CUSTOMIZABLE WEARABLE PROTECTIVE DEVICE

Description

CUSTOMIZABLE WEARABLE PROTECTIVE DEVICE DESCRIPTION This disclosure refers generally to the field of data protection. using airbags to protect a user from impacts, following falls or slips, 5 when on board a means of transport, such as a vehicle, preferably a two-wheeled vehicle, or any other means of transport like a horse or other animal, a piece of sports equipment, such as a pair of skis or a bobsleigh, or similar means of transport, or a user when carrying out any activity even without transport. 10 In this context, the use of protective devices including an element is known inflatable, i.e. an airbag, which is inflated in the event of an impact by a inflator device in fluid communication with the airbag itself. Typically, such an inflation device consists of a fluid source, such as a cylindrical canister of compressed gas, fixed to the back portion of 15 a protective device or garment or placed inside a protector for back. The placement of an inflation device at the of the back area of ​​a user makes the protective device including the safest inflation device, preventing the canister from gas could interfere, in the event of a fall, with the vital organs located in the front part 20 or user's side. More precisely, known inflation devices comprise a structure of support, made up of plates or other rigid mechanical components, generally arranged at the user's spinal area. This support structure is suitable for supporting the gas generator(s), and is generally connected to a 25 protective clothing comprising an inflatable element. This disclosure is based on an acknowledgement by of the inventor of this disclosure that protective devices such as those made available so far by the known art, although advantageous from many points of view view, they are not always sufficient results to guarantee sufficient safety and in 30 at the same time comfort of use by a user. Specifically, the devices protection have, to date, been designed and placed on protective clothing in targeted way to optimize protection, especially by exploiting a specific inflatable element technology to protect as much as possible optimal for the user in the event of falls and trying to take into account the 35 user freedom of movement and overall comfort of use. In order to achieve targeted protection, including the gas generator, and a unit configuration control are chosen so as to obtain a certain inflation at certain pressures. The targeted preparation of the entire personal protective equipment can sometimes, however, this can be at the expense of a lower adaptability or possibility of customizing the protective device to a user's specific needs. 5 This disclosure starts from the position of the technical problem of providing a wearable protective device that allows you to meet the needs mentioned above with reference to the known art and / or to achieve further advantages, especially in terms of the possibility of improved adaptability and customizing the protection device to the user's needs. 10 This is achieved through a wearable and customizable protective device comprising a plurality of protective assemblies, a garment including said protective apparatus and a method of customizing a protective apparatus, according to their respective independent claims. Secondary characteristics of the subject matter of this disclosure are defined in the corresponding 15 dependent claims. According to the present disclosure, at least two of the included protection assemblies in the proposed apparatus they present different structural and / or functional characteristics between them, customizable according to the area of ​​the device in which they are located, and therefore depending on the body area of ​​the user they are intended for 20 protect. Each protective assembly included in the proposed apparatus comprises a inflatable element, configured to assume a deflated condition and a inflated condition, suitable to protect the user in the event of falls and / or impacts various types. Inflation occurs via an inflation device which 25 comprises for example a gas generator, for example a gas container compressed air that is released inside the airbag in the event of a crash or impact. Once inflated, the inflatable element should normally remain at a pre-established and functional shape for the protection of the user's body part from protect. 30 More specifically, the apparatus according to the present disclosure is a wearable and customizable protection, which includes: - a first protection assembly comprising a first inflatable element featuring a respective inflatable element technology, a device for inflation in fluid communication with the first inflatable element, and a unit 35 control device for commanding the inflation of the first inflatable element; - a second protective assembly comprising a second element inflatable featuring a respective inflatable element technology, a inflation device in fluid communication with the second element inflatable, and a control unit capable of commanding the inflation of the second inflatable element, - one or more sensors for the detection of parameters indicating impact and / or fall, 5 connected to said first protection assembly and said second protection assembly protection; wherein according to a characteristic aspect of this disclosure - the inflatable element technology of said first protection assembly is a first inflatable element technology and the inflatable element technology of 10 said second protection assembly is a second element technology inflatable, and said first technology of inflatable element and the second technology of inflatable element are different (among them) inflatable element technologies, and / or the inflation device of said first protective assembly is a first inflation device in fluid communication with said first element 15 inflatable and the inflation device of said second protective assembly is a second inflation device in fluid communication with the second inflatable element, wherein said first inflation device and said second inflation device are inflation devices that differ from each other in terms of the way they inflate operation and / or for inflation gas, and / or 20 - the control unit of said first protection assembly is a first control unit control and the control unit of said second protection assembly is a second control unit where said first and second control units are units control configured with different activation logics to activate an inflation of the respective inflatable element. 25 Furthermore, said first protection assembly is arranged in a first zone at protect a first body district of the user and said second set of protection is placed in a second zone to protect a second district body in which the first body district is a different body district than the first body district, such that the first protective set and the second 30 protection assemblies have a different configuration from each other in function of the respective body district. In practice, each inflatable assembly can be distinguished from the other assembly inflatable either for inflatable element technology, or for the inflation device and / or for configuring the control unit. This way you can 35 customize the protection by the wearable protective device in function of the body area to be protected. Regarding the inflatable element technology, it can be observed that each inflatable element is characterized by its own element technology inflatable. In the context of this discussion, for element technology inflatable means the structural and / or functional configuration of the element inflatable, for example in terms of internal physical / chemical structure in combination 5 with the functions performed by this structure when it is inflated or resting / deflation. In this regard, we recall what is already known about inflatable elements used in the context of the protection of a user, commonly known as airbags, able to inflate in the event of impacts or shocks in order to protect a portion of the 10 user body. An inflatable element of a known type usable in the proposed apparatus includes for example: for example a prefabricated body made by knitting. Said knitted body is a closed, or at least tubular, structure defining a internal chamber, occupied at least partially by a plurality of connecting threads that 15 connect opposite portions of the knitted body. The knitted body The mesh is then covered with waterproof sheets to give a appropriate holding. Always compatible with the present treatment, a protective device comprising an inflatable element comprising a 20 first layer and a second layer, defining an internal chamber of the element inflatable, and an intermediate layer. More specifically, the first layer and the second layer have a first and a second internal surface respectively, facing the internal chamber, and along which the intermediate layer is fixed in correspondence of first connection regions and second connection regions, 25 respectively. Additional inflatable element technologies that can be used in one or more of the protection assemblies included in the apparatus covered by this document disclosures are those described, by way of example and not limitation, in: EP3291697B1, EP 2373189 A1, EP 2373190 A1, EP3291697A1, EP 3432744 A1. 30 According to the present disclosure, the apparatus may include protective assemblies featuring inflatable elements that implement element technologies inflatable different from each other, however made in accordance with what is already known to the state of the art. The inflatable element includes, or is operatively associated with, a 35 inflation, which in turn comprises a container and a respective generator of gas for inflating the inflatable element. The container for the gas generator. it could be for example a container suitable to be placed in correspondence with the back or side of a user, that is, an area of ​​a user's body user of the device. The proposed apparatus may comprise a single inflation device shared by, or rather operationally associated with, all protection assemblies 5 included in the device. Depending on a preferred aspect of the device, alternatively multiple inflation devices may be provided, each associated with at least one of the existing protection assemblies. This configuration can therefore include in the apparatus at least two or more different inflation devices they, however, made in accordance with what is already known in the state of the art. 10 For example, the first protection assembly includes the first protection device inflation with a respective first gas generator in fluid communication with the first inflatable element for inflating the first inflatable element; and the second protection assembly includes the second inflation device with a respective second gas generator in fluid communication with the second 15 inflatable element for inflating the second inflatable element, where the first gas generator and the second gas generator are gas generators gases different from each other for inflation gas and / or activation technology, or operation of the gas generator. This condition is useful, for example, when depending on the body district 20 or the function of the protection device, different pressures are required inflation or different inflation times. Preferably, each protection assembly is activatable by means electronic control systems, which include at least one control unit or control unit in communication with one or more sensors for the detection of indicative parameters 25 impacts and / or falls. These sensors can be included in the system protection itself. A single common control unit can be provided for the protection assembly or the first control unit for the first assembly protection, and the second control unit for the second protection assembly. Preferably, for example, the first control unit and the second control unit 30 control, is / are configured to activate the first protection set and the second protection set according to an independent activation mode from each other, depending on the parameters detected by one or more sensors. Even more preferably, the first control unit is programmed to command the activation of the first inflation device based on the first values 35 threshold of the parameters detected by the sensors, and the second control unit is programmed to command the activation of the second inflation device in function of second threshold values ​​of the parameters detected by the sensors, where the first and second threshold values ​​are different from each other and are predetermined as a function of the respective area and body district. In one embodiment, for example, the first control unit comprises first one or more sensors for the detection of impact indicator parameters and / or 5 fall, and the second control unit comprises one or more sensors for the detection of parameters indicating impact and / or fall, where the first one or more sensors and the second one or more sensors are different from each other. Preferably, the first control unit and the second control unit, is / are 10 configured to activate the first protection set and the second protection set protection according to an activation mode independent of each other, in function of the parameters detected by one or more sensors. According to a further advantageous aspect of the apparatus, each assembly of protection can be configured to be removably connected to the device. 15 In this way a user can choose in a very personalized way the set of most suitable protection for your needs. According to this configuration, the device is therefore configured to be able to be customized by adding / subtracting protection assemblies, to realize a modular configuration. 20 In this perspective, for example the first protection assembly is configured to be removably connected to the second protection assembly. Preferably, the apparatus according to the present disclosure is configured as a garment or is part of a garment. Furthermore, by means of the apparatus according to the present disclosure it can be made to 25 point a customization method that includes the following steps: - select the user's body areas to be protected from impact / fall, - provide, for each body district, the first set of protection and the second protection set in which each first protection set and 30 second protection set are independently selected and / or programmed according to the body area to be protected. Further advantages, features and ways of using the object of the This disclosure will be apparent from the following detailed description of its embodiments, presented for illustrative and non-limiting purposes. 35 It is however evident that each form of embodiment of the object of the this disclosure may present one or more of the advantages listed above; in in any case it is not required that each embodiment present all the advantages listed simultaneously. The following discussion will now refer to the attached Figures, in which: - Figures 1 and 2 show a preferred embodiment of the apparatus proposed, respectively according to a front and rear view. 5 With reference to Figure 1, a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of protection is denoted by 100 and includes a plurality of protection assemblies. Each protection assembly comprises an inflatable element, configured to assume a deflated condition and an inflated condition, suitable for protecting the user in the event of falls and / or impacts of various types. Inflation occurs by means of 10 an inflator device comprising a gas generator, e.g. a compressed gas container that is released inside the airbag in the event of a collision or impact, as already described. This disclosure relates to a wearable protective apparatus comprising a plurality of protective assemblies with characteristics 15 customizable. This customization is aimed at achieving not only a specialized protection with respect to the user's body area to be protected, but also an improvement in the user's comfort and freedom of movement when an impact or fall condition is detected. This is achieved according to preferred aspects of the apparatus for which the protection assemblies are activatable in 20 independent from each other, to avoid the inflation of those placed in correspondence of the user's body areas not affected by the impact / fall. Each of the protective assemblies of the apparatus 100 is intended to protect a specific area of ​​a user's body. In other words, each protection assembly is arranged in correspondence with an area of ​​the apparatus which in 25 use, that is when the device is worn by a user, is located in correspondence of a body area of ​​the user that is intended to be protected from impact / fall trauma. For example, in the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the apparatus includes protective assemblies arranged such that, in use, are located at the shoulders, chest, hips, and back. Preferably, 30 the protection assemblies can also be arranged in such a way as to result, in use, at the user's coccyx and neck. Each of the protective assemblies included in the apparatus 100 comprises a inflatable element 5, or airbag, in fluid connection with a device inflation 3. Each of the inflatable elements can implement a different 35 inflatable element technology, as already described. An inflator 3 included in apparatus 100 includes a generator of gas indicated with the reference number 4. The gas generator 4 can be shaped like a canister, such as a canister of compressed cold gas, such as helium. The canister may be equipped with a respective valve interception. Alternatively, the inflation fluid source can include gas generators of the pyrotechnic or hybrid type or other types 5 notes on the state of the art. The assembly that includes the gas generator and the container for the gas generator It is called an inflator device, generally indicated by the number of reference 3. The inflator 3 is connected (via cables) to a control unit or control unit 6 which allows you to control 10 an inflation activation. The subject of this disclosure is an apparatus in accordance with what has been described up to now described, where each protection assembly is connected to the same, unique control unit 6 included in the device. According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, one or more of the assemblies 15 protection can include its own control unit 6, not shared with additional protection assemblies. The inflation device 3 is in fluid communication with the inflatable element 5 to convey, once activated, inflation fluid into the inflatable element 5 and allow it to be inflated. The inflation device 3 is, as mentioned, connected 20 to the control unit, through which the inflation can be activated. In relation to the inflation, to inflate the inflatable element 5, in the event of a fall and / or slip and / or unexpected impact by a user or a vehicle on which it proceeds, the protection assembly 1 is able to cooperate with appropriate means of activation (normally consisting of the aforementioned control unit 6 and its respective 25 sensors) operationally connected for example to the shaped gas generator in a spray can 4, or according to different configurations of known art. From an advantageous point of view, whether the apparatus includes only one or includes more than one control unit, activation modes may be provided differentiated for one or more of the protection assemblies. 30 The possible activation methods, although being a particularly important aspect relevance for the effective functioning of the device, will not be further described in greater detail as these are methods essentially already known to a technician in the field of protecting an individual from unexpected impacts. The protective apparatus 100 of the present disclosure includes two or 35 more protection assemblies distributed spatially, or rather reciprocally positioned in the apparatus 100 in such a way that, when the latter is in use – worn by the user – each protective assembly is arranged in corresponding to a specific body area of ​​the user, to be protected in case of impact / fall. The impact and / or fall condition is determined in function of the parameter values ​​detected by one or more dedicated sensors, which can be included in the apparatus 100. 5 For example, sensors may be suitable for measuring acceleration, and in added speed. The sensors are in data communication with the at least one control unit 6, which processes the detected values ​​and according to specific processing algorithms determines whether to activate one or more of the protection assemblies of the device 100. 10 Each of the protection assemblies 100 included in the apparatus 100 is therefore operationally associated with the control unit in data communication with the sensors. In other words, the central unit is configured to process data associated with the values of the parameters investigated by the sensors to establish not only if, but above all which protection set must be activated. For example, when one or 15 more sensors detect an impact on the right side of the device, the control unit can be configured to send a command signal exclusively to one or more protection assemblies arranged in correspondence with that side of the apparatus, while the additional protection assemblies remain inactive. In accordance with a further aspect of the wearable protective apparatus and 20 customizable in accordance with the present disclosure, the apparatus 100 includes a first protective assembly 1 comprising a first inflatable element having a first inflatable element technology, and a second protection assembly 2 which comprises a second inflatable element featuring a second inflatable element technology. 25 According to the present disclosure, at least the first protection assembly 1 and the second protection assembly 2 are configured in such a way that they can be activated independently of each other, depending on the parameters detected by the sensors. The first and second protection assemblies 1, 2 include and are operationally associated respectively with a control unit 6 configured for 30 command the activation of the inflation device, for the inflation of the respective inflatable elements. The control unit 6 is in turn in data communication with one or more sensors for the detection of parameters indicating impact and / or fall, in a function of which will determine whether or not the inflation device is activated. According to a first preferred aspect of the apparatus, the first and the second 35 inflatable element technology are different from each other; therefore, the two assemblies of protection 1, 2 have inflatable elements that are different from a structural and / or functional. According to a second favorite aspect of the apparatus, the first element inflatable is in fluid communication with a first inflation device and the second inflatable element is in fluid communication with a second inflating device, such first and second inflating devices being 5 different from each other. This second preferred aspect can be present as an alternative or in combination with the first favorite aspect. Furthermore, in accordance with a third preferred aspect, the first inflatable element is operationally associated with a first control unit and the second element inflatable is operationally associated with a second control unit, and such first 10 and second control unit are different from each other. These control units can be programmed according to different routines for the activation of the respective elements of inflation, as already described. This third preferred aspect may be present alternatively, or in combination, with the first and / or second preferred aspect mentioned above. 15 In particular, the control unit (or each control unit) may be programmed to command the activation of the first inflation device in function of first threshold values ​​of the parameters detected by the sensors, and command the activation of the second inflation device based on second values ​​of threshold of the parameters detected by the sensors, where the first and second threshold values ​​are 20 different from each other, predetermined according to the respective area of ​​the apparatus in correspondence of which each of the protection assemblies is arranged. The first and second protective assemblies 1, 2 are respectively arranged in correspondence with a first and a second zone of the said apparatus 100 different between them and such that, in use, the first protection assembly 1 and the second protection assembly 25 protection 2 are located in correspondence with different body areas of the user. Therefore, it will be evident to the person skilled in the art that the selection of the technology of inflatable element, inflation device and / or inflation unit control, i.e. the configuration of one or more of the protection assemblies, can be customized according to the respective area of ​​the device 100, in 30 correspondence of which the protection assembly in question is provided. Personal protective equipment including airbags and protective clothing which include said airbags are personal protective devices known for a technician in the field, and therefore are not further described in this document patent application. 35 The proposed protective apparatus is configured to be worn by a user, in particular it can be shaped like a jacket or a suit integral. According to further variants which are the subject of this disclosure, the apparatus protective gear can be associated with a garment, so that it can be worn by a user. This coupling can be reversible or permanent, depending on create a single body. In both cases, the possibility of presence of pockets or seats configured to house the components of the apparatus, in 5 in particular the protective assemblies, the one or more inflation devices and / or the one or more control units, which can be permanently or temporarily linked therein temporary. The apparatus being disclosed therefore allows the achievement of different technical effects from the different protection assemblies positioned in 10 correspondence of different zones or areas of the apparatus, intended to protect corresponding to different body districts of the user when the device is in use, thanks to the aforementioned differentiated characteristics. Such different areas of the device, in use - i.e. when the device is worn by a user - they are located in correspondence with body districts 15 different and non-homologous user (e.g. districts that belong to different parts of the user's body, where district therefore means for example the neck, the back, chest, hip, etc.). In particular, the areas of the system that host differentiated protection assemblies are not symmetrical about an axis of longitudinal symmetry of the apparatus, indicated by L in Figure 1. For example, the 20 protection assemblies indicated therein with the numerical references 1 and 2 are arranged in correspondence of different areas of the protection system, intended to protect – in use - different and, in particular, non-homologous, corresponding body districts of the user, which in the example shown in Figure 1 correspond respectively at the shoulder (protective assembly 1) and at the hip (protective assembly 25 protection 2). The configuration of the disclosed apparatus is such that the technical effects achieved from each protection set can be selected according to the specific 'target' body area of ​​the user. The technical effects can be customized according to the personalization of one or 30 more than the protection assemblies are for example the mechanical resistance, elasticity, and more generally the ability to absorb shocks, which can be determined by means of choice of a specific inflatable element technology, as well as the respective means of inflation. For example, a protective assembly arranged at the neck is configured to present greater (lesser) mechanical resistance than 35 to the protective assembly located at the hip, when both are inflated, and further (or alternatively) can be associated with logics of control which provide for the activation of the respective gas generator when the sensors detect impact / fall indicator parameters that have higher values lower than those required for the activation of the protection assembly provided at the hip. The subject matter of this disclosure has been described so far with reference to 5 its embodiments. It is to be understood that other forms of embodiment may exist. realizations that pertain to the same inventive core, all falling within within the scope of protection of the claims set forth below.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A wearable, customizable protective apparatus (100), which includes: - a first protective assembly (1) comprising a first inflatable element (5) featuring inflatable element technology (5), an inflation device (3) in fluid communication with the first inflatable element (5), and a control unit (6) adapted to control an inflation of the first inflatable element (5); - a second protective assembly (2) comprising a second inflatable element (5) featuring inflatable element technology (5), an inflation device (3) in fluid communication with the second inflatable element (5), and a control unit (6) adapted to control an inflation of the second inflatable element (5), - one or more sensors for detecting parameters indicative of impact and / or fall,connected to said first protective assembly (1) and said second protective assembly (2); wherein said apparatus (100) is characterised in that: - the inflatable element technology (5) of said first protective assembly (1) is a first inflatable element technology (5) and the inflatable element technology (5) of said second protective assembly (2) is a second inflatable element technology (5), and said first inflatable element technology (5) and the second inflatable element technology (5) are different inflatable element technologies (5), and / or wherein the inflation device (3) of said first protective assembly (1) is a first inflation device (3) in fluid communication with said first inflatable element (5) and the inflation device (3) of said second protective assembly (2) is a second inflation device (3) in fluid communication with the second inflatable element (5),wherein said first inflating device (3) and said second inflating device (3) are inflating devices different in terms of operating mode and / or inflation gas, and / or wherein - the control unit (6) of said first protection assembly (1) is a first control unit (6) and the control unit (6) of said second protection assembly (2) is a second control unit (6) wherein said first and second control units (6) are control units (6) configured with different activation logics to activate an inflation of the respective inflatable element (5), and wherein said first protection assembly (1) is arranged in a first zone to protect a first body district of the user and said second protection assembly (2) is arranged in a second zone to protect a second body district, wherein the first body district is a body district different from the first body district,such that said first protective assembly (1) and second protective assembly (2) have a different configuration from each other depending on the respective area for the respective body district.

2. Apparatus (100) according to claim 1, wherein said first zone and second zone are zones that include at least the shoulder, chest, back, hip and / or hip regions of a user.

3. Apparatus (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said first protection assembly (1) comprises said first inflation device (3) with a respective first gas generator in fluid communication with said first inflatable element (5) for the inflation of said first inflatable element (5); and said second protection assembly (2) comprises said second inflation device (3) with a respective second gas generator in fluid communication with said second inflatable element (5) for the inflation of said second inflatable element (5), wherein said first gas generator and said second gas generator are gas generators different from each other in terms of inflation gas and / or gas generator activation technology.

4. Apparatus (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said first control unit (6) and said second control unit (6), is / are configured to activate said first protection assembly (1) and second protection assembly (2) according to an activation mode independent of each other, depending on the parameters detected by the one or more sensors.

5. Apparatus (100) according to the preceding claim, wherein: said first protection assembly (1) includes a first control unit (6) which includes means for communicating data with the sensors, and said second protection assembly (2) includes a second control unit (6) which includes means for communicating data with the sensors, wherein said first control unit (6) is programmed to control the activation of said first inflation device (3) as a function of first threshold values ​​of the parameters detected by the sensors, and said second control unit (6) is programmed to control the activation of said second inflation device (3) as a function of second threshold values ​​of the parameters detected by the sensors, wherein said first and second threshold values ​​are different from each other and are predetermined as a function of the respective area and body district. SIB-BI1137E 6. Apparatus (100) according to the preceding claim, wherein said first control unit (6) comprises first one or more sensors for detecting parameters indicating impact and / or fall, and said second control unit (6) comprises second one or more sensors for detecting parameters indicating impact and / or fall, wherein said first one or more sensors and second one or more sensors are different from each other. said first control unit (6) and said second control unit (6), is / are configured to activate said first protection assembly (1) and second protection assembly (2) according to an activation mode independent of each other, depending on the parameters detected by the one or more sensors.

7. Apparatus (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said first protection assembly (1) is configured to be removably connected to said second protection assembly (2).

8. Apparatus (100) according to one of the preceding claims, which is configured as a garment.

9. Garment including an apparatus (100) according to one of claims 1 to 8.

10. Method of customizing an apparatus (100) according to one of claims 1 to 8, which includes the following steps: - selecting the body areas of the user to be protected from impact and / or falling, - providing, for each body area, said first protection assembly (1) and said second protection assembly (2) wherein each first protection assembly (1) and said second protection assembly (2) are independently selected and / or programmed as a function of the body area to be protected.