Conversion Assembly for a Hard Hat
A conversion assembly is secured to a hard hat having a protective dome cover and a visor. The conversion assembly includes a plurality of compartment housings operatively secured together. A plurality of electronic circuits is housed within the plurality of compartment housings. A mechanical connector removably secures the conversion assembly to the hard hat when functions performed by the plurality of electronic circuits are required for a person wearing the hard hat. The invention provides enhanced functionality to an already existing hard hat, helmet or other protective head gear.
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The invention relates to an assembly for converting a hard hat into one capable of communicating remotely from the wearer of the conversion assembly. More particularly, the invention relates to an assembly capable of sensing various conditions and communicating the sensed signals remotely.
2. Description of the Related ArtThere are safety helmets or headwear with integrated electronics to provide communication information. Typical safety headwear may include a helmet or other safety-type hard hat used in a variety of industries including industrial, military and emergency. However, integrating these technologies into the respective safety helmets of each industry, such as industrial, military and emergency services, is very costly and requires custom designs and various protection certifications for each industry. Similarly, there are customer acceptance challenges because the users are now required to adopt new and different hats than what they are currently used to.
There is a need for smart technologies in industrial, military, and emergency services. Moreover, there is a need for technologies that can provide tracking, communication, environmental sensing, etc. for users in the field. It is preferable to have these technologies hands-free to minimize burden and restrictions on the user. Incorporating the technologies in a head worn device is also preferable because of the hands-free, telecommunications nature of the device. And incorporating these technologies into pre-existing hard hats that are designed to meet certain specifications allows for the increased functionality of the hard hats without redesigning or compromising the integrity of the an existing hard hat that may meet industry specifications.
Integrated electronics have been customized to helmets or hard hats such as in: U.S. Pat. No. 9,538,801 issued Jan. 10, 2017, U.S. Pat. No. 9,686,136 issued Jun. 20, 2017, U.S. Pat. No. 9,486,027 issued Nov. 8, 2016, and 2016/0249700 filed May 9, 2016, all by the common inventors and assignee.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONA conversion assembly is secured to a hard hat having a protective dome cover and a visor. The conversion assembly includes a plurality of compartment housings operatively secured together. A plurality of electronic circuits is housed within the plurality of compartment housings. A mechanical connector removably secures the conversion assembly to the hard hat when functions performed by the plurality of electronic circuits are required for a person wearing the hard hat.
Advantages of the invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
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The hard hat 12 has an outer shell 14 that is rigid and hard, commonly a plastic or polycarbonate. The outer shell 14 typically includes a protective, domed portion 16 and is designed to cover a person's head. The hard hat 12 may also include a brim 13 that extends outwardly from the protective dome portion 16. The outer shell 14 includes a periphery 18 that defines an opening 20 to receive the head of a wearer or host. The hard hat 12 also includes a visor 22 extending from the domed portion 16 to help protect the face or the operator wearing the hard hat 12.
The conversion assembly 10 includes a flexible cover 24 for overlying the wearable device or hard hat 12. The flexible cover 24 may be mechanically secured to the hard hat by a mechanical connector 25. The mechanical connector 25 removably secures the conversion assembly 10 to the hard hat 12. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that a non-exhaustive list of types of mechanical connectors 25 include, but are not limited to, hooks, snaps, adhesive or other commonly known mechanisms. In addition, the mechanical connector 25 may be a tongue member that is securable in an auxiliary port that may be built into the hard hat, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 9,486,027, which is of common ownership, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference.
In the preferred embodiment, the flexible cover 24 includes a plurality of nylon straps comprising a dome strap 26 extending over the top or center of the domed portion 16 and a peripheral strap 28 extending about the periphery 18 of the hard hat 12. Both the dome strap 26 and peripheral strap 28 may be adjustable to fit various sizes and configurations of the hard hat 12. The straps 26, 28 are shown as of a nylon material; however, it is within the invention to use other durable material.
The conversion assembly 10 assembly also includes a plurality of compartment housings 30. The compartment housings 30 are made of a rigid material, such as plastic or polycarbonate or other rigid material. The compartment housings 30 may be weather resistant if required by the industry by suitable gaskets or other sealers as are commonly known. In the embodiment shown in
The compartment housing 30 may include tracking technology, video, telecommunications, environmental sensors, etc. The conversion assembly 10 is designed such that compartment housings 30 can be added or subtracted based on the industry and user preference. Microphone jacks, an ear jack, and USB ports, and specially designed ports, may be accessible on the exterior surface of the compartment housings 30 to further optimize the functionality of the conversion assembly 10.
The compartment housings 30 may include a visor housing 34 of a larger dimension to rest upon the visor 22 of a hard hat 12 to include larger technology or technology requiring frontal views, such as video technology. The compartment housings 30 may also include a large compartment 36 in the rear of the conversion assembly 10 such as to contain larger technology or a battery. The peripheral strap 28 and dome strap 26 may support the attachment of additional compartment housings 30 for smart technology as required by the wearer or industry, including as shown a microphone 32 for hands free communication.
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The invention has been described in an illustrative manner. It is to be understood that the terminology, which has been used, is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation.
Many modifications and variations of the invention are possible in light of the above teachings. Therefore, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described.
Claims
1. A conversion assembly to be secured to a hard hat having a protective dome cover and a visor, said conversion assembly comprising:
- a plurality of compartment housings operatively secure together;
- a plurality of electronic circuits, each of the plurality of electronic circuits housed within one of said plurality of compartment housings; and
- a mechanical connector for removably securing said conversion assembly to the hard hat.
2. A conversion assembly as set forth in claim 1 including a cover to flexibly extend over the protective dome cover of the hard hat.
3. A conversion assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said cover includes a dome strap extendable over the protective dome cover.
4. A conversion assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said cover includes a periphery strap extendable around the protective dome cover.
5. A conversion assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein a portion of said plurality of compartments are secured to said periphery strap.
6. A conversion assembly as set forth in claim 4 including a visor compartment fixedly secured to said periphery strap and positioned adjacent the visor of the hard hat.
7. A conversion assembly as set forth in claim 6 including a wire harness connected to said dome strap and said periphery strap and electrically connecting said plurality of electronic circuits together.
8. A conversion assembly to be secured to a hard hat having a protective dome cover, a visor and an underside, said conversion assembly comprising:
- a plurality of compartment housings operatively secure together;
- a plurality of electronic circuits, each of said plurality of electronic circuits housed within one of said plurality of compartment housings; and
- a mechanical connector securing each of said plurality of compartments along the brim of the hard hat.
9. A conversion assembly as set forth in claim 8 including a periphery strap extendable around the protective dome cover.
10. A conversion assembly as set forth in claim 9 wherein a portion of said plurality of compartments are secured to said periphery strap
11. A conversion assembly as set forth in claim 10 including a visor compartment fixedly secured to said periphery strap and positioned adjacent the visor of the hard hat.
12. A conversion assembly as set forth in claim 11 including a wire harness connected to said dome strap and said periphery strap and electrically connecting said plurality of electronic circuits together.
13. A conversion assembly to be secured to a hard hat having a protect dome cover defining a peripheral rim, a visor and an underside, such conversion assembly comprising:
- a compartment;
- a plurality of electronic circuits housed within said compartment; and
- a mechanical connector for removably securing said compartment to the underside of the hard hat.
14. A conversion assembly as set forth in claim 13 wherein said a mechanical connector removably secures said compartment to the underside of the hard hat adjacent the peripheral rim of the hard hat.
15. A conversion assembly as set forth in claim 14 wherein said compartment extends along all of the peripheral rim of the hard hat.
16. A conversion assembly as set forth in claim 15 wherein said compartment extends along a portion of the peripheral rim of the hard hat.
17. A conversion assembly as set forth in claim 16 including a second compartment extending along a portion of the peripheral rim of the hard hat.
18. A conversion assembly as set forth in claim 17 wherein said compartment and said second compartment are positioned along said peripheral rim to balance the hard hat on the head of the user.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 31, 2018
Publication Date: May 2, 2019
Applicant: Guardhat, Inc. (Detroit, MI)
Inventors: Steven Friedman (Concord, CA), Senni Perumal (Southfield, MI), Mikhail Zhavoronkov (Northville, MI)
Application Number: 16/177,402