AIRBAG SAFETY DEVICE

Abstract

A safety device adapted to be worn by a wearer (6) for preventing the injuries in particular to the hips by airbag inflation, comprises: a portable inflatable bag (1); a source (2) of releasable gas coupled to the bag (1); a belt buckle (3, 4) in which a plurality of sensors are arranged, one of which measures the ambient temperature and the other thermal sensor (5) measures the body temperature of a wearer (6) to enable triggering of the airbag in case of a fall only when the device is worn by a wearer.

Claims

1. A safety device adapted to be worn by a wearer (6) for preventing injuries to the hips, the pelvis, the buttocks and the coccyx by airbag inflation said device comprising: a portable inflatable bag (1); at least one source (2) of releasable gas coupled to the bag (1); a belt buckle (3, 4) in which a plurality of sensors are arranged, for determining the angular movement and the acceleration of a wearer (6) of the user during a fall of a wearer; a microcontroller adapted to analyze data received by different functional blocks in order to define the time to trigger the gas source; and means for discharging the source (2) of releasing the gas in the bag (1) according to a determination by the microcontroller that the wearer is falling; characterized in that Two of the sensors arranged in the buckle are a first thermal sensor measuring the ambient temperature and a second thermal sensor (5) measuring the body temperature of a wearer (6), the first and second thermal sensors being arranged for triggering of the airbag in case of a fall only when the device is worn by a wearer, by measuring the temperature difference measured by the two thermal sensors thus ensuring the presence of a wearer of the device and in that a wireless communication module, for transmitting information relating to the position of the wearer and the triggering of the airbag to a person other than the wearer of said device.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the buckle (3, 4) includes at least one magnet (7, 11) for locking the buckle.

3. The device according to claim 1, including a piston contact for activating the device, once the belt is closed.

4. The device according to claim 1, including a rechargeable energy source through the buckle (3), in particular by a USB cable (9).

5. The device according to claim 1, including a six-axis inertial module for detecting the movements of a wearer (6), the inertial module including in particular an accelerometer coupled to a gyroscope.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the buckle (3) includes an opening (21) arranged to pass an electric wire (12) disposed to transmit an electrical pulse given by the microcontroller for triggering of the airbag in case of a fall.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the buckle is formed of two assemblable portions, a first portion (3) in the form of a rectangular housing containing electronics and a second portion (4), these two portions together including a cylindrical connection body (15) including a bayonet fastening device (16).

8. The device according to claim 6, wherein the outer sides of said portions (3, 4) include openings (19, 20) to be attached to the ends of the bag (1) forming a belt.

9. The device according to claim 1, including visual (21) and/or sound (22) means arranged to indicate the operating state of said device.

10. The device according to claim 1, including a buckle comprising: a first cylindrically shaped portion including a helical groove extending from one end of the first buckle portion, the groove being curved with a notch at the second end thereof, and a second portion including a protrusion arranged to slide in said groove and be engaged into said notch, each portion of the buckle including a magnet arranged to hold together the first and second buckle portions, the two said buckle portions being disengageable from each other by the angular displacement of a first buckle portion relative to the other buckle portion then by the sliding of the protrusion in the groove until the extraction thereof.

11. (canceled)

12. The device according to claim 1, wherein the microcontroller stores an algorithm which distinguishes between sudden movements which correspond to falls and other movements which do not correspond to falls, in order to define the time to trigger the gas source only in case of a fall.

Description

[0024] The features of the invention will appear more clearly on reading the description of an embodiment given only by way of example, which is in no way limiting by referring to the schematic figures, in which:

[0025] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an airbag safety device worn by a wearer;

[0026] FIG. 2 is a perspective top view of a buckle of the airbag safety device;

[0027] FIG. 3 is a perspective bottom view of the buckle of the airbag safety device;

[0028] FIG. 4 is a side view of the buckle of the airbag safety device;

[0029] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a portion of the buckle of the airbag safety device;

[0030] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another portion of the airbag safety device; and

[0031] FIGS. 7 and 8 are perspective views of another version of the buckle of the airbag safety device.

[0032] FIG. 1 shows an airbag safety device according to the invention worn by a wearer 6 so as to prevent injuries to the hips, the pelvis, the buttocks and the coccyx by inflation of an airbag adapted to the hips of a wearer 6. This device comprises a portable inflatable bag 1 that can be coupled around a garment of the wearer 6.

[0033] The inflatable bag 1 carries a source 2 of releasable gas coupled to the bag 1. The inflatable bag 1 is carried by a belt buckle 3, 4 in which a plurality of sensors are arranged, for determining the angular movement and the acceleration of a wearer during a fall. The buckle 3, 4 also contains a microcontroller adapted to analyze data received by the different functional blocks in order to define the time to trigger the gas source 2, as well as means for releasing the gas from the source 2 to fill the bag 1 according to a determination by the microcontroller that the wearer 6 is falling. The microcontroller constitutes the heart of the apparatus executing the detection algorithm and managing all other blocks. Once all required conditions (belt closed, detected person, correct insertion direction), it is this component that will analyze the data from the inertial module in order to define the time to trigger the airbag.

[0034] One of the sensors which are arranged in the portion 3 of the buckle is a thermal sensor 5 (FIG. 3) arranged on the inner side of this portion 3 in order to measure the body temperature of the wearer 6 coupled with an ambient temperature sensor arranged inside the housing of the buckle, and therefore not visible in the drawing, to provide a signal to enable triggering of the airbag in case of a fall only when the device is worn by a wearer 6. The thermal sensor 5 is an infrared thermometer for measuring the temperature of a distant body in particular detecting the human heat of the wearer 6. Coupled with the measurement of the ambient temperature, the system indicates whether the belt is properly worn by a person rather than simply stored in the closed position.

[0035] As illustrated in FIG. 5, the inner end of the portion 4 of the buckle includes two magnets 7, 11 for locking the buckle and a spring-loaded piston contact 8 for activating the device, once the belt is closed. The electronics allows managing the switching on of the device. Spring-loaded piston contacts 8 on each buckle portion make contact on each buckle portion to detect that the buckle of the belt is closed.

[0036] FIG. 6 illustrates a rechargeable energy source through the buckle portion 3, in particular by a USB cable 9. This allows an internal battery to be charged. This block can be simplified and a simple battery charger will be present.

[0037] The device according to the invention typically includes six-axis inertial module for detecting the movements of a user, the inertial module including in particular an accelerometer coupled to a gyroscope. These elements are contained in the portion 3 of the buckle. This module allows detecting, in a known manner, the movements of the person and thus predicting the fall before the impact. The accelerometer coupled to the gyroscope allows differentiating a real fall from simple vibration or normal movements of the person.

[0038] The portion 3 of the buckle includes an opening 21 (FIG. 1) in the side thereof, which is arranged to pass an electric wire 12 disposed to transmit an electrical pulse given by the microcontroller to enable triggering of the airbag in case of a fall.

[0039] In this example, a LED 10 (FIG. 2) and a buzzer, which is not illustrated, for informing the wearer of the operating state of the device, in particular by emitting a flashing of the LED 10 in case of a malfunction and then the emission of several beeps if the wearer has not reacted to the signals emitted by the LED 10.

[0040] The device can optionally include an auditory or light device for indicating to the user other situations than a malfunction. For example: when the activated belt is worn correctly: two high-pitched beeps; when the belt is worn but upside down: two low-pitched beeps; when the belt is removed, switching off of the device: low-pitched beep; low battery: four quick low-pitched beeps every fifteen minutes.

[0041] As illustrated, the buckle is formed of two assemblable portions, a first portion 3 in the form of a rectangular housing containing electronics (in particular the sensors as well as the microcontroller), and a second recessed rectangular portion 4. These two portions 3, 4 together include a cylindrical connection body 15 including a bayonet fastening device 16, i.e. a hollow cylindrical portion 17 on one side of the portion 3 which receives a solid cylindrical portion 18 on one side of the portion. 4. The main surfaces of the portions 3, 4 are flat, which is the case for the portion 3, or slightly curved, which is the case for the portion 4, in order to be able to be urged to press against the body of the wearer 6. The outer sides of the portions 3 and 4 include elongated openings 19, 20 to be attached to the ends of the bag 1 forming a belt.

[0042] As illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, the buckle is formed of two assemblable portions, a first portion 3 in the form of a rectangular housing containing electronics and a second recessed rectangular portion 4. These two portions 3, 4 together include a cylindrical connection body including a fastening device including two projections 30 facilitating the opening of the buckle. The outer sides of the portions 3 and 4 include elongated openings 19, 20 to be attached to the ends of the bag forming a belt.