Patent Publication Number: US-11030878-B2

Title: Tool safety system

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims benefit to U.S. Patent Application No. 62/803,458 filed on Feb. 9, 2019. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT (IF APPLICABLE) 
     Not applicable. 
     REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISC APPENDIX (IF APPLICABLE) 
     Not applicable. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     No prior art is known to the Applicant 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A tether tracking system configured to secure and monitor a one or more tools to prevent drops and accidents by a worker. Said tether tracking system comprises a base portion, a two or more straps, a one or more hooks, a tool strap and a one or more hook anchors. Said two or more straps comprise at least a first strap and a second strap. Said first strap comprises a first end and a second end. Said second strap comprises a first end and a second end. Said two or more straps are attached to said base portion with said second end of said first strap and said second end of said second strap attached to said base portion. Said first end of said second strap is attached to said tool strap. Said tool strap is configured to selectively attach to one among a one or more tool tethers. Said one or more hook anchors comprise at least a first hook anchor. Said one or more hooks comprise at least a first hook. Said first end of said first strap is attached to said first hook. each among said one or more hooks are configured to selectively attach to said one or more hook anchors. Said tether tracking system is configured to monitor safety conditions of said one or more tools by: attaching a controller between a two or more ground signals on a two or more lines. monitoring said two or more ground signals to ensure that at least one of said two or more lines are grounded. sending an alarm signal with said controller when a monitoring step determines none of said two or more lines are grounded to said two or more ground signals. Said two or more ground signals are associated with at least said one or more hook anchors. Said two or more lines are integrated into said two or more straps. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective overview a worksite  102  with a worker  106  dropping a tool  104  attached to a tether tracking system  100 . 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective overview of a prior art tether  200 . 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a perspective overview of said tether tracking system  100 . 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective overview of said worker  106  with said tether tracking system  100  attached to a harness system  400 . 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a sensor circuit  500  of said tether tracking system  100 . 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a method of use  600  for said tether tracking system  100 . 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a perspective overview of a tool tether configuration  700  of said tether tracking system  100 . 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a network diagram  800 . 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a one or more data tables  900  managed by said server application  810 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective overview a worksite  102  with a worker  106  dropping a tool  104  attached to a tether tracking system  100 . 
     In one embodiment, said tether tracking system  100  can selectively secure one or a plurality of said tool  104  to said worker  106 . 
     For many construction workers, working at a first elevation  108  above a ground  110  can comprise a risky undertaking. For example, where construction is conducted at a first work location  112  at said first elevation  108 , a lower elevation worker  114  at a second elevation  116  being below said first work location  112  might be hit by said tool  104  when falling toward said ground  110  along a falling path  120 . 
     In one embodiment, a supervisor  118  can monitor conditions at said worksite  102  including the status of said tether tracking system  100 , as discussed herein. 
     In one embodiment, said worksite  102  can comprise a scaffolding structure  122 , as is known in the art. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective overview of a prior art tether  200 . 
     The prior art has developed means for securing said tool  104  to said worker  106  using said prior art tether  200 . In one embodiment, said prior art tether  200  can comprise a strap portion  202 , a two hook assemblies  204  (comprising a first hook assembly  204   a  and a second hook assembly  204   b ) attached at a first end  206  and a second end  208  of said strap portion  202 , and an adjustment buckle  210 , as illustrated. 
     Said prior art tether  200  is designed to attach to attach said tool  104  to said worker  106  in order to prevent injuries to said lower elevation worker  114 . However, in the real world, said worker  106  tend to take shortcuts and fail to keep said tool  104  tethered at all times. Indeed, injuries occur and near misses happen all the time in industrial construction settings. Human distraction and laziness tend to cause more injuries than equipment failure. On objective of said tether tracking system  100  is to compensate for these human errors. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a perspective overview of said tether tracking system  100 . 
     In one embodiment, said tether tracking system  100  can comprise a base portion  300 , a two or more straps  302 , a one or more hooks  304 , a first end  306 , a second end  308 , a first end  310 , a second end  312 , a first end  314 , a second end  316 , a tool strap  318  and a one or more hook anchors  320 . In one embodiment, said two or more straps  302  can comprise a first strap  302   a , a second strap  302   b  and a third strap  302   c . Said one or more hooks  304  can comprise a first hook  304   a  and a second hook  304   b . Said one or more hook anchors  320  can comprise a first hook anchor  320   a  and a second hook anchor  320   b.    
     Each of said two or more straps  302  are configured to attach to said base portion  300  with said second end  308 , said second end  312  and said second end  316 , respectively. 
     Further, said first end  306  of said first strap  302   a  can attach to said first hook  304   a ; said first end  310  of said second strap  302   b  can attach to said second hook  304   b ; and said first end  314  of said third strap  302   c  can attach to said tool strap  318 . 
     Accordingly, said tool strap  318 , said first hook anchor  320   a  and said second hook anchor  320   b  can be attached to one another with said base portion  300  and said two or more straps  302 , as illustrated. 
     In one embodiment, said two or more straps  302  can comprise a strong fabric strap, as is known in the art. However, unlike said prior art tether  200 , in one embodiment, said two or more straps  302  can have an added feature of electronic circuits, as discussed below. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective overview of said worker  106  with said tether tracking system  100  attached to a harness system  400 . 
     In one embodiment, said harness system  400  can comprise a safety harness, as is known in the art. In one embodiment, said harness system  400  can comprise an inductive anchor  402  to function as said one or more hook anchors  320 . In one embodiment, all metallic portions of said harness system  400  can comprise said inductive anchor  402 . In one embodiment, said inductive anchor  402  can comprise an enclosed loop where portions of said harness system  400  tie together. In one embodiment, said inductive anchor  402  is adapted to receive a portion of one among said two hook assemblies  204 , such as said first hook assembly  204   a , as illustrated. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a sensor circuit  500  of said tether tracking system  100 . 
     In one embodiment, said sensor circuit  500  can comprise a controller  502 , a two or more lines  504  and a two or more ground signals  506 . Said two or more lines  504  can comprise a first line  504   a , a second line  504   b  and a third line  504   c . Said two or more ground signals  506  can comprise a first ground signal  506   a , a second ground signal  506   b  and a third ground signal  506   c.    
     In one embodiment, said base portion  300  can be used to monitor conditions of said one or more hooks  304  and said tool strap  318 . In one embodiment, said two or more straps  302  can comprise said two or more lines  504  within the strap material; wherein, said first strap  302   a  and said first line  504   a , said second strap  302   b  and said second line  504   b , and said third strap  302   c  and said third line  504   c  can be associated with one another. In one embodiment, said two or more ground signals  506  can be created by attaching said one or more hook anchors  320  and/or said tool strap  318  to said one or more hook anchors  320  or said tool  104 . 
     In one embodiment, said controller  502  can monitor said two or more lines  504  for a ground (such as said two or more ground signals  506 ) to determine if said one or more hook anchors  320  are attached to said one or more hooks  304  or, possibly, said tool strap  318 . However, said tool strap  318  may or may not be configured for this circuit analysis, pursuant to the requirements of said worker  106  or other end users associated with said tether tracking system  100 . 
     In one embodiment, said controller  502  can be integrated into said base portion  300 , as illustrated. In another embodiment, said controller  502  can be located anywhere between said two or more ground signals  506  on said sensor circuit  500 . 
     In one embodiment, said two or more ground signals  506  can comprise said first ground signal  506   a  and said second ground signal  506   b  as between said two hook assemblies  204 . 
     Accordingly, said tether tracking system  100  can be configured to determine whether a portion of said one or more hooks  304  are attached to a portion of said one or more hook anchors  320 . 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a method of use  600  for said tether tracking system  100 . 
     Said method of use  600  can comprise a starting step  602 , a configuration step  604 , a monitoring step  606 , an alarming step  608 , and an end step  610 . 
     In one embodiment, said configuration step  604  can comprise attaching said controller  502  between said two or more ground signals  506  on said two or more lines  504 ; wherein, said two or more ground signals  506  are associated with at least said one or more hook anchors  320 ; further wherein, said two or more lines  504  are integrated into said two or more straps  302 . 
     Said two or more ground signals  506  can be grounded when said one or more hook anchors  320  are in contact with a metallic structure such as said scaffolding structure  122 , said one or more hook anchors  320 , or similar. 
     Said monitoring step  606  can comprise monitoring said two or more ground signals  506  to ensure that at least one of said two or more lines  504  are grounded. 
     Said alarming step  608  can comprise said controller  502  sending an alarm signal when said monitoring step  606  determines none of said two or more lines  504  are grounded to said two or more ground signals  506 . 
     In one embodiment, said alarming step  608  can comprise an audible alarm, a digital alarm carried over a network to a server, a signal to a supervisor or colleague, or other as may be expected in the art. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a perspective overview of a tool tether configuration  700  of said tether tracking system  100 . 
     Said tool tether configuration  700  can comprise a bag  708  and a one or more tool tethers  710 . Said bag  708  can be configured to safely hold a one or more tools  702  each attached to said one or more tool tethers  710 . In one embodiment, said tool tether configuration  700  of said tether tracking system  100  can be configured to attach said bag  708  to a mounted hook  706  of a mounting structure  704 ; and said one or more tools  702  attached to said bag  708  with said one or more tool tethers  710 , as illustrated. 
     In one embodiment, said one or more tools  702  can comprise first tool  702   a  and second tool  702   b.    
     Further, said bag  708  can house said controller  502  and thereby function as said base portion  300 . In one embodiment, said two or more straps  302  and said one or more tool tethers  710  can attach to said bag  708 . In one embodiment, said tool tether configuration  700  can confirm at least one among said one or more hooks  304  are attached to either said worker  106  or said mounted hook  706  of said mounting structure  704 . In one embodiment, said mounted hook  706  of said mounting structure  704  can be grounded. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates a network diagram  800 . 
     In one embodiment, said network diagram  800  can comprise a network  802 , a server  804 , a data records  806 , and a first computer  808 . 
     In one embodiment, said tether tracking system  100  can communicate oversaid network diagram  800  with said server  804  and/or said first computer  808 . In one embodiment, said first computer  808  can be associated with said supervisor  118  with a responsibility to care for said worker  106  and/or said worksite  102 . 
     In one embodiment, said server  804  can store records associated with said tether tracking system  100  and said worker  106  in said data records  806 . Said server  804  can comprise a server application  810  configured to communicate with said data records  806  and said first computer  808 . Said server  804  and said server application  810  can be configured to send to said first computer  808  according to user preferences. 
     Said first computer  808  can comprise a device application  812 . In one embodiment, said server application  810  and said device application  812  can communicate with one another over said network  802 , as is known in the art. In one embodiment, said device application  812  can comprise an app on a smart device, or similar, or a messaging app for receiving noncomplex text messages. 
       FIG. 9  illustrates a one or more data tables  900  managed by said server application  810 . 
     In one embodiment, said one or more data tables  900  can comprise an user table  902 , an use log table  904 , a tools allocated table  906 , and an alarm conditions table  908 . Said user table  902  can comprise a list of users, such as said worker  106 , said lower elevation worker  114  and said supervisor  118 . Said use log table  904  can comprise records related to actions of the users. Said tools allocated table  906  can comprise a list of tools (such as said tool  104 , said first tool  702   a  and said second tool  702   b ) which are or have been associated with individual users. Said alarm conditions table  908  can comprise a record of alarm conditions associated with events determined by said method of use  600  or similar analysis of said controller  502 , said server application  810  or said device application  812 . 
     The following sentences are generated from the claims and represent at least one embodiment of the current disclosure: 
     Said tether tracking system  100  configured to secure and monitor said one or more tools  702  to prevent drops and accidents by said worker  106 . Said tether tracking system  100  comprises said base portion  300 , said two or more straps  302 , said one or more hooks  304 , said tool strap  318  and said one or more hook anchors  320 . Said two or more straps  302  comprise at least said first strap  302   a  and said second strap  302   b . Said first strap  302   a  comprises said first end  306  and said second end  308 . Said second strap  302   b  comprises said first end  310  and said second end  312 . Said two or more straps  302  can be attached to said base portion  300  with said second end  308  of said first strap  302   a  and said second end  312  of said second strap  302   b  attached to said base portion  300 . Said first end  310  of said second strap  302   b  can be attached to said tool strap  318 . Said tool strap  318  can be configured to selectively attach to one among said one or more tool tethers  710 . Said one or more hook anchors  320  comprise at least said first hook anchor  320   a . Said one or more hooks  304  comprise at least said first hook  304   a . Said first end  306  of said first strap  302   a  can be attached to said first hook  304   a . each among said one or more hooks  304  can be configured to selectively attach to said one or more hook anchors  320 . Said tether tracking system  100  can be configured to monitor safety conditions of said one or more tools  702  by: attaching said controller  502  between said two or more ground signals  506  on said two or more lines  504 . monitoring said two or more ground signals  506  to ensure that at least one of said two or more lines  504  can be grounded. sending an alarm signal with said controller  502  when said monitoring step  606  determines none of said two or more lines  504  can be grounded to said two or more ground signals  506 . wherein, said two or more ground signals  506  can be associated with at least said one or more hook anchors  320 . Said two or more lines  504  can be integrated into said two or more straps  302 . 
     Various changes in the details of the illustrated operational methods are possible without departing from the scope of the following claims. Some embodiments may combine the activities described herein as being separate steps. Similarly, one or more of the described steps may be omitted, depending upon the specific operational environment the method is being implemented in. It is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. For example, the above-described embodiments may be used in combination with each other. Many other embodiments will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. The scope of the invention should, therefore, be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. In the appended claims, the terms “including” and “in which” are used as the plain-English equivalents of the respective terms “comprising” and “wherein.”