INFLATABLE FALL ARREST AND FALL PROTECTION SAFETY APPARATUS AND METHOD OF USE
An inflatable fall arrest and fall protection safety system generally having one or more inflatable apparatus attached to a belt or other suitable wearable support structure that can be worn by a user. When the user falls, one or more directional inertia activated inflation devices trigger one or more inflators to inflate the one or more inflatable apparatus such that they protect the falling user in the given situation. The inflatable fall arrest and fall protection safety system can be used for work that is performed at dangerous heights, for example pipe rack or scaffolding construction, as well as to protect people who are prone to falling, or any situation in which protection from falling could be desired.
The present nonprovisional application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/683,485 filed Aug. 15, 2012 which is incorporated herein by reference thereto.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe invention relates to fall arrest and fall protection systems.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONAccording to the United States Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), an estimated 2.3 million construction workers, or 65 percent of the construction industry, work on scaffolds. Additionally, many jobs include elevated worksites other than scaffolds. Protecting these workers from elevated work site-related accidents may prevent some of the 4,500 injuries and over 60 deaths every year in the United States.
For this reason, Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations requires fall arrest systems for workers that work on scaffolding or at certain heights. Fall arrest systems are meant to aid in safely stopping a person that is already falling and can come in the form of general fall arrest or personal fall arrest. Fall arrest does not necessarily translate into fall protection.
Several different fall arrest systems exist, such as railings, safety nets and various forms of lifelines, for example, a full body harness and lanyards.
When someone attached to one of these lifelines falls, the lifeline stops the person at a certain distance. This distance can be controlled by the length of the lanyards to prevent the person from hitting the ground. Lifelines require an anchor, and/or an extensive array of overhead safety wires to provide for the attachment of full body harness lanyards above a work site, and workers have to work around the lanyards as they move. By its intrinsic nature, the full body harness with lanyards actually applies a horizontal component to the restraining force in most circumstances, which pulls the worker toward pipes or structure as it arrests his fall. Additionally, once taut, a lanyard must extend about six feet in arresting the workers fall, allowing his torso and head to pass between the pipes or structural elements that he is working on as his fall is arrested, so often times a worker that is saved by the fall arrest system will still suffer injuries, particularly head injuries, as a result of hitting obstacles during the fall. Some of these injuries may be fatal. While effectively arresting the fall, this type of fall arrest system does not provide effective fall protection.
The lanyards system also requires retracing steps, back to the overhead attachment point, and reattachment to the next overhead lanyards attachment point.
The approaches described in this section could be pursued, but are not necessarily approaches that have been previously conceived or pursued. Therefore, unless otherwise indicated herein, the approaches described in this section are not prior art to the claims in this application and are not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn some embodiments, the personal protection apparatus for preventing or substantially reducing injury to a wearer of said apparatus experiencing a fall or similar event, the personal protection apparatus comprises:
a wearable support structure associated with an inflatable apparatus, said inflatable apparatus comprising:
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- an outer containment comprising a low-elasticity flexible material, said outer containment inflatable to a substantially fixed volume,
- an inner bladder inside of said outer containment, said inner bladder comprising an elastic material configured to receive a volume of pressurized gas,
- an inflator connected to said inner bladder configured to inflate said inner bladder with said volume of pressurized gas, and
- an activation mechanism system sensing accelerations and in response to a vertically downward component of acceleration exceeding a predetermined threshold for a predetermined period of time, said activation mechanism system activates said inflator to generate said volume of pressurized gas into said inner bladder, said inner bladder expanding to said substantially fixed volume of said outer containment.
In some embodiments, the activation mechanism system comprises:
an directional accelerometer sensing accelerations,
an electrical connection to said inflator configured to activate said inflator in response to a vertically downward component of acceleration exceeding a predetermined threshold for a predetermined period of time, and
an independent and portable power source configured to provide power to said activation mechanism system.
In some embodiments, the inflatable apparatus comprising a plurality of inner bladders, said activation mechanism system configured to inflate said plurality of inner bladders in a specific and timed progression.
In some embodiments, the outer containment expands to said substantially fixed volume, at which point increased pressure does not substantially increase said substantially fixed volume of said outer containment until a yield point of said low-elasticity flexible material is reached.
In some embodiments, the low-elasticity flexible material of said outer containment is puncture-resistant.
In some embodiments, the inflatable apparatus, initially uninflated and in either a rolled or folded condition, and in response to a vertically downward component of acceleration exceeding a predetermined threshold for a predetermined period of time, said activation mechanism system activates said inflator to generate a volume of pressurized gas into said inner bladder, said inner bladder expanding to said substantially fixed volume of said outer containment, thereby inflating said inflatable apparatus to an inflated and either unrolled or unfolded condition.
In some embodiments, the pressurized gas is sealed inside said inner bladder after inflation.
In some embodiments, the activation mechanism system is associated with a transponder that communicates a position of said personal protection apparatus.
In some embodiments, the inflatable apparatus, initially uninflated and in either a rolled or folded condition, said wearable support structure and said associated inflatable apparatus is contoured and arranged to provide the wearer with unobstructed freedom of movement, said wearable support structure further comprising an elastic portion, a plurality of back support staves providing lumbar back support to minimize back fatigue for the wearer, and shoulder straps or crotch straps to secure said wearable support structure.
In some embodiments, the inflator is one or more of the following:
a compressed gas inflator;
an inflator comprising a cartridge filled with a plurality of compounds, when mixed, said plurality of compounds generates gas; or
a solid-propellant inflator.
In some embodiments, the inflator generates said volume of pressurized gas in under 250 milliseconds.
In some embodiments, the personal protection apparatus for preventing or substantially reducing injury to a wearer of said apparatus experiencing a fall or similar event, the personal protection apparatus comprises:
a wearable support structure associated with an inflatable apparatus, said inflatable apparatus comprising:
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- a toroid-shaped outer containment with a discontinuous gap forming two ends of said toroid-shaped outer containment, with a midpoint defined as halfway between said two ends, which is on the opposite side of the toroid-shaped outer containment from said discontinuous gap, said toroid-shaped outer containment comprising a puncture-resistant, low-elasticity, flexible material inflatable to a substantially fixed volume;
- eight inner bladders comprising an elastic material, said eight inner bladders approximately equally distributed to fill said toroid-shaped outer containment;
- an inflator connected to each said inner bladder configured to inflate each said inner bladder with a volume of pressurized gas in under 250 milliseconds; and
- an activation mechanism system sensing accelerations and in response to a vertically downward component of acceleration exceeding a predetermined threshold for a predetermined period of time, said activation mechanism system initiates an inflation sequence activating each said inflator to generate a volume of pressurized gas into said eight inner bladders, said eight inner bladders expanding to said substantially fixed volume of said toroid-shaped outer containment, wherein said inflation sequence progresses from an area surrounding said midpoint towards said two ends in a specific, timed progression, completing said inflation sequence in less than 750 milliseconds.
In some embodiments, the activation mechanism system comprises:
an directional accelerometer sensing accelerations,
an electrical connection to said inflators configured to activate said inflators in response to a vertically downward component of acceleration exceeding a predetermined threshold for a predetermined period of time, and
an independent and portable power source configured to provide power to said activation mechanism system.
In some embodiments, the predetermined threshold is a vertically downward component of acceleration of at least 30 ft/sec2 for a predetermined period of time of at least 200 milliseconds and said initiated inflation sequence beginning at said threshold with inflation in the area centered about the midpoint, and progressing in pairs of two, symmetrically to the right and left about the midpoint, followed in less than 100 millisecond successions by the next pairs of two inner bladders progressing toward said ends, wherein said inflation sequence is designed to move the wearer's limbs ergonomically forward as the toroid-shaped outer containment progresses to full inflation.
In some embodiments, the inflatable apparatus, initially uninflated and in either a rolled or folded condition, and in response to a vertically downward component of acceleration exceeding a predetermined threshold for a predetermined period of time, said activation mechanism system initiates an inflation sequence activating each said inflator to generate a volume of pressurized gas into each said inner bladder, said eight inner bladders collectively expanding to fill said substantially fixed volume of said toroid-shaped outer containment, thereby inflating said inflatable apparatus to an inflated and either unrolled or unfolded condition.
In some embodiments, the inflatable apparatus substantially centers the wearer in said inflated toroid-shaped outer containment away from potentially harmful structures.
In some embodiments, the toroid-shaped outer containment expands to said substantially fixed volume, at which point increased pressure does not substantially increase said substantially fixed volume of said toroid-shaped outer containment until a yield point of said low-elasticity flexible material is reached.
In some embodiments, the inflatable apparatus, initially uninflated and in either a rolled or folded condition, said wearable support structure is contoured and arranged to provide the wearer with unobstructed freedom of movement, said wearable support structure further comprises an elastic portion, a plurality of back support staves providing lumbar back support to minimize back fatigue for the wearer, and elastic shoulder straps or crotch straps to secure said wearable support structure.
In some embodiments, a cosmetic, breakaway outer layer covers said toroid-shaped outer containment in its initial uninflated and either rolled or folded condition.
The disclosed subject matter relates to an inflatable fall arrest and fall protection safety apparatus that uses an instantly inflated inflatable apparatus, to prevent the worker's upper body and head from passing between pipes or structural elements, thereby preventing injuries in a wide variety of circumstances and settings. How the device is worn, the trigger mechanism, how it deploys and the size and shape of the instant inflatable apparatus vary in different embodiments. The inflatable apparatus can be inflated by any inflation device, for example, a pressurized inflator, which may be triggered by a directional accelerometer that is tailored to the application. The trigger mechanism may be oriented by gravity to prevent unintended deployment of any of the various inflatable apparatus protection devices.
In some embodiments, the inflatable fall arrest and fall protection safety device may be designed to deploy in an ergonomic manner that causes the orientation of a user's limbs or posture to provide for the best protection possible for the application.
Some embodiments include a discontinuous gap in the inflatable apparatus that is positioned at the front and center of the person to provide an unobstructed source of air for breathing after the deployment of the inflatable apparatus.
In some embodiments, the inflatable fall arrest and fall protection safety device envelops the person, preventing his upper body and head from passing between pipes or structural elements and tending to center the person within an inflatable apparatus cocoon, cushioning the person from impact, and intrinsically guiding the head and body away from harmful objects.
Existing inflatable apparatus deployment technology may be used in some embodiments. Some embodiments may use dependable, easily adjusted fastening system that allows for comfortable fit for different body types, for example, hook and loop fastener. The material of the inflatable fall arrest and fall protection safety device may vary in different embodiments depending on the requirements of a given application.
Different embodiments have different applications, for example, users working at dangerous heights, or any users that might have need or desire to cushion themselves from a fall.
These and other aspects of the disclosed subject matter, as well as additional novel features, will be apparent from the description provided herein. The intent of this summary is not to be a comprehensive description of the subject matter, but rather to provide a short overview of some of the subject matter's functionality. Other systems, methods, features and advantages here provided will become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following FIGURES and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features and advantages that are included within this description, be within the scope of any claims filed later.
The novel features believed characteristic of the disclosed subject matter will be set forth in any claims that are filed later. The disclosed subject matter itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives, and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
In the FIGURES, like elements should be understood to represent like elements, even though reference labels are omitted on some instances of a repeated element, for simplicity.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTSReference now should be made to the drawings, in which the same reference numbers are used throughout the different figures to designate the same components.
The inflatable fall arrest and fall protection safety apparatus may generally be an inflatable apparatus, cushioning, fall arrest and fall protection system that centers the worker and prevents a worker from falling through gaps between pipes on pipe racks during construction, blasting, scraping, painting or other maintenance activities. Similarly it can prevent falling through gaps in any structure or scaffold during construction or maintenance, as applicable. When worn with a conventional full body harness & lanyards, the inflatable fall arrest and fall protection safety apparatus may further protect the worker with an inflatable apparatus cushion that inflates instantly to protect the worker. The wearer may be a person or an animal.
The personal protection apparatus and/or Velcro-adjustable belt may come in 4 sizes to accommodate nominal waist sizes from 30 inches to 50 inches. The personal protection apparatus may have an adjustable belt made of a comfortable canvas fabric, 8½″ wide in the back, tapered to 6″ in the front, secured with 3 inches by 6 inches of Velcro, with a 5 or 7 inch (depending on the belt size) elastic panel for comfort and to allow the wearer to comfortably bend over while wearing the belt.
The small size may have a belt length of 40 inches (L=40″), toroid containment 32 inches long (LT=32″), elastic 5 inches long (LE=5″) and Velcro 3 inches long (Lv=3″) and with 8 inches of Velcro wool on the inside of the belt, for 30-34 inch nominal waists.
The medium size may have a belt length of 44 inches (L=44″), toroid containment 36 inches long (LT=36″), elastic 5 inches long (LE=5″) and Velcro 3 inches long (Lv=3″) and with 8 inches of Velcro wool on the inside of the belt, for 34-38 inch nominal waists.
The large size may have a belt length of 54 inches (L=50″) toroid containment 40 inches long (LT=40″), elastic 7 inches long (LE=7″) and Velcro 3 inches long (Lv=3″) and with 10 inches of Velcro wool on the inside of the belt, for 38-44 inch nominal waists.
The extra-large size may have a belt length of 56 inches (L=56″) toroid containment 46 inches long (LT=46″), elastic 7 inches long (LE=7″) and Velcro 3 inches long (Lv=3″) and with 10 inches of Velcro wool on the inside of the belt for 44-50 inch nominal waists.
As shown in
The volume of pressurized gas delivered to the inner bladder contains an amount of gas molecules. This amount of gas molecules is sealed into the inner bladder. The combined volume of the gas sealed into the eight elastic inner bladders being substantially fixed by the outer containment may cause an increase in the internal pressure of the inner bladder. However, the amount of gas molecules contained in each inner bladder will remain substantially constant.
When the outer containment 112 expands to its substantially fixed volume 134, any more increased pressure does not substantially increase the substantially fixed volume 134 of the outer containment 112 until a yield point of the low-elasticity flexible material 120 is reached.
In some embodiments, the wearable support structure 108 is contoured and arranged to provide the wearer 100 with unobstructed freedom of movement. The wearable support structure 108 may include an elastic portion 124, a plurality of back support staves 128 providing lumbar back support to minimize back fatigue for the wearer, and shoulder straps 130 or crotch straps 132 to secure the wearable support structure 108.
One embodiment of the inflatable fall arrest and fall protection safety apparatus may include one or more wearable support structures, for example one belt, which may be any width, for example seven inches wide, nine inches wide, etc. The belt is generally made of a sturdy material, for example Dacron, canvas, polyethylene terephthalate, polyester, synthetic material, leather, cotton, nylon, aramids, carbon, a combination of materials, etc. In different embodiments the belt may be secured by different methods, for example a hook and loop fastener, clamp, clasp, hook and eye, latch, buckle, etc. In one embodiment, the belt is secured by an approximately six-inch wide hook and loop fastener in the front of the belt, with an overlap of at least approximately three inches, but other embodiments may utilize different widths of fastener, for example nine inches, and different lengths of overlap. In some embodiments, the belt may be worn similarly to the industry standard back brace for workers that lift in storerooms as a regular part of their job or the buoyancy compensation device (BCD) belt used by scuba divers. Some embodiments may use additional methods to secure the belt, for example, one or more shoulder straps, one or more crotch straps, etc.
In different embodiments the belt may come in different sizes, for example small, medium, large, extra-large etc. In some embodiments the belt may come in any number of different lengths to accommodate the waist size of the user and the need of the application, for example, approximately 40 inches, approximately 44 inches, approximately 50 inches, approximately 56 inches, etc. In some embodiments the fastener may vary in type and size depending on the size of the user and the need of the application, for example if using a hook and loop fastener, the fastener may vary in length, for example 8 inches, 10 inches, etc. In some embodiments the belt is fully adjustable. While some embodiments may utilize a belt, other wearable support structures may be used, for example a pack, a harness, etc.
In some embodiments, one or more inflatable apparatus are attached to the wearable support structure, and the inflatable apparatus are generally made of a tough, heavy duty, puncture resistant material. In some embodiments for example, the outer containment may be made of for example polyethylene terephthalate, polyester, synthetic material, leather, cotton, nylon, aramids, carbon, a combination of materials, etc. In some embodiments, the inflatable apparatus is deployed by one or more inflators which may be housed anywhere on the wearable support structure, for example, positioned symmetrically around the middle of the wearable support structure, or in some embodiments may be arranged so that the inflator is in the center of the back of the user when worn. The inflatable apparatus in some embodiments generally has a directional inertia activated detection device, such as but not limited to a directional accelerometer, while other embodiments may include multiple directional inertia activated detection devices. The accelerometer may generally activate an inflation mechanism system, activating inflators, and may be housed anywhere on the wearable support structure, for example, symmetrically about the middle. In some embodiments, the inflatable fall arrest and fall protection apparatus can be worn over a conventional full body harness & lanyards, or other fall arrest systems and tools as needed. These embodiments of the inflatable fall arrest and fall protection system will not interfere with the function of conventional full body harness & lanyards or other fall arrest systems and can be worn simultaneously providing an additional, independent, protection system.
In some embodiments, the accelerometer is designed such that any acceleration in a particular area and/or in a particular direction will initiate deployment of the inflatable apparatus. For example, in one embodiment, the accelerometer responds to any motion of the approximate center of gravity of the user (for example, small of the back), at a downward acceleration greater than 30 feet/second̂2. In some embodiments the inflatable apparatus inflates to encircle the user, similar to an inner tube, while in other embodiments the inflatable apparatus inflates to form different shapes and cover different aspects of the user as is necessary to perform a given function based on the application. In the embodiments in which the inflatable apparatus inflates to encircle the user, when the user falls and the inflatable apparatus is compressed between pipes, structures or other obstacles, it envelops the worker, leaving a gap at the front to allow breathing to be unimpeded as the inflatable apparatus cushion protects the worker. In these embodiments, the size of the potential gap that the user could fall through will determine the necessary diameter of the inflatable apparatus. For example, an inflated inflatable apparatus diameter of 18 inches used as a belt will bring an average user's minimum compressed dimension in the inflated condition to about 44 inches (varies with the size and weight of the individual) and would prevent a user from falling through pipes or structure with a spacing or gap of less than 36 inches, which is larger than the largest gap discovered on pipe racks in the field (32 inches). Some embodiments use different inflated inflatable apparatus diameters for different sized gaps and/or different size users and/or different applications.
In some embodiments, the inflatable apparatus stops the user before the user's head and upper body falls through the gap between pipes or structures and tends to center the user's head and body, thus preventing potential head injuries. It further protects the user from other bodily injury by minimizing potential body contact with other obstacles or structural hazards. The inflatable fall arrest and fall protection apparatus also allows the user unlimited mobility and access when it is worn in the folded and uninflated condition. A standard, secure scaffold tube safety railing system may be built around the pipe rack or other structural work area to allow the inflatable fall arrest and fall protection safety apparatus to provide superior fall protection with untethered access to the entire work area.
The inflatable fall arrest and protection safety apparatus is easily worn alone where there are regularly spaced gaps, like on pipe racks and when building regular structures, floor or ceiling joists, concrete construction with consistent gaps and a standard safety railing system surrounds that work area. It provides superior untethered access to these worksites, and protection that intrinsically centers the worker between dangerous structures in the event of a fall.
This provides construction supervisors or other management another effective fall arrest and fall protection alternative that provides superior protection in certain circumstances and improves protection in circumstances where it is worn in combination with other fall arrest systems, for example a full body harness.
Some embodiments include a discontinuous gap in the inflatable apparatus that is positioned at the front and center of the user to provide an unobstructed source of air for breathing after the deployment of the inflatable apparatus.
In some embodiments, the inflation begins at the center of the back and inflates from the back to the front of the person in a forward moving inflation sequence that will push the arms forward and upwards toward the chest, resulting in the arms being crossed over the chest in most instances. The inflation in other embodiments may start at other locations along the wearable support structure, for example the front the side, etc. to achieve different affects on the body and/or create improved cushioning and/or protection from a fall. Additionally, some embodiments may have multiple points of inflation to allow for more rapid inflation and/or inflation from multiple directions at once. The inflation in some embodiments further includes an overlap in the front to fully protect from any impact. The inflation of some embodiments extends below the center of the wearable support structure covering the hips and knees, as well as above the center of the wearable support structure enveloping the head. Other embodiments may extend in any number of different directions to any number of distances as necessary to protect the user. The thickness of the inflated apparatus varies in different embodiments, and some embodiments include multiple inflatable apparatus, which may each have a different thickness depending on what is necessary to provide adequate protection for a given user in a given situation for a given type of fall, etc.
Multiple staves may be built into the back of the belt to support the lumbar spine, relieving stress on the lower back, similar to the back braces worn by workers when heavy lifting is part of their job (like those at Home depot, lumber yards and Lowes). Wearing The Safety Cloud™ during the working day results in less back fatigue, leaving workers more refreshed after a days work while helping to avoid back injuries that could prevent the workers from doing their jobs.
The Safety Cloud™ may be fitted with leg straps and shoulder straps that are adjustable where they attach in the front. The straps secure the worker to The Safety Cloud™ to ensure that it remains positioned to provide maximum protection for the worker when it stops a fall.
The belt provides a comfortable foundation for an inflatable toroid shaped (doughnut shaped), fall preventor that may be worn folded and un-inflated. The Safety Cloud™ inflates, using inflatable apparatus technology, if a worker begins to fall. An embodiment comprises eight individual inner bladders inflated inside of a tough outer containment cover. The inflated cushion may be sized to prevent any worker from falling between regularly spaced structures like pipes on pipe racks, industrial support structures, floor or roofing joists in residential construction, scaffolds, rebar in high rise concrete construction or any other elevated structures that have regular gaps up to approximately 36 inches and which are purposefully provided with a railing system or walls surrounding the work area.
Attached to the belt may be a folded, dimensionally stable, tough outer containment sheath made of Dacron and ballistic Nylon to prevent puncture and configured to provide a Protective Cloud™ in the event of a fall. The containment fabric may be puncture resistant to prevent puncturing of any of the contained inner bladders by possibly sharp or protruding items such as welding rods or rebar that might be encountered as The Safety Cloud™ stops a fall on an industrial site in the event of a fall. One embodiment forms a toroid around the worker with a discontinuous gap located at the front of the toroid, forming the two ends where the belt attaches when you put it on.
The Safety Cloud™ may inflate to an approximate diameter of 18 inches and encircle the worker, similar to an inner tube contained in an inelastic cover similar to the recreational tubes, designed to be towed behind a ski boat, but with a discontinuous gap at the front. When The Safety Cloud™ is compressed between pipes or structure, it may envelop the worker, leaving a gap at the front to allow breathing to be unimpeded as the inflatable apparatus cushion protects the worker. When inflated, The Safety Cloud™ may bring its minimum compressed dimension in the inflated condition to about 44 inches (varies with the size and weight of the individual). The containment fabric may be dimensionally stable providing firm inelastic support when inflated, ensuring that the worker is supported safely, for as long as it takes for assistance to arrive to get him up and on his feet again. The Safety Cloud™ thereby confidently prevents a worker from falling through pipes or structure with a spacing or gap of less than 36 inches. The largest gap observed on pipe racks in the field is typically 32 inches. Special orders could possibly be made for larger spaces or gaps if required.
In some embodiments, inflation is provided by 8 individual, electronically activated, inflators; filling 8 individual, equally sized, approximately 50 liter, custom molded elastic bladders, all attached to the belt inside of the dimensionally stable toriodal containment. The eight bladders are evenly distributed along the belt, centered on the mid point at the back of the belt. The eight, evenly distributed, inner bladders provide redundancy in the event that any one of the bladders is punctured or fails to fill for any reason, providing fall prevention for gaps up to 36″ with only 7 of the 8 bladders inflated within the containment, ensuring the safety of the worker. The elastic gas bladders are a proprietary design and each bladder is inflated by an individual, electronically activated, inflator.
In some embodiments, the activation mechanism system may include a directional accelerometer, electrical connections to each of the 8 inflators, a transponder to communicate the location of The Safety Cloud™ when it is activated and a battery to power the system. The activation mechanism system may be programmed to generate specifically sequenced electronic signals, triggered by exceeding threshold values of acceleration and time, to activate the inflators, designed and programmed to provide true fall prevention. The accelerometer may be located in the center of the back of the belt, at the small of the worker's back, at the approximate center of gravity of a person. The trigger mechanism is oriented by gravity and programmed with a threshold chosen to prevent unintended deployment. The activation mechanism system may be programmed for a threshold of motion to the approximate center of gravity of the worker (small of the back), of downward acceleration greater than 30 ft/second2 for approx 24 inches traveled. This threshold initiates the inflation sequence to inflate The Safety Cloud™. Inflation may begin at the threshold point with the four inner bladders located at the back of the belt and is followed with sequential inflations of left and right pairs of two inner bladders progressing forward toward the ends of the toriodal outer containment. The initiation sequence and inflation time may be designed to result in total inflation being completed before the worker has fallen more that 32 inches.
In some embodiments, talcum powder or cornstarch may be applied inside and outside of the bladders to minimize sticking during inflation, contributing to redistribution of bladders within the containment in the event that there are only 7 inflated. The bladders may be molded with necks that fit snuggly over the inflators and are approximately, equally, spaced around the belt, inside of the toroidal containment cover. Each of the 8 bladders may be evacuated of all gas, folded in a zig zag pattern and secured to its inflator to minimize the space that they take up. The folded bladders may be held in position with light adhesive or film for a reliable, consistent deployment arrangement when inflating the containment toroid.
In some embodiments, the containment toroid fabric is folded in a very specific (origami style) pattern, over the directional accelerometer, inflators and bladders to assure reliably smooth, consistent deployment by the internal inflating bladders. When folded onto the belt in the normal, un-inflated condition, the belt has a thickness of approximately 1¾ inches.
In some embodiments, the folded containment is covered by a cosmetic, breakaway, fabric cover, providing a sleek appearance, keeping the belt from interfering with any work activities, preventing abrasion to the containment fabric and keeping dirt out of the internal components of The Safety Cloud™ belt.
The critical advantage of The Safety Cloud™ is that it provides a Protective Cloud™ inflatable apparatus type cushion that tends to center the head and body while it stops a worker's fall before his head and upper body go through the gap between pipes or structure, thus preventing potential head injuries and minimizing injuries to the body.
Conventional full body harness & lanyards does not do this. The lanyards typically extends about 6 feet in arresting the workers fall, allowing his torso and head to pass between the pipes or structure as his fall is arrested. The full body harness with lanyards actually applies a horizontal component to the restraining force, which pulls the worker toward the pipe or structure as it arrests his fall. The lanyard system requires retracing steps, back to the overhead attachment point, and reattachment to the next overhead lanyards attachment point. The Safety Cloud™ may also eliminates the need for installing an extensive array of overhead safety wires to provide for the attachment of full body harness lanyards above a work site.
Because The Safety Cloud™ provides a gas cushion that envelops and centers the worker as he falls, while preventing his head and upper body from passing between the pipes or structure, it further protects the worker from other bodily injury by minimizing potential body contact with structural hazards. The Safety Cloud™ may also allows the worker unlimited mobility and access to his entire work site when it is worn. The erection of a secure scaffold tube safety railing system around the pipe rack or work area, creating a safety pen, allowing The Safety Cloud™ to provide superior fall prevention with un-tethered access to the entire work area.
The Safety Cloud™ may be easily worn where there are regularly spaced gaps, like on pipe racks and when building regular structures with a simple safety railing system surrounding that work area. It may provide un-tethered access to these worksites, and protection that intrinsically centers the worker between dangerous structures in the event of a fall.
In other embodiments, the inflatable apparatus is attached via the wearable support structure, straps, hooks or otherwise to an object rather than a user to protect the object.
In this description, the terms personal protection apparatus, inflatable fall arrest and fall protection safety apparatus, The Safety Cloud™ belt, and The Safety Cloud™ may be used interchangeably.
While the disclosed subject matter has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, the specific features of one embodiment should not be attributed to other embodiments of the disclosed subject matter. No single embodiment is representative of all aspects of the disclosed subject matter. Moreover, variations and modifications therefrom exist. For example, the disclosed subject matter described herein may comprise other components. Various additives may also be used to further enhance one or more properties. In some embodiments, the disclosed subject matter is substantially free of any additive not specifically enumerated herein. Some embodiments of the disclosed subject matter described herein consist of or consist essentially of the enumerated components. In addition, some embodiments of the methods described herein consist of or consist essentially of the enumerated steps. The claims to be appended later intend to cover all such variations and modifications as falling within the scope of the disclosed subject matter.
Claims
1. A personal protection apparatus for preventing or substantially reducing injury to a wearer of said apparatus experiencing a fall or similar event, the personal protection apparatus comprising:
- a wearable support structure associated with an inflatable apparatus, said inflatable apparatus comprising: an outer containment comprising a low-elasticity flexible material, said outer containment inflatable to a substantially fixed volume, an inner bladder inside of said outer containment, said inner bladder comprising an elastic material configured to receive a volume of pressurized gas, an inflator connected to said inner bladder configured to inflate said inner bladder with said volume of pressurized gas, and an activation mechanism system sensing accelerations and in response to a vertically downward component of acceleration exceeding a predetermined threshold for a predetermined period of time, said activation mechanism system activates said inflator to generate said volume of pressurized gas into said inner bladder, said inner bladder expanding to said substantially fixed volume of said outer containment.
2. The personal protection apparatus of claim 1, wherein said activation mechanism system comprises:
- an directional accelerometer sensing accelerations,
- an electrical connection to said inflator configured to activate said inflator in response to a vertically downward component of acceleration exceeding a predetermined threshold for a predetermined period of time, and
- an independent and portable power source configured to provide power to said activation mechanism system.
3. The personal protection apparatus of claim 1, said inflatable apparatus comprising a plurality of inner bladders, said activation mechanism system configured to inflate said plurality of inner bladders in a specific and timed progression.
4. The personal protection apparatus of claim 1, wherein said outer containment expands to said substantially fixed volume, at which point increased pressure does not substantially increase said substantially fixed volume of said outer containment until a yield point of said low-elasticity flexible material is reached.
5. The personal protection apparatus of claim 1, wherein said low-elasticity flexible material of said outer containment is puncture-resistant.
6. The personal protection apparatus of claim 1, wherein said inflatable apparatus, initially uninflated and in either a rolled or folded condition, and in response to a vertically downward component of acceleration exceeding a predetermined threshold for a predetermined period of time, said activation mechanism system activates said inflator to generate a volume of pressurized gas into said inner bladder, said inner bladder expanding to said substantially fixed volume of said outer containment, thereby inflating said inflatable apparatus to an inflated and either unrolled or unfolded condition.
7. The personal protection apparatus of claim 1, wherein said pressurized gas is sealed inside said inner bladder after inflation.
8. The personal protection apparatus of claim 1, wherein said activation mechanism system is associated with a transponder that communicates a position of said personal protection apparatus.
9. The personal protection apparatus of claim 5, wherein said inflatable apparatus, initially uninflated and in either a rolled or folded condition, said wearable support structure and said associated inflatable apparatus is contoured and arranged to provide the wearer with unobstructed freedom of movement, said wearable support structure further comprising an elastic portion, a plurality of back support staves providing lumbar back support to minimize back fatigue for the wearer, and shoulder straps or crotch straps to secure said wearable support structure.
10. The personal protection apparatus of claim 1, wherein said inflator is one or more of the following:
- a compressed gas inflator;
- an inflator comprising a cartridge filled with a plurality of compounds, when mixed, said plurality of compounds generates gas; or
- a solid-propellant inflator.
11. The personal protection apparatus of claim 1, wherein said inflator generates said volume of pressurized gas in under 250 milliseconds.
12. A personal protection apparatus for preventing or substantially reducing injury to a wearer of said apparatus experiencing a fall or similar event, the personal protection apparatus comprising:
- a wearable support structure associated with an inflatable apparatus, said inflatable apparatus comprising: a toroid-shaped outer containment with a discontinuous gap forming two ends of said toroid-shaped outer containment, with a midpoint defined as halfway between said two ends, which is on the opposite side of the toroid-shaped outer containment from said discontinuous gap, said toroid-shaped outer containment comprising a puncture-resistant, low-elasticity, flexible material inflatable to a substantially fixed volume; eight inner bladders comprising an elastic material, said eight inner bladders approximately equally distributed to fill said toroid-shaped outer containment; an inflator connected to each said inner bladder configured to inflate each said inner bladder with a volume of pressurized gas in under 250 milliseconds; and an activation mechanism system sensing accelerations and in response to a vertically downward component of acceleration exceeding a predetermined threshold for a predetermined period of time, said activation mechanism system initiates an inflation sequence activating each said inflator to generate a volume of pressurized gas into said eight inner bladders, said eight inner bladders expanding to said substantially fixed volume of said toroid-shaped outer containment, wherein said inflation sequence progresses from an area surrounding said midpoint towards said two ends in a specific, timed progression, completing said inflation sequence in less than 750 milliseconds.
13. The personal protection apparatus of claim 12, wherein said activation mechanism system comprises:
- an directional accelerometer sensing accelerations,
- an electrical connection to said inflators configured to activate said inflators in response to a vertically downward component of acceleration exceeding a predetermined threshold for a predetermined period of time, and
- an independent and portable power source configured to provide power to said activation mechanism system.
14. The personal protection apparatus of claim 12, wherein said predetermined threshold is a vertically downward component of acceleration of at least 30 ft/sec2 for a predetermined period of time of at least 200 milliseconds and said initiated inflation sequence beginning at said threshold with inflation in the area centered about the midpoint, and progressing in pairs of two, symmetrically to the right and left about the midpoint, followed in less than 100 millisecond successions by the next pairs of two inner bladders progressing toward said ends, wherein said inflation sequence is designed to move the wearer's limbs ergonomically forward as the toroid-shaped outer containment progresses to full inflation.
15. The personal protection apparatus of claim 12, wherein said inflatable apparatus, initially uninflated and in either a rolled or folded condition, and in response to a vertically downward component of acceleration exceeding a predetermined threshold for a predetermined period of time, said activation mechanism system initiates an inflation sequence activating each said inflator to generate a volume of pressurized gas into each said inner bladder, said eight inner bladders collectively expanding to fill said substantially fixed volume of said toroid-shaped outer containment, thereby inflating said inflatable apparatus to an inflated and either unrolled or unfolded condition.
16. The personal protection apparatus of claim 12, wherein said inflatable apparatus substantially centers the wearer in said inflated toroid-shaped outer containment away from potentially harmful structures.
17. The personal protection apparatus of claim 12, wherein said toroid-shaped outer containment expands to said substantially fixed volume, at which point increased pressure does not substantially increase said substantially fixed volume of said toroid-shaped outer containment until a yield point of said low-elasticity flexible material is reached.
18. The personal protection apparatus of claim 12, wherein said inflatable apparatus, initially uninflated and in either a rolled or folded condition, said wearable support structure and said associated inflatable apparatus is contoured and arranged to provide the wearer with unobstructed freedom of movement, said wearable support structure further comprises an elastic portion, a plurality of back support staves providing lumbar back support to minimize back fatigue for the wearer, and elastic shoulder straps or crotch straps to secure said wearable support structure.
19. The personal protection apparatus of claim 12, wherein a cosmetic, breakaway outer layer covers said toroid-shaped outer containment in its initial uninflated and either rolled or folded condition.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 15, 2013
Publication Date: Feb 20, 2014
Inventor: Scott S. Richards (Austin, TX)
Application Number: 13/968,141
International Classification: A41D 13/018 (20060101);
