US 12,490,785 B2
Personal impact protection system
Christian Cavell, Starnberg (DE)
Assigned to AUTOLIV DEVELOPMENT AB, Vargarda (SE)
Appl. No. 18/256,323
Filed by AUTOLIV DEVELOPMENT AB, Vargarda (SE)
PCT Filed Dec. 6, 2021, PCT No. PCT/EP2021/084364
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jun. 7, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/122641, PCT Pub. Date Jun. 16, 2022.
Claims priority of application No. 10 2020 133 158.4 (DE), filed on Dec. 11, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2024/0032624 A1, Feb. 1, 2024
Int. Cl. A41D 13/018 (2006.01)
CPC A41D 13/018 (2013.01) 7 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A personal impact protection system for protection of a user's body comprising: a plurality of discrete wearable inflatable items configured to be worn on or around respective parts of the user's body; an inflator configured to produce a flow of inflating gas to inflate the plurality of inflatable items when worn by the user; wherein the plurality of inflatable items are each fluidly connectable to the inflator to receive the flow of inflating gas from the inflator according to an actuation algorithm, the plurality of inflatable items including a primary inflatable item which includes the inflator and which is configured to receive the inflating gas directly from the inflator, wherein the plurality of inflatable items further includes at least one secondary inflatable item being releasably fluidly connectable to the primary inflatable item by at least one flow connector to receive the flow of inflating gas indirectly from the inflator via the primary inflatable item when connected to the primary inflatable item, wherein the at least one flow connector each comprising a switchable pressure relief valve and being configured to switch between an operable condition and an inoperable condition, wherein the operable condition occurs when the at least one secondary inflatable item is not connected to the primary inflatable item, and wherein in the operable condition, the switchable pressure release valve vents the primary inflatable item to atmosphere in response to inflation pressure within the primary inflatable item exceeding a predetermined threshold; and the switchable pressure relief valve is configured, in the inoperable condition which occurs when the at least one secondary inflatable item is connected to the primary inflatable item, not to vent the primary inflatable item to atmosphere in response to inflation pressure within the primary inflatable item exceeding the predetermined threshold;
the system further comprising a control system operably connected to the inflator and the at least one flow connector and configured to actuate the inflator in response to an actuation signal and in accordance with an inflation characteristic selected from a group of:
i) inflation of all of the plurality of inflatable items;
ii) inflation of some but not all of the plurality of inflatable items; and
iii) inflation of a single one of the plurality of inflatable items;
wherein the control system is configured detect connection and disconnection of the at least one secondary inflatable item and to select the inflation characteristic in dependence on at least one of: the actuation signal; and a determination of which of the plurality of inflatable items are worn by the user.