Protection device and process of making the same

Abstract

A wearable protection device including an inflatable element having a plurality of side-by-side segments and configurable between a deflated condition and an inflated condition. The protection device includes a case defining a compartment in which the plurality of segments is housed. The case includes a first and a second cover in sheet material, at least partially opposite to each other.

1 . A wearable protection device comprising:
 an inflatable element comprising a plurality of side-by-side segments each extending along a respective extension trajectory, wherein each of the side-by-side segments comprises at least one wall in sheet material delimiting an internal volume and having a first and second portion facing each other, wherein each of the side-by-side segments further comprises one or more peripheral engagement portions, wherein the inflatable element is configurable between:
 a deflated condition in which the first and second portions of at least one wall of each of the side-by-side segments, for a predominant portion of a surface extension, are close together and at least partially in contact with each other, 
 an inflated condition in which the first and second portions of the at least one wall of each of the side-by-side segments, for a preponderant portion of its surface extension, are spaced apart, wherein said at least one wall, in the inflated condition, defines an internal volume greater than the internal volume defined by the same wall in the deflated condition, 
   a case defining a compartment in which the plurality of the side-by-side segments is housed, wherein the case comprises a first and a second cover in sheet material, at least partially opposite to each other, wherein each segment is interposed between said first and second covers,   
       wherein at least one peripheral engagement portion of at least one segment of the inflatable element is fixed to, or in proximity of, at least one of said first and second covers. 
     
     
         2 . The wearable protection device according to  claim 1 , wherein the inflatable element comprises at least two peripheral engagement portions opposite to each other with respect to the internal volume of the respective segment, wherein at least one of said segment is fixed, at opposite peripheral engagement portions with respect to the internal volume of the respective segment, to the first and second covers. 
     
     
         3 . The wearable protection device according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one wall of each segment comprises a first wall and a second wall in sheet material,
 wherein the first wall has a respective central zone defining said first portion of the atleast one wall of the inflatable element, wherein the second wall has a respective central zone, which defines said second portion of the at least one wall of the inflatable element,   wherein the first and second walls of each segment are engaged with each other at a peripheral edge to define the peripheral engagement portion of the inflatable element.   
     
     
         4 . The wearable protection device according to  claim 3 , wherein each segment is fixed, at peripheral edge portions positioned opposite each other with respect to the internal volume of the respective segment, to the first and second covers. 
     
     
         5 . The wearable protection device according to  claim 3 , wherein the peripheral edge of each segment comprising a first tract and a second tract opposite each other and joined at respective end portions by at least one connection tract,
 wherein the first and second tracts of the peripheral edge extend substantially along the extension trajectory of the respective segment,   wherein each segment is fixed to the first and second cover at the first and second tract of the peripheral edge.   
     
     
         6 . The wearable protection device according to  claim 5 , wherein each segment is sewn to the first and second covers exclusively at at least one of said peripheral engagement portions. 
     
     
         7 . The wearable protection device according to  claim 5 , wherein each of the side-by-side segments is fixed by a seam to:
 the first cover at the first tract of the peripheral edge along at least 70% of the total longitudinal extension of said first tract, substantially defined along the extension trajectory of the respective segment, and   the second cover at the second tract of the peripheral edge along at least 70% of the total longitudinal extension of said second tract, substantially defined along the extension trajectory of the respective segment.   
     
     
         8 . The wearable protection device according to  claim 1 , wherein at least a peripheral portion of the first and second cover of the case is fixed to each other by sewing,
 wherein each of the side-by-side segments of the inflatable element is sewn to the first and second cover spaced from the seams joining the first and second covers.   
     
     
         9 . The wearable protection device according to  claim 1 , wherein the case comprises a plurality of auxiliary covers arranged in the compartment, wherein each auxiliary cover being made of sheet material and defining a sub-chamber in which at least one segment of the inflatable element is housed,
 wherein each auxiliary cover is fixed to at least one of:
 at least a peripheral engagement portion of the segment housed in the auxiliary cover, 
 the first cover of the case, or 
 the second cover of the case. 
   
     
     
         10 . The wearable protection device according to  claim 9 , wherein at least 70% of each segment is contained within the sub-chamber of a respective auxiliary cover. 
     
     
         11 . The wearable protection device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an activator configured to activate the actuator to allow the inflatable element to pass from the deflated to the inflated condition,   a control unit operatively connected to the activator, wherein the control unit is configured to send a command signal to the activator for the activation of the actuator, and   at least one sensor configured to emit a signal representative of a user condition, wherein the control unit is configured to:   receive the signal from the sensor,   compare the received signal with at least one threshold value of a control parameter,   determine, based on the comparison, the presence of an accident condition for the user and,   if the accident condition is determined, send the command signal to the activator to detect an occurrence of the accident condition.   
     
     
         12 . A wearable protection device comprising:
 an inflatable element comprising a plurality of side-by-side segments each extending along a respective extension trajectory, wherein each segment comprises at least one wall in sheet material delimiting an internal volume and having a first and second portion facing each other, wherein the inflatable element is configurable between:
 a deflated condition in which the first and second portions of at least one wall of each segment, for a preponderant part of its surface extension, are close together and at least partially in contact with each other, 
 an inflated condition in which the first and second portions of the at least one wall of each segment, for a preponderant portion of its surface extension, are spaced apart, wherein said at least one wall, in the inflated condition, defines an internal volume greater than the internal volume defined by the same wall in the deflated condition, 
   a case defining a compartment in which the plurality of segments is housed, wherein the case comprises a first and a second cover in sheet material, at least partially opposite to each other, wherein each segment is interposed between said first and second covers,   
       wherein two immediately adjacent segments of the inflatable element-in cooperation with at least one of the first or second cover, in the inflated condition and in a cross-section orthogonal to the extension trajectory of at least one of said segments-delimit at least one empty zone. 
     
     
         13 . The wearable protection device according to  claim 12 , wherein the empty zone extends along at least 80% of the total longitudinal extension of said segments defined along the respective extension trajectories. 
     
     
         14 . The wearable protection device according to  claim 12 , wherein the empty zone, in the inflated condition and at a longitudinal centreline between two adjacent segments delimiting said empty zone, has a predetermined area, wherein a ratio between said predetermined area and a cross-sectional area of one of the segments delimiting said empty zone—in the inflated condition, in a cross-section along a plane orthogonal to the extension trajectory of the respective segment, at a longitudinal centreline zone of said segment—is between 0.05 and 0.3. 
     
     
         15 . The wearable protection device according to  claim 12 , wherein the at least one empty zone comprising:
 a first empty zone delimited between two immediately adjacent segments of the inflatable element and the first cover,   a second empty zone delimited between two immediately adjacent segments of the inflatable element and the second cover.   
     
     
         16 . The wearable protection device according to  claim 12 , wherein the at least one empty zone, in cross-section, being substantially triangular in shape. 
     
     
         17 . The wearable protection device according to  claim 12 , wherein each segment further comprises one or more peripheral engagement portions,
 wherein the peripheral edge of each segment has a first and second tract opposite to each other with respect to the internal volume defined by the same segment and joined at respective end portions by at least one connection tract,   wherein the first and second tracts of the peripheral edge develop substantially along the extension trajectory of the respective segment, and   wherein each segment is sewn to the first and second cover at the first and second tract of the peripheral edge.   
     
     
         18 . The wearable protection device according to  claim 17 , wherein two first tracts of two distinct peripheral edges of two immediately side-by-side segments of the inflatable element, in the inflated condition of said segments, are placed at a predetermined distance, wherein two second tracts of two distinct peripheral edges of two immediately side-by-side segments of the inflatable element, in the inflated condition of said segments, are placed at a predetermined distance,
 wherein the ratio between said minimum distance and the predetermined distance between two first tracts of two distinct peripheral edges of two immediately side-by-side segments of the inflatable element in the inflated condition of said segments, is equal to or greater than 1, and   wherein the ratio between said minimum distance and the predetermined distance between two second tracts of two distinct peripheral edges of two immediately side-by-side segments of the inflatable element, in the inflated condition of said segments, is equal to or greater than 1.   
     
     
         19 . The wearable protection device according to  claim 12 , wherein the inflatable element is made of deformable material, wherein the wall of the inflatable element has a gas impermeable structure, and wherein the case is at least partially made of perforated and gas-permeable material. 
     
     
         20 . The wearable protection device according to  claim 12 , wherein the first and second covers of the case, in the deflated condition of the inflatable element and in the area where said segments are fixed to the case, are spaced from each other up to a maximum distance, wherein said first and second covers, in the inflated condition of the inflatable element and in the area where said segments are fixed to the case, are arranged at an operating distance less than said maximum distance, and
 wherein the ratio between the maximum distance and the operating distance between the first and second cover is equal to or greater than 1.1.