Patent Application
20160101300
1. Technical Field
The present disclosure generally relates to a safety cushioning device and, more particularly, to an airbag device incorporating one or more inflatable tubes for absorbing the impact of a person or object at the end of a fall or jump from an elevated height.
2. Related Art
Safety devices for absorbing the impact of people free falling or jumping from elevated heights are regularly employed in extreme sports, amusement, and circus environments. For example, in circus environments a person may be shot from a cannon into a high arc, ending with a free fall into a net. Similarly, acrobats swinging high overhead on a trapeze may end a performance with a somersault or free fall into a net below.
In other examples, a movie stuntman may jump or fall from the top of a structure or high building onto a large airbag below. In extreme sports, very difficult and dangerous maneuvers and acrobatics, particularly aerial maneuvers and acrobatics, are attempted and the performer, upon returning to earth, may be cushioned by an airbag.
One of the problems with large air-filled bags sometimes used by stuntmen or extreme sports performers is that it takes a considerable amount of time for these bags to re-inflate or re-coil after a use. In applications, such as amusement or fun park environments, where aerobatic stunts are performed continuously in short intervals, the time it takes to re-coil the airbag is critical.
Also, the over-pressurization of certain existing airbags presents a possible safety hazard. In particular, the pressurization of certain airbags creates a bounce-back or re-bound factor that makes it potentially dangerous for anyone falling outside of a central area, or “sweet spot,” of the airbag. In the same way, the use of safety nets are mostly limited to trained professionals because of the potential to ensnare or otherwise injure limbs if one falls into the net the wrong way.
An additional potential safety hazard present in existing safety airbags is the use a single top sheet for the landing surface. In the event that the top sheet is ripped or otherwise damaged during use, the airbag could possibly rupture, or the person using the device could possibly be injured by falling through the top sheet in the airbag interior.
Inflatable airbag safety devices currently exist that incorporate one or more collapsible pop-up tubes (sometimes called “crumple tubes”) to cushion the free fall of an individual. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,357,728 discloses one such device. Such devices sometimes use a top sheet to serve as the landing surface. The top sheet is, in turn, fastened on its underside to the top of each collapsible tube. In the event that the top sheet is damaged or otherwise compromised during use, the top sheet can only be disassembled and exchanged by deflating the entire airbag and detaching each collapsible crumple tube from the underside of the top sheet, which is a very inefficient and time-consuming process.
Accordingly, a need therefore exists for a durable, safe and air-efficient device for absorbing the impact of persons or objects free-falling from elevated heights for amusement, recreation, entertainment, commercial, safety and fire/rescue purposes. A need also exists for an airbag safety device having a landing surface that may be quickly assembled and disassembled for repair and/or re-use.
An airbag device is provided for cushioning the free fall of an individual from an elevated height. In one example, the device may include an inflatable base bag capable of sustaining an air pressure, and an inflatable structure coupled to the base bag, where the inflatable structure is in fluid communication with the base bag. A net may be coupled to a top portion of the inflatable structure, where the net is adapted to catch and decelerate the individual from free fall.
A safety system for cushioning the free fall of an individual from an elevated height is also provided. The system includes an inflatable base bag capable of sustaining an air pressure, and an inflatable structure coupled to the base bag, where the inflatable structure is on in fluid communication with the base bag. A net may be coupled to a top portion of the inflatable structure, where the net is adapted to catch and decelerate the individual from free fall. A top cover may be coupled to the base bag by at least one fastener. The top cover may include a top sheet and side sheets that substantially enclose the inflatable structure.
An additional implementation of an airbag device for cushioning the free fall of an individual from a height is further provided. In this example, the device may include an inflatable base bag capable of sustaining an air pressure, and an inflatable structure coupled to the base bag, where the inflatable structure is in fluid communication with the base bag. A top cover may be coupled to the base bag, where the top cover includes a top sheet and side sheets that substantially enclose the inflatable structure.
In most implementations, the inflatable structure includes a plurality of crumple tubes coupled to the base bag, where each crumple tube is in fluid communication with the base bag. In most instances, the crumple tubes are inflated to about the same height. However, in other implementations at least one of the crumple tubes may be taller than the others, where the taller crumple tubes are positioned on the airbag device to form a target for individuals to attempt to clear when landing on the airbag.
Other devices, apparatus, systems, methods, features and advantages of the disclosure will be or will become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features and advantages be included within this description, and be protected by the accompanying claims.
The present disclosure may be better understood by referring to the following figures. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the disclosure. In the figures, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the different views.
As shown in
Turning now to
The breather holes 216 further connect the base bag 102 with the crumple tubes 104 such that air pressure within the base bag 102 maintains the crumple tubes 104 in an extended (i.e., inflated) position. The breather holes 216 may be constructed to any size or shape, depending on the desired application, to provide a soft landing for a person landing on the inflatable structure 106 via the crumple tubes 104. For example, in some applications the breather holes may have a diameter in the range of about 20 to 50 millimeters.
The base bag 102 may be constructed to any length, width, and height suitable for the desired application to provide a soft landing for the person landing on the device. For example, in some applications the base bag 102 may be about 10 meters in length, 5 meters in width and 2 meters in inflated height. In other applications, the base bag may be 20 meter in length and 20 meter in width. In most applications, a typical operating pressure within the inflatable structure may be greater than about 0.5 pounds per square inch gauge and, preferably, in the range of about 2 to 3 pounds per square inch gauge. However, the operating pressure may be adjusted to any pressure range depending on the application and the desired firmness and stability to cushion falls from varying heights.
Each crumple tube 104 is an inflatable airbag that includes an elongated annular tube wall 220 having an open end 222 and a closed top end 224. The tube wall 220 defines an interior cavity 226 for receiving air. The crumple tubes 104 are coupled to the base bag 102 at the open end 222, over the breather holes 216 formed in the top wall 204 of the base bag 102. The crumple tubes 104 may be coupled to the base bag 102 using any suitable coupling technique, such as sewing, high-frequency coupling, hot coupling (e.g., heat sealing, melting, welding), or adhering (e.g., gluing), for example.
In some implementations, the crumple tubes 104 may be arranged in a series of parallel columns and rows to form the rectangular configuration shown in
In other implementations, the crumple tubes 104 may be arranged in parallel columns and rows to form a circular, square, triangular, pentagonal, or other geometric configuration. In such implementations, the geometric shape of the base bag 102 may be adapted to correspond to the geometric configuration of the crumple tubes 104.
The crumple tubes 104, as illustrated in
In most applications, all of the crumple tubes 104 may be inflated to the same height. However, in some applications, at least one of the crumple tubes 104 may be taller than the others, as shown in
The crumple tubes 104 may be constructed to any diameter and height appropriate, depending on the application, to provide a soft landing for a person landing on the device. In some implementations, the crumple tubes 104 may be between 8 inches and 18 inches, and most preferably 12 inches in diameter, and about 2 meters in inflated height.
For example, the fastener 302 shown in
A rope 306 may be passed through the loop 304 and netting 108 to secure the netting 108 to the top of the crumple tubes 104. In some implementations, the rope 306 may be a ⅛ inch nylon rope or any other rope of suitable construction. Once the rope 306 is passed through the loop 304 and through-and-over the netting 108, the rope 306 may be fastened in a loop by a knot 308, for example, a figure-eight knot, double or triple knot.
In the exemplary implementations show in
In other implementations, not all of the crumple tubes 104 carry fasteners and/or the netting 108 may be secured to only a select group of crumple tubes 104, for example, the crumple tubes 104 on the perimeter of the netting 108. The netting 108 only needs to be attached to a sufficient number of crumple tubes 104 to hold the netting 108 and prevent a person landing on the airbag system 100 from falling through the netting 108 and between the crumple tubes 104.
As shown in detail in
The frame members 410 may be arranged in a grid pattern, including a first set of spaced-apart and parallel frame members 414 and a second set of spaced-apart and parallel frame members 416. In this grid pattern, the first set of frame members 414 is transverse to the second set of frame members 416 such that the first set of frame members 414 intersects the second set of frame members 416 at a knot 418. In this example, the netting 108 may be constructed by knotting together twine, wire, rope, or threads, where each of the first and second set of frame members 414 and 416 may comprise a single, double, or triple strands of nylon, polyester or other durable material. In example shown in
In some implementations, for example when used with airbag systems 100 having smaller dimensions, the netting 108 may comprise a mesh of durable material. For example, the netting 108 may comprise a knotted or knot-less, raschel mesh made of nylon, polyester or other suitable material.
Turning back to
Returning to
The base bag 102 may further include one or more anchor straps 140 coupled to each corner of the base bag 102. Each anchor strap 140 may include a buckle 142 for receiving a stake to anchor the base bag 102, for example, into the ground. In other implementations, the anchor straps 140 may include hook ends or other means for securing the base bag 102 to an adjoining structure or apparatus.
During assembly and installation of the airbag system 100, the netting 108 may first be fastened to the top ends of crumple tubes 104 while the base bag 102 and crumple tubes 104 are deflated. After the netting 108 is fastened to the crumple tubes 104, the top cover 110 may be fastened to base bag 102 by the restraining strap 510. Once the netting 108 and the top cover 110 are installed, the base bag 102 and inflatable structure 106 may be inflated to its operable configuration, as shown in
In use, the user and/or the user's equipment, e.g. skis, snowboard, bicycle, skate, skateboard, or the like, impacts the top cover 110 of the airbag system 100, which “gives” in response to impact and transmits the impact load to the crumple tubes 104, which further absorbs impact and spreads the impact load to the base bag 102. The base bag 102 substantially cushions and absorbs the impact. The base bag 102 may further include one or more vents or valves through which air can escape relatively in response to the impact of the user's landing, thereby to substantially cushion the user's landing.
The airbag system 100 may be disassembled by deflating the base bag 102 and inflatable structure 106, detaching the top cover 110 from the base bag 102 and removing the top cover from the inflatable structure 106, and detaching the netting 108 from the top ends of the crumple tubes 104. After the detaching the netting 108, the deflated the base bag 102 and inflatable structure 106 may be folded for storage.
In situations where the top cover 110 is damaged during use, the damaged top cover 110 may be removed and exchanged with a new top cover without deflating the inflatable structure 106. In other situations where it is desired to change the top cover 110, for example for advertising purposes, to change a branding or logo embossed on the top cover 110, the top cover 110 may be exchanged relatively quickly with deflating the base bag 102 and inflatable structure 106.
Airbag safety systems according to the present disclosure provide many advantages over existing airbag safety devices systems. For example, the netting used in airbag safety systems of the present disclosure provides an additional restraint to catch an individual from free fall. If, for instance, the landing surface or cover of the airbag is damaged or otherwise compromised during use, the netting prevents the user from falling through landing surface or cover into the interior of the airbag.
A second advantage of airbag safety systems according to the present disclosure is that they provide a quick and easy means for replacing a damaged or worn-out landing surface or airbag cover. If the landing surface or cover of the airbag is damaged or otherwise compromised during use, then it may be necessary to repair or replace the landing surface rapidly so the device may be used again in a short amount of time. Replacing the landing surface or cover of the airbag can be a tedious consuming process for some existing airbag safety devices. In particular, for those airbags that use a top sheet fastened to the top of a plurality of collapsible pop-up tubes, untying the top sheet from each collapsible tube, removing or repairing the top sheet, and then tying the top sheet back onto each collapsible tube can be an extremely time-consuming process, e.g., some airbags may consist of 200 or more collapsible tubes. Airbag safety systems according to the present disclosure solves this problem because the top cover of the present disclosure is not fastened to each crumple tube and, thus, may be removed and replaced within a very short amount of time. Airbag safety systems according to the present disclosure also allow for easy replacement of the top cover in the event an entity wants to “brand” or otherwise apply artwork onto the top cover for advertising purposes.
While the example implementations of the present disclosure have been described herein with reference to providing safety for human beings, the present disclosure may be employed for the safety of any subject, including animals, for example being rescued from a tree, or any object capable of falling from a height. In general, terms such as “coupled to,” and “configured for coupling to” and “secured to” (for example, a first component is “coupled to” or “is configured for coupling to” or is “secured to” a second component), or “communicate” (for example, a first component “communicates with” or “is in communication with” a second component) are used herein to indicate a structural, functional, mechanical, electrical, signal, optical, magnetic, electromagnetic, ionic or fluidic relationship between two or more components (or elements, features, or the like). As such, the fact that one component is said to couple to a second component is not intended to exclude the possibility that additional components may be present between, and/or operatively associated or engaged with, the first and second components.
Although the previous description only illustrates particular examples of various implementations, the present disclosure is not limited to the foregoing illustrative examples. A person skilled in the art is aware that the disclosure as defined by the appended claims can be applied in various further implementations and modifications. In particular, a combination of the various features of the described implementations is possible, as far as these features are not in contradiction with each other. Accordingly, the foregoing description of implementations has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. Modifications and variations are possible in light of the above description.
