Apparatus and method for maintaining a minimum approach distance for energized utility assets
AssigneeUtility Solutions, Inc.
InventorsLeah Barnes, Thomas Beane, Benjamin Dean Houston, Jonathon S. Spencer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus including a base adapted to be held by a utility worker; an end spaced from and extending outwardly from the base; indicia disposed on the apparatus, the indicia running a length of the apparatus such that the indicia runs from an end point of the end to a base point of the base; and wherein the indicia indicates a measurement from the utility worker to an energized utility asset, the measurement being at a minimum measurement value at the end point and at its maximum measurement value at the base point.
Claims20
An apparatus, comprising:
- a base adapted to be held by a utility worker;
- an end spaced from and extending outwardly from the base;
- indicia disposed on the apparatus, the indicia running a length of the apparatus such that the indicia runs from an end point of the end to a base point of the base;
- and
- wherein the indicia indicates a measurement from the utility worker to an energized utility asset, the measurement being at a minimum measurement value at the end point and at its maximum measurement value at the base point.
An apparatus, comprising:
- a base section adapted to be held by a utility worker;
- an intermediate section configured to be nested within the base section in a collapsed position and extended outwardly from the base section in an extended position;
- an end section configured to be nested within the intermediate section in a collapsed position and extended outwardly from the intermediate section in an extended position;
- indicia disposed on the base section, intermediate section, and end section, the indicia running a length of the apparatus, such that the indicia runs from an end point of the end section to a base point of the base section;
- and
- wherein the indicia indicates a measurement from the utility worker to an energized utility asset, the measurement being zero at the end point and at its maximum measurement at the base point.
A method of maintaining a minimum approach distance, comprising:
- determining a minimum approach distance for an energized utility asset;
- choosing an electrically insulated apparatus having a length equal to or greater than the minimum approach distance;
- extending the apparatus from a utility worker to the energized utility asset and using indicia disposed on the apparatus to measure a distance between a utility worker and the energized utility asset;
- and
- recording the measurement between the utility worker and the energized asset to verify the utility worker is maintaining a minimum approach distance from the energized utility asset.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.