Wearable Protective Equipment

Abstract

The present invention relates to a wearable protective device (10) including at least one inflatable member (20) designed to move between a contracted, at least partially folded or wound state and an expanded, deployed or unrolled state. In the at least partially folded or wound state, the at least one inflatable member (20) is contained within a housing (30) provided within the wearable protective device (10). In accordance with the present invention, in the deployed or unrolled state, the at least one inflatable member (20) remains within the confines of the housing (30).

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a wearable protective device, and more particularly to a wearable protective device comprising an expandable member.

[0002] More specifically, the present invention relates to a wearable protective equipment with an inflatable member suitable for use in any field where effective protection against impacts and / or falls is required, for example, the wearable protective equipment being suitable for being worn by motorcyclists, cyclists or skiers.

[0003] For clarity, reference is made herein in a non-limiting manner to wearable protective gear suitable for being worn by a motorcyclist. [Background technology]

[0004] Wearable protective equipment comprising one or more inflatable members, also referred to as "airbags," is well known in the art.

[0005] Typically, during normal use, the inflatable member is arranged in a sheet-like, deflated or resting configuration within the interior of the wearable protective device.

[0006] The wearable protective equipment can be a protective garment made of an abrasion-resistant material such as leather. In this case, the inflatable member is typically placed between an outer and an inner layer of the garment. Alternatively, the wearable protective equipment can be an undergarment suitable for use in combination with a further protective garment. In this case, the inflatable member is placed between two layers of the undergarment, which are not necessarily made of an abrasion-resistant material.

[0007] The inflatable member is designed to be activated only in emergency situations. Typically, the inflatable member is in fluid communication with an inflation device. The inflation device is adapted to introduce a predetermined amount of inflation fluid, for example compressed gas, into the inflatable bag so as to inflate and thus expand the inflatable member. The release of the inflation fluid can be controlled by a mechanical or electronic system. Typically, the inflatable member is made of a woven fabric or membrane with low elasticity so as to withstand the pressure exerted by the inflation fluid when inflated. Due to the low elasticity, the inflatable member has, in the rest position, a shape that closely resembles the shape of the part of the body that it has to cover / protect when inflated.

[0008] Known wearable protective devices with inflatable members have several drawbacks, mainly related to the inflatable member.

[0009] In fact, the inflatable member is made of a fabric or film with low elasticity and has a shape that covers the entire body part to be protected, so the stiffness applied to the wearable protective equipment can be uncomfortable for the motorcyclist. Even if the wearable protective equipment is made of a breathable fabric, the inflatable member inevitably acts as a barrier to prevent air from passing through, which leads to overheating of the user's body or reduced sweating.

[0010] Protective garments are also known that include inflatable members that are folded in a rest position to save space within the garment. Such types of garments are disclosed, for example, in WO 2008 / 044222 and WO 2009 / 047733. These garments may have improved breathability because the inflatable members do not act as a barrier and are contained within a containment means that occupies less space within the garment. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0011] However, in order to occupy as little space as possible inside the garment, the inflatable member is fully folded or rolled up. As a result, in the folded state, the inflatable airbag assumes a thick tubular or rolled shape that may affect the comfort of the wearer. Considering the fact that the folded inflatable member is usually placed on the neck or shoulders of the user to allow proper deployment of the inflatable member upon activation, the folded airbag may impede the movement of the wearer's head and arms. At the same time, the bulging of the inflatable member in the folded state may also affect the aerodynamic characteristics of the wearable protective equipment to which it is attached. Also, a fully folded inflatable member may slow down the deployment of the inflatable member in the event of a danger.

[0012] Furthermore, the folded expandable member is designed to be deployed outside the garment. In fact, the containment means (e.g., a pocket or area of ​​the garment) is sealed by a seam using a thread with a controlled breaking tension. Activation of the inflation device causes the expandable member to deploy, break the seam with the controlled breaking tension, and come out of the garment. Also, such an arrangement of the expandable member has several drawbacks.

[0013] First, the inflated inflatable member is exposed to the external environment and may burst upon direct contact with an obstacle or road surface, affecting the safety of the wearer. In addition, the garment is complicated to manufacture because a containment means with breakable seams is provided along its outer surface to allow the outward deployment of the inflatable bag. Thus, the manufacture of the garment is costly and time-consuming. Furthermore, once inflated, the inflatable member becomes balloon-like and starts to roll after impact with an obstacle or the ground, increasing the possibility of injury. At the same time, there is a risk that the driver will lose control of the vehicle if it is activated by a false positive. Finally, after the inflatable member is activated, even if the wearer is not damaged, the wearer must stop riding because the garment cannot be reused until it is repaired by the manufacturer. [Means for solving the problem]

[0014] It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a wearable protective gear that is configured to overcome or at least reduce the aforementioned drawbacks associated with known wearable airbag devices.

[0015] More specifically, the primary objective of the present invention is to provide a wearable protective gear that includes an inflatable member and is configured to allow airflow through the gear, thereby improving breathability and comfort without affecting the level of safety provided to the wearer.

[0016] Another object of the present invention is to provide a wearable protective device with an inflatable member that is suitable for folding or rolling up without affecting the aerodynamics of the wearable protective device.

[0017] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a wearable protective device with an inflatable member that is suitable for manufacturing at a competitive cost.

[0018] It is another object of the present invention to provide a wearable protective device having an expandable member, the protective device being configured to control the final shape of the expandable member upon expansion.

[0019] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a wearable protective device with an inflatable member that is configured to ensure proper placement of the inflatable member even in an inflated state.

[0020] Another object of the present invention is to provide a wearable protective device with an inflatable member that is suitable for multiple uses and provides the same level of safety on each subsequent actuation.

[0021] Finally, it is an object of the present invention to provide a wearable protective device with an inflatable member that requires minimal intervention by the user or customer service after inflation.

[0022] The above-mentioned objects, as well as other objects that will be better understood in the following description, are achieved by a wearable protective equipment according to claim 1.

[0023] The advantages and characteristic features of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of preferred and non-exclusive embodiments of the wearable protective equipment, which refers to the accompanying drawings. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0024] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a schematic rear view of the wearable protective equipment according to the present invention when worn by a user. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a particular area of ​​FIG. 1 identified by the letter A; [Figure 2A] 2 is a side cross-sectional view of an inflatable member designed to be attached to the wearable protective device of FIG. 1 in a rest state. FIG. [Figure 2B] FIG. 2B is a view similar to FIG. 2A, but with the expandable member in an actuated state. [Figure 2C] 2B is a view similar to FIG. 2A, showing a different arrangement of the expandable member. [Figure 2D] 2B is a view similar to FIG. 2A, showing a different arrangement of the expandable member. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 according to a different embodiment. [Figure 3A] 2A to 2C are schematic diagrams showing stages of expansion of the expandable member of the wearable protective equipment of FIG. 1. [Figure 3B] 2A to 2C are schematic diagrams showing stages of expansion of the expandable member of the wearable protective equipment of FIG. 1. [Figure 3C] 2A to 2C are schematic diagrams showing stages of expansion of the expandable member of the wearable protective equipment of FIG. 1. [Figure 3D] 2A to 2C are schematic diagrams showing stages of expansion of the expandable member of the wearable protective equipment of FIG. 1. [Figure 4] 2 is a schematic front view, with a portion in cross section, of the wearable protective device of FIG. 1 in a first operating state. FIG. [Diagram 5]5 is a schematic rear view of the wearable protective equipment of FIG. 4 with a portion in section. FIG. [Figure 6] 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4, but showing the wearable protective device in a second operating state. [Figure 7] 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5, but showing the wearable protective device in a second operating state. [Figure 8] 5 is a view corresponding to FIG. 4 and relating to a second embodiment of the wearable protective equipment according to the present invention. FIG. [Figure 9] 6 is a view corresponding to FIG. 5 and relating to a second embodiment of the wearable protective equipment according to the present invention. FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 7 is a view corresponding to FIG. 6 and relating to a second embodiment of the wearable protective equipment according to the present invention. [Figure 11] 8 is a view corresponding to FIG. 7 and relating to a second embodiment of the wearable protective equipment according to the present invention. FIG. [Figure 12] FIG. 13 is a schematic front view, partially in cross section, of a further embodiment of a wearable protective device according to the present invention. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a schematic enlarged view of the particular area of ​​FIG. 12 identified with the letter B. [Figure 14] 14 is a view similar to FIG. 13, but showing the expandable member in a second actuated state. [Figure 15] FIG. 13 is a schematic rear view, partially in cross section, of a further embodiment of the wearable protective equipment according to the present invention. [Figure 16] 16 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along the line XVI-XVI in FIG. 15. [Figure 17] 15, showing a different embodiment of a wearable protective device according to the present invention. FIG. [Figure 18] 15, showing a different embodiment of a wearable protective device according to the present invention. FIG. [Figure 19] FIG. 1 is a schematic front view, partially in cross section, of a different embodiment of a wearable protective device according to the present invention. [Figure 20] FIG. 20 is a schematic enlarged view of the particular area of ​​FIG. 19 identified with the letter C. [Figure 21]21 is a view similar to FIG. 20, but showing the expandable member in a second actuated state. [Figure 22] FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of a wearable protective device according to the present invention, with the inflatable member in a deployed state. [Diagram 23] FIG. 23 is a schematic enlarged view of the particular area of ​​FIG. 22 identified by the letter D. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0025] 1, 4 to 12, 15, 17 to 19 and 22, an example of a wearable protective device according to the present invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 10.

[0026] The wearable protective equipment 10 may be a garment, such as a jacket or suit, or may be an undergarment suitable for use in combination with an outer protective garment. In a further embodiment, the wearable protective equipment 10 may be a harness designed to be worn over or under additional clothing.

[0027] The wearable protective equipment 10 includes at least one inflatable member 20. The inflatable member 20 is designed to be inflated with a fluid, such as air or gas, to inflate to protect a wearer of the wearable protective equipment 10 against impacts, falls or slips. Preferably, the inflatable member 20 has a bag-like shape.

[0028] Advantageously, expandable member 20 includes a first side 21 and a second side 22 joined to one another along a periphery of expandable member 20 to define an expandable volume V (see, e.g., FIGS. 2A-2D). First side 21 and second side 22 of expandable member 20 may be sewn together around their peripheries, as is well known in the art.

[0029] Alternatively, the inflatable member 20 can be manufactured by a single weaving operation, for example using a Jacquard loom, which advantageously makes it possible to obtain a so-called one-piece woven (OPW) airbag formed by two fabric layers 21 and 22 joined at the periphery by a joint.

[0030] Preferably, the expandable member 20 is provided with one or more internal tethers 40 (see, e.g., FIGS. 2A and 2B) connecting the first side 21 and the second side 22 of the expandable member 20 to limit the distance between the first side 21 and the second side 22 of the expandable member 20 upon expansion. The tethers allow for control of the final shape of the expandable member 20 upon expansion.

[0031] In another embodiment, the expandable member 20 can be provided with an internal seam (not shown in the accompanying drawings) connecting the first side 21 and the second side 22 of the expandable member 20 to form a non-expandable zone within the expandable member 20.

[0032] The expandable member 20 is designed to be transitionable between a contracted, at least partially folded or rolled state (see, e.g., Figures 4-5, 8-9, 12, 15, 17, 18 and 19) and an expanded, unfolded or unrolled state (see, e.g., Figures 6-7 and 10-11).

[0033] In an at least partially folded or rolled state, the expandable member 20 is contained within a housing 30 provided within the wearable protective device 10.

[0034] In accordance with the present invention, the expandable member 20 in a deployed or unrolled state remains within the confines of the housing 30. That is, the expandable member 20 is not designed to deploy outside the garment upon activation.

[0035] Advantageously, as clearly shown in Figures 2A, 2C and 2D, the expandable member 20 in a contracted, at least partially folded or rolled state can have an unfolded or unrolled portion U and a folded or rolled portion F. Preferably, the folded or rolled portion F of the expandable member 20 is formed by overlapping the expandable member 20 in at least two layers.

[0036] Preferably, the deployed or unrolled portion U of the expandable member 20 occupies an area corresponding to about 3% to about 80% of the area covered by the expandable member 20 when in the deployed or unrolled, i.e., inflated, state. More preferably, the deployed or unrolled portion U of the expandable member 20 occupies an area corresponding to about 30% to about 80% of the area covered by the expandable member 20 when in the deployed or unrolled state.

[0037] For example, when unfolded or unrolled, it is 1200 cm 2 For an expandable member 20 having a rectangular shape with a width of 20 cm and a length of 60 cm so as to be able to cover an area of ​​10 cm, the deployed or unrolled portion U of the expandable member 20 in a partially folded or rolled up state may correspond to a strip having a width of 20 cm and a length varying in the range of about 1.8-2.0 cm to about 48 cm, preferably from about 18 cm to about 48 cm.

[0038] In the following, for the sake of clarity, unless otherwise indicated, the term "folded" is used synonymously with the term "rolled". Similarly, unless otherwise specified, the term "unfolded" is used synonymously with the term "unrolled".

[0039] 2A and 2B show schematic comparisons between the length U1 of the deployed portion U of the expandable member 20 in a contracted state (see FIG. 2A) and the length L of the expandable member 20 when fully deployed (i.e., unfolded) in an inflated state (see FIG. 2B).

[0040] Advantageously, on the one hand, such a configuration of the inflatable member 20 makes it possible to improve the breathability of the wearable protective equipment 10 during normal use, since the folded portion F reduces the area occupied by the inflatable member 20 in the wearable protective equipment 10. On the other hand, since only a portion of the inflatable member 20 can be folded relative to its final area, the thickness t of the folded portion F can be reduced compared to a completely rolled or folded inflatable member, without affecting the comfort of the wearable protective equipment 10.

[0041] By providing the reduced folded portion F, it is advantageously possible to obtain a thickness t of the folded portion of less than 2.5 cm, preferably comprised between 1.8 and 2.2 cm. In particular, such a reduced thickness t does not hinder the movement of the user or affect the aerodynamics of the wearable protective equipment 10.

[0042] For clarity, in the accompanying drawings, the first surface 21 and the second surface 22 of the inflatable member 20 in the deployment portion U are spaced apart. However, in the deflated state, the first surface 21 and the second surface 22 are in contact with each other.

[0043] In accordance with the present invention, the expandable member 20 in its deployed state remains within the confines of the housing 30 . In the at least partially collapsed state, the expandable member 20 occupies a limited portion of the housing 30, while in the unfolded state, the expandable member 20 occupies a greater portion of the housing 30. In some embodiments, the expandable member 20 in the unfolded state occupies the entirety of the housing 30.

[0044] As shown in FIG. 4 , the expandable member 20 in an at least partially collapsed state may occupy a first portion 31 of the housing 30. The first portion 31 may be partially enclosed by a partition 35 that at least partially separates the first portion 31 from a second portion 33 of the housing 30. The partition 35 extends between and connects the inner surface 32 and the outer surface 34 that define the housing 30. The partition 35 may be located in a central area of ​​the separation region between the first portion 31 and the second portion 33.

[0045] 5, the septum 35 can completely close the separation area between the first portion 31 and the second portion 33. In this case, the septum 35 seals the first portion 31 so as to completely separate it from the second portion 33. Advantageously, the septum 35 can have a tailored break tension so that it breaks when the expandable member 20 is expanded, allowing the latter to expand towards the second portion 33.

[0046] The septum 35 may be constructed with seams made of a yarn having reduced durability. Alternatively, the septum 35 may be constructed with a releasable fastening means, such as a hook and loop fastener, in which case, advantageously, after deployment of the inflatable member 20, the septum 35 may be restored for further deployment.

[0047] Because partition 35 does not hinder expansion, partition 35 allows expandable member 20 to be held in a folded configuration without the need to connect separate portions of expandable member 20 to each other and without affecting the protection provided to the wearer.

[0048] As would be expected, during the inflation process, the expandable member 20 can expand to cover the surfaces to be protected that remain within the interior of the wearable protective device 10.

[0049] As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the expandable member 20 can be provided with at least one peripheral fold F disposed about the periphery of the expandable member 20. In this embodiment, an end of the expandable member is folded back on itself. Alternatively, as shown in Figures 13, 15, 17 and 18, the expandable member 20 can include at least one internal fold F disposed in an interior region of the expandable member 20. In this embodiment, an interior portion of the expandable member is folded back on itself.

[0050] Advantageously, when the expandable member 20 is in the contracted state, even when it is in the folded state, it may occupy the entire housing 30 which is dimensioned to cover the body part to be protected.

[0051] It is known that the expandable member undergoes lateral contraction resulting in a reduction in protective surface area when moving from a contracted resting configuration to an expanded working configuration. By providing folds at the interior region or periphery of the expandable member, such lateral contraction may be overcome. In effect, as the expandable member 20 expands, the folds F unfold to compensate for the contraction of the expandable member 20.

[0052] Obviously, the expandable member 20 may include multiple internal folds and / or multiple circumferential folds.

[0053] By remaining inside the housing 30, the inflatable member 20 does not come into contact with external objects such as the ground or obstacles upon deployment and is therefore not at risk of being punctured or torn, while at the same time reducing the risk of the user losing control of the motorcycle if the inflatable member 20 malfunctions.

[0054] As expected, as shown in Figures 1, 2, and 4-11, the housing 30 is defined by an inner surface 32 and an outer surface 34 of the wearable protective device 10 (for reasons of clarity, the outer surface 34 is omitted from Figures 4-11).

[0055] Alternatively, the housing 30 can be a pocket intentionally provided in the wearable protective equipment 10. In a further embodiment, the housing 30 can be a separate casing applied to the exterior or interior surface of the wearable protective equipment 10. The separate casing can be permanently or removably fixed to the wearable protective equipment 10.

[0056] Advantageously, the housing 30 can be provided with one or more internal connectors 90 (see FIG. 3 ) connecting the inner surface 32 and the outer surface 34. The internal connectors 90 are suitable for limiting the expansion of the housing 30 when the inflatable member 20 contained therein transitions from its at least partially folded state to its deployed state. The internal connectors 90 are in a folded, untensioned state inside the housing during normal use of the wearable protective device 10, but are subjected to a tensile force when the inflatable member transitions to its expanded state. In this way, the internal connectors 90 are suitable for countering the increase in the size of the inflatable member, avoiding the possibility of the inflatable member taking on a balloon-like shape when inflated.

[0057] The internal links 90 may be used in place of or in combination with the internal tethers of the expandable member 20. The internal links 90 may be made of a flexible material. Alternatively, the internal links 90 may be made of a resilient material.

[0058] Preferably, the housing is made of a breathable fabric, such as leather or a leather-like material, or a mesh material. In this way, the housing allows the passage of air through its surface, improving comfort for the wearer. Such passage is not impeded by the inflatable member, which may cover a smaller area of ​​the housing because it is at least partially folded. At the same time, by being disposed in an at least partially folded state during normal use, the inflatable member 20 does not make the wearable protective device stiff or uncomfortable.

[0059] As shown in the accompanying drawings, the expandable member 20 in its folded or rolled state is folded or rolled multiple times.

[0060] As shown in the accompanying drawings, the folded or rolled up portion F of the expandable member is obtained by folding or rolling up the end or inner portion of the expandable member that is generally furthest from the end portion to which the expansion means 80 is connected (see FIG. 2A).

[0061] The expandable member 20 can be folded along different fold lines so that the folded portion F is at least partially in an accordion-like configuration (see FIG. 2A), or an S-shaped configuration (see FIG. 2C), or a U-shaped configuration (see FIG. 2D). The U-shaped configuration is obtained by inserting the ends of the expandable member 20 inside a cavity of the expandable member 20 defined by the inner surface 21 and the outer surface 22. This configuration allows the folded portion F to be stably maintained in its folded shape without the need to connect the various parts of the folded portion F of the expandable member 20 to each other. Advantageously, all the above configurations allow the thickness of the folded portion F of the expandable member 20 to be reduced.

[0062] Alternatively, the expandable member 20 can be wound to obtain the wound portion F. Figure 3A shows a schematic diagram of the wound shape.

[0063] 3A-3D, the transition of the inflatable member 20 from an at least partially folded or rolled state to an unfolded or unrolled state is automatically caused by inflation fluid being introduced into the inflatable member 20 to fill a volume V defined by the outer surface 22 and the inner surface 21. The force exerted by the inflation fluid allows for the gradual unfolding or unrolling of the folded or rolled portion F of the inflatable member 20 to be deployed to cover the area of ​​the wearable protective equipment to be protected.

[0064] Preferably, the wearable protective device 10 includes a retaining means 50 designed to maintain the folded portion F of the inflatable member 20 in its folded state without affecting its deployment in an emergency.

[0065] Advantageously, the retention means 50 has a rupture tension adjusted to allow unfolding of the folded portion F of the expandable member 20 upon expansion. For example, the retention means 50 may consist of one or more paper strips 51 adapted to go around the folded portion F of the expandable member 20 (see FIG. 2). Alternatively, the retention means can be a fabric strip provided with hook-and-loop fasteners on both ends thereof.

[0066] In a further embodiment (not shown in the accompanying drawings), the retaining means 50 is an outer sleeve that is disposed around the folded portion of the expandable member 20. Alternatively, the outer sleeve can be disposed around the deployed portion of the expandable member 20. The outer sleeve is designed to break during deployment of the expandable member 20.

[0067] In a further embodiment (see Figures 15 and 16), the retaining means may be a releasable button 52, such as a snap fastener button, suitable for connecting opposing faces of the folded portion F of the expandable member 20. The button 52 is designed to have a controlled release force.

[0068] Alternatively, the retaining means may be at least one connecting member 53 externally connecting the folded portion F of the expandable member to an opposing portion of the expandable member (see, for example, Figures 19-21). Preferably, the connecting member 53 is a flexible tether.

[0069] Advantageously, the connecting member 53 may be made of an elastic material. In this way, the connecting member 53 may be able to stretch and spontaneously return to its initial shape, thereby assisting the expandable member 20 to return to its original folded shape after expansion. In fact, the elastic connecting member 53 may allow the portion F of the expandable member to collapse.

[0070] As shown in the accompanying drawings, in a folded state, the expandable member 20 may be positioned over the shoulders and / or upper chest of the wearer, and upon inflation, the folded portions F of the expandable member 20 are adapted to cover the arms, back and bottom of the wearer.

[0071] Obviously, different arrangements of the inflatable members 20 can be envisaged. For example, if the wearable protective equipment is a pair of trousers, one inflatable member can be arranged near the waistline in an at least partially folded state such that the inflatable member can unfold towards the legs of the user upon inflation.

[0072] The wearable protective gear 10 can include multiple inflatable members disposed in different areas of the protective gear 10.

[0073] Advantageously, the wearable protective equipment 10 may include one or more spacers 60 provided between the inner surface 32 and the outer surface 34 of the housing 30. The function of the spacers 60 is to keep the inner surface and the outer surface of the housing apart in order to facilitate the deployment of the folded portion F of the inflatable member 20 from the folded state to the deployed state in an emergency. Advantageously, the spacers 60 prevent the inner surface and the outer surface of the housing from adhering to each other during use of the wearable protective equipment, thereby preventing the deployment of the folded portion F of the inflatable member 20. The spacers 60 may be constituted by plastic pins having first and second ends connected to the inner surface 32 and the outer surface 34 of the housing 30, respectively (see FIG. 2). Since the spacers 60 can keep the distance between the inner surface 32 and the outer surface 34 constant, they may also be effective in limiting the expansion of the inflatable member 20 housed inside the housing, similar to a flexible internal connector.

[0074] 1 and 5, preferably, the housing 30 also includes a support means 70 capable of holding the inflatable member 20 within the housing 30 both in the at least partially folded state and in the deployed state. Advantageously, the support means 70 can be a rigid or semi-rigid plate fixed to the wearable protective gear; said plate is made of a polymer material (see FIG. 1). Alternatively, the support means 70 can be a rigid or semi-rigid back protector applied to the back of the wearable protective gear (see FIG. 9).

[0075] Advantageously, the peripheral portion of the inflatable member 20 can be fixed to the support means 70, thereby ensuring that, both in the at least partially folded state and in the deployed state, the inflatable member 20 does not undergo any displacement that could affect the protection offered to the wearer. Alternatively, the peripheral portion of the inflatable member 20 can be fastened directly to the inner peripheral edge of the housing 30 by removable fastening means 92. Advantageously, these fastening means 92 can consist of strips 94 fixed to the inner edge of the housing and designed to engage with slits 96 provided in the periphery of the inflatable member 20 (see FIG. 23). Alternatively, the fastening means can comprise hook-and-loop fastening means.

[0076] The peripheral portion of the expandable member fixed to the inner edge of the housing is preferably located at the location of the deployed portion U of the expandable member 20. In this way, by holding the peripheral portion of the expandable member, the fastening means can assist in the deployment or unrolling of the folded portion F of the expandable member upon actuation. At the same time, the fastening means makes it possible to prevent the expandable member from being displaced during the deployment or unrolling of the folded portion F inside the housing 30.

[0077] Alternatively, fastening means 65 may also be provided for connecting a portion of the folded portion F of the inflatable member to the inner surface of the housing 30. In this way, it is possible to maintain the inflatable member in an at least partially folded configuration (see FIG. 18). These fastening means 65 may also be made of a material with a controlled breaking tension or may include hook-and-loop fastening means. In a further embodiment, the fastening means 65 may also be made of an elastic material to facilitate repositioning of the inflatable member in its initial folded state after inflation.

[0078] As shown in FIG. 18 , when the expandable member 20 is provided with two separate folded portions at the back of the wearable protective device 10, the elastic fastening means 65 can be arranged in a crossed configuration to connect each of the folded portions F of the expandable member 20 with opposing interior portions of the housing 30.

[0079] The fastening means 65 may be combined with the support means 70 or may be used without the support means 70 .

[0080] Preferably, the support means 70 can also support an inflation device 80 in fluid communication with the expandable member 20 and configured to introduce a quantity of inflation fluid to the expandable member.

[0081] The actuation of the inflation device 80 can be electronically controlled by a control device (not shown) that constantly monitors the movement of the motorcycle. More specifically, the control unit can compare, at regular time intervals, data detected by suitable sensors (not shown), for example located on the wearable protective equipment 10 or on the motorcycle, with an algorithm preloaded therein. Based on this algorithm, if the data detected by the sensors indicate a loss of control or other abnormality of the motorcycle ridden by the motorcyclist, the control unit transmits an actuation command to the inflation device 80 to inflate the inflatable member 20. As a result, the inflatable member 20 moves from its at least partially folded state to the deployed state. Advantageously, the support means 70 can support the control unit and / or the sensor of the wearable protective equipment 10. Alternatively, the inflation device 80 can be mechanically controlled by utilizing an actuation cable connected to the motorcycle, which actuates the inflation device 80 in case of separation of the motorcyclist from the motorcycle, typically caused by a fall and / or an impact.

[0082] As is well known in the art, once expanded, the expandable member 20 can return to its contracted state. According to some embodiments, the expandable member 20 can also return to its folded state after deployment.

[0083] Advantageously, the inflation device 80 may include multiple inflation charges so that the expandable member 20 can be inflated multiple times to allow for sequential inflation of the expandable member 20.

[0084] At this point, it is clear how predetermined objectives can be achieved with the wearable protective equipment 10 according to the present invention.

[0085] By providing folded or rolled portions F that may occupy a reduced surface area of ​​the wearable protective equipment, the expandable member 20 allows the wearable protective equipment 10 to provide a high level of comfort and breathability to the user.

[0086] Furthermore, since the folded portion F occupies a limited portion of the area of ​​the inflatable member when inflated, the folded portion F is prevented from hindering the movement of the user due to its thickness and from affecting the aerodynamics of the wearable protective equipment.

[0087] Furthermore, in the event of an emergency, the transition from the at least partially folded state to the deployed state is instantaneous and does not affect the protection provided to the user.

[0088] Also, if the folded portion F occupies an interior area of ​​the expandable member 20, it can be used to balance the contraction of the expandable member due to expansion without having to provide a larger housing for the expandable member.

[0089] Additionally, since there is no need to provide portions or regions with controlled breakable tension to allow expansion of the expandable member, the wearable protective equipment can be manufactured at a competitive cost.

[0090] Finally, during the transition from the collapsed state to the deployed state, the inflatable member is not exposed and is therefore better protected against tearing and / or rupture.

[0091] With respect to the embodiments of the wearable protective equipment 10 described above, those skilled in the art may make modifications to the described elements and / or replace the described elements with equivalent elements in order to meet particular requirements, without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A wearable protective device (10) including at least one inflatable member (20) designed to transition between an at least partially folded or wound state in a contracted state and an deployed or unrolled state in an inflated state, In the at least partially folded or rolled state, the at least one inflatable member (20) is contained within a housing (30) provided in the wearable protective equipment (10); The at least one expandable member (20) in a deployed or unrolled state remains within the confines of a housing (30); The inflatable member (20) in at least a partially folded or wound state occupies a first portion (31) of the housing (30); the first portion (31) is at least partially closed by a partition (35) that at least partially separates the first portion (31) from a second portion (33) of the housing (30). A wearable protective equipment (10).

2. The wearable protective device (10) of claim 1, characterized in that the inflatable member (20) in a contracted, at least partially folded or wound state has an unfolded or unrolled portion U and at least one folded or rolled portion (F), the at least one folded or rolled portion (F) being disposed in an outer peripheral region and / or an inner region of the at least one inflatable member (20).

3. 3. The wearable protective device (10) of claim 2, further comprising a retaining means (50) designed to maintain the at least one folded or rolled up portion (F) of the at least one inflatable member (20) in a folded or rolled up state.

4. The wearable protective equipment (10) of any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the housing (30) is a pocket provided in the wearable protective equipment (10) and / or the housing (30) is a separate casing attached to the outer or inner surface of the wearable protective equipment (10); the separate casing is permanently or removably fixed to the wearable protective equipment (10).

5. 3. The wearable protective device (10) of claim 2, wherein the folded or rolled portion (F) of the at least one inflatable member (20) has an accordion-like configuration, an S-shaped configuration, or a U-shaped configuration.

6. The wearable protective equipment (10) according to claim 5, characterized in that the U-shaped configuration is obtained by inserting an end of the at least one expandable member (20) inside a cavity defined by an inner surface (21) and an outer surface (22) of the expandable member (20).

7. The wearable protective equipment (10) of claim 3, characterized in that the retaining means (50) has a controlled breaking tension.

8. The wearable protective device (10) of claim 1, characterized in that the housing (30) has an inner surface (32) and an outer surface (34); and one or more spacers (60) are provided between the inner surface (32) and the outer surface (34) to maintain them spaced apart.

9. The wearable protective equipment (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the housing (30) is made of a breathable material or a mesh material.

10. The wearable protective equipment (10) of claim 1, characterized in that the housing (30) has an inner surface (32) and an outer surface (34) connected by one or more flexible internal connections (90), which are in a folded, untensioned state inside the housing (30) during normal use of the wearable protective equipment (10), and which are subjected to a tensile force when the at least one expandable member (20) transitions to an expanded state.

11. The wearable protective equipment (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that, when the inflatable member (20) is in a folded state, the at least one folded or rolled up portion (F) has a thickness (t) of less than 2.5 cm, preferably comprised between 1.8 and 2.2 cm.

12. 2. The wearable protective equipment (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that a partition (35) encloses the first part (31) so as to completely separate the first part (31) from the second part (33).

13. 2. The wearable protective device (10) of claim 1, wherein the bulkhead (35) has a break tension adjusted to break when the expandable member (20) is expanded.

14. 2. The wearable protective device (10) of claim 1, wherein the at least one expandable member (20) in an expanded state occupies the entire housing (30).

15. A wearable protective device (10) including at least one inflatable member (20) designed to transition between an at least partially folded or wound state in a contracted state and an deployed or unrolled state in an inflated state, In the at least partially folded or rolled state, the at least one inflatable member (20) is contained within a housing (30) provided in the wearable protective equipment (10); The wearable protective device (10) comprises a fastening means (65) for connecting a portion of the folded or rolled portion (F) of the at least one inflatable member (20) to an inner surface of the housing (30). A wearable protective equipment (10).

16. The wearable protective equipment (10) according to claim 15, characterized in that the fastening means (65) is made of an elastic material so as to allow repositioning of the at least one expandable member (20) in its initial folded or rolled state after inflation.

17. 17. The wearable protective equipment (10) of claim 16, characterized in that the at least one inflatable member (20) comprises at least two separate folded or rolled portions (F) at a rear portion of the wearable protective equipment (10), and elastic fastening means (65) are arranged in a crossed configuration to connect each of the at least two separate folded or rolled portions (F) of the at least one inflatable member (20) with opposing interior portions of the housing (30).

18. A wearable protective device (10) including at least one inflatable member (20) designed to transition between an at least partially folded or wound state in a contracted state and an deployed or unrolled state in an inflated state, In the at least partially folded or rolled state, the at least one inflatable member (20) is contained within a housing (30) provided in the wearable protective equipment (10); The at least one expandable member (20) in a deployed or unrolled state remains within the confines of a housing (30); The wearable protective device (10) includes a retaining means (50) designed to maintain at least one folded or rolled portion (F) of the at least one inflatable member (20) in a folded or rolled state; The retaining means (50) includes at least one connecting member (53) externally connecting at least one folded or rolled portion (F) of the inflatable member (20) with an opposing portion of the inflatable member (20). A wearable protective equipment (10).

19. 19. The wearable protective equipment (10) according to claim 18, characterized in that the at least one connecting member (53) is made of an elastic material.

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