Method and apparatus for warning individuals of unsafe zones
AssigneeJervis B. Webb International Company
InventorBrian G. Stewart
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system and method for warning an individual of entry into an unsafe zone, particularly one that includes a floor or overhead conveyor, comprises a plurality of flexible upright members. The members are arranged to cover or affront the unsafe zone and are at a height so that an individual will contact and deform the members. Such contact then warns the individual that he or she is entering or approaching an unsafe zone. The flexible upright members can be arranged in separable or integral fashion on one or more bases. When using a plurality of bases, the bases can be sized and arranged to cover or abut any configuration of an unsafe zone.
Claims23
A method of warning an individual of an unsafe zone comprising:
- a) identifying an unsafe zone;
- b) providing a plurality of members, each of said members having an elongated shape and being resiliently flexible so as to regain said elongated shape after being deformed;
- and
- c) warning the individual by arranging said plurality of members to cover the unsafe zone and selecting the length of each member such that an individual can sense entering the unsafe zone by contact between a body part of the individual and at least a portion of the plurality of members.
A warning system for alerting an individual to an unsafe zone comprising:
- a) a plurality of members, each of said members having an elongated shape and being flexibly resilient so as to regain said elongated shape after being deformed;
- and
- b) at least one base, said at least one base supporting at least a portion of said plurality of members;
- c) wherein said at least one base is arranged to substantially cover the unsafe zone and distribute said plurality of members across the unsafe zone, each member being sized in length so that said individual is warned of entering the unsafe zone by contact between at least one of said members and said individual.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.