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US 6,349,201 B1Granted
Bullet-proof vest with distress signaling system
OwnerSean Fordinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A garment having at least one layer providing bullet-proof protection for the wearer. One or more additional layers incorporate sensors to detect the magnitude of an impact to generate a signal activating a wireless transmitter to send distress signals and/or positional and other information to a remote base location. Additional sensors may be provided to indicate physical characteristics of the wearer.
Claims22
An apparatus for protecting a user from severe impact and identifying of, the severe impact, the apparatus comprising:
- a vest having an outer sensing layer, an inner sensing layer and a central layer disposed between the inner sensing layer and the outer sensing layer;
- wherein the inner sensing layer and the outer sensing layer respectively initiate an impact signal and a penetration signal when they are respectively subjected to an impact above a predetermined level;
- a transmitter adapted to broadcast a signal notifying that at least one of an impact signal and a penetration signal is generated;
- a global positioning device for determining the location of the apparatus and generating a signal corresponding to that location;
- and
- means for actuating the global positioning device to transmit the location signal when one of said impact signal and said penetration signal is generated.
3 more elements
A garment for providing a signal notifying that a user is subjected to an impact comprising:
- a vest, having:
- an outer protective layer;
- an inner sensing layer disposed adjacent to the protective layer, which sensing layer is adapted to send an impact signal when subjected to an impact above a predetermined level and indicating that the protective layer has been penetrated;
- and
- a transmitter operably engaged to the sensing layer for sending a signal notifying when an impact signal is generated;
- and
- a global positioning device attached to the vest;
- wherein the notifying signal includes information corresponding to a location of the user.
5 more elements
A garment for providing a signal notifying that a user is subjected to an impact comprising:
- a vest, having:
- an outer protective layer;
- an inner sensing layer disposed adjacent to the protective layer, which sensing layer is adapted to send an impact signal when subjected to an impact above a predetermined level and indicating that the protective layer has been penetrated;
- and
- a transmitter operably engaged to the sensing layer for sending a signal notifying when an impact signal is generated;
- a global positioning device attached to the vest;
- wherein the notifying signal includes information corresponding to the location of the user;
- physiological sensors being attached to the vest and operably engaged to the user for generating physiological signals corresponding to selected physical conditions or the user;
- and
- said sensing layer is a first sensing layer, further comprising a second sensing layer attached to the protective layer opposite the first sensing layer.
7 more elements
A garment comprising:
- a first outer layer including a means for sensing an impact on the first layer;
- means for generating an impact signal based on an impact of at least a given value on the first layer;
- means for transmitting a notifying signal based upon the impact signal;
- and
- a second inner-layer designed to resist impact, the second layer being attached to the first layer;
- and
- means for normally preventing said means for transmitting to transmit a notifying signal being responsive to a password to enable transmission of the notifying signal upon entry of a password after occurrence of an impact.
4 more elements
A garment comprising:
- a first outer layer including a means for sensing an impact on the first layer;
- means for generating an impact signal based on an impact of at least a given value on the first layer;
- means for transmitting a notifying signal based upon the impact signal;
- and
- a second inner-layer designed to resist impact, the second layer being attached to the first layer;
- the signal generated by the impact sensing means corresponding to a strength of the impact;
- and
- further comprising a third layer attached to the second layer and a second impact sensing means operably engaged to the third layer for detecting an impact on the third layer, wherein the signal generated by the impact sensing means is based, at least in part, on the impact sensed by the second impact sensing means.
5 more elements
A garment for protecting a wearer from impact blows and for emitting a notifying signal upon delivery of the impact blow comprising:
- a vest having:
- a bullet proof liner;
- and
- a cover layer attached to the bullet proof liner;
- and
- means for sensing an impact on the cover layer and for generating an impact signal;
- and
- means for sending a notifying signal attached to the vest and having:
- means for generating and transmitting a broadcast signal based, at least in part, on the impact signal, which broadcast signal includes information relating to the wearer;
- and
- further comprising an inner liner attached to the bullet proof liner opposite the cover layer, a means for sensing an impact on the inner liner, means for generating a second impact signal corresponding to the impact on the inner liner, wherein the notifying signal includes information regarding the second impact signal.
8 more elements
A garment for protecting a wearer from impact blows and for emitting a notifying signal upon delivery of the impact blow comprising:
- a vest having:
- a bullet proof liner;
- and
- a cover layer attached to the bullet proof liner;
- and
- means for sensing an impact on the cover layer and for generating an impact signal;
- means for sending a notifying signal attached to the vest and having:
- means for generating and transmitting a broadcast signal based, at least in part, on the impact signal, which broadcast signal includes information relating to the wearer;
- and
- wherein the selected message includes information that the wearer is not in danger;
- and further comprising a means for preventing the notifying signal means from sending a notifying signal and responsive to a password applied after an impact to enable transmission of a notifying signal.
8 more elements
In combination, a wearable apparatus for protecting a user from a severe impact and identifying the severe impact and a remote monitor station, the monitor station having a receiver and a transmitter;
- the wearable apparatus comprising:
- a vest having an outer sensing layer, an inner sensing layer and a central layer disposed between the inner sensing layer and the outer sensing layer;
- wherein the inner sensing layer and the outer sensing layer respectively initiate an impact signal and a penetration signal when they are respectively subjected to an impact above respective predetermined levels;
- a transmitter adapted to broadcast a signal notifying that at least one of an impact signal and a penetration signal is generated;
- a global positioning device for determining the location of the apparatus and generating a signal corresponding to that location;
- and
- means for actuating the global positioning device to transmit the location signal when one of said impact signal and said penetration signal is generated;
- said monitor station receiver receiving said notifying signal;
- said monitor station transmitter transmitting a status inquiry signal to a wearer of the vest responsive to a notifying signal received by said monitor station receiver.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.