Fall protection harness with damage indicator

{
  "publication_number": "US9715809B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Fall protection harness with damage indicator",
  "abstract": "A fall protection harness has a magnetic sensor coupled to it, and a computer processor is coupled to the magnetic sensor. Upon damage to the fall protection harness, the magnetic sensor senses the damage, the magnetic sensor generates a first signal to the computer processor, and the computer processor generates a second signal indicating the damage.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A system comprising: a fall protection harness; a computer board comprising a radio frequency (RF) communication device coupled to the fall protection harness; and a magnetic sensor coupled to the fall protection harness and the computer board comprising the RF communication device; wherein the magnetic sensor is operable to detect damage to the fall protection harness; wherein the magnetic sensor generates a first signal to the computer board comprising the RF communication device; and wherein the computer board comprising the RF communication device generates a second signal indicating the damage; wherein the magnetic sensor comprises a magnet and reed contact material, the magnet in contact with the reed contact material; and wherein the computer board comprising the RF communication device is operable such that upon a fall by a person wearing the fall protection harness, the magnet separates from the reed contact material, the first signal is transmitted to the computer board comprising the RF communication device, and the computer board comprising the RF communication device generates the second signal indicating the fall.",
    "2. The system of claim 1, wherein the damage to the fall detection harness is caused by a fall by a person wearing the fall protection harness.",
    "3. The system of claim 1, wherein the fall protection harness comprises a strap, the strap folded over on itself into a folded over area, and the magnet and reed contact material are coupled to the strap within the folded over area.",
    "4. The system of claim 3, wherein the folded over area comprises a first surface area of the strap folded over on and in contact with a second surface area of the strap; wherein the magnet is coupled to the first surface area and the reed contact material is coupled to the second surface area; wherein upon the fall by the person, the first surface area separates from the second surface area, thereby breaking the contact between the magnet and the reed contact material; and wherein the computer board comprising the RF communication device is operable to receive the first signal indicating the break in contact between the magnet and reed contact material and is operable to generate the second signal indicating the fall.",
    "5. The system of claim 2, wherein the first signal comprises an electromagnetic signal, and the electromagnetic signal causes one or more of a visual alarm to be illuminated and an acoustic alarm to be sounded.",
    "6. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer board comprising the RF communication device senses a voltage level beyond a threshold of variation voltage when the magnet and reed contact material are in contact, thereby indicating that the fall has occurred.",
    "7. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer board comprising the RF communication device senses a voltage level within a threshold of variation voltage when the magnet and reed contact material are not in contact, thereby indicating that no fall has occurred.",
    "8. A system comprising: a fall protection harness; a computer processor coupled to the fall protection harness; and a magnetic sensor coupled to the fall protection harness and the computer processor; wherein the computer processor is operable such that upon damage to the fall protection harness, the magnetic sensor senses the damage, the magnetic sensor generates a first signal to the computer processor, and the computer processor generates a second signal indicating the damage; wherein the magnetic sensor comprises a magnet and reed contact material, the magnet in contact with the reed contact material; and wherein the computer processor is operable such that upon a fall by a person wearing the fall protection harness, the magnet separates from the reed contact material and the first signal is transmitted to the computer processor, and the computer processor receives the first signal and generates the second signal indicating the fall.",
    "9. The system of claim 8, wherein the fall protection harness comprises a strap, the strap folded over on itself into a folded over area, and the magnet and reed contact material are coupled to the strap within the folded over area.",
    "10. The system of claim 9, wherein the folded over area comprises a first surface area of the strap folded over on and in contact with a second surface area of the strap; wherein the magnet is coupled to the first surface area and the reed contact material is coupled to the second surface area; wherein upon the fall by the person, the first surface area separates from the second surface area, thereby breaking the contact between the magnet and the reed contact material; and wherein the computer processor is operable to receive the first signal caused by the break in contact between the magnet and reed contact material and generate the second signal indicating the fall.",
    "11. The system of claim 8, wherein the first signal comprises an electromagnetic signal, and the electromagnetic signal causes one or more of a visual alarm to be illuminated and an acoustic alarm to be sounded.",
    "12. The system of claim 8, wherein the computer processor senses a voltage level beyond a threshold of variation voltage when the magnet and reed contact material are in contact, thereby indicating that the fall has occurred.",
    "13. The system of claim 8, wherein the computer processor senses a voltage level within a threshold of variation voltage when the magnet and reed contact material are not in contact, thereby indicating that no fall has occurred.",
    "14. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions that when executed by a processor execute a process comprising: receiving a first signal from a magnetic sensor coupled to a fall protection harness, the first signal generated as a result of the magnetic sensor sensing damage to the fall protection harness; and generating a second signal indicating the damage to the fall protection harness; wherein the magnetic sensor comprises a magnet and reed contact material, the magnet in contact with the reed contact material; and wherein the computer processor is operable such that upon a fall by a person wearing the fall protection harness, the magnet separates from the reed contact material and the first signal is transmitted to a computer processor, and the computer processor receives the first signal and generates the second signal indicating the fall.",
    "15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein the fall protection harness comprises a strap, the strap folded over on itself into a folded over area, and the magnet and reed contact material are coupled to the strap within the folded over area; and wherein the folded over area comprises a first surface area of the strap folded over on and in contact with a second surface area of the strap; wherein the magnet is coupled to the first surface area and the reed contact material is coupled to the second surface area; wherein upon the fall by the person, the first surface area separates from the second surface area, thereby breaking the contact between the magnet and the reed contact material; and wherein the computer processor is operable to receive the first signal caused by the break in contact between the magnet and reed contact material and generate the second signal indicating the fall.",
    "16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14, comprising instructions for sensing a voltage level beyond a threshold of variation voltage when the magnet and reed contact material are in contact, thereby indicating that the fall has occurred.",
    "17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14, comprising instructions for sensing a voltage level within a threshold of variation voltage when the magnet and reed contact material are not in contact, thereby indicating that no fall has occurred."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present disclosure relates to fall protection harnesses, and in an embodiment, but not by way of limitation, a fall protection harness with a damage indicator.\n\nFall protection harnesses are critical pieces of safety equipment that are integral to preventing accidents on a job site. Fall protection harnesses provide a reliable restraint system worn by a worker that is connected to a fixed anchor point on a supporting structure, such as a building under construction. Fall protection harnesses are designed to arrest a fall of a worker quickly and safely. However, when a fall occurs, the fall protection harness causes a worker to be suspended in the fall harness in a potentially dangerous predicament. If there is no ladder or scaffolding for the worker to climb back onto, the worker will remain suspended until additional rescue help can be rendered. Being suspended in the fall harness for an extended period of time can lead to serious injury or death. Consequently, a rapid response is crucial to the safety of the worker. Also, a fall protection harness can be damaged or compromised when a fall occurs. Such damage should be brought to the attention of the proper person or authority, and the fall protection harness should be inspected and/or retired from use.\n\nFIG. 1 illustrates a damage indicator coupled to a fall protection harness before any damage has occurred to the fall protection harness.\n\nFIG. 2 illustrates a damage indicator coupled to a fall protection harness after damage has occurred to the fall protection harness.",
  "cpc": [
    "G08B 21/18",
    "A62B 35/0006",
    "A62B 35/0025",
    "A62B 35/04"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "A62B 35/00",
    "G08B 21/18"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Honeywell International Inc"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Hai D. Pham",
    "Steve D. Huseth",
    "David Joseph Wunderlin"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2015-12-08",
  "publication_date": "2017-07-25",
  "grant_date": "2017-07-25",
  "priority_date": "2015-12-08",
  "application_number": "US-201514962671-A",
  "family_id": "57345781",
  "cited_by_count": 3,
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}