Backbone Protection Inflatable Bag for Cycling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing personal protection devices for sports, such as cycling, are uncomfortable and impractical due to mechanical actuation issues like cords that interfere with sports performance and can lead to failed ignitions during falls.
Innovation Solution
A personal protection device featuring an inflatable bag and compressed air explosive charge, integrated with a central electronic management and control unit and sensors to measure dynamic and kinematic parameters, allowing for controlled ignition without mechanical cords, ensuring comfortable and effective protection of the backbone during sports activities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mechanical actuation with a cord is used to trigger the explosive charge, then the device can be activated during a fall, but the cord interferes with sports performance and can lead to failed ignitions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the mechanical cord from the system entirely, extracting the problematic element that caused interference with sports performance. The cord is replaced with an electronic sensor-based detection system that uses accelerometers and electronic circuits to detect falls and trigger the airbag, eliminating the physical obstruction while maintaining the protective function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical actuation system (cord and physical pull) with an electronic detection and control system. Accelerometers detect motion changes during a fall, and an electronic control unit processes this information to trigger the explosive charge, substituting mechanical operation with electronic control for more reliable and interference-free activation.
2Reliability
If a cord connects the device to the bicycle for actuation, then the device can be triggered during a fall, but the cord may not be pulled forcefully enough to ignite the charge
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical cord-pull actuation system with an electronic sensing system using accelerometers and a control unit. This substitution eliminates the dependency on cord tension to trigger ignition, using instead electronic detection of fall dynamics to reliably activate the explosive charge with a simpler overall actuation mechanism.
3Reliability
If the inflatable bag is integrated into the cycling shirt, then protection is provided during sports activities, but the device hinders the practice of sports due to its shape
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a flexible inflatable bag made of thin, pliable material that can be integrated into the cycling shirt. The bag conforms to the rider's back shape and remains flexible when deflated, allowing freedom of movement during sports activities, while providing rigid protection when inflated upon impact.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides comfortable and lightweight protection without hindering pedaling gestures, ensuring reliable activation of the inflatable bag upon falls or jolts, thus enhancing safety and practicality during sports.
Implementation Method 1
at least one compressed air explosive charge associated with said at least one inflatable bag so that it too is removably accommodated in said central rear pocket and is adapted for the inflation of said at least one inflatable bag as a consequence of its ignition
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A personal protection device (1a, 1b), particularly for protecting the backbone of a user while performing sports activities, comprising: - at least one inflatable bag (2) that has a substantially elongated geometric shape so that it can be at least partially inserted in a central rear pocket (3) of a cycling shirt (4) at an end thereof so as to protect the backbone of a user (5) wearing the cycling shirt (4) provided with the personal protection device (1a, 1b); - at least one compressed air explosive charge (6) associated with the inflatable bag (2) so that it too is accommodated in the central rear pocket (3) and is suitable for the inflation of the inflatable bag (2) as a consequence of its ignition; a central electronic management and control unit (8) which is functionally connected with the explosive charge (6) and with sensor means adapted to measure the dynamic and kinematic parameters of the user (5) and of a bicycle (9) used by the latter, the central electronic management and control unit (8) being adapted to compare the dynamic parameters for the controlled ignition of the explosive charge (6) and the sensor means being partially associable with the user (5) and partially associable with the bicycle (9).