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Electronic module adapter for headgear

Electronic module adapter for headgear description/claims

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/961,627, filed Jul. 20, 2007.

The present invention relates to accessories for protective headgear and, more particularly, to an electronic module adapter that mounts on a helmet or other headgear.

Different types of protective headgear, such as helmets and hard hats, are typically worn by fire fighters, rescue personnel and in industries where protection of the head from falling debris or the like is necessary. Such industries include, but are not limited to construction and mining.

Oftentimes it is desirable to attach electronic modules, such as radio frequency identification (RFID) tags, global positioning system (GPS) tags, and natural gas sensor tags to protective headgear. For example, modern day mines often include a miner tracking system so that the location of miners may be tracked for safety purposes. Such systems often include sensors positioned throughout the mine shafts. A miner wears an RFID tag which broadcasts a signal including the identity of the miner wearing the RFID tag. When the miner passes a miner tracking system sensor, the sensor receives the signal from the RFID tag. The sensors communicate with a central computer which tracks the location of miners wearing the RFID tags based on which sensors have received signals from the miners' RFID tags.

Like the other types of electronic modules, RFID tags must receive electrical power to operate. Mining cap lamps are typically mounted on helmets worm by miners to provide illumination in underground mine shafts. Such cap lamps are well known in the mining equipment industry and provide illumination while the miner's hands remain free to perform tasks. A cap lamp typically receives power from a battery power pack secured to the user's waist. Electrical wiring delivers power from the power pack to the lamp on the helmet. Traditionally, wires have been soldered to the battery terminals of the cap lamp power pack and to the RFID tags so that the RFID tags receive power from the battery of the cap lamp power pack. A problem with such an arrangement, however, is that such modifications are time consuming and inconvenient. In addition, and more importantly, the quality of the soldered connections is often inconsistent which leads to reliability issues, especially in the harsh mining environment. The exposed wires of such a power takeoff are also exposed which makes them even more vulnerable to damage.

A need therefore exists for a device whereby electronic modules such as RFID tags, GPS tags and/or natural gas sensor tags may be securely and safely mounted to the protective headgear of miners, rescue workers or other individuals.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a helmet with a cap lamp secured thereto by an embodiment of the electronic module adapter of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the front portion of the helmet, the cap lamp and the electronic module adapter of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are perspective exploded views of the helmet, cap lamp and electronic module adapter of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged bottom and back perspective view of the electronic module adapter of FIGS. 1-4 with the housing lid removed;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the electronic module adapter of FIG. 5 taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a top and front perspective view of the electronic module adapter of FIG. 5 with the housing lid attached;

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the electronic module adapter of FIG. 7.

• Provisional Patent
• Utility Patent

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