 19:

said cushion comprising an adhesive for adhering to said person and thereby restraining said fall.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein:

at least one of said cushions, prior to said deployment, is positioned beneath a landing of a stairway; and

said cushion deploys by inflating and passing through said landing from beneath said landing.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein:

at least one of said cushions, prior to said deployment, is positioned behind said wall of a stairway; and

said cushion deploys by inflating and passing through said side wall from behind said side wall.

23. The system of claim 1, wherein:

at least one of said cushions, prior to said deployment, is positioned behind a wall of a bathroom; and

said cushion deploys by inflating and passing through said wall from behind said wall.

24. The system of claim 1, wherein:

at least one of said cushions, prior to said deployment, is positioned behind a wall of a shower; and

said cushion deploys by inflating and passing through said wall from behind said wall.

25. The system of claim 1, wherein:

at least one of said cushions, prior to said deployment, is positioned behind a bed frame; and

said cushion deploys by inflating and passing through said bed frame from behind said bed frame.

26. The system of claim 1, said at least one cushion comprising at least one inflatable airbag.

27. The system of claim 1, said at least one cushion comprising a collapsible flooring surface, wherein said surface decreases its hardness in response to said detecting fall conditions.

28. The system of claim 27, said collapsible flooring surface comprising:

pneumatic pressure maintaining said collapsible flooring surface in place during normal use; and

a pressure release mechanism for releasing said pneumatic pressure in response to said detecting fall conditions.

29. The system of claim 27, said collapsible flooring surface comprising:

a pressure housing containing pneumatic pressure for maintaining said collapsible flooring surface in place during normal use; and

a pressure release for releasing said pneumatic pressure in response to said detecting fall conditions.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein said pressure release mechanism creates an opening in said pressure housing, to release said pneumatic pressure.

31. The system of claim 28, further comprising:

a foam material, for supporting said person, once said pneumatic pressure has been released.

32. The system of claim 27, said collapsible flooring surface comprising:

at least one spring maintaining said collapsible flooring surface in place during normal use; and

a spring release for releasing said spring in response to said detecting fall conditions.

33. The system of claim 27, said collapsible flooring surface comprising:

at least one hinged support maintaining said collapsible flooring surface in place during normal use; and

a hinge release mechanism for releasing said hinge in response to said detecting fall conditions.

34. The system of claim 27, said collapsible flooring surface comprising:

at least one pin maintaining said collapsible flooring surface in place during normal use; and

a hinge release mechanism for releasing said pin in response to said detecting fall conditions.

35. A flooring system which changes from a hard state to a cushioned state upon receiving a signal to effectuate said change, comprising:

a floor surface;

a cushioning material beneath said floor surface;

a hard floor support for maintaining said floor in said hard state during normal use; and

a hard floor support release for releasing said at least part of said hard floor support responsive to receiving said signal, such that once said hard floor support is removed, said floor becomes supported by said cushioning material.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein:

said hard floor support comprises pneumatic pressure; and

said hard floor support release comprises a pressure release for releasing said pressure, responsive to said signal.

37. The system of claim 35, wherein:

said hard floor support comprises at least one spring; and

said hard floor support release comprises a spring release for releasing support of said floor by said at least one spring, responsive to said signal.

38. The system of claim 35, wherein:

said hard floor support comprises at least hinged support; and

said hard floor support release comprises a hinge release for releasing the hinge and thereby withdrawing said hard floor support, responsive to said signal.

39. The system of claim 38:

said hinge release comprising at least one pin maintaining said collapsible flooring surface in place during normal use;

wherein

said pin is removed to release said hinge.

40. A fall protection method comprising:

receiving detections from a sensor, for deducing fall conditions from the body of a person to be protected, indicating that said person is beginning to fall; and

reducing a force of said impact by deploying at least one cushion not carried with the person, at at least one projected impact location where it is projected that impact from said fall will occur, in response to said detecting fall conditions.

41. The method of claim 40, further comprising:

deducing said fall conditions by analyzing movement patterns of the person'"'"'s body and comparing said movement patterns to stored data regarding fall and non-fall movement.

42. The method of claim 41, further comprising:

acquiring said stored data regarding fall and non-fall movement as machine learning data, from tests involving humans.

43. The method of claim 40, further comprising:

providing said sensor carried with the person.

44. The method of claim 43, further comprising:

deducing said fall conditions by analyzing inertial data from said sensor regarding movement patterns of the person'"'"'s body and comparing said movement patterns to stored data regarding fall and non-fall movement.

45. The method of claim 40, further comprising:

detecting an inertial state of the person'"'"'s body for said detecting fall conditions, using an inertial detector.

46. The method of claim 40, further comprising:

providing said sensor is not carried with the person.

47. The method of claim 46, further comprising:

optically detecting movement of the person'"'"'s body for said detecting fall conditions.

48. The method of claim 46, further comprising:

radar-detecting movement of the person'"'"'s body for said detecting fall conditions.

49. The method of claim 46, further comprising:

sonically detecting movement of the person'"'"'s body for said detecting fall conditions.

50. The method of claim 46, further comprising:

infrared-detecting movement of the person'"'"'s body for said detecting fall conditions.

51. The method of claim 46, further comprising:

detecting pressure from the person'"'"'s body for said detecting fall conditions.

52. The method of claim 40, further comprising:

deploying the cushion based on the identity of said person derived from an identifying device carried by said person.

53. The method of claim 40, further comprising:

projecting said projected impact location, based on information detected by said sensor, using a computerized device.

54. The method of claim claim 53, further comprising:

determining which of the cushions to deploy based on said projecting said projected impact location.

55. The method of claim 40, further comprising:

positioning at least one of said cushions, prior to said deployment, behind a riser of a stairway; and

deploying said cushion by inflating and passing said cushion through said riser from behind said riser.

56. The method of claim 55, further comprising:

restraining said fall by adhering said cushion to said person.

57. method of claim 55, further comprising:

substantially obstructing a descent of said person down said stairway and thereby restraining said fall, using said cushion comprising a balloon airbag.

58. The method of claim 40, further comprising:

positioning at least one of said cushions, prior to said deployment, beneath a step of a stairway; and

deploying said cushion by inflating and passing said cushion through said step from beneath said step.

59. The method of claim 58, further comprising:

restraining said fall by adhering said cushion to said person.

60. The method of claim 40, further comprising:

positioning at least one of said cushions, prior to said deployment, beneath a landing of a stairway; and

deploying said cushion by inflating and passing said cushion through said landing from beneath said landing.

61. The method of claim 40, further comprising:

positioning at least one of said cushions, prior to said deployment, behind said wall of a stairway; and

deploying said cushion by inflating and passing said cushion through said side wall from behind said side wall.

62. The method of claim 40, further comprising:

positioning at least one of said cushions, prior to said deployment, behind a wall of a bathroom; and

deploying said cushion by inflating and passing said cushion through said wall from behind said wall.

63. The method of claim 40, further comprising:

positioning at least one of said cushions, prior to said deployment, behind a wall of a shower; and

deploying said cushion deploys by inflating and passing said cushion through said wall from behind said wall.

64. The method of claim 40, further comprising:

positioning at least one of said cushions, prior to said deployment, behind a bed frame; and

deploying said cushion by inflating and passing said cushion through said bed frame from behind said bed frame.

65. The method of claim 40, said at least one cushion comprising at least one inflatable airbag.

66. The method of claim 40, said at least one cushion comprising a collapsible flooring surface, further comprising:

decreasing a hardness of said surface in response to said detecting fall conditions.

67. The method of claim 66, further comprising:

maintaining said collapsible flooring surface in place during normal use using pneumatic pressure; and

releasing said pneumatic pressure in response to said detecting fall conditions.

68. The method of claim 66, further comprising:

maintaining said collapsible flooring surface in place during normal use, using a pressure housing containing pneumatic pressure; and

releasing said pneumatic pressure in response to said detecting fall conditions.

69. The method of claim 68, further comprising:

creating an opening in said pressure housing to release said pneumatic pressure.

70. The method of claim 67, further comprising:

supporting said person, once said pneumatic pressure has been released, using foam material.

71. The method of claim 56, further comprising:

maintaining said collapsible flooring surface in place during normal use, using at least one spring; and

releasing said spring in response to said detecting fall conditions.

72. The method of claim 56, further comprising:

maintaining said collapsible flooring surface in place during normal use, using at least one hinged support; and

releasing said hinge in response to said detecting fall conditions.

73. The method of claim 56, further comprising:

maintaining said collapsible flooring surface in place during normal use, using at least one pin; and

releasing said pin in response to said detecting fall conditions.

74. A method for changing a flooring system from a hard state to a cushioned state upon receiving a signal to effectuate said change, comprising:

providing a cushioning material beneath a floor surface;

maintaining said floor in said hard state during normal use, using a hard floor support;

releasing said at least part of said hard floor support responsive to receiving said signal; and

once said hard floor support is removed, supporting said floor by said cushioning material.

75. The method of claim 74, wherein said hard floor support comprises pneumatic pressure;

further comprising;

releasing said pressure from hard floor support, responsive to said signal.

76. The method of claim 74, wherein said hard floor support comprises at least one spring;

further comprising;

releasing said hard floor support by releasing said spring, responsive to said signal.

77. The method of claim 74, wherein said hard floor support comprises at least hinged support;

further comprising;

releasing said hard floor support by releasing the hinge, responsive to said signal.

78. The method of claim 77, wherein said hinge release comprises at least one pin maintaining said collapsible flooring surface in place during normal use;

further comprising;

removing said pin to release said hinge.