Carrying device for an avalanche airbag system

Abstract

The invention relates to a carrying device, in particular a backpack (10), for an avalanche airbag system (12), which includes an airbag (14) and a filling device (16) for introducing at least one medium into the airbag (14). The airbag (14) brought into a stowage position is received in a container (18) if the avalanche airbag system (12) is coupled to the carrying device. The container (18) comprises a closure element (34). After opening the closure element (34), the container (18) can be brought from a closed position into an open position. The carrying device includes at least one spring element, which is tensioned if the container (18) is brought into the closed position, and by means of which bringing the container (18) from the closed position into the open position can be effected. The closure element (34) can be opened by actuating an actuating device (28), by means of which the filling device (16) can be brought into a triggered state. In the triggered state, the filling device (16) introduces the at least one medium into the airbag (14).

Claims

1. A carrying device for an avalanche airbag system, comprising: at least one airbag, a filling device for introducing at least one medium into the at least one airbag, at least one container having a closed position and an open position and including a receiving space for stowing the airbag, at least one closure element, and at least one spring element, wherein the at least one spring element is in a tensioned state when the container is in the closed position and is configured to bring the container from the closed position into the open position when the at least one closure element is opened, and wherein the at least one spring element is configured to transport the airbag out of the receiving space when the at least one container is in the open position, and an actuating device, wherein actuating the actuating device opens the at least one closure element, thereby bringing the at least one container into the open position, and causes the filling device to introduce the at least one medium into the at least one airbag.

2. The carrying device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one container includes a rigid base body and a rigid lid, wherein the at least one spring element is brought into the tensioned state when the rigid lid is closed.

3. The carrying device according to claim 2, wherein the at least one spring element is formed as a leg spring.

4. The carrying device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one spring element includes a first bracket and a second bracket, and wherein the first bracket and the second bracket bound an outlet opening of the container when the container is brought into the open position.

5. The carrying device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one spring element includes a relaxed state, a first free end, and a second free end, wherein the first free end and the second free end are spaced farther apart from each other in the relaxed state than in the tensioned state, and wherein the at least one spring element is curved in the tensioned state such that the at least one spring element at least partially encloses the receiving space.

6. The carrying device according to claim 5, wherein the at least one spring element comprises two or more spring elements arranged in the container and curved when in the tensioned state.

7. The carrying device according to claim 6, wherein the two or more spring elements comprise a first spring element and a second spring element, the first spring element curved in the tensioned state and retained in the tensioned state by the at least one closure element, and the second spring element retained in the tensioned state due to the closed position of the container.

8. The carrying device according to claim 7, wherein the two or more spring elements comprise a third spring element, and wherein the second spring element and the third spring element are substantially equally spaced from the first spring element.

9. The carrying device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one closure element includes a hook movable from an engagement position into a release position by actuating the actuating device.

10. The carrying device accordingto claim 9, wherein the at least one closure element includes a magnet.

11. The carrying device according to claim 1, wherein the airbag includes a wall material, and wherein the at least one spring element is affixed to the wall material of the airbag.

12. The carrying device according to claim 1, wherein when the container is in the closed position, the at least one closure element closes an outlet opening of the container.

13. The carrying device according to claim 1, wherein the filling device includes a blower with an electric motor and at least one electrical energy storage for supplying the electric motor with electrical energy.

14. The carrying device according to claim 13, wherein the blower comprises an axial compressor.

15. The carrying device according to claim 13, wherein the actuating device includes a handle, and wherein starting the electric motor can be effected by pulling the handle.

16. The carrying device according to claim 14, wherein the actuating device includes a handle, and wherein starting the electric motor can be effected by pulling the handle.

17. The carrying device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one closure element includes a magnet.

18. A carrying device for an avalanche airbag system, comprising: at least one airbag comprising a wall material, a filling device for introducing at least one medium into the at least one airbag, at least one container for stowing the at least one airbag, the at least one container including at least one closure element and having a closed position and an open position, at least one spring element affixed to the wall material of the airbag, wherein the at least one spring element is in a tensioned state when the container is in the closed position and is configured to bring the container from the closed position into the open position when the at least one closure element is opened, and an actuating device, wherein actuating the actuating device opens the at least one closure element, thereby bringing the at least one container into the open position, and causes the filling device to introduce the at least one medium into the at least one airbag.

19. The carrying device according to claim 18, wherein the container has a receiving space for receiving the airbag, and wherein the at least one spring element is configured to transport the airbag out of the receiving space.

20. The carrying device according to claim 19, wherein the at least one spring element includes a relaxed state, a first free end, and a second free end, wherein the first free end and the second free end are spaced farther apart from each other in the relaxed state than in the tensioned state, and wherein the at least one spring element is curved in the tensioned state such that the at least one spring element at least partially encloses the receiving space.

Description

(1) Further advantages, features and details of the invention are apparent from the claims, the following description of preferred embodiments as well as based on the drawings, in which functionally identical elements are provided with identical reference characters. These show in:

(2) FIG. 1 schematically an avalanche airbag backpack, in which an airbag pocket of the backpack formed as a hard-shelled box is closed;

(3) FIG. 2 schematically the closed airbag pocket according to FIG. 1 in a perspective view;

(4) FIG. 3 the airbag pocket according to FIG. 2 in an open position;

(5) FIG. 4 a variant of the avalanche airbag backpack, in which the airbag pocket is U-shaped formed;

(6) FIG. 5 the airbag pocket of the airbag backpack according to FIG. 4, wherein spring elements arranged in the airbag pocket are shown in a tensioned state;

(7) FIG. 6 one of the spring elements according to FIG. 5 in a sectional view of the airbag pocket;

(8) FIG. 7 opening the airbag pocket according to FIG. 4 by means of the spring elements, wherein an airbag received in the airbag pocket is output at the same time;

(9) FIG. 8 the backpack according to FIG. 4 with opened airbag pocket and output airbag;

(10) FIG. 9 a further perspective view of the backpack according to FIG. 4, wherein the airbag pocket is closed;

(11) FIG. 10 a variant of the avalanche airbag backpack, wherein the airbag pocket comprises a spring element with two brackets, which are retained in a tensioned state by a closure or a lock; and

(12) FIG. 11 the airbag pocket of the backpack according to FIG. 10, wherein the brackets have forced open the airbag pocket after opening the closure.

(13) FIG. 1 schematically shows a carrying device in the form of a backpack 10, which is formed as an avalanche airbag backpack. Accordingly, the backpack 10 is equipped with an avalanche airbag system 12, which includes an airbag 14 and a filling device 16 for filling or inflating the airbag 14. In FIG. 1, the airbag 14 is shown greatly schematized brought into a stowage position, in which the airbag 14 is folded.

(14) In order to be able to stow the airbag 14 separated from other content of the backpack 10 and as space saving as possible, the airbag 14 is accommodated in a container 18, which serves for storing the airbag 14 and thus can also be referred to as an airbag pocket. The airbag 14 is well protected from wetness, from mechanical effects, from UV radiation and the like in the container 18 or the airbag pocket. In addition, the container 18 or such an airbag pocket ensures that the airbag 14 is always arranged correctly positioned in the backpack 10 for reliable deployment.

(15) Presently, the filling device 16 includes a blower 20 with an electric motor 22 as well as at least one electrical energy storage 24 for supplying the electric motor 22 with electrical energy. The electrical energy storage 24 can in particular be provided by at least one battery and/or at least one accumulator and/or at least one capacitor. A control unit 26 of the filling device 16 controls the electric motor 22 when the filling device 16 is triggered. Thereupon, the blower 20 blows sucked in ambient air into the airbag 14 until the airbag 14 is filled and has a predetermined pressure. For triggering the filling device 16, an actuating device 28 is actuated, which includes a handle 30 (compare FIG. 2 and FIG. 4). By pulling the handle 30, thus, starting the electric motor 22 is effected.

(16) The container 18 or the airbag pocket is configured such that it does not accidentally open in normal use of the backpack 10. Furthermore, it is desirable if the container 18 opposes as little resistance as possible to the filling airbag 14 upon triggering the avalanche airbag system 12 since this costs energy and valuable time.

(17) Therefore, the circumstance is in particular presently accommodated that a considerable part of the energy reserves provided by the electrical energy storage 24 usually has to be provided by the blower 20 to open the airbag pocket or the container 18 and to output the airbag 14 from the container 18. However, the energy required hereto presently does not have to be provided by the blower 20.

(18) This is because the container 18, which is shown without the backpack 10 in FIG. 2, comprises spring elements for instance in the form of two leg springs 32, which are only schematically indicated in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3. If the container 18, as shown in FIG. 2, is closed or brought into a closed position, thus, the leg springs 32 are tensioned. However, a closure element 34 ensures that the leg springs 32 do not unintentionally open the container 18. The closure element 34 is also only schematically shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3.

(19) Presently, the closure element 34 is coupled to an element of the actuating device 28 for example formed as a pull rope 36. Accordingly, the closure element 34 comprises a device, which allows coupling to the actuating device 28, in particular to the pull rope 36. Such a device can be provided for instance in the form of a mount or receptacle for the pull rope 36.

(20) By pulling the handle 30 of the actuating device 28, the pull rope 36 thus pulls the closure element 34, such that the closure element 34 is opened. Hereto, the closure element 34 can for example be formed as a mechanically lockable hook or the like. By pulling the handle 30, the hook is then moved from a locking position or engagement position (compare FIG. 2) into a release position (compare FIG. 3) via the pull rope 36. This results in the leg springs 32 being transferred from the tensioned state (compare FIG. 2) into a relaxed state (compare FIG. 3) as the leg springs 32 force the container 18 open. Thus, the blower 20 does not have to provide the force required for opening the container 18. In closing the container 18, the leg springs 32 or the like spring elements or mechanical energy storages are again tensioned and locking or closing the closure element 34 ensures that the container 18 nevertheless remains in its closed position shown in FIG. 2.

(21) In the variant of the backpack 10 shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, the container 18 includes two inherently rigid housing parts pivotable around a pivot axis 38 relative to each other in the form of a base body 40 and a lid element or lid 42. Accordingly, the container 18 is configured as a hard-shelled box in the backpack 10 according to FIG. 1, in which the spring elements for instance in the form of the leg springs 32 open the lid 42 and thus can bring the container 18 into its open position shown in FIG. 3. The base body 40 and the lid 42 can be formed in the manner of half shells, which substantially have an identical configuration.

(22) Presently, fixing elements 44 arranged in the container 18 are schematically shown in FIG. 3, which serve for fixing the airbag 14 in a receiving space 50 of the container 18. Presently, the fixing elements 44 include buttons 46 or clasps formed in the manner of crescents, which are fixed to the container 18 via belts 48 and can be threaded into corresponding eyelets or slits, which are provided in belts on sides of the airbag 14.

(23) Upon unlocking the closure element 34 by pulling the handle 30, the container 18 under spring tension opens very fast. In addition, the construction is preferably configured such that the airbag 14 is also actively transported out of the container 18 or out of the receiving space 50. Hereto, additional spring elements or elastic elements for instance in the form of spring steel rods, rods of carbon material and/or fiber-reinforced plastics, spiral springs, coil springs or the like can be provided. However, such spring elements can also effect opening the container 18 like the presently exemplarily described leg springs 32.

(24) FIG. 4 shows a variant of the backpack 10, in which the airbag pocket or the container 18 is substantially U-shaped formed, wherein respective legs of the U-shape face downwards and extend along sides of the backpack 10. In the backpack 10 shown in FIG. 4 too, shoulder straps 52 as well as waist straps 54 are indicated as in FIG. 1.

(25) The filling device 16 of the avalanche airbag system 12 includes the blower 20 with the electric motor 22, the control unit 26 and the electrical energy storage 24 also in the backpack 10 shown in FIG. 4. In addition, the airbag 14 brought into its stowage position is indicated, which is arranged folded in the receiving space 50 of the container 18 (compare FIG. 6). In the airbag pocket shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 or the container 18 for receiving the airbag 14 too, spring elements for bringing the container 18 into the open position are provided and integrated in the container 18, respectively.

(26) In the container 18 according to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, multiple spring elements for opening the container 18 are preferably provided. For example, leaf springs 56, 58 are employed as such spring elements, which are shown in their curved, tensioned state in FIG. 5 and in FIG. 6. These leaf springs 56, 58 are preferably pressed into the container 18 or the airbag pocket in packing the airbag 14 and herein brought into the curved shape shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6. In this tensioned state, the leaf springs 56, 58 enclose the receiving space 50 in circumferential direction such that free ends 60, 62 of the respective leaf springs 56, 58 (compare FIG. 6) are only a little bit spaced from each other.

(27) At the first spring element, namely at the leaf spring 56, the container 18 is closed or locked by means of the closure element 34. If this closure element 34 is unlocked by pulling the handle 30 or thereby by the pull rope 36 (compare FIG. 4), thus, this first leaf spring 56 moves into the relaxed state shown in FIG. 7, in which the free ends 60, 62 are farther spaced from each other.

(28) As the closure means for closing the airbag pocket shown in FIG. 5 or the container 18, a closure means presently formed as a zipper 64 which is preferably formed as a tear zipper is provided in addition to the closure element 34. Tooth rows 66, 68 of the zipper 64 opposing each other (compare FIG. 8) can be easily separated from each other if the zipper 64 is detached at the tear point or rupture point. This tear point is presently arranged at the closure element 34 and thus substantially in central manner related to the U-shape of the container 18 or the airbag pocket. The tooth rows 66, 68 of the zipper 64 can then be separated from this tear point. This results in the fact that the remaining leaf springs 58 can also be transferred into their relaxed or stretched state in unimpeded manner, which is shown in FIG. 8. Upon triggering the airbag 14 by pulling the handle 30 (compare FIG. 4), thus, the first spring element or the first leaf spring 56 is unlocked, the remaining spring elements or leaf springs 58 then automatically follow.

(29) The further spring elements or leaf springs 58 curved in the tensioned state are presently each equally far spaced from the first leaf spring 56 such that the leaf springs 56, 58 are well distributed over the entire extension or length of the container 18. Preferably, at least the first leaf spring 56 and two further leaf springs 58 are provided. However, as exemplarily shown in FIG. 5, the first leaf spring 56 and four further leaf springs 58 can also be provided.

(30) From FIG. 6 and from FIG. 7, it is apparent that the free ends 60, 62 of the respective leaf spring 56, 58 can be connected to the parts of the closure element 34 detachable from each other via ribbons 70 or the like. In FIG. 6, the airbag 14 is shown in its folded stowage position, in which the airbag 14 is received in the receiving space 50. According to FIG. 7, stretching the leaf springs 56, 58 advantageously ensures that the airbag 14 is output or transported out of the receiving space 50. The then exposed airbag 14 can particularly simply and fast be filled with ambient air by means of the blower 20.

(31) Thus, the operation of triggering the airbag 14 can be divided into three partial steps. First, a tear point is opened or the closure element 34 is unlocked, then ejection of the airbag 14 from the receiving space 50 occurs by transferring the spring elements for instance in the form of the leaf springs 56, 58 into the stretched, relaxed state. Subsequently, the airbag 14 is deployed or inflated, namely with the aid of the electrically operated blower 20. Thus, the system is conceived such that the airbag 14 is securely transported out of the container 18 or the airbag pocket as a result of triggering such that it can be simply filled with air immediately thereafter.

(32) In FIG. 8, it is well visible how the airbag 14 is output or transported out of the receiving space 50 and thus can be easily and fast inflated by means of the blower 20. In this free, deployed state, the airbag 14 can be very fast filled with a desired volume of ambient air, for example with a volume of about 150 liters, and the blower 20 does not have to apply a high pressure hereto. This is due to the fact that the airbag 14 is no longer in the container 18. Rather, the airbag 14 is already output.

(33) In FIG. 9, the backpack 10 is shown with the U-shaped formed airbag pocket in a further perspective view. From this view, it is particularly well apparent how the zipper 64 is also kept closed or secured by means of the closure element 34, wherein the zipper 64 closes an outlet opening of the container 18 in the closed position of the container 18 or the airbag pocket. In addition, the actuating device 28 with the handle 30 and the pull rope 36 is also indicated in FIG. 9, which is coupled to the closure element 34 such that the closure element 34 can be unlocked or opened by pulling the handle 30.

(34) In the variant of the backpack 10 shown in FIG. 10, the avalanche airbag system 12 again includes the airbag 14 and the electrical filling device 16 with the blower 20, which comprises the electric motor 22. In this respect, reference is made to the explanations to the already described variants of the backpack 10.

(35) However, in this variant, the container 18 or the airbag pocket includes a spring element with two brackets 72, 74 (compare FIG. 11), which abut on each other if the container 18 is brought into the closed position (compare FIG. 10). In this state, the spring element is tensioned, which includes the two brackets 72, 74. Herein, a wall material 76 of the container 18 can be flexibly formed and for example be formed of a textile material and/or of a flexible, foil-like plastic material. This is because the brackets 72, 74 ensure a certain shaping of the container 18. The spring element is again kept in the tensioned state by means of the closure element 34 (compare FIG. 10).

(36) If a pull is exerted on the closure element 34 by pulling the handle 30 of the actuating device 28 via the pull rope 36, thus, the closure element 34 is unlocked. Thereupon, the brackets 72, 74 move away from each other and the container 18 is brought into the open position shown in FIG. 11. Thus, the spring element with the two brackets 72, 74 is formed in the manner of a spring clip 78. In FIG. 11, the container is shown opened to a certain extent. However, if areas of the brackets 72, 74 abutting on each other in the closed position of the container 18 are maximally far moved away from each other and thus the container 18 is completely opened, thus, tensioning the wall material 76 formed as a flexible planar formation effects ejection of the airbag 14 from the receiving space 50. Herein, the brackets 72, 74 can in particular be brought into a stretched position. In particular, the planar formation can be provided by at least one textile material of fibers and/or by at least one foil-like polymer material.

(37) In FIG. 11, the receiving space 50 of the container 18 is visible, but the airbag 14 output from the receiving space 50 is not illustrated for reasons of clarity. Furthermore, it is apparent from FIG. 11 that the two brackets 72, 74 bound an outlet opening of the container 18 if the container 18 is brought into the open position or opened, through which the airbag 14 set in the receiving space 50 is output or ejected from the receiving space 50.