Inflatable Garment Gas Generator Container

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing protective garments, such as motorcycle suits, have the inflation device and gas generator housed together, making it difficult for users to access and replace them, requiring specialized technicians and time-consuming procedures for maintenance and reuse.

Innovation Solution

The gas generator is housed in a separate container that can be easily coupled and uncoupled with the inflatable element using a removable coupling device, allowing users to access and replace the inflation device within the aerodynamic hump of the garment, facilitating independent handling and reuse.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If the gas generator and inflation device are housed together inside the protective garment, then the protection device is compact and integrated, but the components become difficult for users to access and replace

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveintegration of protection deviceVSAvoidaccessibility of components
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The protection device is divided into separate functional modules: the gas generator housed in an accessible container, the inflatable element, and the control unit. This segmentation allows users to access and replace the gas generator independently while maintaining overall system integration, resolving the contradiction between compactness and accessibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

An intermediate container is introduced to house the gas generator, serving as a mediator between the need for integration and the need for accessibility. The container provides a dedicated access point for the gas generator while maintaining the overall integrated structure of the protective garment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the entire protection device must be replaced after activation, then system reliability is ensured, but time is lost and specialized technicians are required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection device functionalityVSAvoidreplacement time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The protection device is segmented into replaceable and non-replaceable components. The gas generator is designed as a separate replaceable module within the container, while the inflatable element and control unit remain in place. This allows partial replacement after activation, reducing time loss and eliminating the need for specialized technicians.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The gas generator is designed as a disposable component that can be easily discarded and replaced after activation, while the more expensive inflatable element and control unit are recovered and reused. This approach maintains system reliability while minimizing replacement time and costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

3Manufacturing precision

If specialized technicians are required for replacement operations, then correct positioning is certified, but the process becomes time-consuming and inaccessible to average users

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoiduser independence
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The replacement operation is segmented into simple, standardized steps with clearly marked components. The gas generator container includes visual indicators and intuitive coupling mechanisms that guide users through the replacement process, eliminating the need for specialized technical knowledge while maintaining positioning accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system is designed to enable self-service replacement of the gas generator by average users. Features such as color-coded connectors, alignment guides, and tool-free coupling mechanisms allow users to independently replace the gas generator with the same positioning accuracy previously requiring specialized technicians.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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

This design allows users to easily replace and reuse the inflation device without replacing the entire protection system, simplifying maintenance and reducing the need for specialized technicians, enabling rapid reactivation of the protective garment.

Implementation Method 1

the gas generator is provided with a region (16) intended for the passage of gas, namely a region which, when the gas generator (12) is activated, allows gas to pass towards the inflatable element (50)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressurized gas storage and release: Pressure Increase

Data Source

PatentEP4088604B1Protective garment
Publication Date: 2024.05.22 DAINESE SPA
  • EP4088604B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4088604B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4088604B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

A protective garment (1000) having a visible external surface and an internal surface designed to face, during use, the body of a user is described. The protective garment (1000) comprises an inflatable element (50) intended to at least partially protect an area of the body of a user and an inflation device (10) configured to inflate said inflatable element (50). The protective garment (1000) further comprises an aerodynamic hump (70) configured to at least partially protect a back area of a user and defining a housing cavity (71) facing said internal surface and configured to accommodate said inflation device (10). The inflation device (10) comprises at least one gas generator (12) and a container (14) for containing said at least one gas generator (12). The container (14) and the gas generator (12) form a structurally independent assembly configured to be handled as a single body with respect to said inflatable element (50). The inflation device (10) comprises a coupling component (18) and the inflatable element (50) has a coupling counter-component (52). The coupling component (18) is configured to be coupled in a detachable manner with the coupling counter-component (52) associated with said inflatable element (50).