Forge protection device and method

• US 6,308,578 B1
• Filed: 11/17/1999
• Issued: 10/30/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dayne Derose
• Original Assignee: Dayne Derose
• Inventors: DeRose, Dayne
• Primary Examiner(s): NOORI, MAX H
• Application Number:
  US09/441,815
• Time in Patent Office: 713 Days
• Field of Search: 737/74, 737/76, 737/77, 737/80, 738/623.81, 738/624.73, 738/626.8
• US Class Current: 73/780
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/046 Means for detecting hazards or accidents
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 5/0052 measuring forces due to impact G01L5/0061, G01L5/14 take precedence; impact testing of structures G01M7/08; impact testing of material G01N3/00

Abstract

A device for and method of detecting application of a force is disclosed. The device has a first layer of electrically conductive material, and a first conductor electrically coupled to the first layer. The device also has a second layer of electrically conductive material, and a second conductor electrically coupled to the second layer. An electrical power supply is connected to the first conductor, and a transmitter is connected to the second conductor. The transmitter is capable of transmitting a signal when an electric charge moves from the first layer to the second layer. Finally, a resiliently compressible third layer of non-electrically-conductive porous material is disposed between the first layer and the second layer, and separates the first layer and the second layer a sufficient distance to prevent an electric charge from moving between the first and second layers, except when one of the conductive layers receives an impact.

Claims

1. A force detection device, comprising:

a first layer of electrically conductive material;

a first conductor electrically coupled to the first layer;

an electrical power supply connected to the first conductor;

a second layer of electrically conductive material;

a second conductor electrically coupled to the second layer;

a transmitter connected to the second conductor and capable of transmitting a signal in response to application of an impact force applied to one of the layers of electrically conductive material when an electric charge moves from one of the electrically conductive layers to another of the electrically conductive layers;

a resiliently compressible third layer of non-electrically-conductive porous material disposed between the first layer and the second layer, the third layer having a first state separating the first layer and the second layer a sufficient distance to prevent an electric charge from moving from one of the electrically conductive layers to another of the electrically conductive layers, and when an impact force is applied to one of the conductive layers the third layer is compressed and permits an electric charge to move from one of the electrically conductive layers to another of the electrically conductive layers, and

an article of clothing for wearing by a person, the article of clothing having the first, second and third layers joined to the article of clothing in an area likely to receive an impact force.

2. The force detection device of claim 1, wherein the electrical power supply is a battery.

3. The force detection device of claim 1, further including a receiver, in communication with and capable of receiving the signal from the transmitter once the electric charge moves from one of the electrically conductive layers to another of the electrically conductive layers.

4. The force detection device of claim 3, further including an emitter connected to the receiver, the emitter being capable of emitting a human detectable signal once the receiver receives the signal from the transmitter.

5. The force detection device of claim 4, further comprising a pair of glasses joined to the emitter.

6. The force detection device of claim 5, wherein the emitter emits light.

7. The force detection device of claim 1, wherein the third layer includes nylon.

8. The force detection device of claim 1, wherein the first layer includes a metallic mesh.

9. The force detection device of claim 1, wherein the second layer includes a metallic mesh.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the layers of electrically conductive material is a lamé

mesh.

11. The force detection device of claim 10 wherein the first layer is pliable.

12. The force detection device of claim 10 wherein the second layer is pliable.

13. The force detection device of claim 1, further including conductive projections joined to and extending from at least one of the conductive layers toward the third layer, the projections extending into the third layer when an impact force is applied to either one of the conductive layers.

14. A force detection device, comprising:

a first layer of electrically conductive material on a first article of clothing;

a first conductor electrically coupled to the first layer;

an electrical power supply connected to the first conductor;

a second layer of electrically-conductive material on a second article of clothing;

a second conductor electrically coupled to the second layer; and

a transmitter connected to the second conductor and capable of transmitting a signal when an electric charge moves from one of the electrically conductive layers to another of the electrically conductive layers as a result of an impact force applied by the first article of clothing to the second article of clothing.

15. The force detection device of claim 14 further comprising a resiliently compressible third layer of non-electrically-conductive porous material covering the first layer.

16. A method of indicating application of a force, comprising:

providing an article of clothing having a force detection device, the force detection device having (a) a first layer of electrically conductive material, (b) a first conductor electrically coupled to the first layer, (c) a second layer of electrically conductive material, (d) a second conductor electrically coupled to the second layer, (e) an electrical power supply connected to the first conductor, (f) a transmitter connected to the second conductor and capable of transmitting a signal when an electric charge moves from one of the electrically conductive layers to another of the electrically conductive layers, and (g) a third layer of material disposed between the first layer and the second layer, the third layer being non-electrically-conductive, porous, compressible, and pliable;

applying an impact force to at least one of the conductive layers to compress the third layer a sufficient distance to permit an electric charge to pass from one of the electrically conductive layers to another of the electrically conductive layers;

sensing the electric charge; and

transmitting the signal with the transmitter in response to sensing the electric charge to indicate application of the impact force.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

receiving the signal with a receiver and emitting a human detectable signal in response to receiving the signal.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein at least one of the layers of electrically conductive material is a lamé

mesh.