VEHICLE SAFETY PRODUCTS, DEVICES, SYSTEMS AND PROCEDURES

Description

Field of the Invention

[0001] The invention relates to vehicle safety items, devices, systems and methods and particularly to wearable safety items such as protective headwear and, more particularly, to protective headwear, systems and methods which encourage and provide notification of use of wearable safety items and improve safety for users of vehicles.Background to the Invention

[0002] The wearing of wearable safety items, such as, for example, protective headwear, is advisable while carrying out various activities including, for example, using a vehicle or undertaking an activity such as when riding a bicycle, electric scooter (e-scooter) or a motorbike, skiing, snowboarding and working on a construction site. However, many people carry out such activities without wearing protective headwear.

[0003] Vehicle sharing services provide vehicles including, for example, bicycles and e-scooters, which are distributed in urban areas for use by registered users. The use of vehicle sharing services is rapidly increasing because they are very easy and quick to access and use and fulfil a missing transport link in an urban environment, such as the last mile / kilometre home. Typically, a user will gain access to the vehicle through an App loaded on the user's mobile device and the vehicle sharing service tracks use of the vehicle until the user terminates their journey through, for example, the App, which re-locks the vehicle ready for access by the next user. As use of vehicle sharing services, such as bike sharing schemes, increases in busy urban environments the number of sharing scheme-related accidents is also increasing. It is therefore desirable for users, vehicle sharing service providers and insurance providers to improve the safety of the service they use and provide whilst maintaining the ease and speed of use of the service.

[0004] Also, in some countries, it is illegal to use bicycles and e-scooters without wearing a helmet.

[0005] Not wearing safety headwear, such as a helmet, when using a vehicle, for example, a bicycle or e-scooter, not only increases the risk of serious injury to a user of a vehicle but can also be a problem for other road users and others, such as, for example, vehicle sharing service providers or insurance service providers, which seek to encourage use of wearable safety items and may require information to assess risk of use of the vehicle. For example, an insurance policy may provide cover for the effects of injuries incurred as a result of an accident while carrying out an activity for which the wearing of a helmet is desirable. Indeed, the cover may only apply under the policy if the accident occurs while, for example, protective headgear is being worn.

[0006] Moreover, it may be illegal in some countries for a user to use bicycles, e-scooters, skis and snowboards without using a helmet. Also, a vehicle sharing service provider may be, at least to some degree, responsible and / or liable for the safety of the user of its vehicles.

[0007] It is therefore desirable in the vehicle sharing and / or insurance service industries for there to be means and methods for determining whether or not a user of a vehicle is using wearable safety items, such as a helmet.

[0008] US2016 / 0073722 discloses protective headware having one or more position sensors located on the headware which detect placement of the headware on a user's head. One or more activity sensors are located on an activity device, such as a bicycle, to detect operational indicators relative to the usage of the activity device and to transmit signals indicative of such operational indicators. One or more computing devices receive signals from the or each position sensor and activity sensor and determine whether the activity device is likely engaged in one or more given activities and communicate at least one helmet usage indication signal to a user of the activity device and / or to a third party via a remote device.

[0009] If a user of a vehicle is involved in a situation such as an accident, it is often a disputable, time-consuming and relatively expensive process to collect evidence and determine the cause of the situation.

[0010] It is therefore also desirable in the industries for there to be means for efficiently recording and analysing such situations.

[0011] Wearable safety items include protective portions to prevent injury to a part of the body. For example, protective headwear, such as, for example, a helmet includes a protective portion to prevent injury to the head as a result of an accident or due to solid objects falling on the head.

[0012] When such headwear is subjected to a percussive force, such as that resulting from, for example, a cycling accident or perhaps even by simply dropping the helmet, damage can occur to the protective portion of the helmet. Such damage may be not readily detectable by eye. The helmet may be presumed to be undamaged whereas in reality its protective effect has been lost or at least significantly reduced as a result of, for instance, a hairline crack through the protective material.

[0013] It is desirable for users, vehicle service providers and insurance providers to have an understanding of the safety integrity of wearable safety items being used with vehicles. For example, it is desirable for users, vehicle service providers and insurance providers to have information relating to internal (e.g. structural) damage to helmets (often costing $100 plus). After a helmet has experienced an impact, whether due to an accident or having been dropped, it is not possible to easily ascertain whether or not there is internal EPS damage, thus rendering the helmet potentially no longer safe to use. It is therefore desirable for there to be an efficient, easy to use and low cost means for assessing and recording damage to a helmet which may have occurred.

[0014] Using and navigating a vehicle such as a bicycle, e-scooter or motorcycle on busy roads, such as in town and city environments, is potentially hazardous and safe use of in such environments requires concentration and constant use of the user's visual and auditory senses.

[0015] Patent document number US2003 / 0137413 discloses a protective helmet signalling system with remote activated navigation signals for use with the brake and turn signals of an open motorized vehicle. The system includes light sources provided on the helmet and means connected to the brake and turn signal controls of the vehicle for selectively energising respective light sources. The system provides light signals to indicate to other road users and pedestrians whether the vehicle is braking or about to make a turn.

[0016] However, known navigation systems use visual and / or audible interfaces to guide a user along a desired route and therefore are a potential distraction.

[0017] It is desirable in the industry for the user and the vehicle sharing service provider to provide improved navigation means and methods which enable the user of the vehicle to safely navigate while using the vehicle.

[0018] It is recognised that many accidents occur when a large motorised vehicle, such as, for example, a lorry, truck, bus or coach, turns across the path of a cyclist, often because the driver of the vehicle is not aware of the presence of a cyclist to one side of his vehicle. In the United Kingdom, where the law determines that vehicles are driven on the left of the road, such accidents most frequently occur when the vehicle makes a turn to the left and strikes a cyclist on the inside of the vehicle by turning across the path of the cyclist. This can happen either because the driver of the large motorised vehicle fails to check for the presence of the cyclist on the inside or because the cyclist, at the moment of checking, is located in a blind spot and so is not visible to the driver. These accidents also occur when large motorised vehicles turn across the path of other vehicles such as e-scooters and motorcycles. Of course, in other countries vehicles drive on the right side of the road, in which case such accidents most frequently occur when the large motorised vehicle makes a turn to the right.

[0019] It is therefore desirable in the vehicle sharing and insurance service industries for there to be means and method for reducing accidents when using shared vehicles such as bicycles, e-scooters and motorcycles.

[0020] An objective of the of the present invention is to provide a safety wearable item, system and method which improves the safety of using vehicles such as bicycles, e-scooters and motorcycles and improves the provision of vehicle sharing services and insurances services.Summary

[0021] According to the present invention there is provided protective headwear comprising head sensor means operable to detect the head of a user is disposed in the protective headwear, and communication means operable to communicate the presence of the head of the user in the protective headwear to a receiver remote from the protective headwear, characterised in that the protective headwear is foldable into a storage mode and unfoldable into a useable mode, and wherein the action of unfolding activates the sensor means.

[0022] The sensor means advantageously comprises at least one contact sensor.

[0023] At least one of the contact sensors is advantageously a microswitch.

[0024] The protective headwear may further comprise a securing strap and a pair of mechanical connectors for securing the protective headwear to the head of a user, wherein connection of the mechanical connectors advantageously causes connection of an electric circuit providing an indication that the protective headwear is secured to a user's head.

[0025] The receiver remote from the protective headwear is preferably a mobile communication device.

[0026] Additionally, or alternatively, the receiver remote from the protective headwear may be a remote computer server.

[0027] The present invention also provides a protective headwear use confirmation system, the system comprising protective headwear according to the present invention above, and a remote computer server operable to communicate with the protective headwear.

[0028] The protective headwear and the remote computer server advantageously communicate through a remote mobile device.

[0029] In addition, the present invention provides a method of confirming the presence of a head in protective headwear, the method comprising: providing protective headwear, the protective headwear comprising sensor means and communication means; activating the sensor means to detect the presence of the head of a user in the protective headwear; and communicating the presence of the head of the user in the protective headwear to a receiver remote from the protective headwear, characterised in that the protective headwear is foldable into a storage mode and unfoldable into a useable mode, and wherein the action of unfolding activates the sensor means.

[0030] The sensor means advantageously comprises at least one contact sensor. At least one of the contact sensors is advantageously a microswitch.

[0031] The protective headwear preferably comprises a securing strap and a pair of mechanical connectors for securing the protective headwear to the head of a user using the securing strap, whereby connection of the mechanical connectors advantageously causes connection of an electric circuit providing an indication that the protective headwear is secured to a user's head.

[0032] The receiver remote from the protective headwear is preferably a mobile communication device. Alternatively, or additionally, the receiver remote from the protective headwear may be a remote computer server.

[0033] The present invention encourages the wearing of protective headwear by a user, the method comprises providing protective headwear with means for sending a signal to signal receiving means located away from the protective headwear when the headwear is subjected to a predetermined action prior to its use in protecting the head.

[0034] Examples of headwear with which the present invention may be concerned include a bicycle helmet, a motorbike helmet, a helmet for use by the rider of a scooter or an electric scooter (e-scooter), a helmet for use in snow sports, a skating helmet or a helmet for use on a construction site The predetermined action may be, for example: simply placing the headwear on the head, this action being detected by an element such as a microswitch; the connecting together of the elements of a strap which secures the headgear securely in position on the head of user; or, in the case of a folding helmet such as that disclosed in granted European Patent No 2627205, the sending of the signal may be triggered by the act of unfolding the helmet prior to its location on the head of the user.

[0035] The signal receiving means may be a mobile phone carried by the wearer of the headwear.

[0036] Communication between the signal sending means and the mobile phone may be by a short-range wireless interconnection such as Bluetooth.

[0037] The mobile phone may be provided with an app (an application which has been downloaded on the mobile phone) and this app is effective to transmit to, for instance, a database in a remote location, which database is maintained by the insurance provider. In this way, there can be maintained by the insurance provider a record of the periods during which the protective headwear was worn and through the App on the smartphone and / or GPS on the vehicle, the location and route may be uploaded to the vehicle sharing service provider and / or the insurance service provider. Should an insurance claim be made, then the database record will provide evidence as to whether, at the time of the incidents which is the basis of the claim, the protective headwear was being worn.

[0038] Similarly, confirmation that the user is wearing safety items such as safety headgear may enable the shared vehicle service provider to gift the user with an incentive reward for using safety equipment. This incentive reward may be, for example, a reduction in the fee for using the vehicle, which may be delivered to the user before the vehicle is unlocked or as a refund or a next-journey credit upon termination of the journey and re-locking of the vehicle.

[0039] In another embodiment of the invention, the signal may be sent directly from the headwear to the remote location where the database is maintained.

[0040] The database may be held by a party other than the insurer, for instance, a party which is independent of the insurance provider but which will provide the relevant evidence at the request of the insurance provider and / or the insured party.DESCRIPTION

[0041] Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, and with reference to the following drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic drawing of a cross section through protective headwear according to the f invention; and Figure 2 is a schematic drawing of protective headwear use confirmation system according to the present invention.

[0042] Referring to Figures 1 and 2, protective headwear 10 according to the present invention comprises a protective shell 12 having an external surface 14 and an internal surface 16, defining a protective cavity 18 in which a user's head 20 is disposed when the protective headwear is being used.

[0043] The protective headwear 10 further comprises sensor means having a first sensor 22 1 , a second sensor 22 2 , and a third sensor 22 3 . The first sensor 22 1 is disposed on the internal surface 16 to face the top of a user head 20 when the protective headwear 10 is in normal use. The second and third sensors, 22 2 22 3 , are disposed on opposing sides of a lower portion of the internal surface 16, such that, in normal use, the second and third sensors, 22 2 22 3 face the user's head behind each ear.

[0044] Although three sensors, 22 1 , 22 2 , 22 3 , are described in the illustrated embodiment, other embodiments may have a single sensor 22 1 or more than three sensors.

[0045] The sensors 22 1 , 22 2 , 22 3 , are preferably contact sensors which sensor contact of the user's head with each sensor, which may be, for example, microswitches.

[0046] The protective headwear 10 further comprises first and second securing straps, 24 1 24 2 , having first and second mechanical connectors 26 1 26 2 , respectively, operable to mechanically connect to each other to provide a connected securing strap operable, in its connected state to be disposed under the jaw of a user to secure the protective headwear 10 to the head 20 of a user.

[0047] The first and second securing straps, 24 1 24 2 have an internal electrical circuit operable to be in an open circuit state when the first and second mechanical connectors 26 1 26 2 are in a disconnected state and in a closed circuit state when the first and second mechanical connectors 26 1 26 2 are in a connected state.

[0048] The protective headwear 10 further comprises a processor 28. The processor 28 comprises a controller 30, a charging unit 32, a rechargeable battery 34 (e.g. a Li-ion battery) and communication module 36 (e.g. Bluetooth with MCU).

[0049] The controller 30 is electrically connected to the sensors 22 1 , 22 2 , 22 3 , and the first and second securing straps, 24 1 24 2 through sensor connection 38 and strap connection 40.

[0050] The charging unit 32 has a charging connection input 42 (e.g. USB connector) to charge the rechargeable battery 34 from an external source.

[0051] The charging unit 32 is electrically connected to the rechargeable battery 34. The rechargeable battery 34 is electrically connected to provide power to the controller 30 and the communication module 36.

[0052] The controller 30 is electrically connected to the communication module 36.

[0053] The communication module 36 is operable to communicate with a mobile communication device 44, such as, for example, a smartphone. Communication between the communication module 36 and the mobile communication device 44 is by short-range communications such as, for example, Bluetooth.

[0054] The mobile communication device 44 is operable to communicate with a remote computer server 46 located in a remote location 48 from the protective headwear 10.

[0055] Referring to Figures 1 and 2, prior to use, the rechargeable battery 34 is charged through the charging connection input 42 of the charging unit 32. With a charged battery, in use, prior to using a vehicle or being given access to a vehicle, a user places the protective headwear 10 on their head like they would with known protective headwear.

[0056] However, with the protective headwear 10 of the present invention, the head 20 of the user contacts and thereby actuates contact sensors 22 1 , 22 2 , 22 3 . The actuated sensors are detected by the controller 30, through sensor connection 38. The user then mechanically connects the mechanical connectors 26 1 26 2 to connect the securing straps, 24 1 24 2 under the user's jaw and thereby secures the protective headwear to the head of the user. Connecting the mechanical connectors 26 1 26 2 closes the internal circuit within the securing straps, 24 1 24 2 and an electronic signal is detected flowing through the closed circuit by controller 30 through the strap connection 40.

[0057] Detection of the user's head disposed against the sensors 22 1 , 22 2 , 22 3 and connection of mechanical connectors 26 1 26 2 is indicative of the protective headwear being worn by the user. With these two conditions met, the controller 30 sends a headwear-on signal to the communication module 36. The communication module 36 communicates the headwear-on signal to the mobile communication device 44, which updates an App running on the mobile communication device 44. The App communicates receipt of the headwear-on signal to the remote computer server 46 through a mobile or Internet network. The remote computer server 46 records receipt of the headwear-on signal and location of the user and time dates the record for providing validation of legality of use of the vehicle and for insurance purposes.

[0058] Upon termination of the user's journey, the reverse process is undertaken whereby the controller 30 detects disconnection of the mechanical connectors 26 1 26 2 and loss of contact between the sensors 22 1 , 22 2 , 22 3 and the user's head 20, as the protective headwear 10 is removed. Detection of the removal of the protective headwear 10 is communicated from the controller 30 to the communication module 36 as a headwear-off signal along the location of the user recorded. The headwear-off signal is then communicated from the communication module 36 to the App on the mobile communication device 44. The App then communicates the headwear-off signal and the location from the mobile communication device 44 to the remote computer server 46 through the mobile or Internet network. The remote computer server 46 records receipt of the headwear-off signal and time dates the record for providing validation of legality of use of the vehicle and for insurance purposes.

[0059] Although the present invention has been described as protective headwear 10 having sensors 22 1 , 22 2 , 22 3 and securing straps, 24 1 24 2 having an internal electrical circuit, in an alternative embodiment the protective headwear 10 may have just the sensors 22 1 , 22 2 , 22 3 , from which the controller 30 would determine the wearing of the protective headwear 10 by the user.

[0060] Also, in an alternative embodiment, there may only a single sensor 122 1 .

[0061] Also, in an alternative embodiment, the protective headwear 10 may communicate over one or more networks directly with the remote computer server 46.

Claims

1. Protective headwear comprising head sensor means (22) operable to detect that the head of a user is disposed in the protective headwear (10), and communication means (36) operable to communicate the presence of the head of the user in the protective headwear to a receiver (44) remote from the protective headwear, characterised in that the protective headwear (10) is foldable into a storage mode and unfoldable into a useable mode, and wherein the action of unfolding activates the sensor means (22).

2. Protective headwear as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensor means comprises at least one contact sensor (22).

3. Protective headwear as claimed in claim 2, wherein at least one of the contact sensors is a microswitch.

4. Protective headwear as claimed in any of the preceding claims, further comprising a securing strap (24) and a pair of mechanical connectors (26) for securing the protective headwear to the head of a user, wherein connection of the mechanical connectors causes connection of an electric circuit providing an indication that the protective headwear is secured to a user's head.

5. Protective headwear as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the receiver remote from the protective headwear is a mobile communication device (44).

6. Protective headwear as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the receiver remote from the protective headwear is a remote computer server (46).

7. A protective headwear use confirmation system, the system comprising protective headwear as claimed in claims 1 to 6, and a remote computer server (46) operable to communicate with protective headwear.

8. A protective headwear use confirmation system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the protective headwear and the remote computer server communicate through a remote mobile device (44).

9. A method of confirming the presence of a head in protective headwear, the method comprising: providing protective headwear, the protective headwear comprising sensor means (22) and communication means (36); activating the sensor means to detect the presence of the head of a user in the protective headwear; and communicating the presence of the head of the user in the protective headwear to a receiver 944) remote from the protective headwear, characterised in that the protective headwear is foldable into a storage mode and unfoldable into a useable mode, and wherein the action of unfolding activates the sensor means.

10. A method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the sensor means comprises at least one contact sensor (22).

11. A method as claimed in claim 10, wherein at least one of the contact sensors is a microswitch.

12. A method as claimed in claim 10 or claim 11, wherein the protective headwear comprises a securing strap (24) and a pair of mechanical connectors (26) for securing the protective headwear to the head of a user using the securing strap, whereby connection of the mechanical connectors causes connection of an electric circuit providing an indication that the protective headwear is secured to a user's head.

13. A method as claimed in any of claims 9 to 12, wherein the receiver remote from the protective headwear is a mobile communication device (44).

14. A method as claimed in claims 9 to 13, wherein the receiver remote from the protective headwear is a remote computer server (46).