Modular Garment Airbag with Separated Gas Generator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wearable airbag systems integrated into garments suffer from structural and functional limitations, including discomfort due to fabric bunching, increased size requirements for outer garments, vulnerability to abrasion, and the need for complete replacement after activation, leading to high economic and logistical burdens for users.
Innovation Solution
A wearable garment design with structurally and functionally separated active and passive kinetic absorption elements, where the airbag system is modular and easily removable for maintenance and replacement, utilizing a gas generator and detecting means that are physically separated from the garment's support structure, allowing for independent activation and replacement of components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the airbag system is integrated into the garment with all functional components connected to a thin support layer, then the structure is compact and functional, but the entire device becomes structurally weakened after activation and must be completely replaced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the airbag system into separate modular components: the inflatable bag is detached from the gas generator and control unit. The bag is integrated into the garment while the gas generator and control unit remain external or separately positioned. This segmentation allows the bag to be replaced independently after activation without replacing the entire system, resolving the contradiction between structural integration and ease of repair.
2Reliability
If the airbag system is integrated in an autonomous garment to be worn beneath outer garments, then protection is provided, but the outer garments must be one or two sizes bigger to accommodate the integrated system
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the gas generator and control unit from the garment structure, positioning them externally or in separate compartments. This extraction reduces the volume occupied within the garment, allowing the protective system to function without requiring outer garments to be oversized, thus maintaining size compatibility while preserving protection capability.
3Ease of operation
If the airbag system is implemented externally of a motorcycle garment, then the inflatable bag is exposed to the outside environment, but the bag becomes vulnerable to perforation or destruction by rubbing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the inflatable bag within the garment structure (nested inside), while the gas generator and control unit remain external. This nesting arrangement protects the bag from external abrasion and environmental damage while maintaining the system's operational accessibility, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and vulnerability to harmful factors.
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 modular design ensures timely and effective airbag activation, improved anatomical adaptability, and reduced production costs, enabling users to easily replace the airbag system and maintain the garment, enhancing user convenience and economic performance.
Implementation Method 1
a gas generator for inflating the bag
Implementation Method 2
detecting means connected to the control unit and also housed on the support textile
Data Source
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AI summary
A garment wearable by a user, comprising at least a passive kinetic absorption element (2), an active kinetic absorption element (4), and deploying means (5), preferably a gas generator and/or a pressurised pneumatic or hydraulic load, adapted to determine said deployment condition of the active kinetic absorption element (4). The garment comprises detecting means (6) adapted to detect at least a kinematic and/or a spatial attitude parameter of the user. In particular, in use conditions of the garment (1), at least an active kinetic absorption element (4) and the deploying means (5) are positioned in housing spaces that are structurally and physically separated relative to a housing space of the detecting means (6) internally of the garment (1), so that the at least an active kinetic absorption element (4) and the deploying means (5) are free of direct mechanical structural connections with the detecting means.