CN112804904A

CN112804904A - Safety helmet assembly

Info

Publication number: CN112804904A
Application number: CN201980066431.9A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 史蒂文·弗里德曼; 米哈伊尔·扎沃龙科夫
Original assignee: Wei Hat Co ltd
Current assignee: Wei Hat Co ltd
Priority date: 2018-10-09
Filing date: 2019-10-09
Publication date: 2021-05-14
Also published as: AU2019357478A1; JP2022512009A; IL282174A; CA3115073A1; BR112021006827A2; EP3863456A1; MX2021003989A; SG11202103574WA; WO2020076893A1; KR20210069100A

Abstract

A headgear assembly is designed to be worn on a user's head. The headgear assembly includes a helmet shaped to cover an upper portion of a user's head. The helmet defines a main opening to receive a head therein. The helmet also defines a perimeter around the primary opening. The brim extends outwardly from adjacent the perimeter of the helmet to an outer edge of the brim. The brim panel is removably secured to the brim and forms one or more compartments with the brim between the brim and the brim panel. The circuit is securely fixed within the compartment.

Description

Safety helmet assembly

The present patent application is a continuation-in-part application of a co-pending patent application having U.S. serial No. 15/150,384, the aforementioned application being a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent 9,538,801, the aforementioned application being a divisional application of U.S. patent 9,177,458, the aforementioned application being a divisional application of U.S. patent 9,013,297 filed 10/17/2014, the disclosures of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference.

Background

1. Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a safety helmet assembly. More particularly, the present invention relates to helmet assemblies and their construction when the helmet assembly includes electronic capabilities, such as sensing conditions external to the helmet assembly and communicating with a location remote from the helmet assembly.

2. Background of the invention

Collecting data and sensing the surroundings of workers allows for enhanced safety and optimization of labor efficiency. Equipping workers with sensing devices is difficult because workers do not want to carry any additional load or have additional devices that may limit their work capacity. The extra weight on the worker's uniform or the excess weight of the new system on a particular part of the body will reduce the worker's recognition of the benefits gained from using the sensing devices. As such, there is a need to maximize sensing and communication capabilities while minimizing the additional weight and any disproportionate impact on any individual portion of the user's body.

Disclosure of Invention

The headgear assembly is designed to be worn on the head of a user. The headgear assembly includes a helmet shaped to cover an upper portion of a user's head. The helmet defines a main opening to receive a head therein. The helmet also defines a perimeter around the primary opening. The brim extends outwardly from adjacent the perimeter of the helmet to an outer edge of the brim. The brim panel is removably secured to the brim and forms a compartment with the brim between the brim and the brim panel. The circuit is securely fixed within the compartment.

Drawings

The advantages of this invention will become readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a top side of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the underside of the headgear assembly with the brim panel removed therefrom;

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the present invention with the brim panel removed from the headgear assembly;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the bottom side of the present invention with a power strip installed;

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of a plurality of circuit boards designed according to this invention;

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, wherein the power board connector is secured to the circuit board;

FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, with the addition of a power strip;

FIG. 8 is a front perspective view of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view, partially in section, of the underside of the present invention showing a brim panel attached to a headgear assembly;

FIG. 10 is a top view of the present invention showing the location of some of the internal features; and

fig. 11 is an exploded side view of the present invention with the battery compartment visible.

Detailed Description

Referring to FIG. 1, a helmet assembly is generally indicated at 10. The headgear assembly 10 is worn on a user's head (not shown). The headgear assembly 10 includes a helmet or outer shell 12 shaped to cover an upper portion of a user's head. The helmet 12 includes a main opening 14 to receive a head therein. The main opening 14 defines a perimeter 16 (best seen in fig. 2 and 3).

A brim, shown generally at 18, extends outwardly from the helmet 12 adjacent the perimeter 16. Brim 18 extends out to a brim outer edge 20. Traditionally, the brim 18 of the headgear assembly 10 is designed to provide shade and protect the head and face of the user by removing debris from the user's head. In this embodiment, the brim 18 also performs these functions.

The brim panel 22 is removably secured to the brim 18, forming a compartment 24 (best seen in FIG. 4) between the brim 18 and the brim panel 22. In a preferred embodiment, compartment 24 extends between perimeter 16 and brim outer edge 20. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the compartment 24 may extend through a distance that is only a portion of the distance between the perimeter 16 and the outer edge 20. Additionally, the compartment 24 may not extend completely around the entire perimeter 16 of the brim 18. In these cases, there will be a plurality of compartments 24 equally spaced around the perimeter 16. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that such compartments 24 may be spaced around the perimeter 16 based on the contents therein and the weight associated with those contents. By way of example only, one of the compartments 24 may be positioned at the rear of the helmet 12, while the other two compartments 24 may be equally spaced apart but near the front of the helmet 12, so as to balance the headgear assembly 10 when resting on a user's head.

A gasket 25 extends along the edge of the brim panel 22 to seal the compartment 24. In the embodiment shown (best seen in fig. 3), there are two

gaskets

25, 27 for sealing the compartment 24. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the present invention may include a plurality of gaskets depending on the number of brim panels 22 incorporated into the design of the headgear assembly 10 to form the plurality of compartments 24.

The compartment 24 (or compartments 24) will have an electrical circuit, generally indicated at 26, securely fixed therein. The circuit 26 is best shown in fig. 5-7. The circuit 26 will include a printed circuit board assembly 28. In the embodiment shown in the figures, there will be at least four printed circuit board assemblies 28, 30, 32, 34. Each of these printed circuit board assemblies 28-34 may have a dedicated function. In the example shown in the figures, the first printed circuit board assembly 28 is a carrier board. The carrier board 28 may include a main processing unit, storage memory, a real-time clock, an audio/video system (including microphone, speakers, camera, etc.), Wi-Fi/cellular communications, peer-to-peer networks, and interfaces to other boards and devices. The board 28 controls all other systems and provides telemetry/communication and media functions. The second printed circuit board assembly 30 is a sensor board designed to house and control sensors on the printed circuit board assembly 30 and/or be located throughout the entire helmet assembly 10. Although not shown, some sensors may be secured to the suspension strap and electrically connected to the second printed circuit board assembly 30 through electrical ports of an anchoring system extending through the suspension strap, as discussed in U.S. patent application 15/150,384, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

The third printed circuit board assembly 32 is a power strip designed to receive power from a battery or from a plug-in connection and distribute and/or convert the power to the other printed

circuit board assemblies

28, 30, 34. The fourth printed circuit board assembly 34 is a track board and includes means for tracking the position of the helmet assembly. Such tracking devices may include global navigation satellite system (GPS, GLONAS, BDS, galileo, etc.) based positioning devices, radio frequency (UWB, Wi-Fi, ZigBee, BLE, etc.) based positioning devices, inertial measurement units (magnetic field based positioning, fall and acceleration detection, dead reckoning, etc.), barometers (altitude detection), optical positioning devices, and any combination of these techniques. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that these printed

circuit board assemblies

28, 30, 32 may be organized in varying orders without adding to the concept of the present invention.

Referring specifically to fig. 6,

power board connectors

36, 38, 40, 42 extend from printed

circuit board assemblies

28, 30, 32, 34, respectively. In the illustrated embodiment, the

power board connectors

36, 38, 40, 42 all extend in the same direction from their respective printed

circuit board assemblies

28, 30, 32, 34. In the illustrated embodiment, the

power board connectors

36, 38, 40, 42 extend in a direction toward the brim 18, which is away from the brim panel 22. In normal operation, the

power board connectors

36, 38, 40, 42 will generally extend upwardly.

The power bus 44 is initially connected to the power strip 32 using the power strip connector 40 secured thereto (best seen in fig. 7). The power bus extends around the brim 18 between the brim outer edge 20 and the perimeter 16 of the helmet 12. The power bus 44 includes a strip of electrical conductors that connects the power received and converted by the power strip 32 to all of the other printed

circuit board assemblies

28, 30, 34 to provide power to each of these printed

circuit board assemblies

28, 30, 34. The power bus 44 also provides power to any sensors or electronics (not shown) that may be directly connected to the power strip 32 rather than any other printed

circuit board assembly

28, 30, 34. These devices will be dispersed throughout the helmet 12 or attached to the helmet 12 but not controlled by the other printed

circuit board assemblies

28, 30, 34.

The power bus 44 is connected to each of the

power board connectors

38, 40, 42. The power bus 44 is designed such that power to each of the printed

circuit board assemblies

28, 30, 32, 34 is performed independently of each other. This allows operation of each of these printed

circuit board assemblies

28, 30, 32, 34 without requiring operation of each of the other printed

circuit board assemblies

28, 30, 32, 34.

Referring to FIG. 9, the brim panel 22 is shown to include a forward facing surface 46. The forward surface 46 leaves more space on the compartment 24 (shown in fig. 1-4) by allowing the brim panel 22 to extend downwardly from the brim 18 two lower than would otherwise be possible. The forward facing surface 46 and any inwardly facing surface (not shown) help to increase the volume within the compartment 24. The forward facing surface 46 also provides a surface against which electronic components may be mounted or by which electronic components may be mounted within the compartment 24. In particular, the forward facing surface 46 includes a "window" 48 (best seen in fig. 8) through which a camera (not shown) may be directed. Thus, the forward facing surface 46 allows the camera to be mounted within the compartment 24 such that it is not directly exposed to the environment outside the headgear assembly 10, but rather allows the camera to operate properly in a useful orientation when its optical sensor is directed toward the window 48. The forward surface 46 may extend around the entire brim outer edge 20.

The control surface 50 extends generally perpendicular to the forward surface 46. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, the control surface 50 is below the brim 18 when the headgear assembly 10 is donned by a user (the opposite orientation shown in FIG. 9). The control surface 50 has a plurality of

control buttons

52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 62, 64, 66 to control the various electronic components housed within the compartment 24 of the headgear assembly 10. These include power button 66, push-to-talk button 62, call button 56,

volume adjustment buttons

52, 54, etc. It should be understood by those skilled in the art that there may be more or fewer buttons depending on the functionality incorporated into the headgear assembly 10.

The control surface 50 may include

light openings

68, 70, 72, 74. These

light openings

68, 70, 72, 74 allow light to exit from behind the control surface 50. The

light openings

68, 70 may provide ambient light, event and device status communication or navigation assistance to the wearer of the headgear assembly 10. The

light openings

72, 74 may provide the wearer with guidance for

particular control buttons

56, 60 to help identify those buttons. An illumination device, such as a light source (e.g., an LED) or a waveguide, arranged adjacent to the

light openings

68, 70, 72, 74 provides light to be emitted from the

light openings

68, 70, 72, 74. A transparent cover, translucent cover, or lens (not shown) may cover the

light openings

68, 70, 72, 74 as is known in the art.

The helmet 12 may include

light openings

69, 71 and control buttons 51 (best seen in fig. 8). The

light openings

69, 71 may provide guidance or communication to a user in the vicinity. A transparent cover, translucent cover or lens (not shown) may cover the

light openings

69, 71. Control buttons 51 may be used to control the image capture device oriented through window 48. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that there may be more or fewer light openings and buttons depending on the functionality incorporated into the headgear assembly 10.

Referring to fig. 10, the headgear assembly 10 includes an antenna 76 shown in phantom. Antenna 76 provides the ability to transmit the signals generated by circuitry 26 to its remote location. The antenna 76 also receives signals generated remotely from the headgear assembly 10 to provide the necessary communication between the wearer of the headgear assembly 10 (a nearby or similarly tasked peer headgear assembly (not shown)) and a communications control center (which may be included in the deployment of the headgear assembly 10).

The antenna 76 is designed to maximize its range. To this end, the loop portion 78 of the antenna 76 is routed to the top of the helmet 12 using an antenna arm 80. The top loop portion 78 of the antenna 76 provides the maximum signal strength gain to the wearer of the headgear assembly 10 by placing the top loop portion as high as possible on the wearer to eliminate as many obstructions (including the wearer's body) as possible from interfering with signal reception and transmission.

Referring to fig. 11, the headgear assembly 10 includes a battery port 84 on an exterior or outer side 85 of the helmet 12. A battery port 84 receives a battery cartridge, shown generally at 86, therein. The battery compartment 86 includes a housing 88 that is designed to receive a battery 90 and to secure the battery 90 in place outside the helmet 12 in a manner that allows the battery 90 to provide power to the circuit 26. A battery compartment 86 extends along a portion of the midline of the helmet 12 to balance the helmet 12 when worn. Additionally, a battery compartment 86 and a battery port 84 are provided at the rear of the helmet 12 to help balance the many electronic components and circuitry disposed near the forward surface 46. A securing device 92 is used to selectively secure the battery compartment 86 within the battery port 84. The securing device 92 will allow for quick removal and replacement of the battery compartment 86 if the battery 90 needs to be recharged or replaced. In the illustrated embodiment, the securing device 92 is a thumb screw. When the battery compartment 86 is positioned in the battery port 84 to secure it therein, a cartridge bolt release 94 (best seen in fig. 2) assists in aligning the battery compartment 86 within the battery port 84 by receiving a cartridge bolt (not shown) therein.

The invention has been described in an illustrative manner. It is to be understood that the terminology which has been used is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation.

Many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. Therefore, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described.

Claims

1. A safety cap assembly to be worn on a head of a user, the safety cap assembly comprising:

a helmet shaped to cover an upper portion of the head of the user, the helmet having a primary opening to receive the head therein, and the helmet defining a perimeter around the primary opening;

a brim extending outwardly from the helmet adjacent the perimeter to a brim outer edge;

a brim panel removably secured to the brim to form a compartment between the brim and the brim panel; and

an electrical circuit securely fixed within the compartment.

2. The safety cap assembly of claim 1, wherein the brim extends outwardly from the helmet adjacent the entire perimeter.

3. The headgear assembly according to claim 1, wherein the brim panel forms the compartment adjacent the entirety of the brim.

4. The headgear assembly according to claim 1, including a power bus extending along the entirety of the compartment to provide power throughout the compartment.

5. The headgear assembly according to claim 4, comprising a plurality of circuit boards, each of the circuit boards extending along a portion of the power bus within the compartment.

6. The headgear assembly according to claim 5, wherein each of the plurality of circuit boards is connected to the power bus along the power bus.

7. The safety cap assembly of claim 5, wherein each of the plurality of circuit boards is mounted to the brim independently of one another.

8. The safety cap assembly of claim 7, wherein each of the plurality of circuit boards is mounted along the brim to balance the safety cap assembly on the head of the user.

9. The headgear assembly according to claim 1, wherein the brim panel includes a light source that generates a visual signal.

10. The headgear assembly according to claim 1, comprising a seal extending between the brim and the brim panel.

11. The safety cap assembly of claim 10, wherein the seal is a gasket.

12. The safety cap assembly of claim 11, wherein the gasket seals the compartment from the ambient environment.

13. The safety helmet assembly of claim 1 comprising an antenna defining a top antenna loop secured to a top portion of said helmet.

14. The headgear assembly of claim 1, comprising a battery port formed in the headgear on an exterior side of the headgear.

15. The safety cap assembly of claim 14, comprising a battery compartment removably received by and secured within the battery port.

16. The safety cap assembly of claim 15, wherein the brim includes a cartridge bolt release to assist in orientation of the battery cartridge when inserted into the battery port.

17. A safety cap assembly to be worn on a head of a user, the safety cap assembly comprising:

a plurality of circuit boards fixedly secured within the compartment mounted along the brim to balance the headgear assembly on the head of the user.

18. The safety cap assembly of claim 13, wherein the brim extends outwardly from the helmet adjacent the entire perimeter.

19. The headgear assembly according to claim 13, wherein the brim panel forms the compartment adjacent the entirety of the brim.

20. The headgear assembly according to claim 13, including a power bus extending along the entirety of the compartment to provide power throughout the compartment.

21. A safety cap assembly to be worn on a head of a user, the safety cap assembly comprising:

a helmet defining a midline and shaped to cover an upper portion of the head of the user, the helmet having a primary opening to receive the head therein, and the helmet defining a perimeter around the primary opening;

a brim panel removably secured to the brim to form a compartment between the brim and the brim panel;

a plurality of circuit boards fixedly secured within the compartment mounted along the brim to balance the headgear assembly on the head of the user; and

a battery port formed in the helmet outboard of the helmet, located along the midline of the helmet, and disposed on a rear side of the helmet.

22. The safety cap assembly of claim 21, comprising a battery compartment removably received by and secured within the battery port.

23. The safety cap assembly of claim 22, wherein the brim includes a cartridge bolt release to assist in orientation of the battery cartridge when inserted into the battery port.

24. The safety cap assembly of claim 23, wherein the battery compartment includes a securing device to secure the battery compartment within the battery port.

25. The headgear assembly according to claim 24, wherein the securing device is a thumb screw.