Patent Publication Number: US-7212392-B2

Title: Personal body grounding system instrumentation and process

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to grounding systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to an improved personal body grounding system for collecting and removing electrical charges from a human body. 
   A personal body grounding system has been described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,683,779. (“the &#39;779”) The system of the &#39;779 patent comprises an electrically conductive grounding pad having a ground lead extending therefrom that is conductively coupled to a grounded anchor. The grounding pad has a layer of carbon fibers in a conductor substantially extending across the layer in conductive contact with the carbon fibers. The ground lead is conductively coupled to the grounding pad conductor at one end thereof. The systems includes a single ground lead extending from the grounding pad conductively coupled to a single grounded anchor providing only one ground contact point for the system. Although, the system of the &#39;779 patent has been shown to reduce electrical charges from the body and enhance the physiological well-being of the human body with some efficacy, it could be improved. 
   Therefore, it is desirable to enhance the efficacy of the personal body grounding system in the &#39;779 patent. One such enhancement could include providing multiple ground contact points either through a single anchor with multiple rods or multiple grounding anchors. Other enhancements could include physical instrumentation, i.e., a monitor and/or conductivity meter. Other operative and functional improvements to the basic system are also contemplated. The objective of these enhancements is to make the system easier to operate, more accurate, and safer. 
   Accordingly, there is a need for an improved body grounding system that collects and removes electrical charges from a human body with greater efficacy, while being easier, safer, and more accurate to use. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to an improved personal body grounding system for collecting and removing excess internal and extraneous electrical charges from a human body in order to return the body to its natural electrically neutral state. The improved system generally comprises a grounding pad having a sitting or sleeping pad including a mesh layer substrate comprised of a plurality of electrically conductive fibers and a conductor in conductive contact with the fibers. The conductor may extend substantially across the entire mesh layer substrate. The mesh layer substrate is comprised of a plurality of carbon fibers and the conductor is conductively connected to these carbon fibers. The grounding pad is configured to make field or conductive contact with a human body. Two or more ground leads are conductively coupled to the grounding pad conductor at a first end. A grounding anchor is conductively coupled to second ends of the ground leads. The grounding anchors provide multiple ground contact points. 
   The grounding pad may comprise multiple conductors wherein the ground leads are each electrically connected to a separate conductor. The grounded anchor may consist of a single anchor having dual grounded rods or multiple anchors each having single grounded rods. Each of the separate grounded rods are connected to a separate ground lead extending from the grounding pad. 
   The system of the present invention includes a monitor that permits a user to initiate a short duration electrical signal to check continuity to ground. This ground continuity device may be located on or near the grounding pad or on the grounded anchor. In addition, the monitor may be configured for automatic and/or continuous signal generation without being initiated by the user. The electrical signal generated by the ground continuity device may be either Direct Current (DC) or Alternating Current (AC). It is preferable that the device generate an AC signal. 
   When the monitor is located on or near the grounding pad, it may be capable of displaying the ground status of the system. The monitor may also include other safety features. The monitor may include a fuse to prevent or minimize the effects of a sudden electrical power surge. Such a power surge may arise where the system is improperly grounded or a conductive powered appliance or power line contacts the user, the grounding pad, or the grounded anchor. 
   The monitor may also include a capacitor or capacitor/resistor combination in order to create an open circuit safety in the event of a sudden power surge. Similarly, the monitor may include a transistor, op-amp or similar active powered inline circuit, i.e., ground fault interrupter (GFI). In addition, the system may include an inherent resistive load to decrease electrical current potentially transmitted through the user. 
   The system of the present invention may also include a digital or analog personal meter capable of measuring the personal body voltage of the user. The personal meter may include a gold plated membrane or other electrical contact/activation point. 
   The monitor may include a signal or indicator, i.e., LED lights or audible annunciator, to alert the user to the status of any or all of the above mentioned safety features. The monitor may also include one or more ports or couplings through which a user may connect various combinations of system components, i.e., grounded anchors, electrical meters, grounding pads, or other grounding devices. 
   Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention. In such drawings: 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a personal grounding system embodying the present invention, the system comprising a sleeping pad positioned on a mattress and directly connected to a grounded anchor; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a grounded anchor with ground lead embodying the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view taken generally along line  3 — 3  of  FIG. 2 , illustrating the internal configuration of a grounded anchor of the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  is an illustration of the face of a monitor of the present invention; 
       FIG. 5  is an electrical schematic diagram for the monitor of the present invention; 
       FIG. 6  is an illustration of the face of the meter of the present invention; and 
       FIG. 7  is a first part of an electrical schematic diagram of the meter of the present invention. 
       FIG. 8  is a second part of an electrical schematic diagram of the meter of the present invention. 
       FIG. 9  is a schematic diagram of the personal body voltage gauge of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   As shown in the drawings for purposes of illustration, the present invention is concerned with a system for grounding human bodies, generally referred to by the reference number  10  in  FIG. 1 . The system  10  is designed to collect and remove electrical charges from a human body. 
   With reference to  FIG. 1 , the system  10  includes a grounding pad  12  in the form of a sleeping pad in the depicted embodiment. The grounding pad  12  includes a mesh layer substrate  14  which is comprised of a plurality of carbon fibers. One or more conductors  16  substantially extend across the carbon fiber substrate  14  so as to be in conductive contact with the carbon fibers. Although as few as one conductor  16  may be used, preferably a plurality of conductors  16  are used and spaced from one another and interconnected in order to effectively conduct electrostatic charges from the carbon fiber substrate  14 . 
   Two or more ground leads  18  are each connected at a first end thereof to a conductor  16  of the grounding pad  12 . In a preferred embodiment, the two or more ground leads  18  comprise a single cable having twin wires composed of a conductive material, such as copper. The twin wire ground leads  18  are of sufficient length to extend from the grounding pad  12  to a grounded anchor  20  which is preferably placed directly into the earth. The ground leads  18  may extend from the grounding pad  12  and through a window  30  or other aperture of a wall  32  of a house and into electrical contact with the grounded anchor  20 . 
   In the preferred embodiment, the grounded anchor  20  comprises a single unit having dual ground rods  22 . However, an alternate embodiment may comprise multiple grounded anchors  20  each having at least one ground rod  22 . In either embodiment, each ground rod  22  is connected to a single wire ground lead  18  extending from the grounding pad  12 . 
   With reference to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the grounded anchor  20  of the preferred embodiment comprises dual ground rods  22  connected to spring contacts  24  enclosed within a housing  28  and held in place by retaining rings  26 . The ground leads  18  pass through the housing  28  and are secured to the ground rods  22  by means of the spring contacts  24 . 
   The dual ground rods  22  of the grounded anchor  20  contact the earth/ground substrate in two or more places allowing the creation of a closed circuit or loop. This closed circuit or loop permits the system  10  of the present invention to check and ensure continuity to ground. An anchor which is earth grounded will allow an electrical signal to conduct to another independent anchor and thus close an electrical loop. This feature takes advantage of the inherent electrochemical nature of a proper earth ground to conduct an electrical signal. A close loop electrical signal may be generated by a monitor  34  ( FIGS. 4 and 5 ) to test that the system  10  is properly grounded. This is very advantageous to a user in that he/she would know the personal grounding system  10  is properly set up. 
   In the preferred embodiment, this electrical signal would be of short duration and initiated by a user so as to not interfere with the grounding system  10 . However, a monitor  34  that generates an automatic and/or continuous electrical signal may also function properly. 
   Either a direct current (DC) or alternating current (AC) electrical signal may be used to test continuity to ground. An AC electrical signal is used in the preferred embodiment. A DC electrical signal may create an undesired ongoing or residual galvanic potential voltage difference between the multiple ground rods  22  in the earth. This disadvantageous electrochemical effect could result in impaired testing of continuity to ground. Using a DC signal may also cause impurities to collect on the metallic ground rods  22 . This phenomenon would be due to adverse electrochemical reactions between the ground rods  22  and the earth, and this may cause further interference with continuity monitoring. The use of an AC electrical signal prevents both the galvanic interference as well as the build-up of impurities. 
   The monitor  34  may be located within the housing  28  of the grounded anchor  20  or located near the grounding pad  12 .  FIG. 5  presents an electrical schematic diagram of the monitor  34  of the present invention. The monitor  34  may include a signal generating circuit  36  that would create and transmit the electrical signal through the ground leads  18  to the grounded anchor  20 . When properly grounded, the system  10  would form a closed loop in the manner explained above. The signal received back by the monitor  34  would verify proper grounding. In an improperly grounded system, the monitor  34  would not receive a signal back thereby indicating an open circuit and no continuity to ground. 
   The monitor  34  includes a number of safety features. The monitor  34  may include fuses  38 , the purpose of which is to prevent or minimize the effects of a sudden electrical power surge as may occur in an improperly grounded system  10 . A power surge may also occur when a conductive powered appliance or power line contacts the user, the grounding pad  12 , or the grounded anchor  20 . The design is intended to protect the user from a sudden electrical power surge. In operation, fuses  38  would break the conductive path in the event of such a power surge. 
   Another safety feature is the use of a capacitor or a capacitor and resistor combination  40  to create an open circuit in the event of a sudden power surge. A capacitor or capacitor/resistor combination  40  would allow the continuous discharge of both AC and DC electrical signals in accordance with the basic function of the system  10 . However, in the event of a sudden power surge the circuit  40  would immediately increase its relative resistance in the system  10 . This sudden increase in resistance would lower the transmitted current of the system  10  in accordance with Ohm&#39;s law. This circuit  40  is depicted in  FIG. 5 . An additional safety feature inherent in this circuit  40  is the potential for either the capacitor or the resistor to open or “blow” in the event of a sudden power surge. This again would lead to an open condition that would be safe for a user. 
   Another safety feature is a powered in-line circuit which would continuously measure the electrical activity present in the system  10 . In the event of an electrical power surge, the powered in-line circuit would immediately open, creating a safe condition. Such powered in-line circuit could be created using a transistor, op-amp or similar active electrical component. Such a circuit would function as a ground fault interrupter (GFI) circuit. 
   Another safety feature is an inherent resistive load within the system  10 , which would decrease the electrical current transmitted through a user. The preferred embodiment of the system  10  contains a 50 kΩ internal load. While all conductive paths carry some inherent resistance this is a specific resistive load calibrated to allow a certain maximum current, which may be transmitted through a user. In the event of a 110 AC voltage current contacting the user an approximately 2 mAmp maximum current would be conducted. This is enough to alert the user to an unsafe condition, however, this is well below the 5 mAmp level considered potentially unsafe. 
   The monitor  34  may also include a signal or indicator  46  and  48  to alert the user when any or all of the above mentioned features are functioning properly. The preferred embodiment of the monitor  34  uses LED lights as the signal or indicator  46  and  48 . The monitor  34  may also include multiple ports or couplings  48  at which to connect various system components. These system components may include grounded anchors  20 , meters  50 , gauges  60 , grounding pads  12 , or other grounding devices. The preferred embodiment includes ports  48  at which to connect two grounding pads  12  as shown in  FIG. 4 . The signal or indicator  46  may also indicate that a system  10  is properly connected and has continuity to ground. 
   Each of these features may be incorporated into either the monitor  34 , the meter  50 , or any other system component in various combinations. 
   The personal body voltage meter  50  depicted in  FIG. 6  along with its electrical circuit  58  depicted schematically in  FIGS. 7 and 8  measures the personal body voltage of a user. The meter  50  may be either digital or analog. In the preferred embodiment shown in  FIG. 6 , the meter  50  is analog in nature. The meter  50  has a human electrical contact point  52  as well as an activation switch  54 . In the preferred embodiment, the human electrical contact point  52  and the activation switch  54  are one and the same. This configuration ensures that a user makes proper contact with the contact point  52  when activating the meter  50 . In addition, the human electrical contact point  52  preferably consists of an exposed gold plated membrane. Gold plating reduces oxidation and allows optimal electrical contact with the human body. 
   The meter  50  depicted in  FIG. 6  has an analog display  56  with a graduated scale of graphic representation. The display  56  may also include color coded lighted signals to indicate body voltage. The meter circuit  58  may include filtering components to give a clearer signal. In the preferred embodiment, the meter circuit  58  is designed to show the personal body voltage of 60 Hz AC. This is the preferred measurement in that most stray or unnatural electrical patterns within the human body will be at this frequency based upon present standard power line parameters. 
     FIG. 9  illustrates a schematic diagram of a system continuity gauge  60  for use with the present invention, to indicate whether a personal body grounding system is properly grounded. The system continuity gauge is a small hand-held portable device (not shown) having an electrically conductive coating or layer on one side. The electrically conductive coating or layer is preferably a thin copper patch on elastic foam conductively coupled to the internal circuits of the gauge  60 . Copper is the preferred material for this electrically conductive coating or layer but any electrically conductive material will function as intended. The thinness of the coating or layer and elastic foam are intended to allow flexibility and contouring for improved contact with the personal body grounding system or other voltage item to be checked. The internal circuits check the voltage grounding level of the system to earth ground. 
   If a significant voltage reduction is attained through proper continuity, then the personal body grounding system is considered successfully grounded. Upon grounding, an indicator light flashes green or other means of notification activates when the gauge  60  is employed. If there is no contact or the personal body grounding system is not grounded, then an indicator light flashes red or other means of notification activates. In an alternative embodiment, the gauge  60  can activate without a manual switch. 
   Although several embodiments have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.