Hard Hat Lanyard

Abstract

A hard hat lanyard having a lower strap having a first end and a second end, a lower strap fastener adapted to fasten the lower strap second end to an article of a wearer's clothing, an upper strap having a first end and a second end, an intermediate release buckle fastened to the lower strap first end and the upper strap second end that is secures the lower strap to the upper strap in a releasable manner, and an upper strap fastener adapted to fasten the upper strap first end to a hard hat.

Description

BACKGROUND [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The invention is related to apparel worn for personal protection, namely hard hats. [0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art [0004] Hard hats are a mandatory safety item used in or around electrical power plants, chemical plants, construction sites, warehouses, and other industrial sites. The requirements are mandated through safety programs due to overhead hazards associated in these types of industries. Hard hats are intended to be a type of safety equipment that will protect the wearer from overhead hazards as well as from bumping one's head in areas where there are low clearances. However there are cases when the hard hat can be considered a hazard in itself. For instance, in most industrial work places where overhead work is being performed, workers are typically wearing a hard hat. If a worker leans over or bumps their head the hard hat most likely will fall off. This is fine except for where the hard hat can becomes a falling o...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011] It is an object of the present invention to provide a device that prevents a hard hat from falling to a place where it cannot be easily retrieved. It is also an object of the present invention to provide a hard hat retaining device that does not require modifying a piece of safety equipment. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a device that prevents contamination of the wearer by not coming into direct contact with the wearer's skin. It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a hard hat device that can be easily released when the hard hat is not being used.

Problems solved by technology

However there are cases when the hard hat can be considered a hazard in itself.

If a worker leans over or bumps their head the hard hat most likely will fall off.

This is fine except for where the hard hat can becomes a falling object and a hazard to personnel or vital plant equipment below.

If the hard hat falls off the worker, it may land in the pool of water.

If the hard hat cannot be retrieved before it sinks the retrieval process may be time consuming and very costly.

Typically, a nuclear power plant will lose approximately $100,000 per hour of down time during a refueling or maintenance outage.

Depending on where the hat finally came to rest, it could take up to several hours to retrieve, and consequently could delay the plant from coming back online.

However this method can be uncomfortable and sometimes a bit cumbersome.

Another issue is that the chin strap is in direct contact with exposed skin.

However, hard hats, even with chin straps, are not typically laundered.

Therefore, if the hard hat is used in a harsh or contaminated environment, it can spread to the wearer's exposed skin.

However, one cannot insert a hook into a hard hat because the hard hat material is too hard by its very nature.

Furthermore, industrial workers are unlikely to wear formal jackets having lapel button holes.

This would be unsuitable for use with a hard hat because of the danger of attaching a loop around the wearer's neck when working in an industrial environment.

This would also be unsuitable for use with a hard hat because it would require modifying standard safety equipment made to a particular standard.

Adding devices to the crown of a hard hat may make it unsafe in an accident.

None of the above references employ a feature that can easily release the hat from the wearer without completely removing the retaining device.

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