Hard Hat Lamp Attachment System
Patent No. US11019870 (titled "Hard Hat Lamp Attachment System") was filed by Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp on Oct 29, 2020.
What is this patent about?
’870 is related to the field of hard hat accessories, specifically systems for attaching lamps or other devices to hard hats. Hard hats are essential safety equipment in many industries, and the ability to securely and conveniently mount lighting is often crucial for workers in low-light conditions. Existing solutions, such as straps or permanent mounting clips, can be unreliable, cumbersome, or compromise the structural integrity of the hard hat.
The underlying idea behind ’870 is to provide a non-destructive and easily removable mounting system for hard hat accessories. This is achieved by incorporating raised mounting ridges on the hard hat's surface and a rigid mounting bracket with receiving slots that securely grip these ridges. The bracket then serves as a stable platform for attaching lamps or other tools using a flexible strap or other fastening mechanisms.
The claims of ’870 focus on a hard hat system comprising a hard hat with a raised mounting ridge and a mounting bracket. The bracket has slots at either end that engage the opposing edges of the mounting ridge , allowing it to be securely and removably attached. The slots extend along the entire height of the mounting bracket, ensuring a stable connection.
In practice, the user simply slides the mounting bracket onto the raised mounting ridge of the hard hat, with the receiving slots clamping onto the ridge's edges. A flexible strap, threaded through channels on the bracket, then secures the lamp or other accessory to the bracket. This design allows for easy attachment and removal of accessories without requiring any permanent modifications to the hard hat itself.
This approach differs from prior art solutions that rely on straps that can slip or shift, or on permanent mounting clips that require drilling or other destructive methods. By using a rigid bracket that clips onto a pre-existing ridge , the invention provides a more secure and versatile mounting solution that does not compromise the hard hat's safety rating or warranty. The symmetrical design also allows for accessories to be mounted on either the front or back of the hard hat.
How does this patent fit in bigger picture?
Technical landscape at the time
In the late 2010s when ’870 was filed, hard hats at a time when hard hats were typically implemented using standardized mounting points or surfaces to accommodate various accessories. These accessories, such as lamps or cameras, often relied on mechanical attachment mechanisms to ensure secure and reliable integration with the hard hat. When hardware or software constraints made designing a universal attachment system non-trivial.
Novelty and Inventive Step
The examiner approved the application because the claims presented in the amendment filed on April 13, 2021, are allowable over the prior art of record.
Claims
This patent contains 21 claims, with independent claims 1 and 12. Independent claim 1 focuses on a hard hat system comprising a hard hat and a mounting bracket, while independent claim 12 focuses on a mounting bracket configured to couple to a hard hat mounting ridge. The dependent claims generally elaborate on specific features, dimensions, and configurations of the hard hat system and the mounting bracket.
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Date
Description
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US11019870
- Application Number
- US17084303
- Filing Date
- Oct 29, 2020
- Status
- Granted
- Expiry Date
- Nov 20, 2039
- External Links
- Slate, USPTO, Google Patents