GB2434964A

GB2434964A - A garment with air bags

Info

Publication number: GB2434964A
Application number: GB0602508A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Philip Jewell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-02-08
Filing date: 2006-02-08
Publication date: 2007-08-15
Also published as: GB0602508D0

Abstract

A garment with inflatable air bags 1, 2, 4, and 5 that prevents the wearer from being injured should the wearer fall over. The air bags are located in pockets on the garment, and are deployed when a wireless motion sensor 3 detects that the wearer is falling rather than sitting or getting up from a chair for example. The pockets may be sealed by Velcro (RTM), and the airbags may be detachably secured within the pockets, allowing used air bags to be replaced. The air bags are inflated by an explosive solid propellant cartridge. Coded signals from the motion sensor may be used to ensure air-bags in garments worn by others are not accidentally triggered, and to only deploy air bags in the direction the wearer falls. Once triggered the device calls for help automatically, a satellite or cell-phone tracker giving the exact location of the victim.

Description

1 2434964 FALL BREAKING GARMENTS FOR THE OLD or UNSTEADY

BACKGROUND

Every year, hundreds of thousands of older people in Britain suffer falls, due to a stumble or trip, slipping on ice, falling down stairs or because they lose consciousness momentarily. Such falls can cause injuries ranging from mere bruising to broken hips, limbs or even brain damage, and for older people the shock can prove fatal. Falls are a major cause of disability as older people rarely recover the same level of mobility after a serious fall, indeed falls are a major cause of premature admission to permanent residential care (Audit Commission 1995). Around the world the number of such accidents runs to many millions. A simple and affordable system that breaks such falls could prevent many of these injuries. The need for such protection will grow tremendously as demographic change results in a huge increase in the numbers of pensioners over the next few years.

ESSENTiAL FEATURES The invention applies technology similar to that for a car air-bag in that, when a sensor detects that the user is falling, an explosive solid propellant cartridge is triggered to inflate bags in key positions around the body within thousandths of a second, protecting head, shoulders, pelvis and knees.

The amount of gas needed to inflate the bags is quite small as they are stitched to keep them thin or shaped, thereby reducing the amount of gas required to inflate them. The air-bags have tiny holes so they hold in position for few seconds until the person has fallen, before deflating gently.

Once triggered the invention can call for help automatically, a satellite or cell-phone tracker giving the exact location of the victim. A small, lightweight, solid propellant cartridge is be required for each bag, the signal to initiate gas generation is sent by coded wireless link from the sensor, and after use the bags can be replaced immediately by the user, allowing the garment to be reused many times. A coded signal prevents air-bags worn by other users in the vicinity being triggered unnecessarily and, in a more sophisticated application, only triggers bags in the direction of the fall, thereby reducing the need for replacements.

THE DRAWINGS

FiGURE 1 shows the front view of a basic garment FIGURE 2 shows an airbag and lightweight case FIGURE 3 shows the front view of a garment with bags deployed FIGURE 4 shows the rear view of a garment with bags deployed The individual bags are secured in pockets in an garment, located strategically to provide protection in the event of a fall (Figure 1 -1). The garment has to be strong enough to hold the bags in position but light and cool enough to be worn under other clothes. A curved zip will enable the garment to be secured at the side of the neck, allowing a continuous collar to protect the face and head (Figure 1 -2). The bag is in a lightweight plastic case (Figure 2 -2) which also contains a cartridge of solid propellant (Figure 2-3) that expands explosively when initiated by a signal from a sensor that detects a fall (Figure 4 -3). Three different types of bag are located in appropriate positions in the vest -four curtain' bags in the collar (Figures 3 -1 and 4 -1). These are separate bags joined at the corners to ensure complete protection to the head. Cushion bags located in the shoulders (Figures 3 -2 and 4-2), around the pelvis (Figures 3 -4 and 4- 5), and protecting the ribs and spine Figures 3 -3 and 4-4). Long thin bags are located to deploy downwards to protect the knees (Figure 3 -5). Bags are stitched to keep them reasonably thin and reduce the amount of gas required to inflate them (Figure 2 -1).

APPLICATIONS

Figure 1 shows just one possible application of the invention. High risk or very unsteady users can wear a similar garment with sleeves containing elbow and wrist bags, plus leggings or trousers with leg bags. Clothing manufacturers may be interested in using the invention under licence in their own garments, such as raincoats or a whole range of clothes to provide protection from falls. As specialist undergarments or in a more extensive range of clothes for younger people, the invention can be used in many ways such as ski clothes or coats that offers protection in the event of a slip on an icy path or when hill-walking.

Claims

CLAIMS

I. Any garment with air-bags, smaller versions of those used in the motor industry, located in positions to prevent injuries in the event of a fall.

2. Any garment as described in 1, the air-bags fitted into pockets sealed with velcro' flaps.

3. Any garment with pockets as described in 2, with loops to secure the air-bags in position so they expand in the correct direction when deployed.

4. Air-bags as described in 1 above triggered by wireless signals from a motion sensor.

5. Air-bags as described above, each stored in a lightweight plastic case, with an explosive solid propellant cartridge to provide the rapid expansion of gas required to inflate the bag.

6. A motion sensor located in any garment as described above to detect the prolonged weightlessness that characterises a fall rather than sitting down or any other routine movement.