A wearable protection device

Abstract

A wearable protection device for protection of at least a body part of a wearer, the device comprising: a first inflatable element, a second inflatable element, and an inflation arrangement actuable to direct a flow of inflating gas into each inflatable element to thereby: (i) inflate the first inflatable element to a first peak inflation pressure P1); and (ii) inflate the second inflatable element to a second peak inflation pressure P2; the device being characterised in that said first and second inflatable elements are fluidly isolated from one another, and said first and second peak inflation pressures P1,P2) are different.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present disclosure relates to protection devices. In particular, the present disclosure relates to protection devices that can be worn on the human body. Further in particular, the present disclosure relates to wearable protection devices that inflate to prevent injury of the human body in case of an accident, e.g., a fall accident or a crash.BACKGROUND

[0002] Inflatable protection devices are well known in the automotive industry. For a long time, inflatable elements (more commonly known as airbags) have been provided in the interior of vehicles to protect occupants in the case of accidents such as crashes. Such airbags are deployed by inflation in the event of an imminent or ongoing vehicle crash, to cushion the impact of a vehicle occupant on elements of the vehicle such as the steering wheel or the dashboard. Over time, it has become common to provide additional airbags at various positions throughout the cabin of a motor vehicle to provide additional or improved protection in the case of various particular types of accidents such as, for example, rollover accidents and oblique impact crashes. For example, it is now common practice to provide motor vehicles with airbags in the form of inflatable curtains, side airbags, knee airbags, and airbags of different configurations for rear seat passengers. Some vehicles even comprise airbags arranged to deploy across parts of the exterior of the vehicle in order to protect pedestrians of so-called Vulnerable Road Users (VRUs), such as cyclists or motorcyclists, in the event that they might be struck by the vehicle in an accident.

[0003] It has also been proposed to provide personal protection devices are intended to provide specific protection to designated body parts by arranging inflatable protection devices in the vicinity of a certain body part to be protected. By wearing an inflatable protection device at a defined position on the body, the inflatable protection device may be inflated in the event of an imminent or ongoing accident to provide a cushioning effect for that designated body part.

[0004] For example, it has been proposed to provide airbags inside motorcycle garments such as motorcycle jackets in order to provide improved protection for motorcyclists in the event of accidents. In exemplary arrangements, a garment such as a protective motorcycle jacket typically has an airbag (for example hidden inside the lining of the garment) which is arranged in fluid communication with an inflator such as a gas generator. The inflator is operably associated with a crash or impact sensor (which may be provided either within the garment itself, or alternatively on a motorcycle) configured to provide an actuating signal to the inflator in the event that a likely or actual crash or impact is detected, thereby actuating the inflator to inflate the airbag inside the garment. As will be appreciated, inflation of the airbag inside the garment will provide a cushioning effect for the part of the wearer's body around which or over which the airbag is provided. For example, a motorcycle jacket with an airbag will provide protection to the upper body of a motorcyclists wearing the jacket.

[0005] The main parameters of importance regarding airbag performance in terms of the cushioning effect provided are pressure and thickness—that is to say the peak internal gas pressure and the maximum inflated thickness of the airbag achieved upon deployment. Generally, and within certain limits, greater inflated thickness and greater inflated pressure is known to improve the performance of an airbag in terms of providing effective protection. However, it has been found that in the particular case inflatable wearable protection devices, it can be very difficult to incorporate airbags which achieve significant thickness upon inflation because of the often very limited space available within a wearable garment (such as a motorcycle jacket, for example). Limited space between the outermost skin of a garment and the wearer's body represents part of the problem in this context, because it restricts the size to which an airbag is able to inflate between the wearer's body and the outermost skin of the garment. But also, an airbag which is configured to achieve a relatively large thickness upon inflation will comprise more structural material (typically woven fabric) and will thus necessarily require more space even when it is uninflated (i.e. prior to deployment) than an airbag configured to achieve a relatively small thickness. A large mass of airbag fabric installed in a wearable garment can make the garment uncomfortable to wear, particularly over long periods of time as might be necessary, for example, in the case of a motorcycle jacket.

[0006] The present invention has been devised in light of the above considerations.

[0007] Whilst the invention is described herein with specific reference to a wearable protection device intended to be worn around a wearer's upper body, such as in the form of a motorcycle jacket, it is to be noted that the invention is not limited to such a configuration of wearable device. On the contrary, it is envisaged that the invention could be embodied in a wide range of wearable forms and could, for example, be provided within or in combination with a wide range of garments or other wearable items such as, for example: vests, trousers, over-trousers, belts, harnesses, socks, gloves, boots, helmets, all-in-one bodysuits, knee-pads, shoulder-pads, elbow-pads, sleeves (the aforementioned list being understood to be merely exemplary and not exhaustive).SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a wearable protection device for protection of at least a body part of a wearer, the device comprising: a first inflatable element, a second inflatable element, and an inflation arrangement actuable to direct a flow of inflating gas into each inflatable element to thereby: (i) inflate the first inflatable element to a first peak inflation pressure; and (ii) inflate the second inflatable element to a second peak inflation pressure; the device being characterised in that said first and second inflatable elements are fluidly isolated from one another, and said first and second peak inflation pressures are different.

[0009] A wearable protection device of this configuration allows the relative peak inflation pressures of different regions of the device to be balanced or tuned in order to optimise the impact protection provided by the device to a wearer. For example, this type of arrangement may allow a particular region or regions of the device positioned to protect particularly vulnerable body parts or regions of body parts to be inflated to a higher peak inflation pressure than other regions of the device. This can be particularly advantageous in the case of a device provided, for example, within a wearable garment such as a motorcycle jacket where space constraints might limit the maximum size to which inflatable elements can be inflated within or under the garment.

[0010] The inflation arrangement (e.g. at least a part of the inflation arrangement) may form a part of the wearable protection device. For example, (at least a part of) the inflation arrangement may be integrated with, within, located on, or provided as part of the wearable protection arrangement (e.g. configured to be permanently attached to the wearable protection device). In some embodiments, the inflation arrangement may be implicated in the wearable protection device. Accordingly, the inflation arrangement may be actuable to direct a flow of inflating gas into each inflatable element at any time during the use of the wearable protection device (e.g. when the wearable protection device is being worn by a user).

[0011] Optionally, said inflation arrangement may comprise a pair of discrete inflators including: a first inflator fluidly coupled to said first inflatable element; and a second inflator fluidly coupled to said second inflatable element; each inflator being actuable to inflate a respective inflatable element. This can further assist in fine tuning the inflation characteristics of the device.

[0012] Optionally, said first inflator is configured to produce a first volume of inflating gas upon actuation, and said second inflator is configured to produce a second volume of inflating gas upon actuation, said first volume of inflating gas being different to said second volume of inflating gas. In some embodiments, it is envisaged that said first volume of inflating gas may be greater than said second volume of inflating gas.

[0013] In some embodiments it is envisaged that the inflation arrangement may be configured to actuate the inflators in sequence such that one said inflator is actuated before the other. This may be advantageous in some circumstances and can allow the two inflatable elements to achieve their respective peak inflation pressures at different times.

[0014] Conveniently, said first inflatable element defines a first inflatable volume for receipt of inflating gas, and said second inflatable element defines a second inflatable volume for receipt of inflating gas, said first inflatable volume being different to said second inflatable volume. In some embodiments it is envisaged that said first inflatable volume may be greater than said second inflatable volume.

[0015] In some embodiments it is proposed that the second peak inflation pressure may be greater than the first peak inflation pressure.

[0016] In some particular embodiments, it is proposed to configure the wearable protection device such that: i) said first volume of inflating gas is greater than said second volume of inflating gas; ii) the first inflatable volume of the first inflatable element is greater than the second inflatable volume of the second inflatable element; and iii) said second peak inflation pressure is greater than said second peak inflation pressure.

[0017] Optionally, the wearable protection device may be configured such that at least one of said inflatable elements is arranged adjacent a body part to be protected when the device is worn by a wearer.

[0018] Conveniently, the wearable protection device may be configured to be worn about the upper body of a wearer such that: said first inflatable element is arranged adjacent at least part of the wearer's torso; and at least part of said second inflatable element is arranged adjacent at least one of the wearer's shoulders. Optionally, part of said second inflatable element may be arranged adjacent at least part of said first inflatable element such that said first inflatable element is interposed between the wearer's torso and said second inflatable element.

[0019] Some embodiments of wearable protection device may be configured to be worn about the upper body of a wearer such that said first inflatable element is arranged adjacent at least part of the wearer's torso, and at least part of said second inflatable element is arranged adjacent at least part of said first inflatable element such that said first inflatable element is interposed between the wearer's torso and said second inflatable element.

[0020] Optionally, said first and second inflatable elements are physically interconnected.

[0021] Conveniently, the wearable protection device may be provided integral to, within, or in combination with a wearable garment. The inflation arrangement (e.g. at least a part of the inflation arrangement) may be provided integral to, within, located on, or in combination with a wearable garment.

[0022] According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a wearable garment incorporating a wearable protection device according to the first aspect.

[0023] The invention includes the combination of the aspects and preferred features described except where such a combination is clearly impermissible or expressly avoided.

[0024] The skilled person will appreciate that except where mutually exclusive, a feature or parameter described in relation to any one of the above aspects may be applied to any other aspect. Furthermore, except where mutually exclusive, any feature or parameter described herein may be applied to any aspect and / or combined with any other feature or parameter described herein.SUMMARY OF THE FIGURES

[0025] So that the invention may be more readily understood, and so that further features thereof may be appreciated, embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0026] FIG. 1 is a front view showing a wearable protection device according to the present invention being worn by a wearer and which is in an initial undeployed and thus uninflated condition;

[0027] FIG. 2 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1, but which shows the wearable protection device in an alternate, deployed and inflated condition;

[0028] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the deployed and inflated wearable protection device from the wearer's front and right side;

[0029] FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration showing elements of the wearable protection device in more detail; and

[0030] FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration showing the wearable garment in the form of a jacket incorporating a wearable protection device according to the invention.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0031] Aspects and embodiments of the present invention will now be discussed with reference to the accompanying figures. Further aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

[0032] FIG. 1 illustrates a wearable protection device 1 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention and shows the device 1 in a normal in-use condition in which it is uninflated and worn around the upper body region 2 of a wearer 3. FIG. 1 depicts the wearer 3 in the form of an armless mannequin, but the skilled reader will of course understand that the device 1 is intended to be worn around the upper body region 2 of a human wearer 3 in substantially the same manner as illustrated. The particular device 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 will thus be understood to be configured to provide protection to the wearer's upper body 2 and may thus be considered to take the form of a vest comprising a fastening arrangement 4 at the front of the wearer's upper body region 2. Whilst the fastening arrangement 4 illustrated in FIG. 1 takes the form of tapes which are tied together in bows to fasten the device, it will be understood that other conventional types of fastening arrangement may alternatively be used such as, for example, a zipper, buttons or fabric hook and eye fastening tape.

[0033] The device 1 takes the form of a wearable airbag arrangement comprising a first inflatable element 5, and a second inflatable element 6. The airbag arrangement as a whole, and thus the first and second elements 5, 6 individually, are fabricated from flexible woven fabric material in a conventional manner as will be understood by the skilled reader.

[0034] The first inflatable element 5 is configured to be worn around the wearer's torso 7 and to lie adjacent the wearer's torso 7. The first inflatable element 1 is configured to extend around the back of the wearer's torso 7, around the sides of the wearer's torso, and across the front (chest region) of the wearer's torso 7. As will be appreciated, the first inflatable element 5 is furthermore provided with a pair of arm holes 8 (shown most clearly in FIG. 3, described below) to permit passage therethrough of the wearer's arms (not shown). It is proposed that in some embodiments the first inflatable element 5 will be configured to fit tightly around the wearer's torso 7 to create a ‘snug’ fit. It has been found that this can be advantageous in ensuring that the protection device 1 remains in its intended position around the wearer's upper body 2 during normal wear of the device 1, so that it will be properly positioned in the event of deployment.

[0035] In the embodiment illustrated, the second inflatable element 6 is affixed to the outside of the first inflatable element 5, for example by one or more stitched seams 9, so that the first and second inflatable elements 5, 6 are physically interconnected. It is important to note, however, that the first and second inflatable elements 5, 6 are fluidly distinct from one another, which is to say that they are fluidly isolated from one another. There is thus no provision for any fluid communication from the first inflatable element 5 to the second inflatable element 6, or vice-versa.

[0036] In more detail, it will be noted that the second inflatable element 6 comprises a pair of front portions 6f which, in their initial uninflated condition, each extend across a respective front side of the first inflatable chamber 5, on a respective side of the front fastening arrangement 4. The front portions 6f of the second inflatable chamber 6 are thus arranged adjacent respective front (chest region) sides of the first inflatable chamber 5, such that the front sides of the first inflatable chamber 5 are each interposed between the wearer's torso 7 and a respective front portion 6f of the second inflatable chamber 6.

[0037] The second inflatable element 6 further comprises a pair of shoulder portions 6s, each of which forms a fluidly continuous extension of a respective front portion 6f. As illustrated in FIG. 1, each shoulder portion 6s is arranged to extend over and thus lie substantially adjacent a respective shoulder of the wearer 3. In the embodiment illustrated, the shoulder portions 6s resemble small wings. Although not illustrated clearly in FIG. 1, it is proposed that the two shoulder regions 6s may be interconnected by a region of the second inflatable chamber 6 which extends across the upper region of the wearer's back, just below the neck. In this manner, the illustrated configuration of the second inflatable element 6 takes the form of a loop extending upwardly from the front of the first inflatable element 5 on one side of the wearer's chest, over and across one shoulder, across the wearer's upper back, over and across the other shoulder, and downwardly across the front of the first inflatable element 5 on the other side of the wearer's chest.

[0038] As will be appreciated, each inflatable element 5, 6 forms a respective inflatable chamber having an internal volume for the receipt of inflating gas. Each inflatable element 5, 6 thus defines a respective inflatable volume V1, V2 for the receipt of inflating gas. Having regard to the arrangement illustrated in FIG. 1, it will be noted that the first inflatable element 5 is somewhat larger than the second inflatable element 6. It follows, therefore that the inflatable volumes of the two inflatable elements 5, 6 are different. More particularly, the first inflatable element 5 defines an inflatable volume V1 of larger capacity than the inflatable volume V2 defined by the second inflatable element 6. It will therefore be appreciated, that were the first and second inflatable chambers 5, 6 hypothetically both inflated to the same inflation pressure, the first inflatable chamber 5 would require more inflating gas than the second inflatable chamber 6.

[0039] FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate the wearable protection device 1 in a deployed and thus inflated condition around the wearer's upper body 2. As will be noted, the first inflatable element 5 inflates into deployed condition in which it provides impact protection to the front (chest) region and the rear region of the occupant's torso 7. The second inflatable element 6 inflates into a deployed condition in which it provides impact protection to the occupant's shoulders, but also supplementary impact protection (in addition to that provided by the first inflatable element 5) along two narrow regions of the wearer's front (chest).

[0040] Turning now to consider FIG. 4, the inflatable wearable protection device 1 is illustrated schematically, with several other components shown. The device is thus shown to comprise an inflation arrangement, indicated generally at 10. The inflation arrangement 10 comprises a first inflator 11 and a second inflator 12. Each inflator 11, 12 may, for example, take the form of a gas generator of a type known per se, and is thus configured to produce a volume of inflating gas upon actuation. Each inflator 11, 12 is exclusively associated with a respective inflatable element 5, 6 such that each inflatable element 5, 6 is provided in fluid connection to its own dedicated and independent inflator 10, 11. Thus, the first inflator 11 is configured to produce and direct a first volume of inflating gas into the first inflatable element 5 to inflate the first inflatable element 5, and the second inflator 12 is configured to produce and direct a second volume of inflating gas into the second inflatable element 6 to inflate the second inflatable element 6. Although the inflation arrangement 10 is indicated schematically here, at least a part of the inflation arrangement 10 may be integrated with (e.g. located on) the wearable protection device 1. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, each inflator 11, 12 is located on the wearable protection device 1.

[0041] As will be appreciated, because the first inflatable element 5 has a larger inflatable volume than the second inflatable element 6, it is proposed that the first inflator 11 should be configured to produce a larger volume of inflating gas upon actuation than the second inflator 12. In other words, the first inflator 11 should have a larger capacity than the second inflator 12. The first inflator 11 is thus configured to produce a first volume of inflating gas VG1 upon actuation, and the second inflator 12 is configured to produce a second volume of inflating gas VG2 upon actuation, where VG1>VG2.

[0042] Both inflators 11, 12 are operably coupled (by respective connection lines 13, 14) to an electronic actuator 15 of a type known per se and which may include a processor. The actuator 15 in turn is coupled to one or more sensors 16 which may take the form, for example, of crash or impact sensors and could comprise one or more accelerometers or pressure switches. It is envisaged that the actuator 15 and the / each sensor 16 may be provided on the wearable part of the device 1 so that they will effectively also be worn by the wearer 3 when the device 1 is in use. Alternatively, however, it is envisaged that the / each sensor 16, and optionally also the actuator 15, could be provided distal to the wearable part of the device 1, for example on a motorcycle (not shown) in order to detect a crash involving the motorcycle.

[0043] As will be appreciated by those of skill in the art, upon receipt of an appropriate signal from at least one sensor 16 (for example a signal indicative of a likely or actual crash or impact), the actuator 15 is configured to send an actuation signal to each inflator 11, 12 (via the respective connection lines 13, 14) to actuate each inflator 11, 12 so as to direct a flow of inflating gas into the respective inflatable elements 5, 6, and thereby inflate the device 1 into the condition illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. In some embodiments, the inflation arrangement 10 may be configured to actuate the two inflators 11, 12 substantially simultaneously, meaning that initial actuation of each inflator 11, 12 may occur at substantially the same instant. However, other embodiments are proposed in which the inflation arrangement 10 may be configured to actuate the two inflators sequentially such that one is actuated slightly (perhaps even only by milliseconds) before the other. For example, in some configurations it may be considered beneficial to actuate the first inflator 11 slightly before the second inflator 12 given the larger inflatable volume of the first inflatable element 5, and the importance of ensuring early and prompt inflation of the first inflatable element 5 to provide effective impact protection to the wearer's torso 7 which contains important bodily organs.

[0044] In accordance with the present invention, it is proposed that the inflation arrangement 10 be configured to inflate the two inflatable elements 5, 6 to different peak inflation pressures upon actuation. For example, in a particular proposal it is envisaged that the inflation arrangement 10 may be configured to inflate the first inflatable element 5 to a first peak inflation pressure P1, and to inflate the second inflatable element 6 to a second peak inflation pressure P2 such that the second inflatable element 6 is inflated to a higher inflation pressure than the first inflatable chamber 5 upon deployment of the device—i.e. such that P2>P1. Such an inflation characteristic can be advantageous in the case of the particular type of wearable protection device 1 described above and illustrated in the drawings, because if the device 1 is worn underneath outer clothing (such as a jacket, for example) space between the wearer's shoulders and the outer clothing can be particularly limited and can thus prevent inflation of an inflatable element to significant thickness in the shoulder region. By providing an arrangement in which the second inflatable element 6 covering the wearer's shoulders can be inflated to a higher peak inflation pressure P1 than the first inflatable element 5, the second inflatable element 6 can be configured to provide effective impact protection in the shoulder region without necessitating significant inflated thickness. The first inflation element 5 can be inflated to a lower peak inflation pressure P1 than the second inflatable element 6, because it is located around a region of the wearer's upper body 2 where there is typically more room underneath an overgarment such as a jacket, thereby allowing the first inflatable element 5 to achieve a greater inflated thickness than the second inflatable element 6.

[0045] The peak inflation pressure P1, P2 of each inflatable element 5, 6 can be tuned by balancing the inflatable volume V1, V2 of each inflatable element 5, 6 with the capacity (i.e. the volume of inflating gas VG1, VG2 produced) of the respective inflator 11, 12. As will be appreciated, for any given inflatable volume V1, V2 of a respective inflatable element 5, 6, an increase in the volume of inflating gas VG1, VG2 produced by its respective inflator 11, 12 will result in a commensurate increase in peak inflation pressure P1, P2.

[0046] Turning finally to consider FIG. 5, it is proposed that the wearable protection device 1 of the present invention may be provided integral to, within, or in combination with a wearable garment 17. In the particular arrangement illustrated in FIG. 5, the wearable protection device 1 is provided in combination with a garment 17 in the specific form of a protective motorcycle jacket, and is thus configured to be worn by the rider of a motorcycle (not shown). The device 1 may be provided hidden within the lining of the jacket 17, as an integral feature of the jacket 17.

[0047] The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or in the following claims, or in the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for obtaining the disclosed results, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

[0048] While the invention has been described in conjunction with the exemplary embodiments described above, many equivalent modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art when given this disclosure. Accordingly, the exemplary embodiments of the invention set forth above are considered to be illustrative and not limiting. Various changes to the described embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0049] For the avoidance of any doubt, any theoretical explanations provided herein are provided for the purposes of improving the understanding of a reader. The inventors do not wish to be bound by any of these theoretical explanations.

[0050] Any section headings used herein are for organizational purposes only and are not to be construed as limiting the subject matter described.

[0051] Throughout this specification, including the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the words “have”, “comprise”, and “include”, and variations such as “having”, “comprises”, “comprising”, and “including” will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

[0052] It must be noted that, as used in the specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,”“an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Ranges may be expressed herein as from “about” one particular value, and / or to “about” another particular value. When such a range is expressed, another embodiment includes from the one particular value and / or to the other particular value. Similarly, when values are expressed as approximations, by the use of the antecedent “about,” it will be understood that the particular value forms another embodiment. The term “about” in relation to a numerical value is optional and means, for example, + / −10%.

[0053] The words “preferred” and “preferably” are used herein refer to embodiments of the invention that may provide certain benefits under some circumstances. It is to be appreciated, however, that other embodiments may also be preferred under the same or different circumstances. The recitation of one or more preferred embodiments therefore does not mean or imply that other embodiments are not useful, and is not intended to exclude other embodiments from the scope of the disclosure, or from the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A wearable protection device for protection of at least a body part of a wearer, the device comprising: a first inflatable element, a second inflatable element, and an inflation arrangement actuable to direct a flow of inflating gas into each inflatable element to thereby: (i) inflate the first inflatable element to a first peak inflation pressure (P1); and (ii) inflate the second inflatable element to a second peak inflation pressure (P2); the device being wherein said first and second inflatable elements are fluidly isolated from one another, and said first and second peak inflation pressures (P1,P2) are different.

2. The wearable protection device according to claim 1, wherein said inflation arrangement comprises a pair of discrete inflators including: a first inflator fluidly coupled to said first inflatable element; and a second inflator fluidly coupled to said second inflatable element; each inflator being actuable to inflate a respective inflatable element.

3. The wearable protection device according to claim 2, wherein said first inflator is configured to produce a first volume of inflating gas (VG1) upon actuation, and said second inflator is configured to produce a second volume of inflating gas (VG2) upon actuation, said first volume of inflating gas (VG1) being different to said second volume of inflating gas (VG2).

4. The wearable protection device according to claim 3, wherein said first volume of inflating gas (VG1) is greater than said second volume of inflating gas (VG2).

5. The wearable protection device according to claim 2, wherein said inflation arrangement is configured to actuate said inflators in sequence such that one said inflator is actuated before the other.

6. The wearable protection device according to claim 1, wherein said first inflatable element defines a first inflatable volume (V1) for receipt of inflating gas, and said second inflatable element defines a second inflatable volume (V2) for receipt of inflating gas, said first inflatable volume (V1) being different to said second inflatable volume (V2).

7. The wearable protection device according to claim 6, wherein said first inflatable volume (V1) is greater than said second inflatable volume (V2).

8. The wearable protection device according to claim 1, wherein said second peak inflation pressure (P2) is greater than said first peak inflation pressure (P1).

9. The wearable protection device according to claim 1, configured such that at least one of said inflatable elements is arranged adjacent a body part to be protected when the device is worn by a wearer.

10. The wearable protection device according to claim 9, configured to be worn about the upper body of a wearer such that: said first inflatable element is arranged adjacent at least part of the wearer's torso; and at least part of said second inflatable element is arranged adjacent at least one of the wearer's shoulders.

11. The wearable protection device according to claim 10, wherein part of said second inflatable element is arranged adjacent at least part of said first inflatable element such that said first inflatable element is interposed between the wearer's torso and said second inflatable element.

12. The wearable protection device according to claim 9, configured to be worn about the upper body of a wearer such that: said first inflatable element is arranged adjacent at least part of the wearer's torso; and at least part of said second inflatable element is arranged adjacent at least part of said first inflatable element such that said first inflatable element is interposed between the wearer's torso and said second inflatable element.

13. The wearable protection device according to claim 1, wherein said first and second inflatable elements are physically interconnected.

14. The wearable protection device according to claim 1 provided integral to, within, or in combination with a wearable garment, the wearable garment further incorporating a wearable protection device.

15. (canceled)

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