The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 23, 2018
Filed:
Mar. 24, 2017
Warwick Mills Inc., New Ipswich, NH (US);
Charles A. Howland, Temple, NH (US);
John C. Howland, Cambridge, MA (US);
Warwick Mills Inc., New Ipswich, NH (US);
Abstract
An apparatus for protecting a power tool user includes a glove or other garment having at least one sensor that monitors proximity to the power tool. Glove embodiments can include finger and/or thumb proximity sensors, and/or sensors that detect hand position, finger and/or wrist joint angle, vibration, and/or acceleration. Sensing targets can be retroactively installed on the power tool, and can define warning and/or danger zones. Sensing can be via magnetic, electromagnetic, capacitive, eddy current, and/or range finding means. Sizes of warning and/or target areas can be controlled by selecting targets from a plurality of targets of various detection ranges. Protective responses can vary according to different sensed events, and can include audible, visual, and/or tactile alerts, and/or interruption of power to the tool. Embodiments can record proximity and/or status data during a work session for review, training, and certification purposes. A controller can be physically cooperative with the garment.