CN101361605A

CN101361605A - Eletronic module adapter for headgear

Info

Publication number: CN101361605A
Application number: CNA200810168654XA
Authority: CN
Inventors: 约瑟夫·博宾; 约翰·德瓦尼; 马克·德萨
Original assignee: Koehler Bright Star LLC
Current assignee: Koehler Bright Star LLC
Priority date: 2007-07-20
Filing date: 2008-07-21
Publication date: 2009-02-11
Also published as: CA2638109A1; US20090038056A1; MX2008009351A; PE20091506A1; AU2008203236A1; EP2016845A2; EP2016845A3; AU2008203236B2

Abstract

An electronic module adapter for headgear includes a housing defining a chamber. A clip is positioned on the housing and is adapted to attach the housing to the helmet or other headgear. A cap lamp mounting bracket is optionally positioned on the housing and is adapted to attach a cap lamp to the housing. Electronic circuitry is positioned within the chamber of the housing and may include a radio frequency identification tag, a global positioning system tag and/or a gas sensor.

Description

The electronic module adapter that is used for head cap

Technical field

The present invention relates to be used for the annex of protectiveness head cap, relate more specifically to be installed in the electronic module adapter on safety cap or other head cap.

Background technology

Dissimilar protectiveness head caps, such as safety cap and hard cap etc., usually the industrial personnel of the injuries such as fragment of not dropped by fire fighter, rescue personnel and the head that needs protection dress.This class industry includes, but are not limited to: building trade and mining industry.

Often need and to be connected on the protectiveness head cap such as electronic modules such as RF identification (RFID) label (tag), global positioning system (GPS) label and sensor of natural gas labels.For example, modern mine generally includes miner's tracing system, thereby the position that can follow the trail of the miner is to guarantee safety.This type systematic generally includes to be provided with and spreads all over the sensor of whole mine.The miner puts on the RFID label, and described label is broadcast the signal of the identity that comprises the miner who has on this RFID label.When miner's process miner tracing system sensor, sensor receives the signal from the RFID label.Sensor and central computer carry out communication, the position that described central computer is followed the trail of the miner who has on this RFID label based on the sensor that receives signal from miner's RFID label.

Be similar to the electronic module of other type, the RFID label must receive electric energy to operate.On the safety cap that the mining cap lamp is installed in the miner usually and is had on so that illumination to be provided in underground mine.This cap lamp is well-known in the winning equipment industry, and it provides illumination, and miner's hand keeps and can freely execute the task simultaneously.Cap lamp is usually from being fixed on the battery pack received power on user's waist.Electric wire is passed to cap lamp on the safety cap with power from battery pack.Traditionally, electric wire has been soldered on the battery terminal and RFID label of cap lamp battery pack, so that the RFID label can receive electric energy from the battery of cap lamp battery pack.Yet the problem of this configuration is that this improvement is time-consuming and inconvenient.In addition, and more importantly, the quality of welding point often is unsettled, and this causes integrity problem, particularly in abominable mining environment.Outside the lead that exposes of this electric power output module also was exposed to, this caused them easier to be impaired.

Therefore need a kind of equipment, the electronic module such by this equipment such as RFID label, GPS label and/or sensor of natural gas label can be assemblied on miner, rescue personnel or other people's the protectiveness head cap firmly, safely.

Description of drawings

Fig. 1 is the perspective view of safety cap, and described safety cap has a cap lamp that embodiment is fixed to the upper by electronic module adapter of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is the enlarged perspective of front portion, cap lamp and the electronic module adapter of the safety cap of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 and 4 is decomposition diagrams of safety cap, cap lamp and the electronic module adapter of Fig. 1 and 2;

Fig. 5 is the enlarged perspective of the back end of the electronic module adapter of the Fig. 1-4 under the cap situation about being removed;

Fig. 6 is the cutaway view along the electronic module adapter of Fig. 5 of the line 6-6 intercepting of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is the front top perspective view of the electronic module adapter of the Fig. 5 under the cap situation about being connected;

Fig. 8 is the decomposition diagram of the electronic module adapter of Fig. 7.

The specific embodiment

Though be to describe of the present inventionly according to the safety cap, RF identification (RFID) label and the cap lamp that are used to dig up mine hereinafter, it should be understood that: the present invention can be used for the head cap and the electronic module of other type.This electron-like module can comprise, for example global positioning system (GPS) label and sensor of natural gas label.

In Fig. 1-4, represent such as the safety cap that is used for digging up mine with 12.As shown in Figure 1, safety cap comprises the header board 14 and the brim of a hat 16.In Fig. 1-4, represent cap lamp with 18.Only as an example, cap lamp can be Hanover Township, the LI-16 type cap lamp that Koehler Bright Star Inc. of PA (Koehler-Bright Star Inc) sells.As known in the field, cap lamp is by receiving electric energy with 22 power lines of representing from being worn over miner's waist or other the locational battery pack (not shown) with the belt bundle usually in Fig. 1 and 2.Cap lamp 18 is installed on the header board 14 of safety cap by the clip that is located at the cap lamp rear side usually.The common engagement slot of this clip, such as in Fig. 3 with 19 represent that.Therefore, cap lamp can take off to charge or to safeguard from safety cap.

According to the present invention, be commonly used to the safety cap folder that cap lamp is installed on the safety cap can be taken off from cap lamp.Totally comprise housing 24 with the 23 electronic module adapters of representing in Fig. 1-7, the chamber of electronic module circuit and battery is held in its formation, as described in more detail hereinafter.For example, the electronic module circuit can be self-powered RFID label (printed circuit board (PCB) that has three button cells).Alternatively, the electronic module adapter can be with mounting points that acts on various interchangeable electronic equipments (similar connection platform) or power supply, and wherein battery is present in the electronic module adapter.The electronic module adapter can rather than receive electric energy from power line 22 (Fig. 1) from battery.

Shown in Fig. 1-4, electronic module adapter housing 24 is installed on the cap lamp with two

bolt

26a and 26b by the cap lamp installation bracket.The cap lamp installation bracket has be formed with pair of

flanges

28a and 28b (Fig. 3-5 and 7) on the front side of housing.Flange 28a and 28b are included in the installing hole of representing with 30a and 30b in Fig. 3 and 7, and

bolt

26a and 26b can pass this installing hole.The cap lamp installation bracket can have another kind of structure, such as the clip that engages with cap lamp, or receives the recess that is installed in the clip on the cap lamp.

Shown in Fig. 5-8, the head cap installation bracket of safety cap clip 32 forms is connected to the rear side of electronic module adapter housing 24.More specifically, as shown in Figure 8, clip 32, it is made with metal in the illustrated embodiment, be fixed on the housing by

bolt

34a and 34b, wherein said bolt be formed on housing 24 in the opening 36a and the 36b (not shown) that form engage.Alternatively, clip 32 can be made of plastics, and be connected on the housing 24 or with housing 24 integrally moulded forming.Housing 24 can also be made of metal, and wherein clip 32 is connected on the housing 24 or is integrally formed with housing.

Shown in Fig. 1-4, the safety cap clip 32 of electronic module adapter 23 (head cap installation bracket) is connected on the header board 14 of safety cap 12, and has replaced original cap lamp safety cap folder.Therefore, the safety cap double-layered quilt of electronic module adapter is used for whole assembly (comprising electronic module adapter and cap lamp) is installed on the safety cap.The head cap installation bracket can adopt various replacement forms, as long as it can engage with safety cap so that electronic module adapter housing is fixed on the safety cap.

Shown in Fig. 5,6 and 8, the electronic module circuit of circular circuit board 40 forms has one group of button cell 42 mounted thereto, and described button cell 42 provides electric energy to circuit board 40.The circuit board of electronic module circuit can be used for various electric functions, and described electric function includes but not limited to: RFID label, GPS label and/or sensor of natural gas.Shown in Fig. 5,6 and 8, circuit board and battery are inserted in the chamber 43 that is formed by electronic module adapter housing 24, and the bottom is sealed by bottom 44 (Fig. 7 and 8), and described bottom 44 can realize that sealing is to prevent that dust and dirt from entering electronic module adapter inside.As previously mentioned, the ifs circuit plate receives electric energy from cap lamp power line 22 (Fig. 1), and battery 42 can be removed.

Circuit board and battery can be fixed in the chamber 43 by adhesive, bolt or other fastening configuration well known in the art.Bottom 44 can be connected on the housing 24 by adhesive, bolt or other fastening configuration well known in the art.

Though illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of the present invention, but can carry out changes and improvements to the present invention not breaking away under the spirit of the present invention, this will be conspicuous to those skilled in the art, and scope wherein of the present invention is defined by appending claims.

Claims

1. electronic module adapter that is used for head cap comprises:

A) housing, it limits a chamber;

B) be located at clip on the described housing, described clip is suitable for described housing is connected on the described head cap; With

C) be located at electronic module circuit in the described chamber of described housing.

2. electronic module adapter as claimed in claim 1, wherein said electronic module circuit comprises RFID tag.

3. electronic module adapter as claimed in claim 1, wherein said electronic module circuit comprises the global positioning system label.

4. electronic module adapter as claimed in claim 1, wherein said electronic module circuit comprises gas sensor.

5. electronic module adapter as claimed in claim 1, wherein said clip by bolting to described housing.

6. electronic module adapter as claimed in claim 1, wherein said clip and described housing are integrally formed.

7. electronic module adapter as claimed in claim 1, wherein said electronic module circuit comprises battery.

8. electronic module adapter that is used for safety cap comprises:

A) housing, it limits a chamber;

B) be located at safety cap installation bracket on the described housing, described safety cap installation bracket is suitable for described housing is connected on the described safety cap;

C) be located at cap lamp installation bracket on the described housing, described cap lamp installation bracket is suitable for cap lamp is connected on the described housing; With

D) be located at the electronic module circuit of the described chamber interior of described housing.

9. electronic module adapter as claimed in claim 8, wherein said electronic module circuit comprises RFID tag.

10. electronic module adapter as claimed in claim 8, wherein said electronic module circuit comprises the global positioning system label.

11. electronic module adapter as claimed in claim 8, wherein said electronic module circuit comprises gas sensor.

12. electronic module adapter as claimed in claim 8, wherein said safety cap installation bracket comprises clip, and described clip is suitable for being received by the recess on the described safety cap.

13. electronic module adapter as claimed in claim 12, wherein said clip by bolting to described housing.

14. electronic module adapter as claimed in claim 12, wherein said clip and described housing are integrally formed.

15. electronic module adapter as claimed in claim 8, wherein said cap lamp installation bracket comprises first flange.

16. electronic module adapter as claimed in claim 15, wherein said cap lamp installation bracket comprises second flange that separates with described first flange, so that the part of cap lamp can be received and be fixed between described first flange and described second flange.

17. electronic module adapter as claimed in claim 16, wherein said flange comprises installing hole, and bolt can engage with the housing of described cap lamp by described installing hole.

18. electronic module adapter as claimed in claim 8, wherein said electronic module circuit comprises battery.

19. one kind is used for electronic module is installed to method on the safety cap with cap lamp, may further comprise the steps:

A) provide the housing that is limited with chamber, described housing has safety cap installation bracket and the cap lamp installation bracket of establishing thereon;

B) the electronic module circuit is located in the described chamber of described housing;

C) cap safe in utilization is installed to press from both sides described housing is connected on the described safety cap; And

D) use described cap lamp installation bracket that described cap lamp is connected on the described housing.

20. method as claimed in claim 19, wherein said electronic module circuit comprises RFID tag.