Inflatable Personal Protection Device Ventilation and Expansion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing inflatable personal protection devices, such as those used by motorcycle riders, face issues with inefficient ventilation due to their fluid-tight nature, which prevents air exchange between the outer and inner surfaces of wearable articles, and often experience non-uniform or incomplete expansion, leaving unprotected zones during use.
Innovation Solution
A personal protection device with an inflatable element that transitions from a deflated to an inflated state, guided by a support structure and guide element, ensuring uniform and effective expansion to cover a broader area, facilitated by a slidable connection that allows controlled distension along a defined direction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the inflatable element is made of fluid-tight material and arranged to occupy the entire pocket of the wearable article, then protection coverage is improved, but ventilation is prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The inflatable element transitions from a static deflated state to a dynamic inflated state only when protection is needed. This dynamic behavior allows the element to occupy the entire pocket area for protection coverage during impacts, while maintaining ventilation capability during normal wear when deflated.
Solution Approach 2:
The volume and shape parameters of the inflatable element are changed from a compressed deflated configuration to an expanded inflated configuration upon activation. This parameter change enables the element to fill the pocket completely for protection while minimizing space occupation during normal use, thus allowing ventilation.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the inflatable body is folded onto itself to occupy limited space in the deflated condition, then ventilation is allowed, but uniform expansion becomes difficult and unprotected zones may remain
Solution Approach 1:
The inflatable element is pre-positioned and pre-oriented within the pocket in a specific folded configuration that facilitates uniform expansion. The element is arranged with its inflation axis aligned with the pocket geometry, ensuring that when inflated, it expands uniformly in all directions without creating unprotected zones.
Solution Approach 2:
A guide structure or expansion pathway is introduced as an intermediary element to direct and control the expansion of the inflatable body. This intermediary ensures that the inflation fluid distributes uniformly throughout the element, guiding it to expand evenly and reliably cover the entire protection area.
3Area of stationary object
If the inflatable element expands to cover a broader area, then protection effectiveness is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The inflatable protection system is segmented into a modular inflatable element that can be independently controlled. This segmentation allows the element to expand to cover the required protection area while maintaining a simple, integrated structure without requiring multiple separate components or complex mechanical systems.
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
Ensures effective protection by allowing ventilation and uniform expansion of the inflatable element, preventing unprotected zones and enhancing user safety during impacts or falls.
Implementation Method 1
an inflatable element (10) configured to assume a first rest configuration, or deflated configuration, and a second active configuration, or inflated configuration
Data Source
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Figure 5
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a personal protection device (100) for providing personal protection for a user, wherein said protection device (100) comprises at least one inflatable element (10) able to assume a first rest configuration, or deflated configuration, and a second active configuration, or inflated configuration. The protection device (100) comprises a support structure (20) for supporting the at least one inflatable element (10) and the support structure (20) comprises a guide element (21) connected to said inflatable element so as to guide the inflatable element (10) from the first rest configuration, or deflated configuration, into the second active configuration, or inflated configuration. The present disclosure also relates to a wearable article (1000) comprising a protection device (100) and a method for protection of a user by means of the protection device (100).