U.S. patent application number 09/878067 was filed with the patent office on 2001-12-13 for safety apparatus.
Invention is credited to Atanasio, Joseph.
Application Number | 20010049840 09/878067 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26904632 |
Filed Date | 2001-12-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010049840 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Atanasio, Joseph |
December 13, 2001 |
Safety apparatus
Abstract
A new and improved article of clothing that will severely
reduce, and possibly eliminate, the chances that a person who falls
down will injure himself or herself The present invention would
preferably be a jacket, with the jacket including at least two
internal air bags. Both air bags could be in the front portion of
the jacket, or the jacket could have one air bag in front and
another air bag in back. When the air bags are located on the
present invention, each air bag would be located beneath the outer
covering of the jacket, effectively hiding it from view. Each air
bag would automatically inflate by an activation means. The
activation means would either be triggered by a sudden change in
position by a user of the jacket or voluntarily triggered by a user
by activating an activator that would be attached to a user's wrist
and connected to the air bags.
Inventors: |
Atanasio, Joseph; (Brooklyn,
NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Matthew J. Peirce, Esq.
1550 Starlight Canyon Avenue
Las Vegas
NV
89123
US
|
Family ID: |
26904632 |
Appl. No.: |
09/878067 |
Filed: |
June 7, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60209910 |
Jun 8, 2000 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
2/456 ;
2/465 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A41D 13/018
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
2/456 ;
2/465 |
International
Class: |
A41D 013/12 |
Claims
What I claim as my invention is:
1. A safety apparatus comprising: (a) a jacket, (b) a pair of
pockets located on the jacket, a first pocket and a second pocket,
(c) a pair of air bags, a first air bag and a second air bag, the
first air bag placed within the first pocket, the second air bag
placed within the second pocket, and (d) means for inflating the
pair of air bags.
2. A safety apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the means for
inflating the pair of air bags further comprises: (a) a battery,
(b) a power switch connected to the battery, the power switch
having two positions, an "on" position and an "off" position, (c) a
mercury switch connected to the power switch, the mercury switch
positioned to be an open circuit when the jacket would be in an
upright position, the mercury switch designed to become a closed
circuit once the jacket has deviated from the vertical plane beyond
a certain predetermined angle. (d) a pressure switch connected to
the mercury switch, the pressure switch having two positions, an
"on" position and an "off" position, the pressure switch turning to
the "on" position when the jacket would be worn by an individual,
(e) a solenoid valve connected to the pressure switch, (f) at least
one air canister connected to the solenoid valve, the air canister
also connected to the pair of air bags, (g) wherein the mercury
switch, once becoming an closed circuit, will allow power to flow
from the battery to the solenoid valve, activating the air
canisters which would then forcibly and quickly pump air into the
pair of air bags.
3. A safety apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the means for
inflating the pair of air bags further comprises: (a) a battery,
(b) an activator connected to the battery, the activator normally
being an open circuit, the activator preferably being a button
located on a sleeve of the jacket, (c) at least one air canister
connected to the activator, the air canister also connected to the
pair of air bags, (d) wherein the activator, once depressed by a
user, would become a closed circuit, allowing allow power to flow
from the battery to the solenoid valve, activating the air
canisters which would then forcibly and quickly pump air into the
pair of air bags.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention concerns that of a new and improved
article of clothing that will severely reduce, and possibly
eliminate, the chances that a person who falls down will injure
himself or herself.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
[0002] U.S. Pat. No. 5,867,842, issued to Pinsley et al., discloses
an impact absorbing garment which is shown having a number of
inflatable compartments attached to the garment.
[0003] U.S. Pat. No. 5,500,952, issued to Keyes, discloses a
self-contained protective device/system designed to protect the
hips, pelvis, buttocks, and coccyx areas of a user.
[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 5,362,098, issued to Guill, discloses a device
for providing crash protection to people aboard a land, air, sea or
space vehicle.
[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 4,089,065, issued to McGee, discloses a
protective and attractive garment such as a jumpsuit which has the
appearance of a normal article of clothing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention concerns that of a new and improved
article of clothing that will severely reduce, and possibly
eliminate, the chances that a person who falls down will injure
himself or herself. The present invention would preferably be a
jacket, with the jacket including at least two internal air bags.
Both air bags could be in the front portion of the jacket, or the
jacket could have one air bag in front and another air bag in back.
When the air bags are located on the present invention, each air
bag would be located beneath the outer covering of the jacket,
effectively hiding it from view.
[0007] Each air bag would automatically inflate by an activation
means. The activation means would either be triggered by a sudden
change in position by a user of the jacket or voluntarily triggered
by a user by activating an activator that would be attached to a
user's wrist and connected to the air bags.
[0008] There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more
important features of a safety apparatus in order that the detailed
description thereof that follows may be better understood and in
order that the present contribution to the art may be better
appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the
safety apparatus that will be described hereinafter and which will
form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
[0009] In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment
of the safety apparatus in detail, it is to be understood that the
safety apparatus is not limited in its application to the details
of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth
in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The
safety apparatus is capable of other embodiments and being
practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be
understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are
for the purpose of descriptions and should not be regarded as
limiting.
[0010] As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the
conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be
utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods
and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present
safety apparatus. It is important, therefore, that the claims be
regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they
do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present
invention.
[0011] It is therefore an object of the present invention to
provide a safety apparatus, which has all of the advantages of the
prior art and none of the disadvantages.
[0012] It is another object of the present invention to provide a
safety apparatus which may be easily and efficiently manufactured
and marketed.
[0013] It is another object of the present invention to provide a
safety apparatus which is of durable and reliable construction.
[0014] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide
a safety apparatus which is economically affordable and available
for relevant purchasing government entities.
[0015] Other objects, features and advantages of the present
invention will become more readily apparent from the following
detailed description of the preferred embodiment when considered
with the attached drawings and appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1 is a front view of a jacket of the present
invention.
[0017] FIG. 2 is a rear view of a jacket of the present
invention.
[0018] FIG. 3 is a front view of a "vest style" jacket of the
present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0019] FIG. 1 is a front view of jacket 2 of the present invention.
Jacket 2 of the present invention is a new and improved article of
clothing that will severely reduce, and possibly eliminate, the
chances that a person who falls down will injure himself or
herself. Jacket 2 would preferably include at least a pair of air
bags 4 and 6, with the air bags being located in pockets 5 and 7.
Jacket 2 of the present invention could place the pockets 5 and 7
in a wide variety of locations within the jacket, with both pockets
located in the front portion of the jacket, or alternatively,
jacket 2 could have one pocket in front and another pocket in back.
When the air bags are located on the present invention, each air
bag would be located within the pockets of the jacket 2,
effectively hiding them from view.
[0020] FIG. 1 is not meant to be limiting as to the location of
various air bags used with the present invention. Rather, FIG. 1 is
one of many possible embodiments that the present invention could
be made and still create a workable embodiment of the present
invention. The primary goal with all embodiments would be to ensure
that the present invention would reduce, and possibly eliminate,
the chances that a person who falls down will injure himself or
herself.
[0021] Each air bag would automatically inflate by an activation
means 8. Activation means 8 would either be triggered by a sudden
change in position by a user of jacket 2 or voluntarily triggered
by a user by activating an activator 10 that would be attached to a
user's wrist and connected to the air bags.
[0022] FIG. 2 is a rear view of jacket 2 of the present invention,
while FIG. 3 is a front view of a "vest style" jacket of the
present invention. Again, the placement of various air bags shown
is not meant to be limiting as to the location of various air bags
used with the present invention. Rather, FIGS. 2 and 3, like FIG.
1, represents one of many possible embodiments that the present
invention could be made and still create a workable embodiment of
the present invention. The primary goal with all embodiments would
be to ensure that the present invention would reduce, and possibly
eliminate, the chances that a person who falls down will injure
himself or herself.
[0023] FIG. 4 shows a preferred schematic of the electrical
configuration of the present invention. Battery 12 would be the
power source and would be connected to power switch 14. Power
switch 14 would normally be in the "on" position, but could be
turned to the "off" position if a user would need to bend over or
do other work. The power switch 14 would prevent the air bags 4 and
6 from accidentally inflating when not needed.
[0024] Power switch 14 would be connected to activation means 8,
which would preferably be a mercury switch. Activation means would
be housed within housing 9. Housing 9 would be positioned so that
when the jacket 2 would be upright, then the activation means 8
would not become activated. However, once a user would cause jacket
2 to reach a certain position relative to the horizontal plane,
activation means 8 would become activated, completing the circuit
between battery 12 and solenoid valve 18. Once solenoid valve 18
receives power, it would activate the air canisters 20 which would
then quickly inflate air bags 4 and 6.
[0025] Pressure switch 16 would be electronically connected between
the activation means 8 and the solenoid valve 18. Pressure switch
16 would be preferably positioned on the underside of the shoulder
seam and would normally be in an open position when jacket 2 is not
being worn. Once placed on a person, however, then the pressure
switch 16 would become a closed circuit.
[0026] As long as a jacket 2 would be on a user and the power
switch 14 would be in an "on" position, the only object of FIG. 4
that maintains the "open circuit" status of the electrical
configuration is the activation means 8. Once a user causes the
jacket 2 to be displaced to a specific pre-set degree from the
vertical plane, then the mercury within the mercury switch would
reconfigure and cause mercury switch to become a closed
circuit.
[0027] As previously shown, the electrical configuration would also
include activator 10, which would preferably be a button on the
sleeve of jacket 2. Activator 10 would simply be a circuit,
normally open, which when depressed, would close the circuit
between battery 12 and solenoid valve 18. Once activator 10 would
be depressed, then the electrical configuration between battery 12
and solenoid valve 18 would become closed, causing air canisters 20
to immediately inflate air bags 4 and 6.
[0028] The air canisters 20 used with the present invention would
be replaceable and would also be preferably located within pockets
5 and 7. All the electronics of the present invention would be
located in between the inner and outer lining of the jacket, with
the battery 12 being accessible to allow for regular changing of
the battery 12 when necessary.
* * * * *