Protective device for protecting a body part of a human

Abstract

A protective device for protecting a body part of a human is described. This protective device comprises a first inflatable element (20) having a first skin (22) enclosing a first gas space (24), and an inflation unit (30) for filling the first gas space (24) with air. In the inflated state, the first skin (22) has a contact surface section (22a) adapted for facing at least a section of the body part to be protected. In order to raise the safety-and protection level that can be reached, the protective device (10) further comprises a pressure control arrangement controlling the pressure inside the first gas space (24). This pressure control arrangement is arranged for limiting the pressure inside the first gas (24) space to a first pre-defined value.

Description

[0001] Protective device for protecting a body part of a human

[0002] Description

[0003] The invention relates to a protective device for protecting a body part of a human according to the preamble of claim 1 .

[0004] The invention relates mainly to helmets, but could also be applied to other protective devices like skiing boots or body protectors. Despite the fact that the invention could also be used for other protective devices, the prior art and the invention will be explained in relation to helmets in the first place.

[0005] A helmet, especially a motorcycle helmet or a skiing helmet usually comprises a helmet body and a chin strap. The helmet body usually comprises at least three “layers”, namely a main body being made of a foamed plastic material like Styrofoam, a rigid hard outer shell covering the outer surface of the main body, and a cushioning made of a soft foam and being located on the inside of the main body.

[0006] It is a known problem to fit the helmet to the head of the user, especially since the helmet body usually does not fit perfectly to the head (the helmet body is not individually made for the user), and because it is often difficult to adjust the chin strap correctly.

[0007] It is known to provide such a helmet body with an inflatable element having a skin enclosing gas space and an inflation unit like a manually operated pump, such that the inflatable element can be inflated in order to better fit to the user’s head.

[0008] Starting form this and the prior art it is an object of the invention to improve a generic protective device in such a way that a higher level of protection and safety for the user can be reached. As described above, the inflatable element is usually inflated by the user by means of an inflation unit, for example a pump. It turned out that the pressure level chosen by the user is often not at its optimum in regards of the overall properties of the helmet. So, according to the invention, the protective device additionally comprises a pressurecontrol arrangement that controls the pressure inside the gas space of the inflatable element in such a way that it is limiting the pressure inside the first gas space to a first predefined value. This has the following advantages: First of all, it is prevented that the user choses the pressure inside the first inflatable element too high, which could reduce the protection level during an accident. Second, in many embodiments, especially in such embodiments in which the pressure-control arrangement comprises an overpressure valve, air can be released from the inflatable element during a crash scenario. This additionally raises the protection level of the helmet because the first inflatable element can deform non-reversibly and thus provide additional deceleration distance and energy dissipation.

[0009] Thus, the protective device according to the invention comprises a first inflatable element having a first skin enclosing a first gas space, an inflation unit for filling the first gas space with air, and a pressure control arrangement controlling the pressure inside the first gas space. This pressure control arrangement is arranged for limiting the pressure inside the first gas space to a first pre-defined value. In the inflated state, the first skin has a contact surface section that is adapted for facing at least a section of the body part to be protected. This means that the contact surface section contacts the respective body part in the worn state of the protective device either directly or indirectly. In the latter case (indirect contact), an additional piece of a flat element, usually a piece of textile can be placed between the human and the contact surface. Such an additional piece of a flat element might not directly be attached to the first airbag skin, but instead, as an example, to a hard shell of a helmet. This additional piece of a flat element can in some embodiments be elastic. In any case, the contact surface section points towards the body part to be protected and the pressure control function is independent from the fact if it directly contacts this body part or an additional flat and non-inflatable additional textile element is sandwiched between the contact surface section and the body part. So, for the sake of linguistic simplicity, the term “contact surface section” is used for both cases. The use of a pressure-control arrangement makes it especially possible that this inflatable element (also referred to as “first inflatable element”) replaces the main body of a traditional helmet completely and thus provides a perfectly fitting helmet with a very high protection level. In this case, the helmet can even comprise an “integrated chin strap” being a part of the first inflatable element, such that the first inflatable element comprises a main part covering at least the back of the head and the forehead of the user when the helmet is worn, and at least one chin part extending from this main part in covering at least a section of the chin and / or throat when the helmet is worn.

[0010] In one preferred embodiment, the protective device is a helmet with a rigid outer shell and the first inflatable element is located inside this outer shell. As has been mentioned, the first inflatable element replaces the main body of a helmet being made of foamed plastic or the like.

[0011] In another preferred embodiment, the protection device is also a helmet but additionally comprises a second inflatable element covering the first inflatable element and thus replacing the traditional rigid outer shell.

[0012] In this case, it is especially preferred that a serial gas flow path is provided. This serial gas flow path starts in the environment and goes then via the inflation unit into the second inflatable element, from there via an internal overpressure valve into the first inflatable element and from there via another overpressure valve (also referred to as first overpressure valve) back to the environment.

[0013] Such a helmet is easy to use (since it needs only to be filled with gas via one port) and it can be designed such that the pressure inside the first inflatable element is lower that the pressure in the second inflatable element which forms the outer shell of the helmet. So, a very good fitting and very light-weight helmet is provided which is mainly set up as a traditional helmet with the first inflatable element forming the main body and the second inflatable element forming the outer shell.

[0014] As has already been mentioned, the pressure-control arrangement can simply be a first overpressure valve which is cheap and reliable. For inflating the inflatable element, an inflating unit must be provided. This inflating unit can be in form of a manual pump or of an electrically driven compressor. Providing an electrically driven compressor can have the advantage that it can be ensured that the pressure does not decrease over the time even in case of a small leakage.

[0015] Instead or additionally to providing an overpressure valve it is also possible to provide an active pressure-control arrangement comprising a pressure sensor inside the first gas space. This pressure sensor is in communication with a control unit which controls the electrically driven compressor and / or a controllable valve.

[0016] The invention will now be described in detail by means of preferred embodiments in view of the Figures. The Figures show:

[0017] Figure 1 a a first embodiment of a protective device, namely a helmet being worn by a user,

[0018] Figure 1 b the air flow path of the first embodiment shown in Figure 1 a in a schematic representation,

[0019] Figure 1 c the inflation unit and the first overpressure valve shown in Figure 1 b in more detail, but still schematic,

[0020] Figure 2a a variation to the first embodiment shown in Figure 1 a comprising an inflation and pressure-control unit,

[0021] Figure 2b the air flow path of the helmet shown in Figure 2a in a representation according to Figure 1 b,

[0022] Figure 2c the combined inflation and pressure-control unit of Figures 2a and 2c in a representation according to Figure 1 c,

[0023] Figure 3a a second embodiment of the invention in a representation according to Figure 1 a, Figure 3b the air flow path of the embodiment of Figure 3a in a representation according to Figure 2b,

[0024] Figure 3c the inflation and pressure-control unit of the embodiment shown in Figures 3a and 3b in a representation according to Figure 1 c,

[0025] Figure 3d a variation to what is shown in Figure 3c,

[0026] Figure 4 a third embodiment of the invention in a representation according to

[0027] Figure 1 a,

[0028] Figure 5a a fourth embodiment of the invention in a representation according to Figure 4, and

[0029] Figure 5b the air flow of the fourth embodiment in a representation according to Figure 1 b.

[0030] The invention will be described by means of embodiments, all forming a helmet. Providing an improved helmet is by far the most important application of this invention, but it still has to be noted that it is not the only one. The invention could, for example, also be applied to protective shoes or for body protectors like back protectors.

[0031] Figure 1 a shows a protective device in form of a helmet 10 which is placed on the head H of a human. This helmet 10 comprises a rigid outer shell 50 (shown in dotted lines) and a first inflatable element 20 placed on the inside of the rigid outer shell 50 and being in its inflated state, in which it essentially has the shape of a foamed main body of a traditional helmet (here a so called jet helmet). In this embodiment, the first inflatable element is the only inflatable element. Although the rigid outer shell 50 forms the outer part, it is shown in dotted lines (which is kind of unusual, but chosen because the most important part of the invention is the first inflatable element 20). This first inflatable element is (although partially covered by the rigid outer shell 50) shown in solid lines. The first inflatable element 20 comprises or consists of a first skin 22 enclosing a first gas space 24. The first skin is made of a flexible, gas-tight material and is preferably only little elastic. The first skin can be single-layered, or it can have more than one layer at least in sections.

[0032] An inflation unit 30 is provided which extends through the rigid outer shell 50 into the first gas space 24 of the first inflatable element 20. The first skin 22 has a contact surface section 22a and at least sections of this contact surface section contacts sections of the head H of the human, especially the back of the head, the temples and the forehead.

[0033] Further, a first overpressure valve 35 is provided which connects the first gas space 24 with the environment. This first overpressure valve constitutes the pressure control arrangement. So, when air is brought into the first gas space via the inflation unit 30, the first gas space is filled until a pre-defined air pressure is reached in the first gas space and the first overpressure valve 35 opens such that the pressure does not continue to rise even if more air is fed into the first gas space 24.

[0034] As is shown in Figure 1 c, the inflation unit 30 comprises a pump 32 and a check valve 34 downstream of the pump 32. A weak spring can be provided inside the check valve 44, since the pressure inside the first gas space 24 will in case of usage in every case exceed the air pressure of the environment.

[0035] The first overpressure valve 35, which has the task to limit the pressure inside the first gas space to a first predefined value, can also be in form of a check valve and the hardness of the spring defines the first pre-defined value of the maximum pressure inside the first gas space to this pre-defined value.

[0036] So, as can one see from Figure 1 b, a gas flow path from the environment through the inflation unit 30 through the first gas space 24 and - if the pressure inside the first gas space exceeds a predefined value - back to the environment through the first overpressure valve 35 is established.

[0037] The correct use of this helmet is very easy: The user activates the pump 32 until the overpressure valve 35 opens and in this case the pre-defined air pressure inside the first inflatable element 20 is reached. Figures 2a to 2c show a slight variation to what is shown in Figure 1 a: Here, the inflation unit 30 and the first overpressure valve 35 form a manually operated, simple form of an inflation and pressure-control unit 40.

[0038] Figure 3a to 3c show an embodiment with a more advanced inflation and pressurecontrol unit 40 which is electrically driven and comprises a battery 42, a control unit 44, a pressure sensor 46, a controllable valve 48, and an electric pump 41 .

[0039] Here, the pressure inside the first gas space 24 is actively controlled. The pressure sensor 46 provides the control unit 44 with the pressure value inside the first gas space 24 and the control unit 44 activates the electric pump 41 as soon as the pressure is lower than a pre-defined value. If the pressure reaches the pre-defined value, the control unit 44 stops the electric pump 41 and / or opens the controllable valve 48. If, for some reason, the pressure again falls under the pre-defined value, the control unit 44 again activates the electric pump 41 .

[0040] Figure 3d shows a variation to what is shown in Figure 3c. Here, the controllable valve 48 is replaced by a check valve.

[0041] Figure 4 shows another embodiment which uses the inflation and pressure-control unit 40 of the embodiment of Figure 2c, but this is not relevant here: Relevant is, that the first inflatable element 20 comprises a main part 26 which has basically the shape of the main part of the before described embodiments and has additionally two chin parts 28a, 28b extending from this main part 26 and being located essentially in front of the throat of the user, such that they can replace a chin strap. The main part and the chin parts have a common gas space.

[0042] Figure 5a and 5b show an embodiment in which the rigid outer shell 50 is replaced by a second inflatable element 60, such that the helmet can be very light-weight and stored with a minimum of volume. The second inflatable element comprises a second skin 62 enclosing a second gas space 64. Of course, an inflation unit 30 is provided, but this inflation unit does not connect the environment to the first gas space 24, but to the second gas space 64. Further, as for example in the first embodiment, a first overpressure valve 35 connects the inside of the first inflatable element with the environment. Additionally, a second overpressure valve 66 which could also be referred to as “internal overpressure valve” is provided allowing gas flow from the second gas space 64 to the first gas space 24. By this configuration (please see especially see also Figure 5a), the second gas space 64 can have a larger pressure than the first gas space and can thus replace the rigid outer shell of a traditional helmet.

[0043] It would even be possible to add a further inflatable element on the inside of the first inflatable element in order to provide the replacement for the cushioning.

[0044] In the embodiment shown in Figure 5a, the second inflatable element has the form of the shell of a full helmet, whereas the first inflatable element has the shape of a jet helmet.

[0045] List of reference signs

[0046] 10 protective device

[0047] 20 first inflatable element

[0048] 22 first skin

[0049] 22a contact surface

[0050] 24 first gas space

[0051] 26 main part of first airbag

[0052] 28a, b chin part

[0053] 30 inflation unit

[0054] 32 pump

[0055] 34 check valve

[0056] 35 first overpressure valve

[0057] 40 inflation and pressure-control unit

[0058] 41 electric pump

[0059] 42 battery

[0060] 44 control unit

[0061] 46 pressure sensor

[0062] 48 controllable valve (controlled by the control unit)

[0063] 50 rigid outer shell

[0064] 60 second inflatable element

[0065] 62 second skin

[0066] 64 second gas space

[0067] 66 second overpressure valve

[0068] H head

Claims

Claims1 . A protective device (10) for protecting a body part of a human, said protective device (10) comprising a first inflatable element (20) having a first skin (22) enclosing a first gas space (24), and an inflation unit (30) for filling the first gas space (24) with air, wherein in the inflated state, the first skin (22) has a contact surface section (22a) adapted for facing at least a section of the body part to be protected, characterized in that the protective device (10) further comprises a pressure control arrangement controlling the pressure inside the first gas space (24), said pressure control arrangement being arranged for limiting the pressure inside the first gas (24) space to a first pre-defined value.

2. The protective device of claim 1 , characterized in that the pressure control arrangement comprises a first overpressure valve (35).

3. The protective device of claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that inflation unit (30) comprises an electrically driven pump or compressor (41 ).

4. The protective device of any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the pressure control arrangement comprises a pressure sensor (46) inside the first gas space (24) and a control unit (44) being in communication with the pressure sensor (46).

5. The protective device of claims 3 and 4, characterized in that the control unit (44) controls the electrically driven pump or compressor (41 ).

6. The protective device of claim 4 or claim 5, characterized in that the pressure control arrangement comprises a controllable valve (48) being controlled by the control unit (44).

7. The protective device of any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it is a helmet for protecting the head (H) of a human.

8. The protective device of claim 7, characterized in that the first inflatable element (20) comprises a main part (26) covering at least the back of the head and the forehead when the helmet is worn.

9. The protective device of claim 8, characterized in that the first inflatable element (20) further comprises at least one chin part (28a, 28b) extending from the main part (26) and covering at least a section of the chin and / or throat when the helmet is worn.

10. The protective device of at least one of the claims 7 to 9, characterized in that it further comprises a rigid outer shell (50) covering the first inflatable element (20) at least in sections.1 1 . The protective device of at least one of the claims 7 to 9, characterized in that it further comprises a second inflatable element (60) having a second skin (62) enclosing a second gas space (64), wherein in the inflated state, the second inflatable element (60) covers the first inflatable element (20) at least in sections.

12. The protective device of claim 1 1 , characterized in that the pressure control arrangement further controls the pressure inside the second gas space (64).

13. The protective device of claim 12, wherein the pressure control arrangement is arranged to limit the maximum pressure in the second gas space (64) to a second pre-defined value being higher than the first pre-defined value.

14. The protective device of claim 13, characterized in that the inflation unit (30) is connected to the second gas space and an internal overpressure valve (66) is arranged between the second gas space (64) and the first gas space (24), said internal overpressure valve allowing gas flow from the second gas space into the first gas space (24).

15. The protective device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises a flat, non-inflatable element adapted for being placed between at least a section of contact surface section (22a) and at least a section of the body part to be protected.

16. The protective device according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the contact surface section (22a) is adapted and designed for directly contacting at least a section of the body part to be protected.

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