Airbag system for motorcycle drivers

• US 9,332,794 B2
• Filed: 06/05/2009
• Issued: 05/10/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alpinestars Research Srl
• Original Assignee: Alpinestars Research Srl
• Inventors: Mazzarolo, Giovanni, Ballantyne, Colin
• Primary Examiner(s): Hicks, Robert J
• Assistant Examiner(s): PIERORAZIO, JILLIAN KUTCH
• Application Number:
  US13/375,617
• Publication Number:
  US 20120073035A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,531 Days
• Field of Search: 226/7, 226/8, 242/5, 245/9, 246/1, 246/3, 246/5, 245/6, 245/5, 246/7, 280/730.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/018 inflatable automatically
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/0512 Neck or shoulders area

Abstract

A garment which comprises an inflatable protective device able to expand from a rest condition, wherein it'"'"'s in a deflated status, to a working condition, wherein it'"'"'s in an inflated status, inflation means able to inflate said protective device and an electronic controller able to activate the inflation means if a risk and/or danger signal is detected by sensors incorporated in the garment. The inflatable protective device, after being moved to the working condition, can return automatically to the rest condition without requiring to be repacked or reset and the inflation means can inflate the protective device more than once without requiring to be recharged.

Claims

1. A garment comprising:

at least one inflatable protective device able to move from a rest condition, wherein the device is in a deflated status, to a working condition, wherein the device is in an inflated status;

an inflation means able to inflate said device, the inflation means containing more than one inflation charge;

an electronic controller configured to activate the inflation means via activation signal delivered by the controller; and

means for controlling escape of inflating air from the device, whereby said device is able to steadily move from the working condition to the rest condition such that movement of said device from the rest condition to the working condition is later repeatable due to said more than one inflation charge;

wherein said device, whether in the rest condition or working condition, remains inside a pocket formed between a protection element and an external layer of the garment, the protection element being positioned over the external layer of the garment, wherein the protection element moves outward as a whole relative to the external layer of the garment when the device is moved to the working condition, and wherein the protection element is joined to the garment by means of an elastic border, the elastic border attached to at least a portion of the protection element and able to be stretched for allowing accommodation of the device inside the pocket when the device is moved from the rest condition despite the device increasing in volume.

2. The garment of claim 1, wherein the protection element is in a shape of a cup.

3. The garment of claim 1, wherein the device is made from a single sheet of elastic material.

4. The garment of claim 3, wherein the elastic material is polyurethane.

5. The garment of claim 1, wherein the device when moved from said working condition to said rest condition resumes a flattened state inside the pocket without needing to be packed or folded.

6. The garment of claim 1, wherein the device comprises two inflatable chambers each in a shape of a bag;

a first inflatable chamber being positioned on a right shoulder of the garment and a second inflatable chamber being positioned on a left shoulder of the garment.

7. The garment of claim 6, wherein the two chambers are adapted to receive gas from the inflation means by tubing.

8. The garment of claim 7, wherein the tubing comprises a Y-shaped tube.

9. The garment of claim 6, wherein the two chambers remain inside corresponding pockets, each corresponding pocket created by corresponding of the protection element and the elastic border, and additional flaps.

10. The garment of claim 9, wherein the two chambers are adapted to receive gas from the inflation means by tubing.

11. The garment of claim 10, wherein the tubing comprises a Y-shaped tube.

12. The garment of claim 1, wherein the device comprises two inflatable chambers configured for protecting a user'"'"'s shoulders.

13. The garment of claim 12, wherein the two chambers remain inside corresponding pockets, each corresponding pocket created by corresponding of the protection element and the elastic border, and additional flaps.

14. The garment of claim 1, wherein the device comprises more than two inflatable chambers configured for protecting one or more of a user'"'"'s shoulders, neck, chest, back, arms, and legs.

15. The garment of claim 14, wherein the more than two inflatable chambers remain inside corresponding pockets, each corresponding pocket created by corresponding of the protection element and the elastic border, and additional flaps.

16. The garment of claim 1, wherein each activation signal is prompted via sensing from the garment.

17. The garment of claim 1, wherein activation of the inflation means dictates use of one of the more than one inflation charge.

18. The garment of claim 1, wherein the movement of the device from the working condition to the rest condition is automatic.

19. The garment of claim 1, wherein the protection element moves inward as a whole relative to the external layer of the garment when the device is moved to the rest condition.

20. The garment of claim 1, wherein the protection element is made of rigid material in order to outwardly form and strengthen, as well as inwardly protect, the device under the element.