Portable and rapid communication or signaling systems with tactile identification

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11830353-B2
Application number	US-202217884016-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 9, 2022
Priority date	Aug 9, 2021
Publication date	Nov 28, 2023
Grant date	Nov 28, 2023

Abstract

A portable and rapid communication or signaling device and related methods for operating or using tactile identification structures as well as coupling/mounting/release structures which enable rapid identification of similarly shaped objects and rapid deployment or use with safety or other equipment. Various embodiments enable using a common mounting location of these similarly shaped objects that each have different spectrum or color emissive capabilities that improve operator selection within conditions further impairing identification and employment and increase operator cognitive load.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method of configuring, loading, selecting, and employing one of a number of visual, near-infrared, or infrared emitters from a plurality of such emitters using tactile sensory based emitter selection or identification structures comprising:
selecting a plurality of electromagnetic frequencies to communicate, mark, designate, or indicate (CMDI), wherein said selected electromagnetic frequencies comprise electromagnetic energy within visual, near-infrared, or infrared spectrum, wherein each of said selected electromagnetic frequencies is associated with a marking, communicating, designating, identifying action;
providing a mobile storage or employment structure comprising attachment or storage structures comprising a vest or garment with pockets or loop attachment structures;
providing a plurality CMDI systems that respectively emits electromagnetic emissions within one frequency range falling within said selected visual, near-infra-red, or infrared spectrum, wherein each of CMDI system comprises:
a chemiluminescent device (CD) that emits said electromagnetic emissions within said one frequency range, wherein said CD is further formed with a first end and a second end, wherein the CD is formed with a breakable internal vessel comprising a first liquid, wherein the CD is further formed with a flexible outer housing that is further filled with a second liquid, wherein the first and second liquid when combined after flexing of the flexible outer housing and breakage of the breakable internal vessel form a chemiluminescent compound or mixture that emits one of a plurality of visual, near-infra-red, or infrared spectrum light emissions, wherein the second end is formed with an CD attachment section formed with at least an CD attachment section aperture and hook structure, wherein the CD attachment section extends away from the CD body;
a case formed to receive a portion of the CD that is formed with a quick release structure comprising a tear strip or coupler that enables the case to be quickly removed wherein the case is formed to block light emissions from the CD until removed; a tactile selection structure comprising:
a first cap formed with a tactile selection shape, wherein the first cap has a first and second cap end opposing said first cap end, said first cap end is further formed with a first cylindrical section with enclosing walls and having a first open end that is formed so that one end of said case inserts into said first open end, wherein said first cap is formed with a one of a plurality of said tactile sensory based emitter selection or identification structures comprising a square, a pyramid, cylinder, and rounded shapes, wherein the first cap is formed with a first set of self-tapping internal threads adapted to grip or cut into said first end of the CD;
a second cap formed with internal threads formed with a second set of self-tapping internal threads adapted to grip or cut into the second end of CD, wherein the second end cap is further formed with an end cap aperture that is adapted to receive and allow the CD attachment section to protrude from so that the CD body attachment aperture is not covered by the second cap;
a first and second lanyard connection section respectively formed into the first and second cap; and
an elastic line, wherein a first end of the elastic line is coupled with said first lanyard connection section and a second end of the elastic line is coupled with the second lanyard connection section, wherein said elastic line is formed with a length that applies a first elastic compressive force pulling the first second caps together; coupling together a plurality of the CMDIs that emit different ones of said plurality of visual, near infrared, or infrared spectrum light emissions by passing a cord or loop through all of said CD attachment section apertures then coupling the cord or loop to a section of the mobile storage system or employment structure;
donning gloves and moving into a low or no light area with the CMDIs; identifying one of said CMDI actions associated with a respective one of said plurality of said tactile sensory based emitter selection or identification structures;
selecting one of said plurality of the CMDI systems with a respective said first cap formed with said respective one of said plurality of tactile sensor based selection or identification structures; and
withdrawing and activating said selected one of said CMDI systems from the mobile storage system or employment structure by ripping the CMDI system from the cord or loop that is coupled to the mobile storage system or employment structure and thereby tearing or opening a portion of the CD attachment section to allow the cord or loop to pass from an affected CD attachment section aperture; and
placing, coupling, or moving the selected and activated one of said CMDI systems in in accordance with a selected one of said CDMI actions;
wherein at least some said plurality of CMDI systems have at least two or more different tactile sensory based emitter selection or identification structures comprising a square, a pyramid, cylinder, or rounded shapes; wherein said plurality of CMDI systems are grouped together and attached to said mobile storage or employment structure;
wherein at least the first cap's the first cylindrical section's enclosing walls are formed with a wall thickness and material section that require a first force to screw the first cap onto the first end of the CD without rupturing the first end of the CD or tearing or splitting the first cylindrical section's enclosing walls, wherein said first force is no more than ten inch pounds of torque;
wherein the first and second caps are formed with a material that is harder than the first end of the CD, wherein the first end of the CD is formed of a plastic material that deforms or is cut into when the first end cap is screwed on the first end of the CD but does not rupture the CD structure.

2. A method as in claim 1 , wherein a thickness of the first and second end caps is not less than 1/16th of an inch when manufacturing the end caps with ABS or PLA produced with an additive manufacturing process.

3. A method as in claim 1 , wherein the CMDI actions comprise placing the CD at a location that is within a field of view of an observer, throwing the CD with respect to a target location, coupling the CD with an object, or moving the CD with respect to field of view observable from an external observation point or points to attract attention of an observer at the external observation point or points.

4. A method of configuring, loading, selecting, and employing one of a number of visual, near-infrared, or infrared emitters from a plurality of such emitters using tactile sensory based emitter selection or identification structures comprising:
selecting a plurality of electromagnetic frequencies to communicate, mark, designate, or indicate (CMDI), wherein each of said selected electromagnetic frequencies is associated with a CDMI action;
providing a plurality CMDI systems that respectively emits electromagnetic emissions within one frequency range falling within said selected visual, near-infra-red, or infrared spectrum, wherein each of CMDI system comprises:
a chemiluminescent device (CD) that emits said electromagnetic emissions within said one frequency range, wherein said CD is further formed with a first end and a second end, wherein the CD is formed with a breakable internal vessel comprising a first liquid, wherein the CD is further formed with a flexible outer housing that is further filled with a second liquid, wherein the first and second liquid when combined after flexing of the flexible outer housing and breakage of the breakable internal vessel form a chemiluminescent compound or mixture that emits one of a plurality of visual, near inf

Assignees

• Us Navy
• The United States Of America Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy

Inventors

• Dale Kenny
• Garza Enrique
• Roberts Noah
• Kelstrup Shawn
• Chen Jesse
• Jones Gerrot
• Zaloudek Lee
• Yung Darrel

Classifications

• G08B6/00 Primary

  Tactile signalling systems, e.g. tactile personal calling systems · CPC title

• A45F5/02 Primary

  Fastening articles to the garment · CPC title