Personal Sampling Belt

Abstract

Implementations described and claimed herein provide an industrial hygiene sampling system including a personal sampling belt and one or more sampling pouches. In one implementation, a belt body has an inner surface and an outer surface extending between a body proximal edge and a body distal edge. The inner surface is adapted to contact a body of the user. A first strap extends from the belt body to a receiving portion. A second strap extends from the belt body to a projecting portion. The receiving portion is adapted to receive and releasably engage the projecting portion to form a releasable buckle. One or more engaging strips is disposed on the outer surface of the belt body. The one or more engaging strips is adapted to releasably engage one or more sampling pouches, each having a pouch body defining an interior adapted to hold an industrial hygiene sampling device.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

Aspects of the present disclosure relate to personal sampling belts and more particularly to personal sampling belts for industrial hygiene sampling.

BACKGROUND

Industrial hygiene, also known as occupational hygiene, involves the anticipation, recognition, evaluation, control and prevention of hazards from work activities that may result in injury, illness, or otherwise affect the well being of workers. Industrial hygiene is thus both preventative and occupational in nature, being that the focus is on preventing industrial disease, through risk management, exposure assessment, and industrial safety. An industrial hygienist may use one or more sampling devices, including meters, probes, analyzers, and the like, for testing workplace exposure and the surrounding community for hazards. Each sampling device is typically designed to measure a specific type of contaminant, including without limitation, noise, vibration, ionizing and non-ionizing radiation, dust and other particulates, solvents, toxic gases and metals, heat stress, and the like. Conventional systems for deploying such sampling devices in a work environment may hinder work or otherwise be bothersome to workers while performing their work activities. Further, many conventional systems are limited to obtaining one sample at a time. It is with these observations in mind, among others, that various aspects of the present disclosure were conceived and developed.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Implementations described and claimed herein address the foregoing problems, among others, by providing a industrial hygiene sampling system. In one implementation, a belt body has an inner surface and an outer surface extending between a body proximal edge and a body distal edge. The inner surface is adapted to contact a body of the user. A first strap extends from the belt body to a first end, and the first strap has a first proximal edge and a first distal edge. A second strap extends from the belt body to a second end. The second strap has a second proximal edge and a second distal edge. A receiving portion is connected to the first strap at the first end, and a projecting portion is connected to the second strap at the second end. The receiving portion is adapted to receive and releasably engage the projecting portion to form a releasable buckle. One or more engaging strips is disposed on the outer surface of the belt body. The one or more engaging strips is adapted to releasably engage one or more sampling pouches. Each of the one or more sampling pouches has a pouch body defining an interior adapted to hold an industrial hygiene sampling device.

In another implementation, a belt has an inner surface and an outer surface extending between a proximal edge and a distal edge. The inner surface is adapted to contact a body of the user. The belt tapers in width distally toward a first end from the proximal edge to a first strap edge and tapers in width distally toward a second end from the proximal edge to a second strap edge. A receiving portion is connected to the belt at the first end, and a projecting portion connected to the belt at the second end. The receiving portion is adapted to receive and releasably engage the projecting portion to form a releasable buckle. One or more engaging strips is disposed on the outer surface. The one or more engaging strips is adapted to releasably engage one or more sampling pouches. Each of the one or more sampling pouches has a pouch body defining an interior adapted to hold an industrial hygiene sampling device.

In still another implementation, a pouch body defines an interior adapted to hold an industrial hygiene sampling device. The pouch body has a back surface and a front surface. A flap is adapted to removably cover an opening into the interior of the pouch body. A port provides access from the interior. The port is adapted to permit at least a portion of the industrial hygiene sampling device to pass therethrough. One or more engaging strips is disposed on the back surface of the pouch body adapted to releasably engage one or more corresponding strips disposed on a outer surface of a belt.

Other implementations are also described and recited herein. Further, while multiple implementations are disclosed, still other implementations of the presently disclosed technology will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which shows and describes illustrative implementations of the presently disclosed technology. As will be realized, the presently disclosed technology is capable of modifications in various aspects, all without departing from the spirit and scope of the presently disclosed technology. Accordingly, the drawings and detailed description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not limiting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a back view of an example personal sampling belt worn by a user.

FIG. 2 is a back view of the personal sampling belt of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the personal sampling belt of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a detailed front view of a buckle of the personal sampling belt of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a proximal view of the personal sampling belt of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the personal sampling belt of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a side view of the personal sampling belt of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 illustrates an example industrial hygiene sampling system, including the personal sampling belt of FIG. 1 and sampling pouches.

FIG. 9 shows the industrial hygiene sampling system of FIG. 8 with the sampling pouches secured to the personal sampling belt.

FIGS. 10, 11A, and 11B depict a back view, a front view, and a side view, respectively of a user wearing the industrial hygiene sampling system of FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Aspects of the present disclosure involve systems for industrial hygiene sampling for a user. In one aspect, a industrial hygiene sampling system includes a personal sampling belt and one or more sampling pouches for holding industrial hygiene sampling devices for measuring contaminants in a work setting, such as industrial or research. The belt includes one or more engaging strips to removably secure the sampling pouches and evenly distribute the weight of the sampling devices. The belt is made from an elastomer, such as neoprene, which hugs the wearer to further distribute the weight of the sampling devices comfortably. The one or more engaging strips are disposed on an outer surface of a back side of the belt, ensuring that the sampling pouches do not hinder the work activity of the user. The sample pouches may be interchanged depending on the measurements needed in the work setting. Stated differently, each of the sampling pouches may be adapted for one or more particular sampling devices, and depending on what measurements are needed, the sampling pouches corresponding to the sampling devices for those measurements may be removably engaged to the belt. The industrial hygiene sampling system thus permits multiple selected measurements to be taken in the work setting simultaneously. For example, the industrial hygiene sampling system may include three pouches for holding a high-flow industrial hygiene pump, a low-flow industrial hygiene pump, and a personal noise dosimeter. The sampling pouches may each include a port adapted to permit at least a portion of the sampling device, such as a cable, tube, and/or microphone to pass therethrough.

The various systems disclosed herein generally provide for personal sampling. The example implementations discussed herein reference industrial hygiene. However, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the presently disclosed technology is applicable to other industries and personal sampling belts.

To begin a detailed description of an example industrial hygiene sampling system 100 for a user 50, reference is made to FIG. 1. In one implementation, the industrial hygiene sampling system 100 includes a personal sampling belt 102 extending between a proximal end 104 and a distal end 106. It will be appreciated that the belt 102 may be worn in various orientations, for example with the proximal end 104 facing upwards towards the head of the user 50 or downwards towards the feet of the user 50. As shown in FIG. 1, in one implementation, a back side of the belt 102 is positioned on the lower waist of the user 50, such that one or more engaging strips (e.g., proximal engaging strip 108 and distal engaging strip 110) are positioned at the lower waist of the user 50 facing outwardly from the user 50. It will be appreciated that this positioning of the belt 102 is exemplary only, and the belt 102 may be positioned on the body of the user 50 in various locations that prevent interference with the work activity or other movement or comfort of the user 50.

Referring to FIGS. 2-7, in one implementation, the belt 102 includes an outer surface 112 and an inner surface 114 adapted to contact the body of the user 50. The belt 102 may be made from a variety of materials, including without limitation, an elastomer, such as neoprene, or other flexible materials adapted to hug the body the user 50. In one implementation, the belt 102 includes a belt body 116, a first strap 118 and a second strap 120. The belt body 116, the first strap 118, and the second strap 120 may each be separate or they may be integral with each other to form the belt 102. Stated differently, the belt body 116, the first strap 118, and the second strap 120 may be separate pieces connected to each other or they may be one piece.

In one implementation, the belt 102 has width from a proximal edge at the proximal end 104 to a distal edge at the distal end 106. The belt body 116 thus includes a body proximal edge at the proximal end 104 and a body distal edge at the distal end 106. Similarly, the first strap 118 has a first proximal edge and a first distal edge, and the second strap 120 has a second proximal edge and a second distal edge. In one implementation, the belt 102 includes a first tapering section 122 and a second tapering section 124 that taper a width of the belt 102 along a curve from the proximal edge to the first strap 118 toward a first end 126 and to the second strap 120 toward a second end 128, respectively. Thus, the belt 102 tapers in width distally toward the first end 126 from the proximal edge of the belt body 116 to the first proximal edge of the first strap 118 and tapers in width distally toward the second end 128 from the proximal edge of the belt body 116 to the proximal edge of the second strap 120. In one implementation, the distal edge of the belt body 116, the distal edge of the first strap 118, and the distal edge of the second strap 120 form a coextensive distal edge extending from the first end 126 to the second end 128.

In one implementation, a receiving portion 132 is connected to the first strap 118 at the first end 126, and a projecting portion 142 is connected to the second strap 120 at the second end 128 to form a buckle 144. The receiving portion 132 may be a female portion of the buckle 144 with a hollow body having at least one locking slot. In this case, the projecting portion 128 is a male portion of the buckle 144 with at least one leg extending from a surface and adapted to releasably engage the locking slot of the receiving portion 132. It will be appreciated that other buckles and securing features are contemplated.

The belt 102 may include a first adjustment strap 130 extending through a first adjustment buckle 136 and a second adjustment strap 138 extending through a second adjustment buckle 140. In one implementation, the first adjustment strap 130 extends from the first strap 118 and loops through the receiving portion 132 and extends through the first adjustment buckle 136, and the second adjustment strap 138 extends from the second strap 120 and loops through the projecting portion 142 and extends through the second adjustment buckle 140. The first adjustment strap 130 and/or the second adjustment strap 138 may be used to adjust a tightness of the belt 102.

Turning to FIGS. 8-9, the one or more engaging strips, for example the proximal engaging strip 108 and the distal engaging strip 110, are disposed on the outer surface 112 and adapted to releasably engage one or more sampling pouches (e.g., 146, 148, and 150). In one implementation, the engaging strips 108 and 110 and one or more pouch engaging strips on the sampling pouches 146, 148 and 150 include paired hook and loop fasteners (e.g., Velcro®). Each of the sampling pouches 146, 148, and 150 may include a pouch body 152 having a front surface and a back surface and defining an interior adapted to hold an industrial hygiene sampling device. The one or more engaging strips on the sampling pouches 146, 148, and 150 may be disposed on the back surface. In one implementation, the sampling pouches 146, 148, and 150 include a flap 158 adapted to removably cover an opening into the interior of the pouch body 152. The flap 158 may extend from the back surface of the pouch body 152 and include a first flap engaging strip 158 adapted to releasably engage a second flap engaging strip 156 disposed on the front surface of the pouch body 152. The first flap engaging strip 158 and the second flap engaging strip 156 may be paired hook and loop fasteners.

The sample pouches 146, 148, and 150 may be added, removed, and/or interchanged depending on the measurements needed in the work setting for the user 50. Stated differently, each of the sampling pouches 146, 148, and 150 may be adapted for one or more particular sampling devices, and depending on what measurements are needed, the sampling pouches 146, 148, and 150 corresponding to the sampling devices for those measurements may be removably engaged to the engaging strips 108 and 110 of the belt 102. For example, the sampling pouch 146 may be adapted to hold a personal noise dosimeter 164, the sampling pouch 148 may be adapted to hold a low-flow industrial hygiene pump 162, and the sampling pouch 150 may be adapted to hold a high-flow industrial hygiene pump (shown in the interior of the sampling pouch 150). It will be appreciated that the sample pouches 146, 148, and 150 may be adapted to hold other types of sampling devices, such as meters, probes, analyzers, configured to measure a specific type of contaminant, including without limitation, noise, vibration, ionizing and non-ionizing radiation, dust and other particulates, solvents, toxic gases and metals, heat stress, and the like. The industrial hygiene sampling system 100 thus permits multiple selected measurements to be taken in the work setting for the user 50 simultaneously.

The sampling pouches 146, 148, and 150 may each include a port 160 adapted to permit at least a portion of the sampling device, such as a cable 168 or tube 166 to pass therethrough. For example, the port 160 of the sampling pouch 146 may permit the cable 164 of the personal noise dosimeter 164 to pass through, thereby deploying a microphone connected to the cable 164 of the personal noise dosimeter 164 for contaminant measurement. Similarly, the port 160 of the sampling pouches 148 and 150 may permit the tubes 166 of the industrial hygiene pumps to pass through for contaminant measurement. The port 160 may be disposed anywhere on the sampling pouches 146, 148, and 150. For example, the port 160 may be disposed on the flap 158. Further, the sampling pouches 146, 148, and 150 may include additional ports for accommodating other portions of the sampling device. The sampling pouches 146, 148, and 150 may include additional features facilitating contaminant measurement. For example, sampling pouches 146, 148, and 150 may include a transparent window permitting transmission of an infrared signal.

As can be understood from FIGS. 10-11B, the belt 102 is adapted to removably secure one or more of the sampling pouches 146, 148, and 150 and evenly distribute the weight of the corresponding sampling devices and ensure that the sampling pouches 146, 148, and 150 do not hinder the work activity of the user 50. The industrial hygiene sampling system 100 thus permits multiple selected measurements to be taken in the work setting for the user 50 simultaneously, comfortably, and out of the way.

The belt 102 and the sampling pouches 146, 148, and 150 may have various dimensions based on the selected measurements to be taken. For example, the belt 102 may be approximately forty inches long from the first end 126 to the second end 128. The belt body 116 may be approximately eleven inches long and six inches wide from the proximal edge to the distal edge. The first strap 118 and the second strap 120 may each be approximately 1.5 inches wide. The proximal engaging strip 108 and the distal engaging strip 110 may each be two inch strips, with the pouch engaging strips of the pouch body 152 also being two inch strips.

In one implementation, the eleven inch length of the belt body 116 accommodates one large sampling pouch (e.g., the sampling pouch 150) and two small sampling pouches (e.g., the sampling pouches 146 and 148). The large sampling pouch 150 may be adapted to hold the high-flow industrial hygiene pump, the first small sampling pouch 148 may be adapted to hold the low-flow industrial hygiene pump 162, and the second small sampling pouch 146 may be adapted to hold the personal noise dosimeter 164. The pouch body 152 of the large sampling pouch 150 may be approximately five inches in long, 4.5 inches in width, and 2.5 inches in depth. The pouch body 152 of the small sampling pouches 146 ad 148 may be approximately three inches in long, 4.5 inches in width, and 2.5 inches in depth. The flap 154 may be approximate four inches, with the first flap engaging strip 158 and the second flap engaging strip 156 each being approximately one inch strips. The port 160 may be approximately 0.5 inches in diameter. It will be appreciated that these dimensions are exemplary only and not intended to be limiting.

It is believed that the present disclosure and many of its attendant advantages will be understood by the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the components without departing from the disclosed subject matter or without sacrificing all of its material advantages. The form described is merely explanatory, and it is the intention of the following claims to encompass and include such changes.

While the present disclosure has been described with reference to various implementations, it will be understood that these implementations are illustrative and that the scope of the disclosure is not limited to them. Many variations, modifications, additions, and improvements are possible. More generally, implementations in accordance with the present disclosure have been described in the context of particular examples. Functionality may be separated or combined in blocks differently in various implementations of the disclosure or described with different terminology. These and other variations, modifications, additions, and improvements may fall within the scope of the disclosure as defined in the claims that follow.

Claims

1. A personal industrial hygiene sampling system for a user comprising:

a belt body having an inner surface and an outer surface extending between a body proximal edge and a body distal edge, the inner surface adapted to contact a body of the user;

a first strap extending from the belt body to a first end, the first strap having a first proximal edge and a first distal edge;

a second strap extending from the belt body to a second end, the second strap having a second proximal edge and a second distal edge;

a receiving portion connected to the first strap at the first end;

a projecting portion connected to the second strap at the second end, the receiving portion adapted to receive and releasably engage the projecting portion to form a releasable buckle; and

one or more engaging strips disposed on the outer surface of the belt body, the one or more engaging strips adapted to releasably engage one or more sampling pouches, each of the one or more sampling pouches having a pouch body defining an interior adapted to hold an industrial hygiene sampling device.

2. The personal industrial hygiene sampling system of claim 1, wherein the belt body, the first strap, and the second strap are each made from an elastomer adapted to hug the body of the user.

3. The personal industrial hygiene sampling system of claim 2, wherein the elastomer is neoprene.

4. The personal industrial hygiene sampling system of claim 1, wherein the one or more engaging strips and one or more pouch engaging strips on the one or more sampling pouches include paired hook and loop fasteners.

5. The personal industrial hygiene sampling system of claim 1, wherein the one or more engaging strips includes a distal engaging strip and a proximal engaging strip.

6. The personal industrial hygiene sampling system of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more sampling pouches includes a flap adapted to cover an opening into the interior of the pouch body and a port.

7. The personal industrial hygiene sampling system of claim 6, wherein the port is adapted to permit a cable for the industrial hygiene sampling device to pass therethrough.

8. The personal industrial hygiene sampling system of claim 6, wherein the port is adapted to permit a tube for the industrial hygiene sampling device to pass therethrough.

9. The personal industrial hygiene sampling system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more sampling pouches includes a transparent window.

10. The personal industrial hygiene sampling system of claim 1, wherein the body distal edge, the first distal edge, and the second distal edge form a coextensive distal edge extending from the first end to the second end.

11. The personal industrial hygiene sampling system of claim 1, wherein the body proximal edge curves distally to the first proximal edge on a first side of the belt body and the body proximal edge curves distally to the second proximal edge on a second side of the belt body.

12. The personal industrial hygiene sampling system of claim 1, wherein the belt body is integral with the first strap and the second strap to form a belt.

13. A personal industrial hygiene sampling system for a user comprising:

a belt having an inner surface and an outer surface extending between a proximal edge and a distal edge, the inner surface adapted to contact a body of the user, the belt tapering in width distally toward a first end from the proximal edge to a first strap edge and tapering in width distally toward a second end from the proximal edge to a second strap edge;

a receiving portion connected to the belt at the first end;

a projecting portion connected to the belt at the second end, the receiving portion adapted to receive and releasably engage the projecting portion to form a releasable buckle;

one or more engaging strips disposed on the outer surface, the one or more engaging strips adapted to releasably engage one or more sampling pouches, each of the one or more sampling pouches having a pouch body defining an interior adapted to hold an industrial hygiene sampling device.

14. The personal industrial hygiene sampling system of claim 13, wherein the belt is made from neoprene.

15. The personal industrial hygiene sampling system of claim 13, wherein the one or more engaging strips and one or more pouch engaging strips on the one or more sampling pouches include paired hook and loop fasteners.

16. The personal industrial hygiene sampling system of claim 13, wherein the one or more engaging strips includes a distal engaging strip and a proximal engaging strip.

17. A personal industrial hygiene sampling system for a user comprising:

a pouch body defining an interior adapted to hold an industrial hygiene sampling device, the pouch body having a back surface and a front surface;

a flap adapted to removably cover an opening into the interior of the pouch body;

a port providing access from the interior, the port adapted to permit at least a portion of the industrial hygiene sampling device to pass therethrough; and

one or more pouch engaging strips disposed on the back surface of the pouch body adapted to releasably engage one or more corresponding strips disposed on a outer surface of a belt.

18. The personal industrial hygiene sampling system of claim 17, wherein the port is disposed on the flap.

19. The personal industrial hygiene sampling system of claim 17, wherein the portion of the industrial hygiene sampling device includes a cable or a tube.

20. The personal industrial hygiene sampling system of claim 17, wherein the belt has an inner surface disposed opposite the outer surface, the inner surface and the outer surface extending between a proximal edge and a distal edge, the inner surface adapted to contact a body of the user, the belt tapering in width distally toward a receiving portion from the proximal edge to a first strap edge and tapering in width distally toward a projecting portion from the proximal edge to a second strap edge, the receiving portion adapted to receive and releasably engage the projecting portion to form a releasable buckle.