3M Innovative Properties Company

Caroline M Ylitalo

Richard L Severance

Matthew T Scholz

Mahfuza B Ali

Robin Edgar Wright

Kui Chen-Ho

Travis L Potts

Jeffrey O Emslander

Steven T Awiszus

Kiran S Kanukurthy

David J Kinning

Glenn E Casner

Guruprasad Somasundaram

Bruce A Nerad

Naiyong Jing

Patrick R Fleming

James M Jonza

Neeraj Sharma

Britton G Billingsley

Michael A McCoy

Jonathan Dale Gandrud

Robert W Shannon

William J Hunt

John Allen Wheatley

Eric C Lobner

Yongshang Lu

Patrick Darby Hyde

James G Carlson

Philip G Martin

Todd R Williams

Steven H Kong

William Ward Merrill

Mark J Pellerite

William Bedingham

Mario Alberto Perez

Douglas Scott Dunn

Christopher P Henderson

Kevin D Landgrebe

Scott A Burton

Diane R Wolk

Ranjani V Parthasarathy

Louis C Haddad

David T Yust

Prabhakara Satyauolu Rao

Suman K Patel

James W Howard

Paul D Graham

Zhigang Yu

Andrew S Viner

Gina M Buccellato

Alan G Miller

Yifan Zhang

Christopher K Haas

Maria A Appeaning

Nathan J Anderson

Andrew H Tilstra

James B Snyder

Audrey A Sherman

Kevin Michael Lewandowski

Larry R Krepski

Michael Alan Meis

Brant Ulrick Kolb

Duane Douglas Fansler

Kurt J Halverson

Neal A Rakow

Hassan Sahouani

Joseph D Rule

Kevin R Schaffer

Christopher Bland Walker, Jr

John Charles Clark

Yu Yang

Suresh Iyer

Kim Marie Vogel

Joseph Clark Carls

Andrew P Bonifas

Kevin W Gotrik

Douglas Eugene Weiss

James P Endle

Alphonsus V Pocius

Alexander J Kugel

James D Carlson

John M Brandner

Jeffrey L Solomon

Robert D Taylor

Chin-Yee Ng

Paul A Martinson

Kanta Kumar

Chester A Bacon, Jr

Terry R Hobbs

Steven P Swanson

Thu-Van T Tran

Marie A Boulos

Pradnya V Nagarkar

Nicholas G Amell

Katie Fraass Wlaschin

John M Sebastian

Stephen E Krampe

Jonathan B Arthur

Robert Steven Kody

Jeffrey T Anderson

A nose foam for a respiratory protection device is presented that includes a first check portion, a second check portion, and a nose bridge portion. The first and second check portions are both wider than the nose bridge portion. The nose foam is selected for the respiratory protection device by a computer-based respiratory protection device selection system, based on a facial feature of a wearer.

Systems and methods for improved respiratory protection devices

The present disclosure relates to a hearing protector () with a sensor module () having a module sensor (). The sensor module () is removably attached to the cushion () and the cup (A,A) of the earmuff () of the hearing protector (). The hearing protector () according to present disclosure allows the arrangement of sensors at a hearing protector () in an easy and cost-efficient way even with multiple sensors. The advantage of such a hearing protector () is an easy, compact and reliable solution of a hearing protector () providing information about the environment and about the conditions of the user () or worker using such a hearing protector (). Also, a method of retrofitting such a sensor module () to a hearing protector () is provided. Such a method is advantageous because reversible retrofitting of existing hearing protectors () not having the required functionality of sensors is provided.

Hearing protector with sensor module and method of retrofitting a hearing protector with a sensor module

A method for determining personal protective equipment (PPE) comfort for an individual wearer includes defining a first anatomical shape data representative of an anatomical area of the individual wearer prior to donning a PPE, a second anatomical shape data representative of the anatomical area of the individual wearer after donning the PPE, and comparing the first anatomical shape data with the second anatomical shape data. The method further includes determining a soft skin tissue deformation at a plurality of predetermined anatomical positions based on the comparison between the first anatomical shape data and the second anatomical shape data, and determining a displacement comfort threshold (CTd) value based on the soft skin tissue deformation. The method also includes determining a pressure pain threshold (PPT) value, and determining a comfort metric based on the PPT values and the CTd values. The method also includes generating a notification corresponding to the comfort metric.

System and method for determining personal protective equipment comfort

Augmented reality-based training systems that can dynamically construct and render AR content based on physical attributes of a user to train the user to correctly fit one or more articles of a personal protective equipment (PPE) onto the user's body. In some examples, an AR system includes a display and a computing device having a memory and one or more processors. The memory can include instructions that, when executed by the processors, simulate a fitting of PPE to a worker. The system can capture an image of a worker, select a digital model of the PPE, determine alignment of the PPE to the worker, and output for display augmented reality content that includes a composite image of the worker overlaid with the digital model of the PPE in accordance with the determined alignment.

Personal protective equipment training system with user-specific augmented reality content construction and rendering

The present disclosure includes in one instance an optical article comprising a data rich plurality of retroreflective elements that are configured in a spatially defined arrangement, where the plurality of retroreflective elements comprise retroreflective elements having at least two different retroreflective properties, and where data rich means information that is readily machine interpretable. The present disclosure also includes a system comprising the previously mentioned optical article, an optical system, and an inference engine for interpreting and classifying the plurality of retroreflective elements wherein the optical system feeds data to the inference engine.

Optical articles and systems interacting with the same

Optical articles including a spatially defined arrangement of a plurality of data rich retroreflective elements, wherein the plurality of retroreflective elements comprise retroreflective elements having at least two different retroreflective properties and at least two different optical contrasts with respect to a background substrate when observed within an ultraviolet spectrum, a visible spectrum, a near-infrared spectrum, or a combination thereof.

A system includes a computing device a personal protective equipment (PPE) device. The PPE device is configured to be worn by a worker and includes and at least one physiological sensor configured to generate physiological data indicative of one or more physiological characteristics of a worker. The computing device is configured to determine a safety risk score for the worker based at least in part on the physiological data and a risk profile associated with the worker.

Personal protective equipment and safety management system having active worker sensing and assessment

Various embodiments of a respirator that includes a harness, a mask body, and an exhalation valve are disclosed. The exhalation valve can include a valve seat and a flexible flap that is in engagement with the valve seat. The flexible flap can have one or more materials that can cause the flap to flash when moving from a closed position to an open position or vice versa. The flashing valve can make it easier for a user to ascertain whether the valve is operating properly.

Respirator having optically active exhalation valve

In some examples, a system () includes a hearing protector (); at least one position sensor; at least one sound monitoring sensor; at least one computing device configured to: receive, from the at least one sound monitoring sensor and over a time duration, indications of sound levels to which a worker is exposed; determine, from the at least one position sensor and during the time duration, that the hearing protector is not positioned at one or more ears of the worker to attenuate the sound levels; and generate, in response to the determination that at least one of the sound levels satisfies an exposure threshold during the time duration and the hearing protector is not positioned at one or more ears of the worker to attenuate the sound levels, an indication for output.

Hearing protector with positional and sound monitoring sensors for proactive sound hazard avoidance

In general, techniques are described for a personal protective equipment (PPE) management system (PPEMS) that uses images of optical patterns embodied on articles of personal protective equipment (PPEs) to identify safety conditions that correspond to usage of the PPEs. In one example, an article of personal protective equipment (PPE) includes a first optical pattern embodied on a surface of the article of PPE; a second optical pattern embodied on the surface of the article of PPE, wherein a spatial relation between the first optical pattern and the second optical pattern is indicative of an operational status of the article of PPE.

Personal protective equipment management system using optical patterns for equipment and safety monitoring

The present disclosure includes in one instance an optical article comprising a data rich plurality of retroreflective meats that are configured in a spatially defined arrangement, where the plurality of retroreflective elements comprise retroreflective elements having at least two different retroreflective properties, and where data rich means information that is readily machine interpretable. The present disclosure also includes a system comprising the previously mentioned optical article, an optical system, and an inference engine for interpreting and classifying the plurality of retroreflective elements wherein the optical system feeds data to the inference engine.

A ring-shaped cushion for a hearing protector or audio headset. The cushion has a circumferential contact pad for sealing on a wearer's head and an attachment for sealing with an earmuff. The cushion further has a sound insulation tube that inwardly defines an inner space. The sound insulation tube extends between the contact pad and the attachment. The cushion has a ventilation passage that extends entirely through the cushion between an inlet opening in the contact pad and an area outside of the inner space. The cushion may further include one or more physiological sensors to monitor the health of a wearer.

Cushion for a hearing protector or audio headset

A method of fit testing includes providing a respirator; providing a sensor having a sensing element removably positioned substantially within an interior gas space of the respirator; providing a reader configured to be in wireless communication with the sensor; positioning the respirator over a mouth and a nose of a user while the sensor is positioned substantially within an interior gas space of the respirator; and observing respirator fit assessment data communicated from the sensor to the reader.

Fit-test method for respirator with sensing system

A system and method of selecting personal protection equipment (PPE) for a worker. The system identifies sets of PPEs and simulates a fitting of the identified PPE sets to the worker. Fitting includes, for each of the identified PPE sets, selecting a three-dimensional computer model for each article of the PPE set, placing the computer model of each of the PPE articles of the PPE set being fitted on a computer model representing the worker, identifying collisions between the computer models as placed, and taking an action based on the identified collisions.

Automated fitting of multiple articles of personal protection equipment concurrently worn by a user

Growing community of inventors

Stillwater, MN, United States of America

Caroline M Ylitalo