U.S. patent application number 17/281785 was filed with the patent office on 2021-12-16 for suspension unit for a helmet.
The applicant listed for this patent is ILLUMAGEAR, INC.. Invention is credited to John Maxwell Baker, Chad Austin Brinckerhoff, Jonathan Brandt Hadley, Aaron D. Johnson.
Application Number | 20210386154 17/281785 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005851051 |
Filed Date | 2021-12-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20210386154 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Baker; John Maxwell ; et
al. |
December 16, 2021 |
SUSPENSION UNIT FOR A HELMET
Abstract
A suspension unit is provided which is removably coupleable to a
helmet shell to enhance user safety and helmet functionality. The
suspension unit includes: a suspension assembly configured to
interface with a suspension attachment scheme of the helmet shell;
one or more sensors carried by the suspension assembly and arranged
to obtain biometric, environmental, location, motion, impact and/or
other data; and a control system carried by the suspension
assembly, the control system including at least a power source and
a communication module, and being operatively coupled to the one or
more sensors to obtain the biometric, environmental, location,
motion, impact and/or other data and to transmit, via the
communication module, a data signal to a computing device or
network based at least in part on said data from which to enhance
user safety and helmet functionality.
Inventors: |
Baker; John Maxwell;
(Seattle, WA) ; Hadley; Jonathan Brandt; (Renton,
WA) ; Johnson; Aaron D.; (Colfax, WA) ;
Brinckerhoff; Chad Austin; (Issaquah, WA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
ILLUMAGEAR, INC. |
Seattle |
WA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000005851051 |
Appl. No.: |
17/281785 |
Filed: |
October 3, 2019 |
PCT Filed: |
October 3, 2019 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/US2019/054577 |
371 Date: |
March 31, 2021 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62740776 |
Oct 3, 2018 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A42B 3/046 20130101;
A42B 3/044 20130101; A42B 3/14 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A42B 3/14 20060101
A42B003/14; A42B 3/04 20060101 A42B003/04 |
Claims
1. A suspension unit removably coupleable to a suspension
attachment scheme of a helmet shell to enhance user safety and
helmet functionality, the suspension unit comprising: a suspension
assembly configured to support the helmet shell on a user's head
and including a head engagement structure and one or more coupling
devices configured to interface with the suspension attachment
scheme of the helmet shell to enable removable attachment of the
suspension unit to the helmet shell; one or more sensors carried by
the suspension assembly and arranged to obtain biometric,
environmental, location, motion, impact and/or other data; and a
control system carried by the suspension assembly, the control
system including at least a power source and a communication
module, and being operatively coupled to the one or more sensors to
obtain the biometric, environmental, location, motion, impact
and/or other data and to transmit, via the communication module, a
data signal to a computing device or network based at least in part
on said biometric, environmental, location, motion, impact and/or
other data from which to enhance user safety and helmet
functionality.
2. The suspension unit of claim 1, wherein the control system
carried by the suspension assembly further comprises a processor
for processing the biometric, environmental, location, motion
and/or other data onboard the suspension unit.
3. The suspension unit of claim 1, wherein the control system
carried by the suspension assembly further comprises a memory for
storing data onboard the suspension unit.
4. The suspension unit of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors
include at least one of a biometric sensor, an environmental
sensor, a location sensor, an orientation sensor, a motion sensor
and an impact sensor.
5. The suspension unit of claim 1, wherein the helmet shell
includes a multi-point suspension attachment scheme, and wherein
the suspension assembly includes an arrangement of coupling devices
that is configured to interface with the multi-point suspension
attachment scheme.
6. The suspension unit of claim 5 wherein the multi-point
suspension attachment scheme of the helmet shell is a conventional
4-point or conventional 6-point attachment scheme, and wherein the
arrangement of coupling devices of the suspension assembly is
configured to interface with the conventional 4-point or
conventional 6-point attachment scheme of the helmet shell.
7. The suspension unit of claim 1, wherein the head engagement
structure of the suspension assembly includes a primary loop
configured to at least partially surround a circumference of a
user's head and one or more suspension straps coupled to the
primary loop to extend over the crown of the user's head.
8. The suspension unit of claim 1, further comprising: a haptic
device carried by the suspension assembly and communicatively
coupled to the control system for delivering haptic feedback to a
user.
9. The suspension unit of claim 1, wherein the suspension assembly
includes a control system enclosure containing at least a portion
of the control system.
10. The suspension unit of claim 1, wherein the control system
enclosure is malleable, pliable, flexible and/or deformable.
11. The suspension unit of claim 1, wherein the suspension assembly
further includes a fit adjustment assembly for adjusting a fit of
the head engagement structure, and wherein the fit adjustment
assembly includes a housing containing at least a portion of the
control system.
12. The suspension unit of claim 11, wherein at least the power
source of the control system is contained in the housing of the fit
adjustment assembly.
13. The suspension unit of claim 11, wherein at least the
communication module of the control system is contained in the
housing of the fit adjustment assembly.
14. The suspension unit of claim 1, wherein the suspension unit
comprises a plurality of sensors and at least one of the sensors is
mounted in a first region of the head engagement structure and at
least one of the sensors is mounted in a second region of the head
engagement structure that is distinct from the first region.
15. The suspension unit of claim 1, wherein the suspension unit
comprises a plurality of sensors and at least one of the sensors is
positioned in one of the following regions: a brow region; a
forehead region, a temple region; or a crown region.
16. The suspension unit of claim 1, further comprising a speaker
and/or a microphone carried by the suspension assembly and
operatively coupled to the control system.
17. The suspension unit of claim 1, further comprising one or more
user manipulable controls carried by the suspension assembly and
operatively coupled to the control system.
18. The suspension unit of claim 1, wherein the suspension unit is
a self-contained unit that is readily attachable to the suspension
attachment scheme of the helmet shell and electrically functional
apart from the helmet shell.
19. A system, comprising: a helmet shell with a suspension
attachment scheme; and a suspension unit removably attachable to
the helmet shell via the suspension attachment scheme, the
suspension unit including: a suspension assembly configured to
support the helmet shell on a user's head and including a head
engagement structure and one or more coupling devices configured to
interface with the suspension attachment scheme of the helmet shell
to enable removable attachment of the suspension unit to the helmet
shell; one or more sensors carried by the suspension assembly and
arranged to obtain biometric, environmental, location, motion,
impact and/or other data; and a control system carried by the
suspension assembly, the control system including at least a power
source and a communication module, and being operatively coupled to
the one or more sensors to obtain the biometric, environmental,
location, motion, impact and/or other data and to transmit, via the
communication module, a data signal based at least in part on said
biometric, environmental, location, motion, impact and/or other
data to a computing device or network from which to enhance user
safety and helmet functionality.
20. The system of claim 19, further comprising: a light-emitting
unit removably attachable to an exterior of the helmet shell, the
light-emitting unit including: one or more light sources; and a
light-emitting unit control system, the light-emitting unit control
system communicatively coupled, either directly or via the
computing device or network, to the control system of the
suspension unit, and being configured to control the light sources
to emit light based at least in part on the data signal transmitted
by the communication module of the control system of the suspension
unit.
21. The system of claim 20, wherein the control system of the
suspension unit is communicatively coupled to the computing device
or network via the light-emitting unit control system.
22. The system of claim 20, wherein the light-emitting unit
includes one or more light-emitting unit sensors arranged to obtain
environmental, location, motion, impact and/or other data to
supplement the data obtained by the suspension unit.
23. The system of claim 20, wherein the light-emitting unit and the
suspension unit are pairable with each other directly or via the
computing device or network to facilitate a transfer of data from
the suspension unit to the light-emitting unit and/or a transfer of
data from the light-emitting unit to the suspension unit.
24. The system of claim 19, wherein the suspension unit is a
self-contained unit that is readily attachable to the suspension
attachment scheme of the helmet shell and electrically functional
apart from the helmet shell.
25. A system for use with a helmet shell having a suspension
attachment scheme, the system comprising: a suspension unit
removably attachable to an interior of the helmet shell via the
suspension attachment scheme, the suspension unit including: a
suspension assembly configured to support the helmet shell on a
user's head and including a head engagement structure and one or
more coupling devices configured to interface with the suspension
attachment scheme of the helmet shell to enable removable
attachment of the suspension unit to the helmet shell, one or more
sensors carried by the suspension assembly and arranged to obtain
biometric, environmental, location, motion, impact and/or other
data, and a control system carried by the suspension assembly, the
control system including at least a power source and a
communication module, and being operatively coupled to the one or
more sensors to obtain the biometric, environmental, location,
motion, impact and/or other data and to transmit, via the
communication module, a data signal based at least in part on said
biometric, environmental, location, motion, impact and/or other
data to a computing device or network from which to enhance user
safety and helmet functionality; and a light-emitting unit
removably attachable to an exterior of the helmet shell, the
light-emitting unit including: one or more light sources, and a
light-emitting unit control system, the light-emitting unit control
system communicatively coupled, either directly or via the
computing device or network, to the control system of the
suspension unit, and being configured to control the light sources
to emit light based at least in part on the data signal transmitted
by the communication module of the control system of the suspension
unit.
26. The system of claim 25, wherein the suspension unit is a
self-contained unit that is readily attachable to the suspension
attachment scheme of the helmet shell and electrically functional
apart from the helmet shell.
27. The system of claim 25, wherein the light-emitting unit is a
self-contained unit that is readily attachable to the exterior of
the helmet shell and electrically functional apart from the helmet
shell.
Description
BACKGROUND
Technical Field
[0001] This disclosure generally relates to suspension units for
hard hats and other helmet structures to enhance user safety and
helmet functionality, and, more particularly, to suspension units
having one or more sensors arranged to obtain biometric,
environmental, location, motion, impact and/or other data from
which to enhance user safety and helmet functionality.
Description of the Related Art
[0002] Helmets and other protectable wearables are often required
when working in areas where there is a potential for injury.
Helmets are especially required to protect the head from hazards
such as impact from falling objects, scraping or hitting one's head
on equipment, or contact with electrical conductors. Traditional
helmet suspension units (also referred to as harnesses) have been
designed to extend inside the helmet and be used for spreading the
helmet's weight and the force of any impact over the top of a
user's head.
[0003] At least one suspension unit or harness is known which
includes biometric sensors for measuring biometric data of a wearer
and an electrical interface for receiving power from a power source
of a mating helmet structure and for transferring data collected by
the suspension unit to a control unit of the mating helmet
structure, as shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 9,642,574.
Notably, such a suspension unit and helmet structure combination
suffers from various drawbacks, including that the suspension unit
requires a specialized mating helmet structure to function and
cannot be used with a variety of helmet shells on the market and
currently in use in the workforce and elsewhere.
BRIEF SUMMARY
[0004] Embodiments described herein provide a suspension unit that
is removably coupleable to a suspension attachment scheme of a
conventional helmet shell to enhance user safety and helmet
functionality without disrupting or jeopardizing the integrity of
the helmet structure or requiring modifications thereto. In this
manner, the suspension unit may serve as a drop-in replacement for
conventional suspension units (also referred to as harnesses) of
traditional hard hats and other helmet structures (e.g., climbing
helmets, bike helmets).
[0005] According to one embodiment, a suspension unit removably
coupleable to a suspension attachment scheme of a helmet shell to
enhance user safety and helmet functionality may be summarized as
including: a suspension assembly configured to support the helmet
shell on a user's head and including a head engagement structure
and one or more coupling devices configured to interface with the
suspension attachment scheme of the helmet shell to enable
removable attachment of the suspension unit to the helmet shell;
one or more sensors carried by the suspension assembly and arranged
to obtain biometric, environmental, location, motion, impact and/or
other data; and a control system carried by the suspension
assembly, the control system including at least a power source and
a communication module, and being operatively coupled to the one or
more sensors to obtain the biometric, environmental, location,
motion, impact and/or other data and to transmit, via the
communication module, a data signal to a computing device or
network based at least in part on said biometric, environmental,
location, motion, impact and/or other data from which to enhance
user safety and helmet functionality.
[0006] The control system carried by the suspension assembly may
further include a processor for processing the biometric,
environmental, location, motion and/or other data onboard the
suspension unit, and may further include a memory for storing data
onboard the suspension unit. In this manner, processing of the data
may be completed onboard the suspension unit and optionally stored
in memory onboard the suspension unit.
[0007] The one or more sensors may include at least one of a
biometric sensor, an environmental sensor, a location sensor, an
orientation sensor, a motion sensor and an impact sensor. In this
manner, the sensor(s) may be configured to obtain biometric data
(e.g., body temperature, heart rate), environmental data (e.g.,
environmental temperature), user location data, user orientation
data, user motion data and/or impact data for subsequent processing
from which to enhance user safety or helmet functionality.
[0008] The helmet shell may include a multi-point suspension
attachment scheme, and the suspension assembly may include an
arrangement of coupling devices that is configured to interface
with said multi-point suspension attachment scheme. For example,
the multi-point suspension attachment scheme of the helmet shell
may be a conventional 4-point or conventional 6-point attachment
scheme, and the arrangement of coupling devices of the suspension
assembly may be configured to interface with the conventional
4-point or conventional 6-point attachment scheme of the helmet
shell. In this manner, the suspension unit can attach directly to a
wide variety of helmet shells already on the market and in use in
the workforce and elsewhere.
[0009] In some instances, the head engagement structure of the
suspension assembly may include a primary loop configured to at
least partially surround a circumference of a user's head and one
or more suspension straps coupled to the primary loop to extend
over the crown of the user's head. In this manner, the head
engagement structure may reflect or resemble a conventional
suspension unit or harness.
[0010] In some instances, the suspension unit may further include a
haptic device carried by the suspension assembly and
communicatively coupled to the control system for delivering haptic
feedback to a user. Such haptic feedback may be based at least in
part on the data obtained by the suspension unit during use. For
example, the suspension unit may obtain location data, orientation
data and/or motion data from which it may be determined that a user
is approaching a hazard or in the path of a hazard and based upon
which the user may be provided with a haptic warning.
[0011] In some instances, the suspension assembly may include a
control system enclosure containing at least a portion of the
control system, and the control system enclosure may in some
instances be malleable, pliable, flexible and/or deformable.
[0012] The suspension assembly may further include a fit adjustment
assembly for adjusting a fit of the head engagement structure
(e.g., an adjustable band with ratchet device), and the fit
adjustment assembly may include a housing containing at least a
portion of the control system. The power source of the control
system and/or the communication module may be contained, for
example, in the housing of the fit adjustment assembly.
[0013] In some instances, the suspension unit may comprise a
plurality of sensors and at least one of the sensors may be mounted
in a first region of the head engagement structure and at least one
of the sensors may be mounted in a second region of the head
engagement structure that is distinct from the first region.
Sensors may be positioned, for example, in one or more of the
following regions: a brow region; a forehead region, a temple
region; or a crown region.
[0014] The suspension unit may further include a speaker and/or a
microphone carried by the suspension assembly and operatively
coupled to the control system from which to enhance user safety or
helmet functionality. For example, the speaker, when provided, may
be used to provide audible instructions or warnings to the user
based at least in part on data obtained by the suspension unit. As
another example, the microphone, when provided, may be used by the
user to provide voice commands or to provide user input to
supplement or modify the data collected by the suspension unit.
[0015] The suspension unit may further include one or more user
manipulable controls (e.g., switches, buttons) carried by the
suspension assembly and operatively coupled to the control system
from which to control or manipulate aspects of the suspension unit.
For example, the suspension unit may include a power switch or
button from which to activate and deactivate functionality of the
suspension unit.
[0016] In a particularly advantageous aspect, the suspension unit
is provided as a self-contained unit that is readily attachable to
the suspension attachment scheme of a conventional helmet shell and
electrically functional apart from the helmet shell. In this
manner, the suspension unit does not need to rely on the helmet
shell for power or other aspects.
[0017] According to another embodiment, a system may be summarized
as including: a helmet shell with a suspension attachment scheme;
and a suspension unit removably attachable to the helmet shell via
the suspension attachment scheme. The suspension unit includes: a
suspension assembly having a head engagement structure and one or
more coupling devices configured to interface with the suspension
attachment scheme of the helmet shell to enable removable
attachment of the suspension unit to the helmet shell; one or more
sensors carried by the suspension assembly and arranged to obtain
biometric, environmental, location, motion, impact and/or other
data; and a control system carried by the suspension assembly, the
control system including at least a power source and a
communication module, and being operatively coupled to the one or
more sensors to obtain the biometric, environmental, location,
motion, impact and/or other data and to transmit, via the
communication module, a data signal based at least in part on said
biometric, environmental, location, motion, impact and/or other
data to a computing device or network from which to enhance user
safety and helmet functionality.
[0018] The system may further include a light-emitting unit
removably attachable to an exterior of the helmet shell, which
operates in parallel or tandem with the suspension unit. The
light-emitting unit may include: one or more light sources; and a
light-emitting unit control system, the light-emitting unit control
system communicatively coupled, either directly or via the
computing device or network, to the control system of the
suspension unit, and being configured to control the light sources
to emit light based at least in part on the data signal transmitted
by the communication module of the control system of the suspension
unit. In this manner, the suspension unit may be used to collect
various data and the light-emitting unit may be illuminated based
at least in part on said data.
[0019] In some instances, the control system of the suspension unit
may be communicatively coupled to the computing device or network
via the light-emitting unit control system. In this manner, data
may be obtained by the suspension unit, transmitted to the
light-emitting unit and then transmitted to the computing device or
network for further processing, storage or other action.
[0020] In some instances, the light-emitting unit may include one
or more light-emitting unit sensors arranged to obtain
environmental, location, motion, impact and/or other data to
supplement the data obtained by the suspension unit. For example,
the light-emitting unit may include a temperature and/or humidity
sensor from which to obtain environmental data in the vicinity of
the user, which environmental data may be used to supplement and/or
modify other data (e.g., biometric data) obtained by the suspension
unit.
[0021] The light-emitting unit and the suspension unit may be
pairable with each other directly or via the computing device or
network to facilitate a transfer of data from the suspension unit
to the light-emitting unit and/or a transfer of data from the
light-emitting unit to the suspension unit. In this manner, data
may be shared between the distinct devices and the data obtained
from each may be combined as desired.
[0022] The suspension unit may be a self-contained unit that is
readily attachable to the suspension attachment scheme of a
conventional helmet shell and electrically functional apart from
the helmet shell. Similarly, the light-emitting unit may be a
self-contained unit that is readily attachable to the exterior of a
conventional helmet shell and electrically functional apart from
the helmet shell. In this manner, the helmet shell may be a
conventional helmet shell that lacks electronic functionality and
both devices may be readily secured to the helmet shell without
jeopardizing its integrity.
[0023] According to yet another embodiment, a system for use with a
helmet shell having a suspension attachment scheme may be
summarized as including: a suspension unit removably attachable to
an interior of the helmet shell via the suspension attachment
scheme; and a light-emitting unit removably attachable to an
exterior of the helmet shell. Advantageously, the suspension unit
includes: a suspension assembly configured to support the helmet
shell on a user's head and including a head engagement structure
and one or more coupling devices configured to interface with the
suspension attachment scheme of the helmet shell to enable
removable attachment of the suspension unit to the helmet shell,
one or more sensors carried by the suspension assembly and arranged
to obtain biometric, environmental, location, motion, impact and/or
other data, and a control system carried by the suspension
assembly, the control system including at least a power source and
a communication module, and being operatively coupled to the one or
more sensors to obtain the biometric, environmental, location,
motion, impact and/or other data and to transmit, via the
communication module, a data signal based at least in part on said
biometric, environmental, location, motion, impact and/or other
data to a computing device or network from which to enhance user
safety and helmet functionality. Advantageously, the light-emitting
unit includes: one or more light sources, and a light-emitting unit
control system, the light-emitting unit control system
communicatively coupled, either directly or via the computing
device or network, to the control system of the suspension unit,
and being configured to control the light sources to emit light
based at least in part on the data signal transmitted by the
communication module of the control system of the suspension unit.
In a particularly advantageous aspect, the suspension unit is
provided as a self-contained unit that is readily attachable to the
suspension attachment scheme of a conventional helmet shell and
electrically functional apart from the helmet shell, and the
light-emitting unit is similarly provided as a self-contained unit
that is readily attachable to the exterior of a conventional helmet
shell and electrically functional apart from the helmet shell.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0024] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional hard hat that
is typical of those worn by workers in the construction industry,
including a helmet shell (shown transparent) and a suspension unit
(also referred to as a harness). The illustrated helmet shell is
provided as a non-limiting example of the type of helmet shells
that may be used in connection with disclosed embodiments of the
suspension units and related systems and methods described
herein.
[0025] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a suspension unit, according
to one embodiment, that is removably coupleable to a suspension
attachment scheme of a helmet shell to enhance user safety and
helmet functionality, such as, for example, the conventional helmet
shell shown in FIG. 1.
[0026] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a suspension unit, according
to another embodiment, that is removably coupleable to a suspension
attachment scheme of a helmet shell to enhance user safety and
helmet functionality, such as, for example, the conventional helmet
shell shown in FIG. 1.
[0027] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a light-emitting unit, which
may be used in combination with embodiments of the suspension units
disclosed herein to provide additional functionality.
[0028] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the light-emitting unit of
FIG. 4 secured to a conventional helmet shell.
[0029] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a networked environment
that includes a Configurable Site Safety ("CSS") system as well as
various devices and/or computing systems associated with the CSS
system, with one or more managing users of the CSS system, and with
one or more non-managing users of the CSS system, as described in
the present disclosure.
[0030] FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a computing system
suitable for executing an embodiment of a system that performs at
least some techniques described in the present disclosure, as well
as various devices and/or computing systems connected thereto.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0031] In the following description, certain specific details are
set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of various
disclosed embodiments. However, one of ordinary skill in the
relevant art will recognize that embodiments may be practiced
without one or more of these specific details. In other instances,
well-known structures and devices associated with suspension units
or harnesses for helmets not be shown or described in detail to
avoid unnecessarily obscuring descriptions of the embodiments.
[0032] Unless the context requires otherwise, throughout the
specification and claims which follow, the word "comprise" and
variations thereof, such as, "comprises" and "comprising" are to be
construed in an open, inclusive sense, that is as "including, but
not limited to."
[0033] Reference throughout this specification to "one embodiment"
or "an embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure or
characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is
included in at least one embodiment. Thus, the appearances of the
phrases "in one embodiment" or "in an embodiment" in various places
throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to
the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features,
structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable
manner in one or more embodiments.
[0034] As used in this specification and the appended claims, the
singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include plural referents unless
the content clearly dictates otherwise. It should also be noted
that the term "or" is generally employed in its sense including
"and/or" unless the content clearly dictates otherwise.
[0035] Embodiments described herein provide a suspension unit that
is removably coupleable to a suspension attachment scheme of a
conventional helmet shell to enhance user safety and helmet
functionality without disrupting or jeopardizing the integrity of
the helmet structure or requiring modifications thereto. In this
manner, the suspension unit may serve as a drop-in replacement for
a conventional suspension unit (also referred to as a harness) of
traditional hard hats and other helmet structures (e.g., climbing
helmets, bike helmets).
[0036] As an example, FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a
conventional hard hat 10 that is typical of those worn by workers
in the construction industry, including a helmet shell 12 (shown
transparent) and a suspension unit 14 (also referred to as a
harness). Advantageously, a user may simply remove the conventional
suspension unit 14 shown in FIG. 1 by disconnecting the suspension
unit 14 from the conventional suspension attachment scheme 16 (a
4-point attachment scheme shown) provided in the helmet shell 12,
and may replace it with embodiments of the suspension units
disclosed herein to provide enhanced functionality.
[0037] FIG. 2 shows one example embodiment of a suspension unit 20
that is removably coupleable to the suspension attachment scheme 16
of a conventional helmet shell 12 (FIG. 1) to enhance user safety
and helmet functionality. The suspension unit 20 includes a
suspension assembly 22 having a head engagement structure 24 and
one or more coupling devices 26 configured to interface with the
suspension attachment scheme 16 of the conventional helmet shell 12
to enable removable attachment of the suspension unit 20 to the
helmet shell 12. The head engagement structure 24 of the suspension
assembly 22 may include, for example, a primary loop 28 configured
to at least partially surround a circumference of a user's head and
one or more suspension straps 30 coupled to the primary loop 28 to
extend over the crown of the user's head. In this manner, the head
engagement structure 24 may reflect or resemble a conventional
suspension unit or harness. In addition, the coupling devices 26
may be configured to interface with a multi-point suspension
attachment scheme 16 of the conventional helmet shell 12. For
example, the multi-point suspension attachment scheme of the helmet
shell 12 may be a conventional 4-point attachment scheme (FIG. 1)
or conventional 6-point attachment scheme, and the arrangement of
coupling devices 26 of the suspension assembly 22 may be configured
to interface with the conventional 4-point or conventional 6-point
attachment scheme 16 of the helmet shell 12. As such, the
suspension unit 20 can attach directly to a wide variety of helmet
shells already on the market and in use in the workforce and
elsewhere.
[0038] Advantageously, the suspension unit 20 further includes one
or more sensors 40a-d (collectively 40) carried by the suspension
assembly 22 and arranged to obtain biometric, environmental,
location, motion, impact and/or other data. For example, and
without limitation, the suspension unit 20 may include a biometric
sensor 40a configured to collect biometric data, an environmental
sensor 40b configured to collect environmental data, a location
sensor 40c configured to collect location data, and/or a motion
sensor 40d configured to collect motion data. Other sensors may
include, without limitation, an orientation sensor and an impact
sensor. In this manner, the sensor(s) 40 may be configured to
obtain biometric data (e.g., body temperature, heart rate),
environmental data (e.g., environmental temperature), user location
data, user orientation data, user motion data and/or impact data
for subsequent processing from which to enhance user safety or
helmet functionality. At least one of the sensors may be mounted in
a first region of the head engagement structure 24 and at least one
of the sensors may be mounted in a second region of the head
engagement structure 24 that is distinct from the first region.
Sensors may be positioned, for example, in one or more of the
following regions: a brow region; a forehead region, a temple
region; or a crown region.
[0039] The suspension unit 20 further includes a control system 50
carried by the suspension assembly 22, the control system 50
including at least a power source 52 and a communication module 54,
and being operatively coupled to the one or more sensors 40a-d to
obtain the biometric, environmental, location, motion, impact
and/or other data and to transmit, via the communication module 54,
a data signal to a computing device (e.g., smartphone) or network
based at least in part on said biometric, environmental, location,
motion, impact and/or other data from which to enhance user safety
and helmet functionality. The control system 50 carried by the
suspension assembly 22 may further include a processor 56 for
processing the biometric, environmental, location, motion and/or
other data onboard the suspension unit 20, and may further include
a memory 58 for storing data onboard the suspension unit 20. In
this manner, processing of the data may be completed onboard the
suspension unit 20 and optionally stored in memory 58 onboard the
suspension unit 20.
[0040] In some instances, the suspension unit 20 may further
include a haptic device 60 carried by the suspension assembly 22
and communicatively coupled to the control system 50 for delivering
haptic feedback to a user. Such haptic feedback may be based at
least in part on the data obtained by the suspension unit 20 during
use. For example, the suspension unit 20 may obtain location data,
orientation data and/or motion data from which it may be determined
that a user is approaching a hazard or in the path of a hazard and
based upon which the user may be provided with a haptic
warning.
[0041] The suspension assembly 22 may further include a fit
adjustment assembly 32 for adjusting a fit of the head engagement
structure (e.g., an adjustable band with ratchet device), and the
fit adjustment assembly 32 may include a housing 34 containing at
least a portion of the control system 50. The power source 52 of
the control system 50 and/or the communication module 54 may be
contained, for example, in the housing 34 of the fit adjustment
assembly 32.
[0042] In some instances, the suspension assembly 22 may include a
control system enclosure containing at least a portion of the
control system 50, and the control system enclosure may in some
instances be malleable, pliable, flexible and/or deformable.
[0043] The suspension unit 20 may further include a speaker 62
and/or a microphone 64 carried by the suspension assembly and
operatively coupled to the control system 50 from which to enhance
user safety or helmet functionality. For example, the speaker 62,
when provided, may be used to provide audible instructions or
warnings to the user based at least in part on data obtained by the
suspension unit 20. As another example, the microphone 64 may be
used by the user to provide voice commands or to provide user input
to supplement or modify the data collected by the suspension unit
20.
[0044] The suspension unit 20 may further include one or more user
manipulable controls 66 (e.g., switches, buttons) carried by the
suspension assembly 22 and operatively coupled to the control
system 50 from which to control or manipulate aspects of the
suspension unit 20. For example, the suspension unit 20 may include
a power switch or button from which to activate and deactivate
functionality of the suspension unit 20.
[0045] In a particularly advantageous aspect, the suspension unit
20 is provided as a self-contained unit that is readily attachable
to the suspension attachment scheme 16 of a conventional helmet
shell 12 (FIG. 1) and electrically functional apart from the helmet
shell 12. In this manner, the suspension unit 20 does not need to
rely on the helmet shell 12 for power or other aspects.
[0046] FIG. 3 shows another example embodiment of a suspension unit
20' having similar features and functionality to the embodiment of
the suspension unit 20 shown in FIG. 2.
[0047] For example, the suspension unit 20' shown in FIG. 3
includes a suspension assembly 22' having a head engagement
structure 24' and one or more coupling devices 26' configured to
interface with the suspension attachment scheme 16 of a
conventional helmet shell 12 (FIG. 1) to enable removable
attachment of the suspension unit 20' to the helmet shell 12. The
head engagement structure 24' of the suspension assembly 22' may
include, for example, a primary loop 28' configured to at least
partially surround and engage a circumference of a user's head.
[0048] The suspension unit 20' further includes one or more sensors
40a'-d' (collectively 40') carried by the suspension assembly 22'
and arranged to obtain biometric, environmental, location, motion,
impact and/or other data. For example, and without limitation, the
suspension unit 20' may include a biometric sensor 40a' configured
to collect biometric data, an environmental sensor 40b' configured
to collect environmental data, a location sensor 40c' configured to
collect location data, and/or a motion sensor 40d' configured to
collect motion data. Other sensors may include, without limitation,
an orientation sensor and an impact sensor. In this manner, the
sensor(s) 40' may be configured to obtain biometric data (e.g.,
body temperature, heart rate), environmental data (e.g.,
environmental temperature), user location data, user orientation
data, user motion data and/or impact data for subsequent processing
from which to enhance user safety or helmet functionality as
described in more detail elsewhere. The sensors 40' may be
positioned, for example, in one or more of the following regions: a
brow region; a forehead region, a temple region; or a crown region.
As shown in FIG. 3, for example, the sensors 40' may be positioned
across the forehead region of a user. One or more of the sensors
40' may be positioned beneath a forehead cushioning element 42'
and, if required, exposed to the user or the surrounding
environment via an appropriate aperture. One or more of the sensors
40' may be positioned on or within the forehead cushioning element
42'. The forehead cushioning element 42' may be removably coupled
to the primary loop 28' of the suspension assembly 22' to
facilitate cleaning thereof and/or servicing or replacement of the
sensors 40'.
[0049] The suspension unit 20' further includes a control system
50' carried by the suspension assembly 22', the control system 50'
including at least a power source 52' and a communication module
54', and being operatively coupled to the one or more sensors 40'
to obtain the biometric, environmental, location, motion, impact
and/or other data and to transmit, via the communication module
54', a data signal to a computing device (e.g., smartphone) or
network based at least in part on said biometric, environmental,
location, motion, impact and/or other data from which to enhance
user safety and helmet functionality. The control system 50'
carried by the suspension assembly 22' may further include a
processor 56' for processing the biometric, environmental,
location, motion and/or other data onboard the suspension unit 20',
and may further include a memory 58' for storing data onboard the
suspension unit 20'. In this manner, processing of the data may be
completed onboard the suspension unit 20' and optionally stored in
memory 58' onboard the suspension unit 20'.
[0050] In some instances, the suspension unit 20' may further
include a haptic device carried by the suspension assembly 22' and
communicatively coupled to the control system 50' for delivering
haptic feedback to a user. Such haptic feedback may be based at
least in part on the data obtained by the suspension unit 20'
during use. For example, the suspension unit 20' may obtain
location data, orientation data and/or motion data from which it
may be determined that a user is approaching a hazard or in the
path of a hazard and based upon which the user may be provided with
a haptic warning.
[0051] The suspension assembly 22' may further include a fit
adjustment assembly 32' for adjusting a fit of the head engagement
structure (e.g., an adjustable band with ratchet device), and the
fit adjustment assembly 32' may include a housing 34' containing at
least a portion of the control system 50'. The power source 52' of
the control system 50' and/or the communication module 54' may be
contained, for example, in the housing 34' of the fit adjustment
assembly 32'. In the example embodiment of FIG. 3, the
communication module 54' is provided in an area remote from the fit
adjustment assembly 32'.
[0052] The suspension unit 20' may further include a speaker and/or
a microphone carried by the suspension assembly 22' and operatively
coupled to the control system 50' from which to enhance user safety
or helmet functionality. For example, the speaker, when provided,
may be used to provide audible instructions or warnings to the user
based at least in part on data obtained by the suspension unit 20'.
As another example, the microphone may be used by the user to
provide voice commands or to provide user input to supplement or
modify the data collected by the suspension unit 20'.
[0053] The suspension unit 20' may further include one or more user
manipulable controls (e.g., switches, buttons) carried by the
suspension assembly 22' and operatively coupled to the control
system 50' from which to control or manipulate aspects of the
suspension unit 20'. For example, the suspension unit 20' may
include a power switch or button from which to activate and
deactivate functionality of the suspension unit 20'.
[0054] In a particularly advantageous aspect, the suspension unit
20' is provided as a self-contained unit that is readily attachable
to the suspension attachment scheme 16 of a conventional helmet
shell 12 (FIG. 1) and electrically functional apart from the helmet
shell 12. In this manner, the suspension unit 20 does not need to
rely on the helmet shell 12 for power or other aspects.
[0055] Embodiments of the suspension units 20, 20' described herein
may be used to collect a wide variety of data (e.g., biometric
data, environmental data, location data, impact data, etc.)
associated with a user or the user's environment from which to
enhance user safety or helmet functionality. The suspension units
20, 20' may be paired or otherwise communicatively coupled to a
smart phone or other computing device to facilitate or carry out
such functional enhancements. For example, suspension units 20, 20'
may be worn by a group of workers on a jobsite and biometric data,
such as body temperature and heartrate, may be collected and
transmitted to an associated computing device for monitoring the
health and wellbeing of said workers, and, if needed, the taking of
action to address any irregularities. As another example, location
data may be collected and transmitted to an associated computing
device for monitoring the location of said workers from which to
enhance safety and jobsite compliance.
[0056] Although the aforementioned suspension units 20, 20' may be
used to collect data without assistance from other sensing devices
or apparatuses, in some instances, the suspension units 20, 20' may
operate in conjunction with other sensing devices or apparatuses to
provide additional functionality. For example, according to one
embodiment, a system may be provided which includes one of the
aforementioned suspension units 20, 20' and a light-emitting unit
70 removably attachable to an exterior of the conventional helmet
shell 12, which operates in parallel or tandem with said suspension
unit 20, 20'. An example embodiment of such a light-emitting unit
70 is shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 5 shows the light-emitting unit 70
removably secured to a conventional helmet shell 12' similar to the
conventional helmet shell 12 shown in FIG. 1.
[0057] With reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, the light-emitting unit 70
may include, for example: one or more light sources 72; and a
light-emitting unit control system 74, the light-emitting unit
control system 74 communicatively coupled, either directly or via
the computing device or network, to the control system 50 of the
suspension unit 20, 20', and being configured to control the light
sources 72 to emit light based at least in part on the data signal
transmitted by the communication module 54 of the control system 50
of the suspension unit 20, 20'. In this manner, the suspension unit
20, 20' may be used to collect various data and the light-emitting
unit 70 may be illuminated based at least in part on said data.
[0058] In some instances, the control system 50 of the suspension
unit 20, 20' may be communicatively coupled to the computing device
or network via the light-emitting unit control system 74. In this
manner, data may obtained by the suspension unit 20, 20',
transmitted to the light-emitting unit 70 and then transmitted to
the computing device or network for further processing, storage or
other action.
[0059] In some instances, the light-emitting unit 70 may include
one or more light-emitting unit sensors (not shown) arranged to
obtain environmental, location, motion, impact and/or other data to
supplement data obtained by the suspension unit 20, 20'. For
example, the light-emitting unit 70 may include a temperature
and/or humidity sensor from which to obtain environmental data in
the vicinity of the user, which environmental data may be used to
supplement and/or modify other data (e.g., biometric data) obtained
by the suspension unit 20, 20'.
[0060] The light-emitting unit 70 and the suspension unit 20, 20'
may be pairable with each other directly or via the computing
device or network to facilitate a transfer of data from the
suspension unit 20, 20' to the light-emitting unit 70 and/or a
transfer of data from the light-emitting unit 70 to the suspension
unit 20, 20'. In this manner, data may be shared between these
distinct devices and the data obtained from each may be combined or
shared as desired.
[0061] Again, the suspension unit 20, 20' may be a self-contained
unit that is readily attachable to the suspension attachment scheme
16 of a conventional helmet shell and electrically functional apart
from the helmet shell 16. Similarly, the light-emitting unit 70 may
be a self-contained unit that is readily attachable to the exterior
of a conventional helmet shell 16 and electrically functional apart
from the helmet shell 16.
[0062] Additional features (e.g., power supply 76, control
element(s) 78) of the light-emitting unit 70 depicted in FIGS. 4
and 5 may include those shown and described in U.S. Pat. No.
8,529,082, which is incorporated herein by reference in its
entirety. The light-emitting unit 70 may be particularly well
adapted to illuminate people at risk, such as, for example, workers
in the construction industry, mining industry or other hazardous or
hostile environments. The light-emitting unit 70 may provide
enhanced illumination around the user to enable the completion of
tasks that would otherwise be hindered by low or poor lighting
conditions. In some embodiments, the light-emitting unit 70
provides a continuous or generally continuous ring or halo of light
around a user's head that can be seen from an extended distance
(e.g., up to and exceeding one-quarter mile) and from a
particularly wide range of directions, such as, for example, from
an overhead direction. The light-emitting unit 70 may also provide
substantial illumination within and outside the user's immediate
field of view to illuminate areas within the user's general
workspace.
[0063] The light-emitting unit 70 described herein may be
advantageously attachable to headgear, such as, for example, the
conventional hard hat 12, 12' shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, in a
removable manner. For this purpose, the light-emitting unit 70 may
include a plurality of resilient engagement elements 80 around the
inner periphery of the light-emitting unit 70 to selectively engage
the hard hat 12, 12' as the user urges the light-emitting unit 70
onto the hard hat 12, 12'.
[0064] Although the suspension units 20, 20' and light-emitting
units 70 disclosed herein are described in the context of attaching
to headgear in the form of a conventional hard hat 12, 12' (FIGS. 1
and 5), it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the
relevant art that the suspension units 20, 20' and light-emitting
units 70 and aspects thereof may applied to a wide variety of
headgear, including, for example, protective helmets for sports
such as bicycling, skiing and football, hats or other headgear.
Other examples include, without limitation, firefighter helmets,
miner helmets, logging helmets, welder and foundry worker helmets,
military helmets and other protective helmets or headgear. In
addition, it will also be appreciated that the suspension units 20,
20' and light-emitting units 70 and aspects thereof may be may be
incorporated or integrated into headgear, rather than being
removably attachable thereto.
[0065] It is further appreciated that the suspension units 20, 20'
and light-emitting units 70 and aspects thereof may be may be used
in connection with various information and control systems to
provide enhanced functionality.
[0066] As an example, FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a networked
environment 100 that includes a Configurable Site Safety ("CSS")
System 110, gateway base stations 150, proximity beacons 160, a
site management computing system 170, worker client devices 180,
and a plurality of hard hat devices 190 (suspension units 20, 20'
and light-emitting units 70) associated with a plurality of
workers. The site management computing system, worker client
devices, and gateway base stations are each communicatively coupled
to the CSS system 110 via one or more intervening networks 101. In
addition, the gateway base stations 150 are communicatively coupled
to the hard hat devices and proximity beacons, such as via direct
wireless links 102 and chipsets 154, 164 and 194, respectively, or
by other wireless communication devices, including other
short-range radio devices. In the illustrated embodiment, each
chipset 154, 164 and 194 may respectively include a BLE chipset,
one or more transceivers, sensor chipsets, and other component
chipsets. Each of the gateway base stations, proximity beacons and
hard hat devices also respectively include GPS chipsets 156, 166,
and 196, for determining a geographical location of the respective
device. The gateway base stations further include a networked data
connection 158, and in certain implementations, each of the hard
hat devices may link directly to one or more computer networks
(e.g., the Internet) using any appropriate high-speed data mobile
wireless communication methods, components and/or protocols. Each
of the hard hat devices 190 (e.g., suspension units 20, 20' and
light-emitting units 70) additionally includes one or more sensors
192, such as one or more biometric sensors, environmental sensors,
location sensors, orientation sensors, motion sensors and/or impact
sensors, and may further include additional auditory or haptic
signaling components, as described elsewhere herein. In operation,
the gateway base stations 150 receive ID, status and location
information from each of the respective proximity beacons and hard
hat devices, and provide the received information to the site
management computing system, the CSS system, or both. In various
implementations, the frequency with which the information for each
of the proximity beacons and hard hat devices are updated may be
configured appropriately.
[0067] Although not illustrated in the example embodiment of FIG.
6, it is appreciated that each hard hat device 190 may be
communicatively coupled to one or more other hard hat devices 190
to facilitate inter-device communications and other functionality
described herein.
[0068] In the depicted implementation, the CSS system 110 includes
a user account manager 112, a device manager 114, a data analysis
manager 116, and a worksite manager 118. In addition, the CSS
system includes an Application Program Interface ("API") 120 and a
Graphical User Interface ("GUI") 122. The CSS system is
communicatively coupled (locally or remotely) to storage facility
130, which includes historical information database 132, user
information database 134, and worksite information database 136. In
certain implementations, the storage facility 130 may be
incorporated within or otherwise directly operated by the CSS
system; in other implementations, some or all of the functionality
provided by the storage facility may be provided by one or more
third-party network-accessible storage service providers.
[0069] The interactions of the CSS system 110 with the site
management computing system 170 and worker client devices 180 may
occur in various ways, such as in an interactive manner via a
graphical user interface 122 that is provided by the CSS system to
users of the computing system and client devices via at least some
Web pages of a CSS system Web site. Information provided by the Web
site may also be provided in a programmatic manner by one or more
client software applications via the Application Program Interface
("API") 120 provided by the CSS system that allows computing
systems and/or programs to invoke such functionality
programmatically, such as using Web services or other network
communication protocols. In the illustrated implementation, various
interactions between the CSS system and the site management
computing system 170 and worker client devices 180 may be performed
using a web browser (not shown) or CSS application 172 or 182, each
of which may respectively be executing on the associated computing
system or client device. As used herein, either or both of the site
management computing system 170 and worker client devices 180 may
be fixed or mobile, and may include instances of various computing
devices such as, without limitation, desktop or other computers
(e.g., tablets, slates, etc.), database servers, network storage
devices and other network devices, smart phones and other cell
phones, smart watches or other wearable devices, consumer
electronics, Internet appliances, and various other consumer
products that include appropriate communication capabilities.
[0070] In the depicted networked environment 100 of FIG. 6, the
network 101 is a publicly accessible network of linked networks,
possibly operated by various distinct parties, such as the
Internet. In other implementations, the network 101 may have other
forms. For example, the network 101 may instead be a private
network, such as a corporate network that is wholly or partially
inaccessible to non-privileged users. In still other
implementations, the network 101 may include both private and
public networks, with one or more of the private networks having
access to and/or from one or more of the public networks.
Furthermore, the network 101 may include various types of wired
and/or wireless networks in various situations. In addition, in
this illustrated example of FIG. 6, users may utilize client
computing systems and/or other client devices to interact with the
CSS system 110 to obtain various described functionality via the
network 101, and in doing so may provide various types of
information to the CSS system 110. Moreover, in certain
implementations, the various users and providers of the networked
environment 100 may interact with the CSS system and/or one or more
other users and providers using an optional private or dedicated
connection, such as one of dedicated connections 102.
[0071] The CSS system 110 may thus provide a robust platform from
which to provide functionality that relies at least in part on data
obtained from the hard hat devices 190 described herein, in
particular, the suspension units 20, 20'.
[0072] FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating component-level
functionality provided by a plurality of electronic circuits that,
when in combined operation, are suitable for performing and
configured to perform at least some of the techniques described
herein. In the particular implementation depicted, the plurality of
electronic circuits is at least partially housed within a server
computing system 300 executing an implementation of a CSS system
340. The server computing system 300 includes one or more central
processing units ("CPU") or other processors 305, various
input/output ("I/O") components 310, storage 320, and memory 350,
with the illustrated I/O components including a display 311, a
network connection 312, a computer-readable media drive 313, and
other I/O devices 315 (e.g., keyboards, mice or other pointing
devices, microphones, speakers, GPS receivers, etc.). The server
computing system 300 and CSS system 340 may communicate with other
computing systems via one or more networks 399 (e.g., the Internet,
one or more cellular telephone networks, etc.), such as user
computing systems 360, worker client devices 370, gateway base
stations 380, and other computing systems 390. Some or all of the
user computing systems 360 and other computing systems 390 may
similarly include some or all of the types of components
illustrated for server computing system 300 (e.g., to have a CSS
system client application 369 executing in memory 367 of a user
computing system 360 in a manner analogous to CSS system 340 in
memory 350).
[0073] In the illustrated embodiment, an embodiment of the CSS
system 340 executes in memory 350 in order to perform at least some
of the described techniques, such as by using the processor(s) 305
to execute software instructions of the system 340 in a manner that
configures the processor(s) 305 and computing system 300 to perform
automated operations that implement those described techniques. As
part of such automated operations, the CSS system 340 and/or other
optional programs or modules 349 executing in memory 330 may store
and/or retrieve various types of data, including in the example
database data structures of storage 320. In this example, the data
used may include various types of user information in database
("DB") 322, various types of historical information (such as hard
hat device tracking information) in DB 324, various types of
worksite information in DB 326, and/or various types of additional
information 328, such as various analytical information related to
one or more devices or worksites associated with the CSS
system.
[0074] It will be appreciated that computing system 300 other
systems and devices included within FIG. 7 are merely illustrative
and are not intended to limit the scope of embodiments of the
present invention. The systems and/or devices may instead each
include multiple interacting computing systems or devices, and may
be connected to other devices that are not specifically
illustrated, including via Bluetooth communication or other direct
communication, through one or more networks such as the Internet,
via the Web, or via one or more private networks (e.g., mobile
communication networks, etc.). More generally, a device or other
computing system may comprise any combination of hardware that may
interact and perform the described types of functionality,
optionally when programmed or otherwise configured with particular
software instructions and/or data structures, including without
limitation desktop or other computers (e.g., tablets, slates,
etc.), database servers, network storage devices and other network
devices, smart phones and other cell phones, consumer electronics,
wearable devices, biometric monitoring devices, Internet
appliances, and various other consumer products that include
appropriate communication capabilities. In addition, the
functionality provided by the illustrated CSS system 340 may in
some embodiments be distributed in various modules. Similarly, in
some embodiments, some of the functionality of the CSS system 340
may not be provided and/or other additional functionality may be
available. In addition, in certain implementations various
functionality of the CSS system may be provided by third-party
partners of an operator of the CSS system. For example, data
collected by the CSS system may be provided to a third party for
analysis and/or metric generation.
[0075] It will also be appreciated that, while various items are
illustrated as being stored in memory or on storage while being
used, these items or portions of them may be transferred between
memory and other storage devices for purposes of memory management
and data integrity. Alternatively, in other embodiments some or all
of the software modules and/or systems may execute in memory on
another device and communicate with the illustrated computing
systems via inter-computer communication. Thus, in some
embodiments, some or all of the described techniques may be
performed by hardware means that include one or more processors
and/or memory and/or storage when configured by one or more
software programs (e.g., the CSS system 340 and/or CSS client
software executing on user computing systems 360 and/or worker
client devices 370) and/or data structures, such as by execution of
software instructions of the one or more software programs and/or
by storage of such software instructions and/or data structures.
Furthermore, in some embodiments, some or all of the systems and/or
modules may be implemented or provided in other manners, such as by
consisting of one or more means that are implemented at least
partially in firmware and/or hardware (e.g., rather than as a means
implemented in whole or in part by software instructions that
configure a particular CPU or other processor), including, but not
limited to, one or more application-specific integrated circuits
(ASICs), standard integrated circuits, controllers (e.g., by
executing appropriate instructions, and including microcontrollers
and/or embedded controllers), field-programmable gate arrays
(FPGAs), complex programmable logic devices (CPLDs), etc. Some or
all of the modules, systems and data structures may also be stored
(e.g., as software instructions or structured data) on a
non-transitory computer-readable storage mediums, such as a hard
disk or flash drive or other non-volatile storage device, volatile
or non-volatile memory (e.g., RAM or flash RAM), a network storage
device, or a portable media article (e.g., a DVD disk, a CD disk,
an optical disk, a flash memory device, etc.) to be read by an
appropriate drive or via an appropriate connection. The systems,
modules and data structures may also in some embodiments be
transmitted via generated data signals (e.g., as part of a carrier
wave or other analog or digital propagated signal) on a variety of
computer-readable transmission mediums, including wireless-based
and wired/cable-based mediums, and may take a variety of forms
(e.g., as part of a single or multiplexed analog signal, or as
multiple discrete digital packets or frames). Such computer program
products may also take other forms in other embodiments.
Accordingly, embodiments of the present disclosure may be practiced
with other computer system configurations.
[0076] It is appreciated that embodiments of the suspension units
20, 20' described herein may be used to collect a wide variety of
data from which to improve safety or to provide other
functionality, and that the suspension units 20, 20' may be readily
deployed and installed in conventional helmet shells with ease.
None limiting examples include sensing biometric information of
wearers and monitoring the same for abnormalities in order to take
action as needed and sensing impact events from which to generate
alarms or alerts for taking action to assess and treat any
resulting injuries as needed.
[0077] U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/740,776, filed
Oct. 3, 2018, is incorporated herein by reference, in its
entirety.
[0078] Moreover, it is appreciated that features and aspects of the
various embodiments described above can be combined to provide
further embodiments. These and other changes can be made to the
embodiments in light of the above-detailed description. In general,
in the following claims, the terms used should not be construed to
limit the claims to the specific embodiments disclosed in the
specification and the claims, but should be construed to include
all possible embodiments along with the full scope of equivalents
to which such claims are entitled.
* * * * *