WEARABLE PROTECTION DEVICE

Abstract

A wearable protection device for protection of at least a body part of a wearer, comprising an inflatable element arranged adjacent to a body part to be protected, wherein the inflatable element is inflatable from a first, substantially uninflated condition to a second, substantially inflated condition, by application of a releasable source of a gas to the inflatable element, for at least partially filling of the inflatable element with said gas, wherein the inflatable element, when being inflated to the second condition, deploys around the body part to be protected and assumes a predetermined three-dimensional shape adapted to the body part to be protected, wherein the inflatable element comprises a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end is the end where the inflatable element is arranged on the body part to be protected when in the first, substantially uninflated condition.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to protection devices. In particular, the present disclosure relates to protection devices that can be worn on the human body. Further in particular, the present disclosure relates to wearable protection devices that inflate to prevent injury of the human body in case of an accident, e.g., a fall accident.

BACKGROUND

Inflatable protection devices are well known in the automotive industry. For a long time, inflatable elements, also known as airbags, have been provided in the interior of vehicles to protect occupants in the case of accidents. Such inflatable elements are deployed, i.e., inflated, in the event of an imminent or ongoing vehicle crash, to cushion the impact of a vehicle occupant on elements of the car like the steering wheel or the dashboard. Over time, additional inflatable elements were distributed throughout the car cabin to provide further protection in case of uncommon crash angles. E.g., side airbags, window airbags as well as airbags for rear seat passengers are common practice nowadays. Some vehicles even comprise inflatable elements arranged at the exterior of the vehicle in order to protect people involved in a vehicle crash but outside of the vehicle in the event of a crash scenario.

Newer personal protection devices are intended to provide specific protection of dedicated body parts by arranging the inflatable protection devices in the vicinity of a certain body part to be protected. By wearing an inflatable protection device at a defined position on the body, the inflatable protection device may be inflated in the event of an imminent or ongoing accident to provide a cushioning effect for that certain body part. E.g., inflatable protection devices are known that are worn like a regular belt and comprise inflatable elements that are arranged to deploy upon detection of a fall incident, to mitigate the fall by providing a cushioning effect, to reduce impact forces acting on the body of the wearer. In other words, such inflatable protection devices, e.g., intended to provide protection for the hip area of its wearer, detect that the person wearing the protection device is about to fall and subsequently initiates deployment of the inflatable elements, i.e. inflating inflatable elements. The inflatable elements are arranged in the vicinity of the body part to be protected so that the inflatable element is expected to be situated between the body of the wearer and the impacting object, e.g. the floor, a wall, or another arbitrary object at the time of impact to protect the body part.

Inflatable elements when transitioning from an essentially uninflated condition to an inflated condition regularly change their shape due to the filling of the interior of the inflatable element with a gas. Such a change in shape regularly comprises that at least one dimension of the inflatable element increases, i.e., gets larger, while another dimension of the inflatable elements decreases, i.e., gets smaller. Such a change in shape or dimension may mean that the inflatable element actually moves away from the body parts to be protected or at least is positioned some distance from the body part. In other words, there is a tendency for inflatable elements to flare out from its intended protection position due to forces provided by inflating the inflatable element. At the same time, by increasing one dimension during inflation which regularly is in the radial direction, thus pointing away from the body of the wearer, while decreasing in another dimension which regularly is in the circumferential direction of the body of the wearer, inflatable elements have the tendency to shift their alignment relative to the body part to be protected. Further, a good and tight fit of the wearable protection device relative to the body of the wearer is required to assure protection from accidents. At the same time, wearing a wearable protection device for an extended period of time may be uncomfortable in case the tight fit is maintained throughout the full time of wearing.

Thus, there may be a need to avoid the flaring out of inflatable element when deploying the personal protection device.

Further, there may be a need to assure that the inflatable element remains suitably arranged relative to the body parts to be protected when deploying, i.e., inflating, the personal protection device.

Still further, they may be in need to provide a wearable protection device that can be comfortably worn for an extended period of time while assuring that wearable protection wise has a tight fit relative to the body of the wearer when being deployed in a protection scenario.

SUMMARY

At least one such need may be met by the subject-matter of the independent claims. Preferred embodiments are provided in the dependent claims and are explained in detail in the following description.

The present invention relates to wearable protection devices to prevent injury of the human body in case of an accident.

According to a first aspect of the disclosure, there is provided a wearable protection device for protection of at least a body part of a wearer, comprising an inflatable element arranged adjacent to a body part to be protected, wherein the inflatable element is inflatable from a first, substantially uninflated condition to a second, substantially inflated condition, by application of a releasable source of a gas to the inflatable element, for at least partially filling of the inflatable element with said gas, wherein the inflatable element, when being inflated to the second condition, deploys around the body part to be protected and assumes a predetermined three-dimensional shape adapted to the body part to be protected, wherein the inflatable element comprises a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end is the end where the inflatable element is arranged on the body part to be protected when in the first, substantially uninflated condition, wherein the distal end is the end of the inflatable element when in the second, substantially inflated condition that is distal from the proximal end, and wherein the inflatable element comprises a retention element to prevent the inflatable element from flaring out during and/or after deployment into the second condition.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, wherein the retention element is at least one retention element adapted to induce a first curvature to the inflatable element in a first region of the inflatable element, and to induce a second curvature to the inflatable element in a second region of the inflatable element, when the inflatable element is in the inflated, second condition. Said first and second regions/said first and second curvature may in particularly comprise a different orientation relative to one another, so that the inflatable element forms a three-dimensional shape to adapt and/or align the first curvature and/or the second curvature to the body part to be protected.

By providing a plurality of curvatures, the inflatable element and thus the wearable protection device may be preferably adapted to the body part to be protected. Since for providing protection of a specific body part, placing an inflatable element adjacent the body part to be protected that is substantially embodied as a simple cushion may only provide a rudimentary protection. In other words, depending on an angle of impact and inflatable element shaped as a substantially flat, unbended or uncurved, two-dimensional cushion (of course having an extension in the third dimension in particular in the inflated condition) may still allow some excess force acting on the body part to be protected. In case of providing an inflatable element that substantially wraps around the body part to be protected, in particular in three dimensions having a plurality of curvatures like e.g., at least two generally independent curvatures, forums a cup-like structure around the body part to be protected, thereby providing preferred protection in case of an impact occurring from an arbitrary angle.

In order to provide this curvature, in particular this general curvature having substantially independent first and second curvatures in regions of the inflatable element, i.e., in different sub-regions of the same inflatable element, the inflatable element may comprise woven in tethers in its interior, which are arranged in different directions in relation to each other, so that they impose the first and or second curvature on the inflatable element. E.g., the inflatable element may comprise channels, e.g., airbag channels with said woven in tethers in its interior, arranged in the different directions in relation to each other.

According to a further embodiment of the present disclosure, the retention element may be at least one element out of the group consisting of an integral connection, an integrally woven connection, a connecting element, a seam, a weld, a rivet, a tether, a tether yarn within the inflatable element, a skirt-like element, and a substantially uninflatable skirt-like element.

A retention element may generally be understood as an element that avoids the flaring out of at least one part of the wearable protection device, like e.g., an inflatable element, when arranged adjacent to the body part to be protected. The flaring out may be avoided in the uninflated, first condition and/or the inflated second condition. In particular, in the first condition, when an inflatable element of the wearable protection device is not inflated but still already arranged a chastened to the body part to be protected, e.g., in case the inflatable element is not folded or rolled up, the retention element may prevent the inflatable element from flaring out. Likewise, when in the second condition and/or transitioning from the first condition to the second condition, the retention element may avoid, e.g., irregular movements during the unfolding or unrolling process, which irregular movements could eventually result in the inflatable element not being arranged adjacent to the body part to be protected.

The inflatable element may be connected using the retention element to a further portion of the wearable protection device and/or may be connected to a further inflatable element of the wearable protection device. The retention element may thus provide a defined position of at least a part or region of the inflatable element with regard to a further portion of the wearable protection device/a further inflatable element. Such a connection between the inflatable element and the further portion/further inflatable element may in particular be an integrally woven connection, so that the inflatable element and the further portion/further inflatable element may be provided by a one-piece woven technique. Alternatively, the retention element may be embodied as a connection provided subsequent to the manufacture of the inflatable element like generally a connecting element. In such a case, the connecting element may be a seam or weld connecting the inflatable element and the further portion/further inflatable element.

Still further, the retention element may be at least one tether or tether yarn of the inflatable element provided for imposing a three-dimensional shape on the inflatable element. Such a tether whatever yarn may be provided in particular in the interior of the inflatable element and may provide the three-dimensional shape when the inflatable element is in the second, inflated condition. A preferred method for manufacture such an inflatable element may be a one piece woven technique, where the at least one tether is introduced into the interior of the inflatable element when manufacturing the inflatable element.

A skirt-like element may be understood as an element substantially circumferentially surrounding the body part to be protected. The inflatable element and/or the inflatable regions may be attached to the skirt-like element, at least at defined points or in a defined area, thereby imposing a defined curvature generally provided by the skirt-like element. In particular an uninflatable skirt-like element may substantially conform with the surface curvature of the body part to be protected, thereby imposing said surface curvature on the inflatable element and/or the inflatable regions. In other words, by following the surface curvature of the uninflatable skirt-like element, inflatable element and/or the inflatable regions may be forced to likewise conform with the surface curvature of the body part to be protected, thereby avoiding a flaring out of the inflatable element.

Likewise, it is conceivable that the inflatable element and/or generally the wearable protection device comprises a plurality of possibly different retention elements. E.g., at least one internally arranged tether or the yarn may be combined with at least one connecting element like a seam or weld to provide a further three-dimensional shaping of the inflatable element to adapt the three-dimensional shape to the body part be protected.

According to a further embodiment of the present disclosure, the inflatable element may comprise at least two inflatable regions, and wherein the retention element may be arranged towards the distal end of the inflatable element.

Providing a retention element at the distal end of the inflatable element or rather at the distal ends of the two inflatable regions may allow the defined shaping of the inflatable element when in the inflated condition. Providing the retention element may be seen as reducing the freedom of the two inflatable regions to change their geometrical shape by inflation. Further, reducing said freedom may even provide a certain shaping of the resulting three-dimensional shape of the inflatable element. E.g., two inflatable regions, which would push themselves away from one another due to the increase in dimension from the inflation, thereby promoting a flaring out, could be forced to remain together in the area where the retention element is provided, connecting the two inflatable regions, resulting a certain three-dimensional shape. In other words, the two inflatable regions would remain attached to one another by the retention element while pushing against one another in the region between the proximal and the distal end thereby obtaining a certain curvature. The curvature may be designed such that the two inflatable regions bend around the body part to be protected, thereby remaining arranged in its vicinity and not flaring out.

According to a further embodiment of the present disclosure, the inflatable element may comprise an opening between two of the at least two inflatable regions, the proximal end and the distal end, in particular extending substantially parallel to the lengthwise extension of the body part.

Providing such an opening between the at least two inflatable legions may allow a further freedom of alignment between the inflatable regions in the area where the inflatable regions are not arranged relative to another in a defined manner, i.e., where the wearable protection device is worn at the proximal and the retention element at the distal end. In other words, providing an opening may allow the two inflatable regions to further push one another away in the inflated condition by not providing a physical, i.e. fabric, connection between the inflatable regions such an additional freedom may in turn provide additional freedom in designing a defined curvature of the wearable protection device and adapting said curvature to the body part to be protected.

According to a further embodiment of the present disclosure, the inflatable element may comprise a V-shaped, U-shaped or slitted opening between two of the at least two inflatable regions, arranged distal from the retention element.

Providing an additional opening distal from the retention element may allow a further freedom of alignment between the inflatable regions in the area where the inflatable regions are not arranged relative to another in a defined manner. E.g., providing the opening distal from the retention element, thus arranging the retention element inwardly from the distal end of the inflatable element, or of the at least two inflatable regions, may result in a different force vector acting on the inflated inflatable regions, thereby imposing a different resulting geometrical curvature. Such a different geometrical curvature may in turn provide additional freedom in designing a defined curvature of the wearable protection device and adapting said curvature to the body part to be protected.

According to a further embodiment of the present disclosure, the wearable protection device may be arranged around the circumference of the body part to be protected and may deploy along a lengthwise extension of the body part to be protected, wherein deploying may comprise one of inflating the inflatable element and extending in length in the direction of the lengthwise extension of the body part to be protected. In other words, the inflatable element may either already be arranged surrounding the body part to be protected in the uninflated condition, or may deploy around the body part to be protected when being inflated.

In case the inflatable element already is arranged surrounding the body part to be protected, the inflatable element only needs to be inflated in case of a protection incident in order to provide protection. In such a scenario, the three-dimensional shape of the inflatable element may already be adapted to the specific protection scenario, thereby preferably conforming in shape to the body part to be protected. Since no deployment is required in this scenario, protection may be provided quicker and a flaring out may be effectively avoided, e.g. by providing a skirt-like element, in particular a flexible skirt-like element, to which the inflatable element is attached to. Further, since no deployment of the inflatable element is required, the wearable protection device may be worn underneath clothing which would otherwise prevent the deployment. In case the wearable protection device is worn underneath clothing, such may further avoid the flaring out and provide preferred protection since the clothing may avoid the dislocation of the wearable protection device from the intended location of protection. Further, where acceptance may be increased, since the wearable protection device may not be readily noticed by a third person. E.g., in case of a hip protection device, the inflatable element already may be worn underneath regular clothing like trousers or skirts in a manner not hampering the free movement of the wearer in the uninflated condition. At the same time, when protection is needed, the inflatable element may be quickly inflated since it is already positioned adjacent to the body parts to be protected only needs to be inflated. Such a mere inflation may be performed quicker than an inflation together with a prior deployment.

Alternatively, the inflatable element may extend in length in the direction of the lengthwise extension of the body parts to be protected. In other words, the inflatable element, in the first condition, may be arranged in an unextended or space saving arrangement like e.g. folded or rolled, and may subsequently, during the inflation process, be unfolded or unrolled, thereby extended. Providing the inflatable element in such a space saving arrangement allows the unintrusive wearing of the wearable protection device. E.g., in case of a hip protection device, a belt like device with unextended inflatable elements may be worn throughout the day due to its compact size and may in particular be removed and reattached without first having to remove clothing.

According to a further embodiment of the present disclosure, the inflatable element may be arranged adjacent to a body part to be protected such that the body part to be protected comprises a circumference between the proximal end and the distal end that is larger than the circumference of the body part to be protected of at least one of the proximal end and the distal end.

In other words, the inflatable element may be arranged to protect a prominent feature of the wearer's body, protruding from the body, thereby exposing the body part to external forces. E.g., in case of a hip protection element, the wearable protection device may be arranged above the hips, where the body has a smaller circumference than the hip region itself which regularly has a larger circumference. Following the hip region, seen from the region above the hips, the body regularly decreases in circumference. In another example, the wearable protection device may be arranged adjacent to a joint, where the region of the body above and below the joint regularly has a smaller circumference that the joint itself. E.g., reading region above the elbow or above the knee regularly has a smaller circumference than the knee or elbow joint itself. Here, the wearable protection device, in particular the inflatable element, further in particular the three-dimensional shape of the inflatable element, may be adapted to the larger circumference of the body parts to be protected compared to the attachment region of the wearable protection device. The three-dimensional shape may thus be arranged such that the inflatable element accommodates the body parts to be protected. In other words, the three-dimensional shape may be larger in the area where the circumference of the body part to be protected is larger and may subsequently reduce in size where the circumference of the body part to be protected again decreases. This larger circumference of the body part to be protected may coincide with the previously mentioned opening between two of the at least two inflatable regions of the inflatable element which provide space to accommodate the protruding body part to be protected.

According to a further embodiment of the present disclosure, the inflatable element may comprise a channeling element at least partly extending in a circumference direction of the inflatable element and accommodated within the inflatable element for distribution of the gas for inflating the inflatable element, wherein the channeling element in particular comprises a plurality of openings for releasing the gas from the channeling element into the interior of the inflatable element.

According to a further embodiment of the present disclosure, the channeling element may be adapted to receive the gas for inflating the inflatable element and may be adapted for generally guiding the gas in the circumference direction to allow even distribution of the gas across the length of the channeling element and from the channeling element into the interior of the inflatable element for substantially evenly inflating the inflatable element, in particular in the lengthwise extension direction of the body part

The channeling element may thus be an element where in its interior the gas may flow substantially unimpaired. Since the channeling element may be considered to substantially spread across the entirety of the circumferential extension of the inflatable element, the inflatable element may be inflated uniformly with the gas originating from the channeling element and transitioning from the channeling element into the remainder of the inflatable element. E.g., the channeling element may comprise a plurality of openings for releasing the gas into the interior of the inflatable element which provide an increased resistivity to the gas, since the plurality of openings in their entirety may have less surface area than the channeling element itself. This would thus allow a pressure build up within the channeling element resulting in an evenly distributed release of the gas across the entire length of the channeling element, thereby assuring a uniform inflation of the inflatable element. E.g., in the case where the circumferential direction of the channeling element and the lengthwise extension direction of the inflatable element are at an angle to one another, e.g. substantially perpendicular to one another the gas may be guided through the channeling element and may be evenly released across the length. The channeling element thus provides a directed, uniform inflation of the inflatable element. In case the inflatable element would be inflated without a channeling element, the inflatable element may possibly be inflated from a single point and thus not evenly or uniformly whereas with the channeling element, the inflatable element is inflated from a line source of individual inflation points, which substantially corresponds to the openings in the channeling element. The force direction of the flow of the gas thus can be seen as parallel to the extension direction of the inflatable element.

According to a further embodiment of the present disclosure, the channeling element may be shaped to accommodate an anatomical shape of the body part to be protected when arranged adjacent to the body part to be protected.

According to a further embodiment of the present disclosure, the wearable protection device may comprise a one-piece woven fabric and wherein the channeling element may be integrally formed within the one-piece woven fabric.

In other words, in case of anatomical irregularities in the vicinity of the channeling element, the channeling element may be shaped appropriately to avoid constriction of the channeling element e.g. by forces imposed by the anatomical irregularities onto the wearable protection device and thus potentially on the channeling element. For example, in a case where the wearable protection device is a hip protection device arranged adjacent to the hip of a wearer, the hip bone may protrude from the body of the wearer and may press against the wearable protection device. This may result in the formation of the channeling element or at least constriction of the channeling element by the hip bone. In case where the channeling element is not a separate, solid element but for example a woven element integrated in an otherwise woven inflatable element, such external force as provided by the hip bone may prohibit the complete inflation of the channeling element thereby providing a constriction at a certain point along the lengthwise extension of the channeling element in the circumferential direction. By shaping the channeling element to accommodate, i.e. avoid, such anatomical irregularities, a preferred inflation of the channeling element may be provided by avoiding areas of the channeling element being inflated only suboptimal.

Historically, inflatable elements were made by separate pieces of fabric which were joined by seams, e.g., stitched or welded seams. As a preferred method of providing inflatable elements, the inflatable element may be provided as a one-piece woven element. Here, technologies are known where the inflatable element is made of a one-piece woven fabric, such that the sides are integrally woven where otherwise seams would join the separate pieces of fabric to produce the inflatable element. In addition to providing the inflatable element as a one-piece woven element, the channeling element may further be integrated into the inflatable element by a one-piece woven technique. Likewise, the integrated channeling element may exhibit the openings across the length of the channeling element by appropriately weaving the openings into the integrated channeling element into the inflatable element.

According to a further embodiment of the present disclosure, the wearable protection device may further comprise at least one inflatable cushion element, wherein the inflatable cushion element may be arranged between the body of the wearer and the wearable protection device, and wherein the inflatable cushion element may inflatable together with the inflatable element, in particular wherein the at least one inflatable cushion element is arranged adjacent to one end of the channeling element.

In other words, to provide extra stability, e.g., by increasing the pressure of the wearable protection device versus the body of the wearer the wearable protection device may comprise an inflatable cushion element, that when it inflates substantially increases in its dimensions. Thus, if the inflatable cushion element is arranged between the wearable protection device and the body of the wearer, e.g., between a fastening element like a belt and the body of the wearer, a tighter fit of the wearable protection device can be provided through inflation of the inflatable cushion element. Such an arrangement allows that the wearable protection device may be loosely connected to the body of the wearer so to be more comfortable during daily use and carrying, while providing a tighter fit in the event of activation or deployment, i.e., at a time where it is important that the wearable protection device/the inflatable element is not shifting in position relative to the body part to be protected. In case of such a shift, the three-dimensional shape of the inflatable element may not conform with the anatomical shape of the body part to be protected, thereby reducing the protective function.

The inflatable cushion element may be arranged at the far end of the channeling element, i.e., at the opposite end of a gas generating element, which generates the gas then introduced into the channeling element for inflation of the inflatable element. Here, the channeling element, in addition to the openings for releasing the gas into the inflatable element may comprise an opening e.g., at the far end, opposite the gas generating element, to which the inflatable cushion element is attached to. Likewise, the inflatable cushion element may be integrally woven as a one-piece woven element with the channeling element. The inflatable cushion element may e.g., be an element protruding from the wearable protection device/the inflatable element so to allow a preferred inflation of the inflatable cushion element at the beginning of the inflation process when transitioning from the first condition to the second condition, i.e., substantially prior to or at the beginning of the inflation of the inflatable element.

According to a further embodiment of the present disclosure, the wearable protection device may comprise a one-piece woven fabric with woven in tethers for providing the defined three-dimensional shape when in the substantially inflated condition, in particular wherein the defined three-dimensional shape is adapted to the body part to be protected.

Woven in tethers provide a method for imposing a defined three-dimensional shape onto an inflatable element when it is in the inflated condition. When the inflatable element is in an underinflated, i.e., the first condition, woven in tethers within the inflatable chamber of the inflatable element are substantially without tension, so that the sides of the inflatable element may rest close together. In this condition, the inflatable element may be freely deformable, e.g. may be folded or rolled to be accommodated in a smaller space than unfolded or rolled out. As soon as the inflatable element is substantially inflated, thus the sides of the inflatable element are pushed outwardly by the pressure provided by the gas within the inflatable element, the tethers become tensioned and thereby allow imposing a defined three-dimensional shape onto the inflatable element. By providing such tethers at appropriate positions, and thereby connecting the two sides of the inflatable element appropriately by the tethers, the three-dimensional shape of the inflatable element may be adapted to an anatomical shape of the body part to be protected. A preferred method for integrating such tethers into the inflatable element is by providing woven in tethers, which are incorporated into a potentially one-piece woven inflatable element at the time of leaving the inflatable element. Thereby, a subsequent introduction of tethers into the inflatable element, e.g., by stitching such tethers into the inflatable element, may be avoided. This provides a preferred airtightness of the inflatable element with the woven in tethers as compared to separately and subsequently attached tethers by stitching.

According to a further embodiment of the present disclosure, the wearable protection device may comprise at least two inflatable elements arranged symmetrically to a body axis of the wearer, in particularly symmetrical with regard to the longitudinal axis of the wearer.

Since the human body is generally symmetrical with regard to its longitudinal axis, providing a wearable protection device that comprises a plurality of inflatable elements may be favourable. The inflatable elements may be mirrored with regard to one another. Further, an easier manufacture of the wearable protection device may be result from providing multiple smaller inflatable elements, each adapted to a specific body part to be protected or rather part of said body part. E.g., with regard to a hip protection device, the wearable protection device may comprise two separate inflatable elements, one inflatable element arranged adjacent to the left and right hip area, respectively. This also allows an easier adaptation of a wearable protection device to a plurality of wearer sizes, as only the relative alignment of one inflatable element relative to one of the hips needs to be adjusted while the general distance between the inflatable elements and thus the size of the hip circumference is of secondary importance.

Further, it is conceivable that only the inflatable element of the side where an impact is expected is deployed while the other inflatable element remains substantially on inflated. Thus, after a protection event, only one of the plurality of inflatable elements needs to be replaced. This requires separate gas generating elements for each individual inflatable element. Alternatively, even in case of separate inflatable elements, such may be deployed by a single gas generating element, e.g., arranged in the symmetrical centre of exemplarily two inflatable elements.

According to a further embodiment of the present disclosure, the wearable protection device may be a hip protection device, in particular to be worn around the waist of the wearer and protecting the body part in the event of a fall incident.

In this scenario, the wearable protection device may generally have the shape of a belt or may be attached to a common belt and may have undeployed inflatable elements arranged symmetrically with regard to the rear hip region of the wearer. Fall events, especially when the wearer is often an advanced age, often result in severe hip injury, possibly requiring advanced surgery like replacing hip joints with artificial hip joints in case of a femoral neck fracture. Since recovery from such an injury is long and tedious, fall accidents should be avoided or at least mitigated like when wearing a wearable protection device according to the present disclosure.

The present disclosure describes the particular application scenario of a hip protection device to protect the hip region of the wearer by the wearable protection device. However, it will be appreciated that the concept described herein may equally apply to wearable protection devices protecting different body parts like the back region, the neck region, the torso, arms and legs, is separate. In such a particular scenario, the wearable protection device may be embodied as a wearable vest.

Briefly summarising and using different terminology, the present disclosure provides an airbag as an inflatable element configured to be inflated by a source of gas, the airbag being formed from first and second layers of fabric arranged in superimposition to define an inflatable chamber or region between the layers for the receipt of inflating gas; each layer of fabric having a structure comprising at least one yarn, and the two layers being interconnected by a plurality of tether yarns extending between the layers within the inflatable chamber, wherein at least some of said tether yarns are implicated in the structure of said layers within a first group of connection regions or seams, comprising a plurality of first connection regions within which the tether yarns are implicated in the structure of the first layer, and a plurality of second connection regions or seams within which the tether yarns are implicated in the structure of the second layer, and at least some of said tether yarns are implicated in the structure of said layers at a second group of connection regions comprising a plurality of first connection regions within which the tether yarns are implicated in the structure of the first layer, and a plurality of second connection regions within which the tether yarns are implicated in the structure of the second layer, wherein within each said group of connection regions: i) each said first connection region is wider in a length-direction of the tether yarns than each said second connection region, and ii) said second connection regions are offset relative to said first connection regions such that said second connection regions do not oppose any said first connection regions across the inflatable chamber, and wherein said first and second connection regions within each group are elongate and extend generally parallel to one another and across respective layers of the airbag, the connection regions of the first group being non-parallel to the connection regions of the second group, the tether yarns serving to induce a first curvature to the airbag via the first group of connection regions, and to induce a second curvature to the airbag via the second group of connection regions, when the inflatable chamber is inflated.

Further, at least one of said groups of connection regions comprises a first set of said first and second connection regions, and a second set of first and second connection regions, each first connection region of said first set extending collinearly relative to a respective first connection region of said second set, and each second connection region of the first set extending collinearly relative to a respective second connection of the second set, and wherein the first and second sets of connection regions are separated from one another by a flexure seam interconnecting the first and second layers of fabric.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a wearable protection device according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 shows an exemplary embodiment of an application of a wearable protection device arranged at a wearer according to the present disclosure.

FIGS. 3a to 3c show a further exemplary embodiment of a wearable protection device according to the present disclosure and its application.

FIGS. 4a to 4c show a further exemplary embodiment of a wearable protection device according to the present disclosure and its application.

FIGS. 5a to 5b show a further exemplary embodiment of a wearable protection device according to the present disclosure and its application.

FIG. 6a is a perspective view of an uninflated airbag according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 6b is another perspective view of the airbag illustrated in FIG. 6a, but which shows the airbag in an inflated, and curved, configuration.

FIG. 6c is a schematic plan view of a one-piece woven web comprising opposing layers of woven fabric, within which are formed a pair of airbags according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 6d is a plan view from above showing a pair of airbags obtained from the web illustrated in FIG. 6c.

FIG. 6e is a schematic plan view from above showing a single one of the airbags of FIG. 6d.

FIG. 6f is an exemplary embodiment of a wearable protection device according to the present disclosure.

FIGS. 7a to 7c show an exemplary embodiment of an inflatable element with a first exemplary embodiment of a retention element according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 shows an exemplary embodiment of inflatable element with a second exemplary embodiment of a retention element according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 9 shows an exemplary embodiment of an inflatable element with a first exemplary embodiment of a channeling element according to the present invention

FIG. 10 shows an exemplary embodiment of an inflatable element with a second exemplary embodiment of a channeling element according to the present invention

FIG. 11 shows an exemplary embodiment of a wearable protection device according to the present disclosure with an inflatable cushion element.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Now referring to FIG. 1, where an exemplary embodiment of a wearable protection device according to the present disclosure is shown.

In FIG. 1, a wearable protection device 100 is shown, exemplarily embodied as a protection device to be worn with an attachment device, e.g., a belt 102. The belt 102 may be attached to the hip region of a wearer and by closing the belt 102, i.e., feeding the belt 102 through the buckle 104 and fastening the buckle 104, the size of the wearable protection device 100 around the waist of the wearer may be adjusted so to allow comfortable wearing of the wearable protection device 100. The wearable protection device 100 comprises two inflatable elements 110a, 110b, arranged around a central portion 106 of the wearable protection device 100. In other words, the inflatable elements 110a, 110b are arranged symmetrically with regard to the central portion 106. The belt 102 may be integrally formed with the wearable protection device 100 or, as depicted in FIG. 1, may be separate from belt 102. It is conceivable that belt 102 is comparable to a common household belt to which the wearable protection device is attached to, e.g., by loop elements 108. Preferably, the wearable protection device 100 is fixable relative to the belt 102 so to avoid unintended movement of the wearable protection device 100 relative to the belt 102. Such an unintended movement may reposition the wearable protection device 100 relative to the body of the wearer, resulting in a misalignment of the wearable protection device 100, in particular its inflatable elements 110a, 110b relative to the body of the wearer and thus the body parts to be protected by the wearable protection device. The attachment device 102 may in particular comprise adjustability, at one end, either near the buckle 104 or an open end opposite the buckle 104, or at both ends. In other words, the adjustability may be provided on both sides of the inflatable element or on one side of the inflatable element. Further, the attachment device 102 may have preferred friction or sliding properties, in particular in the region of the loop elements to allow for an easy sliding of the wearable protection device 100 on the attachment device 102.

In FIG. 1, the individual inflatable elements 110a, 110b are exemplarily depicted as folded so to provide a compact outer shape when in an undeployed, uninflated condition. Not specifically depicted in FIG. 1 is at least one gas generating element adapted for releasing the generated gas into the interior of the inflatable elements 110a, 110b, in order to inflate the inflatable elements 110a, 110b by the application of the generated gas. The one or multiple gas generating elements may be arranged in the interior of the wearable protection device 100 in the general area of the central portion 106. The provision of the gas generating element in central portion 106 allows the provision of the gas to both inflatable elements 110a, 110b substantially simultaneously, thereby assuring a substantially simultaneous inflation. Alternatively, two gas generating elements may be provided, each in turn connected to one individual inflatable element 110a, 110b. This may allow the independent deployment, i.e., inflation of the inflatable elements 110a, 110b. In other words, the provision of two independent gas generating elements may allow that only one of a plurality of inflatable elements is inflated at a given time. E.g., only that inflatable element may be inflated which in a current accident scenario would provide the protection for the body part to be protected. In other words, only that inflatable element which cushions the fall of the wearer could be inflated, thereby retaining further inflatable elements uninflated, so that for a particular accident scenario, unused inflatable elements need not be exchanged.

Now referring to FIG. 2, where an exemplary embodiment of an application of a wearable protection device arranged at a wearer according to the present disclosure is shown.

In FIG. 2, the two inflatable elements 110a, 110b are depicted in their in inflated state. The wearable protection device 100 is arranged around the hip of a wearer 202. The exemplary wearable protection device 100 depicted in the FIG. 1 and two is a hip protection device protecting the hip regions of the wearer from a fall impact. In other words, the body parts to be protected 104a,b are generally the buttock regions of the wearer 202 where the hip joints are situated. In a fall scenario, the wearer 202 could fall sideways and impact an object 206, e.g., the floor or a street, in the area of their hip joint region, thereby resulting in severe hip injury. Especially in case where the bone structure is already in a progressed state of dissolution or regression, such a fall impact may result in a broken hip joint, requiring extensive surgery like an artificial hip replacement.

The inflatable elements 110a, 110b of the wearable protection device 100 by arranging them adjacent to the body parts to be protected 204a,b, protect the body of the wearer from such fall impact and thus injury. As can be seen in FIG. 2, the inflatable elements 110a, 110b comprise a three dimensional shape in that they extends downwardly and bend inwardly in the deployed condition, so to wrap around the buttock region of the wearer 202. Such a three dimensional shape for accommodating the anatomical characteristics of the wearer keep the inflatable elements 110a, 110b close to the body part to be protected so to avoid that one of the inflatable elements 110a, 110b, in the moment of impact, is so far away from the body of the wearer 202 that an optimal protection may not be provided anymore. In a worst-case scenario, the inflatable elements 110a, 110b would flare out to an extent that the body parts to be protected is essentially exposed and thus not protected anymore from the fall impact. By providing an according three dimensional shape, the flaring out of the inflatable elements 110a, 110b may be avoided.

The wearer 202 in FIG. 2 is in the process of a fall event in the moments where the wearer impacts with their left hip onto object 206, e.g., the floor. Inflatable element 110a is arranged between the object 206 and the body part to be protected 204a, i.e., the left hip. The inflatable element 110a has successfully inflated, is arranged adjacent to the body parts to be protected 204a and thereby mitigates the fall impact. Inflatable element 110a essentially acts as an airbag for the wearer 202 to dampen the fall onto the ground.

Now referring to FIGS. 3a to 3c, where a further exemplary embodiment of a wearable protection device according to the present disclosure and its application is shown.

The wearable protection device 100 in FIGS. 3a-c corresponds in principle to the wearable protection device 100 shown in FIG. 2. The wearable protection device 100 comprises inflatable elements 100a, 100b arranged adjacent to the body parts to be protected 204a,b of a wearer 202. FIG. 3b shows the deployed wearable protection device 100 while the wearer 202 is depicted in a seated position. It should be appreciated that the seated position is for visualization purposes only and shall not be construed as a deployment position for the wearable protection device 200. The wearable protection device 200 comprises two inflatable elements 100a, 100b arranged on a belt 102. In the front of region of the wearable protection device, two independent gas generating devices 302a,b are provided. Each gas generation device 302a,b is associated with a dedicated in lead 306 of one of the inflatable elements 110a, 110b. Upon deployment, one or both of the gas generating devices 302a,b may be activated so that a gas, e.g. a gas, is generated for filling the respective inflatable element associated with the respective gas generating device. As can be taken from FIG. 3a,b, the inflatable elements 110a, 110b assume a defined three dimensional shape by bending around the body parts to be protected 204a,b of the wearer 202. In the exemplary embodiments of FIGS. 3a to c, the three dimensional shape substantially comprises of an inward curvature so that the inflatable elements 100a,b curve around the buttock region of the wearer 202 in a radial direction.

FIG. 3c depicts a single inflatable element 110, of which the wearable protection device 100 comprises two in a symmetrical and mirrored arrangement. The inflatable element 110 comprises an inlet 306 to which a gas generating device is connected to, so that the gas generating device, upon generation of the gas, discharges the gas into the interior of the inflatable element 110, thereby inflating the inflatable element 110. The inflatable element 110 of FIG. 3c comprises two inflatable regions 308, whereas one inflatable region 308 is proximal to the inlet one 306 while the second inflated region 308 is distal to inlet 306. The inflatable element 110 comprises a plurality of loop element 108 for attaching the inflatable element 110 to belt 102. In the central part of inflatable element 110, the inflatable element 110 comprises a narrow section 310 so that the inflatable regions 308 enjoy a certain freedom of movement relative to one another. E.g., one inflatable region 308 may bend more than the other inflatable region due to the anatomy of the wearer 202. Outside of the inflatable region 308, the inflatable element 110 comprises uninflatable material 312, which may be dead material 312 to be removed after manufacture, so that the dead material 312 is not present in the final wearable protection device 100. Likewise, the dead material 312 may be intended as an and inflatable region, e.g., a skirt-like material surrounding the inflatable element.

In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 3c, the inflatable element 110 comprises themes 304 incorporated in the interior of the inflatable regions 308. In FIG. 3c, seams 304 are embodied as horizontal seams. Said seams may be provided by stitching or welding or may even be incorporated into the interior of the inflatable element, e.g., in case the inflatable element is made of one-piece woven material. In the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 3a-c, the horizontal seams 304 realize the described inward bending in the radial direction with regard to the central body access of the wearer 202. In other words, horizontal seams 304 provide a good bending behaviour in the direction under the hip with a reduced bending behaviour around the hip, pointing outwards in FIG. 3b.

Now referring to FIGS. 4a to 4c, where a further exemplary embodiment of a wearable protection device according to the present disclosure and its application is shown.

The exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 4a to c substantially corresponds to the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 3a to c, with the difference that the seams 404 are vertical seams 404, in other words parallel to the longitudinal body axis of the wearer 202. Providing the seams 404 in a vertical manner realizes a different bending behaviour of the inflatable element 110 with regard to the body of the wearer. Specifically, by providing vertical seams 404, the inflatable regions 308 exhibit a circumferential bending behaviour rather than a radial or inwardly (with regard to the central longitudinal body axis) bending behaviour as described with regard to the embodiment of FIGS. 3a to c. The other words, vertical seams 404 impose a bending behaviour in a circumferential direction around the central longitudinal body access of the wearer 302. In other words, vertical seams 404 provide a good bending behaviour around the hip with a reduced bending behaviour under the hip, pointing downwards in FIG. 4b.

Now referring to FIGS. 5a to 5b, where a further exemplary embodiment of a wearable protection device according to the present disclosure and its application is shown.

Each of the inflatable elements 110a, 110b again comprises inflatable regions 308 which are joined together however at their distal end by a retention element 502. Between the exemplary two inflatable regions 308 of each inflatable element 110a, 110b a further retention element 504 may be provided. Element 504 may be a seam or the like, comparable to seam 24. The seams of the inflatable element 110a, 110b of FIGS. 5a and b again are horizontal seams 304. As described previously, horizontal seams exhibit a bending behaviour where the inflatable elements 110a, 110b bend inwardly towards the central body axis in the longitudinal direction (assuming that the wearable protection device 100 is worn circumferentially around the longitudinal axis of the wearer 202). By providing retention elements 502 and 504, a further three-dimensional shaping of the inflatable elements 110a, 110b can be achieved. In particular, by providing the horizontal seams 304, the inflatable elements are bending inwardly while the retention element 502 pulls the inflatable regions 308 close together at the distal end of the inflatable elements 308. At the same time, the seam 504, e.g., a flexible seam, allows the distancing of the inflatable elements 308 in the central part, between the proximal end and the distal end, so that the three-dimensional shape of the inflatable element not only is a bending in one direction but substantially realizes a bending in two directions, one in the radial direction as previously described with regard to FIGS. 3a to c and additionally a circumferential bending. In other words, by providing the retention elements 502 and 504, each inflatable element comprises a cup-like shape, thereby preferably accommodating the body parts to be protected 204a,b, like protruding body parts. In the exemplary example of a hip protection device according to FIGS. 5a,b each inflatable element bends inwardly around the buttock region of the wearer 202 and further circumferentially around the hips so to provide a preferred protection for the hip region, i.e., for the area around a protruding hip bone.

FIG. 5b again shows gas generating devices 302a,b, arranged at the front side of the wearable protection device 100 adjacent to a not depicted buckle. The respective inflatable element 110a, 110b may thus be activated simultaneously or independently from one another, depending on the fall direction and assumed impact area of the wearer 202. Alternatively, it is conceivable, to provide gas generating devices in the central portion 106, depicted in FIG. 5a exemplarily as a pouch worn on the back. The gas generating device or devices arranged in the central portion 106, may again allow the simultaneous or independent activation of the inflatable element 110a, 110b.

As can be seen in FIGS. 5a,b, the provision of inflatable elements comprising a plurality, here exemplary two, inflatable regions 308 provide an increased area of protection in that the inflatable element 110a, 110b extend further in the radial direction thus under the buttock area of the wearer 202 and further in the circumferential direction around the hip area of the wearer 202.

FIG. 6a illustrates inflatable element 110, in particular a one-piece woven inflatable element 110, in a pre-inflated configuration in which it is laid flat. The inflatable element 110 has a somewhat elongate configuration. The inflatable element comprises two fabric layers 2,3, where a first fabric layer to is not specifically depicted as it is the underside of inflatable element 110 laying on the surface, whereas the second fabric layer 3 is the top layer visible in FIG. 6A. An integral peripheral seam 6 of the illustrated inflatable element 110, connecting the first and second fabric layers 2,3, follows a circuitous path having a re-entrant region such that the resulting inflatable region 308 of the inflatable element 110 has a shape resembling a pair of spectacles, presenting two major inflatable regions 308 which are fluidly interconnected by a narrow section 310. Adjacent the re-entrant region of the peripheral seam 6, outside the inflatable region 308, the yarns of the two fabric layers 2, 3 are interwoven to define an-uninflatable region of uninflatable material or dead material 312 of the inflatable element 110, in the manner of a thicker web of fabric.

The inflatable element 110 of FIG. 6a comprises seams 9b within which tether yarns are implicated in the weave of the second fabric layer 3. As will be observed, a first group of seams 9b is provided in a region of the fabric layer 3 defining a first inflatable region 308, and a second group of seams 9b is provided in a region of the fabric layer 3 defining the second inflatable region 308. Although not visible in FIG. 6a, first seams 9a within which the tether yarns are implicated in the weave of the underlying first fabric layer 2 are also provided. Like the second seams 9b, the seams 9a are similarly split into two groups-namely a first group provided in a region of the underlying first fabric layer 2 defining the first inflatable region 308, and a second group provided in a region of the underlying first fabric layer 2 defining the second inflatable region 308. The seams 9a, 9b in the first group (i.e. corresponding to the first inflatable region 308) are arranged to as to extend parallel to one another, whilst the seams 9a, 9b in the second group (i.e. corresponding to the second inflatable region 308) are also arranged to as to extend parallel to one another. However, it will be observed that the seams 9a, 9b of the first group are not parallel to the seams 9a, 9b of the second group.

Turning now to consider FIG. 6b, the inflatable element 110 of FIG. 6a is illustrated in an inflated condition. As will be noted, tether yarns serve to induce a first curvature to the inflatable regions 308 of the inflatable element 110 such that they bend upwardly, considering FIG. 6b. Similarly, the tether yarns 8 forming the first and second connection regions 9a, 9b of the second group (i.e. corresponding to the second chamber region 7b) serve to induce a second curvature to the second chamber region 7b of the airbag 1 such that it also bends upwardly. As will be appreciated, the inflatable regions 308 are thus caused to achieve an inflated shape in which they bend about the longitudinal extension directions of the first and second group of seams 9a,9b, respectively. As will be noted, in this arrangement each inflatable region 308 is thus configured to bend in a single, dedicated direction, with the two directions of the inflatable regions 308 being different to one another and defined by the direction of extension of the respective seams 9a,9b across the local regions of the fabric layers 2, 3.

In some circumstances, it can therefore be desirable to provide an inflatable element 110 which can be optimised to bend in two directions rather than merely one direction.

FIG. 6b illustrates a short length of one-piece woven production web 21 comprising opposing first and second layers of fabric 2, 3. The production web 21 is woven via a one-piece weaving technique such that the two layers of fabric 2, 3 are woven simultaneously on a single specially-configured loom, in a manner known per se. The warp yarns of the fabric extend in a warp direction 12, and the weft yarns of the fabric extend in the weft direction 11. The short length of web 21 illustrated in FIG. 16 can be seen to comprise a pair of integrally formed inflatable elements 110, the two inflatable elements 110 being formed within the web as mirror images of one another across the longitudinal (i.e. aligned with the warp direction 12) axis 22. The inflatable elements 110 are defined by respective peripheral seams 6 within which the yarns of the two layers of fabric 2, 3 are interwoven such that each peripheral seam 6 is formed as an integral structural feature of the fabric of the respective inflatable element 110.

The peripheral seam 6 of each inflatable element 110 defines the inflatable element's 110 main inflatable area, but also an elongate inlet region for an inlet 306 which will be understood to be configured to receive or be connected to a gas generating device. In the arrangement illustrated in FIG. 6c it will also be observed that each inflatable element 110 has an additional integrally formed seam 24 which is substantially linear and which extends inwardly from the peripheral seam 6. As will be explained in more detail hereinafter, the additional seam 24 of each inflatable element 110 represents a flexure seam and is provided to help induce curvature to the inflatable element 110 when it is inflated. Since the seam 24 allows the adaptation of the three-dimensional shape of the inflatable elements 110, seam 24 may be understood as a retention element 502 in the context of the present disclosure.

Each of the inflatable elements 110 may be removed from the production web 21 by cutting through the fabric layers 2, 3 of the web, around the peripheral seam 6. The resulting inflatable elements 110 are illustrated after removal from the production web 21 in FIG. 6d, in which it will be noted that the inflatable elements 110 are shown in different orientations to FIG. 6c.

As in the previous embodiments, the inflatable elements 110 shown in FIGS. 6c and 6d are provided with internal tether arrangements, and thus comprise a plurality of tether yarns which are implicated in the weave of the first fabric layer 2 at first connection regions or seams 9a, and which are implicated in the weave of the second fabric layer 3 at second connection regions or seams 9b. The first and second connection regions or seams 9a, 9b are all elongate, and are arranged so as to extend at oblique angles to both the warp direction 12 and the weft direction 11. The connection regions or seams 9a, 9b thus extend at oblique angles to the warp yarns and the weft yarns of the fabric layers 2, 3. As will be understood from the foregoing description, the tether yarns are provided amongst the weft yarns and thus follow the weft direction 11. The tether yarns are interwoven with warp yarns of the first fabric layer 2 within the seam 9a, and are interwoven with warp yarns of the second fabric layer 3 within the seam 9b.

The particular arrangement of the seams 9a, 9b in this embodiment may be most clearly understood having regard to FIG. 6e, in which sub-regions of the first connection regions or seams 9a (within which tether yarns are implicated in the weave of the first fabric layer 2) are illustrated in solid lines, and the second connection regions or seams 9b (within which tether yarns are implicated in the weave of the second fabric layer 3) are indicated in dashed lines.

In particular, it will be observed in FIG. 6e that the seams 9a, 9b are provided in two discrete groups of connection regions, namely a first group positioned within the first notional rectangular region 25, and a second (larger) group positioned within the second notional rectangular region 26. The two groups 25, 26 are located adjacent one another, and as will be appreciated, each group 25, 26 of connection regions comprises both first connection regions 9a (within which tether yarns are implicated in the weave of the first fabric layer 2) and second connection regions 9b (within which tether yarns are implicated in the weave of the second layer 3.

As will be observed, the connection regions 9a, 9b within the first group 25 are all substantially parallel to one another, whilst the connection regions 9a, 9b within the second group 26 are also substantially parallel to one another. However, the connection regions 9a, 9b of the first group 25 are non-parallel to the connection regions 9a, 9b of the second group 26. The connection regions 9a, 9b of the first group 25 thus extend at an oblique angle to the extension of the connection regions 9a, 9b of the second group 26.

A significant difference between the configuration of the inflatable elements 110 illustrated in FIGS. 6d to 6e and the previous embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 6a and 6b (which also has two discrete groups of connection regions or seams 9a, 9b) concerns the relationship between the connection regions 9a, 9b of the first group 25 and the connection regions 9a, 9b of the second group 26.

In the configuration of FIGS. 6d to 6e it will be noted that at least some of the sub-regions of the first connection regions 9a, and the second connection regions 9b of the second group 26 extend across the axes of extension 27 along which the sub-regions of the first connection regions 9a, and the second connection regions 9b of the first group 25 extend.

As will be appreciated in light of the preceding description, the tether yarns forming the first group 25 of connection regions 9a, 9b will serve induce a first curvature to the inflatable element 110 upon inflation, to bend the inflatable element 110 about the longitudinal extension direction of the first group of connection regions 9a, 9b (i.e. about the extension axes 27). As will therefore be observed, the second group 26 of connection regions 9a, 9b thus traverse the axes 27 about which the first group of connection regions will induce curvature to the inflatable element 110. This places the second group 26 of connection regions 9a, 9b within a region of the inflatable element 110 in which curvature is induced by the first group of connection regions 9a, 9b. Furthermore, the tether yarns forming the second group 26 of connection regions 9a, 9b will serve induce a second curvature to the inflatable element 110 upon inflation, to bend the inflatable element 110 about the longitudinal extension direction 27b of the second group of connection regions 9a, 9b. Given that the second group 26 of connection regions 9a, 9b are non-parallel to the first group 25 of connection regions 9a, 9b, it will be appreciated that the second curvature will be in a different direction or sense to the first curvature. Because the second group 26 of connection regions 9a, 9b traverse the axes 27 about which the first group 25 of connection regions 9a, 9b induce the first curvature to the inflatable element 110, the effect is therefore to induce two differently directed curvatures to the same region of the inflatable element 110, thereby effectively bending the inflatable element 110 in two different directions.

Having particular regard to the second group 26 of connection regions 9a, 9b, it will be noted from FIG. 6e that the second group 26 is divided into two sets of connection regions 9a, 9b, namely a first set 28 located on one side of the flexure seam 24, and a second set 29 located on the opposite side of the flexure seam 24. The flexure seam 24 thus separates the two sets 28, 29 of connection regions 9a, 9b within the second group. Furthermore, it will be noted that the seam 24 extends generally orthogonal to the extension of the connection regions 9a, 9b within the second group 26. As will also be observed, each sub-region of the first connection regions 9a of the first set 28 is aligned with a respective sub-region of the second set 29 so that each pair of aligned connection sub-regions 9a′ extend collinearly. Similarly, each second connection 9b of the first set 28 is aligned with a respective second connection region 9b of the second set 29 so that each pair of aligned second connection regions 9b extend collinearly.

Noting that the flexure seam 24 interconnects the two layers of fabric 2, 3 of the inflatable element 110, it will be understood that the flexure seam 24 therefore serves to restrict the inflated depth of the inflatable region 308 between the two sets 28, 29 of connection regions 9a, 9b within the second group 26. In this way, the flexure seam 24 can help to permit the second group 26 of connection regions 9a, 9b to induce the second curvature to the inflatable element 110, the flexure seam 24 effectively defining a crease about which the second group 26 of connection regions 9a, 9b can then more easily bend the inflatable element 110. The words, seam 24 acts as a retention element 502, preventing the two sets 28, 29 of connection regions 9a, 9b from flaring out. Between the first set 28 and the second set 29, the seam 24 provides a further bending axis 30, that allows that the inflated first set 28 and the inflated second set 29 also bends to some degree relative to one another. In other words, the inflatable element 110 of FIG. 6e allows the bending or curving of defined regions of the inflatable element 110, where the first rectangular region 25 curves around the extension direction 27 of seams 9a,b, whereas the second rectangular region 26 curves around the extension direction 27b of seams 9a,b, while the bending axis 30, provided by seam 24, allows a further bending of the first set 28 and the second set 29 relative to one another.

Now referring to FIG. 6f, where an exemplary embodiment of a wearable protection device according to the present disclosure is shown.

FIG. 6f shows the symmetrical arrangement of a wearable protection device 100 according to the present invention is depicted. The inflatable elements 110a, 110b in FIG. 6f are depicted in the deployed condition. In the undeployed condition, the inflatable elements 110a, 110b could be arranged still as depicted in FIG. 6f but simply uninflated, or alternatively may be rolled up or folded, to substantially corresponds to the size or height of the attachment device 102.

Wearable protection device 100 comprises exemplarily two inflatable elements 110a, 110b arranged symmetrically but mirrored around central portion 106. The inflatable elements substantially correspond to the inflatable elements described with regards to FIGS. 6c to 6e. Alternatively, the inflatable elements 110a, 110b may be embodied according to according to one of the FIGS. 2 to 6. A gas generating device 302 is depicted schematically arranged at central position 106. The gas generating device 302 may be a single gas generating device acting on both inflatable elements 110a, 110b substantially simultaneously or may be embodied as a plurality of gas generating devices acting on the inflatable elements 110a, 110b independently. The inflatable elements 110a, 110b are arranged on an attachment device 102, exemplarily depicted as a belt. The inflatable elements 110a, 110b may be integrally formed with attachment device 102, or may be attached to attachment device 102 using loop elements 118. The attachment device 102 comprises a buckle 104 and an open end 1808, which can be connected with the buckle 104, closing the attachment device 102 around the wearer to accommodate the wearable protection device on the wearer and to arrange the inflatable elements 110a, 110b adjacent to the body part to be protected.

The inflatable elements 110a, 110b at a first end 1802,1802′ are substantially fixedly connected to the attachment device 102 while potentially loosely or slidingly connected to the attachment device 102 at a second end 1804,1804′. The inflatable elements 110a, 110b may alternatively be also substantially fixedly connected to the attachment device 102 at the second end 1804,1804′.

This combination of fixedly connection and sliding connection results in a lateral repositioning of the of the inflatable elements 110a, 110b in the direction of the central portion 106. In other words, when being deployed, the inflatable elements 110a, 110b inflate and increase in a first dimension and/or second dimension. Specifically, when inflating, the inflatable elements 110a, 110b may increase in thickness as a first dimension, which is in direction perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 6f. In case the inflatable elements 110a, 110b are rolled up or folded, the inflatable elements 110a, 110b additionally increase in a direction in the deployment direction 1812 as a second direction, as indicated by the black arrow pointing to the lower part of FIG. 6f. Due to the increase in size in the first dimension and/or the second dimension, the inflatable elements 110a, 110b decrease in size in a third dimension, parallel to the lengthwise extension 1810 of the attachment device 102. In other words, the inflatable elements 110a, 110b shrink in the direction 1810, and thus move closer to the central portion 106, as indicated by the two horizontal black arrows pointing inwards towards the central portion 106.

The attachment device 102 is adjustable in an adjustable region 1806 to accommodate a plurality of wearer sizes. In otherwise, the lengthwise extension 1810 of the attachment device 102 may be adjusted to e.g., the waist circumference of the wearer. A second adjustable region 1806′ may be provided to allow symmetrical adjustment of the attachment device 102. Alternatively, the attachment device 102 may only be adjusted in a single adjustable region 1806, 1806′.

Now referring to FIGS. 7a to 7c, where an exemplary embodiment of an inflatable element with a first exemplary embodiment of a retention element according to the present disclosure is shown.

FIG. 7a shows an enlarged view of one inflatable element 110 of the inflatable elements 110a, 110b. Both inflatable elements substantially correspond to one another but are arranged in a mirrored arrangement symmetrically around the longitudinal body axis of the wearer 202. The inflatable element 110 comprises an inlet 306 to which the discharge of the gas generating device is connected to for introducing generated gas into the interior of the inflatable element 110. Two separate inflatable regions 308 are depicted which are joined by a narrow section 310, through which none the less gas may flow. Surrounding the inflatable regions 308, the inlet 306 and the narrow section 310 is an uninflatable region 602. Still further surrounding the uninflatable regions 602, uninflatable material or dead material 312 is depicted, which may stem from a manufacturing process and which is to be removed when preparing the final inflatable element 110. Exemplarily, horizontal seams 304 are provided in the inflatable element 110 in FIG. 6, to allow a preferred radial or inwardly bending of the individual inflatable regions 308 around the body of the wearer. The two inflatable regions 308 are joined by retention element 502 in a central region of the inflatable element 110 between the proximal end 604 and the distal end 606. In FIG. 6, the retention element 502 is arranged inwardly from the distal end 606 in the central area, whereas in FIG. 5b, the retention element 502 is arranged substantially at the distal end. The retention element is substantially a connection, e.g., an integral, integrally woven connection or a dedicated element connecting the two inflatable regions 308, like a seam, a weld a rivet or the like.

By providing the retention element 502, the two inflatable regions 308 are prevented from flaring out when worn on the body of the wearer, in particular when they transition from the first, uninflated condition to the second, inflated condition. Potentially, the inflatable element in the uninflated first condition may be folded or rolled up and thus may be required to extend to arrive in the inflated second condition. In order to avoid an arbitrary flaring out of the inflatable regions 308 during the inflation process when transitioning from the first condition to the second condition, the retention element 502 provides a limitation of the freedom of movement of the two inflatable regions 308 relative to one another, thereby avoiding the flaring out.

The inflatable element 110 of FIG. 7a further comprises loop element 108 at the proximal end 604 for attaching the inflatable element 110 to a belt 102 or the like.

In FIGS. 7b,c, further features of the inflatable element 110 of FIG. 7a are shown. FIG. 7b shows an opening or slit 702, substantially comparable to the opening 504 of FIG. 5b. The opening 702 separates the inflatable regions 308 of the inflatable element 110 and thereby allows a movement of the inflatable regions 308 relative to one another. The opening 702 is substantially arranged in the area between the proximal end 604 and the retention element 502. More precisely, the opening 702 is arranged between the retention element 502 and approaching the narrow section 310 so that the gas may still be conveyed between the inflatable regions 308 through now in section 310. Opening 702 allows to accommodate a part of the body of the wearer that may be larger circumferentially in the area of opening 702 than for example in the area of retention element 502. In other words, such a body part may push the inflatable regions 308 apart from one another while the retention element 502 again pulls the inflatable regions 308 together, thereby producing the previously mentioned cup shape.

FIG. 7c shows the provision of a V-shaped opening 704 extending from the retention element 502 to the distal end 606 of the inflatable element 110. Such a V-shaped opening may alternatively be embodied as a U-shaped opening or a slit, comparable to the opening 504 and 702. The V-shaped opening 704 again introduces a certain degree of freedom of movement of the inflatable regions 308 relative to one another, in particular the distal sections of the inflatable regions 308. E.g., when in the inflated condition, a part of the body of the wearer may protrude through the V shaped opening thereby merely slightly bending outward the distal sections of the inflatable regions, while still allowing that the inflatable element 110 remains close and adjacent to the body part to be protected. E.g., in case of a protection device, during the fall when the inflatable elements are in the inflated condition, a leg movement of the wearer may result in part of the leg protruding through the V-shaped opening while still allowing the inflatable element to remain close to the hip region. In other words, the V-shaped opening allows such a leg movement without lifting the inflatable element away from the body of the wearer.

It is further conceivable that the slit 702 is alternatively embodied as a cut out slit or even not a slit at all but a connection between the inflatable regions 308, substantially comparable to seam 24, e.g., a flexible seam.

Now referring to FIG. 8, where an exemplary embodiment of inflatable element with a second exemplary embodiment of a retention element according to the present disclosure is shown.

In FIG. 8, the wearable protection device is shown exemplarily in its inflated state attached to the body of a wearer 202. A single inflatable element is shown, with a further inflatable element 110 arranged at the backside of the wearer 202 and thus only barely visible. The inflatable element 110 are attached to a retention element which is embodied as a skirt-like element, substantially circumferentially surrounding the body of the wearer. There is good like element provides a good position quality, thereby avoiding the shifting of the inflatable element with regard to the body of the wearer. In particular, by providing the skirt-like element 802, a flaring out of the inflatable element 110 may be avoided. In FIG. 8, the inflatable element are substantially completely attached to the skirt-like element 802 and thus are held in place by the skirt-like element 802. It may be conceivable that the wearable protection device of FIG. 8 is worn in the arrangement shown in FIG. 8, however in an uninflated condition. In other words, it is conceivable that the wearable protection device in its uninflated state is worn underneath or on top of clothing or the like while being uninflated. If worn in the depicted but uninflated condition, a quick inflation may be provided, since the inflatable elements 110 need not be extended in their dimension, e.g., may not need to be unfolded or unrolled, since they are already situated adjacent to the body parts to be protected but uninflated. Upon inflation, the inflatable elements provide an air cushion or an airbag to mitigate a fall impact.

Alternatively, it is conceivable that the wearable protection device, in particular the inflatable elements 110 including the skirt-like element 802 are in a rolled up or folded condition, thereby requiring the extension in the longitudinal direction of the body part when being inflated. In this embodiment, the wearable protection device may be worn as previously described, e.g. as a protective belt or attached to a belt 102 and one on the outside of the clothing of the wearer 202. In a fall event, when the inflatable elements are inflated, the skirt-like element 802 acting as a retention element, keeps the inflatable elements close to the body of the wearer, i.e., close to the body parts to be protected, thereby preventing a flaring out of the inflatable elements.

Alternatively to the embodiments depicted in FIG. 8, it is conceivable that the inflatable elements are only connected to the skirt-like element at select points e.g. at a central section between the distal and 606 and the proximal and 604 and/or at the distal and 606.

Now referring to FIG. 9, where an exemplary embodiment of an inflatable element with a first exemplary embodiment of a channeling element according to the present invention is shown.

Inflatable element 110 of FIG. 9 substantially corresponds to the inflatable element as shown with regard to FIG. 4c. Additionally, the inflatable element comprises a channeling element 902 extending from the inlet 306 into and through the first inflatable region 308, through the narrow section 310 and into the second inflatable region 308. A gas generating device 302 may be attached to either the inlets or directly to the channeling element 902 to introduce generated gas into the interior of the channeling element 902. The gas may substantially freely flow through the channeling element 902, thereby filling the channeling element with the generated gas. The gas may then enter into the inflatable regions 308 substantially along the longitudinal extension of the channeling element 902 through openings 904. In other words, the channeling element does not provide a single point of entry of the gas into the inflatable regions 308 but rather a line source so that the gas may enter the inflatable regions along the full length of the channeling element 902. Thereby, a uniform inflation in the direction of the longitudinal extension from the proximal end 604 to the distal end 606 of the inflatable element 110 may be achieved. Using a channeling element 902 avoids that the inflatable element is only successively inflated and not uniformly with the inlet 306 being the first point of entry of the gas into the inflatable element resulting in an inflation from the left side of the inflatable element 110 of FIG. 9 to the right side. By using a channeling element 902, the inflation of the inflatable element 110 may substantially be realized uniformly from the top to the bottom, thus longitudinal direction of the body of the wearer, without any uneven left to right inflation.

Now referring to FIG. 10, where an exemplary embodiment of an inflatable element with a second exemplary embodiment of a channeling element according to the present invention is shown.

FIG. 10 shows a further embodiment of an inflatable element 110 with a channeling element 102, this time the seams are arranged as horizontal seams comparable to the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 3c. The channeling element 902 is again arranged from inlet 306 crossing through the left inflatable region 308 in FIG. 10 and extending through the narrow section 310 into the right inflatable region 308. Openings 104 are provided along the longitudinal extension of the channeling element 902 four discharge of transported gas within the channeling element into the interior of the inflatable element. In FIG. 10, however the channeling element and hundreds to as well as the left inflatable region 308 comprises a shape that is adapted to the body shape 1002. Exemplarily, the channeling element 902 is lowered in a central section as opposed to its and sections either arranged at the inlet 306 or entering the right inflatable region 308. This adaptation may e.g., conform to a protruding body parts of the body of the wearer, e.g. a hip bone in case the wearable protection device is a hip protection device. By adapting the channeling element 902 to the body shape, it can be avoided that protruding body parts prevent the free flow of the gas within the channeling element 902 by removing the channeling element 902 from the area of the protruding body part where the wearable protection device is worn on the body of the wearer 202. By avoiding such regions, a preferred gas flow within the channeling element 102 may be provided thereby resulting in a substantially uniform inflation of the inflatable element 110 from top to bottom in FIG. 10, i.e., from the proximal end 604 to the distal end 606.

Further, FIG. 10 shows an inflatable cushion element 1004, which is exemplarily arranged at the far end of the channeling element 902, where the channeling element enters into the right inflatable region 308. The inflatable cushion element 1004 may be inflated and may in particular be situated underneath the belt 102, between the body of the wearer 202 and the belt 102. By inflating the inflatable cushion element 1004 substantially at the beginning of the inflation process of the inflatable element 110, i.e., at the beginning of the transitioning from the first condition to the second condition, the fit of the wearable protection device 100 around the body part to be protected may be increased, i.e. the pressure may be increased, so to avoid the accidental relocation or shifting imposition of the wearable protection device 100 during the inflation process. Providing such an inflatable cushion element 1004 allows wearing the wearable protection device more comfortably and loosely when in its underinflated standby position, while increasing the fit or grip of the wearable protection device around the body of the wearer at the beginning of the protection event by inflating the inflatable cushion element prior to or at the beginning of the inflation process of the inflatable element 110.

The inflatable cushion element is arranged exemplarily in FIG. 10 close to the narrow section 310 and thus aligned generally centrally at the inflatable element 110. It is of course conceivable to have a plurality of inflatable cushion elements, in particular spaced at a distance from one another along the length of the inflatable element 110. In FIG. 10 such a plurality of inflatable cushion elements could be arranged at varying or certain distances from one another at the proximal end 604 of the inflatable element 110.

Now referring to FIG. 11, where an exemplary embodiment of a wearable protection device according to the present disclosure with an inflatable cushion element is shown.

FIG. 11 shows a further embodiment of the inflatable cushion element 1004. Here, the inflatable cushion element 1004 is arranged at the far end of the inflatable element, at the opposite side of the inlet 306. A channeling element 902, not specifically depicted in FIG. 11 may be provided in the interior of the inflatable element 110.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications and improvements may be made without deviating from the concepts described here. Any of the features described above and below may be used separately or in combination with any other features described herein, provided they are not mutually exclusive, and the disclosure extends to and includes all combinations and sub-combinations of one or more features described herein.

Finally, it should be noted that the term “comprising” not exclude other elements or steps, and that “a” or “one” does not exclude the plural. Elements that are described in relation to different types of embodiments can be combined. Reference signs in the claims shall not be construed as limiting the scope of a claim.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

• • 2 first fabric layer
  • 3 second fabric layer
  • 6 peripheral seam, integral
  • 7 a chamber region
  • 9 a,b seam
  • 11 weft direction
  • 12 warp direction
  • 21 production web, one piece woven
  • 22 axis
  • 24 seam, integrally formed
  • 25 first rectangular region
  • 26 second rectangular region
  • 27,a extension axis
  • 28 first set
  • 29 second set
  • 30 bending axis
  • 100 Wearable protection device
  • 102 belt
  • 104 buckle
  • 106 central portion
  • 108 loop element
  • 110,a,b inflatable elements
  • 202 wearer
  • 204,a,b body part to be protected
  • 206 object
  • 302,a,b gas generating device
  • 304 horizontal seam
  • 306 inlet
  • 308 inflatable regions
  • 310 narrow section
  • 312 uninflatable material, dead material
  • 404 vertical seam
  • 502 retention element
  • 504 opening
  • 602 uninflatable region
  • 604 proximal end
  • 606 distal end
  • 702 opening, slit
  • 704 V-shaped opening, U-shaped opening, slit
  • 802 skirt-like element
  • 902 channeling element
  • 904 openings
  • 1002 adapted to body shape
  • 1004 inflatable cushion element
  • 1802,′ first end
  • 1804,′ second end
  • 1806,′ adjustable region
  • 1808 open end
  • 1810 lengthwise extension of attachment device
  • 1812 deployment direction perpendicular to lengthwise extension of attachment device
  • 1814 longitudinal axis of the wearer
  • 1816 right end
  • 1818 right side of inflatable element

Claims

1. A wearable protection device for protection of at least a body part of a wearer, comprising: an inflatable element arranged adjacent to a body part to be protected,wherein the inflatable element is inflatable from a first, substantially uninflated condition to a second, substantially inflated condition, by application of a releasable source of a gas to the inflatable element, for at least partially filling of the inflatable element with said gas,wherein the inflatable element, when being inflated to the second condition, deploys around the body part to be protected and assumes a predetermined three-dimensional shape adapted to the body part to be protected,wherein the inflatable element comprises a proximal end and a distal end,wherein the proximal end is the end where the inflatable element is arranged on the body part to be protected when in the first, substantially uninflated condition, wherein the distal end is the end of the inflatable element when in the second, substantially inflated condition that is distal from the proximal end, andwherein the inflatable element comprises a retention element to prevent the inflatable element from flaring out during and/or after deployment into the second condition.

2. The wearable protection device according to claim 1, wherein the retention element is at least one retention element adapted to induce a first curvature to the inflatable element in a first region, and to induce a second curvature to the inflatable element in a second region, when the inflatable element is in the inflated, second condition.

3. The wearable protection device according to claim 1, wherein the retention element is at least one element out of the group consisting of an integral connection, an integrally woven connection, a connecting element, a seam, a weld, a rivet, a tether, a tether yarn within the inflatable element, a skirt-like element, and a substantially uninflatable skirt-like element.

4. The wearable protection device according to claim 1, wherein the inflatable element comprises at least two inflatable regions, and wherein the retention element is arranged towards the distal end of the inflatable element.

5. The wearable protection device according to claim 4, wherein the inflatable element comprises an opening between two of the at least two inflatable regions, the proximal end and the distal end, in particular extending substantially parallel to the lengthwise extension of the body part.

6. The wearable protection device according to claim 4, wherein the inflatable element comprises a V-shaped, U-shaped or slitted opening between two of the at least two inflatable regions, arranged distal from the retention element.

7. The wearable protection device according to claim 1, wherein the wearable protection device is arranged around the circumference of the body part to be protected and deploys along a lengthwise extension of the body part to be protected, wherein deploying comprises one of inflating the inflatable element and extending in length in the direction of the lengthwise extension of the body part to be protected.

8. The wearable protection device according to claim 1, wherein the inflatable element is arranged adjacent to a body part to be protected such that the body part to be protected comprises a circumference between the proximal end and the distal end that is larger than the circumference of the body part to be protected of at least one of the proximal end and the distal end.

9. The wearable protection device according to claim 1, wherein the inflatable element comprises a channeling element at least partly extending in a circumference direction of the inflatable element and accommodated within the inflatable element for distribution of the gas for inflating the inflatable element, wherein the channeling element in particular comprises a plurality of openings for releasing the gas from the channeling element into the interior of the inflatable element.

10. The wearable protection device according to claim 9, wherein the channeling element is adapted to receive the gas for inflating the inflatable element and is adapted for generally guiding the gas in the circumference direction to allow even distribution of the gas across the length of the channeling element and from the channeling element into the interior of the inflatable element for substantially evenly inflating the inflatable element, in particular in the lengthwise extension direction of the body part.

11. The wearable protection device according to claim 9, wherein the channeling element is shaped to accommodate an anatomical shape of the body part to be protected when arranged adjacent to the body part to be protected.

12. The wearable protection device according to claim 8, wherein the wearable protection device comprises a one-piece woven fabric and wherein the channeling element is integrally formed within the one-piece woven fabric.

13. The wearable protection device according to claim 1, further comprising at least one inflatable cushion element, wherein the inflatable cushion element is arranged between the body of the wearer and the wearable protection device, and wherein the inflatable cushion element is inflatable together with the inflatable element, in particular wherein the at least one inflatable cushion element is arranged adjacent to one end of the channeling element.

14. The wearable protection device according to claim 1, wherein the wearable protection device comprises a one-piece woven fabric with woven in tethers for providing the defined three-dimensional shape when in the substantially inflated condition, in particular wherein the defined three-dimensional shape is adapted to the body part to be protected.

15. The wearable protection device according to claim 1, wherein the wearable protection device comprises at least two inflatable elements arranged symmetrically to a body axis of the wearer, in particularly symmetrical with regard to the longitudinal axis of the wearer.

16. The wearable protection device according to claim 1, wherein the wearable protection device is a hip protection device, in particular to be worn around the waist of the wearer and protecting the body part in the event of a fall incident.