Rupturable device

Abstract

A rupturable device (14) for an air-bag enclosure (2), the device comprising a body (3) incorporating a mechanically weakened portion (22), the mechanically weakened portion (22) being configured to rupture to provide an opening in the body (3) when the mechanically weakened portion (22) is subjected to a force from an air-(10) bag inflating within the air-bag enclosure (2); and a releasable attachment (28) coupled to the body (3), the releasable attachment (28) being configured to releasably attach to the air-bag enclosure (2) to enable the rupturable device (14) to be detached from the air-bag enclosure (2) and replaced after the mechanically weakened portion (22) has been ruptured.

Description

[0001] Rupturable device

[0002] FIELD

[0003] The present invention relates to a rupturable device for an air-bag enclosure. The present invention more particularly relates to a rupturable device for an air-bag enclosure of a wearable safety device.

[0004] BACKGROUND

[0005] An individual who is at risk of injury from falling may benefit from cushioning around fragile parts of their body. It is known to provide a wearable safety device which can be worn by an individual for purposes such as providing protection from injury from falling. A wearable safety device typically comprises an air-bag that is initially folded and stored in a compact enclosure that is worn by an individual. The wearable safety device is activated upon detection of a fall, triggering inflation of the air-bag to provide cushioning to protect the individual from the forces arising due to the fall.

[0006] A conventional wearable safety device is usually a single-use device which is expended and disposed of after the air-bag is activated. Some conventional wearable safety devices can be serviced once expended and restored to working order. In some instances, specialist tools and a controlled production environment are required to service such conventional wearable safety devices, making the servicing process expensive and time-consuming.

[0007] There is a need for a wearable safety device that alleviates at least some of the problems described herein.

[0008] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The present invention provides a rupturable device as claimed in claim 1 and a safety device as claimed in claim 14.

[0010] In some examples of this disclosure, the rupturable device is releasably attached to an air-bag enclosure, thus enabling economical and easy replacement of the rupturable device after the rupturable device has been ruptured.

[0011] In some examples of this disclosure, end user access to the air-bag enclosure can be restricted to reduce the risk of the air-bag being unintentionally compromised.

[0012] The rupturable device of some examples of this disclosure provides an environmental benefit over conventional rupturable devices, in that the device permits an air-bag enclosure to be re-used easily. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0013] In order that the present disclosure may be more readily understood, preferable embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0014] Figure 1 is a diagrammatic isometric view of part of an air-bag enclosure of this disclosure;

[0015] Figure 2 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of a safety device of this disclosure;

[0016] Figure 3 is an isometric view of part of a safety device of this disclosure;

[0017] Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view of a section of a rupturable device of this disclosure;

[0018] Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view of a section of a rupturable device of this disclosure;

[0019] Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view of a section of a rupturable device of this disclosure;

[0020] Figure 7 is a diagrammatic view of a section of a rupturable device of this disclosure;

[0021] Figure 8 is a diagrammatic view of a section of a rupturable device of this disclosure;

[0022] Figure 9 is an isometric view of a safety device of this disclosure;

[0023] Figure 10 is a diagrammatic view of a rupturable device of this disclosure;

[0024] Figure 11 is an isometric view of a safety device of this disclosure;

[0025] Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view of a safety device of this disclosure during activation;

[0026] Figure 13 is a cross-sectional view of a safety device of this disclosure during activation; and Figure 14 is a cross-sectional view of a safety device of this disclosure after activation.

[0027] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0028] Referring initially to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, a safety device 1 of one example of this disclosure comprises an air-bag enclosure 2. In some examples, the safety device 1 is a wearable safety device and the safety device 1 comprises at least one strap or harness (not shown) which is coupled to the air-bag enclosure 2 to enable the air-bag enclosure to be attached to and worn by a user. In some examples, the safety device 1 comprises a strap in the form of a belt that enables the safety device 1 to be worn around the waist of a user. In other examples, the safety device 1 is coupled to an article of clothing, such as a vest or jacket, that may be worn by a user.

[0029] The air-bag enclosure 2 comprises a body 3 that is provided with an opening 4. In this example, the air-bag enclosure 2 is a layer of fabric folded along a fold line to form a first layer of fabric 5 and second layer of fabric 6, the fold line being a first edge 7 of the air-bag enclosure 2. The first layer of fabric 5 and second layer of fabric 6 are connected along a second edge 8 of the air-bag enclosure and third edge 9 of the air-bag enclosure such that a pocket, with the opening 4 along a fourth edge of the enclosure, is formed.

[0030] In other examples, the body 3 is of plastic, which may be rigid or flexible. Referring now to Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings, the safety device 1 further comprises an air-bag 10 which is folded and packed within the air-bag enclosure 2. The air-bag 10 is of fabric and comprises a chamber 11 and an aperture 12 providing fluid communication from a gas source 13 to the chamber 11. The aperture 12 is configured such that the air-bag chamber 11 will increase in volume and inflate the air-bag 10 when pressurised gas is introduced into the air-bag chamber 11 by the gas source 13.

[0031] In this example, the safety device 1 comprises a sensor and control unit (not shown) for activating the safety device 1 . In some examples of this disclosure, the sensor is an accelerometer. In other examples, the sensor is a tilt sensor.

[0032] In other examples, the safety device 1 comprises a mechanical activation arrangement for activating the safety device 1 . The mechanical activation arrangement is provided instead of or in addition to a sensor, to activate the safety device 1 by mechanical force. In some examples of this disclosure, the mechanical activation arrangement is a strap or other elongate member which is attached to a trigger provided on the safety device 1 . When the strap is pulled, the strap exerts a mechanical force on the trigger which, in turn, activates the safety device 1. In these examples, a person can wear the safety device 1 and attach the strap to an object that the person is using so that the safety device 1 is activated when the person moves away from the object. For example, the safety device 1 could be within a jacket or vest worn by a person taking part in an activity, such as horse or bike riding, with the strap being attached to an object close to the person so that the safety device 1 is activated by the strap if the person becomes separated from the object.

[0033] Referring now to Figure 3 and Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings, the safety device 1 comprises a rupturable device 14 that is configured to releasably attach to the air-bag enclosure 2. The rupturable device 14 comprises an elongate body 15 which, in this example, is of fabric. The elongate body 15 comprises a first edge 16 and second edge 17 spaced apart from one another. In this example, the first edge 16 and second edge 17 are parallel and connected by a third edge 18 and fourth edge 19. The rupturable device 14 further comprises a releasable attachment 20 configured to releasably attach to the opening 4 of the air-bag enclosure 2. This allows the rupturable device 14 to be easily replaced.

[0034] In this example, the releasable attachment is a first side of a zip 20 that is configured to releasably attach to a second side of the zip 21 extending from the air-bag enclosure 2. The first side of the zip 20 extends from the first edge 16, second edge 17 and third edge 18 of the elongate body 15, forming a single U-shape zip 20. The second side of the zip 21 extends from the opening 4 of the air-bag enclosure 2, in a U-shape configured to attach to the first side of the zip 20.

[0035] The elongate body 15 of the rupturable device 14 comprises a mechanically weakened portion 22. mechanically weakened portion 22 is configured to rupture when subjected to a force from the air- bag, to provide an opening in the air-bag enclosure 2. The mechanically weakened portion 22 is weakened such that the force from the air-bag 10 inflating will cause the mechanically weakened portion 22 to rupture, instead of causing the releasable attachment 20 to rupture. The mechanically weakened portion 22 is configured to rupture when subjected to a force in excess of a predetermined level. The mechanically weakened portion 22 is therefore configured to be adapted according to the required specification or end user requirement of the safety device 1. In this example, the mechanically weakened portion 22 is elongate and extends along at least part of the elongate body 15.

[0036] Referring now to Figure 5 of the accompanying drawings, in some examples of this disclosure the mechanically weakened portion 22 comprises a plurality of apertures 23 which mechanically weaken the portion of the elongate body 15. These apertures 23 may extend partly or entirely along the length of the elongate body 15.

[0037] Referring now to Figure 6 of the accompanying drawings, in some examples of this disclosure the mechanically weakened portion 22 is a first portion 24 of the elongate body 15, having a lower thickness than a second portion 25 of the elongate body 15 that at least partly surrounds the first portion of the elongate body 15.

[0038] Referring now to Figure 7 of the accompanying drawings, in some examples of this disclosure the elongate body 15 comprises an aperture and the mechanically weakened portion 22 comprises a membrane 26 which at least partly closes the aperture. The membrane 26 may comprise a mesh or perforated fabric.

[0039] Referring now to Figure 8 of the accompanying drawings, in some examples of this disclosure the elongate body 15 comprises an aperture and the mechanically weakened portion 22 comprises a breakable coupling 27 which extends at least partly across the aperture. In this example, the breakable coupling 27 is a thread sewn to the fabric of the elongate body 15 to close or substantially close the aperture.

[0040] In another example of this disclosure, the rupturable device 14 comprises two releasable attachments instead of the single zip 20 of the examples described above. This example will now be described below.

[0041] Referring now to Figure 9 and Figure 10 of the accompanying drawings, in this example of the disclosure, the rupturable device 14 comprises a releasable attachment 28 and a further releasable attachment 29, both configured to releasably attach to the air-bag enclosure 2. The releasable attachment 28 comprises a first side of a zip 30 extending from the first edge 16 of the elongate body 15. The zip 30 is configured to releasably attach to a second side of the zip 31 extending from the first layer 5 of the opening 4 of the air-bag enclosure 2. The further releasable attachment 29 comprises a first side of a further zip 32 configured to releasably attach to a second side of the further zip 33.

[0042] Referring now to Figure 11 of the accompanying drawings, the first side of the zip 30 comprises a zip slider 34 which is slidably mounted to the first side of the zip 30. The zip slider 34 is configured to receive the second side of the zip 31 and fasten or unfasten the releasable attachment 28 by sliding along the length of the aligned first side of the zip 30 and second side of the zip 31 . The zip slider 34 of this example is configured to releasably attach to a zip puller 36 so that a user can grasp and use the zip puller 36 to slide the zip slider 34 to fasten and unfasten the releasable attachment 28. In this example, the zip slider 34 comprises a zip slider hook 34a which is configured to receive a zip puller loop 36a provided on the zip puller 36 to releasably attach the zip puller 36 to the zip slider 34. The releasable attachment enables the zip puller 36 to be removed after replacement of the rupturable device 14 to prevent easy access to the air-bag enclosure 2 by the end user.

[0043] In examples where the rupturable device 14 comprises a further releasable attachment 29, the first side the further zip 32 comprises a further zip slider 35. In this example, the further zip slider 35 comprises a further zip slider hook 35a and is configured to function in the same way as the zip slider 34 as described above.

[0044] The method of operation of the safety device 1 will now be described with reference to Figures 12- 14 of the accompanying drawings. Figure 12 of the accompanying drawings shows the safety device 1 with the folded air-bag 10 provided within the air-bag enclosure 2. In this configuration, the opening 4 in the air-bag enclosure 2 is closed or substantially closed by the rupturable device 14. The airbag 10 is configured to inflate when the safety device 1 is activated and pressurised gas is provided by the gas source 13.

[0045] Referring now to Figure 13 of the accompanying drawings, upon activation, the gas source 13 provides pressurised gas to the air-bag chamber 11 , causing the volume of the air-bag chamber 11 to rapidly increase, hence inflating the air-bag 10. During inflation, the air-bag 10 exerts an increasing amount of force upon the air-bag enclosure 2 and rupturable device 14. When sufficient force is exerted upon the rupturable device 14, the mechanically weakened portion 22 ruptures providing an opening through which the inflating air-bag 10 expands.

[0046] Referring now to Figure 14 of the accompanying drawings, the air-bag 10 continues to expand through the opening provided by the rupturable device 14 until the air-bag 10 is fully inflated. The safety device 1 is now deployed and provides protection to a user wearing the safety device 1.

[0047] After the safety device 1 is used, the expended rupturable device 14 is removed easily from the safety device 1 using the releasable attachment 28 and a new unexpended rupturable device 14 attached. The safety device of some examples of this disclosure provides an advantage over conventional wearable safety devices which comprise a rupturable zipper, Velcro or button device, as access to the air-bag contained within the air-bag enclosure is restricted once the zip puller is removed. This minimises the risk of the air-bag being tampered with or unintentionally compromised by a user.

[0048] Unlike conventional wearable safety devices which comprise a sewn-in rupturable device, the safety device of some examples of this disclosure comprises a rupturable device which is configured to releasably attach to an air-bag enclosure. The rupturable device can therefore be easily replaced and restored to working order.

[0049] When used in this specification and claims, the terms "comprises" and "comprising" and variations thereof mean that the specified features, steps or integers are included. The terms are not to be interpreted to exclude the presence of other features, steps or components.

[0050] The invention may also broadly consist in the parts, elements, steps, examples and / or features referred to or indicated in the specification individually or collectively in any and all combinations of two or more said parts, elements, steps, examples and / or features. In particular, one or more features in any of the embodiments described herein may be combined with one or more features from any other embodiment(s) described herein.

[0051] Protection may be sought for any features disclosed in any one or more published documents referenced herein in combination with the present disclosure.

[0052] Although certain example embodiments of the invention have been described, the scope of the appended claims is not intended to be limited solely to these embodiments. The claims are to be construed literally, purposively, and / or to encompass equivalents.

[0053] REPRESENTATIVE FEATURES

[0054] Representative features are set out in the following clauses, which stand alone or may be combined, in any combination, with one or more features disclosed in the text and / or drawings of the specification.

[0055] 1 . A rupturable device for an air-bag enclosure, the device comprising: a body incorporating a mechanically weakened portion, the mechanically weakened portion being configured to rupture to provide an opening in the body when the mechanically weakened portion is subjected to a force from an air-bag inflating within the air-bag enclosure; and a releasable attachment coupled to the body, the releasable attachment being configured to releasably attach to the air-bag enclosure to enable the rupturable device to be detached from the air-bag enclosure and replaced after the mechanically weakened portion has been ruptured.

[0056] 2. The device of clause 1 , wherein the mechanically weakened portion is a portion of the body which comprises a plurality of apertures which mechanically weaken the portion of the body.

[0057] 3. The device of clause 1 or clause 2, wherein the mechanically weakened portion is a first portion of the body having a lower thickness than a second portion of the body that at least partly surrounds the first portion of the body.

[0058] 4. The device of any one of the preceding clauses, wherein the mechanically weakened portion is a line of mechanical weakness which extends along at least part of a length of the body.

[0059] 5. The device of clause 1 , wherein the body comprises an aperture and the mechanically weakened portion comprises a membrane which at least partly closes the aperture.

[0060] 6. The device of clause 1 , wherein the body comprises an aperture and the mechanically weakened portion comprises a breakable coupling which extends at least partly across the aperture.

[0061] 7. The device of any one of the preceding clauses, wherein the body is a layer of fabric.

[0062] 8. The device of any one of clauses 1 to 6, wherein the body is of plastic.

[0063] 9. The device of any one of the preceding clauses, wherein the releasable attachment comprises a first side of a zip that is configured to releasably attach to a second side of the zip provided on the air-bag enclosure.

[0064] 10. The device of any one of the preceding clauses, wherein the device comprises: a further releasable attachment coupled to the body, the further releasable attachment being configured to releasably attach to the air-bag enclosure.

[0065] 11. The device of clause 10, wherein the further releasable attachment comprises a first side of a further zip that is configured to releasably attach to a second side of the further zip provided on the air-bag enclosure.

[0066] 12. The device of clause 9 or clause 11 , wherein the first side of each zip comprises a respective zip slider which is slidably mounted to the first side of the zip, the zip slider comprising a zip puller to enable the zip slider to be slid manually by a user along the first side of the zip so that the user can fasten and unfasten the zip. 13. The device of clause 12, wherein the zip puller is removeable from the zip slider.

[0067] 14. A safety device comprising: an air-bag enclosure incorporating an opening; a rupturable device according to any one of the preceding clauses, the rupturable device being releasably attached to the air-bag enclosure to at least partly close the opening; and an air-bag which is folded and packed within the air-bag enclosure such that, upon inflation of the air-bag, the air-bag exerts a force on the mechanically weakened portion of the rupturable device which ruptures the mechanically weakened portion to enable the air-bag to inflate outwardly through the opening in the air-bag enclosure.

[0068] 15. The device of clause 14, wherein the device is a wearable safety device and the device comprises: at least one strap or harness which is coupled to the air-bag enclosure to enable the air-bag enclosure to be attached to and worn by a user.

Claims

CLAIMS1 . A rupturable device for an air-bag enclosure, the device comprising: a body incorporating a mechanically weakened portion, the mechanically weakened portion being configured to rupture to provide an opening in the body when the mechanically weakened portion is subjected to a force from an air-bag inflating within the air-bag enclosure; and a releasable attachment coupled to the body, the releasable attachment being configured to releasably attach to the air-bag enclosure to enable the rupturable device to be detached from the air-bag enclosure and replaced after the mechanically weakened portion has been ruptured.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the mechanically weakened portion is a portion of the body which comprises a plurality of apertures which mechanically weaken the portion of the body.

3. The device of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the mechanically weakened portion is a first portion of the body having a lower thickness than a second portion of the body that at least partly surrounds the first portion of the body.

4. The device of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the mechanically weakened portion is a line of mechanical weakness which extends along at least part of a length of the body.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the body comprises an aperture and the mechanically weakened portion comprises a membrane which at least partly closes the aperture.

6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the body comprises an aperture and the mechanically weakened portion comprises a breakable coupling which extends at least partly across the aperture.

7. The device of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the body is a layer of fabric.

8. The device of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the body is of plastic.

9. The device of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the releasable attachment comprises a first side of a zip that is configured to releasably attach to a second side of the zip provided on the air-bag enclosure.

10. The device of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the device comprises: a further releasable attachment coupled to the body, the further releasable attachment being configured to releasably attach to the air-bag enclosure.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the further releasable attachment comprises a first side of a further zip that is configured to releasably attach to a second side of the further zip provided on the air-bag enclosure.

12. The device of claim 9 or claim 11 , wherein the first side of each zip comprises a respective zip slider which is slidably mounted to the first side of the zip, the zip slider comprising a zip puller to enable the zip slider to be slid manually by a user along the first side of the zip so that the user can fasten and unfasten the zip.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the zip puller is removeable from the zip slider.

14. A safety device comprising: an air-bag enclosure incorporating an opening; a rupturable device according to any one of the preceding claims, the rupturable device being releasably attached to the air-bag enclosure to at least partly close the opening; and an air-bag which is folded and packed within the air-bag enclosure such that, upon inflation of the air-bag, the air-bag exerts a force on the mechanically weakened portion of the rupturable device which ruptures the mechanically weakened portion to enable the air-bag to inflate outwardly through the opening in the air-bag enclosure.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the device is a wearable safety device and the device comprises: at least one strap or harness which is coupled to the air-bag enclosure to enable the air-bag enclosure to be attached to and worn by a user.

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