Protective devices

Abstract

This protective device, which is fitted to a human body and is for protecting at least the head of the human body, includes: a base part that can be fitted to the human body; a protective part held on the base part and having a honeycomb structure or a bellows structure that can reversibly switch between a folded orientation that is folded and a deployed orientation that is deployed from the folded orientation so as to cover the head of the human body; and in the protective part, a fixed end fixed to the base part, and a free end not fixed to the base part. In the folded orientation, the free end is folded in an orientation approaching the fixed end, and when switching from the folded orientation to the deployed orientation, the free end separates from the fixed end while the protective part is deployed around the head. The foregoing provides a protective device that protects the head of the human body by using a protective part that can reversibly switch between the folded orientation and the deployed orientation.

Description

[[Technical Field]]

[0001] The present invention relates to a human body protection device. [[Background Art]]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a human body protection device that is worn on a human body and, when a flame generated around the human body is detected, inflates and deploys an airbag to surround a specific part of the human body, thereby protecting the specific part of the human body. In addition, Patent Document 2 discloses a device that is worn around a soldier's neck and inflates a chamber to prevent brain damage caused by blast wind when a sensor detects an air pressure equal to or higher than a threshold value. [[Prior Art Documents]] [[Patent Documents]]

[0003] [[Patent Document 1]] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2014-79440 [[Patent Document 2]] U.S. Patent No. 10001346 [[Summary of the Invention]] [[Problem to be Solved by the Invention]]

[0004] In the case of a system that inflates an airbag or a chamber by supplying air during operation as in Patent Documents 1 and 2, it is difficult to return the airbag or the chamber to the state before operation after the operation is completed, so there is a problem that the device cannot be used repeatedly.

[0005] In addition, in order to instantly deploy the airbag or the chamber by supplying air to the airbag or the chamber, it is conceivable to supply air generated by instantaneously burning explosive or to instantaneously release accumulated gas. However, this method has problems that the device itself becomes bulky and the weight increases.

[0006] The technology disclosed herein has been made in view of the circumstances described above, and its purpose is to provide a protective device that protects the head of the human body using a protective part that can be reversibly switched between a folded position and an unfolded position. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] To solve the above problems, the protective device of this disclosure is A protective device worn on the human body to protect at least the head of the said human body, A base that can be attached to the human body, A protective part having a honeycomb structure or bellows structure, which is held by the base and can be reversibly switched between a folded position and an unfolded position that covers the head of the human body, The protective part has a fixed end fixed to the base and a free end not fixed to the base. In the aforementioned folded position, the free end is folded in a position close to the fixed end. When switching from the folded position to the unfolded position, the protective portion unfolds around the head while the free end separates from the fixed end.

[0008] The protective portion can be positioned in the deployed state by the elastic force of the elastic member, and can be folded back into the folded state by resisting the elastic force from the deployed state. The aforementioned protective device is A locking mechanism for locking the protective part in the folded position against the elastic force, A trigger unit that releases the lock on the protective unit by the locking unit, thereby deploying the protective unit, It may also be provided with the following:

[0009] The protective device includes a detection unit that detects the state of the human body or the state of the surroundings of the human body, A control unit that acquires the detection result from the detection unit and controls the trigger unit to release the lock from the lock unit when the detection result satisfies predetermined conditions, It may have.

[0010] The protective device may further include a drive unit that drives the free end of the protective part, which is in the folded position, to move away from the fixed end, thereby unfolding the protective part.

[0011] The aforementioned protective device is A detection unit for detecting the state of the human body or the state of the surroundings of the human body, A control unit that acquires the detection result from the detection unit and controls the operation of the drive unit when the detection result satisfies predetermined conditions, It may have.

[0012] The protective portion may be reversibly changed between its folded position before operation and its unfolded position after operation by having at least its free end rotate so as to have a straight line at a predetermined position as its center of rotation.

[0013] When the protective device is attached to the human body, the base portion is positioned below the head. The protective part may change from a folded position before operation to an unfolded position after operation by moving the free end upward when it is activated.

[0014] The protective device may further include a restricting unit, one end of which is connected to the free end of the protective unit and the other end of which is connected to the base unit, for restricting the movement distance of the free end.

[0015] The protective portion is formed from a cushioning material having a cushioning function, and the cushioning material is bellows-shaped with ribs attached to its peaks. The rib is stretched between guide rails having grooves provided on the left and right sides of the base portion, and the left and right ends of the rib may be slidably attached to the grooves.

[0016] The detection unit may include at least one sensing means selected from an acceleration sensor, a gyro sensor, a positioning device, a camera, a radar, a LIDAR, and a three-dimensional scanner.

[0017] The base portion may be used in a state where a lower surface thereof abuts against the shoulder of the human body and the base portion is arranged around the neck of the human body.

[0018] The protection portion is formed of a buffer material having a buffer function, and when the protection portion is activated to assume the deployed posture, the buffer material may also cover the face of the human body.

[0019] the protection Device may comprise a fixing portion that fixes the base portion to the human body.

[0020] the protection Device may further include a cover portion that covers a surface located on the head side of the protection portion when the protection portion is in the deployed posture. Effects of the Invention

[0021] According to the present disclosure, a protection device that protects the head of a human body can be provided by using a protection portion capable of reversibly switching between a folded posture and a deployed posture. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0022] [Figure 1] It is a side view of the protection device according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] It is a front view of the protection device according to an embodiment. [Figure 3] It is a bottom view of the protection device according to an embodiment. [Figure 4] It is a side view of the protection device in a state after the protection portion is deployed (deployed posture). [Figure 5] It is a longitudinal sectional view of the protection device in the deployed posture. [Figure 6] It is a perspective view of the protection device in the deployed posture. [Figure 7] It is a diagram showing the configuration of a control unit. [Figure 8] This diagram shows the processing procedure performed by the control unit of the protective device. [Figure 9] This is a side view of a protective device according to modified example 1, showing the protective part in a folded position. [Figure 10] This is a front view of a protective device according to modified example 1, showing the protective part in a folded position. [Figure 11] This is a side view of a protective device according to modified example 1, showing the protective part in a deployed position. [Figure 12] This is a side view of a protective device according to modified example 2, showing the protective part in a folded position. [Figure 13] This is a front view of a protective device according to modified example 2, showing the protective part in a folded position. [Figure 14] This is a plan view of a protective device according to modified example 2, showing the protective part in a folded position. [Figure 15] This is a side view of a protective device according to modified example 2, showing the protective device attached by the user and the protective part in an unfolded state. [Figure 16] This is a side view of a protective device according to modified example 3, showing the protective part in a folded position. [Figure 17] This is a plan view showing the protective device according to modified example 3, with the protective part in an unfolded position. [Figure 18] This is a side view of a protective device according to modified example 3, showing the protective device attached by the user and the protective part in an unfolded state. [Figure 19] This is a side view of a protective device according to modified example 4, showing the protective part in a folded position. [Figure 20] This is a side view of a protective device according to modified example 4, showing the protective device attached by the user and the protective part in an unfolded state. [Figure 21] This is a schematic diagram showing the unfolded and folded states of a honeycomb structure. [Figure 22] This is a side view of a protective device according to modified example 5, showing the protective part in a folded position. [Figure 23]This is a front view of a protective device according to modified example 5, showing the protective part in a folded position. [Figure 24] This is a side view of a protective device according to modified example 5, showing the protective part in an unfolded state. [Figure 25] This is a side view of the protective device according to the second embodiment. [Figure 26] This is a schematic diagram of the protective device according to the second embodiment. [Figure 27] This is a plan view of the protective device according to the second embodiment. [Figure 28] This is a side view of a protective device according to a second embodiment, showing the protective device attached by a user and the protective part in an unfolded state. [Figure 29] This is an exploded perspective view of the protective device according to the second embodiment. [Figure 30] This is a rear view of the protective device according to the second embodiment. [Figure 31] This is a schematic diagram of the protective device according to the third embodiment. [Figure 32] This is a side view of a protective device according to a third embodiment, showing the protective device attached by a user and the protective part in an unfolded state. [Figure 33] This is an exploded perspective view of the protective device according to the third embodiment. [Figure 34] This is a schematic diagram showing the configuration for deploying the protective section according to the third embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0023] <First Embodiment> A protective device according to an embodiment of this disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the configurations and combinations thereof in each embodiment are examples, and additions, omissions, substitutions, and other modifications can be made as appropriate without departing from the spirit of this disclosure. This disclosure is not limited by the embodiments, but is limited only by the claims. Furthermore, each aspect disclosed herein can be combined with any other features disclosed herein.

[0024] Figure 1 is a side view of the protective device 1, Figure 2 is a front view of the protective device 1, and Figure 3 is a bottom view of the protective device 1. The protective device 1 shown in Figure 1 is attached to the user's body and protects at least the user's head. The protective device 1 comprises a base unit 10, a protective unit 20, a drive unit 30, a locking unit 40, a trigger unit 50, a detection unit 60, a control unit 70, and a rear housing 80. The protective device 1 protects the head by deploying the protective unit 20 around the head when, for example, the detection unit 60 detects that the user has fallen or is in a situation where a collision cannot be avoided, or when it is predicted that an impact will occur to the user's body (hereinafter also referred to as an emergency). Figures 1 to 3 show the protective unit 20 in its folded state before deployment, Figure 4 is a side view of the protective device 1 in its deployed state, Figure 5 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the protective device 1 in its deployed state, and Figure 6 is a perspective view of the protective device 1 in its deployed state. In this specification, the vertical direction is also referred to as the Y-axis direction, the left-right direction as the X-axis direction, and the depth direction as the Z-axis direction. However, in this specification, the vertical direction and the XYZ axis directions of the protective device 1 are merely used to indicate the relative positional relationships of each element in the protective device 1 for the convenience of describing the embodiment. For example, the posture in which the protective device 1 is used is not limited to the directions shown in the figures. Also, the size of the protective device 1 relative to the human body is not limited to the figures. form The power supply unit that drives the control unit, detection unit, trigger unit, etc., is also included, but it is omitted from this explanation.

[0025] The base portion 10 is a base that is attached to the user's body and holds the protective portion 20, drive portion 30, lock portion 40, trigger portion 50, detection portion 60, control portion 70, and rear housing 80 in predetermined positions relative to the user's body. In this embodiment, the base portion 10 is an annular member, and the inner space 11 of its ring is formed to be larger than the user's head and smaller than the user's shoulder width. Therefore, when the user's head passes through the inner space 11 of the base portion 10, the lower surface 12 of the base portion 10 abuts against the user's shoulder and stops, and the base portion 10 is attached in a position positioned around the user's neck. In other words, the protective device 1 is positioned above the user's shoulder and generally below the head.

[0026] The protective section 20 is connected at one end to the base section 10 and is configured to be reversibly switchable between a folded position and an unfolded position that covers the user's head, i.e., its position can be changed. The protective section 20 includes a guide rail 21, ribs 22, a cushioning material 23 with a cushioning function, and a retaining plate 24.

[0027] As shown in Figure 2, the guide rails 21 are provided on the left and right sides of the base portion 10, and are formed in an arc shape centered on a virtual rotation axis 2X, as shown in Figures 1 and 4. This rotation axis 2X can be arbitrarily set according to the shape of the protective portion 20 and the part of the user to be protected. For example, the rotation axis 2X may be a straight line at a predetermined position connecting the left and right sides of the base portion 10. In this embodiment, the rotation axis 2X is a straight line in the horizontal direction (X-axis direction) perpendicular to the depth direction (Z-axis direction) of the base portion 10. In addition, grooves 211 are provided on the outer surface of the arc of the guide rail 21 along the longitudinal direction of the guide rail 21, and the left and right ends 221 of the ribs 22 are slidably attached to the grooves 211.

[0028] The rib 22 is a generally linear member that spans between guide rails 21 provided on the left and right sides of the base portion 10, and is curved in a convex shape from one guide rail 21 to the other. When the cushioning material 23 is deployed as described later, the rib 22 slides along the groove 211 of the guide rail 21, thereby deploying the cushioning material 23 into a bowl shape. The rib 22 is made of, for example, a hard synthetic resin. However, it is not limited to this, and the rib 22 may be made of other materials such as metal, as long as it can ensure the required rigidity.

[0029] The cushioning material 23 is shaped to cover the user's head, forming at least a portion of a bowl shape, and is configured to be reversibly switched between a folded position and an unfolded position by an expandable structure. The expandable structure is not particularly limited, but examples include a honeycomb structure or a bellows structure. In this example, the cushioning material 23 is a bellows structure. As shown in Figure 5, in the longitudinal section (YZ section), this bellows structure has a shape in which multiple peaks 231 protruding outward from the protective part 20 and valleys 232 formed between each peak 231 are arranged alternately. These peaks 231 and valleys 232 are formed in a continuous shape from the front to the back of the plane of Figure 5, i.e., a corrugated shape. The cushioning material 23 has ribs 22 attached along the ridges of each peak 231 and is connected to the guide rail 21 via the ribs 22.

[0030] One end of the cushioning material 23 is a fixed end 233 fixed to the base portion 10, and the other end is a free end 234 not fixed to the base portion 10. When the cushioning material 23 is moved from the unfolded position shown in Figure 5 so that the free end 234 is close to the fixed end 233, the peaks 231 and valleys 232 are brought closer together, and the cushioning material 23 is folded so that the peaks 231 and valleys 232 are brought closer together, and the bellows structure is compressed as shown in Figure 1. Conversely, when the free end 234 of the cushioning material 23, which is in the folded position shown in Figure 1, is moved away from the fixed end 233, the peaks 231 and valleys 232 are separated, and the cushioning material is unfolded so that the peaks 231 and valleys 232 are separated, and the bellows structure is stretched as shown in Figure 5, resulting in the unfolded position.

[0031] The cushioning material 23 consists of materials and structures that absorb impact. For example, the cushioning material 23 may be made of elastic materials such as silicone resin, natural rubber, and soft plastic. Alternatively, the cushioning material 23 may be structurally formed to absorb impact, such as foamed materials like polystyrene foam or polyurethane foam, resin sponges, bubble wrap with gas sealed inside a sheet, or gel sheets with gel sealed inside a sheet.

[0032] The retaining plate 24 is a flat plate attached to the free end 234 of the cushioning material 23. The retaining plate 24 is attached so as to be located at the upper end of the cushioning material 23 when the protective part 20 is in the folded position, and engages with the locking part 40 to hold down the cushioning material 23 so that it does not unfold. The retaining plate 24 is made of, for example, a hard synthetic resin or metal and has high rigidity. The placement and size of the retaining plate 24 are not specified as long as it is in contact with the locking part 40, but if the retaining plate 24 is attached over a wide area along the periphery of the free end 234, even if the area in contact with the locking part 40 is narrow, the force that is held down by the locking part 40 can be transmitted over a wide area of ​​the cushioning material 23, thereby suppressing the unfolding of the cushioning material 23.

[0033] The drive unit 30 is a drive mechanism that deploys the protective part 20 by driving the free end 234 of the protective part 20, which is in the folded position, to move away from the fixed end 233. In this embodiment, the drive unit 30 is an elastic member (for example, a spring) with one end connected to the free end 234 of the protective part 20 and the other end connected to the fixed end 233. One end of the elastic member may be attached near the free end 234 of the protective part 20. The drive unit 30 is mounted so as to bias the free end 234 of the protective part 20 in the direction of deployment by its elastic force. When the user changes the protective part 20 from the deployed position to the folded position, the drive unit 30 is compressed against its elastic force and locked in this state by the locking unit 40. When the lock is released, the drive unit 30 drives the free end 234 of the protective part 20 by its elastic force, deploying the protective part 20. The drive unit 30 may be an elastic member other than a spring, and the protective unit 20 may be driven by a force other than elastic force, such as an electric actuator or magnetic force. The drive unit 30 is not an essential component; for example, if the cushioning material 23 of the protective unit 20 has elastic force and the protective unit 20 can be deployed by the elastic force of the cushioning material 23, the drive unit 30 may be omitted. In other words, the cushioning material 23 of the protective unit 20 may also serve as the drive unit, and the protective unit 20 may be deployed by the elastic force of the cushioning material 23.

[0034] The locking portion 40 is a member that locks the protective portion 20 in a folded position. The locking portion 40 has a first locking portion 41 that engages with the retaining plate 24 of the protective portion 20 to prevent the protective portion 20 from unfolding, and a second locking portion 42 on the left and right sides of the protective device 1 that engages with the ribs 22 of the protective portion 20 to prevent the protective portion 20 from unfolding. In this embodiment, the protective portion 20 is locked at one point by the first locking portion 41 and at two points on the left and right by the second locking portions 42, but it is not limited to this, and for example, it may be configured to be locked at only one point by the first locking portion 41, or it may be configured to be locked by providing four or more locking portions 40.

[0035] The trigger unit 50 deploys the protective unit 20 by releasing the lock on the protective unit 20 by the lock unit 40. For example, the trigger unit 50 is an electric actuator that moves the lock unit 40 back and forth to switch between the locked and unlocked states.

[0036] The detection unit 60 is a means for detecting the user's state or the state of the user's surroundings, and includes, for example, sensing means such as an acceleration sensor, a gyro sensor (angular velocity sensor), a positioning device, a camera, radar, LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging, Laser Imaging Detection and Ranging), a three-dimensional scanner, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, a contact sensor, and an infrared sensor. The detection unit 60 may detect changes in the user's state, such as when the user falls or collides with another object, or it may predict when the user will be hit. The detection unit 60 may also detect changes in the state of objects in the user's surroundings, such as objects approaching the user and likely to collide with the user, or objects that have collided with the user. Examples of positioning devices include satellite positioning systems such as GPS (Global Positioning System). The radar and LIDAR determine the distance to objects in the vicinity of the protective device 1 (user) and the speed of movement of those objects.

[0037] In this embodiment, the protective device 1 is equipped with an acceleration sensor 61 as the first detection unit 60, which detects the acceleration of the protective device 1, i.e., the acceleration of the user wearing the protective device 1. The acceleration sensor 61 detects the rate of change of velocity and its direction in predetermined axes (for example, the three axes in the X, Y, and Z directions) as the acceleration of each axis. The acceleration sensor 61 may also be a so-called six-axis sensor that also detects angular velocity in these axes. A camera 62 is provided as the second detection unit 60 in the front part of the base unit 10, which photographs the area in front of the user and inputs the captured image to the control unit 70 as information indicating the state of the user's surroundings. The camera 62 may be a stereo camera that can photograph the same subject (object) with a pair of imaging units arranged at a predetermined distance (baseline length) apart and detect the distance to the subject from the parallax. Furthermore, a camera 63 is provided as the third detection unit 60 in the rear part of the rear housing 80, which photographs the area behind the user and outputs the captured image to the control unit 70 as information indicating the state of the user's surroundings. Camera 63, like camera 62, may be a stereo camera. Cameras 62 and 63, positioned front and rear in this manner, can each capture images with a field of view of 190 degrees or more, thereby capturing the entire surroundings centered on the user. Although not shown in Figures 1 to 6, the system may also include detection units 60 other than the acceleration sensor 61 and cameras 62 and 63.

[0038] The rear housing 80 is connected to the rear of the base unit 10 and contains the locking unit 40, the trigger unit 50, the detection unit 61, and the control unit 70. The rear housing 80 extends vertically from the base unit 10 and holds the locking unit 40 and the trigger unit 50 at a predetermined position relative to the protective unit 20, specifically at a height that allows the locking unit 40 to advance above the protective unit 20 in its folded position to suppress (lock) the deployment of the protective unit 20. The trigger unit 50 is also provided so that when the protective device 1 is activated, the locking unit 40 can be retracted from above the protective unit 20 to release the lock.

[0039] The control unit 70 acquires the detection result from the detection unit 60, and if the detection result satisfies predetermined conditions, it controls the trigger unit 50 to release the lock from the lock unit 40. Figure 7 shows the configuration of the control unit 70. The control unit 70 comprises a processor 71, a storage unit 72, and an input / output unit 73. The processor 71 comprehensively executes various arithmetic processes in the control unit 70. The processor 71 is an arithmetic processing means such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a DSP (Digital Signal Processor), or an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array).

[0040] The memory unit 72 includes, for example, a main memory unit 721 and an auxiliary memory unit 722. The main memory unit 721 includes a main memory unit such as RAM (Random Access Memory) or ROM (Read Only Memory), for example Ba, The information to be processed by the processor 71 is expanded. The main memory unit 721 may be formed integrally with the processor 71.

[0041] The auxiliary storage unit 722 consists of storage media such as volatile memory like RAM, non-volatile memory like ROM, EPROM (Erasable Programmable ROM), hard disk drive (HDD), or removable media. Removable media are recording media that can be inserted externally and read by a computer, such as USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory or memory cards.

[0042] The auxiliary storage unit 722 can store the operating system (OS), various programs, various tables, various databases, user data, and other information necessary for the operation of the protection device 1.

[0043] The input / output unit 73 is, for example, an interface that inputs information (such as detection results) from the detection unit 60 and outputs information (such as control signals) to the detection unit 60 or other devices. The input / output unit 73 may also be a communication module that inputs (receives) information from other devices and outputs (transmits) information to other devices. Furthermore, the input / output unit 73 may also be a user interface that inputs user operation information such as operation buttons or a touch panel, and outputs information to the user such as a display or speaker (such as display or sound output).

[0044] ≪Protective Action≫ Figure 8 shows the processing procedure executed by the control unit 70 of the protective device 1. The protective device 1 repeatedly executes the process shown in Figure 8 while the power is ON or when it receives a startup instruction.

[0045] In step S10, the control unit 70 acquires the user's state and the surrounding state from the detection unit 60. For example, the control unit 70 acquires the user's acceleration from the acceleration sensor 61 and detects images of the surroundings from the cameras 62 and 63.

[0046] In step S20, the control unit 70 analyzes the user's state and the state of the user's surroundings based on the detection results of the detection unit 60 acquired in step S10. For example, the control unit 70 obtains information indicating the user's state, such as the user's direction of movement, speed of movement, rate of change of acceleration per unit time (jerk), and inclination with respect to gravity, based on the acceleration of each axis detected by the acceleration sensor 61. The control unit 70 also extracts objects present around the user by processing the images captured by cameras 62 and 63, and obtains information about the surroundings, such as the position, direction of movement, and speed of those objects. Furthermore, the control unit 70 may detect the user's actions, such as walking, sitting, running, riding a bicycle, or standing still, based on the images captured by cameras 62 and 63. Note that known techniques can be used to determine the position, speed, direction of movement, etc., of objects from captured images, so a detailed explanation is omitted. Furthermore, the position, velocity, and direction of movement of an object may be obtained not only from cameras 62 and 63, but also from radar, LiDAR, a three-dimensional scanner, or a combination thereof.

[0047] In step S30, the control unit 70 determines whether or not to activate the protective device 1 based on whether the information indicating the user's state and surrounding state, obtained in step S20, satisfies predetermined conditions. For example, if the user collides with something or is hit by a vehicle, this impact is detected as a sudden change in acceleration. If the jerk obtained in step S20 exceeds a predetermined threshold, the control unit 70 determines that the user has been hit and activates the protective device 1 (affirmative determination). Also, if the user falls, the user's head (protective device 1) falls with an acceleration close to free fall. If the control unit 70 determines in step S20 that the head moved downward with an acceleration exceeding a predetermined threshold, it makes an affirmative determination that the user has fallen, i.e., there is a possibility of the head being hit. Furthermore, based on the position, direction of movement, and speed of movement of an object obtained in step S20, the control unit 70 makes an affirmative determination if the user's position and the position of the surrounding object coincide after a predetermined time, i.e., if the object will collide with the user. These conditions and thresholds may be set by user operation. Alternatively, if a vehicle is moving towards the user, and the vehicle's speed, acceleration, and direction of travel are taken into consideration, a positive determination may be made if a collision is expected to be unavoidable. Here, the control unit 70 may determine whether the protective device 1 is attached to the user based on the detection results of the detection unit 60, such as a contact sensor or an infrared sensor, and if it is not attached, it may not activate the protective device 1 regardless of whether there is an impact or not. Furthermore, based on the detection results of the detection unit 60, such as a positioning device or an acceleration sensor, it may determine whether the protective device 1 (user) is moving, and if it is not moving, it may not activate the protective device 1.

[0048] If a positive determination is made in step S30, the control unit 70 proceeds to step S40, where it controls the trigger unit 50 to retract the lock unit 40 and release the lock. As a result, the drive unit 30 moves the free end 234 of the protective unit 20 away from the fixed end 233, and each rib of the protective unit 20 moves along the guide rail 21, causing at least the free end 234 to rotate with the rotation axis 2X as the center of rotation, thereby unfolding the protective unit 20, i.e., activating the protective device 1. When the operation is complete and the protective device 1 is to be reset, the user operates the protective unit 20 so that the free end 234 is close to the fixed end 233, causing the protective unit 20 to rotate and fold in the opposite direction to when it was activated. In other words, through this drive control and user operation, the protective unit 20 can be reversibly changed between the folded position before operation and the unfolded position after operation.

[0049] If, in step S30, the information indicating the user's status and the surrounding environment does not meet the predetermined conditions and a negative determination is made, the process shown in Figure 8 is terminated.

[0050] <Effects> As described above, protective device 1 is designed to protect the user in the event of a fall or an impending collision with a vehicle. stomach When an impact is expected to occur to the user, the protective part 20 can be deployed and cover the user's head, thereby absorbing the impact to the head and protecting the user's head.

[0051] Furthermore, since the protective device 1 of this embodiment has a bellows structure in the protective section 20, it is possible to reversibly switch between the folded position and the unfolded position. Unlike conventional airbag-type devices, the protective device 1 can be reused by returning the protective section 20 to the folded position after activation. Note that in Figure 4, the cushioning material 23 may be unfolded to the extent that it covers the user's face.

[0052] <Example 1> Figure 9 is a side view of the protective device 1A according to Modification 1, showing the protective part 20A in a folded position; Figure 10 is a front view of the protective device 1A according to Modification 1, showing the protective part 20A in a folded position; and Figure 11 is a side view of the protective device 1A according to Modification 1, showing the protective part 20A in an unfolded position.

[0053] The protective device 1A of this modified example differs from the first embodiment described above in that it deploys using the elastic force of the protective part 20A as the driving source, and omits the guide rail 21, rib 22, and drive unit 30. All other components are the same. For this reason, elements identical to those in the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and further explanation is omitted.

[0054] The protective part 20A consists of a cushioning material 23A and a retaining plate 2 4 It has. Retaining plate 2 4 is , is provided across the entire width in the left-right direction of the cushioning material 23A. The locking part 40 is located on the protective part 20 A The central portion of the retaining plate 24 engages with the protective portion 20 A The first locking part 41 prevents the deployment of the first locking part 41, and the left and right ends of the retaining plate 24 engage with the protective part 20 A It has a second locking part 42A that prevents the deployment of the second locking part 42A. The second locking part 42A is held in place by the second trigger part 50 on the left and right sides of the base part 10 so as to be able to move forward and backward.

[0055] The bellows-structured cushioning material 23A is compressed against its elastic force, and the protective part 20A is folded and locked by the locking part 40, resulting in the state shown in Figures 9 and 10. The configuration in which the control unit 70 controls the trigger part 50 and releases the locking part 40 according to the user's state and surrounding conditions is the same as in the first embodiment described above. When the lock is released, the protective part 20A unfolds due to the elastic force of the cushioning material 23A, resulting in the state shown in Figure 11.

[0056] Thus, the protective device 1A of this modified example uses the elastic force of the cushioning material 23A as a driving force, and when activated, deploys the protective part 20A to cover the user's head, thereby absorbing the impact with the protective part 20A and suppressing head injury.

[0057] Furthermore, in this modified example, the protective device 1A uses the elastic force of the cushioning material 23A as the driving source, which allows for the omission of the drive unit 30, guide rails, and ribs, resulting in a simpler configuration.

[0058] <Modification 2> Figure 12 is a side view of the protective device 1B according to Modification 2, showing the protective part 20 in a folded position. Figure 13 is a front view of the protective device 1B according to Modification 2, showing the protective part 20 in a folded position. Figure 14 is a top view of the protective device 1B according to Modification 2, showing the protective part 20 in a folded position. Figure 15 is a side view of the protective device 1B according to Modification 2, showing the protective device 1B being worn by a user and the protective part 20 in an unfolded state.

[0059] The protective device 1B in this modified example differs from the modified example 1 described above in that the base portion 10B is jacket-shaped, but the other components are the same. Therefore, elements identical to those in modified example 1 are given the same reference numerals, and further explanation is omitted.

[0060] The base part 10B is shown in the figure. 13 As shown, the neck housing 13 is elliptical and ring-shaped, and can be worn around the user's neck, similar to the base portion 10 in the above-described embodiment, and the neck housing 13 It has a jacket portion 14 connected to the lower part of the base portion 10B. The jacket portion 14 is generally formed in a bag shape from a flexible sheet such as cloth or synthetic resin, and has a first hole 141 at the top and second holes 142 on the left and right sides. The user puts the jacket portion 14 on their chest by putting their head through the first hole 141 and their left and right arms through the second holes 142. The jacket portion 14 is one form of fixing part that fixes the base portion 10B to the human body.

[0061] A rear housing 80 is connected to the rear of the neck housing 13, and second trigger parts 50 are provided on the left and right sides of the neck housing 13. The configuration in which the lock part 40 extends onto the protective part 20 and locks due to the trigger part (first trigger part) 50 in the rear housing 80 and the second trigger parts 50 on the left and right sides, and the configuration in which the control unit 70 controls the trigger part 50 according to the user's state and surrounding conditions to release the lock part 40, is the same as the modified example described above.

[0062] Thus, in this modified example, the protective device 1B is worn by the user by putting their arm through the jacket portion 14 of the base portion 10B, so even if the user is subjected to a strong impact, the protective device 1 B This prevents the device from becoming detached from the user, improving reliability. The neck housing 13 and the jacket 14 may be detachable, and the neck housing 13 and the jacket 14 may be connected when the user puts on the protective device 1B. Alternatively, the control unit 70, power supply unit, detection unit 60, etc. may be moved to the jacket 14, and the device will not operate unless the neck housing 13 and the jacket 14 are connected (including means to warn the user of this condition).

[0063] <Variation 3> Figure 16 is a side view of the protective device 1C according to Modification 3, showing the protective part 20C in a folded position; Figure 17 is a top view of the protective device 1C according to Modification 3, showing the protective part 20C in an unfolded position; Figure 18 is a protective device 1C according to Modification 3, showing the protective device 1 C Attach the protective part 20 C This is a side view showing the unfolded state.

[0064] The protective device 1C of this modified example is the modified example described above. 1,2 In comparison, the cushioning material 23C of the protective section 20C differs in that it unfolds upward instead of curving forward, but the other components are the same. For this reason, elements identical to those in Modification Example 3 are given the same reference numerals, and further explanation is omitted.

[0065] As shown in Figure 17, the neck housing 13 is provided to surround the user's head in a U-shape in a plan view. The protective part 20C has a cushioning material 23C and a retaining plate 24C. The cushioning material 23C is provided in a U-shape in a plan view, similar to the neck housing 13. The retaining plate 24C is provided in a U-shape not only near the center of the free end 234 of the cushioning material 23C, but also across its entire width in the left-right direction.

[0066] The bellows-structured cushioning material 23C is compressed against its elastic force, and the protective part 20C is folded and locked by the locking parts 40 (41, 42), resulting in the state shown in Figure 16. The configuration in which the control unit 70 controls the trigger part 50 and releases the locking part 40 according to the user's state and surrounding conditions is the same as in the modified example 2 described above. When the trigger part 50 releases the locking part 40, the protective part 20C unfolds upward due to the elastic force of the cushioning material 23C, becoming trough-shaped as shown in Figures 17 and 18.

[0067] Thus, the protective device 1C of this modified example uses the elastic force of the cushioning material 23C as a driving source, and when activated, deploys the protective part 20C to cover the user's head, thereby absorbing the impact with the protective part 20C and suppressing head injury.

[0068] Furthermore, the protective device 1C in this modified example can be made simpler in configuration by using the elastic force of the cushioning material 23C as the driving source. The cushioning material 23C may also be cylindrical in shape to cover the user's face.

[0069] <Modification 4> Figure 19 is a side view of the protective device 1D according to Modification 4, showing the protective part 20D in a folded position; Figure 20 is a side view of the protective device 1D according to Modification 4, showing the protective part 20D in an unfolded state with the user wearing the protective device 1D; and Figure 21 is a schematic diagram showing the unfolded and folded states of the honeycomb structure.

[0070] This modified version differs from the aforementioned Modified Version 2 in that the cushioning material 23D of the protective part 20D has a honeycomb structure; all other components are the same. Therefore, elements identical to those in Modified Version 2 are given the same reference numerals, and further explanation is omitted.

[0071] The cushioning material 23D is shaped to form a part of a bowl so as to cover the user's head, and is foldable due to its honeycomb structure. This honeycomb structure, as shown in Figure 21(A), is constructed by filling a plane with hexagons when viewed from the outer or inner circumferential surface, with the boundaries of these hexagons formed by elastic members 235, and the hexagonal parts becoming cavities (cells). Note that Figure 21 schematically shows the honeycomb structure for the sake of explanation, and the dimensions such as the size of each cell and the thickness of the elastic members 235 do not necessarily match the actual structure. Also, in this modified example, the cushioning material 23D is generally formed in a bowl shape, and the openings of each cell on the outer circumferential surface are formed to be larger than the openings of each cell on the inner circumferential surface, but this is omitted in Figure 21.

[0072] The cushioning material 23D is in its released state, i.e., before being deformed by an external force, as shown in Figures 20 and 21. ( A ) As shown, it is in the unfolded position. From this state, when the free end 234 of the protective part 20D is brought closer to the fixed end 233 against the elastic force of the cushioning material 23D, each cell of the cushioning material 23D is compressed linearly as shown in Figure 21(B), and the honeycomb structure is compressed, causing the protective part 20D to be in the folded position as shown in Figure 19. In this modified example, the cushioning material 23D can be reversibly switched between the unfolded and folded positions by its honeycomb structure.

[0073] The configuration in which the protective unit 20D is folded and locked by the locking unit 40, and the configuration in which the control unit 70 controls the trigger unit 50 and releases the locking unit 40 according to the user's state and surrounding conditions, are the same as in the modified example 2 described above.

[0074] As described above, the protective device 1D of this modified example uses a honeycomb structure for the cushioning material 23D, allowing for reversible switching between the deployed and folded positions. This enables the protective part 20D to be returned to the folded position and reused repeatedly even after the protective device 1D has been activated. Note that the cushioning material 23D is not limited to the bowl shape shown in Figure 20, but may also be configured to unfold into a trough shape (U-shaped cross-section) or a cylindrical shape, as shown in Figure 18.

[0075] <Modification 5> Figure 22 shows a protective device 1E according to modified example 5, wherein the protective part 2 0 The folded position Figure 23 is a side view of the protective device 1E according to modified example 5, showing the protective part 20 in a folded position, and Figure 24 is a side view of the protective device 1E according to modified example 5, showing the protective part 20 in an unfolded position.

[0076] This modified version differs from the previously described embodiment in that the drive unit 30E is an electric actuator, and the locking unit 40 and trigger unit 50 are omitted; all other components are the same. Therefore, elements identical to those in the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and further explanation is omitted.

[0077] The drive unit 30E is an electric actuator embedded in the left and right sides of the protective device 1E, specifically in the left and right sides of the base unit 10. The drive unit 30E is equipped with a rotary shaft 301 that can be rotated. The protective unit 20 has a rib 222 provided on the side of the free end 234 that penetrates the guide rail 21 and extends toward the drive unit 30E, and this rib 222 is the rotary shaft 301 It is connected to the drive unit 30E, which drives the rotating shaft 301 and drives the rib 222 away from the fixed end 233, thereby deploying the protective unit 20, and this rib 22 2 The protective part 20 is folded by driving it toward the fixed end 233.

[0078] The drive unit 30E is electrically connected to the control unit 70, and controls the deployment and folding of the protection unit 20. The control unit 70 performs the processing in steps S10 to S30 as in Figure 8, and if the answer in step S30 is Yes, it proceeds to step S40, where it drives the drive unit 30E to deploy the protection unit 20. Then, if the user inputs a reset command, the control unit 70 controls the drive unit 30E to fold the protection unit 20.

[0079] Thus, the protective device 1E of this modified example uses an electric actuator as a driving source and can protect the user's head by deploying the protective part 20 to cover the user's head when it is in operation.

[0080] Furthermore, in this modified example, the protective device 1E uses an electric actuator as the drive unit 30E, which allows for the omission of the lock unit 40 and the trigger unit 50, resulting in a simpler configuration.

[0081] <Second Embodiment> Figure 25 is a side view of the protective device 1F according to the second embodiment, Figure 26 is a schematic configuration diagram of the protective device 1F according to the second embodiment, Figure 27 is a plan view of the protective device 1F according to the second embodiment, and Figure 28 is a side view of the protective device 1F according to the second embodiment, showing the state in which the user has attached the protective device 1F and the protective part 20F has been deployed. Figure 29 is an exploded perspective view of the protective device 1F according to the second embodiment, and Figure 30 is a rear view of the protective device 1F according to the second embodiment. In this embodiment, the same reference numerals are used for elements that are the same as those in the first embodiment described above, and further explanation is omitted.

[0082] The protective device 1F shown in Figure 25 is attached to the user's body and protects at least the user's head. The protective device 1F comprises a base unit 10F, a protective unit 20F, a drive unit 30F, a detection unit 60, and a control unit 70.

[0083] The base unit 10F is a housing that surrounds the user's head in a U-shape in a plan view, as shown in Figure 27. The base unit 10F consists of a main body 15 that houses the protective unit 20F, the drive unit 30F, the detection unit 60, the control unit 70, and the blower 91, and the main body 15 The unit is equipped with a removable top plate 16. The protective section 20F has a bellows structure that can be extended and retracted in the vertical direction and includes a first protective section 201 located at the rear of the base section 10F and second protective sections 202 located at two locations on the left and right in front of the first protective section 201. One end (fixed end) of the first protective section 201 and the second protective section 202 are connected to the bottom plate 151 of the main body section 15, and the other end (free end) is connected to the lower surface of the top plate 16.

[0084] The drive unit 30F comprises an airbag 311, a gas generator 312, and an air supply pipe 313. The airbag 311 is formed to be columnar when deployed and is positioned between the first protective section 201 and the second protective section 202. One end (fixed end) of the airbag 311 is connected to the bottom plate 151 of the main body section 15, and the other end (free end) is connected to the underside of the top plate section 16. Before operation, the drive unit 30F is folded and housed within the base section 10F.

[0085] The gas generator 312 is connected to the airbag 311 via the air supply pipe 313 and supplies gas to the airbag 311 when activated by the control unit 70. The gas generator 312 generates combustion gas by burning explosives when activated, for example. However, the gas generator 312 is not limited to this; any gas that generates gas to deploy the airbag 311 is acceptable, such as one that holds compressed gas and releases it when activated.

[0086] On the inner circumferential wall side of the protective section 20F and the airbag 311, a cover section 153 (Figure 29) is provided to cover the protective section 20F and the airbag 311 when they are in the deployed position. One end (fixed end) of the cover section 153 is connected to the bottom plate 151 of the main body section 15, and the other end (free end) is connected to the lower surface of the top plate section 16. In the initial state, that is, before the protective device 1F is activated, the cover section 153 is stored in the base section 10F in a folded or retracted state, and is deployed together with the protective section 20F and the airbag 311 when the protective device 1F is activated.

[0087] An acceleration sensor 61 is provided as the first detection unit 60 within the base unit 10F, a camera 62 is provided as the second detection unit 60 in the front part of the base unit 10F, and a camera 63 is provided as the third detection unit 60 in the rear part of the base unit 10F.

[0088] The blower 91 takes in outside air from the bottom plate side of the base section 10F, sends it to the rear of the base section 10F, and releases the air through ventilation holes (not shown) provided in the inner peripheral wall of the main body section 15 (the peripheral wall on the side where the head is located) to cool the user's neck. The blower 91 can be turned ON / OFF by the user. The control unit 70 may also operate the blower 91 when it detects the outside temperature from the temperature sensor (detection unit 60) and determines that it is above a predetermined value. A heater 92 (Figure 29) is also provided along the inner peripheral wall of the main body section 15. The heater 92 can be turned ON / OFF by the user. The control unit 70 may also operate the heater 92 when it detects the outside temperature from the temperature sensor (detection unit 60) and determines that it is below a predetermined value, and control the heater 92 to reach a target temperature set by the user. Reflectors 93 are also provided on the outer peripheral surfaces of the base section 10F, such as the sides and back. In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 30, a plurality of reflectors 93 are provided on the back surface of the base portion 10F.

[0089] A belt (fixing part) 97 is provided at the bottom of the base part 10F to secure the base part 10F to the human body. The belt 97 is connected at two points on the left and right sides of the base part 10F, with both ends of the belt 97 connected to the front part 101 of the base part 10F and the rear part 102 separated from the front part 101. That is, the bottom plate 151 of the base part 10F and the belt 97 form a loop, and the user's arms are passed through this loop formed by the left and right belts 97, and the belt 97 is passed under the user's armpits, thereby securing the base part 10F to the user. Note that the fixing part is not limited to a belt 97, but may be a jacket part 14, as in the modified example 2. Alternatively, the fixing part may be a zipper or button, and may be fixed to the jacket worn by the user with a zipper or button. For example, in a jacket with a hood that can be attached and detached with a zipper, the hood may be removed from the jacket and the protective device 1F may be attached in its place.

[0090] The control unit 70, similar to the first embodiment described above, determines whether or not to activate the protective device 1F based on whether the information indicating the user's state and the surrounding state satisfies predetermined conditions, and activates the gas generator 312 if the predetermined conditions are met. The activated gas generator 312 supplies gas to the airbag 311 via the air supply pipe 313. The airbag 311, having received the gas supply, deploys so that its free end extends upward relative to its fixed end, pushing up the top plate portion 16 of the base portion 10F. Accordingly, the free end of the protective portion 20F connected to the top plate portion 16 moves upward, and the protective portion 20F is deployed. At this time, the cover portion 153 prevents direct contact between the user's head and the protective portion 20F, and further mitigates the impact on the head. The cover portion 153 may be positioned to cover not only the space between the user's head and the protective portion 20F, but also the entire protective portion 20F. After deployment, the airbag 311 and protective portion 20F can be folded by the user. Base They may be stored on the 10th floor and reused. Alternatively, the airbag 311 and gas generator 312 may be of cartridge type and reused by replacing them with unused airbags 311 and gas generators 312 after deployment.

[0091] Thus, according to this embodiment, when the user falls, is about to be hit by a vehicle, or is expected to be hit by an impact, the protective device 1F deploys the protective section 20F and covers the user's head, thereby absorbing the impact to the head with the protective section 20F and protecting the user's head.

[0092] Furthermore, since the protective device 1F of this embodiment is attached to the user by a belt 97, it is prevented from coming off during a collision, thereby improving safety. In addition, the protective device 1F of this embodiment can be equipped with a blower 91 and a heater 92 to regulate temperature and improve user comfort. Furthermore, the protective device 1F of this embodiment can be equipped with reflectors on the peripheral wall of the base portion 10F to reflect the lights of cars, making it easier to be recognized by surrounding drivers, thereby improving safety. Note that the blower 91, heater 92, and reflectors 93 may also be provided in the protective device of the first embodiment or modified versions described above.

[0093] <Third Embodiment> Figure 31 is a schematic diagram of the protective device 1G according to the third embodiment, and Figure 32 is a side view of the protective device 1G according to the third embodiment, showing the state in which the user has attached the protective device 1G and the protective section 20G has been deployed. Figure 33 is an exploded perspective view of the protective device 1G according to the third embodiment, and Figure 34 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration for deploying the protective section 20G according to the third embodiment. This embodiment differs from the second embodiment described above in the configuration for deploying the protective section 20G, but the other configurations are substantially the same. For this reason, the same reference numerals are used for elements that are the same as in the second embodiment, and further explanation is omitted.

[0094] The base unit 10G is a housing that, like the base unit 10F in Figure 27, surrounds the user's head in a U-shape in a plan view. The base unit 10G consists of a main body 15 that houses the protective unit 20G, the drive unit 30G, the locking unit 40G, the trigger unit 50G, and the control unit 70, and the main body 15It is equipped with a removable top plate 16. The protective part 20G is U-shaped in plan view and has a bellows structure that can be extended and retracted in the vertical direction. One end (fixed end) of the protective part 20G is connected to the bottom plate 151 of the main body 15, and the other end (free end) is connected to the lower surface of the top plate 16.

[0095] A cover portion 153 is provided on the inner circumferential wall side of the protective portion 20G to cover the protective portion 20G when it is in the deployed position. One end (fixed end) of the cover portion 153 is connected to the bottom plate 151 of the main body portion 15, and the other end (free end) is connected to the lower surface of the top plate portion 16. In the initial state, that is, before the protective device 1G is activated, the cover portion 153 is folded or retracted and housed within the base portion 10G, and is deployed together with the protective portion 20G when the protective device 1G is activated.

[0096] Furthermore, restricting portions 154 are provided on the front and rear sides of the protective portion 20G to restrict the extension length of the protective portion 20G, in other words, the distance the free end can move. The restricting portion 154 is a sheet formed to a predetermined length from a non-stretchable material, with one end connected to the free end side of the protective portion 20G via the top plate portion 16, and the other end connected to the bottom plate of the base portion 10G. This restricts the distance the top plate portion 16 is separated from the bottom plate of the base portion 10G, and also restricts the distance the free end of the protective portion 20G can move. Note that the cover portion 153 may also be configured to function as the restricting portion 154 (when the cover portion 153 is made of a non-stretchable material).

[0097] The drive unit 30G in this embodiment is a so-called torsion spring, and has an arm portion 32 extending from one end of the coil portion 31, an arm portion 33 extending from the other end of the coil portion 31, and connecting portions 34 and 35 extending from the tips of each arm portion 32 and 33 in a direction along the central axis of the coil portion 31. The connecting portion 34 of the drive unit 30G is connected to the bottom plate side connecting portion of the base portion 10G, and the connecting portion 35 of the drive unit 30G is connected to the top plate side connecting portion 112 (Figure 34) provided on the top plate portion 16. Note that the drive unit 30G is not limited to a torsion spring, but can be any other shape of spring or other elastic member having elastic force that allows the protective portion 20G to be deployed. a That's all you need to do.

[0098] The locking part 40G is provided within the main body 15 adjacent to the front of the top plate 16, and locks the top plate 16 by engaging with it when the top plate 16 is attached to the main body 15 (closed state). Trigger part 50 G This is a drive means that is connected to the locking part 40G and drives the locking part 40G. For example, the trigger part 50G is an electric actuator. The trigger part 50G operates according to the control of the control unit 70. G By moving the mechanism forward and backward, the top plate portion 16 is locked or unlocked.

[0099] Figure 34(A) shows the initial state of the protective device 1G, i.e., the protective section 20G is housed in the base section 10G in a folded position and the top plate section 16 is closed. Figure 34(B) shows the state during operation, i.e., the top plate section 16 is open and the protective section 20G begins to unfold. In the initial state, the locking section 40G engages with the front engaging section (recess) 161 of the top plate section 16 and presses the top plate section 16 backward, thereby engaging the rear engaging section (protrusion) 162 provided at the rear of the top plate section 16 with the main body side engaging section 152 provided on the main body section 15. At this time, the drive unit 30G is housed in a compressed state between the bottom plate of the base section 10G and the top plate section 16.

[0100] Then, similar to the second embodiment described above, the control unit 70 determines whether or not to activate the protective device 1G based on whether or not the information indicating the user's state and the surrounding state satisfies predetermined conditions, and activates the trigger unit 50G if the predetermined conditions are met. In the example of Figure 34, the trigger unit 50G retracts the locking unit 40G, thereby disengaging the locking unit 40G from the front engaging unit 161 of the top plate 16, and disengaging the rear engaging unit 162 of the top plate 16 from the main body engaging unit 152. As a result, the top plate 16 becomes movable, and the elastic force of the drive unit 30G pushes the top plate 16 upward. Consequently, the free end of the protective unit 20G connected to the top plate 16 moves upward, and the protective unit 20G is deployed.

[0101] Thus, according to this embodiment, when the user falls, is about to be hit by a vehicle, or is expected to be hit by an impact, the protective device 1G can deploy the protective section 20G and cover the user's head, thereby absorbing the impact to the head with the protective section 20G and protecting the user's head.

[0102] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the regulating part 154 restricts the length of the protective part 20G when it extends to a predetermined length, thereby preventing the protective part 20G from extending too much and reducing its protective performance, and improving reliability.

[0103] <Other> The protective device of this application is not limited to the configuration of the embodiments and modifications described above. For example, it can be modified as appropriate by combining the elements described above or by omitting some elements. For example, in the embodiments and modifications described above, the control unit 70 determines an emergency situation and controls the trigger unit 50 to deploy the protective units 20 to 20D, but it is not limited to this, and the user may manually release the lock unit 40 to activate the protective device. In this case, the trigger unit 50, the detection unit 60, and the control unit 70 can be omitted, and the protective device can be easily configured. Furthermore, in the embodiments and modifications described above, the protective units are deployed by the drive unit and the elastic force of the cushioning material, but it is not limited to this, and the user may manually deploy the protective units to activate the protective device. In this case, the drive unit 30 and the lock unit 40 can be omitted, and the protective device can be further simplified. Alternatively, such configurations may be combined with the devices shown in Figures 1 to 23. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0104] 1,1A,1B,1C,1D,1E,1F,1G Protective device 2X rotation axis 10, 10B, 10F, 10G Base section 11 Interior space 12 Bottom side 13 Cervical housing 14 Jacket section 17 Control Unit 20,20A,20C,20D,20F,20G Protection part 21 Guide rails 22 Ribs 23,23A,23C,23D Cushioning material 24, 24A, 24C retaining plate 30, 30E, 30F, 30G Drive Unit 40,40G locking mechanism 50,50G trigger section 60 Detection unit 70 Control Unit 71 processors 72 Memory section 73 Input / output section 80 Rear housing 141 First hole 142 Second hole 211 Groove 221 Left and right ends 231 Yamabe 232 Tanibe 233 Fixed end 234 Free end 235 Elastic members 721 Main memory 722 Auxiliary storage

Claims

1. A protective device worn on the human body to protect at least the head of the said human body, The above-mentioned body is wearable, and when worn on the human body, it comprises a base portion positioned below the head of the human body, A protective part having a honeycomb or bellows structure, formed of an elastic material, held by the base, and reversibly switchable between a folded position where it is folded against elastic force and an unfolded position where it is unfolded to cover the head of the human body, The protective part has a fixed end fixed to the base and a free end not fixed to the base. In the aforementioned folded position, the free end is folded in a position close to the fixed end. When switching from the folded position to the unfolded position, the free end moves upward while separating from the fixed end due to the elastic force of the protective part, causing the protective part to unfold around the head. Protective device.

2. The aforementioned protective device is A locking mechanism for locking the protective part in the folded position against the elastic force, A trigger unit that releases the lock on the protective unit by the locking unit, thereby deploying the protective unit, The protective device according to claim 1, further comprising the following:

3. A detection unit for detecting the state of the human body or the state of the surroundings of the human body, A control unit that acquires the detection result from the detection unit and controls the trigger unit to release the lock from the lock unit when the detection result satisfies predetermined conditions, The protective device according to claim 2, having the following features.

4. The protective device according to claim 1, further comprising a drive unit that drives the free end of the protective unit, which is in the folded position, to move away from the fixed end, thereby unfolding the protective unit.

5. A detection unit for detecting the state of the human body or the state of the surroundings of the human body, A control unit that acquires the detection result from the detection unit and controls the operation of the drive unit when the detection result satisfies predetermined conditions, The protective device according to claim 4, having the following features.

6. A protective device worn on the human body to protect at least the head of the said human body, The aforementioned base portion that can be attached to the human body, A protective part having a honeycomb structure or bellows structure, which is held by the base and can be reversibly switched between a folded position and an unfolded position that covers the head of the human body, The protective part has a fixed end fixed to the base and a free end not fixed to the base. When attached to the human body, the base portion is positioned below the head. The aforementioned protective part is In the aforementioned folded position, the free end is folded in a position close to the fixed end. During the operation to switch from the folded position to the unfolded position, the free end moves upward, causing the free end to move away from the fixed end, and the protective part unfolds around the head to assume the unfolded position after operation. Protective device.

7. The protective device according to claim 6, further comprising a restricting portion, one end of which is connected to the free end of the protective portion and the other end of which is connected to the base portion, for restricting the movement distance of the free end.

8. The protective device according to claim 3 or 5, wherein the detection unit includes at least one sensing means selected from an acceleration sensor, a gyro sensor, a positioning device, a camera, a radar, a LiDAR, and a three-dimensional scanner.

9. The protective device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the base portion is used in a state in which its lower surface abuts against the shoulder of the human body and is positioned around the neck of the human body.

10. The protective device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the protective part is formed from a cushioning material having a cushioning function, and when activated and deployed, the cushioning material also covers the face of the human body.

11. The protective device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a fixing portion for fixing the base portion to the human body.

12. The protective device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a cover portion that covers at least the surface located on the head side of the protective portion when the protective portion is in the deployed position.

Images