Jacket for reducing spinal and compression injuries associated with a fall from a moving vehicle
First Claim
1. A jacket for protecting a wearer from injury during a fall from a vehicle, comprising:
- at least one layer forming a jacket;
a plurality of airpockets woven into the jacket, each of the airpockets being in fluid communication with other airpockets and being expandable in response to increased pressurization;
a gas generator for pressurizing the airpockets, and one or more pressurization tubes to communicate gas between the gas generator and the airpockets;
regulator means for controlling gas flow between the gas generator and the airpockets, the regulator means being responsive to a signal generated when the wearer of the jacket falls from the vehicle;
pressure sensing means for sensing pressure within at least one of the airpockets and for generating a pressure signal representative of the pressure; and
pressure regulation means, including microprocessor means, connected to the pressure sensing means for controlling pressurization within the airpockets by controlling the flow of gas into or out of the airpockets in response to the pressure signal.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A jockey jacket actuates upon sensing a particular event, such as the jockey falling from the horse during a race. A series of air tracks are inflated by a gas generator to pump up a series of air-pockets, mini-airbags, and a collar protection region, preferably with a series of concentric circular cylinders which expand and provide resistance to motions that are transverse to the concentric axis. A plurality of caps are telescopically disposed within the tracks and are forced upwards by the injected gas. These caps form a column that, together with the other columns and a support member Within the jacket collar, forms an exoskeleton around the jockey'"'"'s neck. A base webbing provides support for the columns. The jacket includes microelectronics to control the jacket actuation. The jacket is usable for other activities, such as motorcycling.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A jacket for protecting a wearer from injury during a fall from a vehicle, comprising:
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at least one layer forming a jacket; a plurality of airpockets woven into the jacket, each of the airpockets being in fluid communication with other airpockets and being expandable in response to increased pressurization; a gas generator for pressurizing the airpockets, and one or more pressurization tubes to communicate gas between the gas generator and the airpockets; regulator means for controlling gas flow between the gas generator and the airpockets, the regulator means being responsive to a signal generated when the wearer of the jacket falls from the vehicle; pressure sensing means for sensing pressure within at least one of the airpockets and for generating a pressure signal representative of the pressure; and pressure regulation means, including microprocessor means, connected to the pressure sensing means for controlling pressurization within the airpockets by controlling the flow of gas into or out of the airpockets in response to the pressure signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for protecting a jockey during a fall from a horse, comprising the steps of:
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sensing information indicative of the jockey falling from the horse; generating a pressurization signal, in response to the information, to pressurize a jacket worn by the jockey, the jacket having a gas generator, responsive to the pressurization signal, and a plurality of airpockets, connected to the gas generator, that are expandable with pressurization to cushion the jockey; sensing pressure within at least one of the airpockets and generating a pressure signal representative of the pressure; controlling pressurization within the airpockets by controlling the flow of gas into or out of the airpockets in response to the pressure signal; and controlling gas flow between the gas generator and the airpockets to provide a substantially smooth landing during the fall.
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Specification