CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
The present application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-44080 of Yanagisawa et al., filed on Mar. 17, 2021, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND
1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a wearable airbag device that can protect a targeted body part of a wearer.
2. Description of Related Art
In the related art, as a wearable airbag device, as described in JP-T-2014-514462, there was a device having a configuration for protecting a hip at the time of a fall by being worn on a wearer by being wrapped around the hip, and by inflating the bag-shaped airbag.
This type of wearable airbag device is configured to inflate the airbag in a state of being worn on a human body. Therefore, as a gas feeding member for feeding an inflation gas to an airbag, a small and lightweight gas cylinder containing a compressed gas is used instead of an inflator normally used for an airbag device installed on a vehicle. Since the gas cylinder does not have a structure that allows a gas to flow out quickly, it takes a certain amount of time to inflate the bag-shaped airbag that covers the hip widely, and thus there is room for improvement in terms of rapid and efficient inflation of the airbag.
SUMMARY
The present disclosure relates to a wearable airbag device having the following configuration.
A wearable airbag device is configured to protect a targeted body part of a wearer, and includes an airbag configured to inflate to cover the targeted body part by allowing an inflation gas to flow thereinto. The airbag has a plurality of columnar inflation portions in which width dimensions are set to be smaller than that of the targeted body part, and configured to maintain an arranged state of the columnar inflation portions when the inflation is completed, and to protect the targeted body part.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B are schematic views of a state where a wearable airbag device according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure is worn on a wearer.
FIG. 2 is a plan view of an airbag to be used in the wearable airbag device of the first embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line III-III of FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV of FIG. 2.
FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C and 5D are schematic views describing an operating state of the wearable airbag device according to the first embodiment when the wearer falls.
FIG. 6 is a schematic partial horizontal sectional view (a schematic horizontal sectional view on the left side) along a front-rear direction in a hip protecting portion in a state where the inflation of the airbag is completed in the wearable airbag device of the first embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a schematic vertical sectional view in the hip protecting portion in a state where the inflation of the airbag is completed in the wearable airbag device of the first embodiment.
FIG. 8 is a schematic horizontal sectional view in a head protecting portion in a state where the inflation of the airbag is completed in the wearable airbag device of the first embodiment.
FIG. 9 is a schematic view of a state where a wearable airbag device according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure is worn on a wearer.
FIG. 10 is a plan view of a state where the wearable airbag device of the second embodiment is laid flat.
FIG. 11A and FIG. 11B are plan views of a state where the airbag used in the wearable airbag device of the second embodiment and an airbag base member are arranged side by side to be flat.
FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along line XII-XII of FIG. 11B.
FIG. 13 is a schematic partial horizontal sectional view (a schematic horizontal sectional view on the left side) along the front-rear direction in a state where the inflation of the airbag is completed in the wearable airbag device of the second embodiment.
FIG. 14 is a schematic vertical sectional view in a worn state illustrating a state where the inflation of the airbag is completed in the wearable airbag device of the second embodiment.
FIG. 15 is a plan view of an airbag according to still another embodiment of the present disclosure.
FIG. 16 is a sectional view taken along line XVI-XVI of FIG. 15.
FIG. 17 is a sectional view taken along line XVII-XVII of FIG. 15.
FIG. 18 is a sectional view taken along line XVIII-XVIII of FIG. 15.
FIG. 19 is a schematic partial horizontal sectional view (a schematic horizontal sectional view on the left side) along the front-rear direction in a worn state where the inflation of the airbag of FIG. 15 is completed.
FIG. 20 is a schematic vertical sectional view in a worn state where the inflation of the airbag of FIG. 15 is completed.
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.
Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present disclosure will be described based on the drawings. A wearable airbag device S1 of the first embodiment is a vest type to be worn on an upper body MU of a wearer M. As illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the wearable airbag device S1 includes an airbag 20, a gas generator 5 for feeding the airbag 20 with an inflation gas, an operation control device 1 that includes a sensor part 2 for detecting a fall of the wearer M and operates the gas generator 5, and a clothing portion 10 as an accommodating portion for accommodating and holding the airbag 20. When the inflation of the airbag 20 is completed, the wearable airbag device S1 of the first embodiment is configured to protect a trochanter circumferential edge part TO including left and right trochanters TP of femurs of the wearer M, and a head MH, as targeted body parts.
The operation control device 1 includes the sensor part 2 including an angular velocity sensor capable of detecting angular velocities around three axes in up-down, front-rear, and left-right directions, and an acceleration sensor capable of detecting accelerations in the three-axis directions. The operation control device 1 is configured to operate the gas generator 5 when a falling behavior different from a normal behavior of the wearer M is detected by the signal from the sensor part 2. Specifically, when the wearer M starts the falling behavior different from the normal behavior, the operation control device 1 includes determination means capable of making a determination from various threshold values, and thus the fall of the wearer M is detected based on the determination of the determination means, and the gas generator 5 is operated. The operation control device 1 further includes a power source formed of a battery (not illustrated) or the like for outputting signals for the operation of the sensor part 2 and for the operation of the gas generator 5.
The clothing portion 10 is formed as a vest that can be worn on the upper body MU of the wearer M, and includes a left front portion 11 and a right front portion 12 that cover the front surface of the upper body MU of the wearer M, and a back surface portion 13 that covers the back surface of the upper body MU of the wearer M. The left front portion 11 and the right front portion 12 are configured such that the facing inner edges can be joined to each other by a fastening tool 15 such as a fastener. In other words, the clothing portion 10 is configured such that the left front portion 11 is provided to be connected to the front side of the left portion of the back surface portion 13, and the right front portion 12 is provided to be connected to the front side of the right portion of the back surface portion 13. The clothing portion 10 is made of a flexible sheet material (woven fabric) and covers the outer circumferential side of the folded airbag 20.
The airbag 20 is made of a flexible sheet material. In the case of the embodiment, the airbag 20 is made of a woven fabric made of polyester yarns, polyamide yarns or the like. In the case of the embodiment, the airbag 20 is configured such that columnar inflation portions 22 in which the width dimensions are set to be smaller than the width dimensions W1 and W2 (refer to FIGS. 6 and 8) of the targeted body parts (the head MH, the trochanter circumferential edge part TO) are arranged in a single stroke manner. Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the airbag 20 has an inner wall 20a disposed on the inner side (wearer M side) and an outer wall 20b disposed on the outer side at the time of wearing, with substantially the same external shape. Then, the airbag 20 is formed by stacking the inner wall 20a and the outer wall 20b in a state of being laid flat, and by joining (sewing by suturing) predetermined places such that continuous joining parts 21 are formed. The airbag 20 is configured such that the columnar inflation portions 22 that can inflate so as to separate the inner wall 20a and the outer wall 20b are provided in a single stroke manner to extend in two forks starting from the arranged part of the gas generator 5, by forming the joining part 21, and the regions between the columnar inflation portions 22 are connected over the entire surface by a non-inflation connecting portion 23 disposed such that the inner wall 20a and the outer wall 20b can be overlapped with each other (refer to FIGS. 2 to 4). The columnar inflation portion 22 includes columnar main body portions 22a arranged substantially along the up-down direction or the horizontal direction when the inflation is completed, and a connecting portion 22b for connecting the columnar main body portions 22a to each other. In the case of the embodiment, the columnar inflation portion 22 (the columnar main body portion 22a, the connecting portion 22b) is configured such that the width dimension is substantially constant over the entire length. Specifically, in the columnar inflation portion 22, the width dimension is set to be smaller than the width dimensions W1 and W2 (refer to FIGS. 6 and 8) of the head MH and the trochanter circumferential edge part TO as the targeted body parts, and is set to be a dimension that can ensure the thickness that can appropriately protect the targeted body part (the trochanter circumferential edge part TO and the head MH) when the inflation is completed. In the case of the embodiment, the columnar main body portion 22a includes a horizontal columnar main body portion 26a, vertical columnar main body portions 27aa, 27ab, 27ac, and 27ad, a horizontal columnar main body portion 27b, a vertical columnar main body portion 29a, and vertical columnar main body portions 31aa, 31ab, and 31ac, which will be described later. Connecting portion 22b includes connecting portions 27ca, 27cb, 27cc, 27cd, and 27ce and connecting portions 31ba and 31bb, which will be described later.
Further, the airbag 20 includes a hip protecting portion 25 that can protect the hip MW of the wearer M when the inflation is completed, a head protecting portion 31 that can protect the head MH of the wearer M when the inflation is completed, and a communication path 29 for allowing the hip protecting portion 25 and the head protecting portion 31 to communicate with each other. The airbag 20 is symmetrical in the left-right direction in a state of being laid flat.
The hip protecting portion 25 is configured to be folded and accommodated on the lower end side from the back surface portion 13 to the left front portion 11 and the right front portion 12 on the left and right sides in the clothing portion 10, and to be inflated to protrude downward from the clothing portion 10 and cover the outer side of the hip MW (the trochanter TP of femur as the targeted body part) of the wearer M at the time of the inflation. Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the hip protecting portion 25 includes two protecting main body portions 27 (27L, 27R) that cover the left and right sides of the hip MW of the wearer M, and a connecting inflation portion 26 that connects the upper ends of the protecting main body portions 27 to each other.
The connecting inflation portion 26 is formed of a single horizontal columnar main body portion 26a provided substantially along the left-right direction when the inflation is completed. Although the details are omitted in the drawing, the connecting inflation portion 26 is disposed at a position which is the rear side of a pelvis MP of the wearer M when the inflation of the airbag 20 is completed. In addition, in the embodiment, the gas generator 5 is connected to the connecting inflation portion 26 for feeding the airbag 20 with an inflation gas (refer to FIG. 2). The gas generator 5 is disposed in the vicinity of the center in the length direction of the connecting inflation portion 26 (horizontal columnar main body portion 26a), and is connected to the airbag 20 by using a retainer (not illustrated). The gas generator 5 is configured to contain a compressed gas therein, and to release the contained state and discharge a cold gas into the airbag 20 when being operated. The gas generator 5 is configured to be electrically connected to the above-described operation control device 1, and to be operated with an operating signal input from the operation control device 1 that has detected the fall of the wearer M. In the case of the embodiment, the inflation gas G discharged from the gas generator 5 flows to the left and right in the connecting inflation portion 26 (horizontal columnar main body portion 26a) and flows toward each of the protecting main body portions 27 (27L, 27R).
Each of the protecting main body portions 27 (27L, 27R) is formed so as to extend downward while extending outward in the left-right direction from the connecting inflation portion 26 in a state where the airbag 20 is laid flat. Each of the protecting main body portions 27 (27L, 27R) is configured to cover the outer side of the trochanter circumferential edge part TO, which is the circumferential edge of the trochanter TP of femur of the wearer M as the targeted body part, when the inflation is completed, while the external shape in a state of being laid flat is a substantially rectangular shape (refer to FIGS. 6 and 7). In the case of the embodiment, in each of the protecting main body portions 27, the width dimension in the up-down and left-right directions in a state of being laid flat is set to be a dimension that can widely cover the surrounding of the trochanter TP of femur including the front, rear, upper, and lower parts of the trochanter TP of femur when the inflation of the airbag 20 is completed. In the case of the embodiment, each of the protecting main body portions 27 is configured such that four vertical columnar main body portions 27aa, 27ab, 27ac, and 27ad, which are provided to be substantially along the up-down direction when the inflation is completed, one horizontal columnar main body portion 27b provided to be substantially orthogonal to the vertical columnar main body portions 27aa, 27ab, 27ac, and 27ad above each of the vertical columnar main body portions 27aa, 27ab, 27ac, and 27ad, and connecting portions 27ca, 27cb, 27cc, 27cd, and 27ce which are respectively connected to the vertical columnar main body portions 27aa, 27ab, 27ac, and 27ad and the horizontal columnar main body portion 27b are provided in a single stroke manner. In each of the protecting main body portions 27, the vertical columnar main body portions 27aa arranged on the left and right inner sides in a state where the airbag 20 is laid flat communicate with the connecting inflation portion 26 (horizontal columnar main body portion 26a) via the connecting portion 27ca. In each of the protecting main body portions 27, the vertical columnar main body portions 27aa, 27ab, 27ac, and 27ad are provided at substantially equal intervals, and in the non-inflation connecting portions 23 arranged between the vertical columnar main body portions 27aa, 27ab, 27ac, and 27ad, the width dimensions are set to be smaller than those of the vertical columnar main body portions 27aa, 27ab, 27ac, and 27ad in a state of being laid flat. In each of the protecting main body portions 27, the vertical columnar main body portions 27aa, 27ab, 27ac, and 27ad are connected to each other over the entire surface by the non-inflation connecting portion 23 such that the arranged state of the vertical columnar main body portions 27aa, 27ab, 27ac, and 27ad is maintained at the time of the inflation. The horizontal columnar main body portion 27b is configured to be provided substantially along the horizontal columnar main body portion 26a above the horizontal columnar main body portion 26a that forms the connecting inflation portion 26, and to extend to the vicinity of the center of the horizontal columnar main body portion 26a in the left-right direction (refer to FIG. 2). Then, each of the protecting main body portions 27 is configured to be inflated by allowing the inflation gas G that flows out of the connecting inflation portion 26 to sequentially flow into the vertical columnar main body portions 27ab, 27ac, and 27ad from the vertical columnar main body portion 27aa disposed on the connecting inflation portion 26 side, and by allowing the inflation gas G to flow out of the horizontal columnar main body portion 27b toward the communication path 29.
In the communication path 29, two vertical columnar main body portions 29a and 29a formed to respectively extend from the horizontal columnar main body portions 27b arranged on each of the left and right protecting main body portions 27 are formed to be arranged side by side in the left-right direction, and are provided substantially along the up-down direction, and the communication path 29 is inflated by allowing the inflation gas to flow thereinto through the horizontal columnar main body portion 27b. The communication path 29 is attached to the inner side of the center portion of the back surface portion 13 of the clothing portion 10.
The head protecting portion 31 is configured to be folded and accommodated on the upper end side of the back surface portion 13 of the clothing portion 10, and to inflate to protrude upward from the clothing portion 10 and cover the rear side of the head MH of the wearer M at the time of the inflation. The head protecting portion 31 is configured such that the external shape in a state of being laid flat is a substantially rectangular shape, and the left, right, upper, and lower parts of the rear surface side of the head MH can be widely covered when the inflation is completed. Specifically, the head protecting portion 31 is configured such that the inflation completed shape is wider in the left-right direction than the head MH. In the case of the embodiment, the head protecting portion 31 is configured such that three vertical columnar main body portions 31aa, 31ab, and 31ac, which are formed to extend from each of the vertical columnar main body portions 29a that form the communication path 29, and the connecting portions 31ba and 31bb that connect the vertical columnar main body portions 31aa, 31ab, and 31ac to each other are provided symmetrically in the left-right direction (refer to FIG. 2). The vertical columnar main body portion 31aa provided on the center side in the left-right direction is configured to extend upward from each of the vertical columnar main body portions 29a that form the communication path 29, and each of the vertical columnar main body portions 31ab adjacent to the vertical columnar main body portion 31aa on the center side thereof is configured to close the tip end side (upper end side). Then, the head protecting portion 31 is configured to be inflated by allowing the inflation gas G to sequentially flow into the vertical columnar main body portions 31ab and 31ac from the two vertical columnar main body portions 31aa disposed on the center side in the left-right direction through the communication path 29. In the head protecting portion 31, the width dimension of the non-inflation connecting portion 23 disposed between the vertical columnar main body portions 31aa, 31ab, and 31ac is set to be smaller than those of the vertical columnar main body portions 31aa, 31ab, and 31ac in a state of being laid flat. In the head protecting portion 31, the vertical columnar main body portions 31aa, 31aa, 31ab, 31ab, 31ac, and 31ac are connected to each other over the entire surface by the non-inflation connecting portion 23, and the arranged state of the vertical columnar main body portions 31aa, 31aa, 31ab, 31ab, 31ac, and 31ac is maintained at the time of the inflation.
In the airbag 20, as illustrated in FIG. 2, a plurality of attaching tabs 20c are provided at predetermined places on the upper edge side of the hip protecting portion 25, the lower edge side of the head protecting portion 31, and the side edge side of the communication path 29, and these attaching tabs 20c are attached to the inner circumferential surface side of the clothing portion 10 by sewing or the like, and are maintained by the clothing portion 10.
The wearable airbag device S1 of a first embodiment is worn on the wearer M so as to cover the upper body MU of the wearer M by using the fastening tool 15. In addition, in the wearable airbag device S1 of the first embodiment, in a state of being worn on the wearer M, when the sensor part 2 detects the fall of the wearer M as illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the operating signal is output to the gas generator 5 from the operation control device 1, the inflation gas flows into the airbag 20. In the embodiment, first, the hip protecting portion 25 of the airbag 20 inflates so as to protrude downward from the clothing portion 10 and covers the surrounding of the hip MW (refer to FIG. 5B). After this, when the inflation gas flows into the head protecting portion 31 through the communication path 29, the head protecting portion 31 inflates so as to protrude upward from the back surface portion 13 of the clothing portion 10, and the inflation is completed to cover the back of the head MH (refer to FIGS. 5C and 5D).
Then, in the wearable airbag device S1 of the first embodiment, the airbag 20 is configured to include the plurality of columnar inflation portions 22 in which the width dimension is set to be smaller than those of the targeted body parts (the head MH and the trochanter circumferential edge part TO). Therefore, the volume of the airbag 20 can be reduced as compared with a case where the airbag has a simple bag shape. Further, by disposing the non-inflation connecting portion 23 between the columnar inflation portions 22, when the inflation of the airbag 20 is completed, the arranged state of the columnar inflation portions 22 is maintained, and thus, when the inflation is completed, it is possible to stably protect the head MH and the trochanter circumferential edge part TO including the trochanter TP of femur as the targeted body parts.
Therefore, in the wearable airbag device S1 of the first embodiment, the airbag 20 can be rapidly inflated, and the inflated airbag 20 can stably protect the head MH and the trochanter circumferential edge part TO (trochanter TP of femur) as the targeted body parts.
In the wearable airbag device S1 of the first embodiment, the airbag 20 includes the hip protecting portion 25 that inflates so as to cover the side of the trochanter circumferential edge part TO (trochanter TP of femur), and the head protecting portion 31 that inflates to cover the back of the head MH. However, since the hip protecting portion 25 and the head protecting portion 31 respectively have a plurality of columnar inflation portions 22 (columnar main body portions 22a), it is possible to suppress an increase in volume, and the airbag 20 can be rapidly inflated even when the hip protecting portion 25 and the head protecting portion 31 are provided. Further, the airbag 20 is configured to first allow the inflation gas G discharged from the gas generator 5 to flow into each of the protecting main body portions 27 (27L, 27R) in the hip protecting portion 25, and then allow the inflation gas to flow into the head protecting portion 31 through the communication path 29. In other words, the airbag 20 is configured such that the hip protecting portion 25 is positioned on the upstream side of the flow of the inflation gas, and the head protecting portion 31 is inflated after the inflation of the hip protecting portion 25. Therefore, corresponding to the contact order with the fall destination part F when the wearer M falls, the inflated hip protecting portion 25 can rapidly protect the trochanter circumferential edge part TO (trochanter TP of femur), and then the inflated head protecting portion 31 can also accurately protect the head MH of the wearer M.
Next, a wearable airbag device S2 of a second embodiment will be described. As illustrated in FIG. 9, the wearable airbag device S2 of the second embodiment is configured to be worn by being wrapped around the hip MW of the wearer M. The wearable airbag device S2 of the second embodiment is configured to protect the left and right trochanter circumferential edge parts TO (trochanter TP of femur) of the wearer M as a targeted body part when the inflation of the airbag 40 is completed.
As illustrated in FIG. 10, the wearable airbag device S2 includes the airbag 40, the gas generator 5 for feeding the airbag 40 with the inflation gas, the operation control device 1, and an outer cover 60 that covers an outer circumferential side of the airbag 40. The operation control device 1 and the gas generator 5 have the same configurations as those of the operation control device 1 and the gas generator 5 in the above-described wearable airbag device S1, and therefore, the detailed description thereof will be omitted. In the wearable airbag device S2, the airbag 40 is accommodated inside the outer cover 60 in a state of being laid flat.
The airbag 40 is formed of a flexible sheet material (specifically, a woven fabric made of polyester yarn, polyamide yarn, and the like) similar to the above-described airbag 20, and as illustrated in FIG. 11B, the airbag 40 includes two protecting main body portions 48 (48L, 48R) that cover the left and right sides of the hip MW of the wearer M when the inflation is completed, and a connecting inflation portion 47 that connects the upper ends of the protecting main body portions 48 to each other. The airbag 40 is symmetrical in the left-right direction in a state of being laid flat. In the case of the embodiment, the airbag 40 is configured by folding back a part of the airbag base member 42 as illustrated in FIG. 11A and joining the predetermined places such that the folded state can be maintained.
The airbag base member 42 is configured such that columnar inflation portions 44, in which the width dimensions are set to be smaller than the width dimension W1 (refer to FIG. 13) of the targeted body part (trochanter circumferential edge part TO), are arranged in a single stroke manner. The airbag base member 42 has an inner wall 42a disposed on the inner side (wearer M side) and an outer wall 42b disposed on the outer side at the time of wearing, with substantially the same external shape. Then, the airbag base member 42 is formed by stacking the inner wall 42a and the outer wall 42b in a state of being laid flat, and by joining (sewing by suturing) predetermined places such that continuous joining parts 43 are formed. The airbag base member 42 is configured such that the columnar inflation portions 44 that can inflate so as to separate the inner wall 42a and the outer wall 42b are provided in a single stroke manner to extend in two forks starting from the arranged part of the gas generator 5, and the regions between the columnar inflation portions 44 are connected over the entire surface by a non-inflation connecting portion 45 disposed such that the inner wall 42a and the outer wall 42b can be overlapped with each other (refer to FIG. 11A). The columnar inflation portion 44 includes columnar main body portions 44a arranged substantially along the up-down direction or the horizontal direction when the inflation is completed, and a connecting portion 44b for connecting the columnar main body portions 44a to each other. In the case of the embodiment, the columnar inflation portion 44 (the columnar main body portion 44a, the connecting portion 44b) is configured such that the width dimension is substantially constant over the entire length. The width dimension of the columnar inflation portion 44 is set to be smaller than the width dimension W1 (refer to FIG. 13) of the trochanter circumferential edge part TO as the targeted body part, and is set to be a dimension that can measure a sufficient thickness of the columnar main body portion 44a when the inflation is completed. In the case of the embodiment, the columnar main body portion 44a includes a horizontal columnar main body portion 47a and vertical columnar main body portions 50aa, 50ab, 50ac, 50ad, 50ae, and 50af, which will be described later. The connecting portion 44b includes connecting portions 50ba, 50bb, 50bc, 50bd, 50be, and 50bf, which will be described later.
As illustrated in FIG. 11A, the airbag base member 42 includes the connecting inflation portion 47, and two protecting main body configuration portions 50 (50L, 50R) that form each of the protecting main body portions 48 (48L, 48R).
The connecting inflation portion 47 has the same configuration as that of the connecting inflation portion 26 of the hip protecting portion 25 in the above-described airbag 20, and is formed of a single horizontal columnar main body portion 47a provided substantially along the left-right direction when the inflation is completed. The connecting inflation portion 47 is disposed in the region of a wrap portion 62 (which will be described later) in the outer cover 60, and thus, although the details are omitted in the drawing, the connecting inflation portion 47 is disposed at a position which is the rear side of the pelvis MP of the wearer M when the inflation of the airbag 40 is completed. Similar to the above-described connecting inflation portion 26, the connecting inflation portion 47 connects the gas generator 5 to the vicinity of the center in the length direction (left-right direction).
In the case of the embodiment, each of the protecting main body configuration portions 50 (50L, 50R) is configured such that six vertical columnar main body portions 50aa, 50ab, 50ac, 50ad, 50ae, and 50af which are provided so as to be substantially along the up-down direction when the inflation is completed, and the connecting portions 50ba, 50bb, 50bc, 50bd, 50be, and 50bf that respectively connect each of the vertical columnar main body portions 50aa, 50ab, 50ac, 50ad, 50ae, and 50af are arranged in a single stroke manner. (refer to FIG. 11A). Each of the vertical columnar main body portions 50aa, 50ab, 50ac, 50ad, 50ae, and 50af is arranged side by side substantially along the up-down direction and in the left-right direction, respectively. Then, the vertical columnar main body portion 50aa arranged on the left and right inner sides in a state where the airbag base member 42 is laid flat communicates with the connecting inflation portion 47 (horizontal columnar main body portion 47a) via the connecting portion 50ba, and the vertical columnar main body portion 50af disposed on the end side in the left-right direction is configured to close the terminal (upper end side). Each of the vertical columnar main body portions 50aa, 50ab, 50ac, 50ad, 50ae, and 50af is provided over substantially the entire upper and lower regions of the protecting main body configuration portion 50. Each of the protecting main body configuration portions 50 is configured to be inflated by allowing the inflation gas G that flows out of the connecting inflation portion 47 to sequentially flow into the vertical columnar main body portions 50ab, 50ac, 50ad, 50ae, and 50af from the vertical columnar main body portion 50aa disposed on the connecting inflation portion 47 side (refer to FIG. 11A). Each of the protecting main body configuration portions 50 has a region on the end edge side in the left-right direction in a state of being laid flat as an overlapping portion 53. Then, the protecting main body portion 48 is configured by overlapping the overlapping portion 53 with an overlapped portion 54 formed of the region on the center side in the left-right direction, and by joining the upper edge side and the lower edge side of the overlapping portion 53 respectively to the upper edge side and the lower edge side of the overlapped portion 54. In other words, the protecting main body portion 48 is configured such that a region on the end side in the left-right direction in a state of being laid flat (a region on the front side at the time of wearing) is disposed to stack the overlapping portion 53 and the overlapped portion 54 on the surface of the targeted body part (trochanter circumferential edge part TO), and in the overlapping region, the columnar inflation portions 44 (vertical columnar main body portions 50ab, 50ac, 50ae, and 50af) are disposed to be overlapped inside and outside to be stacked on the surface of the targeted body part (trochanter circumferential edge part TO) (refer to FIGS. 13 and 14). In the case of the embodiment, the overlapping portion 53 is overlapped on the outside of the overlapped portion 54.
Each of the protecting main body portions 48 (48L, 48R) is configured to cover the outer side of the trochanter circumferential edge part TO, which is the circumferential edge of the trochanter TP of femur of the wearer M as the targeted body part, when the inflation is completed, while the external shape in a state of being laid flat is a substantially rectangular shape. In the case of the embodiment, in each of the protecting main body portions 48 (48L, 48R), the width dimension in the up-down and left-right directions in a state of being laid flat is set to be a dimension that can widely cover the surrounding of the trochanter TP of femur (trochanter circumferential edge part TO) including the front, rear, upper, and lower parts of the trochanter TP of femur when the inflation of the airbag 40 is completed (refer to FIGS. 13 and 14). Then, as described above, each of the protecting main body portions 48 is inflated by first allowing the inflation gas G that flows out of the communication path 46 to flow into the vertical columnar main body portion 50aa, and sequentially, by allowing the inflation gas G to flow into the vertical columnar main body portions 50ab, 50ac, 50ad, 50ae, and 50af. Further, in each of the protecting main body portions 48, since the vertical columnar main body portions 50aa, 50ab, 50ac, 50ad, 50ae, and 50af are connected to each other over the entire surface by the non-inflation connecting portion 45, the arranged state of the vertical columnar main body portions 50aa, 50ab, 50ac, 50ad, 50ae, and 50af is also maintained at the time of the inflation.
The outer cover 60 is made of a flexible woven fabric. In the case of the embodiment, the outer cover 60 is made of a polyester woven fabric. The outer cover 60 has an inner wall 60a disposed on the inner side (wearer M side) at the time of wearing and an outer wall 60b disposed on the outer side at the time of wearing, with substantially the same external shape. The outer cover 60 has a bag shape by joining (sewing) the outer circumferential edges of the inner wall 60a and the outer wall 60b to each other, and thus the airbag 40 can smoothly inflate inside. As illustrated in FIG. 10, the outer cover 60 has the substantially band-shaped wrap portion 62 disposed on the upper edge side and wrapped around the upper region of the pelvis MP of the wearer M, and two main covering portions 65 (65L, 65R) which are formed to extend downward from the wrap portion 62 and cover the outer circumferential sides of each of the protecting main body portions 48 (48L, 48R). A pair of hook-and-loop fastener 63 as wearing means are provided on end portions 62a and 62b sides of the wrap portion 62. The hook-and-loop fastener 63 has a hook surface 63a and a loop surface 63b arranged on the end portions 62a and 62b sides of the wrap portion 62, respectively, and is configured to connect the end portions 62a and 62b of the wrap portion 62 to each other. The main covering portions 65L and 65R are formed to extend downward from the wrap portion 62, and are configured to respectively smoothly inflate the protecting main body portions 48 (48L, 48R) inside.
The wearable airbag device S2 of the second embodiment is worn on the wearer M by being wrapped around the hip MW (pelvis MP) of the wearer M by connecting the end portions 62a and 62b of the wrap portion 62 in the outer cover 60 to each other by using the hook-and-loop fastener 63 as wearing means (refer to FIG. 9). In addition, in wearable airbag device S2 of the second embodiment, in a state of being worn on the wearer M, when the sensor part 2 detects the fall of the wearer M, the operating signal is output to the gas generator 5 from the operation control device 1, the inflation gas flows into the airbag 40, and the airbag 40 completes the inflation as illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14.
In the wearable airbag device S2 of the second embodiment as well, the airbag 40 is configured to include the plurality of columnar inflation portions 44 (columnar main body portions 44a) in which the width dimension is set to be smaller than that of the trochanter circumferential edge part TO as the targeted body part. Therefore, the volume of the airbag 40 can be reduced as compared with a case where the airbag has a simple bag shape. Further, since the airbag 40 maintains the arranged state of the columnar inflation portion 44 (columnar main body portion 44a) by interposing the non-inflation connecting portion 45 therebetween when the inflation is completed, the airbag 40 can stably protect the trochanter circumferential edge part TO (trochanter TP of femur) as the targeted body part when the inflation is completed.
Further, in the wearable airbag device S2 of the second embodiment, when the inflation is completed, the airbag 40 is configured to provide the overlapping region disposed to stack the columnar inflation portions 44 (vertical columnar main body portions 50ab, 50ac, 50ae, and 50af) on the surface of the targeted body part (trochanter circumferential edge part TO). Therefore, the airbag 40 can be inflated to be thick at a predetermined place. Specifically, in the second embodiment, each of the protecting main body portions 48 in the airbag 40 is configured such that the overlapping portion 53 and the overlapped portion 54 are stacked on the surface of the targeted body part (trochanter circumferential edge part TO) over the region in the vicinity of the center in the front-rear direction where the side part of the trochanters TP of femurs is covered from the front edge side in a worn state. Therefore, the airbag 40 can thickly inflate the region that covers the trochanter TP of femur, and can stably protect the circumferential edge part of the trochanter TP of femur.
Furthermore, as the airbag 70, those having the configurations illustrated in FIGS. 15 to 20 may be used. Similar to the airbag 40 of the above-described second embodiment, the airbag 70 is worn by being wrapped around the hip MW of the wearer M, and protects the circumferential edge parts of the left and right trochanters TP of femurs of the wearer M as the targeted body part when the inflation is completed. Similar to the above-described airbag 40, the airbag 70 includes two protecting main body portions 86 (86L, 86R) that cover the left and right sides of the hip MW of the wearer M when the inflation is completed, and a connecting inflation portion 85 that connects the upper ends of the protecting main body portions 86 to each other.
The airbag 70 is made of a flexible sheet material. In the case of the embodiment, the airbag 70 is made of a woven fabric made of polyester yarns, polyamide yarns or the like. In the case of the embodiment, the airbag 70 is configured such that a plurality of columnar inflation portions 73 in which the width dimensions are set to be smaller than the width dimension W1 (refer to FIG. 19) of the targeted body part (the trochanter circumferential edge part TO) are arranged side by side to communicate with each other by the intersections 78. Specifically, the airbag 70 includes an inner wall 70a disposed on the inner side (wearer M side) at the time of wearing, an outer wall 70b disposed on the outer side, a side wall 70c that connects the inner wall 70a and the outer wall 70b, and a partition wall 71 for partitioning the internal region of the airbag 70 (refer to FIGS. 15 to 18). The partition walls 71 (71UL, 71UR, 71DL, 71DR) form the circumferential wall of the columnar inflation portion 73, and partitions the internal region of the airbag 70 into an inflow region (columnar inflation portion 73) into which the inflation gas flows and a non-inflow region 80 into which the inflation gas does not flow. In the case of the embodiment, the partition walls 71 (71UL, 71UR, 71DL, 71DR) include an upper wall 71a, a lower wall 71b, and a side wall 71c that connects the upper wall 71a and the lower wall 71b, and two partition walls 71 are arranged side by side in the up-down direction in the regions of each of the protecting main body portions 86 as a substantially U shape which is flat (refer to FIGS. 15, 16, and 18). In the case of the embodiment, the columnar inflation portion 73 includes an upper horizontal inflation portion 74 disposed substantially along the left-right direction over substantially the entire region in the width direction on the upper end side of the airbag 70, two vertical inflation portions 76L and 76R arranged to extend downward from the upper horizontal inflation portion 74 while being substantially orthogonal to the upper horizontal inflation portion 74, and two lower horizontal inflation portions 75UL, 75UR, 75DL, and 75DR (four in total) extending substantially along the left-right direction to be branched from the vicinity of the center in the up-down direction and the lower end sides of each of the vertical inflation portions 76L and 76R. The upper horizontal inflation portion 74, the vertical inflation portions 76L and 76R, and the lower horizontal inflation portions 75UL, 75UR, 75DL, and 75DR communicate with each other by intersections 78 (78UL, 78UR, 78CL, 78CR, 78DL, and 78DR), respectively. Further, the end portion of the upper horizontal inflation portion 74 and the tip end on the side separated from the vertical inflation portions 76L and 76R in the lower horizontal inflation portions 75UL, 75UR, 75DL, and 75DR are closed. In the case of the embodiment, the columnar inflation portion 73 is configured such that the width dimension is substantially constant over the entire length except for the center side part 74a of the upper horizontal inflation portion 74 that forms the connecting inflation portion 85 as will be described later.
The connecting inflation portion 85 is formed of a center side part 74a which is a region on the center side in the left-right direction of the upper horizontal inflation portion 74 in the columnar inflation portion 73 (a region between the vertical inflation portions 76L and 76R). The gas generator 5 is connected to the vicinity of the center of the connecting inflation portion 85 in the length direction (left-right direction) (refer to FIG. 15). The width dimension of the center side part 74a of the upper horizontal inflation portion 74 that forms the connecting inflation portion 85 is set to be larger than that of the other parts in the columnar inflation portion 73. Although the details are omitted in the drawing, the connecting inflation portion 85 is also disposed at a position which is the rear side of the pelvis MP of the wearer M when the inflation is completed in a state of being worn on the wearer M.
Each of the protecting main body portions 86 (86L, 86R) is configured to cover the outer side of the circumferential edge part of the trochanter TP of femur of the wearer M as the targeted body part when the inflation is completed, while the external shape is a substantially rectangular shape. In the case of the embodiment, in each of the protecting main body portions 86, the width dimension in the up-down and left-right directions in a state of being laid flat is set to be a dimension that can widely cover the surrounding (trochanter circumferential edge part TO) of the trochanter TP of femur including the front, rear, upper, and lower parts of the trochanter TP of femur when the inflation of the airbag 70 is completed (refer to FIGS. 19 and 20). As described above, each of the protecting main body portions 86 partitions the internal region by two partition walls 71U and 71D. Then, each of the protecting main body portions 86 is configured to be arranged side by side such that the vertical inflation portion 76 is provided on the inner end side in the left-right direction in a state of being laid flat, and the non-inflow regions 80U and 80D are interposed in the up-down direction between an end side part 74b of the upper horizontal inflation portion 74 and two lower horizontal inflation portions 75U and 75D, outside the vertical inflation portion 76 in the left-right direction. Each of the protecting main body portions 86 inflates such that the inflation gas G that has flowed into the connecting inflation portion 85 (the center side part 74a of the upper horizontal inflation portion 74) flowed to the lower horizontal inflation portions 75U and 75D through the vertical inflation portion 67. In each of the protecting main body portions 86, the upper horizontal inflation portion 74 and the lower horizontal inflation portions 75U and 75D are connected to each other by the non-inflow regions 80U and 80D, and thus, at the time of the inflation, the arranged state of the upper horizontal inflation portion 74 and the lower horizontal inflation portions 75U and 75D is maintained.
Even when the airbag 70 is used, the airbag 70 is configured to have a plurality of columnar inflation portions 73 in which the width dimensions are set to be smaller than that of the trochanter circumferential edge part TO as a targeted body part. Therefore, the volume of the airbag 70 can be reduced as compared with a case where the airbag has a simple bag shape. Further, when the inflation is completed, the airbag 70 is connected to each other by the non-inflow regions 80U and 80D such that the arranged state of the columnar inflation portion 73 (the upper horizontal inflation portion 74, the lower horizontal inflation portions 75U and 75D) is maintained. Therefore, the airbag 70 can stably protect the trochanter circumferential edge part TO (trochanter TP of femur) as the targeted body part when the inflation is completed.
Further, in the airbag 70 having the above-described configuration, by arranging the partition walls 71U and 71D inside, the inner wall 70a and the outer wall 70b are arranged to be separated from each other even in the non-inflow regions 80U and 80D when the inflation is completed. (refer to FIG. 20). In other words, in the non-inflow regions 80U and 80D, the width dimension (the separation distance between the upper wall 71a and the lower wall 71b in the partition wall 71) in the up-down direction is set to be a dimension that does not bring the inner wall 70a and the outer wall 70b into contact with each other (does not bring the walls into contact with the bottom). In other words, in the airbag 70 having the above-described configuration, when the inflation is completed, the non-inflow regions 80U and 80D are arranged in a state of having a certain thickness, and tension is also generated by the inflated columnar inflation portion 73 in the non-inflow regions 80U and 80D. Therefore, even when the airbag 70 is configured such that the columnar inflation portions 73 (lower horizontal inflation portions 75U and 75D) are arranged so as to intersect the trochanter TP of femur, similar to the airbag that is inflated to be thick entirely, the trochanter circumferential edge part TO (trochanter TP of femur) as the targeted body part can be stably protected. It is needless to say that, even an airbag of the type in which the columnar inflation portions communicate with each other by the intersections may be formed by directly joining (sewing) the two base fabrics similar to the above-described airbag.
In the airbags 20 and 40 of the embodiment, the inner walls 20a and 42a and the outer walls 20b and 42b are sewn so as to provide continuous joining parts 21 and 43, and the columnar inflation portions 22 and 44 are formed. Then, the region between the columnar inflation portions 22 and 44 in the airbags 20 and 40 is connected to each other over the entire surface by the non-inflation connecting portions 23 and 45 arranged such that the inner walls 20a and 42a and the outer walls 20b and 42b are arranged to be overlapped with each other. Further, in the airbag 70, the partition wall 71 is provided between the inner wall 70a and the outer wall 70b to partition the columnar inflation portion 73 and the non-inflow region 80. In other words, the airbags 20, 40, and 70 of the embodiment are all configured such that the airbags 20, 40, and 70 themselves can maintain the arranged state of the columnar inflation portions 22, 44, and 73 when the inflation is completed. However, the configuration of the airbag is not limited to the embodiment. For example, as an airbag, a configuration may be used in which holding bodies capable of forming a columnar inflation portion from a tubular body that can be inflated by allowing the inflation gas to flow thereinto and maintaining the arranged state of the columnar inflation portions when the inflation is completed are separately provided. Further, similar to the second embodiment, when the airbag is inflated in the outer cover, the columnar inflation portion of the airbag may be configured to be maintained by the outer cover.
The present disclosure relates to a wearable airbag device having the following configuration.
A wearable airbag device is configured to protect a targeted body part of a wearer, and includes an airbag configured to inflate to cover the targeted body part by allowing an inflation gas to flow thereinto. The airbag has a plurality of columnar inflation portions in which width dimensions are set to be smaller than that of the targeted body part, and configured to maintain an arranged state of the columnar inflation portions when the inflation is completed, and to protect the targeted body part.
In the wearable airbag device of the present disclosure, since the airbag is configured to have a plurality of columnar inflation portions in which the width dimensions are set to be smaller than that of the targeted body part, the volume can be reduced as compared with a case where the airbag has a simple bag shape. Further, since this airbag maintains the arranged state of the columnar inflation portions when the inflation is completed, it is possible to stably protect the targeted body part when the inflation is completed.
Therefore, in the wearable airbag device of the present disclosure, the airbag can be rapidly inflated, and the inflated airbag can stably protect the targeted body parts.
Specifically, in the wearable airbag device according to the present disclosure, it is preferable that the targeted body part includes left and right femoral trochanter circumferential edge parts of the wearer, and a head, and the airbag includes a hip protecting portion that inflates to cover a side of the femoral trochanter circumferential edge part, and a head protecting portion that inflates to cover at least back of the head, and is configured to position the hip protecting portion on an upstream side of a flow of the inflation gas, and inflate the head protecting portion after inflating the hip protecting portion.
When the wearable airbag device has such a configuration, it is possible to suppress an increase in volume by having a configuration having a plurality of columnar inflation portions, and the airbag can be rapidly inflated even when the hip protecting portion and the head protecting portion are provided. In addition, corresponding to the contact order with the fall destination part when the wearer falls, the inflated hip protecting portion can rapidly protect the femoral trochanter circumferential edge part, and then the inflated head protecting portion can also accurately protect the head of the wearer.
Furthermore, in the wearable airbag device having the above-described configuration, it is preferable that, when the airbag is configured such that the overlapping region is provided in which the columnar inflation portions are arranged to be stacked on the surface of the targeted body part when the inflation is completed, the airbag can also be inflated to be thick at a predetermined place.
Specifically, the airbag may be formed by arranging the columnar inflation portions in a single stroke manner, and further, the airbag may be configured such that the columnar inflation portions communicate with each other by the intersection.
Patent Application
20220295918
