Safety System with Digital Tracking and Reporting and Method of Use
Patent Number: US 11298572 Grant Date: 2022-04-12 Filing Date: 2018-05-22
Overview
This patent describes a tethered safety harness system that combines robust mechanical design with sensor-driven monitoring and reporting to protect climbers and elevated workers. The apparatus centers on a compact base containing a retraction assembly, sealed spools, magnetic-encoded straps and mag‑reed switches that together provide continuous strap‑length and motion sensing. The system implements local alarms, an analog gate-based fail‑safe between battery and alarm, and on‑device processing (altimeter, GPS/proximity options) while supporting device and server applications for supervisor dashboards and logging. Filed in May 2018 and granted in April 2022, the patent was prosecuted for inventors based in College Station and Liberty, Texas, and assigned to Smart Harness Systems, LLC of College Station, TX. The claims and specification reflect careful claim drafting to cover both mechanical retraction/locking hardware and the software/cloud monitoring architecture, demonstrating the firm’s technical breadth in electromechanical and IoT safety solutions.
Key Features
- Magnetic‑encoded strap markers with mag‑reed sensing for reliable length and movement detection
- Dual retractable tether spools with key‑lock pin enclosures to prevent unintended release
- Analog gate circuitry that ties sensor state to a battery‑to‑alarm fail‑safe for immediate local alerts
- Integrated electronics: PCB, altimeter, communication hardware and on‑device logging
- Optional networked reporting and supervisor dashboards for site‑level oversight and incident records
By tying mechanical fall‑protection hardware to sensor fusion and cloud reporting, this invention advances practical worker safety and compliance for construction, utilities, and industrial maintenance sectors.
Invention Details
Abstract: A safety monitoring harness system for the protection of a climber comprising: said safety monitoring harness system comprising a base, a one or more tether assemblies, a retraction assembly, an alarm system, a strap length sensor assembly, and a power system. Said one or more tether assemblies comprising at least a first tether assembly and a second tether assembly. Said one or more tether assemblies each comprising a strap, and an anchoring hook. Said safety monitoring harness system is configured to selectively attach to said climber by: attaching a harness assembly to said climber, and securing said base to said harness assembly. A portion of said retraction assembly is enclosed within said base. Said retraction assembly are configured to selectively retract and release portions of said strap from within said base.
Summary of the Invention: A safety monitoring harness system for the protection of a climber comprising: said safety monitoring harness system comprising a base, a one or more tether assemblies, a retraction assembly, an alarm system, a strap length sensor assembly, and a power system. Said one or more tether assemblies comprising at least a first tether assembly and a second tether assembly. Said one or more tether assemblies each comprising a strap, and an anchoring hook. Said safety monitoring harness system is configured to selectively attach to said climber by: attaching a harness assembly to said climber, and securing said base to said harness assembly. A portion of said retraction assembly is enclosed within said base. Said retraction assembly are configured to selectively retract and release portions of said strap from within said base. Said base tracks the position of said one or more tether assemblies by measuring portions of said strap inside and outside of said base. Said anchoring hook selectively retract and extend between a plurality of lengths. Said plurality of lengths comprise at least a retracted length and a fully extended length. Said anchoring hook are configured to selectively attach to an anchor point. Said safety monitoring harness system is configured to measure the movement of said strap by measuring movement of a plurality of strap markers relative to a one or more mag reed switches. Said safety monitoring harness system is configured to monitor use of said one or more tether assemblies by said climber by: monitoring a change in the position of said one or more tether assemblies over time, verifying that at least one among said one or more tether assemblies is extended, and verifying that at least one among said one or more tether assemblies which is extended is showing movement rather than a fixed length.
Patent Document
Related: Computer Science & Software | Mechanical Engineering | Electrical Engineering | Safety Systems | Software And Electronics | College Station, Texas | Liberty, Texas | Shannon Warren, Patent Attorney