WEARABLE AIRBAG DEVICE

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2020-208660 of Yanagisawa et al., filed on Dec. 16, 2020, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND
1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a wearable airbag device for protecting the hip of a wearer from the surface they hit at fall.

2. Description of Related Art

WO 2019/207474 A1 discloses a wearable airbag device for protecting the hip of a wearer such as an elderly person in the event of a fall or the like. This airbag device is designed to be wrapped around the waist of the wearer and configured to inflate and deploy an airbag downward for protecting their hip from the surface they hit at fall when activated.

More particularly, the wearable airbag device disclosed in the above literature is designed to deploy the airbag between the hip and such surface as the ground or floor in order to protect the hip at fall of the wearer. In order to protect the hip appropriately, such an airbag device is expected to be configured such that the airbag as deployed maintains an adequate internal pressure.

SUMMARY

An exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a wearable airbag device for protecting the hip of a wearer from the surface they hit at fall. The airbag device includes an airbag that is adapted to be put on a circumference of the pelvis of the wearer and configured to be inflated with an inflation gas. The airbag includes: two covering portions that are configured to be inflated and cover outer sides of targeted body parts of the wearer respectively at airbag deployment, the targeted body parts being left and right trochanters of femurs; and a means for suppressing an elevation of an internal pressure of the airbag at contact between the airbag and the surface at fall of the wearer.

Another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a wearable airbag device for protecting the hip of a wearer from the surface they hit at fall. The airbag device includes an airbag that is adapted to be put on a circumference of the pelvis of the wearer and configured to be inflated with an inflation gas. The airbag includes: two covering portions that are configured to be inflated and cover outer sides of targeted body parts of the wearer respectively at airbag deployment, the targeted body parts being left and right trochanters of femurs; a communication path that provides gas communication between the two covering portions at upper ends of the covering portions and is adapted to be deployed at a side of the pelvis of the wearer; and a means for restraining an inflation gas having flown into one of the covering portions from flowing out to the other covering portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 schematically depicts a wearable airbag device in accordance with the first embodiment as worn by a wearer.

FIG. 2 depicts the wearable airbag device and its airbag of the first embodiment as laid flat by plan.

FIG. 3 schematically illustrates the way the wearer wearing the wearable airbag device of the first embodiment falls.

FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view illustrating the wearer wearing the wearable airbag device as fallen with the airbag inflated.

FIG. 5A is a partial enlarged plan view of a modification of the airbag.

FIG. 5B is a partial enlarged view of an exhaust port of the airbag of FIG. 5A.

FIG. 6A is a schematic perspective view of the exhaust port of the airbag of FIG. 5A in a closed state.

FIG. 6B is a schematic perspective view of the exhaust port of the airbag of FIG. 5A in an open state.

FIG. 7 is a partial enlarged plan view of another modification of the airbag.

FIG. 8 is a schematic vertical sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII of FIG. 7FIGS. 9A and 9B illustrate the way the wearer wearing the airbag of FIG. 7 as fallen with the airbag inflated.

FIG. 10 is a partial enlarged plan view of yet another modification of the airbag.

FIG. 11 is a schematic horizontal sectional view taken along line XI-XI of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 illustrates the way the wearer wearing the airbag of FIG. 10 as fallen with the airbag inflated.

FIG. 13 schematically depicts a wearable airbag device in accordance with the second embodiment as worn by a wearer.

FIG. 14 is a plan view of an airbag for use in the wearable airbag device in accordance with the second embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a schematic sectional view of the wearable airbag device in accordance with the second embodiment as worn by the wearer and deployed.

FIG. 16 is a schematic perspective view of the wearable airbag device in accordance with the second embodiment as worn by the wearer and deployed.

FIG. 17 illustrates the airbag of FIG. 14 before and after regulation of gas flow by a restraining member by schematic sections.

FIG. 18 schematically depicts yet another modification of the airbag.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed herein. All modifications within the appended claims and equivalents relative thereto are intended to be encompassed in the scope of the claims.

A wearable airbag device S1 in accordance with the first embodiment is designed to be wrapped around the hip MW (more particularly, around the pelvis MP) of a wearer M, as can be seen in FIG. 1. Unless otherwise specified, up-down, front-rear, and left-right directions in this specification are intended to refer to up-down, front-rear, and left-right directions as viewed from the wearer M wearing the airbag device S1.

As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the wearable airbag device S1 includes an airbag 10, a gas generator 5 for feeding the airbag 10 with an inflation gas, an operation control device 1 that includes a sensor part 2 for detecting a fall of the wearer M and is configured to actuate the gas generator 5, and an outer cover 20 that covers an outer circumference of the airbag 10. In the wearable airbag device S1 in accordance with the first embodiment, the airbag 10 is stored inside the outer cover 20 in a developed or unfolded state, as can be seen in FIG. 2.

The operation control device 1 includes a sensor part 2 that includes an angular velocity sensor capable of sensing angular velocities around three axes in up and down, front and rear, and left and right directions, and an acceleration sensor capable of sensing accelerations in the three-axis directions. The operation control device 1 is configured to actuate the gas generator 5 in response to a signal fed from the sensor part 2 as has sensed a falling behavior different from a normal behavior of the wearer M. More particularly, the operation control device 1 includes a determining means that is configured to determine based on various thresholds, and is configured to actuate the gas generator 5 upon sensing a fall of the wearer M based on the determination by the determining means. The operation control device 1 further includes a power source composed of a not-shown battery or the like for operation of the sensor part 2 and for emission of an actuating signal to the gas generator 5.

The airbag 10 is made of a sheet material having flexibility. The airbag 10 of this specific embodiment is made of a fabric woven with polyester yarns, polyamide yarns or the like. The airbag 10 is adapted to be wrapped around the pelvis MP of the wearer M through the use of a later-described belt 22 of the outer cover 20. In this embodiment, the airbag 10 is configured to cover left and right sides of the hip MW of the wearer M when worn, as can be seen in FIG. 1. Referring to FIG. 2, the airbag 10 includes an inner wall 10a that is disposed towards the wearer M (i.e. in the inner side) when worn, and an outer wall 10b that is disposed on the outer side when worn. The inner wall 10a and outer wall 10b are substantially identical in outer shape. The airbag 10 is formed by sewing (or jointing) circumferential edges of the inner wall 10a and outer wall 10b together into a bag, thus is configured to be inflated into a substantially board shape. As shown in FIG. 2, the airbag 10 of this embodiment includes two covering portions 13 (13L, 13R) that are configured to cover the left and right sides of the hip MW of the wearer M at deployment, respectively, and a communication path 12 that provides gas communication between the covering portions 13 (13L, 13R) at upper ends 13a of the covering portions 13. The airbag 10 as laid flat is bilaterally symmetrical.

The communication path 12 is designed to be inflated into a rod shape elongated substantially along a left and right direction. The communication path 12 of this embodiment is adapted to be deployed at a side (at the rear, in this specific embodiment) of the pelvis MP of the wearer M though not depicted in detail. In this embodiment, the gas generator 5 is connected to the communication path 12 for feeding the airbag 10 with an inflation gas (FIG. 2). Although not depicted in detail, the gas generator 5 is disposed in a vicinity of the center in the length direction of the communication path 12. The gas generator 5 contains a compressed gas, and is designed to discharge a cold gas into the airbag 10 when actuated and unsealed. The gas generator 5 is electrically connected to the operation control device 1 and configured to be actuated with an actuating signal fed from the operation control device 1 as has sensed a fall of the wearer M.

Each of the covering portions 13 (13L, 13R) is disposed such that the upper end 13a is disposed at a farther downward position than the upper edge of the communication path 12, in a stepped manner with respect to the communication path 12, and extends downwardly and outwardly in the left and right direction from the communication path 12, as can be seen in FIG. 2. In order to cover the trochanter TP of femur as a targeted body part amply including the surroundings when worn, each of the covering portions 13 (13L, 13R) as laid flat and worn has a substantially trapezoidal outer shape that has a greater width in the front and rear direction than that in the up and down direction, and slightly narrows toward the lower end 13b. More particularly, each of the covering portions 13 is designed to cover the region at the side of the pelvis MP to the subtrochanteric region of the wearer M amply at airbag deployment. Thus the covering portions 13 protect the hip MW (trochanters TP of femurs) of the wearer M from the surface F (ground, floor and so on) they hit at fall.

Each of the covering portions 13 (13L, 13R) is provided, in the outer wall 10b facing away from the wearer M when worn, a round exhaust port 15 which serves as a means for exhausting an inflation gas which has flown into the airbag 10. In this specific embodiment, this exhaust port 15 as the means for exhausting constitutes a means for suppressing an elevation of the internal pressure of the airbag 10 at impact between the wearer M and the surface F (namely, the pressure-suppressing means). In this specific embodiment, each of the exhaust ports 15 is formed at such a position as to be occluded by the surface F the wearer M hits at fall, as shown in FIG. 4. More specifically, as can be seen in FIG. 2, each of the exhaust ports 15 is formed at a position substantially at the center in width direction of and slightly below the center in the up and down direction of the covering portion 13. The diameter of each of the exhaust ports 15 is such as to be able to suppress a mass exhaust of inflation gas prior to completion of inflation of the airbag 10.

The outer cover 20 is made of a flexible fabric having better touch than the base cloths of the airbag 10. The outer cover 20 covers an entirety of the outer circumference of the airbag 10. More particularly, the fabric forming the outer cover 20 has gas permeabliity in order for the inflation gas G exhausted from the airbag 10 not to be retained inside the outer cover 20. The outer cover 20 includes an inner wall 20a that is disposed in the inner side (i.e. towards the wearer M) when worn, and an outer wall 20b that is disposed on the outer side when worn, and is formed by jointing (or sewing) outer circumferential edges of the inner wall 20a and outer wall 20b together. An outer shape of the outer cover 20 as laid flat is greater than that of the airbag 10 as laid flat so as to allow the airbag 10 to inflate smoothly inside the outer cover 20, as can be seen in FIG. 2. The outer cover 20 includes a pair of belts 22 that protrude outwardly toward the left and right in a vicinity of the upper edge. The belts 22 include a fastening means at the leading ends 22a. The fastening means in this embodiment is composed of a hook-and-loop fastener 23 including hooks 23a and loops 23b engageable with one another so as to enable the wearer M to wear and remove the airbag device S1 easily and to wear according to the size of their waist.

The wearable airbag device S1 in accordance with the first embodiment is put on around the hip MW (pelvis MP) of the wearer M in a wrapping manner by fastening the leading ends 22a of the belts 22 together with the use of the hook-and-loop fastener 23 (as the fastening means), as can be seen in FIG. 1. If the sensor part 2 detects a fall of the wearer M as wearing the airbag device S1 as depicted in FIG. 3, the operation control device 1 sends an actuating signal to the gas generator 5, the gas generator 5 feeds an inflation gas to the airbag 10, so that the airbag 10 is deployed as shown in FIG. 4. If the wearer M falls in such a manner that the side of the hip MW contacts the surface F such as the ground and floor in a state in which the airbag 10 is inflated, the covering portion 13 (the left covering portion 13L, in FIG. 4) in the falling side will be disposed between the hip MW and the surface F, and protect the targeted body part (i.e. the trochanter TP) from the surface F.

The wearable airbag device S1 of the first embodiment includes the pressure-suppressing means composed of the exhaust ports 15 in order to suppress an elevation of the internal pressure of the airbag 10 at contact between the airbag 10 and the surface F at fall of the wearer M. The exhaust port 15 helps prevent an abrupt elevation of the internal pressure of the airbag 10 as has impacted against the surface F which would cause rebounding of the airbag, so that the internal pressure of the covering portion 13L that is deployed between the targeted body part (i.e. the trochanter TP) and the surface F will be controlled adequately, thus the targeted body part will be protected suitably.

Therefore, the wearable airbag device S1 according to the first embodiment is able to protect the hip MW of the wearer M steadily with the airbag 10 inflated with an adequate internal pressure.

More particularly, the wearable airbag device S1 of the first embodiment includes, as the pressure-suppressing means, the exhaust port 15 that is disposed in each of the covering portions 13L, 13R, and serves as the means for exhausting an inflation gas G at elevation of the internal pressure of the covering portion 13. The exhaust port 15 will control the internal pressure of each of the covering portions 13L, 13R by exhausting the inflation gas suitably.

Even more particularly, the airbag 10 includes the communication path 12 that provides gas communication between the covering portions 13L, 13R at upper ends 13a of the covering portions 13L, 13R. The exhaust port 15 as the means for exhausting is disposed on the outer wall 10b of each of the covering portions 13L, 13R facing away from the wearer M at airbag deployment. Further, each of the exhaust holes 15 is formed at such a position as to be closed by the surface F the wearer M hits at fall. With this configuration, if the wearer M falls on the surface F with the airbag 10 inflated, the covering portion 13L in the falling side, which covers the hip MW including the trochanter TP, will be disposed between the hip MW (the targeted body part, i.e. the trochanter TP) and the surface F with the exhaust port 15 occluded by the surface F and suppressed from exhausting the inflation gas. At this time, since the exhaust port 15 in the other covering portion 13R is open, the inflation gas G will be exhausted from this exhaust hole 15, so that an excessive elevation of the internal pressure of the airbag 10 will be prevented, as can be seen in FIG. 4. Therefore, the covering portion 13L in the falling side will maintain an appropriate internal pressure and protect the trochanter TP as the targeted body part adequately.

The exhaust port may be provided with an exhaust valve mechanism as in an exhaust port 25 of an airbag 10A depicted in FIGS. 5A to 6B. In the airbag 10A, the exhaust port 25 includes a port body 26 that is formed open in the outer wall 10b of the covering portion 13A, and an exhaust valve mechanism that is configured to open and close the port body 26. The exhaust valve mechanism is configured to open the port body 26 for exhaust of inflation gas at elevation of internal pressure of the covering portion 13A after full inflation of the airbag 10A. The exhaust valve mechanism is composed of a flap 27 that is disposed on an inner side of the port body 26 and has such a size as to be able to close the port body 26. The flap 27 is laid over the port body 26 with an edge (open-side edge 27a) disposed proximate to the edge of the port body 26 and with two opposing edges 27b, 27c adjoining the open-side edge 27a joined to the outer wall 10b in a periphery of the port body 26. The distance between the joints 28 of the flap 27 to the outer wall 10b in the flap 27 is slightly greater than the distance between the joints 28 in the outer wall 10b. Accordingly, the flap 27 is slightly loose with respect to the outer wall 10b in the airbag 10A as laid flat, as can be seen in FIG. 5B. With this configuration, the flap 27 covers the port body 26 when the airbag 10A completes inflation, as can be seen in FIG. 6A. When the not-shown wearer then falls on the surface and the covering portion (not shown) in the falling side is compressed between the surface and the hip of the wearer, the internal pressure of an entirely of the airbag 10A rises. Then when the internal pressure excesses a predetermined value, in order to suppress a repulsive force of the airbag 10A, the flap 27 of the exhaust port 25 in the covering portion 13A distant from the falling side gives out a part of the open-side edge 27a partially from the port body 26 and open the port body 26 as shown in FIG. 6B so the inflation gas G is exhausted from the port body 26.

In comparison with the airbag 10, the airbag 10A configured as described above will prevent the inflation gas from being exhausted more than necessary from the exhaust port 25, thus be able to protect the targeted body part further appropriately with the covering portion 13A in the falling side.

The airbag may also be configured like an airbag 30 depicted in FIGS. 7 to 9B. The airbag 30 includes a primary inflatable portion 31 that is configured to be inflated with an inflation gas fed from a not-shown gas generator, and a secondary inflatable portion 35 that is configured to take in an inflation gas via the primary inflatable portion 31. The airbag 30 is formed of a fabric woven with polyester yarn, polyamide yarn or the like. Similarly to the airbag 10 in the foregoing embodiment, the airbag 30 is adapted to be wrapped around the pelvis MP of the wearer M with the use of belts of the not-shown outer cover. Although not depicted in detail, the airbag 30 as laid flat is bilaterally symmetrical, similarly to the airbag 10.

The primary inflatable portion 31 includes an inner wall 31a that is disposed towards the wearer M (i.e. in the inner side) when worn, and an outer wall 31b that is disposed on the outer side when worn. The inner wall 31a and outer wall 31b are substantially identical in outer shape. The primary inflatable portion 31 is formed by being sewn (or jointed) together by circumferential edges of the inner wall 31a and outer wall 31b into a bag which is inflatable into a substantially board shape. Although not depicted in detail, similarly to the airbag 10, the primary inflatable portion 31 includes two covering portions 33 that are configured to cover the left and right sides of the hip MW of the wearer M at deployment, respectively, and a communication path 32 that provides gas communication between the covering portions 33 at upper ends 33a of the covering portions 33. The covering portions 33 and the communication path 32 each have substantially same configurations as the covering portions 13 and communication path 12 of the airbag 10.

The secondary inflatable portion 35 constitutes the pressure-suppressing means. One each secondary inflatable portion 35 is disposed in such a manner as to cover the outer wall 31b of the covering portion 33 of the primary inflatable portion 31, as can be seen in FIG. 8. Each of the secondary inflatable portions 35 is formed into a substantially trapezoid smaller than the covering portion 33. Each of the secondary inflatable portions 35 includes an inner wall 35a that is disposed towards the wearer M (i.e. in the inner side) when worn, and an outer wall 35b that is disposed on the outer side when worn. The inner wall 35a and outer wall 35b are substantially identical in outer shape. Each of the secondary inflatable portions 35 is formed by being sewn (or jointed) together by circumferential edges of the inner wall 35a and outer wall 35b into a bag which is inflatable into a substantially board shape. Each of the secondary inflatable portions 35 is in gas communication with the covering portion 33 of the primary inflatable portion 31 via one or more communication holes 37, thus configured to be inflated with an inflation gas G which has flown through the covering portion 33. In this specific embodiment, two communication holes 37 are arranged at two spaced positions in an up and down direction, at the center in the up and down direction and in a front and rear direction of the covering portion 33 and the secondary inflatable portion 35. The secondary inflatable portion 35 and the covering portion 33 are sewn together by sewn seams 38 each of which sews the outer wall 31b and the inner wall 35a with sewing threads at a periphery of the communication hole 37. A total opening area of the communication holes 37 is so determined as to inflate the secondary inflatable portion 35 later than the covering portion 33. Although not depicted, the secondary inflatable portion 35 and covering portion 33 are clipped together so as to prevent slippage.

Each of the secondary inflatable portions 35 is provided with an exhaust hole 39 for exhausting an extra inflation gas G to the atmosphere. The exhaust hole 39 is formed in the inner wall 35a facing the covering portion 33. In this embodiment, the exhaust hole 39 is located immediately below the communication hole 37, in a vicinity of the lower edge, as can be seen in FIGS. 7 and 8. An opening area of the exhaust hole 39 is smaller than the total opening area of the communication hole 37.

In the airbag 30 configured as described above, when the not-shown gas generator is actuated, the primary inflatable portion 31 will be inflated firstly with an inflation gas from the gas generator, then each of the secondary inflatable portions 35 will take in the inflation gas via the communication holes 37 after completion of inflation of the primary inflatable portion 31. That is, the airbag 30 includes the two secondary inflatable portions 35 as the means for suppressing the internal pressure. Each of the secondary inflatable portions 35 is disposed in such a manner as to cover the outer wall 31b of the covering portion 33. Each of the secondary inflatable portions 35 is in gas communication with the corresponding covering portion 33 by the communication holes 37, and configured to be inflated later than the covering portion 33 as the primary inflatable portion. With this configuration, when the wearer M falls on the surface F, the secondary inflatable portion 35 will be deployed between the surface F and the covering portion 33 in the falling side, which covers the targeted body part (i.e. the hip MW), in a moderately inflated state, as can be seen in FIG. 9A. Then when the covering portion 33 in the falling side is pressed by the surface F, the inflation gas will flow out of the covering portion 33 and flow into the secondary inflatable portion 35 as can be seen in FIG. 9B, thus an elevation of the internal pressure of the covering portion 33 will be prevented. The secondary inflatable portion 35 is provided with the exhaust hole 39 in the portion facing the covering portion 33. Since this exhaust hole 39 is not occluded by the surface F, an extra inflation gas in the secondary inflatable portion 35 will be exhausted to the atmosphere via the exhaust hole 39. Consequently, the airbag 30 will cover the hip MW in the falling side of the wearer M with the covering portion 33 as inflated with an adequately suppressed pressure and the secondary inflatable portion 35 as inflated, i.e. with a portion that is thickly inflated with an appropriate pressure, thus protecting the targeted body part adequately. Moreover, with the airbag 30, the inflation gas G exhausted from the covering portion 33 in order to suppress a pressure elevation is not released into the atmosphere immediately, but flows into the secondary inflatable portion 35. That is, the airbag 30 uses the inflation gas G exhausted from the covering portion 33 effectively for further cushioning an impact between the wearer M and the surface F. Accordingly, a gas generator with a low output may be used for the airbag 30.

The airbag may also be configured like an airbag 40 depicted in FIGS. 10 to 12. Although not depicted in detail, in a similar fashion to the airbag 10, the airbag 40 includes two covering portions 43 that are configured to cover the left and right sides of the hip MW of the wearer M at deployment, respectively, and a communication path 42 that provides gas communication between the covering portions 43 at upper ends 43a of the covering portions 43. The airbag 40 includes an inner wall 40a that is disposed towards the wearer M (i.e. in the inner side) when worn, and an outer wall 40b that is disposed on the outer side when worn. The inner wall 40a and outer wall 40b are substantially identical in outer shape. The airbag 40 is formed into a bag by being sewn (or jointed) together by circumferential edges of the inner wall 40a and outer wall 40b. The airbag 40 as laid flat is bilaterally symmetrical, though not depicted in detail.

Each of the covering portions 43 as laid flat has a substantially same outer shape as the covering portion 13 of the airbag 10 described above, and is configured to cover an outer side of the trochanter TP of femur and surroundings amply. In each of the covering portions 43, a region toward the upper edge and a central region in the front and rear direction extending downward from the region toward the upper edge constitute a main protecting region 45 that covers the targeted body part (i.e. the trochanter TP) at airbag deployment. In a peripheral region 46 disposed in the periphery of the main protecting region 45, there are disposed a plurality of temporary seams 48 that join the inner wall 40a and outer wall 40b together partially. Each of the temporary seams 48 is configured to disjoin the inner wall 40a from outer wall 40b at elevation of internal pressure of the main protecting region 45 at airbag deployment. In this specific embodiment, each of the temporary seams 48 is formed by sewing (joining) the inner wall 40a and outer wall 40b together partially with sewing threads. More particularly, as can be seen in FIG. 10, two each temporary seams 48 are arranged to form double lines in each of the front lower region and rear lower region of the main protecting region 45. Each of the temporary seams 48 is configured to disjoin the inner wall 40a from outer wall 40b at a predetermined portion at elevation of internal pressure of the main protecting region 45. The disjoint of the inner wall 40a from outer wall 40b is caused by fall and rupture of the sewing threads.

With this airbag 40, when the wearer M falls on the surface F in a state in which the airbag 40 is inflated, the covering portion 43 (the main protecting region 45) in the falling side, which covers the targeted body part (i.e. the hip MW), will be sandwiched between the surface F and the hip MW, so that the internal pressure of the main protecting region 45 will be elevated. Then the temporary seams 48 will stop joining the inner wall 40a and outer wall 40b, and enable the inflation gas G to flow into a region where the seams 48 were disposed, as can be seen in FIG. 12. That is, the unraveling of the temporary seams 48 will increase a substantial volume of the covering portion 43 (main protecting region 45) and help suppress a pressure elevation of the main protecting region 45. Consequently, the airbag 40 will adequately protect the targeted body part with the covering portion 43 (main protecting region 45) with an appropriate pressure.

A wearable airbag device S2 in accordance with the second embodiment is now described. The wearable airbag device S2 in accordance with the second embodiment is also configured to be wrapped around the hip MW (more particularly, around the pelvis MP) of a wearer M, as can be seen in FIG. 13. As can be seen in FIGS. 13 and 14, the wearable airbag device S2 includes an airbag 50, a gas generator 5B for feeding the airbag 50 with an inflation gas, a not-shown operation control device, and an outer cover 20B that covers an outer circumference of the airbag 50. In the wearable airbag device S2 in accordance with the second embodiment, the airbag 50 is stored inside the outer cover 20B in a folded state, and is designed to be wrapped around the hip MW of the wearer M in that state. The outer cover 20B serves as a storage in which the airbag 50 is stored. Although not depicted in detail, the outer cover 20B is configured to allow the airbag 50 to be deployed from its lower edge, as can be seen in FIG. 15. The outer cover 20B has the same configuration as the outer cover 20 of the wearable airbag device S1 in the foregoing embodiments, except in being configured to let the airbag 50 be deployed from the lower edge, thus includes a hook-and-loop fastener 23B as a fastening means, in opposite ends in the length direction.

The gas generator 5B has the same configuration as the gas generator 5 of the wearable airbag device S1, except in being smaller and having a lower output than the gas generator 5. In this specific embodiment, the gas generator 5B is located slightly to the left of the center in the length direction of the communication path 52, as indicated with dashed-and-double-dotted lines in FIG. 14.

As can be seen in FIG. 14, the airbag 50 includes a bag body 51 that is inflatable with an inflation gas, and a restraining member 57 serving as a later-described outflow-restraining means.

Similarly to the airbag 10 of the first embodiment, the bag body 51 includes two covering portions 55 (55L, 55R) that are configured to cover the left and right sides of the hip MW of the wearer M at deployment, respectively, and a communication path 52 that provides gas communication between the covering portions 55 at upper ends 55a of the covering portions 55. The bag body 51 includes an inner wall 51a that is disposed towards the wearer M (i.e. in the inner side) when worn, and an outer wall 51b that is disposed on the outer side when worn. The inner wall 51a and outer wall 51b are substantially identical in outer shape. The bag body 51 is formed into a bag by being sewn (or jointed) together by circumferential edges of the inner wall 51a and outer wall 51b. The covering portions 55 and communication path 52 have substantially same outer shapes as those in the airbag 10 of the first embodiment except in having no exhaust ports in the covering portions. The airbag 50 (or bag body 51) as laid flat is bilaterally symmetrical.

As described above, the gas generator 5B is connected to a portion of the communication path 52 slightly to the left of the center in the length direction of the communication path 52 (in other words, the center in a left and right direction of the communication path 52 as laid flat). The communication path 52 includes, in an upper edge 52a and a lower edge 52b of a substantially central position in the length direction (in other words, a substantially central position in the left and right direction of the communication path 52 as laid flat) dislocated from the location of the gas generator 5B, one each slot 53 for receiving the restraining member 57.

The restraining member 57 is composed of a band-shaped member or an elongated material having flexibility. In this specific embodiment, the restraining member 57 is disposed around an outer circumference of (or mounted around) the communication path 52 by the middle portion 57c, while being passed through the slots 53 in the upper edge 52a and lower edge 52b, as can be seen in FIG. 17, and has the opposite ends 57a, 57b connected to inner lower ends (rear lower ends, when worn) 55b of the covering portions 55 (55L, 55R), respectively. The length of the restraining member 57 is such that the restraining member 57 does not constrict the communication path 52 before full inflation of the airbag 50 but binds the communication path 52 by the middle portion 57c so the communication path 52 is occluded at airbag deployment, due to traction of the opposite ends 57a, 57b by the inner lower ends 55b of the covering portions 55 as deployed downward, as can be seen in FIGS. 16 and 17. The restraining member 57 constitutes a means for restraining an inflation gas having flown into one covering portion 55L from flowing out to the other covering portion 55R at full inflation of the airbag 50 (namely, an outflow-restraining means).

Although not depicted in detail, the airbag 50 (or bag body 51) is stored in the storage in the form of a folded body, a form of the airbag 50 that has been folded and reduced in width in an up and down direction compared to that in an unfolded state in which the inner wall 51a and the outer wall 51b are laid flat one over another. In this embodiment, the folded body is stored inside the outer cover 20B, and put on around the pelvis MP of the wearer M in that state. The restraining member 57 is also covered by the outer cover 20B together with the folded body.

If the sensor part 2 detects a falling behavior of the wearer M as wearing the airbag device S2 of the second embodiment, the operation control device 1 will send an actuating signal to the gas generator 5B, the gas generator 5B will feed an inflation gas to the airbag 50, so that the airbag 50 will protrude downward from the outer cover 20B and deploy as shown in FIG. 15.

In the wearable airbag device S2 in accordance with the second embodiment, the airbag 50 includes the restraining member 57 as the outflow-restraining means that is configured to restrain a transfer of the inflation gas between the covering portions 55L, 55R after completion of inflation of the airbag. With this airbag 50, when the wearer M falls on the surface in a state in which the airbag 50 is inflated, the covering portion 55L in the falling side, which covers the targeted body part (i.e. the hip MW), will be sandwiched between the surface and the hip MW, though not depicted in detail, and the restraining member 57 will help block a gas flow from the covering portion 55L to another covering portion 55R. In other words, the restraining member 57 will help prevent the covering portion 55L as hit the surface F from losing pressure due to outflow of inflation gas to another covering portion 55R. This will allow a gas generator having a lower output compared to that of the gas generator 5 used in the wearable airbag device S1 of the first embodiment to be used as the gas generator 5B for feeding an inflation gas to the airbag 50. Even with the gas generator with a low output, the covering portion 55L in the falling side as has hit the surface F will be able to maintain the internal pressure due to the restraining member 57, thus protect the targeted body part (trochanter TP) adequately with an appropriate internal pressure.

Therefore, the wearable airbag device S2 in accordance with the second embodiment is able to protect the hip MW of the wearer M steadily with the airbag 50 inflated with an adequate internal pressure.

When the wearable airbag device S2 in accordance with the second embodiment is actuated, the inflation gas is delivered to the covering portions 55L, 55R smoothly via the communication path 52 to inflate and deploy the covering portions 55L, 55R downward. Then when the airbag 50 completes inflation, the middle portion 57c of the restraining member 57 disposed around the communication path 52 will bind the communication path 52 in a constricting matter, so that the communication path 52 will be occluded due to binding by the middle portion 57c, as shown in FIGS. 16 and 17. In the wearable airbag device S2 of the second embodiment, the restraining member 57 serving as the outflow-restraining means is composed of an elongated material prepared separately from the bag body 51. The restraining member 57 has the middle portion 57c disposed around the outer circumference of the communication path 52, and the opposite ends 57a, 57b respectively connected to the bag body 51. Accordingly, the employment of the restraining member 57 does not require a big design change in the airbag 50 (bag body 51). The restraining member 57 itself is also simple in design because it is able to prevent an outflow of inflation gas only by being given an appropriate length.

The airbag may also be configured like an airbag 60 depicted in FIG. 18. The airbag 60 includes, in a vicinity of each of covering portions 63 inside the communication path 62 (in other words, in each of opposite end portions 62a of the communication path 62), a check valve 65 constituting the outflow-restraining means. Each of the check valves 65 is open and allows an inflation gas to flow into the covering portion 63 via the communication path 62 at airbag deployment, and closes after airbag deployment, thus restrains an outflow of the inflation gas as has flown into the covering portion 63 to the communication path 62.

With the wearable airbag devices S1 and S2 in accordance with the foregoing embodiments, the two covering portions 13, 13A, 33, 43, 55, 63 of the airbags 10, 10A, 30, 40, 50, 60 are able to cover vicinities of bases of the femurs TB (i.e. the trochanters TP) of the wearer M in a steady fashion. That is, the wearable airbag devices S1 and S2 will help prevent femoral fractures that may take a long time to treat, thus will be suitable for use by elderly people.

In the foregoing embodiments, each of the airbags 10, 10A, 30, 40, 50, 60 is designed such that the two covering portions 13, 13A, 33, 43, 55, 63 are connected by the communication path 12, 32, 42, 52, 62 so as to protect the left and right trochanters TP of femurs. However, the design of the airbag should not be limited thereby. The airbags 30 and 40 that are respectively provided with the secondary inflatable portions 35 and the temporary seams 48 may be configured not to include a communication path such that the two covering portions for protecting left and right trochanters are independently inflated with a separate gas generator.

The wearable airbag devices of the foregoing embodiments each include a belt so as to be put on around the hip with the use of the belt. However, the application of the invention should not be limited to the disclosed embodiments. By way of example, the invention may be applied to a wearable airbag device which is formed into a vest, a jacket or the like for wearing on the torso and configured to deploy an airbag from the lower end as worn.

The wearable airbag device in accordance with the exemplary embodiment includes the means for suppressing an elevation of the internal pressure of the airbag at contact between the airbag and the surface the wearer hits at fall. The means for suppressing helps prevent an abrupt elevation of the internal pressure of the airbag as has impacted against the surface which would cause rebounding of the airbag, so that the internal pressure of the covering portion deployed between the targeted body part and the surface will be controlled adequately, and the targeted body part will be protected suitably.

Therefore, the wearable airbag device according to the exemplary embodiment is able to protect the hip of the wearer steadily with the airbag inflated with an adequate internal pressure.

In one or more embodiments, the means for suppressing may be composed of a means for exhausting the inflation gas at elevation of the internal pressure, the means for exhausting being disposed in each of the two covering portions. The means for exhausting will control the internal pressure of each of the covering portions by exhausting the inflation gas suitably.

In one or more embodiments, the wearable airbag device may be configured as follows: each of the covering portions includes an inner wall that is configured to be disposed towards the wearer when worn and an outer wall that is configured to face away from the wearer when worn; the airbag further includes a communication path that provides gas communication between the two covering portions at upper ends of the covering portions and is adapted to be deployed at a side of the pelvis of the wearer; the means for exhausting is composed of an exhaust port that is disposed on the outer wall of each of the covering portions for exhausting the inflation gas; and the exhaust port of each of the covering portions is formed at such a position as to be occluded by the surface the wearer hits at fall.

With this configuration, if the wearer falls on the surface in a state in which the airbag is inflated, the covering portion in the falling side as covering the targeted body part will be disposed between the hip of the wearer and the surface with the exhaust port in the falling side occluded by the surface and suppressed from exhausting the inflation gas. At this time, since the exhaust port in the other covering portion is open, the inflation gas will be exhausted from this exhaust port, so that an excessive elevation of the internal pressure of the airbag will be prevented. Therefore, the covering portion in the falling side will maintain an appropriate internal pressure and protect the targeted body part adequately.

In one or more embodiments, the exhaust port may be provided with an exhaust valve that is configured to cause exhaust of the inflation gas from the exhaust port at elevation of the internal pressure of the covering portion after completion of inflation of the airbag. The exhaust valve will prevent the inflation gas from being exhausted more than necessary from the exhaust port, thus the covering portion in the falling side will be able to protect the targeted body part further appropriately.

In one or more embodiments, the airbag may be configured as follows: the airbag includes a primary inflatable portion that includes the two covering portions; and two secondary inflatable portions each of which is in gas communication with one of the two covering portions via one or more communication holes, each of the secondary inflatable portions being configured to be inflated later than the covering portion in communication therewith, with an inflation gas which has flown through the covering portion and communication holes; each of the covering portions includes an inner wall that is configured to be disposed towards the wearer when worn and an outer wall that is configured to face away from the wearer when worn; each of the secondary inflatable portions constitutes the means for suppressing and is disposed in such a manner as to cover the outer wall of the covering portion; and each of the secondary inflatable portions includes, in a portion thereof facing the covering portion, an exhaust hole for exhausting an extra inflation gas to the atmosphere.

In the airbag configured as described above, the airbag includes the two secondary inflatable portions as the means for suppressing the internal pressure. Each of the secondary inflatable portions is disposed in such a manner as to cover the outer wall of the covering portion. Each of the secondary inflatable portions is in gas communication with the corresponding covering portion by the communication holes, and configured to be inflated later than the covering portion as the primary inflatable portion. With this configuration, when the wearer falls on the surface, the secondary inflatable portion in the falling side will be deployed between the surface and the covering portion in the falling side, which covers the hip, in a moderately inflated state. Then when the covering portion in the falling side is pressed by the surface, the inflation gas will flow out of the covering portion and flow into the secondary inflatable portion, thus an elevation of the internal pressure of the covering portion will be prevented. The secondary inflatable portion is provided with the exhaust hole in the portion facing the covering portion. Since this exhaust hole is not occluded by the surface, an extra inflation gas in the secondary inflatable portion will be exhausted to the atmosphere via the exhaust hole. Consequently, the airbag will cover the hip of the wearer in the falling side with the covering portion as inflated with an adequately suppressed pressure and the secondary inflatable portion as inflated, i.e. with a portion that is thickly inflated with an appropriate pressure, thus protecting the hip adequately. Moreover, with the above airbag, the inflation gas exhausted from the covering portion in order to suppress a pressure elevation will not be released into the atmosphere immediately, but flow into the secondary inflatable portion. That is, the airbag uses the inflation gas exhausted from the covering portion effectively for further cushioning an impact between the wearer and the surface. Accordingly, a gas generator with a low output may be used for the above airbag.

In one or more embodiments, the airbag may be configured as follows: each of the covering portions includes an inner wall that is configured to be disposed towards the wearer when worn and an outer wall that is configured to face away from the wearer when worn; and each of the covering portions further includes a main protecting region that is configured to cover the targeted body part at airbag deployment, and one or more temporary seams that are disposed in a periphery of the main protecting region and join the inner wall and outer wall together partially, the temporary seams being configured to disjoin the inner wall from the outer wall at elevation of internal pressure of the main protecting region, the temporary seams constituting the means for suppressing.

With the airbag device configured as described above, when the wearer falls on the surface while the airbag is inflated, the covering portion (the main protecting region) in the falling side, which covers the hip, will be sandwiched between the surface and the hip, so that the internal pressure of the main protecting region will be elevated. Then the temporary seams will stop joining the inner wall and outer wall, and enable the inflation gas to flow into a region where the seams were disposed. That is, the unraveling of the temporary seams will increase a substantial volume of the covering portion and help suppress a pressure elevation of the main protecting region. Consequently, the above airbag will adequately protect the hip with the covering portion (main protecting region) with an appropriate pressure.

In the wearable airbag device configured as described above, the airbag includes the means for restraining a transfer of an inflation gas from one covering portion to another after completion of inflation of the airbag. With this airbag, when the wearer falls on the surface in a state in which the airbag is inflated, the covering portion in the falling side, which covers the hip, will be sandwiched between the surface and the hip, but the means for restraining will help block gas flow from one covering portion to another covering portion. In other words, the means for restraining will help prevent the covering portion as hit the surface from losing pressure due to outflow of inflation gas to the other covering portion. This will allow a use of a low-power gas generator for this airbag. Even with such a gas generator, the covering portion in the falling side as has hit the surface will be able to maintain the internal pressure due to the means for restraining, thus protect the hip of the wearer adequately with an appropriate internal pressure.

In one or more embodiments, the means for restraining may be composed of a check valve that is disposed in a vicinity of each of the covering portions inside the communication path in order to restrain an outflow of the inflation gas from the one of the covering portions to the other.

In one or more embodiments, the wearable airbag device may be configured as follows: the airbag is stored in a storage in a folded form in which a width in an up and down direction of at least the covering portions is reduced; the means for restraining is composed of a restraining member which is composed of an elongated material having flexibility; the restraining member includes a middle portion that is disposed around an outer circumference of the communication path so as to be able to bind the communication path at airbag deployment, and opposite ends that are respectively connected to lower ends of the two covering portions as deployed; and a length of the restraining member is determined so that the middle portion constricts and occludes the communication path at airbag deployment.

WEARABLE AIRBAG DEVICE

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Priority Claims (1)