Avalanche airbag, method for manufacturing an avalanche airbag and avalanche airbag system

Abstract

The invention relates to an avalanche airbag (2), comprising a deployable outer bag (12), consisting of a flexible, gas-permeable material, and a deployable inner bag (13), consisting of a gas-tight elastic material and inflatable with gas, whereby the inner bag (13) is arranged inside the outer bag (12). The material of the inner bag (13) has an elasticity of at least 25%. The avalanche airbag (2) facilitates rapid deployment after activation over the entire temperature range as well as a small pack volume with a low total weight. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for manufacturing an avalanche airbag (2) and an avalanche airbag system.

Claims

1. An avalanche airbag, comprising a deployable first bag comprising a flexible, gas-permeable material, and a deployable second bag disposed inside the first bag, the second bag inflatable with gas and comprising a gas-tight material having an elasticity of at least 25%.

2. The avalanche airbag according to claim 1, wherein when the first bag is inflated, the first bag has an inflated profile, and wherein when the second bag is inflated, the second bag adapts to the inflated profile of the first bag.

3. The avalanche airbag according to claim 1, wherein the first bag and the second bag are attached at one or more locations.

4. The avalanche airbag according to claim 1, wherein the flexible, gas-permeable material of the first bag comprises a textile material.

5. The avalanche airbag according to claim 4, wherein the flexible, gas-permeable material of the first bag has a tensile strength of greater than 1500 N/5 cm in warp and weft and a tear propagation resistance of greater than 70 N in warp and weft.

6. The avalanche airbag according to claim 4, wherein the flexible, gas-permeable material of the first bag is comprised of a woven textile or a knitted textile.

7. The avalanche airbag according to claim 4, wherein the textile material comprises threads and/or yarns having a denier of between 50 dtex and 150 dtex.

8. The avalanche airbag according to claim 1, wherein the gas-tight material of the second bag comprises a thermoplastic polyurethane, a silicone elastomer, or a combination thereof.

9. The avalanche airbag according to claim 1, wherein the first bag is formed of at least two layers, each layer having a peripheral edge wherein the at least two layers of the first bag are attached along the peripheral edges of the at least two layers of the first bag, and the second bag is formed of at least two layers, each layer having a peripheral edge, wherein the at least two layers of the second bag are attached along the peripheral edges of the at least two layers of the second bag in a gas-tight manner, and wherein the at least two layers of the second bag are disposed between the at least two layers of the first bag.

10. The avalanche airbag according to claim 9, wherein the at least two layers of the second bag each comprise an anti-blocking agent.

11. The avalanche airbag according to claim 9, further comprising a reinforcing layer disposed between the at least two layers of the second bag,.

12. The avalanche airbag according to claim 11, wherein the at least two layers of the second bag are comprised of the gas-tight material, and wherein the reinforcing layer is comprised of the gas-tight material and having a thickness of from 25 μm to 50 μm.

13. A method for manufacturing an avalanche airbag having an outer bag and an inner bag, comprising: cutting at least two layers of a first material, each of the at least two layers having a peripheral edge; cutting at least two layers of a second material, each of the at least two layers having a peripheral edge; layering the at least two layers of the second material and securing the at least two layers together along the peripheral edges to form a gas-tight inner bag; disposing the inner bag between the at least two layers of the first material; and securing the at least two layers of the first material together along the peripheral edges to form an outer bag, wherein the inner bag is disposed inside of the outer bag.

14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising: creating a material overhang when securing the peripheral edges of the at least two layers of the second material, and securing the material overhang of the inner bag to the outer bag.

15. An avalanche airbag system comprising: a backpack; the avalanche airbag of claim 1, wherein the avalanche airbag is disposed on or in the backpack; and an airbag filling system configured to fill the avalanche airbag.

16. An avalanche airbag system, comprising: a backpack; the avalanche airbag manufactured according to claim 13, wherein the avalanche airbag is disposed on or in the backpack; and an airbag filling system configured to fill the avalanche airbag.

17. The avalanche airbag according to claim 1, wherein the gas-tight material of the second bag has a thickness of from 20 μm to 50 μm.

18. The avalanche airbag according to claim 6, wherein the woven textile or the knitted textile comprises a polyamide, a polyolefin, a polyester, or a combination thereof.

19. The avalanche airbag according to claim 1, wherein the first bag comprises a first inlet opening, and wherein the second bag comprises a second inlet opening.

20. The avalanche airbag according to claim 19, wherein the first inlet opening at least partially encloses the second inlet opening.

Description

[0070] Additional advantages, features and specifics result from the following description of preferred embodiments and from the drawings. These show:

[0071] FIG. 1 an avalanche airbag system in a perspective view,

[0072] FIG. 2 a reinforcing element of the avalanche airbag in a top view;

[0073] FIG. 3 a diagram of the avalanche airbag pursuant to a first variant;

[0074] FIG. 4 a diagram of the avalanche airbag pursuant to a second variant;

[0075] FIG. 5 a diagram of the avalanche airbag pursuant to a third variant; and

[0076] FIG. 6 a diagram of the avalanche airbag pursuant to a fourth variant.

[0077] In the figures the equivalent or functionally equivalent elements are provided with identical reference numbers.

[0078] FIG. 1 shows a diagram of an avalanche airbag system 1 comprising an avalanche airbag 2, a backpack 3 and an airbag filling system with a filling apparatus 4 to fill the avalanche airbag 2. The avalanche airbag 2 in FIG. 1 is completely inflated by air and/or gas that was forced into the avalanche airbag 2 through an air inlet channel 5 of the airbag filling system.

[0079] The filling apparatus 4 is stowed in the backpack 3. Preferably the filling apparatus 4 comprises a blower, an electrical motor to drive the blower and at least one super capacitor or similar electrical energy storage device as energy source to supply the motor, whereby the blower forces the air from the environment through the air inlet channel 5 into the inner bag of the avalanche airbag 2. Alternatively, the filling apparatus 4 may also comprise a cartridge that is filled with gas.

[0080] An activation handle 8 affixed to a carrier system 7 of the backpack 3 is connected through a pull cord 9 or the like to the filling apparatus 4. By pulling on the activation handle 8 the filling apparatus 4 can be activated and the filling of the airbag or avalanche airbag 2 effected. Automatic activation by appropriate algorithms or remote activation is preferably also possible. The air inlet channel 5 is connected at one end to the filling apparatus 4 and on the other end to the inlet openings 6 of the avalanche airbag 2, whereby the air inlet channel 5 is connected to the inlet openings 6 through a connecting element 10 in a gas-tight manner. Preferably this gas-tight connection is accomplished by gluing, pressing or welding.

[0081] First the avalanche airbag 2 is folded together and stowed in the backpack 3. In order avoid possible burial by snow, the user pulls the activation handle 8, so that the air and/or gas flows out of the filling apparatus 4 through the air inlet channel 5 into the avalanche airbag 2.

[0082] FIG. 2 shows the avalanche airbag 2 with a reinforcing element 11 in a top view. The reinforcing element 11 serves to reliably connect the avalanche airbag 2 to the backpack 3. When the avalanche airbag 2 is inflated, the avalanche airbag 2 is connected in a tear-proof manner to the backpack 3 through the reinforcing element 11, so that the user wearing the backpack 3 is able to maintain the additional lift of the avalanche airbag 2 in an avalanche.

[0083] FIG. 3 shows, in a diagram of a longitudinal section, the avalanche airbag 2 pursuant to a first example. The avalanche airbag 2 comprises an outer bag 12 and an inner bag 13. The outer bag 12 and the inner bag 13 may be termed “first bag” and “second bag” or “outer airbag” and “inner airbag”, respectively. The inner bag 13 is arranged inside the outer bag 12. The inner bag 13 consists of a gas-tight and elastic material and the outer bag 12 consists of a flexible and air-permeable material.

[0084] The outer bag 12 consists of two layers 19, 20. The inner bag 13 consists of two layers 21, 22. The two layers 19, 20 of the material of the outer bag 12 may consist of two material cuts, whereby the two layers 19, 20 are completely separated, or of one cut that is folded along a prescribed line and overlaid, so that the two layers 19, 20 of the outer bag 12 are created.

[0085] This also applies to the two layers 21, 22 of the material of the inner bag 13. The inner bag 13 is attached to the outer bag 12 in places, e.g. at points or over the surface. Preferably this attachment at points is accomplished by gluing. The places 16 are thus either points or flat places. The two layers 21, 22 of the inner bag 13 are welded along the peripheral areas of the two layers 21, 22 so that the welded seams 15 are created.

[0086] A reinforcing layer 23 lies between the two layers 21, 22 of the inner bag 13 and covers the entire surface of the welded seams 15 in order to reinforce them, whereby the reinforcing layer 23 is preferably a maximum of 100 mm wide. Outside the welded seams 15 there is preferably a material overhang 17 of the two layers 21, 22 of the inner bag 13. In the variant pursuant to FIG. 1 the material overhand 17 lies between the two layers 19, 20 of the outer bag 12 and is sewn to layers 19, 20 of the outer bag 12 in the form of T seams 14, i.e. in seams exhibiting a T shape.

[0087] The inlet openings 6 here comprise one inlet opening of the inner bag 13 and one inlet opening of the outer bag 12. The respective inlet openings 6 are preferably connected to one another by welding, clamping or gluing in such a way that the inlet opening of the outer bag 12 encloses the inlet opening of the inner bag 13, whereby the inlet opening of the inner bag 13 den encloses the air inlet channel 5 in a gas-tight manner. The air inlet channel 5 is connected to these inlet openings 6, preferably in a gas-tight manner.

[0088] FIG. 4 shows a diagram of the avalanche airbag 2 pursuant to a second example. The second example pursuant to FIG. 4 differs from the first example pursuant to FIG. 3 by means of the fact that a possible material overhang 17 is not attached to the outer bag 12. In this case the welded seam 15 is at a distance from the T seams 14 of the layers 19, 20 of the outer bag 12.

[0089] FIG. 5 shows a diagram of the avalanche airbag 2 pursuant to a third example. The third example pursuant to FIG. 5 differs from the first example pursuant to FIG. 3 in that the material overhang 17 lies between the two layers 19, 20 of the outer bag 12 and is sewn to them in such away that the overlap seams 18 are created or formed.

[0090] FIG. 6 shows a diagram of the avalanche airbag 2 pursuant to a fourth example. The fourth example pursuant to FIG. 6 differs from the third example pursuant to FIG. 5 in that a possible material overhang 17 of the inner bag 13 lies at a distance from the overlap seams 18 of the layers 19, 20 of the outer bag 12. In this case the welded seams 15 of the inner bag 13 lie at a distance from the overlap seams 18 of the layers 19, 20 of the outer bag 12.