Safety Helmet
Patent No. US11452327 (titled "Safety Helmet") was filed by Jpmorgan Chase Bank Na As Administrative Assistant on Jan 14, 2019.
What is this patent about?
’327 is related to the field of personal protective equipment, specifically safety helmets or hard hats. These helmets are used to protect workers from falling objects and often incorporate accessories like headlamps. Existing methods for mounting headlamps, such as elastic bands, can be unreliable and prone to slipping, while wired power sources for headlamps can be cumbersome and create safety hazards.
The underlying idea behind ’327 is to create a more versatile and secure system for attaching accessories to a safety helmet. This is achieved by incorporating identical receptacles on both the front and rear of the helmet shell. These receptacles are designed to accept mating connectors on various accessories, allowing users to easily attach and detach devices like headlamps, cameras, or battery packs to either side of the helmet.
The claims of ’327 focus on a safety helmet featuring an outer shell with a front and rear receptacle. Each receptacle has an external slot and a protruding nub , both integrally molded with the shell. The receptacles are of identical construction, allowing an accessory device with a mating receptacle to be releasably mounted on either the front or rear of the helmet.
In practice, the helmet's design allows for quick and easy reconfiguration of accessories. A worker can, for example, move a headlamp from the front to the rear of the helmet without needing any tools or adapters. The identical receptacle design ensures compatibility across different accessories, providing flexibility in the field. The protruding nub and slot arrangement provides a secure and reliable mechanical connection.
This design differentiates itself from prior art by offering a standardized and reversible mounting system. Instead of relying on straps or specialized brackets, ’327 integrates the mounting points directly into the helmet shell. This approach enhances the helmet's durability and reduces the risk of accessories detaching unexpectedly. The ability to mount accessories on either the front or rear also improves the helmet's adaptability to different work environments and tasks.
How does this patent fit in bigger picture?
Technical landscape at the time
In the late 2010s when ’327 was filed, safety helmets at a time when headlamps were typically mounted using elastic bands. These band-type mounting systems were prone to slipping, especially when lubricating fluids were present. Furthermore, headlamps with integrated power sources tended to pull the helmet down, and wired connections to external batteries presented a snagging hazard.
Novelty and Inventive Step
The examiner approved the application because the amendments to the claims were sufficient to allow the claims over the prior art.
Claims
This patent contains 17 claims, with independent claims numbered 1, 8, 16, and 17. The independent claims are directed to a safety helmet featuring a reversible outer shell with front and rear receptacles for mounting accessories. The dependent claims generally elaborate on the specific features, materials, and configurations of the safety helmet and accessory mounting mechanisms described in the independent claims.
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Date
Description
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US11452327
- Application Number
- US16246935
- Filing Date
- Jan 14, 2019
- Status
- Granted
- Expiry Date
- Jul 20, 2039
- External Links
- Slate, USPTO, Google Patents