Safety cushion intended to be fitted to a safety barrier

Abstract

The invention relates to a safety cushion (1) comprising a protective cushion (1a) which contains a pressurized gas and which is delimited by a lower wall (11), an upper wall (12), a rear wall (13), a front wall (14) and side walls (15) and which has a rear compartment (41), a front compartment (42) and at least one intermediate compartment (43) interposed between the rear compartment (41) and the front compartment (42), two adjacent compartments (41, 42, 43) being separated from each other by an inner wall (23), characterized in that the inner wall (23) is parallel to the rear wall (13) and the front wall (14). The safety cushion (1) also comprises a secondary cushion (1b) interposed between the protective cushion (1a) and a safety barrier (2).

Description

Description Title of the invention: Safety cushion intended to equip a safety barrier

[0001] The invention relates to a safety cushion intended to equip a safety barrier. Its subject is such a safety cushion as well as an assembly formed of a safety barrier equipped with the safety cushion.

[0002] WO 98 / 33985 describes a protective cushion intended to equip a safety barrier. In general, the protective cushion is intended to protect a user, such as a cyclist, motorcyclist or the like, in the event of an impact against the safety barrier.

[0003] For this purpose, the protective cushion contains a pressurized gas, in particular air, which is distributed inside a plurality of compartments housed in the protective cushion. The compartments are separated from each other by internal partitions which are parallel to a lower wall of the protective cushion which rests on a floor on which the protective cushion is installed. The internal walls are provided with an air passage to allow air to circulate from a first compartment to a second compartment which is adjacent to the first compartment. The protective cushion comprises a rear wall, perpendicular to the lower wall, which is provided with means for attachment to the safety barrier, and a front wall, parallel to the rear wall, which is equipped with an advertising banner.The protective cushion comprises an upper wall, parallel to the lower wall, which is equipped with a pressure valve which allows air contained inside the protective cushion to escape to the outside of the protective cushion in the event of excess air pressure inside the protective cushion.

[0004] In the event of an impact with a user, the pressurized air tends to escape from the cushion through the pressure valve and the air pressure inside the protective cushion tends to homogenize by distributing air between the compartments.

[0005] Such a protective cushion deserves to be improved to ensure better protection of the user against an impact against the barrier.

[0006] It is indeed desirable that the protective cushion offers protection proportional to the impact against the safety barrier.

[0007] It is also desirable that the protective cushion be quickly operational following a first impact in order to be effective during a possible second impact following a first impact.

[0008] The present invention falls within this context and provides a safety airbag comprising a protective airbag containing a pressurized gas which is delimited by a bottom wall, a top wall, a rear wall, a front wall and side walls. The protective airbag comprises a rear compartment, a front compartment and at least one intermediate compartment interposed between the rear compartment and the front compartment. Two adjacent compartments are separated from each other by an internal wall.

[0009] According to the present invention, the inner wall is parallel to the rear wall and the front wall.

[0010] The safety cushion advantageously comprises at least one of the following technical characteristics, taken alone or in combination:

[0011] - the rear compartment houses a relief pocket which is equipped with at least one gas admission valve from the rear compartment and at least one discharge valve allowing gas to be discharged from the relief pocket to an environment outside the protective cushion.

[0012] - the intermediate compartment is provided with a gas discharge valve towards the external environment of the protective cushion.

[0013] - the rear compartment and the intermediate compartment are watertight between them.

[0014] - the rear compartment and the intermediate compartment are equipped with a gas inlet valve.

[0015] - the safety cushion includes a secondary cushion which adjoins the rear wall of the protective cushion.

[0016] - the secondary cushion comprises a first chamber provided with a means for inflating the first chamber and a second chamber equipped with a means for admitting a fluid into the second chamber.

[0017] - the safety cushion is equipped with a housing which includes a location sensor linked to a geolocation system.

[0018] The present invention also relates to an assembly comprising a safety barrier and such a safety cushion.

[0019] Advantageously, the safety barrier is shaped as a safety barrier comprising a post and a safety rail against which the rear wall of the protective cushion is in contact, the secondary cushion being interposed between the protective cushion and the safety barrier.

[0020] The invention and the advantages resulting therefrom will be better understood upon reading the description and the non-limiting embodiments which follow, with regard to the appended figures in which:

[0021] [Fig. 1] shows a side view of an assembly consisting of a safety barrier and a safety cushion.

[0022] [Fig. 2] represents a side view of the assembly illustrated in Figure 1, during a first stage of an impact.

[0023] [Fig. 3] represents a side view of the assembly illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, during a second stage of an impact.

[0024] [Fig. 4] represents a top view of the assembly illustrated in Figures 1 to 3.

[0025] In [Fig. 1], a safety cushion 1 comprising a protective cushion 1a and a secondary cushion 1b equips a safety barrier 2 which is shaped as a safety barrier comprising a post 2a carrying a safety rail 2b. The post 2a is substantially perpendicular to a ground S in which the post 2a is fixed. The safety rail 2b is arranged substantially parallel to the ground S. It is noted that the protective cushion 1a and the secondary cushion 1b are capable of being used on a safety barrier 2, other than a safety barrier, for example arranged in a safety fence comprising a flat frame carried by a base.

[0026] The protective cushion is generally parallelepiped and is delimited by a lower wall 11 which rests on the ground S, an upper wall 12 substantially parallel to the lower wall 11, a rear wall 13 which rests against the safety rail 2b and a front wall 14 which is substantially parallel to the rear wall 13, the rear wall 13 and the front wall 14 being substantially orthogonal to the lower wall 11 and to the upper wall 12. The protective cushion 1a is also delimited by two side walls 15 which are substantially orthogonal to the lower wall 11, to the upper wall 12, to the rear wall 13 and to the front wall 14.

[0027] The protective cushion 1a houses compartments 41, 42, 43 including a rear compartment 41 which is bordered by the rear wall 13 and which adjoins the safety rail 2b, a front compartment 42 bordered by the front wall 14 and at least one intermediate compartment 43 interposed between the rear compartment 41 and the front compartment 42. In the example illustrated, the protective cushion 1a comprises a single intermediate compartment 43. In its generality, the protective cushion 1a is likely to comprise a number greater than or equal to two of intermediate compartments 43. When the intermediate compartments 43 are in plurality, each of the intermediate compartments 43 has the same characteristics as the intermediate compartment 43 described below.

[0028] Two adjacent compartments 41, 42, 43 are separated from each other by an internal wall 23 which is arranged substantially parallel to the rear wall 13 and the front wall 14. Thus, the internal wall(s) 23 are parallel to the rear wall 13 and the front wall 14, and are parallel to each other when they are in plurality. Also, the compartments 41, 42, 43 are successively aligned one after the other in a direction D parallel to the ground and parallel to the lower wall 11 and the upper wall 12. Thus, by traveling along the direction D, one successively encounters, in the illustrated example, the rear compartment 41, the intermediate compartment 43 and the front compartment 42.

[0029] The rear compartment 41 and the intermediate compartment 43 are filled with a pressurized gas, air in particular, which is admitted inside the rear compartment 41 and the intermediate compartment 43 via respective inlet valves 24. It is noted that the rear compartment 41 and the intermediate compartment 43 are sealed relative to each other and that their inflation with pressurized gas is carried out independently of each other via the intake valve 24 assigned to it. It is also noted that the intake valves 24 are capable of equipping any one of the upper wall 12, the rear wall 13, and the side walls 15.

[0030] The intermediate compartment 43 is equipped with a valve 25 for releasing pressurized gas in the event of an impact between the protective cushion 1a and a cyclist, for example.

[0031] Referring also to [Fig. 2] and [Fig. 3], the front compartment 42 is filled with a high-density polyurethane foam to absorb a shock C of a cyclist against the safety barrier 2. The front compartment 42 also provides protection for the intermediate compartment 43 and the rear compartment 41 against tearing caused by a blunt object.

[0032] Thus, during the shock C which exerts a pressure P on the front wall 14 of the protective cushion 1a, the front compartment 42 deforms, as illustrated in [Fig. 2], which illustrates a first stage of the shock C, then the evacuation valve 25 of the intermediate compartment 43 lets out the pressurized gas contained inside the intermediate compartment 43, as illustrated in [Fig. 3] which illustrates a second stage of the shock C.

[0033] Preferably, the front compartment 42 is calibrated to absorb 50% of the energy delivered by the shock C. Preferably, the intermediate compartment 43 is calibrated to absorb 30% of the energy delivered by the shock C. Thus, the shock C is successively cushioned by the front compartment 42, then the intermediate compartment 43. These arrangements are such that the protective cushion 1a offers a graduated response to the shock C of a cyclist against the safety barrier 2, to guarantee optimized protection of the latter.

[0034] The rear compartment 41 houses a relief pocket 26 which is equipped with at least one intake valve 27, and preferably with a plurality of intake valves 27. Before an impact, the relief pocket 26 is empty of air. Each intake valve 27 allows admission of air contained inside the rear compartment 41 in the event of an impact C exerting sufficient pressure P. The relief pocket 26 is also equipped with an evacuation valve 28 which allows rapid purging of the relief pocket 26 to empty the pocket of unloading 26 following the shock C. These provisions reinforce the graduated response mentioned above while allowing the rear compartment 41 to be maintained in position, which tends to remain under pressure and therefore to keep its inflated shape. These provisions also avoid any rebound effect likely to occur during the shock C.

[0035] Referring again to [Fig. 1], the protective cushion 1a has a first height H1 taken between the lower wall 11 and the upper wall 12 which is less than 1.60 m. This corresponds to an average shoulder height of a cyclist, thus preventing him from tipping over the protective cushion 1a during the impact C, but also keeping a spectator placed behind the safety barrier 2 away from danger while ensuring visibility of the event.

[0036] In [Fig. 4], the protective cushion 1a has a first length L1 taken between the side walls 15 which is of the order of 2 m, to within + / - 10%, which corresponds to the length of a standard safety rail 2a.

[0037] The protective cushion 1a is of a first width XI taken between the rear wall 13 and the front wall 14 which is less than 1.40 m to avoid significant encroachment on the public highway.

[0038] The rear wall 13 and the lower wall 11 are provided with a non-slip coating allowing grip on the ground S, but also to prevent premature wear of the protective cushion 1a.

[0039] The front wall 14 is capable of being equipped with a tarpaulin 29 held by reversible attachment means 30. Such a tarpaulin 29 is capable of carrying an advertising message or a danger warning message.

[0040] The safety cushion 1 comprises the secondary cushion 1b which is intended to fill a gap between the post 2a and the rear wall 13 of the safety cushion 1. The secondary cushion 1b prevents the protective cushion 1a from moving backward or tilting depending on the pressure P exerted during the impact C.

[0041] Referring again to [Fig. 1], the secondary cushion 1b has a second height H2 which is of the order of 0.55 m, to within + / - 10%, which corresponds to an average height of a portion of the post 2a under the safety rail- rity 2b, thus allowing the secondary cushion 1b to be wedged under the safety rail 2b.

[0042] In [Fig. 4], the secondary cushion 1b has a second length L2 of 2 m, to within + / - 10%, which corresponds to a length of the safety rail 2b and which allows the secondary cushion 1b to be wedged between the posts 2a, the usual spacing of which is of the order of 2 m, to within + / - 10%.

[0043] The secondary cushion 1b comprises two chambers 31, 32. A first, upper chamber 31 is provided with a means 33 for inflating the first chamber 31. A second, lower chamber 32 is equipped with a means for admitting a fluid 34 so that it can be filled with such a fluid, such as water, air or the like, in order to serve as ballast for the secondary cushion 1b and to hold the protective cushion 1a.

[0044] It is noted that the protective cushion 1a is equipped with straps 35 for holding the protective cushion against the safety barrier 2.

[0045] It is also noted that the protective cushion 1a is provided with connectors 36 allowing an airflow junction between two adjacent protective cushions 1a.

[0046] All of these provisions are such that the installation of such a safety cushion 1 on a relatively ordinary safety barrier 2 is simple and quick.

[0047] Finally, it is noted that the safety cushion 1 is equipped with a housing 37 which includes a location sensor 38 in connection with a geolocation system to facilitate location, installation and uninstallation of the safety cushion 1.

Claims

Claims

1. Safety airbag (1) comprising a protective airbag (1a) containing a pressurized gas which is delimited by a lower wall (11), an upper wall (12), a rear wall (13), a front wall (14) and side walls (15) and which comprises a rear compartment (41), a front compartment (42) and at least one intermediate compartment (43) interposed between the rear compartment (41) and the front compartment (42), two adjacent compartments (41, 42, 43) being separated from each other by an internal wall (23), the internal wall (23) being parallel to the rear wall (13) and the front wall (14),characterized in that the rear compartment (41) houses a relief pocket (26) which is equipped with at least one admission valve (27) for gas coming from the rear compartment (41) and at least one discharge valve (28) allowing gas to be discharged from the relief pocket (26) to an environment outside the protective cushion (la).,

2. Safety cushion (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the intermediate compartment (43) is provided with a valve (25) for discharging gas towards the external environment of the protective cushion (la).

3. Safety cushion (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rear compartment (41) and the intermediate compartment (43) are sealed between them.

4. Safety airbag (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rear compartment (41) and the intermediate compartment (43) are equipped with a gas inlet valve (24).

5. Safety cushion (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the safety cushion (1) comprises a secondary cushion (1b) which adjoins the rear wall (13) of the protective cushion (1a).

6. Safety cushion (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the secondary cushion (1b) comprises a first chamber (31) provided with a means (33) for inflating the first chamber (31) and a second chamber (32) equipped with a means for admitting a fluid (34) inside the second chamber (32).

7. Assembly (1, 2) comprising a safety barrier (2) and a safety cushion (1) according to any one of the preceding claims.

8. Assembly (1, 2) according to claim 7 comprising a safety cushion according to claim 5, characterized in that the safety barrier (2) is shaped as a safety barrier comprising a post (2a) and a safety rail (2b) against which the rear wall (13) of the protective cushion (1a) is in contact, the secondary cushion (1b) being interposed between the protective cushion (1a) and the safety barrier (2).

Images