GB2312369A

GB2312369A - Protecting against injury during a fall

Info

Publication number: GB2312369A
Application number: GB9608797A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stephen Anselm Willis Taylor
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1996-04-27
Filing date: 1996-04-27
Publication date: 1997-10-29
Also published as: GB9608797D0

Abstract

Devices G1 & G2 are carried, folded, in holders on the front and back of a belt 3. If a wearer falls, the devices (bags) are inflated, either from compressed gas in cylinders G4, or from a controlled explosion in an insulated chamber (E16 & E17, Fig. 5) also carried on a belt. The inflation of the devices can be initiated either by a sensor (7, Figs. 2 & 3), or by a panic button (15, Fig. 4) clipped to the clothes or by other suitable means.

Description

SAFETY DEVICE This invention relates to an expanding device system to reduce the possibility of a person injuring themselves during a fall.

Falls cause a lot of acute injury and long term morbidity to those who fall The cost of treating and supporting people after they have fallen is lar2e.

According to the present invention there is provided protective devices which are adapted to expand. either automatically or by panic button or by other means..

when a person wearing and using the Invention falls At this time three technologies appear possible. The first is described below and uses cylinders of compressed gas The second using controlled explosions is well known in the car industry and is described later A third. possible technology. using expanding po!ymers has not been considered.

According to the first form of the present invention there is provided at least one bag in front of the body and one behind. made of such a material that will resist tearing on projections on which a person may fall. The bags( for a large man approximately 100 litres in front and 100 litres behind) will be of such a shape,size and depth as to be likely to give the body, above the knees all-round protection. There will be varying sizes and designs to suit varying buiids.

The bags are folded into holders on the front and back of a belt when not expanded. If found necessary, a means of self-emptying of the bags will be provided. so that. after use. they deflate Suitable tubing connects cyinders to the bags Appropriate cylinders.(for a large man possibly 2 # 400cc) full of a suitable gas under a pressure, to be worked out. but in the SQCI bar range. ar^ attached to the body by a means and so placed to ensure the maximum convenience to a user. A belt seems to r,e the most I;keiy method.

Each cylinder is sealed in an appropriate way and the gas released by such means as wili inflate the bags at a suitable speed in this case a mechanism which Is designed to be ruptured by an automatic firing capsule is described. This capsule contains a reiease mechanism.a spring and a plunger.

The system may be set off either automatically or using a "Panic button or by other suitable means if automatically. an appropriate device. possibly a miniature tilt sensor. on the belt. or wherever found tn be suitable will record the onset of a fall. In this case, the incline and acceleration of the body is recorded and, at a preset figure will set off the system, if using a pani@ button, the system will be set off by pressing the button when a user detects that he or she is fang. Suitable batteries to power the sensor & release mechanism as necessary will be provided.

The system will be so designed as to avoid as far as possible inappropriate setting off of the svstem & such devices as are necessary will be employed.

So the first form of the invention will be designed to work as follows@ A user begins to fall and, if using the panic button, presses the button if using the automatic sensor. the sensor records the fact of the fall !n either vase the release mechanism on each firing capsule is activated and each plunger ruprures the disc of a cylinder. The gas rapidly fills the bags via the tubing, possibly within half a second, and the user falls onto the expanded bags The bags deflate, either by leakage or suitably designed openings The used cylinders and firing capsules are put aside for refilling and setting while spare, filled cylinders with finng mechanisms are attached and the invention is ready for use egain A specific embodiment of The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which.

Figure 1 shows the bags inflated before and behind and the two cylinders in the small of the back Figure 2. shows the front-on view indicating the way in which the bags, when inflated. extend beyond the body to give side and top protection. Only the rear ags are shown inflated. The front bags are shown folded in their holder Figure 3. shows the other components of the system comprising the cylinder head, the automatic firing mechanism. the sensor and the Start of the tubing.

Figure 4. shows the system using the "Panic button". This is attached by a cable and san be fastened to clothes wherever it is convenient.

Referring to the drawing - in Fig 1 the bags, front G1a & b and back G2a & b.

are shown expanded The belt 3 is shown, the two cylinders G4a & b each one filling a pair of bags. The top front bag G1a extends in front of the face and above it to protect The head. The for, rear bag G2a likewise extends above the: hed-d In Fig. 2 the rear pair of bags G2a & b are shown inflated and extending sideways beyond the line of the body. The sensor 7 is shown. The front airbag holders G11a with "split" lines 14 are indicated The belt 3 is shown.

Fig 3 shows the system with cylinder G4@ automatic firing capsule G5 - plunger (a) solenoid (b) & spring (c); disc G6@ sensor 7: tubing G12.

Fig. 4 shows the same system operated by panic bution 15 which is on a cable and can be attached to clothes where it can be pressed to operate the system.

According to the second form of the present invention the idea of the bags is essentially the same although the material will have to be more robust. On the front and back of the belt will be the means to provide a controlled explosion to fill the bags. In this case a container will be provided lined except for the opening to the bags with insulating materia, capable of resisting nigh temperatures in the 250 tegree Celsius range within each of these will be an explosion chamber containing the explosive and the mechanism for detonating it The detonators will be connected to either the panic button or the automatic sensor depending on which mechanism is being used So the second form of the invention will work as follows @ user falls and, either he or she presses the panic button, or the automatic sensor detects the @ail Either of these operations activates the detonators and m@@d explosions occur which fill the bags. The user falls on the expanded bags It is unlikely that any part of the second form of the invention will be reusable FIG 5 illustrates the second form of the invention.

Referring to the drawing. In FIG 5 containers E17a & b of explosive mixture are shielded by insulation E 16a & b on the front and back of the belt. The explosion inflates the bags E1 & E2 a & b at the front and back of the body

Claims

CLAIMS 1, Protective devices which are adapted to expand, either automatically or bv panic button or by other means, when a person wearing and using the Invention falls.
2. Protective devices which are set to expand. as in claim 1. by at least one bag of appropriate shape being filled with gas from cylinders of compressed gas or by at least one bag of appropriate shape being filled by a controlled explosion
3. Protective devices as in claims 1. & 2 and using a means to detect automatically when a user starts to fall and employing this detector to set off the devices.
4. Protective devices as in claims 1. & 2 and using a panic button, to be pressed by a user when he or she starts to fall, to set off the devices.
5. Protective devices as in claims 1,2.3, & 4 so shaped as to be likely to protect as many as possible of the several parts of the Lody commonly injured in a fall.
6. Protective devices as in claims 1,2,3,4 & 5 so arranged as to be able to be wom dunng the ordinary activities of a user.

7 Protective devices as in claims 1,2,3,4,5, & 6 designed to make as little noise as possible when set off 8. Protective devices which expand to reduce the possibility of injury to a @@@@ during falls, substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1-5 of the accompanying drawing