Device Locking Systems, Lock Trees, and Lockout Methods
AssigneeLok-Alert, LLC
InventorsCarl R. Morrow, G. Jeff Maestretti
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Device locking systems, lock trees, and lockout methods are described according to some aspects. In one aspect, a device locking system includes a lock system configurable into a first configuration to lock a device to be secured and a second configuration wherein the lock system is configured to be attached to or removed from the device, wherein the lock system is configured to be locked into the first configuration at a desired moment in time by at least one lock, and circuitry configured to generate an alarm responsive to a change of the configuration of the lock system from the first configuration to the second configuration.
Claims21
1-24. (canceled)
A hazard alarm method comprising:
- using a control of a hazardous device, providing the hazardous device in a reduced hazard state which presents less risk compared with another state of operation of the hazardous device;
- locking the control of the hazardous device to maintain the hazardous device in the reduced hazardous state;
- locking alarm circuitry to the hazardous device;
- using the alarm circuitry locked to the hazardous device, monitoring a state of the locking of the control of the hazardous device;
- during the monitoring, detecting a change in the state of the locking of the control of the hazardous device;
- and
- as a result of the detecting, generating an alarm signal to indicate the change in the state of the locking of the control of the hazardous device.
A hazard alarm method comprising:
- configuring a hazardous device from a first state to a second state, the hazardous device presenting reduced risk of injury to an individual accessing the hazardous device in the second state compared with the first state;
- attaching a lock system to the hazardous device in the second state to lock the hazardous device in the second state and to impede changing the hazardous device to the first state while the lock system is attached to the hazardous device;
- with the lock system attached to the hazardous device, changing a state of the lock system from an unlocked state to a locked state using at least one lock to impede removal of the lock system from the hazardous device and to impede changing the hazardous device from the second state to the first state;
- with the lock system attached to the hazardous device, monitoring a state of the lock system;
- and
- communicating a signal indicating the state of the lock system.
A hazardous device lock system comprising:
- a lock system configured to be attached and locked to a hazardous device which has different operational states, and wherein the hazardous device presents different risks of injury to an individual accessing the hazardous device while the hazardous device is in the different operational states;
- wherein the lock system is further configured to lock the hazardous device in one of the different operational states which presents reduced risk of injury to the individual and to impede changing of the hazardous device to an other of the different operational states when the lock system is attached and locked to the hazardous device, the other of the different operational states having increased risk of injury to the individual compared with the one of the different operational states;
- monitoring circuitry physically coupled with the lock system and locked to the hazardous device when the lock system is attached and locked to the hazardous device;
- and
- wherein the monitoring circuitry is configured to monitor a state of the lock system and to generate an alarm to indicate that the lock system is not locked to the hazardous device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.