AU2012101567A4 - Protective headgear - Google Patents

Abstract

Protective headgear, such as a hard hat or helmet, having an electronic portion, preferably moulded into a rigid shell of the headgear, which includes an electronically readable element that may be used to retrieve information on the user and/or the headgear. The electronic portion also includes a battery, sensors, and an audio-visual notification system which can be used to alert a user of the headgear when a potential hazard is detected. Data from the electronic portion may also be used recorded and/or to analyse any incidents. C)

Description

P/00/012 Regulation 3.2 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 ORIGINAL COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT Invention Title: "PROTECTIVE HEADGEAR" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: PROTECTIVE HEADGEAR FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The invention relates to protective headgear. In particular, the invention relates, but is not limited, to a hard hat or helmet with electronically readable elements that provide information about the headgear and/or its environment. BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION [0002] Reference to background art herein is not to be construed as an admission that such art constitutes common general knowledge in Australia or elsewhere. [0003] Personal protective safety equipment is known and used when deemed appropriate. One such article which is often worn as part of personal protective equipment (PPE) is protective headgear, such as a hard hat or helmet, which provides head protection. Hard hats and helmets typically have a rigid external shell which is worn on the head of a user and provides protection from impacts. In some cases, hard hats may be fitted with peripheral equipment such as a visor, ear muffs, or a light. Hard hats are more typically worn in work environments and helmets in sports environments, but similar principals apply to both. [0004] During their life, protective headgear may sustain a number of impacts which, if not significant enough to break the hard shell, may weaken the protective headgear and reduce its ability to protect a wearer's head from an impact. Without manually tracking the life of protective headgear, weakened headgear may be use in situations where their effectiveness is inappropriate for the task at hand. [0005] Furthermore, when there is a head related injury with a user wearing protective headgear, it can be difficult to ascertain what happened to the headgear and/or wearer. Should the wearer be rendered unconscious, it may -2 also be difficult to identify the wearer, whether the area is safe, and whether any particular precautions need to be taken. OBJECT OF THE INVENTION [0006] It is an aim of this invention to provide protective headgear which overcomes or ameliorates one or more of the disadvantages or problems described above, or which at least provides a useful alternative. [0007] Other preferred objects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description. SUMMARY OF INVENTION [0008] According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided protective headgear comprising: a rigid shell having an interior cavity for receiving a head of a user; and an electronic portion located adjacent to or within the rigid shell; wherein the electronic portion includes at least one electronically readable element. [0009] Preferably the protective headgear is in the form of a hard hat or a helmet. In preferred forms, the hard hat is an article that forms part of personal protective equipment in a workplace, and the helmet is a sports helmet. [0010] Preferably the electronically readable element includes a unique identifier. Preferably the electronically readable element includes a new field communication (NFC) passive tag. The unique identifier is preferably readable from the NFC passive tag. In a preferred form, the unique identifier is associated with data representative of the protective headgear and/or the user. Preferably the data representative of the protective headgear and/or the user includes a link to a database containing information regarding at least the protective headgear and/or the user.

-3 [0011] Preferably at least one electronically readable element is in communication with one or more sensors. The sensors are preferably mounted in the electronic portion and/or to the rigid shell. In a preferred form, at least one electronically readable element is a remotely readable active tag which may measure position, proximity to points of interest, acceleration, vibrations, temperature, humidity, and/or gas levels. The points of interest may include predetermined hazardous areas, working machinery, designated safe zones, or the like. [0012] The sensors may also include one or more physiological sensors that measure one or more characteristics of the user. For example, temperature, pulse or blood oxygen of the user may be monitored. The physiological sensors may monitor and/or record blood flows and/or blood oxygen levels, using hemodynamic monitoring (invasive and/or non-invasive). In a preferred form, the physiological sensor includes an ear clip sensor, such as a non-invasive SpO2 monitoring ear clip. [0013] Preferably the electronic portion includes a power source, such as a battery. The battery is preferably rechargeable and provides power to components of the electronic portion when in use. The battery may be rechargeable inductively or through a cable such as a USB cable. The protective headgear may further comprise a light source which is also powered by the same battery. [0014] The power source may include a power generation module including one or more of: solar panel, kinetic (e.g. power generated by movement), induction (e.g. wirelessly transmitted from a source), and RF harvesting (e.g. using intentional RF sources, anticipated ambient RF sources, and/or unknown ambient RF sources) generators. With a solar panel, the solar panel may be a flexible panel and applied to, or integrated with, the rigid shell. The solar panel may trickle charge the battery using available light sources such as, for example, light from internal light sources (e.g. fluorescent bulbs) and ambient light sources (e.g. the sun). [0015] The electronics portion may include a position sensor, such as a GPS -4 GPS receiver. The GPS receiver may be a SiRFstarlV family chip such as the GSD4e which also has motion sensing capabilities. The GPS receiver may determine the location of the protective headgear and memory, e.g. RAM, ROM, FLASH, associated with the protective headgear may store location information, either periodically, intermittently, or on request, and/or an active or passive transmitter can send the location information to a receiver. [0016] The electronic portion is preferably includes an audio and/or visual notification system. The audio and/or visual notification system preferably comprises an indicator light, preferably an LED, and an audible buzzer. The LED and audible buzzer are preferably used to provide notifications to the user. [0017] For example, the audible buzzer may be used to alert the user to a detected potential hazard. In a preferred form the electronic portion detects when the protective headgear is near to a hazardous point of interest, such as a working vehicle, and provides a warning to the user. Other detected potential hazards may include high impacts, dangerous gas readings, low battery power, or the like. [0018] The electronic portion preferably includes a communication interface. The communication interface is preferably wireless and may be used to communicate information about the protective headgear, the user, and/or the environment. The wireless communication interface preferably uses known wireless standards which may include using 2.4GHz, 2.45GHz, and/or 433MHz radio frequencies. [0019] The electronic portion preferably includes data storage that includes information on the protective headgear and/or the user. The data storage preferably includes solid state readable memory. The data storage is preferably writable and includes a log of historical data. The historical data preferably includes data recorded from the sensors including, for example, accelerometer data which may be utilised to determine forces exerted on the protective headgear. [0020] The rigid shell is preferably made of a plastic material, even more preferably a thermoplastic material such as high density polyethylene or -5 polyetherimide. Preferably at least a portion of the electronic portion is integrated into the rigid shell, even more preferably moulded inside the rigid shell. In a preferred form, all of the electronic components of the electronic portion of the protective headgear are moulded inside the rigid shell, and the electronic readable element is readable through the rigid shell. [0021] The electronic portion of the protective headgear, and any components connected thereto, are preferably intrinsically safe (IS) for use in hazardous environments. [0022] Further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0023] By way of example only, preferred embodiments of the invention will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying figures, wherein: [0024] Figure 1 illustrates a diagrammatic view with a partial cutaway section of protective headgear according to an embodiment of the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0025] Figure 1 illustrates protective headgear in the form of a hard hat 20 being worn by on the head of a user 10. The hard hat 20 has a rigid shell 22 with an interior cavity that includes an inner harness (not shown) that fits the rigid shell 22 to the head of the user 10. The rigid shell is made of a thermoplastic material, such as high density polyethylene or polyetherimide, that is moulded to shape during manufacture. [0026] Cutaway section 30 of figure 1 illustrates an electronic portion 24 located within the rigid shell 22. In a preferred embodiment the electronic portion 24 is moulded within the rigid shell 22, but it will be appreciated that the electronic portion 24 could also be affixed to the rigid shell 22, typically by mounting it directly to an inner surface of the interior cavity of the rigid shell 22.

-6 [0027] The electronic portion 24 has an electronically readable element in the form of a near field communication (NFC) tag. The NFC tag stores a unique identifier, such as a unique number or string, which can be utilised to identify the hard hat 20 and/or the user 10. In a preferred embodiment the NFC tag stores a link to data regarding the user 10. [0028] When desired, the NFC tag can be read using an external reader to provide information on the user 10. For example, in the event of an emergency, such as when the user 10 is rendered unconscious, the NFC tag can be read to provide information on the user including personal information such as their name, age, allergies, blood type, medical records, contact details, and the like. [0029] The electronic portion 24 also includes a power source in the form of a rechargeable battery which may be recharged when the hard hat 20 is not in use. The hard hat 20 may optionally have a light source (not shown), to provide illumination in front of the user 10, which is powered by the same battery. The electronic portion 24 is typically in communication with a switch which may be actuated to turn the electronic portion 24 on or off. Control means to change modes may also be provided. [0030] In a preferred embodiment the electronic portion 24 also has sensors in communication with the electronically readable element. In this embodiment a remotely readable active tag is provided which typically uses at least one of the 2.4GHz, 2.45GHz, or 433MHz frequency bands. The active tag has sensors that measure position, proximity to points of interest, acceleration, vibrations, temperature, humidity, and/or gas levels. An audio and visual notification system, in the form of an LED and audible buzzer, that can provide audio and visual notifications to the user 10, and those around the user, is also provided. [0031] The sensors can detect when hazardous conditions occur, or are about to occur, and the notification system can notify the user. The electronic portion 24 may have a transmitter which can also transmit information determined by the electronic portion 24 of the hard hat 20 to receiver at a remote location, such as a site office or control room. Correspondingly, a receiver may -7 receiver may also be provided which can receive information from the remote location, such as an announcement or warning signal. [0032] One of the sensors is a 3 to 9 axis accelerometer that can determine whether the hard hat 20 is moving. This can then be used to determine whether the user 10 is working, or not, and to determine the size and nature of any impacts. The impact information can be used to analyse any injury to the wearer, and also to establish whether the integrity of the hard hat 20 may have been compromised. When an impact over a predetermined level is detected, a local and/or remote notification may be issued and appropriate response actioned to ensure that the user 10, hard hat 20, and/or other assets in the surrounding environment, need attention. [0033] In a preferred embodiment, the electronics portion 24 is configured to have multiple modes that the hard hat 20 may be operated in, such as a tilt mode, monitor mode, and free fall mode. In the tilt mode, an alert is triggered when a predetermined tilt is reached and a flag is set to 'alert'. After approximately 10 seconds the flag will automatically revert to a 'started' state, which becomes a new reference point for the tilt mode trigger. [0034] In the monitor mode, the electronics portion 24 is configured to transmit sensor data, typically at around a 100Hz rate. Monitor mode is predominantly used for data collection by a host. Free fall mode triggers an alert when a free fall is detected. The flag is set to 'alert' after the hard hat 20 is determined to have been in free fall for a predetermined period of time, preferably between 10 and 100ms, and in a preferred embodiment of 30ms. In free fall mode the alert must be turned off manually by setting the flag to a 'started' state. [0035] A 'full scale' feature may be provided which has a plurality of different force scales to keep track of acceleration, such as +2G, 4G, +8G, and ±16G. A trigger threshold feature may also be provided to set a threshold in mG before an alert is triggered. [0036] The electronics portion 24 is also configured to provide notification when the hard hat 20 is detected to be in the proximity of one or more points of -8 interest. The points of interest are predetermined and include identified hazardous areas, working machinery such as vehicles, designated safe zones, or the like. For example, vehicles operating in an environment may have a point of interest tag located on board and when the electronics portion 24 of the hard hat 20 detects that it is approaching the vehicle, an alert may be provided to the user 10. The user 10 can then exercise caution around the identified point of interest. [0037] The points of interest may also include designated safe and hazardous zones and alerts may be provided to the user 10 when they are leaving a safe zone and/or when they are approaching, or are in, a hazardous zone. The location of the hard hat 20 can also be transmitted to the remote location to enable operators at the remote location to track workers with hard hats to ensure they are safe and accounted for. [0038] Where other sensors are provided, such as a hazardous gas sensor, an alert can be provided when a potentially hazardous environment is detected. For example, when an explosive or toxic gas is identified the electronics portion 24 of the hard hat 20 can alert the user 10 who can then take adequate precautions to avoid the hazardous environment. [0039] Furthermore, if an alert from a hard hat is transmitted, the operators at the remote location can retrieve data regarding the event that caused the alert and/or can action a response to the alert in a timely manner. Date from the hard hat 20 may be used to identify the wearer of the hat and what happened. Assuming the electronics portion 24 remains functional, then the operators can also determine whether the environment surrounding the user is deemed safe. [0040] The notifications can also be used to provide status updates, such as an alert to a user 10 when the battery in the hard hat 20 is running low. This prevents the functionality of the hard hat 20 from being compromised and, where a lamp is provided, prevents the user 10 from being left without an adequate light source. The NFC tag, however, is typically passive so even if the battery ceases to provide power to the electronics portion 24, the NFC tag can still be read by -9 can still be read by an external reader. A remotely electronically readable passive RFID tag may also be provided in the hard hat 20 to provide similar functionality. [0041] The electronic portion 24 has a processor and memory in communication with each other. The sensors and any wireless communication means are also in communication with the processor and memory. The processor is typically a low power microprocessor or microcontroller programmed to monitor, and typically record, output from the sensors, to provide audio and visual alerts using the LED and buzzer, and/or to communicate with external peripherals, such as the receiver in the remote location. Data regarding the hard hat 20 is typically logged which may be utilised to determine the useful life of the hard hat 20 by providing a notification when the hard hat integrity may have been compromised. [0042] In a preferred embodiment the hard hat 20, notably the electronic portion 24, is manufactured to be intrinsically safe (IS). This allows the hard hat 20 to be utilised in hazardous environments, such as in a combustible atmosphere. [0043] Although the invention is shown and described as a hard hat 20 in relation to figure 1, it will be appreciated that the invention can readily apply to other forms of protective headgear, including sports helmets. Some examples of sports helmets which the invention could be applied to include: bicycle or motorcycle helmets, skating helmets, climbing helmets, ball sport helmets (e.g. cricket, baseball, etc.), contact sport helmets (e.g. grid iron, ice hockey), water sports helmets (e.g. rowing, kayaking, etc.), and the like. [0044] In this specification, adjectives such as first and second, left and right, top and bottom, and the like may be used solely to distinguish one element or action from another element or action without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order. Where the context permits, reference to an integer or a component or step (or the like) is not to be interpreted as being limited to only one of that integer, component, or step, but rather could be one or more of that integer, component, or step etc.

-10 [0045] The above description of various embodiments of the present invention is provided for purposes of description to one of ordinary skill in the related art. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to a single disclosed embodiment. As mentioned above, numerous alternatives and variations to the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art of the above teaching. Accordingly, while some alternative embodiments have been discussed specifically, other embodiments will be apparent or relatively easily developed by those of ordinary skill in the art. The invention is intended to embrace all alternatives, modifications, and variations of the present invention that have been discussed herein, and other embodiments that fall within the spirit and scope of the above described invention. [0046] In this specification, the terms 'comprises', 'comprising', 'includes', 'including', or similar terms are intended to mean a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a method, system or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include those elements solely, but may well include other elements not listed.

Claims (5)

1. Protective headgear comprising: a rigid shell having an interior cavity for receiving a head of a user; and an electronic portion located adjacent to or within the rigid shell; wherein the electronic portion includes at least one electronically readable element.

2. The protective headgear of claim 1, wherein the at least one electronically readable element includes a near field communication (NFC) tag with an electronically readable unique identifier that is associated with data representative of the protective headgear and/or the user.

3. The protective headgear of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the electronic portion includes a power source electrically connected to one or more sensors that measures position, proximity to points of interest, acceleration, vibrations, temperature, humidity, and/or gas levels.

4. The protective headgear of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising an audio and/or visual notification system configured to alert the user to a detected potential hazard.

5. The protective headgear of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the electronic portion is substantially moulded into the rigid shell of the protective headgear.