Personal protection device

Inactive Publication Date: 2006-12-28
WARDEN MATTHEW PERRY
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009] The present invention relates to injury prevention, for example hip fractures, in people prone to falls, because, for example, of advanced age or movement disorders. In one embodiment, the present invention is an inflatable airbag that is activated when a sensor detects that the wearer of the device is falling, but that is sufficiently light weight and easily worn to allow the wearer to

Problems solved by technology

Additionally, a heart monitor may be attached to the device such that an abnormal heart rhythm

Method used

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Example

[0036] In the following, embodiments of the personal protection device in accordance with the invention are typically described with reference to a belt; however, it is to be understood that the present invention can also be used in other types of articles of clothing or equipment as necessary, in particular clothing or equipment typically associated with individuals at risk of falling. For example, the device may be embodied in a vest, jacket, short sleeve shirt, hood, neck strap, pants, shorts, or harness and may be used to protect any combination of the hips, back, chest, head, neck, upper extremities, and lower extremities. In addition, any suitable size, shape, or type of element or material could be used to suit a particular application. For example, the size and shape of the device will vary based on the area to be protected and the wearer's relative size. Suitable materials include textiles, either woven or non-woven, having natural or synthetic fibers, extruded polymers, or...

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PUM

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Abstract

A personal protection device can be used to protect individuals from falls. The device can be linked to a mechanical or electrical device, which triggers deployment of the device when the individual accelerates vertically. In this manner, a falling individual's injuries such as hip fractures, upper extremity injuries, and head injuries are minimized by the mediated gradual deceleration of the wearer of the device. The device allows mobility of the individual, because it is worn in a non-deployed compact form within a wearable article of clothing or belt. The device may also be used to protect non-ambulatory individuals who sustain falls from a bed or chair.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application claims priority to, and the benefit of, U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 694,020, filed on Jun. 24, 2005, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.TECHNICAL FIELD [0002] The present invention relates to the field of personal protection devices and, in particular, to devices for protecting a user from injury due to falls. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] The elderly have long sustained serious injuries from falls from a standing position. The elderly are at a particularly high risk for falling, because of deterioration in the quality of sight, balance, coordination, and proprioception or the sense of their body's position in 3-dimensional space. Additionally, high rates of osteoporosis in this population make falls particularly injurious with high fracture rates. Probably most surprising is the statistic that 50% of people over the age of 80 die within one year of sustaini...

Claims

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Application Information

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IPC IPC(8): A41D13/00
CPCA41D13/0506A41D13/018
Inventor WARDEN, MATTHEW PERRY
Owner WARDEN MATTHEW PERRY
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