US20160374407A1

US20160374407A1 - Safety vest with retractable tool tethers and integrated helmet

Info

Publication number: US20160374407A1
Application number: US14/747,566
Authority: US
Inventors: David S. Yagerman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2015-06-23
Filing date: 2015-06-23
Publication date: 2016-12-29

Abstract

A safety vest includes a base vest; retractable tethers, each including a cord retractor and a cord; tools attached to the retractable tethers; a hard hat; and reflective strips. Tethers can be configured in weight ranges, and be lockable and tension adjustable. The base vest can further include an outer tool pocket for storing a tether and an attached tool. An inner retractor pocket can store a retractable tether. The inner retractor pocket can be arranged in combination with an outer tool pocket for convenient attachment of a tool. An inside belt secures the safety vest for carrying a plurality of tools.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

N/A

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the field of construction vests, and more particularly to methods and systems for construction vests with integrated safety features.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Use of a high-visibility vest is required on all construction sites and in other potentially dangerous working environments. There are safety measures and tethers for tools available, but none that combine the required vest with retractable tethers that are incorporated into the vest.
Furthermore, in such environments, a hard hat is always mandatory, as falling objects is normally one of the most significant safety concerns. Lanyards are available for attaching a hard hat to a high-visibility vest, but there are no methods which provide a permanent or semi-permanent attachment of a hard hat.
There are methods available for attaching tools to the vest, such as by using pockets, loops or clips that attach tools to belts or clothing, but once the tool is removed from the pocket, loop, or clip it can easily become a falling object.
As such, considering the foregoing, it may be appreciated that there continues to be a need for novel and improved devices and methods for high-visibility clothing that incorporates tools.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The foregoing needs are met, to a great extent, by the present invention, wherein in aspects of this invention, enhancements are provided to the existing models for high-visibility vests.
In an aspect, an OSHA-compliant, high-visibility safety vest, for use on construction sites and other professional environments, can be equipped with retractable tethers for up to 6 or more commonly used hand tools and a hard hat, whereby the safety vest increases safety and reduces property damage, injury, and fatalities on job sites from falling objects.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, certain embodiments of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof herein may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional embodiments of the invention that will be described below and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of embodiments in addition to those described and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. In addition, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein, as well as the abstract, are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a safety vest with retractable tool tethers and integrated helmet, shown in use, according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of a safety vest with retractable tool tethers and integrated helmet, shown in use, according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of a safety vest with retractable tool tethers and integrated helmet, shown in use, according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of a safety vest with retractable tool tethers and integrated helmet, according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view of a safety vest with retractable tool tethers and integrated helmet, according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a tether, according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a front view of an outer tool pocket for a retractable tool, according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8 is an inside view of an inner retractor pocket, according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 9 is a front view of a combined tool pocket, according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 10 is an inside perspective view of a safety vest with retractable tool tethers, according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 11 is a rear perspective view of a safety vest with retractable tool tethers and integrated helmet, shown in use, according to an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before describing the invention in detail, it should be observed that the present invention resides primarily in a novel and non-obvious combination of elements and process steps. So as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will readily be apparent to those skilled in the art, certain conventional elements and steps have been presented with lesser detail, while the drawings and specification describe in greater detail other elements and steps pertinent to understanding the invention.
The following embodiments are not intended to define limits as to the structure or method of the invention, but only to provide exemplary constructions. The embodiments are permissive rather than mandatory and illustrative rather than exhaustive.
In the following, we describe the structure of an embodiment of a system for safety vest 100 with reference to FIG. 1, in such manner that like reference numerals refer to like components throughout; a convention that we shall employ for the remainder of this specification.
In an embodiment a safety vest 100 with retractable tool tethers and integrated helmet can include:

- a) A base garment 110 worn on the upper body of a user, which, as shown in FIG. 1, can be a base vest 110, which can further include:
  - i. Reflective strips 112 or patches, which are mounted on outer surfaces of the base vest 110;
- b) Retractable tethers 120, which are connected in a first end to the base vest, and in a second end can be releasably connected to a tool 130; and
- c) A hard hat 140, which is releasably connected to the base vest 110, with a hard hat connector 230.

In a related embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the hard hat connector 230 can be a retractable tether 232, which is one of the retractable tethers 120, such that the hard hat 140 is releasably connected with a second end of the rear retractable tether 232, such that the rear retractable tether 232 is connected in first end to an upper part of the rear side of the base vest 110.
In another related embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11, the hard hat connector 230 can be a fixed-length cord 1134, such that the hard hat 140 is releasably connected with a second end of the fixed-length cord 1134, such that the fixed-length cord 1134 is connected in a first end to an upper part of the rear side of the base vest 110.
The non-retractable cord 1134, can be substantially non-elastic or elastic, and can be straight or coiled.
In related embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 1-5 and 10, the base vest 110 can be a sleeveless garment, commonly referred to as vest. In other related embodiments, the base vest 110, can further include sleeves, which can be short or long, such that the base vest 110, takes the form of a jacket. In yet other related embodiments, the base vest 110 can be any base garment 110 worn on the upper body of a user, which for example can include a harness construction, or a combination of an inner harness with an outer vest, or some other type of clothing worn on the upper body.
In related embodiments, a tool 130 can include a mechanical tool, an electronic tool, or an electromechanical tool. Selection of tools 130 can be configured to match the needs of a user wearing the safety vest 100, which for example can be a user in the construction field. A tool 130 can for example include a screwdriver, a wrench, a hammer, a plier, a measuring tape, a battery operated drill, a flash lamp, a voltmeter, a multimeter, etc.
In a related embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, a tether 120 can include:

- a. An upper end 610, that is connected to the base garment 110;
- b. A cord retractor 630, which is connected to the upper end;
- c. A cord 620, such that the cord retractor 630 contains a rolled up segment 622 of the cord 620; such that an extracted segment 624 of the cord 620, is outside the cord retractor 630; and
- d. A lower end 640, which can further include a lower mounting mechanism 642, such as a ring or mounting hook 642, such that the lower end 640 is attached to the cord 620.

In a further related embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the mounting mechanism can be a carabiner 642, which can further include a lockable spring-loaded gate. In other further related embodiments, such as shown in FIG. 7, the lower mounting mechanism 642 can be a cord loop 742 or a knot, or another mechanism to connect the cord 620 with the tool 130.
In the embodiment of the tether 120, as shown in FIGS. 1-5, the cord retractor 630 is embedded inside or on an inner side of the base vest 110, such that the cord is retracted from the cord retractor, through a cord aperture 150, when a tool 130 is pulled away from the base vest 110.
In a related embodiment, the tethers 120 can further include:

- a. Lower tethers 122, which can be configured to carry heavy tools, for example tools with a weight in a range of 0.5-5 lbs;
- b. Intermediate tethers 124, which can be configured to carry intermediate size tools, for example tools with a weight in a range of 0.1-1 lbs;
- c. Higher tethers 126, which can be configured to carry light tools, for example tools with a weight in a range up to 0.5 lbs;
- wherein the lower tethers 122 are mounted in a lower end of the vest, below the intermediate and higher tethers 124, 126;
- wherein the intermediate tethers 124 are mounted in an intermediate section of the vest, between the lower and higher tethers 122, 126; and
- wherein the higher tethers 126 are mounted in a higher end of the vest, above the lower and intermediate tethers 122, 124;
- wherein these ranges are example ranges, and lower or higher weight ranges may be used depending on the specific needs.

In a related embodiment, the tethers 120 can be configured with a lock and release function, such that the tethers are lockable, and can be releasably locked at predetermined length of retraction of a cord of the tethers 120.
In a related embodiment, a tether 120 can be configured with an adjustable tension function, such that a necessary tension for extracting a cord 620 can be adjusted, which can ensure balancing of a tool 130 attached to the tether 120, such that the tool does not extract the cord 620 under the influence of gravity only.
In a further related embodiment, a tether 120 configured with an adjustable tension function can be manufactured according to well-known design methods, such as for example known from tool balancers, such as a SPEEDAIRE™ model 5YAP1 tool balancer. The tension can for example be adjusted with a hand screw or knob, or with a screwdriver or other tool.
In a related embodiment, each tether 120 can be configured with a predetermined tensile strength of a cord 620 of the tether 120, for example such that:

- a. higher tethers 126 can be configured with a lowest tensile strength;
- b. intermediate tethers 124 can be configured with an intermediate tensile strength, which is higher than the lowest tensile strength of the higher tethers 126;
- c. lower tethers 122 can be configured with a highest tensile strength, which is higher than the lowest and intermediate tensile strengths of the higher and intermediate tethers 126, 124.

In a related embodiment, a tether 120 can be configured with a cord 620, made from nylon, urethane, pvc, vinyl, or other materials commonly used for cords in retractable tethers.
In a related embodiment, a tether 120 can be configured with a theft-resistant cord 620, which for example can be a cord 620 made from stainless steel, a stainless steel braid, a stainless steel and kevlar braid, or other high-strength cord materials, such as a galvanized or stainless steel aircraft cable.
In a related embodiment, FIG. 2 shows a rear view of the safety vest 100 in use, showing a user wearing the hard hat 140, and further showing the helmet connected to the vest 110 with a helmet connector 230, which is the rear retractable tether 232.
In a related embodiment, FIG. 3 shows a rear view of the safety vest 100 in use, with the hard hat 140 connected to the vest, but not mounted on the head of the user, and further showing the helmet connected to the vest 110 with a helmet connector 230, which is the rear retractable tether 232.
In a related embodiment, FIG. 4 shows a front perspective view of the safety vest 100.
In a related embodiment, FIG. 5 shows a rear perspective view of the safety vest 100.
In a related embodiment, FIG. 7 shows a front or outer perspective view of the vest 110, wherein the vest 110 can further include:

- a. an outer tool pocket 750, mounted on an outer surface of the base vest 110, such that the outer tool pocket 750 includes an outer pocket opening 752 in a lower end of the outer tool pocket 750, which allows an attached tool 130, to retract into the outer tool pocket 750, such that the tool 130 is partially or fully inside the outer tool pocket 750.

In a related embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7,

- a. the cord retractor 630 can be mounted on an inner side of the of the base garment 110, such that the extracted cord segment 624 passes through the cord aperture 150;
- b. such that the cord aperture 150 is configured in an upper part inside the outer tool pocket 750, such that the cord aperture 150 creates a passage from an inner side of the base garment 110 to an inside of the outer tool pocket 750; such that a tool 130 is attached to the cord 620, with the tool mounting mechanism 640;
- c. such that the outer pocket opening 752 allows an extracted cord segment 624 of the cord 620 and the tool 130 to retract into an inside of the outer tool pocket 750, such that the tool is fully or partially inside the outer tool pocket 750.

In a related embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10, an outer tool pocket 1050 can have an opening 1052 in a side of the outer tool pocket 1050, such that a tool can be extracted and retracted in a side movement. The outer tool pocket 1050 is here shown in a dense dotted line to indicate it is on an outer side of the base vest 1010, which is here shown in an inside view.
In a related embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10, upper ends 1061, of tethers 120, can be patches of hook and loop fastener, which connect to corresponding hook and loop fastener patches on the inner side of the base vest 1010.
In a related embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, showing an inside or inner perspective view, the base vest 110 can further include

- a. an inner retractor pocket 840, further comprising an inner pocket opening 842 in an upper end of the inner retractor pocket 840 and a cord aperture 150, configured in a lower part inside the inner retractor pocket 840, wherein the inner retractor pocket 840 is mounted on an inner surface of the base vest 110, such that the cord aperture 150 creates a passage from an inside of the inner retractor pocket 840 to an outer side of the base vest 110;
- such that a cord retractor 630 can be positioned or mounted inside the inner retractor pocket;
- such that an extracted part 624 of a cord 620, can pass through the pocket aperture 150, such that a tool mounting mechanism 642 can be attached to a lower end of the cord 620, whereby the mounting mechanism is retractably positioned on an outer side of the base vest 110.

In a related embodiment, the base vest 110, as shown in FIG. 9, showing a front or outer perspective view, the base vest 110 can further include a combined pocket 900, including:

- a. an inner retractor pocket 840; and
- b. an outer tool pocket 750;
- wherein the inner retractor pocket 840 is mounted above and adjacent to the outer tool pocket 750, on respectively inner and outer sides of the base vest 110;
- such that that the lower part 940 of the inner tool pocket 840 overlaps with the upper part 950 of the outer tool pocket 750;
- such that the cord aperture 150 connects the inside of the inner retractor pocket 840 with an inside of the outer tool pocket 750.

In a related embodiment, a safety vest 1000, as shown in FIG. 10, showing an inner side perspective view, can further include:

- a. a belt mounting mechanism 1070, which is connected to an inner side of the base vest 1010;
- b. an inside belt 1060, which is mounted on an inner side of the base vest 1010, with the belt mounting mechanism 1070, such that the inside belt 1060, further includes
  - i. A belt locking mechanism 1062, such as a belt buckle or snap-lock, which is attached to ends of the inside belt;
- such that the inside belt 1060 secures and fastens the safety vest onto a person using the safety vest, which ensures that the safety vest can carry a substantial load of attached tools 130.

In a related embodiment, the safety vest 1000 can include a belt mounting mechanism 1070, which can include:

- a. Inner belt straps, which are belt straps mounted to an inner side of the base vest;
- b. Inner belt tunnels 1072, as shown in FIG. 10, which are elongated belt straps; or
- c. An inner belt tunnel, which is a single tunnel with a start opening and an end opening, inside the base vest 1010, or mounted to an inner side of the base vest 1010, which holds the belt in place.

In a related embodiment, FIG. 10 shows cord retractors 630 mounted on the inner side of the base vest 1010, without use of inner retractor pockets.
In a related embodiment, the safety vest 100, 1000 can be configured to be OSHA-compliant and include high-visibility features, such as reflective stripes.
Here has thus been described a multitude of embodiments of the safety vest 100, and methods related thereto, which can be employed in numerous modes of usage.
The many features and advantages of the invention are apparent from the detailed specification, and thus, it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such features and advantages of the invention, which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.
Many such alternative configurations are readily apparent, and should be considered fully included in this specification and the claims appended hereto. Accordingly, since numerous modifications and variations will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation illustrated and described, and thus, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A safety vest, comprising:

a) a base garment;

b) a plurality of retractable tethers, wherein each retractable tether is connected in a first end to the base garment, such that a second end of each retractable tether is connectable to a tool; and

c) a hard hat; which is releasably connected to an upper part of a rear side of the base garment.

2. The safety vest of claim 1, wherein the base garment is a base vest.

3. The safety vest of claim 1, wherein the hard hat is releasably connected with a second end of a rear retractable tether, which is one of the retractable tethers, such that the rear retractable tether is connected in a first end to the upper part of the rear side of the base garment.

4. The safety vest of claim 1, further comprising a fixed-length cord, such that the hard hat is releasably connected with a second end of the fixed-length cord, such that the fixed-length cord is connected in a first end to the upper part of the rear side of the base garment.

5. The safety vest of claim 1, further comprising:

reflective strips, which are mounted on outer surfaces of the base garment.

6. The safety vest of claim 1, wherein the plurality of tethers further comprises:

a) at least one lower tether, which is configured to carry tools, in a weight range of 0.5-5 lbs;

b) at least one intermediate tether, which is configured to carry tools in a weight range of 0.1-1 lbs; and

c) at least one higher tether, which is configured to carry tools in a weight range up to 0.5 lbs;

wherein the lower tether is mounted in a lower end of the base garment, below the intermediate tether, and below the higher tether;

wherein the intermediate tether is mounted in an intermediate section of the base garment, between the lower tether and the higher tether; and

wherein the higher tether is mounted in a higher end of the base garment, above the lower tether, and above the intermediate tether.

7. The safety vest of claim 1, further comprising at least one tool, wherein the tool is releasably connected to a second end of a tether in the plurality of tethers.

8. The safety vest of claim 1, wherein at least one tether in the plurality of tethers further comprises:

a) an upper end, which is connected to the base garment;

b) a cord retractor, which is connected to the upper end;

c) a cord, such that the cord retractor contains a rolled up segment of the cord; such that an extracted segment of the cord, is outside the cord retractor; and

d) a tool mounting mechanism, which is attached to a lower end of the cord.

9. The safety vest of claim 8, wherein the at least one tether is further configured with a lock and release function, such that the at least one tether can be releasably locked at a predetermined length of retraction of the cord.

10. The safety vest of claim 8, wherein the at least one tether is further configured with an adjustable tension function, such that a tension for extracting the cord is adjustable.

11. The safety vest of claim 8, wherein the cord is made from a stainless steel braid.

12. The safety vest of claim 8, further comprising:

an outer tool pocket, further comprising an outer pocket opening in a lower end of the outer tool pocket;

wherein the base garment further comprises a cord aperture;

wherein the cord retractor is mounted on an inner side of the base garment, such that the extracted segment of the cord passes through the cord aperture;

wherein the outer tool pocket is attached to an outer surface of the base garment;

wherein the cord aperture is configured in an upper part inside the outer tool pocket, such that the cord aperture creates a passage from an inner side of the base garment to an inside of the outer tool pocket;

such that a tool is attachable to the cord, with the tool mounting mechanism;

such that the outer pocket opening allows the extracted segment of the cord and the tool to retract into the outer tool pocket, such that the cord and the tool are inside the outer tool pocket.

13. The safety vest of claim 8, further comprising:

an inner retractor pocket, further comprising an inner pocket opening in an upper end of the inner retractor pocket;

wherein the inner retractor pocket is attached to an inner surface of the base garment;

wherein the base garment further comprises a cord aperture;

wherein the cord aperture is configured in a lower part inside the inner retractor pocket, such that the cord aperture creates a passage from an inside of the inner retractor pocket to an outer side of the base garment;

such that the cord retractor is mounted inside the inner retractor pocket;

such that the extracted part of the cord passes through the cord aperture.

14. The safety vest of claim 8, further comprising:

an inner retractor pocket, further comprising an inner pocket opening in an upper end of the inner retractor pocket; and

wherein the base garment further comprises a cord aperture;

wherein the cord aperture is configured in a lower part inside the inner retractor pocket, such that the cord aperture creates a passage from an inside of the inner retractor pocket to an outside of the base garment;

such that the cord retractor is mounted inside the inner retractor pocket;

such that the extracted part of the cord passes through the cord aperture;

such that a tool is attachable to the cord, with the tool mounting mechanism;

such that the outer pocket opening allows the extracted segment of the cord and the tool to retract into the outer tool pocket, such that the cord and the tool are inside the outer tool pocket;

wherein the inner retractor pocket is mounted above and adjacent to the outer tool pocket;

such that that the lower part of the inner tool pocket overlaps with the upper part of the outer tool pocket;

such that the cord aperture connects an inside of the inner retractor pocket with an inside of the outer tool pocket.

15. The safety vest of claim 1, further comprising:

a) a belt mounting mechanism, which is connected to an inner side of the base garment; and

b) an inside belt, which is mounted on an inner side of the base garment, with the belt mounting mechanism, such that the inside belt further includes an attached belt locking mechanism;

such that the inside belt is configured to secure and fasten the safety vest onto a person using the safety vest.

16. A safety vest, comprising:

a) a base garment;

c) an outer tool pocket, further comprising an outer pocket opening in a lower end of the outer tool pocket;

wherein at least one tether in the plurality of tethers further comprises:

an upper end, which is connected to the base garment;

a cord retractor, which is connected to the upper end;

a cord, such that the cord retractor contains a rolled up segment of the cord; such that an extracted segment of the cord, is outside the cord retractor; and

a tool mounting mechanism, which is attached to a lower end of the cord;

wherein the base garment further comprises a cord aperture;

such that a tool is attachable to the cord, with the tool mounting mechanism;

17. The safety vest of claim 16, wherein the base garment is a base vest.

18. The safety vest of claim 16, further comprising a hard hat, which is releasably connected with a second end of a rear retractable tether, which is a tether in the plurality of retractable tethers, such that the rear retractable tether is connected in a first end to an upper part of a rear side of the base garment, whereby the hard hat is releasably connected to the upper part of the rear side of the base garment.

19. The safety vest of claim 16, further comprising a hard hat and a fixed-length cord, such that the hard hat is releasably connected with a second end of the fixed-length cord, such that the fixed-length cord is connected in a first end to an upper part of a rear side of the base garment, whereby the hard hat is releasably connected to the upper part of the rear side of the base garment.

20. The safety vest of claim 16, wherein the plurality of tethers further comprises:

21. The safety vest of claim 16, further comprising at least one tool, wherein the tool is releasably connected to a second end of a tether in the plurality of tethers.

22. The safety vest of claim 16, wherein the at least one tether is further configured with a lock and release function, such that the at least one tether can be releasably locked at a predetermined length of retraction of the cord.

23. The safety vest of claim 16, further comprising:

an inner retractor pocket, further comprising a pocket opening in an upper end of the inner retractor pocket and a cord aperture, in a lower end of the inner retractor pocket;

such that the cord retractor is mounted inside the inner retractor pocket.

24. The safety vest of claim 23, wherein the inner retractor pocket is mounted above and adjacent to the outer tool pocket;

such that that the lower part inside the inner tool pocket overlaps with the upper part of the outer tool pocket;

25. The safety vest of claim 16, further comprising:

26. A safety vest, comprising:

a) a base garment;

c) an inner retractor pocket, further comprising a pocket opening in an upper end of the inner retractor pocket and a cord aperture, in a lower end of the inner retractor pocket;

wherein at least one tether in the plurality of tethers further comprises a cord retractor and a cord;

wherein the cord aperture creates a passage from an inside of the inner retractor pocket to an outside of the base garment;

such that the at least one cord retractor is mounted inside the inner retractor pocket;

such that an extracted part of the cord passes through the cord aperture.

27. The safety vest of claim 26, wherein the base garment is a base vest.