Protective device and method for manufacturing the same

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a protective device 10, 110 for protecting a user. The protective device 10 includes a mesh structure 11, 111 having a first mesh portion 18, 118 and a second mesh portion 19, 119, and a plurality of tie elements 5, the first mesh portion 18, 118 and the second mesh portion 19, 119 facing each other and connected to each other by the plurality of tie elements 5, the first mesh portion, the second mesh portion, and the tie elements defining one or more inner housings of the mesh structure 11, 111. The protective device 10, 110 includes a casing body 40, 42, 43 disposed within one or more of the inner housings, the casing body configured to assume a contracted state and an expanded state within the one or more inner housings of the mesh structure 11, 111.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure generally refers to a protective device for protecting a user, preferably a wearable protective device, comprising an inflatable element configured, in an inflated state, to protect a passenger, a vehicle occupant or similar user from impacts and / or falls during sports and / or work activities and / or any other activity. [Background technology]

[0002] Known protective devices are, for example, those described in EP 3291697. Such devices comprise an inflatable element that is prone to an active inflated state and a deflated resting state. The inflatable element comprises a body formed from a mesh, i.e. formed by knitting. Said mesh body is a closed or at least tubular structure that defines an internal region, or area, or chamber. This internal chamber is at least partially occupied by a plurality of bonding threads that connect both sides of the mesh body to each other. The fact of forming a single mesh body has the advantage of limiting manufacturing waste and minimizing manufacturing time. In fact, the bonding threads and the mesh can be machined on one knitting machine. The bonding threads are part of a single thread that is connected to both sides of the mesh body. In particular, the threads pass alternately and continuously between a first part and a second part of the mesh body.

[0003] The inflatable element also includes an externally disposed watertight wall that allows it to contain the inflation fluid for a period of time, for example a first sheet or wall and a second sheet or wall that are secured to each other along their respective peripheries, said first and second sheets covering and lining (reinforcing) the mesh body on the outside or surface.

[0004] The inflatable element thus formed, although very advantageous from many points of view, nevertheless has the drawback of not always allowing adequate evaporation in the garment in which it is incorporated or inserted. In particular, the inflatable element in the contracted state may create a kind of bag around the user's body that does not allow adequate passage of ventilation air. To overcome this problem, it has been proposed to fold the inflatable element in the contracted state and to expand it in the inflated state to assume a more elongated attitude, thereby minimizing the area where evaporation is poor when the inflatable element is in the rest position and not in use. Even this solution, although advantageous from many points of view, has some drawbacks, since it is not always possible to place the inflatable element in the contracted position and, in any case, a controlled expansion of the inflatable element is necessary when inflated. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] European Patent No. 3291697 [Patent Document 2] International application PCT / IB2009 / 055512 [Patent Document 3] International application PCT / IT2009 / 000547 [Patent Document 4] International Publication No. 2016178143 [Patent Document 5] International Publication No. 2017163196 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] The technical problem underlying the present disclosure is to provide a protective device for protecting a user, and to provide a garment including this personal protective device, which overcomes the shortcomings of known technology, allows greater evaporation, and / or achieves further advantages. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] This problem is solved by a protective device for protecting a user, a protective garment or an accessory for a garment, as well as a manufacturing method for producing the protective device according to the respective independent claims.

[0008] Secondary features of the subject matter of the present disclosure are defined in the respective dependent claims.

[0009] The protective device according to the present disclosure for protecting a user comprises a mesh structure including a first mesh portion and a second mesh portion, the first mesh portion and the second mesh portion facing each other and connected to each other by a plurality of tie elements to define one or more housings. Furthermore, the inflatable element comprises at least one inflatable casing body housed in an inner region between the first mesh portion and the second mesh portion and thus in said one or more housings. The inflatable casing body is preferably a simple single-layer structure similar to a balloon. More specifically, the casing body is preferably a flexible, preferably single-layer, stretchable body formed from an elastic material.

[0010] In the contracted state, the casing body occupies (or blocks) a space smaller than that available in the respective housing, so as to define a free area, thus in effect defined by the mesh structure, which allows for evaporation when the protective device is in use.

[0011] In other words, the casing body occupies a first region of the housing in the contracted state and a second region of the housing in the expanded state. The first region tends to accommodate the expandable element in the contracted state, and the second region is devoid of the expandable element in the contracted state or is devoid of the expandable element. The second region receives the expandable element in the expanded state and opens towards the first region to accommodate the casing body during the expansion phase from the contracted state to the contracted state. In fact, the casing body expands as far as it can in the housing by expanding until it occupies all the available space and until it is prevented by the mesh structure and the tie elements that essentially "hold it back".

[0012] In other words, the aforementioned technical problem can be solved by a mesh structure, which accommodates therein a casing body adapted to be expanded in order to expand the mesh structure and to make the mesh structure an expandable structure. The mesh structure restrains the expansion of the casing body. The casing body in the contracted state does not form an additional layer for the protection device in the second region. The second region accommodates the casing body only in the expanded state and is open towards the first region, for example to receive an expandable element during an expansion phase from the contracted state to the expanded state.

[0013] The protective device may thus be housed in a portion of the garment, which portion should be understood as a portion of the garment that covers a portion of the body, such as the bust (neck area, chest area, shoulder joint area, back, arm), etc. The portion of the garment is formed according to a given textile technology that tends to give the garment certain properties, such as having transpiration or ventilation openings. The second region of the protective device thus allows the garment to ensure transpiration and ventilation when housed in the garment.

[0014] The protective device preferably further includes a gas source connected to the expandable casing body for expanding the expandable casing body between the first deflated condition and the second expanded condition.

[0015] The inflatable casing body is therefore a flexible body, which in an inflated state maintains this state at least once for a predefined period of time. Preferably, this body is impermeable to inflation gas. In this case, a ventilation valve is provided for deflating the casing body. The casing body is preferably a tubular body or includes a tubular portion and preferably has a high inflation capacity.

[0016] The housing is preferably channel shaped to facilitate insertion of the casing body.

[0017] As expected above, in the contracted state, the casing body can occupy the smallest space between the mesh parts, thus allowing maximum ventilation of the garment or article of clothing. A body preferably made of a highly elastic and expandable material and capable of ensuring airtightness at least for a certain period of time can be used as the casing body. This body is, for example, a membrane or film of latex, polyurethane, polypropylene, polyester, polyamide. The expansion occurs at the moment of impact or when it is needed.

[0018] When the expandable casing body is expanded, it preferably occupies all or almost all of the housing in which it is contained, until tension is applied to the tie element. The maximum tension in the tie element determines the maximum possible distance between the first mesh portion and the second mesh portion. In this way, a protection device is obtained in which the mesh portion and the casing body define an expandable element, i.e. an element configured to assume at least an operative expanded configuration and a rest deflated configuration.

[0019] The mesh portion corresponds to the outside of the expandable element and the expandable casing body corresponds to the inside of the expandable element. Thus, there is preferably no outer wall that may overly stiffen the expandable component. There may possibly be a reinforcing layer of minimal dimensions.

[0020] The expression mesh structure, or preferably mesh fabric structure, or mesh portion, in the broad sense, means an actual mesh, or even a fabric, a net. Alternatively, the mesh structure can be a so-called shuttle weave material or a needled material (non-woven). What is important is that the mesh structure is a perforated structure or a frame or cage can be created that can be tensioned around the casing body and allows air or other gases to pass through. The mesh structure should therefore be considered as a cage structure that seals and prevents or inhibits the expansion of the casing body. Thus, by appropriately shaping the structure or body that includes the two mesh portions with the tie elements, possibly giving them different lengths according to their position in the chamber itself, the shape that is assumed by the inflatable element in the inflated state can be predetermined (both in terms of the distance between the two meshes and the peripheral shape of the two mesh portions).

[0021] The mesh structure can be a structure that can be more easily customized by the user, with a wide variety in terms of resistance, flexibility, color, thread or yarn type, etc.

[0022] The term tie element is also used in a broad sense to mean an element that is tensioned between two mesh portions when the expandable casing body is expanded. The tie element can also be a stitch.

[0023] Alternatively, the tie elements may be threads or pieces of fabric or ribbons, in other words the tie elements may be dividing walls connecting mesh portions of the mesh structure. Said dividing walls may also be under tension. The tie elements may be arranged such that a first group of tie elements are arranged crosswise or diagonally relative to a second group of tie elements.

[0024] The tie elements may also be formed as stitches or topstitches.

[0025] Thus, a mesh portion (including shuttle-woven or needle-stitched material (nonwoven)) with a seam structure can be provided. The first contracted state of the casing body corresponds to the rest contracted state of the inflatable element, and the second expanded state of the casing body corresponds to the working expanded state of the inflatable element. Thus, the first mesh portion and the second mesh portion, together with the tie element, act as a cage or frame to contain the expansion of the inflatable casing body. The casing body actually covers the mesh fabric structure from the inside when inflated, but is slack in the contracted state.

[0026] In other words, it should be noted that the at least partial tension state of the tie element corresponds to the working expansion configuration of the expandable element and the at least partial slack state and generally the slack state of the tie element, and the mesh structure corresponds to the rest contracted configuration of the expandable element. Thus, the one or more casing bodies are arranged with gaps in the inner area of ​​the mesh structure in the contracted state.

[0027] In this way, preferably when the casing body is tensioned, the entire expandable element is tensioned. Thus, by appropriate calibration of the housing shape, the casing body shape, the length of the tie elements, and the configuration of the mesh portions, the final shape of the expandable element can be pre-calculated.

[0028] In the expanded state, the casing body at least partially contacts and lines (ie, reinforces) the first mesh portion and the second mesh portion.

[0029] The first mesh portion and the second mesh portion, together with the tie elements, together with the casing body, determine the final shape of the expandable element, for example, the expandable element can reach a substantially flat, plate-like final shape.

[0030] Furthermore, because of the shape control, the expandable element may be easily coupled to other devices or protective elements independent of the expandable element that have shapes conjugated to the shape of the expandable element in its expanded state.

[0031] A further advantage lies in the fact that the tie element ensures a limited expansion of the inflatable element in the inflated state to reduce bulk, in particular a limited thickness, and at the same time ensures adequate protection for the user.

[0032] This solution is particularly advantageous since it is in fact an inflatable device.

[0033] This reduced size allows to reduce discomfort and risk to the user while driving the vehicle in case of accidental inflation of the inflatable element: in other words, the restrained expansion of the inflatable element does not affect the control of the vehicle by the user and therefore does not represent a risk of an accident.

[0034] Another advantage lies in the fact that by controlling the shape of the expandable element, the amount of gas required to inflate the expandable element can also be controlled (and in particular reduced).

[0035] According to a preferred aspect of the present disclosure, the housings are arranged side by side to have as flat a structure as possible, whereby parts of the casing bodies are arranged side by side within the mesh structure or multiple casing bodies are arranged side by side. In other words, the mesh structure is a single structure that includes multiple housings arranged side by side. To take these side by side housings, the mesh structure has internal separating or partitioning walls suitably arranged to form multiple housings.

[0036] The internal partitions or walls may be parallel to one another to obtain multiple parallel housings or channels within the mesh structure.

[0037] Preferably, the mesh structure comprises a plurality of side-by-side channels and a casing body for each channel. The channels have the function of the housing according to this disclosure. The casing bodies preferably have a tubular shape. Thus, when the casing bodies are placed in the respective channel / housing, each channel has a first area occupied by the casing body and a free second area adapted to accommodate the casing body in the expanded state. The channels are arranged side-by-side with each other so that, in the expanded state, the individual casing bodies press against each other to form a cushion of expanded bodies having an overall plate-like structure.

[0038] To form the channel, for example, tie elements are arranged in a plurality of rows of tie elements and disposed between the first and second mesh portions to define a plurality of side-by-side housings. Preferably, each row of tie elements in the plurality of rows of tie elements has a plurality of tie elements. A casing body is molded to be disposed within each housing between the rows of tie elements.

[0039] According to a preferred aspect of the present disclosure, in the at least partially stretched state, the tie elements extend along an unfolding direction that is substantially perpendicular to the extension direction of the row of tie elements. According to another preferred aspect of the present disclosure, in the at least partially stretched state, the tie elements belonging to the same row of tie elements are arranged substantially parallel to each other.

[0040] According to a preferred aspect of the present disclosure, the expandable casing body is hand-shaped or comb-shaped and thus has multiple portions disposed between the tie elements.

[0041] In an advantageous embodiment, the casing body is formed as a tubular or conduit body, for example inserted in a serpentine manner or in the shape of a tree between the tie elements.

[0042] In a further embodiment, a plurality of expandable casing bodies are provided, each casing body being received between an opposing mesh portion.

[0043] The first mesh portion and the second mesh portion actually define a layer of the expandable element within which the expandable casing body is disposed. In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the expandable element has at least a third mesh portion overlapping the first mesh portion and the second mesh portion to define the second layer of the expandable element. In order to control the final shape of the expandable element in a targeted manner without occupying too much space between the meshes, portions of the casing body can be alternated between the two layers, thereby ensuring ventilation.

[0044] It can thus be seen that the inflatable elements according to the present disclosure lend themselves to a high degree of modularity and adaptation to the structural needs of protective devices.

[0045] Further advantages, features and methods of use of the subject matter of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following detailed description of embodiments thereof, presented as non-limiting examples. However, it is clear that each embodiment may exhibit one or more of the advantages listed above. However, each embodiment does not necessarily exhibit all the advantages listed at the same time.

[0046] Reference is made to the figures of the accompanying drawings. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0047] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram of a partial cross-section of a protective device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 1A] 1 is a schematic diagram of a protection device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the protective device of FIG. 1A in an inflated state along line II-II. [Diagram 3] 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the protective device of FIG. 1A in an inflated state according to a further embodiment, taken along line II-II. [Figure 4]2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the protective device of FIG. 1A in a contracted state along line II-II. [Diagram 5] 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the protective device of FIG. 1A in a contracted state according to a further embodiment, taken along line II-II. [Figure 6] 1 is a schematic diagram of a partial cross-section of a protective device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 7] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a garment including a personal protective device. [Figure 8] 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the protective device of FIG. 1A in an inflated state according to a further embodiment, taken along line II-II. [Figure 9] 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the protective device of FIG. 1A in an inflated state according to a further embodiment, taken along line II-II. [Figure 10] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a housing for a device according to the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0048] 1 to 10, reference numerals 10 and 100 designate a personal protection device according to the present disclosure, preferably a wearable protection device, according to respective embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0049] The embodiments differ primarily in the fabric mesh structures 11, 111 which are described below. In the case of identical components having the same structure, the two protective devices retain the same reference numerals.

[0050] The personal protection device 10,110 has an inflatable element 12,112 that can be substantially in a first rest or deflated state and a second active or inflated state, the method of inflation being described later in this specification.

[0051] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the expandable element 12, 112 can be shaped like a jacket and tends to encircle the upper region or bust of the user's body. Nothing prevents the expandable element 12 from being shaped according to any shape.

[0052] The expandable element 12,112 includes a mesh fabric structure 11,111 having a first mesh portion 18,118 and a second mesh portion 19,119, where the two mesh portions face each other.

[0053] The mesh fabric structure 11 may be formed according to the techniques described in International Application Nos. PCT / IB2009 / 055512 and PCT / IT2009 / 000547, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety, or the mesh fabric structure 111 may be formed according to the techniques described in International Publication Nos. WO2016178143 and WO2017163196, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. In other words, the mesh fabric structure is preferably a mesh fabric structure with threads formed by mesh and tie elements as described in these patent applications. The most significant difference with respect to these patent applications lies in the fact that the inflatable element described herein does not have the same external gas containment wall as described in the aforementioned patent applications.

[0054] More specifically, for example, according to the art of International Application PCT / IB2009 / 055512, the mesh structure 11 has a first mesh portion 18 and a second mesh portion 19 joined along the periphery. According to the art of WO2016178143, the mesh structure 111 has a first mesh portion 118 and a second mesh portion 119 which are part of a mesh casing body formed of a single body. Relevant to the present patent application is the fact that the first mesh portions 118, 18 and the second mesh portions 19, 119 are connected to each other by a plurality of tie elements 5 opposite each other.

[0055] Preferably, the tie elements 5 are arranged in a plurality of rows 24 of tie elements 5 between the first mesh portion 18 and the second mesh portion 19. The arrangement in rows 24 allows for better adjustment of the thread placement and more control over the expansion of the expandable element, as well as the formation of a plurality of side-by-side housings. Thus, the mesh structure 11, 111 has housings in the shape of channels.

[0056] To better control the expansion of the expandable element, in the operative state, when the expandable element 2 is in an expanded state, the tie threads 5 are parallel to one another in each row 24 and substantially perpendicular to the direction of the rows. The threads are preferably shorter in the edge regions, i.e. the threads decrease in length as they approach the edge regions.

[0057] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, the inflatable element 12, 112 has an inflatable casing body 40, 42, 43 arranged in one or more housings between the first mesh portion 18, 118 and the second mesh portion 19, 119 and connected to the gas source 15 or inflation source. According to the embodiment of FIG. 1, the inflatable casing body 40 has a hand or comb shape and includes a plurality of portions 40a of the inflatable casing body 40 that are inserted between the rows of the tie elements 5. According to the embodiment of FIG. 6, the inflatable casing body 42 has a tubular shape and is inserted in a serpentine manner between the tie elements. In the embodiment of FIG. 10, the casing body has a tree shape, i.e., the casing body has side branches and is also inserted between the channels of the mesh structure 11, 111.

[0058] The casing body 40, 42, 43 is in a contracted state during the rest state of the expandable element 2, 102 and occupies the smallest possible space, thus allowing the passage of air between the mesh portions 18, 19, 118, 119. At the moment of expansion, the casing body 40, 42, 43 expands until the tie elements and the mesh portions are tensioned, thus obtaining the maximum tension of the expandable element. The mesh fabric structure 11, 111 actually acts as a containment cage for the casing body 40, 42, 43 in the expanded state.

[0059] It should be understood that the casing bodies 40, 42, 43 and the tie elements 5 may be selected and arranged in any suitable manner to allow insertion of the expandable casing bodies 40, 42, 43 and achievement of the desired final shape.

[0060] The fact of providing an inflatable casing body 40, 42, 43 with a plurality of portions 40a aligned between the rows of tie elements 5 makes it possible to obtain an approximately flat final form of the inflatable element due to the fact that the various portions 40a in the inflated state are blocked by the mesh portions 18, 118, 19, 119 and forced to remain aligned.

[0061] 8, a third mesh portion 120 is provided that overlaps with the first mesh portion 118 and the second mesh portion 119. This third mesh portion 120 allows for the formation of a second layer of expandable elements, thus allowing for multiple housings for the expandable casing bodies 40, 42, 43, as well as greater variability in the placement of the expandable casing bodies or portions thereof within the mesh fabric structure 11, 111.

[0062] The present disclosure also relates to a protective garment 50 comprising the above defined protective device 10, 110. The protective device 10, 110 may be stored in a pocket of the garment.

[0063] Thus, the pocket of the garment forms a cover for the protective device 10, 110. For example, the pocket may be formed between the outer covering layer and the inner layer or lining of the garment, or again, the protective device may simply be secured under the outer covering layer without an actual pocket.

[0064] The cover layer is disposed substantially over the personal protection device in use. The cover layer may also be understood as a multi-layer structure.

[0065] In this case, the garment comprises a covering outer layer, which may be of a multi-layer structure. The outer layer of the garment may preferably be made of a breathable material or may comprise holes or ventilation openings. In other words, in general, the garment may be made of a breathable material and / or of a material that allows the passage of air through the garment, i.e. allows ventilation, for example, the garment is a perforated material or has one or more ventilation openings. In other words, the garment preferably has one or more parts made of a material suitable for allowing evaporation and / or ventilation. The main advantage of the fact that the casing body in the contracted state occupies only a part of the mesh structure lies precisely in the fact that the presence of the inflatable element does not affect the evaporation and ventilation properties of the garment.

[0066] In this way, when the inflatable element is in an inactive state and is not actually used, the casing body forms an additional layer in the garment only in a limited area of ​​the garment and in a limited way. In the remaining part of the garment (the second area of ​​the mesh structure), the casing body does not form an additional layer. The garment can thus maintain its own characteristics and technical properties determined by the combination of layers selected to make the garment, which layers may be suitable for ventilation or evaporation, as mentioned above. Such layers include, for example, the lining and the covering surface of the protective device.

[0067] The present disclosure also relates to methods for forming protective devices 10, 110 for protecting a user.

[0068] This method is - providing an expandable element 12, 112 configured to assume an operative expanded configuration and a rest deflated configuration, said expandable element 12 having a first mesh portion 18 and a second mesh portion 19, 119 opposed to the first mesh portion 18, 119 to define at least one inner housing; - connecting said first mesh portion 18 to said second mesh portion 19 using a plurality of tie elements 5 so as to define one or more inner housings; - placing a casing body 40, 42, 43 within an inner housing and preferably connecting the casing body 40, 42, 43 to a gas source to expand the casing body to an expanded state; Includes.

[0069] Preferably, in the contracted state, the casing body 40, 42, 43 occupies a first space or first region, and in said contracted state, a second region or second space of the at least one housing is devoid of the casing body, and in said expanded state, the casing body expands to occupy a second region or second space.

[0070] Preferably, the step of connecting the first mesh portion 18 to the second mesh portion 19 using a plurality of tie elements 5 is carried out by arranging the tie elements 5 in aligned rows 24 of tie elements, where each row 24 of tie elements 5 has a plurality of tie elements 5, and where the casing body is positioned between the rows 24.

[0071] In fact, the casing body covers the mesh structure 11, 111 from the inside without the need for an external waterproof wall.

[0072] In connection with the inflation, in order to inflate the casing body 40, 42, 43 in the event of a fall and / or slip and / or unexpected impact by the user or the vehicle in which he / she is traveling, the protection device 10, 110 tends to cooperate with suitable activation means (not shown) operatively connected to, for example, a gas source 15, for example a canister of compressed cold gas such as helium, which can be provided with a respective shut-off valve (not shown).

[0073] Alternatively, the inflation fluid source may comprise a pyrotechnic or hybrid type, or other type of gas generator known in the art.

[0074] The opening of the shut-off valve of each expansion can is preferably controlled by a control unit in accordance with the detection of the state of the vehicle / driver system, for example said control unit may implement a fall prediction system which enables timely identification of a fall event and reliable prediction of the same by means of an acceleration sensor integral with the vehicle (or the driver) and a processing unit for the signals generated by the same sensor.

[0075] Alternatively, the device according to the present disclosure may find application using an actuation cable connected to a vehicle driven by a user, said cable controlling the inflation of the inflatable element according to the distance of the user from the vehicle, for example after a fall or an unexpected impact. The use of cables is particularly used in the equestrian sector.

[0076] In either case, the activation and inflation means described above may be integrated into the protective device according to the invention or may be located externally thereto.

[0077] It should be noted that the activation method, which is a particularly important aspect for the effective operation of the device, will not be described in further detail and is essentially a method already known to those skilled in the art of personal protection from accidental impact.

[0078] The subject matter of the present disclosure has been described above in relation to its embodiments, it is to be understood that there may be other embodiments related to the same inventive core, all of which are within the scope of protection of the claims provided below.

Claims

1. A protective device (10, 110) for protecting a user, the protective device (10) comprising a mesh structure (11, 111) having a first mesh portion (18, 118) and a second mesh portion (19, 119), and a plurality of tie elements (5), the first mesh portion (18, 118) and the second mesh portion (19, 119) facing each other and connected to each other by the plurality of tie elements (5), the tie elements (5) being arranged between the first mesh portion (18, 118) and the second mesh portion (19, 119) in a plurality of rows (24) of tie elements (5), whereby the tie elements define a plurality of inner housings between the first mesh portion (18, 118) and the second mesh portion (19, 119); The protective device (10, 110) includes a casing body (40, 42, 43) having a plurality of portions (40a) each disposed within a corresponding one of the plurality of inner housings, the casing body being configured to have a contracted state and an expanded state, in which in the contracted state, each portion of the casing body (40, 42, 43) occupies a first space or a first region of the corresponding inner housing, in which in the contracted state, there is no casing body in a second region or a second space of the corresponding inner housing, and in which in the expanded state, each portion of the casing body occupies the second region or the second space of the corresponding inner housing, the inner housings each have the shape of a channel and are arranged side by side with one another, each of the inner housings is configured to receive a corresponding portion of the casing body, and in the expanded state, the portions of the casing body are expanded against one another to form a plate-like structure.

2. The protective device (10, 110) of claim 1, wherein in the expanded state, the casing body is configured to at least partially contact and line the mesh structure (11, 111) from the inside and / or the mesh structure is an external structure of the protective device (10, 110).

3. 3. A protection device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein in the expanded state, each portion of the casing body completely occupies the second region or second space and the first region or first space of the corresponding inner housing.

4. 4. A protective device (10, 110) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the contracted state of the casing body corresponds to a relaxed state of the mesh structure (11, 111) and the tie element (5), and wherein the expanded state of the casing body corresponds to an at least partially tensioned state of the tie element (5) and the first mesh portion (18, 118) and the second mesh portion (19, 119).

5. 5. A protection device (10, 110) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the casing body (40, 42, 43) has the shape of a hand or a comb or a tree, or has a tubular shape arranged in a serpentine manner.

6. 2. The protective device (10) of claim 1, wherein each row (24) of tie elements (5) among the plurality of rows of tie elements (5) has a plurality of tie elements (5), and in the at least partially stretched state, the tie elements (5) belonging to the same row (24) of tie elements (5) are arranged substantially parallel to each other.

7. A protective device (10, 110) as described in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the expanded state of the casing body corresponds to an expanded state of protection of the protective device and the contracted state corresponds to a resting state of the protective device, and in the contracted state the second region in each of the inner housings tends to allow the passage of air between the first mesh portion and the second mesh portion through the second region of the inner housing.

8. 8. A protective device (10, 110) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, comprising a gas source (15) or an inflation source connected to the casing body for inflating the casing body.

9. 9. The protective device of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the protective device is a wearable device.

10. Protective clothing (50) or clothing accessory comprising a protective device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

11. 11. The protective garment of claim 10, wherein the protective garment has a cover layer, the cover layer being a breathable material or including evaporation openings, the cover layer covering the first region and the second region of the inner housing.

12. A method for making a protective device (10) for protecting a user, comprising the steps of: providing a mesh structure (11, 111) having a first mesh portion (18, 118) and a second mesh portion (19, 119) opposite the first mesh portion (18, 118), and a plurality of tie elements (5) connecting the first mesh portion (18, 118) and the second mesh portion (19, 119), whereby the plurality of tie elements (5) define a plurality of inner housings between the first mesh portion (18, 118) and the second mesh portion (19, 119); providing a casing body (40, 42, 43) having a plurality of portions (40a); placing each portion of the casing body (40, 42, 43) within a corresponding one of the inner housings so as to form an expandable element (12, 112) together with the mesh structure (11, 111); expanding the casing body (40, 42, 43) from a first contracted state to a second expanded state, wherein in the first contracted state, each portion of the casing body (40, 42, 43) occupies a first space or region of a corresponding inner housing, and in the first contracted state, a second region or second space of the corresponding inner housing is free of the casing body, and in the second expanded state, each portion of the casing body expands to occupy the second region or second space of the corresponding inner housing; Including, the inner housings each have the shape of a channel and are arranged alongside one another, each of the inner housings configured to receive a corresponding portion of the casing body, and in the second expanded state, the portions of the casing body are expanded against one another to form a plate-like structure.

13. 13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the casing body is expanded until the tie elements (5) and the mesh structure (11, 111) are tensioned and / or until the casing body is at least partially attached to the first mesh portion (18, 118) and the second mesh portion (19, 119).

14. 14. The method according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the tie elements (5) are arranged to form a plurality of side-by-side housings, the portions of the casing body being arranged side-by-side with each other, and in the second expanded state the portions of the casing body pressing against each other to form a plate-like structure.

15. 15. A method according to any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein the casing body is expanded until the mesh structure is tensioned and the mesh structure (11, 111) restrains and prevents further expansion of the casing body.

16. 16. The method of any one of claims 12 to 15, wherein in the first contracted state, the second region in each of the inner housings allows air to pass between the first mesh portion and the second mesh portion through the second region.

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