Protector with propellant gas filling
The integrated foam and high-pressure hose mesh in the protector enhance airbag vest protection and comfort by absorbing shock and containing gas efficiently, addressing the issues of steel cartridges.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- DE202023001924
- Authority / Receiving Office
- DE · DE
- Patent Type
- Utility models
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2023-09-12
- Publication Date
- 2025-01-23
- Estimated Expiration
- 2033-09-30
AI Technical Summary
Existing airbag vests with steel cartridges for drift gas pose risks of injury and compromise wearing comfort due to their volume and material, lacking effective shock absorption.
A protector with integrated shock-absorbing foam material and high-pressure hose mesh, which absorbs shock and contains the drift gas without adding volume, ensuring comfort and enhanced protection.
The solution provides effective shock absorption and safe gas containment, enhancing protection without compromising comfort, replacing the need for a steel cartridge.
Abstract
Description
[0001] The invention relates to a protector with an integrated high-pressure hose as a propellant gas container according to the preamble of claim 1.
[0002] Airbag vests currently on the market offer temporary protection in the event of an accident thanks to the activated airbag. They also typically feature one or more replaceable foam or hard-shell protectors with permanent protection for individual body parts or the entire upper body. The propellant gas (e.g., CO2) for the airbag, which is activated in an accident, is stored in a pressurized liquid form in a steel cartridge attached to or inside the vest. This steel cartridge can cause additional injuries to the wearer in a fall. Furthermore, the bulky steel cartridge negatively impacts the comfort of the airbag vest.
[0003] The invention is based on the objective of providing a container for pressurised liquefied gas that is more advanced than the prior art, poses no risk of injury, does not negatively affect the wearing comfort of protective clothing and also contributes to shock absorption in the event of a fall.
[0004] This problem is solved according to the invention by a protector with the features of claim 1. The term "protector" is used in the present case regardless of whether it functions only as body part protection (e.g. back protection) or as total upper body protection.
[0005] The protector comprises two different elements: The protector consists firstly of shock-absorbing foam material and secondly, from a high-pressure hose braid held together with straps.
[0006] The elements are arranged so that the foam material is placed between the body part(s) to be protected and the high-pressure hose mesh.
[0007] The high-pressure hose mesh can also be partially or completely embedded in the foam material without straps. In the event of a fall, the high-pressure hose mesh distributes pressure onto the underlying shock-absorbing foam material, thus contributing to more efficient shock absorption. The high-pressure hose mesh contains the pressurized, liquefied propellant gas required for airbag inflation. Embedding the high-pressure hose mesh in the foam material eliminates the need for additional volume, which improves the comfort of the airbag vest.
[0008] To withstand the gas pressure, the high-pressure hose has a metal sheath or one or more layers of fabric wrapping. A loose metal ball chain or wire inserted inside the high-pressure hose, in addition to any existing metal wrapping, provides the necessary vaporization energy for the propellant gas over a large surface area.
[0009] The high-pressure hose has pressed-in metal threads with metal closures (e.g., aluminum) at each end. Alternatively, one end of the hose can be sealed with a plug. The connection between the high-pressure hose and the airbag is made via an inflator, which is controlled either by a rip cord or electrically by sensors. The inflator contains a cannula for puncturing the high-pressure hose. To increase the propellant flow rate, the inflator can be equipped with two cannulas to accommodate both ends of the high-pressure hose. The propellant flow rate can be further increased by enlarging the cannula(s).
[0010] The described high-pressure hose with the mentioned components meets the same requirements as a CO2 steel cartridge. However, unlike the steel cartridge, the braided high-pressure hose poses no risk of injury; rather, it increases the protective effect of the protector in the event of a fall.
Claims
[1] Protector, characterized by that a high-pressure hose lies on a foam base and is connected to an airbag via an inflator. [2] Protector according to claim 1, characterized by that the foam pads are made of shock-absorbing foam material. [3] Protector according to claim 1, characterized by that the high-pressure hose is distributed in coils over the entire surface of the foam pad. [4] Protector according to claim 1, characterized by that the turns of the high-pressure hose are held together by bands to form a braid. [5] Protector according to claim 3 and 4, characterized by that the high-pressure hose braid is fixed to the foam base. [6] Protector according to claims 3 and 4, characterized by that the high-pressure hose braid is partially embedded in the foam base. [7] Protector according to claim 3 and 4, characterized bythat the high-pressure hose braid is completely embedded in the foam base. [8] Protector according to claim 1, characterized by that the high-pressure hose is partly made of shock-absorbing material. [9] Protector according to claim 1, characterized by that the high-pressure hose is made of flexible material. [10] Protector according to claim 1, characterized by that the high-pressure hose is wrapped with one or more layers of textile fabric. [11] Protector according to claim 1, characterized by that the high-pressure hose has a metal sheath. [12] Protector according to claim 1, characterized by that the high-pressure hose can accommodate a liquefied propellant gas at high pressure. [13] Protector according to claim 1, characterized by that there is a metallic heat energy carrier in the high-pressure hose. [14] Protector according to claim 13, characterized bythat the heat energy carrier is designed as a metal ball chain. [15] Protector according to claim 13, characterized by that the heat energy carrier is designed as a metal wire. [16] Protector according to claim 1, characterized by that there is a closure at each end of the high-pressure hose. [17] Protector according to claim 16, characterized by that the closures consist of pressed-in metal threads with metal caps (e.g. aluminum). [18] Protector according to claim 16, characterized by that a closure consists of a pressed-in plug. [19] Protector according to claim 1, characterized by that there is an inflator between the high-pressure hose and the airbag. [20] Protector according to claim 19, characterized by that the inflator can accommodate one end of the high-pressure hose by screwing it in. [21] Protector according to claim 19, characterized bythat the inflator can accommodate both ends of the high-pressure hose by screwing them in. [22] Protector according to claim 19, characterized by that the inflator has a cannula for piercing the high-pressure hose. [23] Protector according to claim 19, characterized by that the inflator has two cannulas for piercing the high-pressure hose.