Personal Protective Equipment Network (PPE-N)

Abstract

The present invention provides a PPE-N (Personal Protective Equipment Network) system consisting of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) components, the system comprising a smart tag, a smart tag reader configured to detect within an operating range, trigger an audiovisual alarm, and send a warning to a predetermined person, and a hub to compare signals from the smart tag and evaluate the health status of the PPE components. The present invention further comprises waypoints to verify compliance with PPE component requirements and determine whether the PPE components are allowed in a predetermined area.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates generally to personal protective equipment and, more particularly, to a network system designed to keep workers safe. [Background technology]

[0002] There is a demand for a network system that supports maintaining worker safety. In many industries, maintaining the safety and health of workers is very important because many work environments contain various risks for employees.

[0003] In the workplace, industrial equipment can pose serious threats to worker safety. Many workers rely on personal protective equipment (PPE) to stay safe, and employers strive to provide PPE and other safety equipment to increase protection, reduce the risk of workplace injuries, and avoid the associated costs.

[0004] Companies also adopt various rules and regulations to keep workers safe and healthy. Some individuals may be required to wear or use PPE when entering or remaining in the work environment. For example, workers working in the nuclear industry may be required to wear radiation protection suits. Workers working in mines, oil refineries, smelting facilities, and industrial painting operations may be required to wear respiratory protective equipment (RPE). However, the creation of records regarding compliance is currently done manually or semi-automatically and is relatively time-consuming. Also, compliance with the prescribed rules and regulations in the work environment may be an issue, while non-compliance may result in an unsafe work environment. Therefore, there is a need to develop a system to solve these problems.

[0005] The present invention is intended to address problems associated with and otherwise improve upon conventional devices through an innovative network system designed to provide a convenient and effective means of ensuring worker safety, as well as incorporating other problem-solving features. Summary of the Invention [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] According to the present invention, a PPE-N (Personal Protective Equipment Network) system is provided. The PPE-N system includes a registration step and an operation step.

[0007] The registration step may include a user registration process to obtain user information from a user. The operation step may include a smart tag reader, a smart tag attached to a PPE-N component, and a hub.

[0008] The hub may be a software module for authorization of use or maintenance of PPE-N components (eg, hard hats (helmets), safety vests, safety boots, gloves).

[0009] In one embodiment, the hub may be configured to approve the use of a PPE-N component based on a predetermined time and quality of the PPE-N component.

[0010] In other embodiments, the hub may be configured to compare signals from smart tags to assist in assessing the health of the PPE-N components.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment, the present invention can determine if smart tags and PPE-N components are missing, not being worn, or out of place in a predefined area.

[0012] In some other embodiments, the present invention may use RFID technology to network PPE-N components, allowing individual PPE-N components to communicate with each other over very short distances. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of an embodiment showing the registration and operation steps of the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is an illustration of one embodiment showing PPE-N components arranged in a star bus topology with a hub of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an embodiment of communication between a smart tag and a reader of the present invention. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing one embodiment of communication between a smart tag reader and a waypoint of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing one embodiment of communication between a hub and a waypoint of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which a waypoint according to an embodiment of the present invention is attached to a forklift. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing various PPE-N components of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0014] All figures in the drawings are for the purpose of illustrating selected versions of the invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

[0015] The present invention (Personal Protective Equipment Network (PPE-N) 100) provides a system designed to keep workers safe. The present invention provides a hub 21 that is in constant communication with PPE components 30, such as hard hats 50, safety vests 60, safety boots 70, gloves 80, etc., as shown in FIG. 8, to ensure that workers are using functional and approved equipment.

[0016] Upon entering a work area, the waypoint 23 provided by the present invention verifies that the worker has the necessary PPE components 30 for that work area, determines whether the worker is authorized to work in the work area they are entering, and ensures that the worker is protected and can only enter access areas where they are authorized to work.

[0017] As shown in Figure 1, the present invention provides a PPE-N system 100 that is comprised of multiple processors and multiple memories that contain instructions that, when executed by the processors, trigger a registration step 10 and an operation step 20. The instructions may include routines, programs, objects, data structures, and the like.

[0018] The PPE-N system 100 may be implemented in a network environment that may consist of one or more servers or one or more data stores. In some embodiments, the PPE-N system 100 of the present invention may be loaded onto a user's computing device that is communicatively connected to the network.

[0019] In other embodiments, the PPE-N system 100 may be deployed on a computing device such that the PPE-N system 100 is configured as a cloud system.

[0020] In some other embodiments, the PPE-N system 100 may function as a private network or as a sub-domain of a larger network using the Windows Internet Name Service.

[0021] (Registration Step 10) The registration step 10 may include a user registration process to obtain user information from a user who is an employer or employee.

[0022] The user registration process may provide questions, such as via a web form, that allow the user to provide various data required to identify the user.

[0023] In one embodiment, user information includes name, company name, registration date and time, password, etc.

[0024] The user registration process may use the user information to create a user profile 11 and store the user profile 11 in a storage device included in or communicatively connected to the PPE-N system 100 of the present invention.

[0025] In some embodiments, the registration step 10 may include a modification / update process 12 that allows a user to modify and update their profile (user profile 11).

[0026] In some embodiments, the registration step 10 may include a tag registration process 13 that assigns a unique PPE-N component 30 name to each piece of personal protective equipment (PPE) available in the work environment.

[0027] The name of the PPE-N component 30 may be a combination of a number, a user name, and the name of the PPE (eg, 123456789-JOHN-SMITH-VEST).

[0028] The name of the PPE-N component 30 may be transferred to the smart tag 15. The smart tag 15 may be any suitable smart tag known in the art. In one exemplary embodiment, the smart tag 15 may be attached directly to the PPE-N component 30.

[0029] The PPE-N components 30 may include clothing and protective gear for one person, such as a hard hat 50, safety boots 70, gloves 80, and a safety vest 60, as shown in FIG.

[0030] In the present invention, PPE-N component 30 pieces may be networked with smart tags 15 and smart tag readers 22 in various embodiments as shown in FIGS.

[0031] The smart tag 15 may be a data carrier that carries data accessible by any suitable method, such as wireless technology, and the data may include tag identification information, such as an identification number (e.g., serial number), a user name, a device name, etc. In some embodiments, the data may include other information required by a user.

[0032] The smart tag 15 may be an RFID smart tag 15 that is programmable or rewritable and has its own internal power source, such as a microbattery, a thin film battery, etc. The smart tag 15 may exchange data information with data acquisition and / or transmission devices, including, but not limited to, readers and / or writers, scanners, and / or data receivers, such as radio receivers.

[0033] RFID smart tag 15 can be programmed depending on which portion of PPE-N component 30 it is attached to. For example, RFID smart tag 15 can be identified as HARDHAT-1234567, where PPE-N component 30 is identified as hard hat 50 and the unique hard hat identifier is 1234567. In some embodiments, smart tag 15 can be passive and does not require power to operate.

[0034] In some embodiments, the PPE-N system 100 may include a battery-powered RFID reader that is programmable to read 50 or more smart tags 15 per second.

[0035] (Operation step 20) Operational step 20 may include scanning and monitoring the PPE-N component 30 by communicating with a smart tag 15 attached to the PPE-N component 30, as shown in Figures 4-6.

[0036] The operational steps may include a smart tag reader 22 communicatively coupled to a smart tag 15 attached to the PPE-N component 30 .

[0037] Data from smart tags 15 may be obtained by a smart tag reader 22. Smart tag reader 22 may include devices such as antennas for communicating with smart tags 15. Smart tag reader 22 may be located where necessary to communicate with smart tags 15.

[0038] In some embodiments, a smart tag reader 22 may be installed on a user's computing device.

[0039] In some embodiments, the operating step 20 may include a hub 21. In this case, a smart tag reader 22 may be linked to the programmable hub 21 remotely over a network, as shown in FIG.

[0040] The hub 21 may be a software module that includes functionality such as authorization regarding the use or maintenance of the PPE component 30. For example, if the exposure time or quality of the PPE component 30 in the workplace exceeds a certain time or value, a user with a particular profile should leave the environment or the PPE component 30 should be replaced.

[0041] In one embodiment, the hub 21 may be configured to approve use of the PPE-N component 30 based on a predetermined time and quality of the PPE-N component 30 and compare signals from the smart tag 15 to assist in evaluating the health status of the PPE-N component 30.

[0042] In some embodiments, the hub 21 can compare the current signal level to the signal when the PPE-N component 30 was first mated to the PPE-N system 100 to help assess the health of the PPE-N component 30. When the PPE-N component 30 and smart tag 15 are attached, the ability of the hub to read the smart tag 15 can be degraded. Thus, such a health check can ensure proper communication between the smart tag 15 and the smart tag reader 22.

[0043] In a preferred embodiment, smart tag reader 22 constantly scans, and if smart tag reader 22 fails to recognize a pre-programmed smart tag 15 for an allotted amount of time, it determines that smart tag 15 and PPE-N component 30 are missing, not attached, or outside of a predetermined area (i.e., within the area monitored by the present invention).

[0044] After determining that a PPE-N component 30 is missing, the smart tag reader 22 may activate audio and visual alarms and send an alert to a person responsible for the site environment, such as a site controller.

[0045] In some embodiments, the smart tag reader 22 may be configured to sound an alarm when an object containing a PPE-N component 30 that does not have a smart tag 15 enters a predetermined area.

[0046] In some embodiments, the present invention may use RFID technology to network PPE-N components 30, allowing individual PPE-N components 30 to communicate with each other over very short distances.

[0047] If a PPE-N component 30 cannot communicate with other individual PPE-N components 30, they determine that they are out of range of each other and that some problem exists. A practical example would be a worker wearing a safety vest 60 and other PPE-N components 30 networked together, where the worker removes the safety vest 60 and walks away. When the worker removes the safety vest 60, the worker's other PPE-N components 30 determine that the safety vest 60 is no longer within working range (e.g., 3 feet) and activate an alarm. In one example, the PPE-N components 30 may be arranged in a star-bus topology with a hub 21 as shown in FIG. 3.

[0048] In some embodiments, the operational step 20 can include PPE-N sensors known in the art to notify the worker when equipment is malfunctioning or has failed. For example, if the PPE-N components 30 that make up the garment begin to wear out and fail, the hub will see a change in communication to the garment and put the garment into maintenance mode.

[0049] In some embodiments, the operational step 20 can include one or more stationary readers (also called waypoints 23, as shown in FIG. 2). In this case, the hub 21 of the PPE-N system 100 can communicate with the area-wide Wi-Fi system and the stationary readers 23, as shown in FIG. 4. When communicating with the stationary readers (waypoints 23), the PPE-N system 100 (through the hub 21) can verify that the person wearing the PPE component 30 is wearing the required equipment and that the person also has permission to enter the area in which the waypoints 23 are located.

[0050] Here, the waypoint 23 may be mobile and capable of communication in the same manner as the fixed waypoint 23. As an example, the mobile waypoint 23 may be attached to a forklift 40 as shown in FIG. 7. The mobile waypoint 23 may verify whether the user has the necessary PPE-N components 30, training, and authorization to operate around or on it. The mobile waypoint 23 may be attached to an object such as the forklift 40 using a magnet or clamp mount.

[0051] The steps and processes described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein can be embodied directly in hardware, in software modules executed by a processor, or in a combination of the two. The software modules can reside in memory units that can include volatile memory, non-volatile memory, and network devices, or other data storage devices now known or later developed for storing information / data. The volatile memory can be any type of volatile memory, including but not limited to static or dynamic, random access memory (SRAM or DRAM). The non-volatile memory can be any non-volatile memory, including but not limited to ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, flash memory, and magnetically or optically readable memory or memory devices such as compact disks (CDs) or digital video disks (DVDs), magnetic tapes, hard drives, etc.

[0052] The computing devices may be laptop computers, mobile phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), tablet computers, and other types of mobile devices. Communication between components and / or devices in the systems and methods disclosed herein may be one-way or two-way electronic communication over a wired or wireless configuration or network. For example, one component or device may be wired or wirelessly networked with another component or device, directly or indirectly, through a third party intermediary, over the Internet, or otherwise, to enable communication between the components or devices. Examples of wireless communication include, but are not limited to, wireless network radios, such as radio frequency (RF), infrared, Bluetooth, wireless local area networks (WLANs) (such as WiFi), or radios capable of communicating with wireless communication networks, such as long-term evolution (LTE) networks, WiMAX networks, 3G networks, 4G networks, and other types of communication networks. In an exemplary embodiment, the network may be configured to provide and employ 5G wireless networking features and functionality.

[0053] Although the present invention has been described in relation to its preferred embodiments, it will be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A PPE-N (Personal Protective Equipment Network) system, comprising: One or more PPE (personal protective equipment) components; a plurality of smart tags attached to the one or more PPE components; a plurality of smart tag readers communicatively connected to the plurality of smart tags, configured to constantly scan the plurality of smart tags; If the plurality of smart tags cannot be detected within the allotted time, a plurality of smart tag readers configured to trigger an audiovisual alarm and send an alert to a predetermined person; a hub communicatively linked to the plurality of smart tag readers and remotely programmable over a network; authorizing use of the one or more PPE components based on a predetermined exposure time and a quality of the one or more PPE components; evaluating the health status of a PPE component by comparing a signal when the smart tag first joined the PPE-N with a current signal to allow use of the smart tag in the plurality of smart tags; a hub configured to generate an audible alarm when an object without a required smart tag enters a predetermined area; a plurality of waypoints communicatively connected to the hub, communicating with the plurality of smart tags to verify that the one or more PPE components attached to the plurality of smart tags conform to requirements for the one or more PPE components; Detecting the smart tag; and a waypoint configured to detect a plurality of smart tags attached to the one or more PPE components and determine whether the one or more PPE components are authorized in the predetermined area. PPE-N system.

2. The PPE-N system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more PPE components is a hard hat.

3. The PPE-N system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more PPE components are gloves.

4. The PPE-N system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more PPE components is a safety vest.

5. The PPE-N system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more PPE components are safety boots.

6. The PPE-N system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of smart tags are RFID smart tags.

7. The PPE-N system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more waypoints are a plurality of travel waypoints.

8. The PPE-N system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more waypoints are a plurality of fixed waypoints.

9. Further, a plurality of sensors, a plurality of sensors configured to notify one or more predetermined people if the one or more PPE components do not meet a predetermined condition based on analysis of signals from the sensors; 2. The PPE-N system of claim 1.

10. A PPE-N (Personal Protective Equipment Network) system, comprising: One or more PPE components; a plurality of smart tags having antennas attached to the one or more PPE components; a plurality of smart tag readers communicatively connected to the plurality of smart tags, configured to constantly scan the plurality of smart tags; If the plurality of smart tag readers fail to detect the plurality of smart tags for an allotted time period, the plurality of smart tag readers are configured to trigger an audiovisual alarm and send an alert to a predetermined person. Multiple smart tag readers and a hub communicatively linked to the smart tag reader and remotely programmable over a network; authorizing use of the one or more PPE components based on a predetermined time and a quality of the one or more PPE components; evaluating the health status of a PPE component by comparing a signal when the smart tag first joined the PPE-N with a current signal to allow use of the smart tag in the plurality of smart tags; a hub configured to generate an audible alarm when an object without a required smart tag enters a predetermined area; a plurality of waypoints communicatively connected to the hub, communicating with the plurality of smart tags to verify that the one or more PPE components attached to the plurality of smart tags conform to requirements for the one or more PPE components; detecting the plurality of smart tags attached to the one or more PPE components; and a waypoint configured to determine whether a PPE component is permitted in the predetermined area. PPE-N system.

11. The PPE-N system of claim 10 , wherein the one or more PPE components is a hard hat.

12. The PPE-N system of claim 10, wherein the one or more PPE components are gloves.

13. The PPE-N system of claim 10, wherein the one or more PPE components is a safety vest.

14. The PPE-N system of claim 10, wherein the one or more PPE components are safety boots.

15. The PPE-N system of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of smart tags are RFID smart tags.

16. The PPE-N system of claim 10 , wherein the one or more waypoints are a plurality of travel waypoints.

17. The PPE-N system of claim 10 , wherein the one or more waypoints are a plurality of fixed waypoints.

18. Further, a plurality of sensors, a plurality of sensors configured to notify one or more predetermined people if the one or more PPE components do not meet a predetermined condition based on analysis of signals from the sensors; The PPE-N system of claim 10.

19. A PPE-N (Personal Protective Equipment Network) system, comprising: One or more PPE components; a plurality of smart tags attached to the one or more PPE components and communicatively coupled to a user's computing device; a plurality of smart tag readers communicatively connected to the plurality of smart tags, configured to constantly scan the plurality of smart tags; If the plurality of smart tags cannot be detected within the allotted time, a plurality of smart tag readers configured to trigger an audiovisual alarm and send an alert to a predetermined person; a hub communicatively linked to the plurality of smart tag readers and remotely programmable over a network; evaluating the health status of a PPE component by comparing a signal when the smart tag first joined the PPE-N with a current signal to allow use of the smart tag in the plurality of smart tags; a hub configured to generate an audible alarm when an object without a required smart tag enters a predetermined area; a plurality of waypoints communicatively connected to the hub, communicating with the plurality of smart tags to verify that the one or more PPE components attached to the plurality of smart tags conform to requirements for the PPE components; Detecting the plurality of smart tags; and a waypoint configured to determine whether the one or more PPE components are permitted in the given area. PPE-N system.

20. The PPE-N system of claim 19 , wherein the one or more PPE components is a hard hat.

21. 20. The PPE-N system of claim 19, wherein the one or more PPE components are gloves.

22. 20. The PPE-N system of claim 19, wherein the one or more PPE components is a safety vest.

23. 20. The PPE-N system of claim 19, wherein the one or more PPE components are safety boots.

24. 20. The PPE-N system of claim 19, wherein the plurality of smart tags are RFID smart tags.

25. The PPE-N system of claim 19 , wherein the one or more waypoints are a plurality of travel waypoints.

26. The PPE-N system of claim 19 , wherein the one or more waypoints are a plurality of fixed waypoints.

27. Further, a plurality of sensors, a plurality of sensors configured to notify one or more predetermined people if the one or more PPE components do not meet a predetermined condition based on analysis of signals from the sensors; 20. The PPE-N system of claim 19.

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