Wearable impact protection airbag

Abstract

A wearable impact protection airbag (1) is disclosed. The airbag comprises a first and second fabric layer (8, 9) that are superimposed and interconnected, defining an inflatable chamber (11) for receiving inflated air between them, and is configured to be worn around the user's torso (3) such that when in use, one of the layers (9) defines the body side of the airbag (1) that covers adjacent to at least a portion of the user's torso (3), and the other of the layers (8) defines the outside of the airbag (1). An actuator (12) is selectively operable to deflate and inflate the airbag (1) between i) an uninflated, unprotected state and ii) an inflated, protected state. The actuator (12) is configured to provide and maintain a sustained inflation pressure within the inflatable chamber (11) in the inflated, protected state in order to provide impact protection to the user's torso (3) throughout the period of wear by the user (2).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a wearable impact protection airbag, particularly (but not exclusively) to a wearable impact protection airbag suitable for use by a passenger of a powered two-wheeler (PTW) vehicle such as a motorcycle or a scooter.

Background Art

[0002] Inflatable airbag devices are well known in the automotive industry. For a long time, airbags have been provided inside vehicles to protect passengers during accidents such as collisions. Such airbags are deployed by rapid inflation when the vehicle is about to collide or is colliding, to mitigate the impact of the vehicle passenger against vehicle elements such as the steering wheel or the dashboard. Over time, it has become common to provide additional airbags at various positions throughout the automobile cabin to provide additional or improved protection in the case of various types of accidents, such as rollover accidents and oblique impact collisions. For example, it is currently common to provide automobiles with airbags in the form of inflatable curtains, side airbags, knee airbags, and airbags of different configurations for rear seat passengers. Some vehicles further include airbags configured to deploy across an external portion of the vehicle to protect pedestrians or so-called vulnerable road users (VRUs), such as cyclists or motorcycle drivers, in case they are hit by the vehicle during an accident.

[0003] Furthermore, it has been proposed to provide wearable impact protection devices intended to provide specific protection to designated body parts by positioning an inflatable protective device near those specific body parts to be protected. By wearing an inflatable impact protection device in place on the body, the device can be inflated when an accident is about to occur or is occurring, providing a cushioning effect to the designated body part to be protected. Such wearable devices are considered particularly beneficial for riders of so-called "motorized two-wheeled" vehicles (hereinafter referred to as PTWs), such as motorcycles or scooters, or even pedal bikes.

[0004] For example, it has been proposed to improve protection of the motorcyclist in the event of an accident by providing airbags inside motorcycle clothing, such as motorcycle jackets. In an exemplary configuration, clothing such as a motorcycle protective jacket typically has an airbag (for example, hidden inside the lining of the clothing) positioned in fluid communication with an inflator, such as a gas generator. The inflator is operably associated with a collision or impact sensor (which may be provided inside the clothing itself or alternatively on the motorcycle) configured to provide an activation signal to the inflator when an impending or actual collision or impact is detected, thereby activating and inflating the inflator, and thus deploying the airbag inside the clothing. As understood, the inflation of the airbag inside the clothing provides a cushioning effect to the part of the wearer's body to which the airbag is provided around or over. For example, a motorcycle jacket with an airbag protects the upper body of the motorcyclist wearing the jacket.

[0005] The key parameters of deployable airbag performance from the perspective of the cushioning effect provided are pressure and thickness, i.e., the peak internal gas pressure and maximum inflation thickness of the airbag achieved upon deployment. Generally, within certain limits, it is known that greater inflation thickness and greater inflation pressure improve airbag performance in that they provide effective protection. However, in certain cases of inflatable wearable devices, it has been found that it can be very difficult to accommodate airbags that achieve considerable thickness upon inflation, as the available space within wearable clothing (e.g., motorcycle jackets) is often very limited. As should be understood, airbags intended to inflate in response to an activation signal during use require rapid, and therefore aggressive, inflation and must therefore be made from appropriately robust fabrics to ensure that their structural integrity is maintained.

[0006] The limited space between the outermost skin of clothing and the wearer's body represents part of the problem in this context, as it limits the size to which an airbag can inflate between the wearer's body and the outermost skin of clothing. However, an airbag configured to achieve a relatively large thickness during very rapid inflation, while ensuring that the structural integrity of the airbag is maintained, will contain more structural material (typically woven fabric) and therefore will inevitably require more space, even when uninflated (i.e., before deployment), than an airbag configured to achieve a relatively small thickness. A large amount of airbag fabric attached to wearable clothing can make the clothing uncomfortable to wear for extended periods, particularly as may be necessary in the case of a motorcycle jacket, for example. A personal impact protection device that is uncomfortable to wear is disadvantageous because users may be unwilling to wear the device due to comfort concerns.

[0007] Other alternative forms of wearable personal protection devices have been proposed that do not suffer as much from the aforementioned problems. For example, it has been proposed to provide airbags in a initially folded and / or rolled package inside accessories such as backpacks, harness packs, or belt packs. While these devices may accommodate larger airbags with more structural material (typically woven fabric) than those found in motorcycle jackets, they may be considered cumbersome and inconvenient to wear. Furthermore, this type of device can be complex and therefore expensive to manufacture.

[0008] Because potential accident scenarios, including PTW, are wide-ranging, it can also be difficult to provide a configuration of such prior art that has a collision or impact sensor (typically comprising one or more accelerometers) capable of reliably detecting 100% of potentially harmful accidents. As understood, a wearable impact protection device configured to deploy only in response to an activation signal from a collision or impact sensor may therefore tend not to deploy in some types of accidents and thus may provide suboptimal impact protection to the user.

[0009] Another problem with conventional wearable impact protection devices, which deploy only in response to activation signals from collision or impact sensors, is that they must be discarded after deployment or repackaged very carefully to ensure future deployment.

[0010] This invention was devised in consideration of the above. [Overview of the project]

[0011] According to one aspect of the present invention, a wearable impact-protective airbag is provided, comprising a first and second overlapping and interconnected fabric layer defining an inflatable chamber for receiving inflation gas, the airbag being worn around the user's torso such that one of the layers covers adjacent to at least a portion of the user's torso when in use, defining the body side of the airbag, and the other of the layers defining the outside of the airbag, the airbag comprising an actuator selectively operable to deflate and inflate the airbag between i) an uninflated, unprotected state and ii) an inflated, protected state, the actuator being configured to provide and maintain a sustained inflation pressure within the inflatable chamber in the inflated, protected state in order to provide impact protection to the user's torso throughout the entire period of wear by the user.

[0012] The airbag of the present invention can find specific applications as a protective device for occupants of PTWs such as motorcycles or scooters. The present invention allows such users to pre-inflate the airbag to an inflated protective state (e.g., at a predetermined inflation pressure) before travel or riding, and maintain the inflated state during travel or riding. In this way, the airbag can provide effective impact protection to the occupant throughout the travel or riding without requiring rapid inflation during travel or riding in response to the detection of a potential or actual collision or accident. Thus, the airbag is always inflated during use and therefore always provides impact protection during use. The airbag can also improve protection from impacts that may not normally be detected by standard prior art configurations incorporating accelerometers or collision sensors.

[0013] It is suggested that the expansion pressure may be between 40 kPa and 120 kPa. In some embodiments, the expansion pressure may be 80 kPa.

[0014] Airbags can be conveniently deflated after use, for example at the end of travel or riding, and their size can be reduced for convenient storage or packing.

[0015] The actuator may be capable of operating alternately (and repeatedly) to i) inflate the airbag from an uninflated, unprotected state to an inflated, protected state, and ii) deflate the airbag from an inflated, protected state to an uninflated, unprotected state, and vice versa.

[0016] The actuator may be capable of inflating and deflating the airbag between an uninflated, unprotected state and an inflated, protected state while the airbag is being worn by the user, and the airbag may be configured such that in both the uninflated, unprotected state and the inflated, protected state, the body side covers an equivalent area of ​​the wearer's torso. This may provide a less expensive and more convenient wearable airbag compared to conventional configurations typically configured to inflate and deploy and / or unwind aggressively and rapidly from an initially tightly packaged state in response to an activation signal from an accelerometer or collision sensor.

[0017] Optionally, the airbag is configured such that, in its inflated protective state, it does not cover the wearer's torso as much as it does in its uninflated, unprotected state. This allows the airbag to have a simpler structure than conventional designs, and therefore reduces manufacturing costs.

[0018] Conveniently, the inflatable chamber may comprise at least two fluidly interconnected main inflatable chambers, one of which is configured to define a front inflatable panel of an airbag configured to cover the front region of the wearer's torso when in use, and the other chamber is configured to define a rear inflatable panel of an airbag configured to cover the rear region of the wearer's torso when in use.

[0019] In some embodiments, the wearable impact protection airbag may further comprise a non-inflatable, rigid, or elastically deformable impact protection panel fixed to the outside of the rear inflatable panel.

[0020] It is preferable that the airbag be provided in the form of a harness, vest, or jacket.

[0021] Advantageously, the actuator may be manually operated by the user to inflate the airbag to the inflated protective state, and may also be manually operated by the user to deflate the airbag to the deflated unprotected state.

[0022] In some embodiments, the actuator may include a hand pump device that can operate to guide expanded air into an inflatable chamber to inflate the airbag to the inflatable protective state. In such embodiments, the hand pump may be provided as an integral feature of the airbag so as to be worn by the user when in use, or it may be located outside the airbag and be fluidly connectable to the airbag to facilitate inflation before use.

[0023] In some preferred embodiments, the actuator may include an electric compressor that can be operated to guide the expansion gas into the inflatable chamber to inflate the airbag to the inflatable protective state. In such embodiments, the compressor may be provided as an integral feature of the airbag so as to be worn by the user when in use, or it may be located outside the airbag and be fluidly connectable to the airbag to facilitate inflation before use.

[0024] Optionally, in some embodiments, the compressor may be provided in combination with a pressure sensor and a controller. The pressure sensor may be configured to measure the expansion pressure in the inflatable chamber and provide a pressure signal representing the measured pressure to the controller. The controller may be configured to control the compressor in response to the pressure signal (i.e., in response to the pressure signal) to automatically adjust the expansion pressure of the inflatable chamber to achieve and substantially maintain a target expansion pressure. The target expansion pressure may be between 40 kPa and 120 kPa. In some embodiments, the target expansion pressure may be adjusted around a median of 80 kPa.

[0025] In some embodiments, the actuating device may further comprise a GPS receiver module provided on the airbag and configured to provide GPS data to the controller, and the controller uses the GPS data to calculate the moving speed of the airbag in use and automatically adjusts the target inflation pressure in response to the calculated speed, increasing the target inflation pressure in response to an increase in speed and decreasing the target inflation pressure in response to a decrease in speed.

[0026] Embodiments are envisioned in which the actuating device further comprises an accelerometer provided on the airbag, and the controller is configured to automatically increase the target inflation pressure in response to receiving a signal from the accelerometer indicating that the airbag is undergoing acceleration or deceleration exceeding a predetermined threshold.

[0027] The wearable impact protection airbag may be provided in combination with a PTW having a battery, and in that case, the compressor may be configured to be powered by the battery of the vehicle. For example, the compressor may be electrically connectable to the vehicle battery in a releasable manner.

[0028] Alternatively or additionally, the compressor may be provided in combination with a battery provided within a compressor unit integral with the airbag such that the compressor is worn by the user when the airbag is in use.

[0029] In embodiments having the impact protection panel fixed to the outside of the rear inflatable panel of the airbag, the compressor unit may be attached to the impact protection panel.

[0030] The actuating device may comprise a manually operable valve operable between a closed state in which the inflatable chamber is sealed and an open state in which the inflatable chamber is vented, thereby contracting the airbag to the uninflated and unprotected state.

[0031] The actuator may include a pressure relief valve configured to vent the inflatable chamber (for example, automatically) in response to an expansion pressure exceeding a predetermined threshold. The predetermined threshold may be, for example, 40 kPa to 120 kPa.

[0032] Optionally, the actuator may include a pressure indicator configured to provide a user with an indication of the expansion pressure of the inflatable chamber. The pressure indicator may be a mechanical pressure indicator configured to provide a visual indication of the expansion pressure of the inflatable chamber. Alternatively, the pressure indicator may be an electrical pressure indicator operably associated with a pressure sensor configured to measure the expansion pressure in the inflatable chamber.

[0033] The pressure indicator may be configured to provide a visual indication of the inflation pressure of the inflatable chamber. Optionally, the pressure indicator may be configured to provide a tactile indication of the inflation pressure of the inflatable chamber. In some embodiments, the pressure indicator may be configured to provide an auditory indication of the inflation pressure of the inflatable chamber.

[0034] Each of the above-mentioned indications representing expansion pressure may include an indication of whether the expansion pressure is above or below a predetermined threshold.

[0035] In some embodiments, at least a portion of the actuator may be integrated with the airbag so that it is worn by the user when the airbag is deployed.

[0036] The present invention includes combinations of described embodiments and preferred features, except where such combinations are clearly unacceptable or explicitly avoided.

[0037] Those skilled in the art will understand that, except where mutually exclusive, any feature or parameter described in relation to any one of the above embodiments may be applied to any other embodiment. Furthermore, except where mutually exclusive, any feature or parameter described herein may be applied to any embodiment and / or combined with any other feature or parameter described herein. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0038] To make the present invention easier to understand and to allow for the understanding of its further features, embodiments of the present invention will be described here by reference to the accompanying drawings. [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a rear and right-side perspective view showing a user (i.e., a PTW occupant) wearing an impact-protective airbag provided in vest form according to the present invention, with the airbag shown in an uninflated, unprotected state. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a left-side perspective view showing the impact protection airbag of Figure 1 in an alternative inflated protection state. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a front and left-side perspective view showing the inflated impact protection airbag, also shown in Figure 2. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram showing a possible user interface system that includes a smartphone and a smartwatch. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a perspective view similar to Figure 3, but shows an alternative embodiment of an impact protection airbag having an integrated hand pump device for inflation. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0039] Next, aspects and embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the attached drawings. Further aspects and embodiments will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

[0040] Figure 1 shows a wearable impact protection airbag 1 in an uninflated state according to one embodiment of the present invention, worn by user 2. Figures 2 and 3 show the same airbag 1 in an inflated state. The particular airbag 1 shown is provided in the form of a vest worn around the user's torso 3 to provide impact protection to the user's torso 3. As is most clearly shown in Figure 2, user 2 is shown as the occupant of a PTW 4 in the form of a scooter. To be understood, occupant 2 is shown in a conventional PTW riding position, and is therefore seated on the saddle 5 of the PTW 4 and holding the handlebars 6 of the PTW 4 in a conventional manner.

[0041] As will be described later, the airbag 1 is configured to extend across the user's chest, shoulder, and back regions and includes a fastening device that includes an adjustable waist strap 7, which allows the front and rear regions of the airbag 1 to be pulled together around the sides of the user's torso 3 to ensure a snug and secure fit when the airbag 1 is worn. The waist strap 7 can be adjusted in length to accommodate users of various sizes (for example, by a simple hook-and-loop fastening device) in a manner known in itself. The waist strap 7 may be formed from flexible webbing.

[0042] The airbag 1 is formed from a first overlapping fabric layer 8 and a second overlapping fabric layer 9, which are interconnected by a peripheral seam 10 to define an inflatable chamber 11 for receiving inflation air from the actuator 12 between the fabric layers. Thus, the peripheral seam 10 defines the periphery of the inflatable chamber 11. As can be understood, in Figures 1 to 3, only one (outward-facing) fabric layer 8 is clearly visible because the other (inward-facing) layer 9 is hidden from the user's body (or clothing). When the airbag 1 is worn around the user's torso 3 as shown, the inward-facing layer 9 is positioned adjacent to and covers a portion of the user's torso, defining the body side of the airbag 1. Conversely, the outward-facing fabric layer 8 defines the outside of the airbag 1.

[0043] As most clearly shown in Figures 2 and 3, the inflatable chamber 11 of the airbag 1 is divided into a pair of fluidly interconnected inflatable chambers 13 and 14. One of the inflatable chambers 13 is configured to define the rear inflatable panel 15 of the airbag 1, which covers the rear region of the user's torso 3 when in use. The other inflatable chamber 14 is configured to define the front inflatable panel 16 of the airbag 1, which covers the front region of the user's torso 3 when in use. The front and rear inflatable panels 15 and 16 are interconnected by a pair of shoulder straps 17 defined by interconnected fabric layers 8 and 9 of the airbag 1. As shown in Figure 3, the inflatable chamber 13 defining the rear inflatable panel 15 is fluidly connected to the inflatable chamber 14 defining the front inflatable panel 16 via an inflatable conduit 18 formed along one of the shoulder straps 17 (on the user's right side as shown) and between the two fabric layers 8 and 9 of the shoulder strap 17. In a particular embodiment shown in the illustration, the inflatable chamber 13 defining the rear inflatable panel 15 includes an elongated, projecting inflatable shoulder portion 19 formed along the other shoulder strap 17, which terminates at a distance from the proximal region of the inflatable chamber 14 defining the front inflatable panel 16. In other embodiments, the rear inflatable panel 15 and the front inflatable panel 16 may be fluidically interconnected by a pair of inflatable conduits 18, each formed along their respective shoulder straps 17.

[0044] The airbag 1 shown in Figures 1 to 3 can be formed by so-called "one-piece weaving" technology, in which the threads of one fabric layer 8 are woven together with the threads of the other fabric layer 9 to define the peripheral seam 10. Therefore, the seam 10 can be woven into and integrated with the structure of the fabric layers 8 and 9.

[0045] As most clearly shown in Figure 1, the airbag 1 further comprises an impact protection panel 20 fixed to the outside of the rear inflatable panel 15 (i.e., defined by the outward-facing fabric layer 8). The impact protection panel 20 may be non-inflatable, substantially rigid, or elastically deformable, and is intended to function as a passive protector to provide improved impact protection to the vulnerable lower spine region of the user 2. The impact protection panel 20 may be formed from, for example, a suitable high-impact plastic material, elastomer material, or vulcanized rubber material. In some embodiments, the impact protection panel 20 may comprise a core plate formed from a suitable structural material as described above, which is envisioned to be surrounded by a softer sheath formed from a fabric such as neoprene.

[0046] In the illustrated embodiment, the actuator 12 is provided in the form of a substantially self-contained unit having a housing 21 attached to the impact protection panel 20. Thus, the actuator 12 is integrated with the airbag 1 so that it is worn by the user 2 when the airbag 1 is in use (i.e., when the airbag 1 is worn).

[0047] The actuator 12 can take on various different forms (some of which will be described in more detail below), but it is proposed that it be operable alternately (and manually) by the user 2 to i) inflate the airbag 1 from the uninflated, unprotected state shown in Figure 1 to the inflated, protected state shown in Figures 2 and 3, and ii) deflate the airbag 1 from the inflated, protected state shown in Figures 2 and 3 to the uninflated, unprotected state shown in Figure 1. In particular, the actuator 12 is configured to provide and maintain a sustained inflation pressure (e.g., 40 kPa to 120 kPa, optionally about 120 kPa) throughout the period of wear by the user 2. Thus, the user 2 can inflate the airbag 1 to the inflated, protected state shown in Figures 2 and 3 before moving or getting into a vehicle, and thereafter the airbag 1 remains substantially inflated in that protected state during movement or getting into a vehicle. At the end of travel or ride, user 2 can operate the actuator 12 to deflate airbag 1 to the uninflated, unprotected state shown in Figure 1, in which state airbag 1 occupies significantly less space, is more flexible, and can therefore be conveniently packaged or stored.

[0048] The actuator 12 is capable of inflating and deflating the airbag between the inflated and uninflated states while the airbag 1 is actually being worn by the user 2. Therefore, it is not necessary for the user to inflate the airbag 1 before wearing it, nor is it necessary to deflat the airbag 1 before removing it. Furthermore, as shown in the figures, the airbag 1 is not packaged in a tight package (e.g., not folded and / or rolled up) in its uninflated state. Therefore, the airbag 1 can be configured to have a somewhat compact configuration. In some embodiments, as shown in Figures 1 to 3, the airbag 1 is configured such that its body side (i.e., defined by the fabric layer 8 that faces inward when worn) covers an equivalent area of ​​the wearer's torso 3 in both the uninflated, unprotected state (shown in Figure 1) and the inflated, protected state (shown in Figures 2 and 3). In some such embodiments, it is proposed that the airbag may be configured such that its body side does not cover the wearer's torso 3 as much in the inflated protective state as it does in the uninflated unprotected state.

[0049] One embodiment of the actuator 12 will be described with particular reference to Figure 1.

[0050] In the illustrated embodiment, the actuator device 12 includes an electric compressor 22 electrically connected to a power source in the form of a rechargeable battery 23. Both the compressor 22 and the battery 23 are housed within the housing 21 and, in this embodiment, constitute a compressor unit. In some embodiments, the battery 23 may be removable from the compressor unit 21. Furthermore, other embodiments are conceivable in which the compressor unit 21 does not actually contain a battery at all. For example, the compressor unit 21 may instead be electrically and releasably connected to a battery supported by the PTW 4 (e.g., the PTW's ignition battery), thereby providing means for powering the compressor 22. In this way, the user 2 can electrically connect the compressor unit 21 to the PTW's battery (e.g., by appropriate electrical cables) before getting in or moving, and then disconnect the compressor unit 21 from the PTW. This type of arrangement allows for a reduction in the size of the compressor unit 21.

[0051] The compressor 22 has a first airflow port (not shown) located at the rear, and thus communicates directly with a plurality of combined air inlet / outlet openings 24 formed through the rearmost surface of the compressor unit 21. The compressor 22 also has a second airflow port 25 that communicates with an airflow passage extending from the compressor housing 21 through an opening (not shown) in the impact protection panel 20 and through aligned openings (also not shown) formed through a region beneath the outer-facing fabric layer 8 of the rear inflatable panel 15. Thus, the compressor 22 is located in an effective airflow passage extending between the atmosphere outside the compressor housing 21 and the inflatable chamber 11 in the airbag 1 via the inlet / outlet openings 24 and the aligned openings provided through the impact protection panel 20 and the outer-facing fabric layer 8.

[0052] The compressor 22 has a suitable user-operable control unit through which the user can operate the compressor to i) guide expanding air from the atmosphere outside the airbag 1 through the inlet / outlet opening 24 of the housing 21 into the inflatable chamber 11 of the airbag 1, thereby inflating the airbag to the inflatable protected state shown in Figures 2 and 3, and ii) guide expanding air in the opposite direction, from the inflatable chamber 11 inside the airbag through the inlet / outlet opening 24 into the atmosphere. As understood, when the compressor 22 is operated to guide expanding air from the inflatable chamber 11 into the atmosphere, the compressor 22 effectively exhausts the inflatable chamber 11 at least partially, thereby significantly reducing the thickness of the airbag 1.

[0053] In addition to the compressor device described above, the airbag 1 may optionally include a pressure relief valve 26 as part of the actuator. The pressure relief valve 26 may be provided through an opening 27 formed in one of the fabric layers 8, 9 of the airbag 1, as shown in Figure 1, or through a region of the peripheral seam 10. The pressure relief valve 26 may be configured to automatically (e.g., mechanically, in a known manner) ventilate the inflatable chamber 11 to the atmosphere in response to an inflation pressure exceeding a predetermined threshold, which may be, for example, a threshold in the range of 40 kPa to 120 kPa. In some embodiments, the pressure relief valve 26 may also be manually operable, thereby allowing the user 2 to rapidly ventilate the inflatable chamber 11 and deflate the airbag 1 (at least partially), rather than relying (solely) on the operation of the compressor 22 as described above.

[0054] The compressor unit 21 may also include a controller (such as an electronic control unit) and a pressure sensor arranged and configured to measure the inflation pressure in the inflatable chamber 11 of the airbag 1 and provide the controller with a pressure signal representing it.

[0055] The illustrated compressor unit 21 also carries a primary user control panel 28. As most clearly shown in Figure 3, a secondary user control panel 29 may also be provided on the front inflatable panel 16 of the airbag 1. It is assumed that the primary and secondary user control panels 28, 29 may be identical to each other. Both control panels 28, 29 are electrically connected to a controller in the compressor unit 21. In the case of the secondary control panel 29 located away from the compressor unit 21, this electrical connection may be provided by a flexible wire 30 extending through the peripheral seam 10 of the airbag along one of the shoulder straps 17, as shown in Figure 3.

[0056] Each user control panel 28, 29 has a main activation button 31 that can be alternately operated by user 2 to inflate airbag 1 to the inflated protective state (when the airbag is initially deflated) as shown in Figures 2 and 3, and to deflate airbag 1 to the uninflated unprotected state (when the airbag is initially inflated) as shown in Figure 1.

[0057] In addition to the main operating button 31, each user control panel 28, 29 also includes its respective pressure indicator 32. In the particular embodiment shown, each pressure indicator 32 takes the form of a separate row of LEDs and is therefore configured to provide a visual indication of the inflation pressure of the inflatable chamber 11 in response to a pressure signal provided by a pressure sensor, under the control of the controller. Alternatively or additionally, each pressure indicator 32 may be configured to provide a tactile indication of the inflation pressure of the inflatable chamber 11 (e.g., by providing one or more small eccentric motors) or an auditory indication (e.g., by providing one or more small speakers). In some embodiments, it is conceivable that the pressure indicator 32 may be configured to provide the user with an indication of whether the measured inflation pressure of the inflatable chamber 11 is above or below a predetermined threshold. As described above, the predetermined threshold may be in the range of 40 kPa to 120 kPa, and in some embodiments, it may optionally be about 80 kPa.

[0058] In some embodiments, the controller is configured to actively control the compressor 22 in response to (i.e., in response to) a pressure signal provided by a pressure sensor, thereby automatically adjusting the inflation pressure of the inflatable chamber 11 to achieve and substantially maintain a target inflation pressure. A predetermined threshold may be in the range of 40 kPa to 120 kPa, and in some embodiments, it may optionally be about 80 kPa. In such embodiments, once the inflatable chamber 11 is substantially inflated to the inflation protection state, the controller actively controls the compressor 22 to: i) in response to detection that the inflation pressure is below a target value, guide the inflation air from the atmosphere outside the airbag 1 through the inlet / outlet opening 24 in the housing 21 into the inflatable chamber 11 of the airbag 1, thereby restoring the target inflation pressure; and ii) in response to detection that the inflation pressure is above a target value, guide the inflation air in the opposite direction from the inflatable chamber 11 inside the airbag through the inlet / outlet opening 24 into the atmosphere, thereby restoring the target inflation pressure.

[0059] Further active control embodiments are also proposed, in which the compressor unit 21 may further comprise a GPS receiver module configured to provide GPS data to the controller. In such embodiments, the controller is configured to use the GPS data to calculate the speed of the airbag 1 in use (and thus representing the speed of the PTW 4) and to automatically adjust the target inflation pressure in response to the calculated speed, i) increasing the target inflation pressure in response to an increase in speed, and ii) decreasing the target inflation pressure in response to a decrease in speed. In this way, the compressor 22 may be actively controlled to increase the inflation pressure of the inflatable chamber 11 during periods of relatively high speed during riding or movement (thereby increasing the stiffness of the airbag 1 in the inflated protected state) and to decrease or restore the inflation pressure to a middle level during periods of low speed (thereby decreasing the stiffness of the airbag 1 in the inflated protected state). This type of control allows airbag 1 to inflate to a higher inflation pressure during periods of relatively high risk (i.e., high speed) of riding or moving, and to a lower inflation pressure at other times, which may be more comfortable for user 2 wearing airbag 1.

[0060] In a further embodiment, the GPS receiver may be complemented or replaced by an accelerometer configured to provide an acceleration signal to the controller. In such an embodiment, the controller is configured to automatically increase the target inflation pressure in response to the reception of a signal from the accelerometer indicating acceleration or deceleration exceeding a predetermined threshold (which may be considered to represent a potential collision). In this way, the compressor 22 may be actively controlled to increase the inflation pressure of the inflatable chamber 11 in direct response to the detection of a potentially harmful collision, thereby increasing the stiffness of the airbag 1 in the inflated protected state and thus increasing the level of impact protection provided to the user 2 in such a situation.

[0061] Considering Figure 4, the compressor unit 21 may be configured for wireless communication (e.g., via Bluetooth®, Wi-Fi, or other short-range wireless communication protocols) with user devices such as smartphones 33 and / or smartwatches 34, running software applications ("apps") 35, 36 configured to facilitate user interaction with the airbag actuator 12.

[0062] As a pure example, the illustrated smartphone 33 is shown running an application 35 that provides user 2 with various icons indicating system status information, including connection status 36 (i.e., between smartphone 33 and compressor unit 21), current inflation status 37 of airbag 1 (e.g., "Ready to Inflate" indicating that the airbag is not currently inflated, or alternatively, "Inflated" indicating that airbag 1 is inflated), and battery charge level 38 (i.e., of the battery 23 supplying power to the compressor 22). Furthermore, the app 35 displays various icons indicating operation buttons, and when pressed, the app selects different operating modes for the compressor unit 21, including, for example, "speed adaptive mode" 39 (which controls the inflation pressure of the airbag 1 according to the speed, as described above), "performance mode" 40 (which controls the inflation pressure of the airbag 1 according to the acceleration signal from the accelerometer, as described above), "city" mode 41 (which can set the target inflation pressure to a relatively low level), "highway" mode 42 (which can set the target inflation pressure to a relatively high level), and "power saving" mode 43 (which can disable active control of the compressor 22 and simply maintain the central target inflation pressure).

[0063] The smartphone app 35 further displays an icon representing the main activation button 44, which the user can use to trigger the inflation and deflation of the airbag 1. In the state shown in Figure 4, the activation button icon 44 is shown to represent the "pressurization" function, which can be operated to trigger the compressor 22 to inflate the airbag 1. If the airbag 1 is already in an inflated protective state, the activation button icon 44 instead represents the "decompression" function, which can be operated to deflate the airbag 1.

[0064] The smartwatch app 36 may replicate the functions and icons of the smartphone app 35 described above, and therefore may provide the same control functions for the operation of the compressor unit 21 without the smartphone 33. However, in the configuration shown in Figure 4, the smartwatch app 36 provides limited functionality and presents only the secondary actuation button icon 44' to the user 2 in order to replicate the function of the actuation button icon 44 of the smartwatch app 36. In this type of configuration, it is assumed that the smartwatch app 36 will function in combination with the smartphone app 35.

[0065] The present invention has been described above with particular reference to various embodiments having an actuator 12 equipped with an electric compressor 22, but it should be understood that this is not considered essential. For example, Figure 5 shows an alternative embodiment of the airbag 1, which instead includes a manually operated hand pump 45, through which the user 2 can manually pump inflation air into the inflatable chamber 11 to inflate the airbag 1. In such an embodiment, it is assumed that the hand pump 45 is located on the airbag 1 in a position convenient for the user to reach while wearing the airbag 1. Accordingly, in the illustrated embodiment, the hand pump 45 is shown positioned in the edge region of the front inflatable panel 16 of the airbag 1.

[0066] In embodiments equipped with a manually operated hand pump 45, the user 2 can manually vent the inflation chamber 11 using the manually operated pressure relief valve 26 described above, thereby deflating the airbag 1. As shown in Figure 5, in such embodiments, it is proposed that, while wearing the airbag 1, the valve 26 be moved in combination with the hand pump 45 to the front inflatable panel 16 of the airbag 1 to allow for more convenient operation by the user.

[0067] Although the present invention has been described above with particular reference to embodiments provided in the form of a vest worn around the user's torso 3, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to such configurations of the airbag. For example, alternative embodiments are envisioned in which the airbag may be provided in the form of a harness, comprising, for example, an airbag that, when worn, extends downwards to each side of the front of the user's torso and around the user's neck, but not necessarily extending across the user's back. Alternative embodiments are also envisioned in which the airbag may be provided as part of a protective jacket, such as a motorcycle jacket, and is provided, for example, within the structure of the jacket, between the inner lining and the outer skin.

[0068] Features disclosed in the above description or in the following claims or accompanying drawings, relating to means for performing a disclosed function in a particular form or to methods or processes for obtaining the disclosed results as appropriate, may be used individually or in any combination of such features to realize the present invention in its various forms.

[0069] While the present invention has been described in relation to the exemplary embodiments described above, many equivalent modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art, given this disclosure. Therefore, the exemplary embodiments of the present invention described above are illustrative and not limiting. Various modifications to the described embodiments can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0070] To avoid any doubt, any theoretical explanations provided herein are provided for the purpose of improving the reader's understanding. The inventors do not wish to be bound by any of these theoretical explanations.

[0071] Any section headings used herein are for structural purposes only and should not be construed as limiting the subject matter described herein.

[0072] Throughout this Specified Specification, including the following claims, unless otherwise interpreted in context, the words “have,” “comprise,” and “include,” as well as variations such as “having,” “comprises,” “comprising,” and “including,” are understood to mean including the integer or step or group of integers or steps described, but not to mean excluding any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

[0073] It should be noted that, as used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural nouns unless the context should otherwise indicate otherwise. Ranges may be expressed herein as “about” one particular value and / or “about” another particular value. Where such ranges are expressed, an alternative embodiment includes one particular value and / or another particular value. Similarly, where a value is expressed as an approximation by the use of the antecedent “about,” it will be understood that a particular value forms an alternative embodiment. The term “about” in relation to numerical values ​​is optional and means, for example, + / - 10%.

[0074] The terms “preferred” and “preferred” are used herein to refer to embodiments of the invention that may offer particular benefits under certain circumstances. However, it should be understood that other embodiments may also be preferred under the same or different circumstances. Therefore, the enumeration of one or more preferred embodiments does not mean or imply that other embodiments are unhelpful, nor is it intended to exclude other embodiments from the scope of this disclosure or from the claims.

Claims

1. A wearable impact-protective airbag (1) comprising a first and second fabric layer (8, 9) that are superimposed and interconnected, defining an inflatable chamber (11) for receiving inflated air between them, wherein one of the layers (9) defines the body side of the airbag (1) that covers adjacent to at least a portion of the user's torso (3) when in use, and the other layer (8) defines the outside of the airbag (1), and comprising an actuator (12) that is selectively operable to deflate and inflate the airbag (1) between i) an uninflated, unprotected state and ii) an inflated, protected state, wherein the actuator (12) is configured to provide and maintain a sustained inflation pressure within the inflatable chamber (11) to provide impact protection to the user's torso (3) throughout the entire period of wear by the user (2).

2. The wearable impact-protective airbag (1) according to claim 1, wherein the actuator (12) is capable of alternately operating to i) inflate the airbag (1) from the uninflated unprotected state to the inflated protected state, and ii) deflate the airbag (1) from the inflated protected state to the uninflated unprotected state.

3. The wearable impact-protective airbag (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the actuator (12) is operable to inflate and deflate the airbag (1) between the uninflated unprotected state and the inflated protected state while the airbag (1) is being worn by a user, and the airbag (1) is configured such that in both the uninflated unprotected state and the inflated protected state, the body side covers an equivalent area of ​​the wearer's torso.

4. The wearable impact-protective airbag (1) according to claim 3, wherein the airbag (1) is configured such that the body-side portion, in the inflated protective state, covers less of the user's torso (3) than in the uninflated non-protective state.

5. The wearable impact protection airbag (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the inflatable chamber (11) comprises at least two fluidly interconnected inflatable chambers (13, 14), one of the chambers (14) configured to define a front inflatable panel (16) of the airbag (1) configured to cover the front region of the user's torso (3) when in use, and the other of the chambers (13) configured to define a rear inflatable panel (15) of the airbag (1) configured to cover the rear region of the user's torso (3) when in use.

6. The wearable impact protection airbag (1) according to claim 5, further comprising a non-inflatable, rigid or elastically deformable impact protection panel (20) fixed to the outside of the rear inflatable panel (15).

7. A wearable impact-protective airbag (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, provided in the form of a harness, vest, or jacket.

8. The wearable impact-protective airbag (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the actuator (12) is manually operable by a user (2) to inflate the airbag (1) to the inflated protective state, and is manually operable by a user (2) to deflate the airbag (1) to the uninflated unprotective state.

9. The wearable impact-protective airbag (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the actuator (12) comprises an electric compressor (22) that is operable to direct expanded air into the inflatable chamber (11) in order to inflate the airbag (1) to the expanded protective state.

10. The wearable impact protection airbag (1) according to claim 9, wherein the compressor (22) is provided in combination with a pressure sensor and a controller, the pressure sensor is configured to measure the inflation pressure in the inflatable chamber (11) and provide a pressure signal representing it to the controller, and the controller is configured to control the compressor (22) in response to the pressure signal to automatically adjust the inflation pressure of the inflatable chamber (11) to achieve and substantially maintain a target inflation pressure.

11. The actuator (12) further comprises a GPS receiver module provided on the airbag (1) and configured to provide GPS data to the controller, wherein the controller is configured to use the GPS data to calculate the speed of movement of the airbag (1) in use, and to automatically adjust the target inflation pressure in response to the calculated speed, increasing the target inflation pressure in response to an increase in speed and decreasing the target inflation pressure in response to a decrease in speed, according to claim 10.

12. The wearable impact protection airbag (1) according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the actuator (12) further comprises an accelerometer provided in the airbag (1), and the controller is configured to automatically increase the target inflation pressure in response to receiving a signal from the accelerometer indicating that the airbag (1) is experiencing acceleration or deceleration exceeding a predetermined threshold.

13. A wearable impact-protective airbag (1) according to any one of claims 9 to 12, provided in combination with a powered two-wheeled vehicle (4) having a battery, wherein the compressor (22) is configured to be powered by the battery of the vehicle (4).

14. The wearable impact protection airbag (1) according to any one of claims 9 to 12, wherein the compressor (22) is provided in combination with a battery (23) within a compressor unit (21) integrated with the airbag (1) so as to be worn by a user (2) when the airbag (1) is in use.

15. At least a portion of the actuator (12) is integrated with the airbag (1) so as to be worn by a user (2) when the airbag (1) is in use, according to any one of claims 1 to 14.

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