U.S. patent application number 17/674218 was filed with the patent office on 2022-09-22 for wearable airbag device.
The applicant listed for this patent is TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Yusuke KAWAMURA, Wataru MIURA, Toshihito YANAGISAWA.
Application Number | 20220295918 17/674218 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000006273070 |
Filed Date | 2022-09-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20220295918 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
YANAGISAWA; Toshihito ; et
al. |
September 22, 2022 |
WEARABLE AIRBAG DEVICE
Abstract
A wearable airbag device is configured to protect a targeted
body part of a wearer, and includes an airbag configured to inflate
to cover the targeted body part by allowing an inflation gas to
flow thereinto. The airbag has a plurality of columnar inflation
portions in which width dimensions are set to be smaller than that
of the targeted body part, and configured to maintain an arranged
state of the columnar inflation portions when the inflation is
completed, and to protect the targeted body part.
Inventors: |
YANAGISAWA; Toshihito;
(Kiyosu-shi, JP) ; MIURA; Wataru; (Kiyosu-shi,
JP) ; KAWAMURA; Yusuke; (Kiyosu-shi, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD. |
Kiyosu-shi |
|
JP |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000006273070 |
Appl. No.: |
17/674218 |
Filed: |
February 17, 2022 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A41D 13/018
20130101 |
International
Class: |
A41D 13/018 20060101
A41D013/018 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 17, 2021 |
JP |
2021-44080 |
Claims
1. A wearable airbag device configured to protect a targeted body
part of a wearer, comprising: an airbag configured to inflate to
cover the targeted body part by allowing an inflation gas to flow
thereinto, wherein the airbag has a plurality of columnar inflation
portions in which width dimensions are set to be smaller than that
of the targeted body part, and configured to maintain an arranged
state of the columnar inflation portions when the inflation is
completed, and to protect the targeted body part.
2. The wearable airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the
targeted body part includes left and right femoral trochanter
circumferential edge parts of the wearer, and a head, and the
airbag includes a hip protecting portion that inflates to cover a
side of the femoral trochanter circumferential edge part, and a
head protecting portion that inflates to cover at least back of the
head, and is configured to position the hip protecting portion on
an upstream side of a flow of the inflation gas, and inflate the
head protecting portion after inflating the hip protecting
portion.
3. The wearable airbag device according to claim 1, wherein, the
airbag is configured to have an overlapping region in which the
columnar inflation portions are arranged to be stacked on a surface
of the targeted body part when the inflation is completed.
4. The wearable airbag device according to claim 1, wherein, the
airbag is formed by arranging the columnar inflation portions in a
single stroke manner.
5. The wearable airbag device according to claim 1, wherein, the
airbag is configured to allow the columnar inflation portions to
communicate with each other by intersections.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application claims priority from Japanese Patent
Application No. 2021-44080 of Yanagisawa et al., filed on Mar. 17,
2021, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by
reference.
BACKGROUND
1. Technical Field
[0002] The present disclosure relates to a wearable airbag device
that can protect a targeted body part of a wearer.
2. Description of Related Art
[0003] In the related art, as a wearable airbag device, as
described in JP-T-2014-514462, there was a device having a
configuration for protecting a hip at the time of a fall by being
worn on a wearer by being wrapped around the hip, and by inflating
the bag-shaped airbag.
[0004] This type of wearable airbag device is configured to inflate
the airbag in a state of being worn on a human body. Therefore, as
a gas feeding member for feeding an inflation gas to an airbag, a
small and lightweight gas cylinder containing a compressed gas is
used instead of an inflator normally used for an airbag device
installed on a vehicle. Since the gas cylinder does not have a
structure that allows a gas to flow out quickly, it takes a certain
amount of time to inflate the bag-shaped airbag that covers the hip
widely, and thus there is room for improvement in terms of rapid
and efficient inflation of the airbag.
SUMMARY
[0005] The present disclosure relates to a wearable airbag device
having the following configuration.
[0006] A wearable airbag device is configured to protect a targeted
body part of a wearer, and includes an airbag configured to inflate
to cover the targeted body part by allowing an inflation gas to
flow thereinto. The airbag has a plurality of columnar inflation
portions in which width dimensions are set to be smaller than that
of the targeted body part, and configured to maintain an arranged
state of the columnar inflation portions when the inflation is
completed, and to protect the targeted body part.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B are schematic views of a state where a
wearable airbag device according to a first embodiment of the
present disclosure is worn on a wearer.
[0008] FIG. 2 is a plan view of an airbag to be used in the
wearable airbag device of the first embodiment.
[0009] FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line III-III of FIG.
2.
[0010] FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV of FIG.
2.
[0011] FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C and 5D are schematic views describing an
operating state of the wearable airbag device according to the
first embodiment when the wearer falls.
[0012] FIG. 6 is a schematic partial horizontal sectional view (a
schematic horizontal sectional view on the left side) along a
front-rear direction in a hip protecting portion in a state where
the inflation of the airbag is completed in the wearable airbag
device of the first embodiment.
[0013] FIG. 7 is a schematic vertical sectional view in the hip
protecting portion in a state where the inflation of the airbag is
completed in the wearable airbag device of the first
embodiment.
[0014] FIG. 8 is a schematic horizontal sectional view in a head
protecting portion in a state where the inflation of the airbag is
completed in the wearable airbag device of the first
embodiment.
[0015] FIG. 9 is a schematic view of a state where a wearable
airbag device according to a second embodiment of the present
disclosure is worn on a wearer.
[0016] FIG. 10 is a plan view of a state where the wearable airbag
device of the second embodiment is laid flat.
[0017] FIG. 11A and FIG. 11B are plan views of a state where the
airbag used in the wearable airbag device of the second embodiment
and an airbag base member are arranged side by side to be flat.
[0018] FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along line XII-XII of FIG.
11B.
[0019] FIG. 13 is a schematic partial horizontal sectional view (a
schematic horizontal sectional view on the left side) along the
front-rear direction in a state where the inflation of the airbag
is completed in the wearable airbag device of the second
embodiment.
[0020] FIG. 14 is a schematic vertical sectional view in a worn
state illustrating a state where the inflation of the airbag is
completed in the wearable airbag device of the second
embodiment.
[0021] FIG. 15 is a plan view of an airbag according to still
another embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0022] FIG. 16 is a sectional view taken along line XVI-XVI of FIG.
15.
[0023] FIG. 17 is a sectional view taken along line XVII-XVII of
FIG. 15.
[0024] FIG. 18 is a sectional view taken along line XVIII-XVIII of
FIG. 15.
[0025] FIG. 19 is a schematic partial horizontal sectional view (a
schematic horizontal sectional view on the left side) along the
front-rear direction in a worn state where the inflation of the
airbag of FIG. 15 is completed.
[0026] FIG. 20 is a schematic vertical sectional view in a worn
state where the inflation of the airbag of FIG. 15 is
completed.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0027] Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are
described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
However, the invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed
herein. All modifications within the appended claims and
equivalents relative thereto are intended to be encompassed in the
scope of the claims.
[0028] Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present disclosure will
be described based on the drawings. A wearable airbag device S1 of
the first embodiment is a vest type to be worn on an upper body MU
of a wearer M. As illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the wearable
airbag device S1 includes an airbag 20, a gas generator 5 for
feeding the airbag 20 with an inflation gas, an operation control
device 1 that includes a sensor part 2 for detecting a fall of the
wearer M and operates the gas generator 5, and a clothing portion
10 as an accommodating portion for accommodating and holding the
airbag 20. When the inflation of the airbag 20 is completed, the
wearable airbag device S1 of the first embodiment is configured to
protect a trochanter circumferential edge part TO including left
and right trochanters TP of femurs of the wearer M, and a head MH,
as targeted body parts.
[0029] The operation control device 1 includes the sensor part 2
including an angular velocity sensor capable of detecting angular
velocities around three axes in up-down, front-rear, and left-right
directions, and an acceleration sensor capable of detecting
accelerations in the three-axis directions. The operation control
device 1 is configured to operate the gas generator 5 when a
falling behavior different from a normal behavior of the wearer M
is detected by the signal from the sensor part 2. Specifically,
when the wearer M starts the falling behavior different from the
normal behavior, the operation control device 1 includes
determination means capable of making a determination from various
threshold values, and thus the fall of the wearer M is detected
based on the determination of the determination means, and the gas
generator 5 is operated. The operation control device 1 further
includes a power source formed of a battery (not illustrated) or
the like for outputting signals for the operation of the sensor
part 2 and for the operation of the gas generator 5.
[0030] The clothing portion 10 is formed as a vest that can be worn
on the upper body MU of the wearer M, and includes a left front
portion 11 and a right front portion 12 that cover the front
surface of the upper body MU of the wearer M, and a back surface
portion 13 that covers the back surface of the upper body MU of the
wearer M. The left front portion 11 and the right front portion 12
are configured such that the facing inner edges can be joined to
each other by a fastening tool 15 such as a fastener. In other
words, the clothing portion 10 is configured such that the left
front portion 11 is provided to be connected to the front side of
the left portion of the back surface portion 13, and the right
front portion 12 is provided to be connected to the front side of
the right portion of the back surface portion 13. The clothing
portion 10 is made of a flexible sheet material (woven fabric) and
covers the outer circumferential side of the folded airbag 20.
[0031] The airbag 20 is made of a flexible sheet material. In the
case of the embodiment, the airbag 20 is made of a woven fabric
made of polyester yarns, polyamide yarns or the like. In the case
of the embodiment, the airbag 20 is configured such that columnar
inflation portions 22 in which the width dimensions are set to be
smaller than the width dimensions W1 and W2 (refer to FIGS. 6 and
8) of the targeted body parts (the head MH, the trochanter
circumferential edge part TO) are arranged in a single stroke
manner. Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the airbag 20 has
an inner wall 20a disposed on the inner side (wearer M side) and an
outer wall 20b disposed on the outer side at the time of wearing,
with substantially the same external shape. Then, the airbag 20 is
formed by stacking the inner wall 20a and the outer wall 20b in a
state of being laid flat, and by joining (sewing by suturing)
predetermined places such that continuous joining parts 21 are
formed. The airbag 20 is configured such that the columnar
inflation portions 22 that can inflate so as to separate the inner
wall 20a and the outer wall 20b are provided in a single stroke
manner to extend in two forks starting from the arranged part of
the gas generator 5, by forming the joining part 21, and the
regions between the columnar inflation portions 22 are connected
over the entire surface by a non-inflation connecting portion 23
disposed such that the inner wall 20a and the outer wall 20b can be
overlapped with each other (refer to FIGS. 2 to 4). The columnar
inflation portion 22 includes columnar main body portions 22a
arranged substantially along the up-down direction or the
horizontal direction when the inflation is completed, and a
connecting portion 22b for connecting the columnar main body
portions 22a to each other. In the case of the embodiment, the
columnar inflation portion 22 (the columnar main body portion 22a,
the connecting portion 22b) is configured such that the width
dimension is substantially constant over the entire length.
Specifically, in the columnar inflation portion 22, the width
dimension is set to be smaller than the width dimensions W1 and W2
(refer to FIGS. 6 and 8) of the head MH and the trochanter
circumferential edge part TO as the targeted body parts, and is set
to be a dimension that can ensure the thickness that can
appropriately protect the targeted body part (the trochanter
circumferential edge part TO and the head MH) when the inflation is
completed. In the case of the embodiment, the columnar main body
portion 22a includes a horizontal columnar main body portion 26a,
vertical columnar main body portions 27aa, 27ab, 27ac, and 27ad, a
horizontal columnar main body portion 27b, a vertical columnar main
body portion 29a, and vertical columnar main body portions 31aa,
31ab, and 31ac, which will be described later. Connecting portion
22b includes connecting portions 27ca, 27cb, 27cc, 27cd, and 27ce
and connecting portions 31ba and 31bb, which will be described
later.
[0032] Further, the airbag 20 includes a hip protecting portion 25
that can protect the hip MW of the wearer M when the inflation is
completed, a head protecting portion 31 that can protect the head
MH of the wearer M when the inflation is completed, and a
communication path 29 for allowing the hip protecting portion 25
and the head protecting portion 31 to communicate with each other.
The airbag 20 is symmetrical in the left-right direction in a state
of being laid flat.
[0033] The hip protecting portion 25 is configured to be folded and
accommodated on the lower end side from the back surface portion 13
to the left front portion 11 and the right front portion 12 on the
left and right sides in the clothing portion 10, and to be inflated
to protrude downward from the clothing portion 10 and cover the
outer side of the hip MW (the trochanter TP of femur as the
targeted body part) of the wearer M at the time of the inflation.
Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the hip protecting portion
25 includes two protecting main body portions 27 (27L, 27R) that
cover the left and right sides of the hip MW of the wearer M, and a
connecting inflation portion 26 that connects the upper ends of the
protecting main body portions 27 to each other.
[0034] The connecting inflation portion 26 is formed of a single
horizontal columnar main body portion 26a provided substantially
along the left-right direction when the inflation is completed.
Although the details are omitted in the drawing, the connecting
inflation portion 26 is disposed at a position which is the rear
side of a pelvis MP of the wearer M when the inflation of the
airbag 20 is completed. In addition, in the embodiment, the gas
generator 5 is connected to the connecting inflation portion 26 for
feeding the airbag 20 with an inflation gas (refer to FIG. 2). The
gas generator 5 is disposed in the vicinity of the center in the
length direction of the connecting inflation portion 26 (horizontal
columnar main body portion 26a), and is connected to the airbag 20
by using a retainer (not illustrated). The gas generator 5 is
configured to contain a compressed gas therein, and to release the
contained state and discharge a cold gas into the airbag 20 when
being operated. The gas generator 5 is configured to be
electrically connected to the above-described operation control
device 1, and to be operated with an operating signal input from
the operation control device 1 that has detected the fall of the
wearer M. In the case of the embodiment, the inflation gas G
discharged from the gas generator 5 flows to the left and right in
the connecting inflation portion 26 (horizontal columnar main body
portion 26a) and flows toward each of the protecting main body
portions 27 (27L, 27R).
[0035] Each of the protecting main body portions 27 (27L, 27R) is
formed so as to extend downward while extending outward in the
left-right direction from the connecting inflation portion 26 in a
state where the airbag 20 is laid flat. Each of the protecting main
body portions 27 (27L, 27R) is configured to cover the outer side
of the trochanter circumferential edge part TO, which is the
circumferential edge of the trochanter TP of femur of the wearer M
as the targeted body part, when the inflation is completed, while
the external shape in a state of being laid flat is a substantially
rectangular shape (refer to FIGS. 6 and 7). In the case of the
embodiment, in each of the protecting main body portions 27, the
width dimension in the up-down and left-right directions in a state
of being laid flat is set to be a dimension that can widely cover
the surrounding of the trochanter TP of femur including the front,
rear, upper, and lower parts of the trochanter TP of femur when the
inflation of the airbag 20 is completed. In the case of the
embodiment, each of the protecting main body portions 27 is
configured such that four vertical columnar main body portions
27aa, 27ab, 27ac, and 27ad, which are provided to be substantially
along the up-down direction when the inflation is completed, one
horizontal columnar main body portion 27b provided to be
substantially orthogonal to the vertical columnar main body
portions 27aa, 27ab, 27ac, and 27ad above each of the vertical
columnar main body portions 27aa, 27ab, 27ac, and 27ad, and
connecting portions 27ca, 27cb, 27cc, 27cd, and 27ce which are
respectively connected to the vertical columnar main body portions
27aa, 27ab, 27ac, and 27ad and the horizontal columnar main body
portion 27b are provided in a single stroke manner. In each of the
protecting main body portions 27, the vertical columnar main body
portions 27aa arranged on the left and right inner sides in a state
where the airbag 20 is laid flat communicate with the connecting
inflation portion 26 (horizontal columnar main body portion 26a)
via the connecting portion 27ca. In each of the protecting main
body portions 27, the vertical columnar main body portions 27aa,
27ab, 27ac, and 27ad are provided at substantially equal intervals,
and in the non-inflation connecting portions 23 arranged between
the vertical columnar main body portions 27aa, 27ab, 27ac, and
27ad, the width dimensions are set to be smaller than those of the
vertical columnar main body portions 27aa, 27ab, 27ac, and 27ad in
a state of being laid flat. In each of the protecting main body
portions 27, the vertical columnar main body portions 27aa, 27ab,
27ac, and 27ad are connected to each other over the entire surface
by the non-inflation connecting portion 23 such that the arranged
state of the vertical columnar main body portions 27aa, 27ab, 27ac,
and 27ad is maintained at the time of the inflation. The horizontal
columnar main body portion 27b is configured to be provided
substantially along the horizontal columnar main body portion 26a
above the horizontal columnar main body portion 26a that forms the
connecting inflation portion 26, and to extend to the vicinity of
the center of the horizontal columnar main body portion 26a in the
left-right direction (refer to FIG. 2). Then, each of the
protecting main body portions 27 is configured to be inflated by
allowing the inflation gas G that flows out of the connecting
inflation portion 26 to sequentially flow into the vertical
columnar main body portions 27ab, 27ac, and 27ad from the vertical
columnar main body portion 27aa disposed on the connecting
inflation portion 26 side, and by allowing the inflation gas G to
flow out of the horizontal columnar main body portion 27b toward
the communication path 29.
[0036] In the communication path 29, two vertical columnar main
body portions 29a and 29a formed to respectively extend from the
horizontal columnar main body portions 27b arranged on each of the
left and right protecting main body portions 27 are formed to be
arranged side by side in the left-right direction, and are provided
substantially along the up-down direction, and the communication
path 29 is inflated by allowing the inflation gas to flow thereinto
through the horizontal columnar main body portion 27b. The
communication path 29 is attached to the inner side of the center
portion of the back surface portion 13 of the clothing portion
10.
[0037] The head protecting portion 31 is configured to be folded
and accommodated on the upper end side of the back surface portion
13 of the clothing portion 10, and to inflate to protrude upward
from the clothing portion 10 and cover the rear side of the head MH
of the wearer M at the time of the inflation. The head protecting
portion 31 is configured such that the external shape in a state of
being laid flat is a substantially rectangular shape, and the left,
right, upper, and lower parts of the rear surface side of the head
MH can be widely covered when the inflation is completed.
Specifically, the head protecting portion 31 is configured such
that the inflation completed shape is wider in the left-right
direction than the head MH. In the case of the embodiment, the head
protecting portion 31 is configured such that three vertical
columnar main body portions 31aa, 31ab, and 31ac, which are formed
to extend from each of the vertical columnar main body portions 29a
that form the communication path 29, and the connecting portions
31ba and 31bb that connect the vertical columnar main body portions
31aa, 31ab, and 31ac to each other are provided symmetrically in
the left-right direction (refer to FIG. 2). The vertical columnar
main body portion 31aa provided on the center side in the
left-right direction is configured to extend upward from each of
the vertical columnar main body portions 29a that form the
communication path 29, and each of the vertical columnar main body
portions 31ab adjacent to the vertical columnar main body portion
31aa on the center side thereof is configured to close the tip end
side (upper end side). Then, the head protecting portion 31 is
configured to be inflated by allowing the inflation gas G to
sequentially flow into the vertical columnar main body portions
31ab and 31ac from the two vertical columnar main body portions
31aa disposed on the center side in the left-right direction
through the communication path 29. In the head protecting portion
31, the width dimension of the non-inflation connecting portion 23
disposed between the vertical columnar main body portions 31aa,
31ab, and 31ac is set to be smaller than those of the vertical
columnar main body portions 31aa, 31ab, and 31ac in a state of
being laid flat. In the head protecting portion 31, the vertical
columnar main body portions 31aa, 31aa, 31ab, 31ab, 31ac, and 31ac
are connected to each other over the entire surface by the
non-inflation connecting portion 23, and the arranged state of the
vertical columnar main body portions 31aa, 31aa, 31ab, 31ab, 31ac,
and 31ac is maintained at the time of the inflation.
[0038] In the airbag 20, as illustrated in FIG. 2, a plurality of
attaching tabs 20c are provided at predetermined places on the
upper edge side of the hip protecting portion 25, the lower edge
side of the head protecting portion 31, and the side edge side of
the communication path 29, and these attaching tabs 20c are
attached to the inner circumferential surface side of the clothing
portion 10 by sewing or the like, and are maintained by the
clothing portion 10.
[0039] The wearable airbag device S1 of a first embodiment is worn
on the wearer M so as to cover the upper body MU of the wearer M by
using the fastening tool 15. In addition, in the wearable airbag
device S1 of the first embodiment, in a state of being worn on the
wearer M, when the sensor part 2 detects the fall of the wearer M
as illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the operating signal is output
to the gas generator 5 from the operation control device 1, the
inflation gas flows into the airbag 20. In the embodiment, first,
the hip protecting portion 25 of the airbag 20 inflates so as to
protrude downward from the clothing portion 10 and covers the
surrounding of the hip MW (refer to FIG. 5B). After this, when the
inflation gas flows into the head protecting portion 31 through the
communication path 29, the head protecting portion 31 inflates so
as to protrude upward from the back surface portion 13 of the
clothing portion 10, and the inflation is completed to cover the
back of the head MH (refer to FIGS. 5C and 5D).
[0040] Then, in the wearable airbag device S1 of the first
embodiment, the airbag 20 is configured to include the plurality of
columnar inflation portions 22 in which the width dimension is set
to be smaller than those of the targeted body parts (the head MH
and the trochanter circumferential edge part TO). Therefore, the
volume of the airbag 20 can be reduced as compared with a case
where the airbag has a simple bag shape. Further, by disposing the
non-inflation connecting portion 23 between the columnar inflation
portions 22, when the inflation of the airbag 20 is completed, the
arranged state of the columnar inflation portions 22 is maintained,
and thus, when the inflation is completed, it is possible to stably
protect the head MH and the trochanter circumferential edge part TO
including the trochanter TP of femur as the targeted body
parts.
[0041] Therefore, in the wearable airbag device S1 of the first
embodiment, the airbag 20 can be rapidly inflated, and the inflated
airbag 20 can stably protect the head MH and the trochanter
circumferential edge part TO (trochanter TP of femur) as the
targeted body parts.
[0042] In the wearable airbag device S1 of the first embodiment,
the airbag 20 includes the hip protecting portion 25 that inflates
so as to cover the side of the trochanter circumferential edge part
TO (trochanter TP of femur), and the head protecting portion 31
that inflates to cover the back of the head MH. However, since the
hip protecting portion 25 and the head protecting portion 31
respectively have a plurality of columnar inflation portions 22
(columnar main body portions 22a), it is possible to suppress an
increase in volume, and the airbag 20 can be rapidly inflated even
when the hip protecting portion 25 and the head protecting portion
31 are provided. Further, the airbag 20 is configured to first
allow the inflation gas G discharged from the gas generator 5 to
flow into each of the protecting main body portions 27 (27L, 27R)
in the hip protecting portion 25, and then allow the inflation gas
to flow into the head protecting portion 31 through the
communication path 29. In other words, the airbag 20 is configured
such that the hip protecting portion 25 is positioned on the
upstream side of the flow of the inflation gas, and the head
protecting portion 31 is inflated after the inflation of the hip
protecting portion 25. Therefore, corresponding to the contact
order with the fall destination part F when the wearer M falls, the
inflated hip protecting portion 25 can rapidly protect the
trochanter circumferential edge part TO (trochanter TP of femur),
and then the inflated head protecting portion 31 can also
accurately protect the head MH of the wearer M.
[0043] Next, a wearable airbag device S2 of a second embodiment
will be described. As illustrated in FIG. 9, the wearable airbag
device S2 of the second embodiment is configured to be worn by
being wrapped around the hip MW of the wearer M. The wearable
airbag device S2 of the second embodiment is configured to protect
the left and right trochanter circumferential edge parts TO
(trochanter TP of femur) of the wearer M as a targeted body part
when the inflation of the airbag 40 is completed.
[0044] As illustrated in FIG. 10, the wearable airbag device S2
includes the airbag 40, the gas generator 5 for feeding the airbag
40 with the inflation gas, the operation control device 1, and an
outer cover 60 that covers an outer circumferential side of the
airbag 40. The operation control device 1 and the gas generator 5
have the same configurations as those of the operation control
device 1 and the gas generator 5 in the above-described wearable
airbag device S1, and therefore, the detailed description thereof
will be omitted. In the wearable airbag device S2, the airbag 40 is
accommodated inside the outer cover 60 in a state of being laid
flat.
[0045] The airbag 40 is formed of a flexible sheet material
(specifically, a woven fabric made of polyester yarn, polyamide
yarn, and the like) similar to the above-described airbag 20, and
as illustrated in FIG. 11B, the airbag 40 includes two protecting
main body portions 48 (48L, 48R) that cover the left and right
sides of the hip MW of the wearer M when the inflation is
completed, and a connecting inflation portion 47 that connects the
upper ends of the protecting main body portions 48 to each other.
The airbag 40 is symmetrical in the left-right direction in a state
of being laid flat. In the case of the embodiment, the airbag 40 is
configured by folding back a part of the airbag base member 42 as
illustrated in FIG. 11A and joining the predetermined places such
that the folded state can be maintained.
[0046] The airbag base member 42 is configured such that columnar
inflation portions 44, in which the width dimensions are set to be
smaller than the width dimension W1 (refer to FIG. 13) of the
targeted body part (trochanter circumferential edge part TO), are
arranged in a single stroke manner. The airbag base member 42 has
an inner wall 42a disposed on the inner side (wearer M side) and an
outer wall 42b disposed on the outer side at the time of wearing,
with substantially the same external shape. Then, the airbag base
member 42 is formed by stacking the inner wall 42a and the outer
wall 42b in a state of being laid flat, and by joining (sewing by
suturing) predetermined places such that continuous joining parts
43 are formed. The airbag base member 42 is configured such that
the columnar inflation portions 44 that can inflate so as to
separate the inner wall 42a and the outer wall 42b are provided in
a single stroke manner to extend in two forks starting from the
arranged part of the gas generator 5, and the regions between the
columnar inflation portions 44 are connected over the entire
surface by a non-inflation connecting portion 45 disposed such that
the inner wall 42a and the outer wall 42b can be overlapped with
each other (refer to FIG. 11A). The columnar inflation portion 44
includes columnar main body portions 44a arranged substantially
along the up-down direction or the horizontal direction when the
inflation is completed, and a connecting portion 44b for connecting
the columnar main body portions 44a to each other. In the case of
the embodiment, the columnar inflation portion 44 (the columnar
main body portion 44a, the connecting portion 44b) is configured
such that the width dimension is substantially constant over the
entire length. The width dimension of the columnar inflation
portion 44 is set to be smaller than the width dimension W1 (refer
to FIG. 13) of the trochanter circumferential edge part TO as the
targeted body part, and is set to be a dimension that can measure a
sufficient thickness of the columnar main body portion 44a when the
inflation is completed. In the case of the embodiment, the columnar
main body portion 44a includes a horizontal columnar main body
portion 47a and vertical columnar main body portions 50aa, 50ab,
50ac, 50ad, 50ae, and 50af, which will be described later. The
connecting portion 44b includes connecting portions 50ba, 50bb,
50bc, 50bd, 50be, and 50bf, which will be described later.
[0047] As illustrated in FIG. 11A, the airbag base member 42
includes the connecting inflation portion 47, and two protecting
main body configuration portions 50 (50L, 50R) that form each of
the protecting main body portions 48 (48L, 48R).
[0048] The connecting inflation portion 47 has the same
configuration as that of the connecting inflation portion 26 of the
hip protecting portion 25 in the above-described airbag 20, and is
formed of a single horizontal columnar main body portion 47a
provided substantially along the left-right direction when the
inflation is completed. The connecting inflation portion 47 is
disposed in the region of a wrap portion 62 (which will be
described later) in the outer cover 60, and thus, although the
details are omitted in the drawing, the connecting inflation
portion 47 is disposed at a position which is the rear side of the
pelvis MP of the wearer M when the inflation of the airbag 40 is
completed. Similar to the above-described connecting inflation
portion 26, the connecting inflation portion 47 connects the gas
generator 5 to the vicinity of the center in the length direction
(left-right direction).
[0049] In the case of the embodiment, each of the protecting main
body configuration portions 50 (50L, 50R) is configured such that
six vertical columnar main body portions 50aa, 50ab, 50ac, 50ad,
50ae, and 50af which are provided so as to be substantially along
the up-down direction when the inflation is completed, and the
connecting portions 50ba, 50bb, 50bc, 50bd, 50be, and 50bf that
respectively connect each of the vertical columnar main body
portions 50aa, 50ab, 50ac, 50ad, 50ae, and 50af are arranged in a
single stroke manner. (refer to FIG. 11A). Each of the vertical
columnar main body portions 50aa, 50ab, 50ac, 50ad, 50ae, and 50af
is arranged side by side substantially along the up-down direction
and in the left-right direction, respectively. Then, the vertical
columnar main body portion 50aa arranged on the left and right
inner sides in a state where the airbag base member 42 is laid flat
communicates with the connecting inflation portion 47 (horizontal
columnar main body portion 47a) via the connecting portion 50ba,
and the vertical columnar main body portion 50af disposed on the
end side in the left-right direction is configured to close the
terminal (upper end side). Each of the vertical columnar main body
portions 50aa, 50ab, 50ac, 50ad, 50ae, and 50af is provided over
substantially the entire upper and lower regions of the protecting
main body configuration portion 50. Each of the protecting main
body configuration portions 50 is configured to be inflated by
allowing the inflation gas G that flows out of the connecting
inflation portion 47 to sequentially flow into the vertical
columnar main body portions 50ab, 50ac, 50ad, 50ae, and 50af from
the vertical columnar main body portion 50aa disposed on the
connecting inflation portion 47 side (refer to FIG. 11A). Each of
the protecting main body configuration portions 50 has a region on
the end edge side in the left-right direction in a state of being
laid flat as an overlapping portion 53. Then, the protecting main
body portion 48 is configured by overlapping the overlapping
portion 53 with an overlapped portion 54 formed of the region on
the center side in the left-right direction, and by joining the
upper edge side and the lower edge side of the overlapping portion
53 respectively to the upper edge side and the lower edge side of
the overlapped portion 54. In other words, the protecting main body
portion 48 is configured such that a region on the end side in the
left-right direction in a state of being laid flat (a region on the
front side at the time of wearing) is disposed to stack the
overlapping portion 53 and the overlapped portion 54 on the surface
of the targeted body part (trochanter circumferential edge part
TO), and in the overlapping region, the columnar inflation portions
44 (vertical columnar main body portions 50ab, 50ac, 50ae, and
50af) are disposed to be overlapped inside and outside to be
stacked on the surface of the targeted body part (trochanter
circumferential edge part TO) (refer to FIGS. 13 and 14). In the
case of the embodiment, the overlapping portion 53 is overlapped on
the outside of the overlapped portion 54.
[0050] Each of the protecting main body portions 48 (48L, 48R) is
configured to cover the outer side of the trochanter
circumferential edge part TO, which is the circumferential edge of
the trochanter TP of femur of the wearer M as the targeted body
part, when the inflation is completed, while the external shape in
a state of being laid flat is a substantially rectangular shape. In
the case of the embodiment, in each of the protecting main body
portions 48 (48L, 48R), the width dimension in the up-down and
left-right directions in a state of being laid flat is set to be a
dimension that can widely cover the surrounding of the trochanter
TP of femur (trochanter circumferential edge part TO) including the
front, rear, upper, and lower parts of the trochanter TP of femur
when the inflation of the airbag 40 is completed (refer to FIGS. 13
and 14). Then, as described above, each of the protecting main body
portions 48 is inflated by first allowing the inflation gas G that
flows out of the communication path 46 to flow into the vertical
columnar main body portion 50aa, and sequentially, by allowing the
inflation gas G to flow into the vertical columnar main body
portions 50ab, 50ac, 50ad, 50ae, and 50af. Further, in each of the
protecting main body portions 48, since the vertical columnar main
body portions 50aa, 50ab, 50ac, 50ad, 50ae, and 50af are connected
to each other over the entire surface by the non-inflation
connecting portion 45, the arranged state of the vertical columnar
main body portions 50aa, 50ab, 50ac, 50ad, 50ae, and 50af is also
maintained at the time of the inflation.
[0051] The outer cover 60 is made of a flexible woven fabric. In
the case of the embodiment, the outer cover 60 is made of a
polyester woven fabric. The outer cover 60 has an inner wall 60a
disposed on the inner side (wearer M side) at the time of wearing
and an outer wall 60b disposed on the outer side at the time of
wearing, with substantially the same external shape. The outer
cover 60 has a bag shape by joining (sewing) the outer
circumferential edges of the inner wall 60a and the outer wall 60b
to each other, and thus the airbag 40 can smoothly inflate inside.
As illustrated in FIG. 10, the outer cover 60 has the substantially
band-shaped wrap portion 62 disposed on the upper edge side and
wrapped around the upper region of the pelvis MP of the wearer M,
and two main covering portions 65 (65L, 65R) which are formed to
extend downward from the wrap portion 62 and cover the outer
circumferential sides of each of the protecting main body portions
48 (48L, 48R). A pair of hook-and-loop fastener 63 as wearing means
are provided on end portions 62a and 62b sides of the wrap portion
62. The hook-and-loop fastener 63 has a hook surface 63a and a loop
surface 63b arranged on the end portions 62a and 62b sides of the
wrap portion 62, respectively, and is configured to connect the end
portions 62a and 62b of the wrap portion 62 to each other. The main
covering portions 65L and 65R are formed to extend downward from
the wrap portion 62, and are configured to respectively smoothly
inflate the protecting main body portions 48 (48L, 48R) inside.
[0052] The wearable airbag device S2 of the second embodiment is
worn on the wearer M by being wrapped around the hip MW (pelvis MP)
of the wearer M by connecting the end portions 62a and 62b of the
wrap portion 62 in the outer cover 60 to each other by using the
hook-and-loop fastener 63 as wearing means (refer to FIG. 9). In
addition, in wearable airbag device S2 of the second embodiment, in
a state of being worn on the wearer M, when the sensor part 2
detects the fall of the wearer M, the operating signal is output to
the gas generator 5 from the operation control device 1, the
inflation gas flows into the airbag 40, and the airbag 40 completes
the inflation as illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14.
[0053] In the wearable airbag device S2 of the second embodiment as
well, the airbag 40 is configured to include the plurality of
columnar inflation portions 44 (columnar main body portions 44a) in
which the width dimension is set to be smaller than that of the
trochanter circumferential edge part TO as the targeted body part.
Therefore, the volume of the airbag 40 can be reduced as compared
with a case where the airbag has a simple bag shape. Further, since
the airbag 40 maintains the arranged state of the columnar
inflation portion 44 (columnar main body portion 44a) by
interposing the non-inflation connecting portion 45 therebetween
when the inflation is completed, the airbag 40 can stably protect
the trochanter circumferential edge part TO (trochanter TP of
femur) as the targeted body part when the inflation is
completed.
[0054] Further, in the wearable airbag device S2 of the second
embodiment, when the inflation is completed, the airbag 40 is
configured to provide the overlapping region disposed to stack the
columnar inflation portions 44 (vertical columnar main body
portions 50ab, 50ac, 50ae, and 50af) on the surface of the targeted
body part (trochanter circumferential edge part TO). Therefore, the
airbag 40 can be inflated to be thick at a predetermined place.
Specifically, in the second embodiment, each of the protecting main
body portions 48 in the airbag 40 is configured such that the
overlapping portion 53 and the overlapped portion 54 are stacked on
the surface of the targeted body part (trochanter circumferential
edge part TO) over the region in the vicinity of the center in the
front-rear direction where the side part of the trochanters TP of
femurs is covered from the front edge side in a worn state.
Therefore, the airbag 40 can thickly inflate the region that covers
the trochanter TP of femur, and can stably protect the
circumferential edge part of the trochanter TP of femur.
[0055] Furthermore, as the airbag 70, those having the
configurations illustrated in FIGS. 15 to 20 may be used. Similar
to the airbag 40 of the above-described second embodiment, the
airbag 70 is worn by being wrapped around the hip MW of the wearer
M, and protects the circumferential edge parts of the left and
right trochanters TP of femurs of the wearer M as the targeted body
part when the inflation is completed. Similar to the
above-described airbag 40, the airbag 70 includes two protecting
main body portions 86 (86L, 86R) that cover the left and right
sides of the hip MW of the wearer M when the inflation is
completed, and a connecting inflation portion 85 that connects the
upper ends of the protecting main body portions 86 to each
other.
[0056] The airbag 70 is made of a flexible sheet material. In the
case of the embodiment, the airbag 70 is made of a woven fabric
made of polyester yarns, polyamide yarns or the like. In the case
of the embodiment, the airbag 70 is configured such that a
plurality of columnar inflation portions 73 in which the width
dimensions are set to be smaller than the width dimension W1 (refer
to FIG. 19) of the targeted body part (the trochanter
circumferential edge part TO) are arranged side by side to
communicate with each other by the intersections 78. Specifically,
the airbag 70 includes an inner wall 70a disposed on the inner side
(wearer M side) at the time of wearing, an outer wall 70b disposed
on the outer side, a side wall 70c that connects the inner wall 70a
and the outer wall 70b, and a partition wall 71 for partitioning
the internal region of the airbag 70 (refer to FIGS. 15 to 18). The
partition walls 71 (71UL, 71UR, 71DL, 71DR) form the
circumferential wall of the columnar inflation portion 73, and
partitions the internal region of the airbag 70 into an inflow
region (columnar inflation portion 73) into which the inflation gas
flows and a non-inflow region 80 into which the inflation gas does
not flow. In the case of the embodiment, the partition walls 71
(71UL, 71UR, 71DL, 71DR) include an upper wall 71a, a lower wall
71b, and a side wall 71c that connects the upper wall 71a and the
lower wall 71b, and two partition walls 71 are arranged side by
side in the up-down direction in the regions of each of the
protecting main body portions 86 as a substantially U shape which
is flat (refer to FIGS. 15, 16, and 18). In the case of the
embodiment, the columnar inflation portion 73 includes an upper
horizontal inflation portion 74 disposed substantially along the
left-right direction over substantially the entire region in the
width direction on the upper end side of the airbag 70, two
vertical inflation portions 76L and 76R arranged to extend downward
from the upper horizontal inflation portion 74 while being
substantially orthogonal to the upper horizontal inflation portion
74, and two lower horizontal inflation portions 75UL, 75UR, 75DL,
and 75DR (four in total) extending substantially along the
left-right direction to be branched from the vicinity of the center
in the up-down direction and the lower end sides of each of the
vertical inflation portions 76L and 76R. The upper horizontal
inflation portion 74, the vertical inflation portions 76L and 76R,
and the lower horizontal inflation portions 75UL, 75UR, 75DL, and
75DR communicate with each other by intersections 78 (78UL, 78UR,
78CL, 78CR, 78DL, and 78DR), respectively. Further, the end portion
of the upper horizontal inflation portion 74 and the tip end on the
side separated from the vertical inflation portions 76L and 76R in
the lower horizontal inflation portions 75UL, 75UR, 75DL, and 75DR
are closed. In the case of the embodiment, the columnar inflation
portion 73 is configured such that the width dimension is
substantially constant over the entire length except for the center
side part 74a of the upper horizontal inflation portion 74 that
forms the connecting inflation portion 85 as will be described
later.
[0057] The connecting inflation portion 85 is formed of a center
side part 74a which is a region on the center side in the
left-right direction of the upper horizontal inflation portion 74
in the columnar inflation portion 73 (a region between the vertical
inflation portions 76L and 76R). The gas generator 5 is connected
to the vicinity of the center of the connecting inflation portion
85 in the length direction (left-right direction) (refer to FIG.
15). The width dimension of the center side part 74a of the upper
horizontal inflation portion 74 that forms the connecting inflation
portion 85 is set to be larger than that of the other parts in the
columnar inflation portion 73. Although the details are omitted in
the drawing, the connecting inflation portion 85 is also disposed
at a position which is the rear side of the pelvis MP of the wearer
M when the inflation is completed in a state of being worn on the
wearer M.
[0058] Each of the protecting main body portions 86 (86L, 86R) is
configured to cover the outer side of the circumferential edge part
of the trochanter TP of femur of the wearer M as the targeted body
part when the inflation is completed, while the external shape is a
substantially rectangular shape. In the case of the embodiment, in
each of the protecting main body portions 86, the width dimension
in the up-down and left-right directions in a state of being laid
flat is set to be a dimension that can widely cover the surrounding
(trochanter circumferential edge part TO) of the trochanter TP of
femur including the front, rear, upper, and lower parts of the
trochanter TP of femur when the inflation of the airbag 70 is
completed (refer to FIGS. 19 and 20). As described above, each of
the protecting main body portions 86 partitions the internal region
by two partition walls 71U and 71D. Then, each of the protecting
main body portions 86 is configured to be arranged side by side
such that the vertical inflation portion 76 is provided on the
inner end side in the left-right direction in a state of being laid
flat, and the non-inflow regions 80U and 80D are interposed in the
up-down direction between an end side part 74b of the upper
horizontal inflation portion 74 and two lower horizontal inflation
portions 75U and 75D, outside the vertical inflation portion 76 in
the left-right direction. Each of the protecting main body portions
86 inflates such that the inflation gas G that has flowed into the
connecting inflation portion 85 (the center side part 74a of the
upper horizontal inflation portion 74) flowed to the lower
horizontal inflation portions 75U and 75D through the vertical
inflation portion 67. In each of the protecting main body portions
86, the upper horizontal inflation portion 74 and the lower
horizontal inflation portions 75U and 75D are connected to each
other by the non-inflow regions 80U and 80D, and thus, at the time
of the inflation, the arranged state of the upper horizontal
inflation portion 74 and the lower horizontal inflation portions
75U and 75D is maintained.
[0059] Even when the airbag 70 is used, the airbag 70 is configured
to have a plurality of columnar inflation portions 73 in which the
width dimensions are set to be smaller than that of the trochanter
circumferential edge part TO as a targeted body part. Therefore,
the volume of the airbag 70 can be reduced as compared with a case
where the airbag has a simple bag shape. Further, when the
inflation is completed, the airbag 70 is connected to each other by
the non-inflow regions 80U and 80D such that the arranged state of
the columnar inflation portion 73 (the upper horizontal inflation
portion 74, the lower horizontal inflation portions 75U and 75D) is
maintained. Therefore, the airbag 70 can stably protect the
trochanter circumferential edge part TO (trochanter TP of femur) as
the targeted body part when the inflation is completed.
[0060] Further, in the airbag 70 having the above-described
configuration, by arranging the partition walls 71U and 71D inside,
the inner wall 70a and the outer wall 70b are arranged to be
separated from each other even in the non-inflow regions 80U and
80D when the inflation is completed. (refer to FIG. 20). In other
words, in the non-inflow regions 80U and 80D, the width dimension
(the separation distance between the upper wall 71a and the lower
wall 71b in the partition wall 71) in the up-down direction is set
to be a dimension that does not bring the inner wall 70a and the
outer wall 70b into contact with each other (does not bring the
walls into contact with the bottom). In other words, in the airbag
70 having the above-described configuration, when the inflation is
completed, the non-inflow regions 80U and 80D are arranged in a
state of having a certain thickness, and tension is also generated
by the inflated columnar inflation portion 73 in the non-inflow
regions 80U and 80D. Therefore, even when the airbag 70 is
configured such that the columnar inflation portions 73 (lower
horizontal inflation portions 75U and 75D) are arranged so as to
intersect the trochanter TP of femur, similar to the airbag that is
inflated to be thick entirely, the trochanter circumferential edge
part TO (trochanter TP of femur) as the targeted body part can be
stably protected. It is needless to say that, even an airbag of the
type in which the columnar inflation portions communicate with each
other by the intersections may be formed by directly joining
(sewing) the two base fabrics similar to the above-described
airbag.
[0061] In the airbags 20 and 40 of the embodiment, the inner walls
20a and 42a and the outer walls 20b and 42b are sewn so as to
provide continuous joining parts 21 and 43, and the columnar
inflation portions 22 and 44 are formed. Then, the region between
the columnar inflation portions 22 and 44 in the airbags 20 and 40
is connected to each other over the entire surface by the
non-inflation connecting portions 23 and 45 arranged such that the
inner walls 20a and 42a and the outer walls 20b and 42b are
arranged to be overlapped with each other. Further, in the airbag
70, the partition wall 71 is provided between the inner wall 70a
and the outer wall 70b to partition the columnar inflation portion
73 and the non-inflow region 80. In other words, the airbags 20,
40, and 70 of the embodiment are all configured such that the
airbags 20, 40, and 70 themselves can maintain the arranged state
of the columnar inflation portions 22, 44, and 73 when the
inflation is completed. However, the configuration of the airbag is
not limited to the embodiment. For example, as an airbag, a
configuration may be used in which holding bodies capable of
forming a columnar inflation portion from a tubular body that can
be inflated by allowing the inflation gas to flow thereinto and
maintaining the arranged state of the columnar inflation portions
when the inflation is completed are separately provided. Further,
similar to the second embodiment, when the airbag is inflated in
the outer cover, the columnar inflation portion of the airbag may
be configured to be maintained by the outer cover.
[0062] The present disclosure relates to a wearable airbag device
having the following configuration.
[0063] A wearable airbag device is configured to protect a targeted
body part of a wearer, and includes an airbag configured to inflate
to cover the targeted body part by allowing an inflation gas to
flow thereinto. The airbag has a plurality of columnar inflation
portions in which width dimensions are set to be smaller than that
of the targeted body part, and configured to maintain an arranged
state of the columnar inflation portions when the inflation is
completed, and to protect the targeted body part.
[0064] In the wearable airbag device of the present disclosure,
since the airbag is configured to have a plurality of columnar
inflation portions in which the width dimensions are set to be
smaller than that of the targeted body part, the volume can be
reduced as compared with a case where the airbag has a simple bag
shape. Further, since this airbag maintains the arranged state of
the columnar inflation portions when the inflation is completed, it
is possible to stably protect the targeted body part when the
inflation is completed.
[0065] Therefore, in the wearable airbag device of the present
disclosure, the airbag can be rapidly inflated, and the inflated
airbag can stably protect the targeted body parts.
[0066] Specifically, in the wearable airbag device according to the
present disclosure, it is preferable that the targeted body part
includes left and right femoral trochanter circumferential edge
parts of the wearer, and a head, and the airbag includes a hip
protecting portion that inflates to cover a side of the femoral
trochanter circumferential edge part, and a head protecting portion
that inflates to cover at least back of the head, and is configured
to position the hip protecting portion on an upstream side of a
flow of the inflation gas, and inflate the head protecting portion
after inflating the hip protecting portion.
[0067] When the wearable airbag device has such a configuration, it
is possible to suppress an increase in volume by having a
configuration having a plurality of columnar inflation portions,
and the airbag can be rapidly inflated even when the hip protecting
portion and the head protecting portion are provided. In addition,
corresponding to the contact order with the fall destination part
when the wearer falls, the inflated hip protecting portion can
rapidly protect the femoral trochanter circumferential edge part,
and then the inflated head protecting portion can also accurately
protect the head of the wearer.
[0068] Furthermore, in the wearable airbag device having the
above-described configuration, it is preferable that, when the
airbag is configured such that the overlapping region is provided
in which the columnar inflation portions are arranged to be stacked
on the surface of the targeted body part when the inflation is
completed, the airbag can also be inflated to be thick at a
predetermined place.
[0069] Specifically, the airbag may be formed by arranging the
columnar inflation portions in a single stroke manner, and further,
the airbag may be configured such that the columnar inflation
portions communicate with each other by the intersection.
* * * * *