STANDALONE WEARABLE PROTECTOR AND PROTECTIVE CLOTHING ASSEMBLY

• US 20150128334A1
• Filed: 05/14/2013
• Published: 05/14/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alpinestars Research Srl
• Original Assignee: Alpinestars Research Srl
• Inventors: Mazzarolo, Giovanni, Signorelli, Marco
• Granted Patent: US 11,576,446 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 2/456
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/018 inflatable automatically
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/0506 Hip
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/0512 Neck or shoulders area
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/0518 Chest
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/0531 Spine

Abstract

The present invention relates to a standalone wearable protector 1, comprising: a thin layer supporting fabric 2, at least one inflatable bag 13 housed in a seat 19 provided in said supporting fabric 2, at least one gas generator 12 acting as inflating means connected to said inflatable bag 13 and fastened directly or indirectly to said supporting fabric 2, a control unit 10 also fastened directly or indirectly to said supporting fabric 2 and suitable for activating said inflating means 12 and sensing means 5 connected to said control unit 10 and provided on said supporting fabric 2. The present invention also relates to a protective clothing assembly comprising a protective garment 30, 50 made of material resistant to abrasion and friction stresses and said standalone wearable protector 1.

Claims

1. A standalone wearable protector (1), in particular for motorcycle drivers, comprising:

a thin layer supporting fabric (2) suitable for being worn by a user and for covering at least a trunk portion of a user'"'"'s body;

said thin layer supporting fabric (2) being substantially unable to resist to abrasion and to friction stresses;

at least one inflatable bag (13);

said at least one inflatable bag (13) being housed in a seat (19) provided in the thin layer supporting fabric (2);

at least one gas generator (12) acting as inflating means connected to said at least one inflatable bag (13), said at least one gas generator (12) being fastened directly or indirectly to said thin layer supporting fabric (2);

a control unit (10) fastened directly or indirectly to said thin layer supporting fabric (2);

sensing means (5) connected to said control unit (10) and provided on said thin layer supporting fabric (2), the control unit (10) being suitable for activating the at least one gas generator (12) when a danger situation is detected by the sensing means (5).

2. Standalone wearable protector (1) according to claim 1, further comprising a semirigid back shield (3) fastened to said thin layer supporting fabric (2);

said semirigid back shield (3) being suitable for covering, when said thin layer supporting fabric (2) is worn by the user, at least a back portion of the user, said control unit (10) and said at least one gas generator (12) being housed inside the semirigid back shield (3).

3. Standalone wearable protector (1) according to claim 1, wherein the sensing means (5) are integrated inside said thin layer supporting fabric (2).

4. Standalone wearable protector (1) according to claim 1, wherein said thin layer supporting fabric (2) is made of polyester, polyamide, or other synthetic fabrics.

5. Standalone wearable protector (1) according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of said thin layer supporting fabric (2) is comprised between 0.1 mm and 0.6 mm, preferably between 0.2 mm and 0.4 mm.

6. Standalone wearable protector (1) according to claim 1, wherein said at least one inflatable bag (13) is arranged on the thin layer supporting fabric (2) for covering the chest and/or ribs and/or shoulders and/or back and/or hips of the user.

7. Standalone wearable protector (1) according to claim 1, wherein the seat (19) of the inflatable bag (13) is a pocket arranged on an inner surface of the thin layer supporting fabric (2).

8. Standalone wearable protector (1) according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of gas generators (12);

said gas generators (12) being able to be simultaneously activated by the control unit (10) or being able to be activated by the control unit (10) at different times.

9. Standalone wearable protector (1) according to claim 1, wherein the back shield (3) comprises a plurality of elements (9A, 9B, 9C) and an impact absorbing foam (14);

the gas generator (12) and the control unit (10) being positioned between the elements (9A, 9B, 9C) and the impact absorbing foam (14).

10. Protective clothing assembly, in particular for motorcycle drivers, comprising:

at least one protective garment (30;

50) made of a material resistant to abrasion and friction stresses,

a standalone wearable protector (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, said standalone wearable protector (1) being worn underneath said at least one protective garment (30;

50),

wherein said at least one protective garment (30;

50) is provided with at least one yielding area (31, 32;

51) which is substantially superimposed over at least one inflatable bag (13) of the standalone wearable protector (1);

said at least one yielding area (31, 32;

51) allowing said at least one inflatable bag (13) to expand after being inflated by the gas generator (12) of the standalone wearable protector (1).

11. Protective clothing assembly according to claim 10, wherein the at least one protective garment (30;

50) comprises a suit (30) or a jacket (50).

12. Protective clothing assembly according to claim 10, wherein said at least one yielding area (31, 32;

51) is provided in the region of the armpits and/or arms and/or groin of said at least one protective garment (30;

50).

13. Protective clothing assembly according to claim 10, wherein said at least one yielding area (31, 32;

51) is made of stretchable material.

14. Protective clothing assembly according to claim 10, wherein said at least one yielding area (31, 32;

51) is a flap releasably joined to said at least one protective garment (30;

50).

15. Protective clothing assembly, in particular for motorcycle drivers, comprising:

at least one garment (30;

50) suitable for covering a portion of the user'"'"'s body,

a standalone wearable protector (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, said standalone wearable protector (1) being worn on top of said at least one garment (30;

50),

wherein additional protective elements (24, 25) are provided on the outer surface of the thin layer supporting fabric (2);

the function of said additional protective elements (24, 25) being to improve the impact protection offered by the standalone wearable protector (1) and for protecting the at least one inflatable gas (13) against abrasion and tearing.

16. Protective clothing assembly according to claim 15, wherein said additional protective elements (24, 25) comprise shoulder protections (24) and/or chest protections (25).