Patent Publication Number: US-11044961-B1

Title: Safety helmet

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to safety equipment, more specifically but not by way of limitation, a safety helmet wherein the safety helmet is configured to provide notifications to a user of potential hazards and further is configured with additional safety elements. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Protective headgear as we know it takes a reactive, after-the-fact or after-the-incident approach to managing the safety of users. Hard hats and other protective headgear protect the user after contact with the safety hazard, as opposed to preventing contact with the safety hazard. The design and use of protective headgear as Personal Protective Equipment, has not adequately evolved to address the increased complexity of our jobsites as users are required to navigate more complex environments, with more equipment, employees, and in general, more potential safety hazards. Safety head gear, for example, hard hats, also limit protection of the wearer to just the head as opposed the full body protection against environmental hazards, including but not limited to, fall hazards and being struck by objects. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for protective/safety headgear that employs proactive embodiment wherein the embodiment monitors the jobsite environment and effectively alerts the wearer of potential hazards, establishing a safety zone, perimeter, or shield around the wearer that isn&#39;t limited to the head but to the entire body. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is the object of the present invention to provide a safety helmet that is configured to provide protection for a wearer and further provide directional location of potential hazards wherein the present invention includes a plurality of location transceivers. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a safety helmet that is configured to provide notification to a wearer of a potential hazard and the location thereof with respect to the wearer wherein the plurality of location transceivers are positioned on the safety helmet to ensure monitoring of a desired area or perimeter proximate to a user. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a safety helmet that is configured to provide protection for a wearer and further provide directional location of potential hazards wherein the present invention wherein the location transceivers are operably coupled to bone conduction transmitters. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a safety helmet that is configured to provide notification to a wearer of a potential hazard and the location thereof with respect to the wearer wherein the bone conduction transmitters are mounted internally within the head cavity of the safety helmet. 
     An additional object of the present invention is to provide a safety helmet that is configured to provide protection for a wearer and further provide directional location of potential hazards wherein the present invention wherein the location transceivers are secured utilizing mounting brackets operable to ensure the maintenance of the position of the transceiver despite the position of the head of the wearer of the present invention. 
     Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a safety helmet that is configured to provide notification to a wearer of a potential hazard and the location thereof with respect to the wearer wherein the bone conduction transmitters are activated so as to be directionally specific. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a safety helmet that is configured to provide protection for a wearer and further provide directional location of potential hazards wherein the safety helmet further employs sound emitting sensors to provide monitoring of the area proximate the wearer of the safety helmet. 
     Still an additional object of the present invention is a safety helmet that is configured to provide notification to a wearer of a potential hazard and the location thereof with respect to the wearer wherein the safety helmet further monitors the elevation of the wearer. 
     Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a safety helmet that is configured to provide notification to a wearer of multiple potential hazards concurrently and the location thereof with respect to the wearer. 
     Yet an additional object of the present invention is to provide a safety helmet that is configured to provide notification to a wearer of a potential hazard and the location thereof with respect to the wearer wherein the safety helmet further monitors changes in terrain, ground conditions, and floors conditions. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a safety helmet that is configured to provide notification to a wearer of a potential hazard and the location thereof with respect to the wearer wherein the safety helmet further monitors the speed and distance of approaching objects. 
     To the accomplishment of the above and related objects the present invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Attention is called to the fact that the drawings are illustrative only. Variations are contemplated as being a part of the present invention, limited only by the scope of the claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A more complete understanding of the present invention may be had by reference to the following Detailed Description and appended claims when taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a top view of an embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 2  is side view of an embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 3  is an internal view of the head cavity of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring now to the drawings submitted herewith, wherein various elements depicted therein are not necessarily drawn to scale and wherein through the views and figures like elements are referenced with identical reference numerals, there is illustrated a safety helmet  100  constructed according to the principles of the present invention. 
     An embodiment of the present invention is discussed herein with reference to the figures submitted herewith. Those skilled in the art will understand that the detailed description herein with respect to these figures is for explanatory purposes and that it is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that alternative embodiments are plausible. By way of example but not by way of limitation, those having skill in the art in light of the present teachings of the present invention will recognize a plurality of alternate and suitable approaches dependent upon the needs of the particular application to implement the functionality of any given detail described herein, beyond that of the particular implementation choices in the embodiment described herein. Various modifications and embodiments are within the scope of the present invention. 
     It is to be further understood that the present invention is not limited to the particular methodology, materials, uses and applications described herein, as these may vary. Furthermore, it is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is used for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. It must be noted that as used herein and in the claims, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” include the plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, a reference to “an element” is a reference to one or more elements and includes equivalents thereof known to those skilled in the art. All conjunctions used are to be understood in the most inclusive sense possible. Thus, the word “or” should be understood as having the definition of a logical “or” rather than that of a logical “exclusive or” unless the context clearly necessitates otherwise. Structures described herein are to be understood also to refer to functional equivalents of such structures. Language that may be construed to express approximation should be so understood unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. 
     References to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, “exemplary embodiments”, and the like may indicate that the embodiment(s) of the invention so described may include a particular feature, structure or characteristic, but not every embodiment necessarily includes the particular feature, structure or characteristic. 
     Referring in particular to the Figures submitted as a part hereof the safety helmet  100  further includes a body  10  having a dome portion  12  wherein the dome portion  12  includes a cavity  14 . The cavity  14  is of suitable size so as to accommodate a portion of a human head therein. The cavity  14  further has operably disposed therein the securing elements  15  that are configured to releasably secure the body  10  to a head of a wearer. It should be understood within the scope of the present invention that the safety helmet  100  could employ various alternate securing elements  15  in order to provide the ability to secure the safety helmet  100  to the head of a user. Furthermore, while the embodiment of the safety helmet  100  illustrated herein is representative of a conventional hardhat, it is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the safety helmet  100  could be provided in numerous alternate embodiments such as but not limited to a police helmet or military helmet. 
     Providing operational control of the elements of the safety helmet  100  discussed in the ensuing is the central processing unit  20 . The central processing unit  20  includes the necessary electronics to receive, store, transmit and manipulate data. The central processing unit  20  provides the operation of the features of the elements of the safety helmet  100  and includes a conventional power source such as but not limited to a battery. The central processing unit  20  processes the sound waves and data received by the location sensors  30  and transmits the data via the bone conduction transmitters  40  to the wearer. In some applications, the safety helmet  100  can be used as a standalone device, and in other applications it is further coupled to a remote server and/or portable computing device wherein the central processing unit  20  provides transfer of data received to the aforementioned for processing and collection. It should be understood within the scope of the present invention that the central processing unit  20  utilizes conventional wireless communication protocols to communicate with the aforementioned remote devices. It is further contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the central processing unit  20  includes a pressure switch or similar element that is operable to provide activation of the safety helmet  100  subsequent being placed on the head of the user. The central processing unit  20  further includes the necessary electronics to communicably couple with a portable computing device such as but not limited to a smart phone. 
     Disposed on the exterior of the body  10  are a plurality of location sensors  30 . The location sensors  30  are mounted on the body  10  so as to ensure coverage of a desired area or perimeter surrounding the wearer. In the preferred embodiment, the location sensors  30  are ultrasonic transceivers that are configured to convert ultrasound signals into data and provide interpretation of reflected sound waves in order to identify an object and the distance thereto. The location sensors  30  are operable to provide mapping of the local environment surrounding the safety helmet  100  so as to provide information to a wearer thereof of potential hazards. By way of example but not limitation, an exemplary object  99  is illustrated herein in  FIG. 1 . The exemplary object  99  could represent any potential hazard to a wearer of the safety helmet  100  in various environments. The location sensors  30  are operable to identify the exemplary object  99  and further determine the distance thereto in order to ascertain the potential as a safety hazard based on the position of the wearer of the safety helmet  100  with respect to the location of the exemplary object  99 . More specifically but not by way of limitation, if the location sensor  30  determines that the exemplary object  99  presents a safety hazard as the exemplary object  99  is moving towards the user or vice versa, the safety helmet  100  will transmit a warning signal to a wearer as is further discussed herein. It is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the location sensors  30  could employ alternate technology to provide the aforementioned. More specifically but not by way of limitation the location sensors  30  could utilize various technologies including but not limited to sonar, radar or light. It should be further understood within the scope of the present invention that as few as one location sensor  30  could be secured to the body  10  or a multitude as needed for a desired application. 
     Disposed within the cavity  14  of the safety helmet  100  are a plurality of bone conduction transmitters  40 . As is known in the art, bone conduction is the conduction of sound to the inner ear primarily through the bones of the skull. Bone conduction transmission occurs as sound waves vibrate bone in the skull. The bone conduction transmitters  40  are operably coupled to the location sensors  30  via the central processing unit  20 . The safety helmet  100  is configured to be worn in various environments wherein the ambient noise level in the environments may prevent successful transmission of conventional audio sound. As such, the safety helmet  100  is configured with bone conduction transmitters  40  operable to transmit sound such as but not limited to a warning signal to a user. The bone conduction transmitters  40  are configured to be directionally oriented in order to assist a user with the directional location of a specific hazard as related to the user. By way of example but not limitation, when a location sensor  30  determines an exemplary object  99  presents a hazard to a user, the location sensor  30  transmits a signal to the central processing unit  20  wherein the central processing unit  20  activates the bone conduction transmitter  40  directionally aligned with the potential hazard. For example, if an exemplary object  99  is to the left of the user, at least one bone conduction transmitter  40  on the left side of the cavity  14  will be activated so as to alert the user and provide an audio alarm that indicates the directional location of the potential hazard. The location sensors  30  monitor objects in the environment and transmit data to the central processing unit for processing. The monitoring data transmitted to the central processing unit  20  includes but is not limited to the distance of objects in proximity to the wearer, the speed of objects, the density of objects, the elevation of the wearer, height information and dimensional information of the surroundings. 
     The bone conduction transmitters  40  are operably coupled to the location sensors  30  via the central processing unit  20 . The safety helmet  100  is configured to be worn in various environments wherein the ambient noise level in the environments may prevent successful transmission of conventional audio sound. As such, the safety helmet  100  is configured with bone conduction transmitters  40  operable to transmit sound such as but not limited to a warning signal to a user. The bone conduction transmitters  40  are strategically placed to make contact with the wearer&#39;s cranium and around the ear cavities so as to provide the direction of the sound and be able to transmit a signal to a wearer allowing the wearer to ascertain the direction of the hazard. 
     It is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the safety helmet  100  could employ various quantities of bone conduction transmitters  40  but there are at least four as illustrated herein in  FIG. 3  so as to provide the directional correlation of a potential hazard. At least one of the location sensors  30  is configured as an elevation sensor  92  and is strategically placed to monitor the distance of the wearer&#39;s head to the ground or floor surface. The central processing unit  20  is programmed to monitor if this distance is changes, if the wearer distance is outside of the programmed tolerances, the wearer is notified of the potential safety hazard and precautions to be adhered to via the bone conduction transmitters  40 . By way of example but not limitation, the elevation sensor  92  may be set to transmit a signal at any distance greater than seven feet from the safety helmet  100  to the floor. If a wearer is six feet tall, as he or she ascends up a ladder and the distance between the safety helmet  100  and the ground exceeds seven feet, the wearer is notified of the potential dangers. The elevation monitoring will stop as soon as the wearer returns to the preprogrammed elevation based on the programmed tolerances established by the central processing unit  20 . It should be understood within the scope of the present invention that the warning signal could vary in frequency and duration. The location sensors  30  also monitor the changes in ground or floor conditions to determine if a fall hazard exists. The central processing unit  20  is programmed to activate a hazard notification to the wearer if changes in the floor exceed programmed tolerances. By way of example but not limitation, if the programmable limit is twelve inches, and the wearer is approaching an open elevator shaft that creates an opening in the floor of over twelve inches the safety helmet  100  will notify the wearer of the hazard and its location with respect to the position of the wearer. 
     The location sensors  30  are secured to the body  10  utilizing adjustable mounts or brackets  50 . The brackets  50  can be configured in two modes, in the first mode the wearer can manually adjust the angle of the location sensor  30  to their preferred field of monitoring. Adjusting the location sensor  30  to an orientation or angle further away from the wearer, resulting in monitoring of an larger perimeter/area around the user. In the first mode the safety helmet  100  is monitoring a portion of the environment that is further away from the wearer as the location sensor  30  is adjusted to a further angle. This configuration is useful in more open environments where there are fast moving objects and the wearer needs to be alerted further in advance. By way of example but not limitation if a wearer is working on the side of a highway where vehicles may be approaching at faster speeds. The brackets  50  in their second mode are adjusted to an angle so as to reduce the scope of monitoring to a closer perimeter/area around the user. This second mode of configuration is useful in more confined environments where there are slower moving objects and the wearer needs to be alerted on closer hazards as opposed to those located distal to the wearer. By way of example but not limitation a wearer performing demolition work on the interior of a building may be more concerned with falling and moving objects within closer proximity to the wearer. The adjustable bracket  50  further allows the wearer to adjust the location sensors  30  for unique circumstances such as environments that may be prone to mainly over-head hazards. The wearer can adjust the location sensors  30  to face upward to monitor the above-head environment. By way of example but not limitation a wearer in a dark underground mine where wearers are concerned with head injuries from contact with the protruding masses of the mine or falling rocks. It should be noted that the adjustments of the location sensors  30  can be executed by adjusting a single location sensor  30  or more than one location sensor  30 . In the second mode the bracket  50  is set to a pre-established angle to monitor a perimeter or area around the wearer that those in the art would deem reasonable for the typical user. It is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the safety helmet  100  may consist of one or more of the adjustable and/or pre-set brackets  50  or a combination thereof. The brackets  50  are secured to the location sensor  30  so as to provide pivotal support of the location sensor  30  allowing the movement of the safety helmet  100  around a singular or plural axis of the location sensor  30  in its established orientation/angle ensuring that as the safety helmet  100  moves the location sensors  30  maintain the desired orientation or angle. The pivotal support includes but is not limited to gimbals or ball brackets and can be electronically or mechanically controlled. The brackets  50  pivoting support is configured to maintain a level orientation so as to provide continual monitoring of the area proximate the wearer of the safety helmet  100  irrespective of the movement of the wearer&#39;s head. 
     One or more impact sensors  80  are coupled with the central processing unit  20 . In the event of a collision to the body or head of the wearer, the impact sensors  80  measures the impact and if the impact is outside of the programmed tolerances of the central processing unit  20  the beacon transmitter  60  is activated to transmit a distress signal by transmitting a unique pattern of sound waves or other suitable alarm. The distress signal can be identified by other similar devices and using the directional bone conductor transmitters  40  wherein alternate safety helmets  100  are networked utilizing suitable wireless protocols. Networking of additional safety helmets  100  provides the ability to direct other wearers of the safety helmet  100  to the general proximity of the distress signal. The foregoing is an exemplary situational matter and it should be understood within the scope of the present invention that the impact sensors  80  could provide signals to the central processing unit  20  in alternate conditions. The central processing unit  20  can be configured to communicate with portable devices via wireless frequencies, including but not limited to, Bluetooth and WiFi. In the event that collision or high impact is detected, the safety helmet  100  can communicate with the portable computing devices to perform a number of emergency operations, including but not limited to calling emergency personnel for help and further providing geo-location information. 
     In the preceding detailed description, reference has been made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments, and certain variants thereof, have been described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. It is to be understood that other suitable embodiments may be utilized and that logical changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. The description may omit certain information known to those skilled in the art. The preceding detailed description is, therefore, not intended to be limited to the specific forms set forth herein, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents, as can be reasonably included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.