Protective garment systems for protecting an individual and methods of using the same
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A protective garment system for protecting an individual,the protective garment system comprising:
- a plurality of rigid members, each of the plurality of rigid members coupled to at least one adjacent rigid member of the plurality of rigid members;
at least one fluid source;
a plurality of inflatable members, each of the plurality of inflatable members operably coupled to the at least one fluid source and associated with at least one of the plurality of rigid members;
one or more sensors configured to sense at least one of a potential impact or an actual impact of the individual; and
a controller operably coupled to the one or more sensors and the at least one fluid source,wherein;
at least a first portion of the plurality of rigid members are movable from a first position to a second position;
each inflatable member of at least a first portion of the plurality of inflatable members is positioned adjacent to one or more rigid members of the first portion of the plurality of rigid members;
when the inflatable member of the first portion of the plurality of inflatable members inflates, the inflatable member engages the one or more rigid members and moves the one or more rigid members from the first position to the second position; and
when the one or more rigid members are in the second position, the one or more rigid members interface or partially overlap at least one rigid member of a second portion of the plurality of rigid members.
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Abstract
Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to systems for automatically protecting an individual from injuries using one or more sensors, one or more rigid members, and one or more inflatable members associated therewith, and methods of using the same.
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Citations
48 Claims
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1. A protective garment system for protecting an individual,
the protective garment system comprising: -
a plurality of rigid members, each of the plurality of rigid members coupled to at least one adjacent rigid member of the plurality of rigid members; at least one fluid source; a plurality of inflatable members, each of the plurality of inflatable members operably coupled to the at least one fluid source and associated with at least one of the plurality of rigid members; one or more sensors configured to sense at least one of a potential impact or an actual impact of the individual; and a controller operably coupled to the one or more sensors and the at least one fluid source, wherein; at least a first portion of the plurality of rigid members are movable from a first position to a second position; each inflatable member of at least a first portion of the plurality of inflatable members is positioned adjacent to one or more rigid members of the first portion of the plurality of rigid members; when the inflatable member of the first portion of the plurality of inflatable members inflates, the inflatable member engages the one or more rigid members and moves the one or more rigid members from the first position to the second position; and when the one or more rigid members are in the second position, the one or more rigid members interface or partially overlap at least one rigid member of a second portion of the plurality of rigid members. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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48. A protective garment system for protecting one or more body parts of at least one individual, the protective garment system comprising:
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at least one supportive member configured to contact one or more body regions of the at least one individual; a plurality of rigid members at least partially supported by the at least one supportive member, each of the plurality of rigid members coupled to at least one adjacent rigid member of the plurality of rigid members; at least one fluid source; a plurality of inflatable members each of which includes an inflatable reservoir, each of the plurality of inflatable members operably coupled to the at least one fluid source; one or more sensors configured to sense at least one of a potential impact or an actual impact of the individual; a controller operably coupled to the one or more sensors and the at least one fluid source, the controller configured to, receive sensing signals from the one or more sensors; determine if the one or more sensing signals are indicative of a potential impact or an actual impact to the individual; and responsive thereto, direct the at least one fluid source to supply a fluid to the one or more inflatable members effective to alter a volume of the inflatable reservoir therein to cause the plurality of rigid members to move from a first position to a second position, wherein; each inflatable member of at least a first portion of the plurality of inflatable members is positioned adjacent to one or more rigid members of a first portion of the plurality of rigid members; when the inflatable member of the first portion of the plurality of inflatable members inflates, the inflatable member engages the one or more rigid members and moves the one or more rigid members from the first position to the second position; and when the one or more rigid members are in the second position, the one or more rigid members interface or partially overlap at least one rigid member of a second portion of the plurality of rigid members.
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Specification