Driver and safety personnel protection apparatus, system and method

Abstract

A system of increasing the safety of motor sports drivers and safety crews including a driver's safety suit having bodily function monitoring capability and the ability to transmit monitored information to an information processing station. A helmet, to be worn by safety crew members, the helmet having communications capability for communication with an information processing station. The helmet having various safety, comfort, communication and protection elements. A driver's helmet having features that provide safety, comfort, protection and communication capabilities. The system also having triage capability in the event of a track incident to further protect and enhance the safety and well being of a driver involved in an incident.

1 . A system for increasing the personal safety of motor sports competition drivers and motor sports rescue personnel comprising the systems and apparatus as set forth in provisional patent application 60/676,2226.  
   
   
       2 . A racing accident integration system to be used by a safety crew and a race driver comprising: 
 a helmet for the safety crew, the helmet having a communication system including a microphone and a virtual retinal display;    a driver's suit for the driver, the driver's suit having a vital signs monitor and a communication link to allow communication between the driver's suit and the helmet of the safety crew.    
   
   
       3 . The invention in accordance with  claim 2  wherein the virtual retinal display of the safety crew helmet can display vital signs information sent from the driver's suit.  
   
   
       4 . The invention in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the communications link is a unit that receives life monitoring system information as data transmitted from the driver's suit.  
   
   
       5 . The invention in accordance with  claim 4  wherein the communications link unit is a remote receiver that will receive information from the driver's suit and process the information.  
   
   
       6 . The invention in accordance with  claim 5  where in the communications link unit includes an interface informing the safety crew of each of the drivers' condition after an accident and prioritizing the order of attending to a driver by the severity of their injuries. ` 
   
   
       7 . The invention in accordance with  claim 2  wherein a switch controls the virtual retinal display and when switched allows the virtual retinal display to switch from an initial display panel showing car numbers of cars involved in the accident to a panel showing the vital signs of a driver of a car involved in the accident.  
   
   
       8 . The invention in accordance with  claim 2  wherein a switch controls the virtual retinal display and when switched allows the virtual retinal display to switch from an initial display panel showing car numbers of cars involved in the accident to a panel showing the medical history of a driver of a car involved in the accident.  
   
   
       9 . The invention in accordance with  claim 2  wherein the a driver's suit comprises fabric including sensors sensing biometric information.  
   
   
       10 . The invention in accordance with  claim 9  wherein the sensors are connected by optical fibers to a multi-function processor.  
   
   
       11 . A method of having a safety crew attend to a group of drivers involved in an accident comprising the acts of: 
 providing a helmet for the safety crew, the helmet having a communication system including a microphone and a virtual retinal display;    providing a driver's suit for the driver, the driver's suit having a vital signs monitor and a communication link to allow communication between the driver's suit and the helmet of the safety crew.    
   
   
       12 . The method in accordance with  claim 11  further comprising the act of using the virtual retinal display of the safety crew helmet to display vital signs information sent from the driver's suit.  
   
   
       13 . The method in accordance with  claim 11  wherein the communications link is a unit that receives life monitoring system information as data transmitted from the driver's suit.  
   
   
       14 . The method in accordance with  claim 13  wherein the communications link unit is a remote receiver that will receive information from the driver's suit and process the information.  
   
   
       15 . The method in accordance with  claim 14  where in the communications link unit includes an interface informing the safety crew of each of the drivers' condition after an accident and prioritizing the order of attending to a driver by the severity of their injuries.  
   
   
       16 . The method in accordance with  claim 11  wherein a switch controls the virtual retinal display and when switched allows the virtual retinal display to switch from an initial display panel showing car numbers of cars involved in the accident to a panel showing the vital signs of a driver of a car involved in the accident.  
   
   
       17 . The method in accordance with  claim 11  wherein a switch controls the virtual retinal display and when switched allows the virtual retinal display to switch from an initial display panel showing car numbers of cars involved in the accident to a panel showing the medical history of a driver of a car involved in the accident.  
   
   
       18 . The method in accordance with  claim 11  wherein the a driver's suit comprises fabric including sensors sensing biometric information.  
   
   
       19 . The invention in accordance with  claim 18  wherein the sensors are connected by optical fibers to a multi-function processor.