US 12,033,024 B2
Determining conditions of components removably coupled to personal protection equipment
Michael E. Hamerly, Vadnais Heights, MN (US); Lawrence J. Ptasienski, North Oaks, MN (US); Neal A. Rakow, Woodbury, MN (US); and Cristina U. Thomas, Stillwater, MN (US)
Assigned to 3M Innovative Properties Company, St. Paul, MN (US)
Filed by 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY, St. Paul, MN (US)
Filed on May 4, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/661,920.
Application 17/661,920 is a continuation of application No. 16/948,407, filed on Sep. 17, 2020, granted, now 11,354,523.
Application 16/948,407 is a continuation of application No. 16/543,726, filed on Aug. 19, 2019, granted, now 10,817,683, issued on Oct. 27, 2020.
Application 16/543,726 is a continuation of application No. 15/350,556, filed on Nov. 14, 2016, granted, now 10,387,696, issued on Aug. 20, 2019.
Application 15/350,556 is a continuation of application No. 12/671,924, granted, now 9,492,690, issued on Nov. 15, 2016, previously published as PCT/US2008/067473, filed on Jun. 19, 2008.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/999,746, filed on Aug. 31, 2007.
Prior Publication US 2022/0261564 A1, Aug. 18, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A62B 9/00 (2006.01); G06K 7/10 (2006.01); G21F 3/02 (2006.01)
CPC G06K 7/10366 (2013.01) [A62B 9/006 (2013.01); G21F 3/02 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system comprising:
an article of personal protection equipment (PPE) that can be worn by a user, and at least one component coupled to the article of PPE;
a smart tag coupled to the at least one component or the article of PPE;
a computing device comprising one or more computer processors and a memory that further comprises instructions that when executed by the one or more computer processors cause the one or more computer processors to:
determine a duration of usage of the component based on tracked data received from the smart tag, wherein the duration of usage represents a total exposure time of the component to a particular type of work environment based on a cumulative value of the tracked data; and
determine a condition of the component based at least in part on a determination of whether the duration of usage of the component exceeds a predetermined service life of the component.