WEARABLE ELECTRIC FIELD DETECTOR
A wearable electric field detector is configured to detect an electric field generated by a high-voltage electrical source in an environment, and includes a housing providing a cavity in which electrical components are provided, an indicator operatively coupled to the electrical components and configured to provide an alert to the wearer indicative of a strength of a detected electric field, and a spring-biased clip coupled to the housing by a pivotal connection. The clip includes a first arm section which overlays a top wall of the housing, and a second arm section which overlays a front wall of the housing. At least one pin is mounted within a bore in the housing, and a spring within the bore biases the pin outward from the housing and into contact with the second arm section of the clip.
1 . A wearable electric field detector for detecting an electric field generated by a high-voltage electric source in an environment, the electric field detector comprising:
a housing providing a cavity in which electrical components are provided, the housing having top and bottom walls, first and second side walls and front and rear walls;
an indicator operatively coupled to the electrical components and configured to provide an alert to a wearer indicative of a strength of a detected electric field; and
a clip coupled to the housing by a pivotal connection, the clip including a first arm section which overlays the top wall of the housing and which has a free end, and a second arm section extending from the first arm section and which overlays the front wall of the housing, the first arm section having a wall forming a recess on an underside of the first arm section which faces the top wall of the housing and which extends from the free end of the first arm section toward the second arm section.
2 . The wearable electric field detector of claim 1 , wherein the first arm section has opposite sides and a length of the first arm section is defined between the sides of the first arm section, wherein the recess formed by the wall does not extend across the entire length of the first arm section.
3 . The wearable electric field detector of claim 1 , wherein the clip further includes a second wall projecting outward from, and forward from, the first arm section.
4 . The wearable electric field detector of claim 3 , wherein the first and second arms sections are joined at an elbow and the second wall projects from the elbow.
5 . The wearable electric field detector of claim 1 , wherein the first arm section has opposite first and second sides, and the clip further includes a first wing extending from the first side of the first arm section starting at the free end and ending at a first front end, and a second wing extending from the second side the first arm section starting at the free end and ending at a second front end.
6 . The wearable electric field detector of claim 5 , wherein the first and second front ends are spaced from the pivotal coupling.
7 . The wearable electric field detector of claim 5 , wherein an underside surface of each wing which faces the top wall is curved.
8 . The wearable electric field detector of claim 1 , wherein the housing further includes first and second spaced apart projections extending from the top wall, the first and second projections forming a groove therebetween.
9 . The wearable electric field detector of claim 8 , wherein the groove is curved.
10 . The wearable electric field detector of claim 1 , wherein the housing further incudes a first pair of spaced apart projections extending from the top wall between the first arm section of the clip and the first side wall, the first pair of spaced apart projections forming a first groove therebetween, and a second pair of spaced apart projections extending from the top wall between the first arm section of the clip and the second side wall of the housing, the second pair of spaced apart projections forming a second groove therebetween.
11 . The wearable electric field detector of claim 10 , wherein the housing includes third and fourth projections extending from the top wall, the third and fourth projections being provided on opposite sides of the housing.
12 . The wearable electric field detector of claim 11 , wherein each of third and fourth projections has a ramped surface configured to come into contact with an object being inserted between the clip and the housing.
13 . The wearable electric field detector of claim 12 , wherein one of the projections of the first pair has a ramped surface configured to come into contact with the object being inserted between the clip and the housing, and one of the projections of the second pair has a ramped surface configured to come into contact with the object being inserted between the clip and the housing.
14 . The wearable electric field detector of claim 10 , wherein one of the projections of the first pair has a ramped surface configured to come into contact with an object being inserted between the clip and the housing, and one of the projections of the second pair has a ramped surface configured to come into contact with the object being inserted between the clip and the housing.
15 . The wearable electric field detector of claim 10 , and a hard hat.
16 . The wearable electric field detector of claim 1 , wherein the clip is spring biased.
17 . A wearable electric field detector for detecting an electric field generated by a high-voltage electric source in an environment, the wearable electric field detector comprising:
a housing having a top wall, first side wall and a second opposite side wall, a first pair of spaced apart projections extending from the top wall and forming a first curved groove therebetween, a second pair of spaced apart projections extending from the top wall and forming a second curved groove therebetween, the housing providing a cavity in which electrical components are provided;
an indicator operatively coupled to the electrical components and configured to provide an alert to a wearer indicative of a strength of a detected electric field;
a clip coupled to the housing by a pivotal connection, the clip including a first arm section which overlays a top wall of the housing, and a second arm section which overlays a front wall of the housing; and
wherein the first pair of spaced apart projections are provided between the first arm section of the clip and the first side wall of the housing, and the second pair of spaced apart projections are provided between the first arm section of the clip and the second side wall of the housing.
18 . The wearable electric field detector of claim 17 , wherein the housing has a bore which is open to an outer surface of the housing; and further comprising a pin mounted within the bore in the housing, and a spring within the bore and engaged with the housing and the pin, wherein the spring biases the pin outward from the housing and into contact with the second arm section of the clip.
19 . The wearable electric field detector of claim 17 , wherein the housing includes third and fourth projections extending from the top wall, the third and fourth projections being provided on opposite sides of the housing.
20 . A wearable electric field detector for detecting an electric field generated by a high-voltage electric source in an environment, the wearable electric field detector comprising:
a housing providing a cavity in which electrical components are provided, the housing further having a first blind bore having a closed end and an opposite open end which is open to an outer surface of the housing and a second blind bore having a closed end and an opposite open end which is open to the outer surface of the housing;
an indicator operatively coupled to the electrical components and configured to provide an alert to a wearer indicative of a strength of a detected electric field;
a clip coupled to the housing by a pivotal connection, the clip including a first arm section which overlays a top wall of the housing and a second arm section which overlays a front wall of the housing, the first and second arm sections being coupled together at an elbow, each arm section having a free end opposite to the elbow;
a first pin mounted within the first blind bore in the housing and configured extend through the open end of the first blind bore to be directly engaged with the second arm section;
a first spring within the first blind bore and engaged with the housing and the first pin;
a second pin mounted within the second blind bore in the housing and configured extend through the open end of the second blind bore to be directly engaged with the second arm section; and
a second spring within the second blind bore and engaged with the housing and the second pin,
wherein the free end of the second arm section is positioned away from the front wall and the free end of the first arm section is positioned proximate to the top wall when the first and second springs are each in an expanded condition, and wherein the free end of the second arm section is positioned proximate to the front wall and the free end of the first arm section is positioned away from the top wall when the first and second springs are each in a compressed condition.
21 . The wearable electric field detector of claim 20 , wherein the housing further includes first and second spaced apart projections extending from the top wall, the first and second projections forming a groove therebetween, and wherein the first arm section has opposite first and second sides, and the clip further includes a first wing extending from the first side of the first arm section starting at the free end and ending at a first front end, and a second wing extending from the second side the first arm section starting at the free end and ending at a second front end.
22 . The wearable electric field detector of claim 21 , wherein the housing further includes third and fourth projections extending from the top wall, the third and fourth projections being provided on opposite sides of the housing.