ZONE ENTRY WARNING SYSTEM AND DEVICE

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to the field of safety and warning devices, such as a system for zone entry warning. The present disclosure utilizes attaching a stretchable band to the worker enabling the warning of the worker that they are proximate a demarcated zone.

Claims

1. A wearable device associated with a zone entry warning device, wherein the wearable device comprises a receiver associated with a stretchable band.

2. The wearable device according to claim 1, wherein the stretchable band is a closed loop of polymeric material.

3. The wearable device according to claim 1, wherein the receiver and zone entry warning devices are both embedded in the stretchable band.

4. The wearable device according to claim 1, wherein the wearable device is removably attached to a safety spectacle frame.

5. A system for zone entry warning, the system comprising: a transmitter adapted to provide as an output, a signal from a predetermined zone, a zone entry warning device, a wearable receiver associated with a stretchable band, the receiver being adapted to be responsive to the signal when proximate the predetermined zone and to initiate the zone entry warning device.

6. A method for zone entry warning, the method comprising: locating a transmitter proximate a predetermined zone, the transmitter being adapted to provide a signal as an output, removably attaching a zone entry warning device to a subject, removably attaching a stretchable band to the subject, the stretchable band comprising a receiver, the receiver being adapted to be responsive to the signal when proximate the zone and to initiate the zone entry warning device.

7. The wearable device according to claim 1, wherein the receiver is embedded in a stretchable band.

8. The wearable device according to claim 2, wherein the stretchable band material is silicone.

9. The system according to claim 5, wherein the receiver is embedded in the stretchable band.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0054] This application contains at least one drawing executed in color. Copies of this patent or patent application publication with color drawing(s) will be provided by the Office upon request and payment of the necessary fee.

[0055] Further disclosure, objects, advantages and aspects of preferred and other embodiments of the present application may be better understood by those skilled in the relevant art by reference to the following description of embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the disclosure herein, and in which:

[0056] FIG. 1 illustrates a device according to the present disclosure in front view.

[0057] FIG. 2 illustrates the device if FIG. 1 in perspective view.

[0058] FIG. 3 illustrates the device of FIG. 1 in cross-sectional view.

[0059] FIG. 4 illustrates the device of FIG. 1 in exploded view.

[0060] FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of a pair of safety spectacles to which the device of FIG. 1 has been attached.

[0061] FIG. 6 illustrates a side view of the safety spectacles and device of FIG. 5.

[0062] FIG. 7 illustrates a front view of the safety spectacles and device of FIG. 5.

[0063] FIG. 8 illustrates a top view of the safety spectacles and device of FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0064] The system for zone entry and personal wearable device of the present disclosure will alert a wearer to a hazard in their proximity as demarcated by a zone established by a transmitter.

[0065] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the device (1) consists of a silicone body (2) configured as a closed loop in which is embedded a receiver (3). The receiver in this embodiment comprises a PCB (4), two A10 coin cell batteries (5a, 5b) held against the PCB (4) by their respective retainers (6a, 6b). Zone entry warning devices in the form of LEDs (8) are located in the center of both sides of the PCB (4). Locating the LEDs (8) on both sides allows the device to be attached onto either side of the safety spectacle frame. Battery pull tabs (10a, 10b) can be pulled to activate the batteries (5). The batteries may be of any convenient type such as those that last 2 to 3 months.

[0066] The device (1) may be attached to the wearer's safety spectacles (12) as shown in FIGS. 5 to 8.

[0067] Typically the maximum communication distance between the transmitter and receiver is about 50 meters. Typically the receiver activates the zone entry warning device when the transmitter is at a distance of 5 to 50 meters, optionally a distance of 5 to 20 meters, further optionally a distance of 5 to 10 meters.

[0068] One embodiment of the system of the present disclosure utilizes an unlicensed industrial, scientific and medical (ISM) radio band, with the frequency of operation depending on the country in which it is deployed (e.g. 915 to 928 MHz in Australia, 868 to 870 MHz in Europe or 902 to 928 MHz in USA or Canada). However, it will readily be apparent to the person skilled in the art that the system is not limited to this band and can be operated at other commonly used frequency bands such as the unlicensed 433 MHz band and the proprietary 2.4 to 5 GHz band.

[0069] The transmitter, or multiple transmitters, can be temporarily or permanently positioned to demarcate various hazard zones throughout a work site. For example, the transmitter may have a magnetic base to enable it to be removably attached to various vehicles or metal structures. Alternatively the transmitter may include a spike so that it can be located in earth adjacent to the perimeter of a deep excavation or earthen unsafe ledge. Alternatively the transmitter may be incorporated into an existing warning device such as a safety cone.

[0070] For example the transmitter may be attached to a load on a crane, so that workers are warned that the load is nearby and can avoid being directly under the load when it is lowered. The system of the present disclosure is particularly useful for workers operating loud machinery because it provides visual notification of the proximity of the crane load.

[0071] When the transmitter is mounted on vehicles such as forklifts, the system of the present disclosure can alert workers to vehicles entering their work zone and is particularly useful for vehicles entering their work zone from a blind spot.

[0072] The transmitter may be permanently activated, activated by timer, or activated by some extrinsic force such as vibrations upon start-up of a vehicle engine.

[0073] The device of the present disclosure allows the user to recognize a hazard zone and avoid the area. For example, the transmitter can be installed in static locations from which they must be excluded because they contain hazards such as explosives, high voltage electricity or deep holes or for reasons of security or privacy.

[0074] This additional hazard perception generates improved worker safety.

[0075] While the present disclosure has been described in connection with specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that it is capable of further modification(s). This application is intended to cover any variations uses or adaptations of the present disclosure following in general, the principles of the present disclosure and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice within the art to which the present disclosure pertains and as may be applied to the essential features hereinbefore set forth.

[0076] As the present disclosure may be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit of the essential characteristics of the present disclosure, it should be understood that the above described embodiments are not to limit the present disclosure unless otherwise specified, but rather should be construed broadly within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined in the appended claims. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects as illustrative only and not restrictive.

[0077] Various modifications and equivalent arrangements are intended to be included within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure and appended claims. Therefore, the specific embodiments are to be understood to be illustrative of the many ways in which the principles of the present disclosure may be practiced. In the following claims, means-plus-function clauses are intended to cover structures as performing the defined function and not only structural equivalents, but also equivalent structures.

[0078] It should also be noted that where a flowchart is used herein to demonstrate various aspects of the present disclosure, it should not be construed to limit the present disclosure to any particular logic flow or logic implementation.

[0079] Comprises/comprising and includes/including when used in this specification is taken to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof. Thus, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words comprise, comprising, includes, including and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of including, but not limited to.

[0080] FIGS. 1-5 show example configurations with relative positioning of the various components. If shown directly contacting each other, or directly coupled, then such elements may be referred to as directly contacting or directly coupled, respectively, at least in one example. Similarly, elements shown contiguous or adjacent to one another may be contiguous or adjacent to each other, respectively, at least in one example. As an example, components laying in face-sharing contact with each other may be referred to as in face-sharing contact. As another example, elements positioned apart from each other with only a space there-between and no other components may be referred to as such, in at least one example. As yet another example, elements shown above/below one another, at opposite sides to one another, or to the left/right of one another may be referred to as such, relative to one another. Further, as shown in the figures, a topmost element or point of element may be referred to as a top of the component and a bottommost element or point of the element may be referred to as a bottom of the component, in at least one example. As used herein, top/bottom, upper/lower, above/below, may be relative to a vertical axis of the figures and used to describe positioning of elements of the figures relative to one another. As such, elements shown above other elements are positioned vertically above the other elements, in one example. As yet another example, shapes of the elements depicted within the figures may be referred to as having those shapes (e.g., such as being circular, straight, planar, curved, rounded, chamfered, angled, or the like). Further, elements shown intersecting one another may be referred to as intersecting elements or intersecting one another, in at least one example. Further still, an element shown within another element or shown outside of another element may be referred as such, in one example.

[0081] Spatially relative terms, such as inner, outer, beneath, below, lower, above, upper, and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. Spatially relative terms may be intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as below or beneath other elements or features would then be oriented above the other elements or features. Thus, the example term below can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.