US20220295918A1 - Wearable airbag device - Google Patents

Abstract

A wearable airbag device is configured to protect a targeted body part of a wearer, and includes an airbag configured to inflate to cover the targeted body part by allowing an inflation gas to flow thereinto. The airbag has a plurality of columnar inflation portions in which width dimensions are set to be smaller than that of the targeted body part, and configured to maintain an arranged state of the columnar inflation portions when the inflation is completed, and to protect the targeted body part.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
• The present application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-44080 of Yanagisawa et al., filed on Mar. 17, 2021, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND1. Technical Field
• The present disclosure relates to a wearable airbag device that can protect a targeted body part of a wearer.
2. Description of Related Art
• In the related art, as a wearable airbag device, as described in JP-T-2014-514462, there was a device having a configuration for protecting a hip at the time of a fall by being worn on a wearer by being wrapped around the hip, and by inflating the bag-shaped airbag.
• This type of wearable airbag device is configured to inflate the airbag in a state of being worn on a human body. Therefore, as a gas feeding member for feeding an inflation gas to an airbag, a small and lightweight gas cylinder containing a compressed gas is used instead of an inflator normally used for an airbag device installed on a vehicle. Since the gas cylinder does not have a structure that allows a gas to flow out quickly, it takes a certain amount of time to inflate the bag-shaped airbag that covers the hip widely, and thus there is room for improvement in terms of rapid and efficient inflation of the airbag.
SUMMARY
• The present disclosure relates to a wearable airbag device having the following configuration.
• A wearable airbag device is configured to protect a targeted body part of a wearer, and includes an airbag configured to inflate to cover the targeted body part by allowing an inflation gas to flow thereinto. The airbag has a plurality of columnar inflation portions in which width dimensions are set to be smaller than that of the targeted body part, and configured to maintain an arranged state of the columnar inflation portions when the inflation is completed, and to protect the targeted body part.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
• FIG. 1A andFIG. 1B are schematic views of a state where a wearable airbag device according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure is worn on a wearer.
• FIG. 2 is a plan view of an airbag to be used in the wearable airbag device of the first embodiment.
• FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line III-III ofFIG. 2.
• FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV ofFIG. 2.
• FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C and 5D are schematic views describing an operating state of the wearable airbag device according to the first embodiment when the wearer falls.
• FIG. 6 is a schematic partial horizontal sectional view (a schematic horizontal sectional view on the left side) along a front-rear direction in a hip protecting portion in a state where the inflation of the airbag is completed in the wearable airbag device of the first embodiment.
• FIG. 7 is a schematic vertical sectional view in the hip protecting portion in a state where the inflation of the airbag is completed in the wearable airbag device of the first embodiment.
• FIG. 8 is a schematic horizontal sectional view in a head protecting portion in a state where the inflation of the airbag is completed in the wearable airbag device of the first embodiment.
• FIG. 9 is a schematic view of a state where a wearable airbag device according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure is worn on a wearer.
• FIG. 10 is a plan view of a state where the wearable airbag device of the second embodiment is laid flat.
• FIG. 11A andFIG. 11B are plan views of a state where the airbag used in the wearable airbag device of the second embodiment and an airbag base member are arranged side by side to be flat.
• FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along line XII-XII ofFIG. 11B.
• FIG. 13 is a schematic partial horizontal sectional view (a schematic horizontal sectional view on the left side) along the front-rear direction in a state where the inflation of the airbag is completed in the wearable airbag device of the second embodiment.
• FIG. 14 is a schematic vertical sectional view in a worn state illustrating a state where the inflation of the airbag is completed in the wearable airbag device of the second embodiment.
• FIG. 15 is a plan view of an airbag according to still another embodiment of the present disclosure.
• FIG. 16 is a sectional view taken along line XVI-XVI ofFIG. 15.
• FIG. 17 is a sectional view taken along line XVII-XVII ofFIG. 15.
• FIG. 18 is a sectional view taken along line XVIII-XVIII ofFIG. 15.
• FIG. 19 is a schematic partial horizontal sectional view (a schematic horizontal sectional view on the left side) along the front-rear direction in a worn state where the inflation of the airbag ofFIG. 15 is completed.
• FIG. 20 is a schematic vertical sectional view in a worn state where the inflation of the airbag ofFIG. 15 is completed.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
• Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed herein. All modifications within the appended claims and equivalents relative thereto are intended to be encompassed in the scope of the claims.
• Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present disclosure will be described based on the drawings. A wearable airbag device S1 of the first embodiment is a vest type to be worn on an upper body MU of a wearer M. As illustrated inFIGS. 1A and 1B, the wearable airbag device S1 includes anairbag20, agas generator5 for feeding theairbag20 with an inflation gas, anoperation control device1 that includes asensor part2 for detecting a fall of the wearer M and operates thegas generator5, and aclothing portion10 as an accommodating portion for accommodating and holding theairbag20. When the inflation of theairbag20 is completed, the wearable airbag device S1 of the first embodiment is configured to protect a trochanter circumferential edge part TO including left and right trochanters TP of femurs of the wearer M, and a head MH, as targeted body parts.
• Theoperation control device1 includes thesensor part2 including an angular velocity sensor capable of detecting angular velocities around three axes in up-down, front-rear, and left-right directions, and an acceleration sensor capable of detecting accelerations in the three-axis directions. Theoperation control device1 is configured to operate thegas generator5 when a falling behavior different from a normal behavior of the wearer M is detected by the signal from thesensor part2. Specifically, when the wearer M starts the falling behavior different from the normal behavior, theoperation control device1 includes determination means capable of making a determination from various threshold values, and thus the fall of the wearer M is detected based on the determination of the determination means, and thegas generator5 is operated. Theoperation control device1 further includes a power source formed of a battery (not illustrated) or the like for outputting signals for the operation of thesensor part2 and for the operation of thegas generator5.
• Theclothing portion10 is formed as a vest that can be worn on the upper body MU of the wearer M, and includes aleft front portion11 and aright front portion12 that cover the front surface of the upper body MU of the wearer M, and aback surface portion13 that covers the back surface of the upper body MU of the wearer M. Theleft front portion11 and theright front portion12 are configured such that the facing inner edges can be joined to each other by afastening tool15 such as a fastener. In other words, theclothing portion10 is configured such that theleft front portion11 is provided to be connected to the front side of the left portion of theback surface portion13, and theright front portion12 is provided to be connected to the front side of the right portion of theback surface portion13. Theclothing portion10 is made of a flexible sheet material (woven fabric) and covers the outer circumferential side of the foldedairbag20.
• Theairbag20 is made of a flexible sheet material. In the case of the embodiment, theairbag20 is made of a woven fabric made of polyester yarns, polyamide yarns or the like. In the case of the embodiment, theairbag20 is configured such thatcolumnar inflation portions22 in which the width dimensions are set to be smaller than the width dimensions W1 and W2 (refer toFIGS. 6 and 8) of the targeted body parts (the head MH, the trochanter circumferential edge part TO) are arranged in a single stroke manner. Specifically, as illustrated inFIG. 2, theairbag20 has aninner wall20adisposed on the inner side (wearer M side) and anouter wall20bdisposed on the outer side at the time of wearing, with substantially the same external shape. Then, theairbag20 is formed by stacking theinner wall20aand theouter wall20bin a state of being laid flat, and by joining (sewing by suturing) predetermined places such that continuous joiningparts21 are formed. Theairbag20 is configured such that thecolumnar inflation portions22 that can inflate so as to separate theinner wall20aand theouter wall20bare provided in a single stroke manner to extend in two forks starting from the arranged part of thegas generator5, by forming the joiningpart21, and the regions between thecolumnar inflation portions22 are connected over the entire surface by a non-inflation connectingportion23 disposed such that theinner wall20aand theouter wall20bcan be overlapped with each other (refer toFIGS. 2 to 4). Thecolumnar inflation portion22 includes columnarmain body portions22aarranged substantially along the up-down direction or the horizontal direction when the inflation is completed, and a connectingportion22bfor connecting the columnarmain body portions22ato each other. In the case of the embodiment, the columnar inflation portion22 (the columnarmain body portion22a, the connectingportion22b) is configured such that the width dimension is substantially constant over the entire length. Specifically, in thecolumnar inflation portion22, the width dimension is set to be smaller than the width dimensions W1 and W2 (refer toFIGS. 6 and 8) of the head MH and the trochanter circumferential edge part TO as the targeted body parts, and is set to be a dimension that can ensure the thickness that can appropriately protect the targeted body part (the trochanter circumferential edge part TO and the head MH) when the inflation is completed. In the case of the embodiment, the columnarmain body portion22aincludes a horizontal columnarmain body portion26a, vertical columnarmain body portions27aa,27ab,27ac, and27ad, a horizontal columnarmain body portion27b, a vertical columnarmain body portion29a, and vertical columnarmain body portions31aa,31ab, and31ac, which will be described later. Connectingportion22bincludes connectingportions27ca,27cb,27cc,27cd, and27ceand connectingportions31baand31bb, which will be described later.
• Further, theairbag20 includes ahip protecting portion25 that can protect the hip MW of the wearer M when the inflation is completed, ahead protecting portion31 that can protect the head MH of the wearer M when the inflation is completed, and acommunication path29 for allowing thehip protecting portion25 and thehead protecting portion31 to communicate with each other. Theairbag20 is symmetrical in the left-right direction in a state of being laid flat.
• Thehip protecting portion25 is configured to be folded and accommodated on the lower end side from theback surface portion13 to theleft front portion11 and theright front portion12 on the left and right sides in theclothing portion10, and to be inflated to protrude downward from theclothing portion10 and cover the outer side of the hip MW (the trochanter TP of femur as the targeted body part) of the wearer M at the time of the inflation. Specifically, as illustrated inFIG. 2, thehip protecting portion25 includes two protecting main body portions27 (27L,27R) that cover the left and right sides of the hip MW of the wearer M, and a connectinginflation portion26 that connects the upper ends of the protectingmain body portions27 to each other.
• The connectinginflation portion26 is formed of a single horizontal columnarmain body portion26aprovided substantially along the left-right direction when the inflation is completed. Although the details are omitted in the drawing, the connectinginflation portion26 is disposed at a position which is the rear side of a pelvis MP of the wearer M when the inflation of theairbag20 is completed. In addition, in the embodiment, thegas generator5 is connected to the connectinginflation portion26 for feeding theairbag20 with an inflation gas (refer toFIG. 2). Thegas generator5 is disposed in the vicinity of the center in the length direction of the connecting inflation portion26 (horizontal columnarmain body portion26a), and is connected to theairbag20 by using a retainer (not illustrated). Thegas generator5 is configured to contain a compressed gas therein, and to release the contained state and discharge a cold gas into theairbag20 when being operated. Thegas generator5 is configured to be electrically connected to the above-describedoperation control device1, and to be operated with an operating signal input from theoperation control device1 that has detected the fall of the wearer M. In the case of the embodiment, the inflation gas G discharged from thegas generator5 flows to the left and right in the connecting inflation portion26 (horizontal columnarmain body portion26a) and flows toward each of the protecting main body portions27 (27L,27R).
• Each of the protecting main body portions27 (27L,27R) is formed so as to extend downward while extending outward in the left-right direction from the connectinginflation portion26 in a state where theairbag20 is laid flat. Each of the protecting main body portions27 (27L,27R) is configured to cover the outer side of the trochanter circumferential edge part TO, which is the circumferential edge of the trochanter TP of femur of the wearer M as the targeted body part, when the inflation is completed, while the external shape in a state of being laid flat is a substantially rectangular shape (refer toFIGS. 6 and 7). In the case of the embodiment, in each of the protectingmain body portions27, the width dimension in the up-down and left-right directions in a state of being laid flat is set to be a dimension that can widely cover the surrounding of the trochanter TP of femur including the front, rear, upper, and lower parts of the trochanter TP of femur when the inflation of theairbag20 is completed. In the case of the embodiment, each of the protectingmain body portions27 is configured such that four vertical columnarmain body portions27aa,27ab,27ac, and27ad, which are provided to be substantially along the up-down direction when the inflation is completed, one horizontal columnarmain body portion27bprovided to be substantially orthogonal to the vertical columnarmain body portions27aa,27ab,27ac, and27adabove each of the vertical columnarmain body portions27aa,27ab,27ac, and27ad, and connectingportions27ca,27cb,27cc,27cd, and27cewhich are respectively connected to the vertical columnarmain body portions27aa,27ab,27ac, and27adand the horizontal columnarmain body portion27bare provided in a single stroke manner. In each of the protectingmain body portions27, the vertical columnarmain body portions27aaarranged on the left and right inner sides in a state where theairbag20 is laid flat communicate with the connecting inflation portion26 (horizontal columnarmain body portion26a) via the connectingportion27ca. In each of the protectingmain body portions27, the vertical columnarmain body portions27aa,27ab,27ac, and27adare provided at substantially equal intervals, and in the non-inflation connectingportions23 arranged between the vertical columnarmain body portions27aa,27ab,27ac, and27ad, the width dimensions are set to be smaller than those of the vertical columnarmain body portions27aa,27ab,27ac, and27adin a state of being laid flat. In each of the protectingmain body portions27, the vertical columnarmain body portions27aa,27ab,27ac, and27adare connected to each other over the entire surface by the non-inflation connectingportion23 such that the arranged state of the vertical columnarmain body portions27aa,27ab,27ac, and27adis maintained at the time of the inflation. The horizontal columnarmain body portion27bis configured to be provided substantially along the horizontal columnarmain body portion26aabove the horizontal columnarmain body portion26athat forms the connectinginflation portion26, and to extend to the vicinity of the center of the horizontal columnarmain body portion26ain the left-right direction (refer toFIG. 2). Then, each of the protectingmain body portions27 is configured to be inflated by allowing the inflation gas G that flows out of the connectinginflation portion26 to sequentially flow into the vertical columnarmain body portions27ab,27ac, and27adfrom the vertical columnarmain body portion27aadisposed on the connectinginflation portion26 side, and by allowing the inflation gas G to flow out of the horizontal columnarmain body portion27btoward thecommunication path29.
• In thecommunication path29, two vertical columnarmain body portions29aand29aformed to respectively extend from the horizontal columnarmain body portions27barranged on each of the left and right protectingmain body portions27 are formed to be arranged side by side in the left-right direction, and are provided substantially along the up-down direction, and thecommunication path29 is inflated by allowing the inflation gas to flow thereinto through the horizontal columnarmain body portion27b. Thecommunication path29 is attached to the inner side of the center portion of theback surface portion13 of theclothing portion10.
• Thehead protecting portion31 is configured to be folded and accommodated on the upper end side of theback surface portion13 of theclothing portion10, and to inflate to protrude upward from theclothing portion10 and cover the rear side of the head MH of the wearer M at the time of the inflation. Thehead protecting portion31 is configured such that the external shape in a state of being laid flat is a substantially rectangular shape, and the left, right, upper, and lower parts of the rear surface side of the head MH can be widely covered when the inflation is completed. Specifically, thehead protecting portion31 is configured such that the inflation completed shape is wider in the left-right direction than the head MH. In the case of the embodiment, thehead protecting portion31 is configured such that three vertical columnarmain body portions31aa,31ab, and31ac, which are formed to extend from each of the vertical columnarmain body portions29athat form thecommunication path29, and the connectingportions31baand31bbthat connect the vertical columnarmain body portions31aa,31ab, and31acto each other are provided symmetrically in the left-right direction (refer toFIG. 2). The vertical columnarmain body portion31aaprovided on the center side in the left-right direction is configured to extend upward from each of the vertical columnarmain body portions29athat form thecommunication path29, and each of the vertical columnarmain body portions31abadjacent to the vertical columnarmain body portion31aaon the center side thereof is configured to close the tip end side (upper end side). Then, thehead protecting portion31 is configured to be inflated by allowing the inflation gas G to sequentially flow into the vertical columnarmain body portions31aband31acfrom the two vertical columnarmain body portions31aadisposed on the center side in the left-right direction through thecommunication path29. In thehead protecting portion31, the width dimension of the non-inflation connectingportion23 disposed between the vertical columnarmain body portions31aa,31ab, and31acis set to be smaller than those of the vertical columnarmain body portions31aa,31ab, and31acin a state of being laid flat. In thehead protecting portion31, the vertical columnarmain body portions31aa,31aa,31ab,31ab,31ac, and31acare connected to each other over the entire surface by the non-inflation connectingportion23, and the arranged state of the vertical columnarmain body portions31aa,31aa,31ab,31ab,31ac, and31acis maintained at the time of the inflation.
• In theairbag20, as illustrated inFIG. 2, a plurality of attachingtabs20care provided at predetermined places on the upper edge side of thehip protecting portion25, the lower edge side of thehead protecting portion31, and the side edge side of thecommunication path29, and these attachingtabs20care attached to the inner circumferential surface side of theclothing portion10 by sewing or the like, and are maintained by theclothing portion10.
• The wearable airbag device S1 of a first embodiment is worn on the wearer M so as to cover the upper body MU of the wearer M by using thefastening tool15. In addition, in the wearable airbag device S1 of the first embodiment, in a state of being worn on the wearer M, when thesensor part2 detects the fall of the wearer M as illustrated inFIGS. 5A and 5B, the operating signal is output to thegas generator5 from theoperation control device1, the inflation gas flows into theairbag20. In the embodiment, first, thehip protecting portion25 of theairbag20 inflates so as to protrude downward from theclothing portion10 and covers the surrounding of the hip MW (refer toFIG. 5B). After this, when the inflation gas flows into thehead protecting portion31 through thecommunication path29, thehead protecting portion31 inflates so as to protrude upward from theback surface portion13 of theclothing portion10, and the inflation is completed to cover the back of the head MH (refer toFIGS. 5C and 5D).
• Then, in the wearable airbag device S1 of the first embodiment, theairbag20 is configured to include the plurality ofcolumnar inflation portions22 in which the width dimension is set to be smaller than those of the targeted body parts (the head MH and the trochanter circumferential edge part TO). Therefore, the volume of theairbag20 can be reduced as compared with a case where the airbag has a simple bag shape. Further, by disposing the non-inflation connectingportion23 between thecolumnar inflation portions22, when the inflation of theairbag20 is completed, the arranged state of thecolumnar inflation portions22 is maintained, and thus, when the inflation is completed, it is possible to stably protect the head MH and the trochanter circumferential edge part TO including the trochanter TP of femur as the targeted body parts.
• Therefore, in the wearable airbag device S1 of the first embodiment, theairbag20 can be rapidly inflated, and theinflated airbag20 can stably protect the head MH and the trochanter circumferential edge part TO (trochanter TP of femur) as the targeted body parts.
• In the wearable airbag device S1 of the first embodiment, theairbag20 includes thehip protecting portion25 that inflates so as to cover the side of the trochanter circumferential edge part TO (trochanter TP of femur), and thehead protecting portion31 that inflates to cover the back of the head MH. However, since thehip protecting portion25 and thehead protecting portion31 respectively have a plurality of columnar inflation portions22 (columnarmain body portions22a), it is possible to suppress an increase in volume, and theairbag20 can be rapidly inflated even when thehip protecting portion25 and thehead protecting portion31 are provided. Further, theairbag20 is configured to first allow the inflation gas G discharged from thegas generator5 to flow into each of the protecting main body portions27 (27L,27R) in thehip protecting portion25, and then allow the inflation gas to flow into thehead protecting portion31 through thecommunication path29. In other words, theairbag20 is configured such that thehip protecting portion25 is positioned on the upstream side of the flow of the inflation gas, and thehead protecting portion31 is inflated after the inflation of thehip protecting portion25. Therefore, corresponding to the contact order with the fall destination part F when the wearer M falls, the inflatedhip protecting portion25 can rapidly protect the trochanter circumferential edge part TO (trochanter TP of femur), and then the inflatedhead protecting portion31 can also accurately protect the head MH of the wearer M.
• Next, a wearable airbag device S2 of a second embodiment will be described. As illustrated inFIG. 9, the wearable airbag device S2 of the second embodiment is configured to be worn by being wrapped around the hip MW of the wearer M. The wearable airbag device S2 of the second embodiment is configured to protect the left and right trochanter circumferential edge parts TO (trochanter TP of femur) of the wearer M as a targeted body part when the inflation of theairbag40 is completed.
• As illustrated inFIG. 10, the wearable airbag device S2 includes theairbag40, thegas generator5 for feeding theairbag40 with the inflation gas, theoperation control device1, and anouter cover60 that covers an outer circumferential side of theairbag40. Theoperation control device1 and thegas generator5 have the same configurations as those of theoperation control device1 and thegas generator5 in the above-described wearable airbag device S1, and therefore, the detailed description thereof will be omitted. In the wearable airbag device S2, theairbag40 is accommodated inside theouter cover60 in a state of being laid flat.
• Theairbag40 is formed of a flexible sheet material (specifically, a woven fabric made of polyester yarn, polyamide yarn, and the like) similar to the above-describedairbag20, and as illustrated inFIG. 11B, theairbag40 includes two protecting main body portions48 (48L,48R) that cover the left and right sides of the hip MW of the wearer M when the inflation is completed, and a connectinginflation portion47 that connects the upper ends of the protectingmain body portions48 to each other. Theairbag40 is symmetrical in the left-right direction in a state of being laid flat. In the case of the embodiment, theairbag40 is configured by folding back a part of theairbag base member42 as illustrated inFIG. 11A and joining the predetermined places such that the folded state can be maintained.
• Theairbag base member42 is configured such thatcolumnar inflation portions44, in which the width dimensions are set to be smaller than the width dimension W1 (refer toFIG. 13) of the targeted body part (trochanter circumferential edge part TO), are arranged in a single stroke manner. Theairbag base member42 has aninner wall42adisposed on the inner side (wearer M side) and anouter wall42bdisposed on the outer side at the time of wearing, with substantially the same external shape. Then, theairbag base member42 is formed by stacking theinner wall42aand theouter wall42bin a state of being laid flat, and by joining (sewing by suturing) predetermined places such that continuous joining parts43 are formed. Theairbag base member42 is configured such that thecolumnar inflation portions44 that can inflate so as to separate theinner wall42aand theouter wall42bare provided in a single stroke manner to extend in two forks starting from the arranged part of thegas generator5, and the regions between thecolumnar inflation portions44 are connected over the entire surface by a non-inflation connectingportion45 disposed such that theinner wall42aand theouter wall42bcan be overlapped with each other (refer toFIG. 11A). Thecolumnar inflation portion44 includes columnarmain body portions44aarranged substantially along the up-down direction or the horizontal direction when the inflation is completed, and a connectingportion44bfor connecting the columnarmain body portions44ato each other. In the case of the embodiment, the columnar inflation portion44 (the columnarmain body portion44a, the connectingportion44b) is configured such that the width dimension is substantially constant over the entire length. The width dimension of thecolumnar inflation portion44 is set to be smaller than the width dimension W1 (refer toFIG. 13) of the trochanter circumferential edge part TO as the targeted body part, and is set to be a dimension that can measure a sufficient thickness of the columnarmain body portion44awhen the inflation is completed. In the case of the embodiment, the columnarmain body portion44aincludes a horizontal columnarmain body portion47aand vertical columnarmain body portions50aa,50ab,50ac,50ad,50ae, and50af, which will be described later. The connectingportion44bincludes connectingportions50ba,50bb,50bc,50bd,50be, and50bf, which will be described later.
• As illustrated inFIG. 11A, theairbag base member42 includes the connectinginflation portion47, and two protecting main body configuration portions50 (50L,50R) that form each of the protecting main body portions48 (48L,48R).
• The connectinginflation portion47 has the same configuration as that of the connectinginflation portion26 of thehip protecting portion25 in the above-describedairbag20, and is formed of a single horizontal columnarmain body portion47aprovided substantially along the left-right direction when the inflation is completed. The connectinginflation portion47 is disposed in the region of a wrap portion62 (which will be described later) in theouter cover60, and thus, although the details are omitted in the drawing, the connectinginflation portion47 is disposed at a position which is the rear side of the pelvis MP of the wearer M when the inflation of theairbag40 is completed. Similar to the above-described connectinginflation portion26, the connectinginflation portion47 connects thegas generator5 to the vicinity of the center in the length direction (left-right direction).
• In the case of the embodiment, each of the protecting main body configuration portions50 (50L,50R) is configured such that six vertical columnarmain body portions50aa,50ab,50ac,50ad,50ae, and50afwhich are provided so as to be substantially along the up-down direction when the inflation is completed, and the connectingportions50ba,50bb,50bc,50bd,50be, and50bfthat respectively connect each of the vertical columnarmain body portions50aa,50ab,50ac,50ad,50ae, and50afare arranged in a single stroke manner. (refer toFIG. 11A). Each of the vertical columnarmain body portions50aa,50ab,50ac,50ad,50ae, and50afis arranged side by side substantially along the up-down direction and in the left-right direction, respectively. Then, the vertical columnarmain body portion50aaarranged on the left and right inner sides in a state where theairbag base member42 is laid flat communicates with the connecting inflation portion47 (horizontal columnarmain body portion47a) via the connectingportion50ba, and the vertical columnarmain body portion50afdisposed on the end side in the left-right direction is configured to close the terminal (upper end side). Each of the vertical columnarmain body portions50aa,50ab,50ac,50ad,50ae, and50afis provided over substantially the entire upper and lower regions of the protecting mainbody configuration portion50. Each of the protecting mainbody configuration portions50 is configured to be inflated by allowing the inflation gas G that flows out of the connectinginflation portion47 to sequentially flow into the vertical columnarmain body portions50ab,50ac,50ad,50ae, and50affrom the vertical columnarmain body portion50aadisposed on the connectinginflation portion47 side (refer toFIG. 11A). Each of the protecting mainbody configuration portions50 has a region on the end edge side in the left-right direction in a state of being laid flat as an overlappingportion53. Then, the protectingmain body portion48 is configured by overlapping the overlappingportion53 with an overlappedportion54 formed of the region on the center side in the left-right direction, and by joining the upper edge side and the lower edge side of the overlappingportion53 respectively to the upper edge side and the lower edge side of the overlappedportion54. In other words, the protectingmain body portion48 is configured such that a region on the end side in the left-right direction in a state of being laid flat (a region on the front side at the time of wearing) is disposed to stack the overlappingportion53 and the overlappedportion54 on the surface of the targeted body part (trochanter circumferential edge part TO), and in the overlapping region, the columnar inflation portions44 (vertical columnarmain body portions50ab,50ac,50ae, and50af) are disposed to be overlapped inside and outside to be stacked on the surface of the targeted body part (trochanter circumferential edge part TO) (refer toFIGS. 13 and 14). In the case of the embodiment, the overlappingportion53 is overlapped on the outside of the overlappedportion54.
• Each of the protecting main body portions48 (48L,48R) is configured to cover the outer side of the trochanter circumferential edge part TO, which is the circumferential edge of the trochanter TP of femur of the wearer M as the targeted body part, when the inflation is completed, while the external shape in a state of being laid flat is a substantially rectangular shape. In the case of the embodiment, in each of the protecting main body portions48 (48L,48R), the width dimension in the up-down and left-right directions in a state of being laid flat is set to be a dimension that can widely cover the surrounding of the trochanter TP of femur (trochanter circumferential edge part TO) including the front, rear, upper, and lower parts of the trochanter TP of femur when the inflation of theairbag40 is completed (refer toFIGS. 13 and 14). Then, as described above, each of the protectingmain body portions48 is inflated by first allowing the inflation gas G that flows out of the communication path46 to flow into the vertical columnarmain body portion50aa, and sequentially, by allowing the inflation gas G to flow into the vertical columnarmain body portions50ab,50ac,50ad,50ae, and50af. Further, in each of the protectingmain body portions48, since the vertical columnarmain body portions50aa,50ab,50ac,50ad,50ae, and50afare connected to each other over the entire surface by the non-inflation connectingportion45, the arranged state of the vertical columnarmain body portions50aa,50ab,50ac,50ad,50ae, and50afis also maintained at the time of the inflation.
• Theouter cover60 is made of a flexible woven fabric. In the case of the embodiment, theouter cover60 is made of a polyester woven fabric. Theouter cover60 has aninner wall60adisposed on the inner side (wearer M side) at the time of wearing and anouter wall60bdisposed on the outer side at the time of wearing, with substantially the same external shape. Theouter cover60 has a bag shape by joining (sewing) the outer circumferential edges of theinner wall60aand theouter wall60bto each other, and thus theairbag40 can smoothly inflate inside. As illustrated inFIG. 10, theouter cover60 has the substantially band-shapedwrap portion62 disposed on the upper edge side and wrapped around the upper region of the pelvis MP of the wearer M, and two main covering portions65 (65L,65R) which are formed to extend downward from thewrap portion62 and cover the outer circumferential sides of each of the protecting main body portions48 (48L,48R). A pair of hook-and-loop fastener63 as wearing means are provided onend portions62aand62bsides of thewrap portion62. The hook-and-loop fastener63 has ahook surface63aand aloop surface63barranged on theend portions62aand62bsides of thewrap portion62, respectively, and is configured to connect theend portions62aand62bof thewrap portion62 to each other. Themain covering portions65L and65R are formed to extend downward from thewrap portion62, and are configured to respectively smoothly inflate the protecting main body portions48 (48L,48R) inside.
• The wearable airbag device S2 of the second embodiment is worn on the wearer M by being wrapped around the hip MW (pelvis MP) of the wearer M by connecting theend portions62aand62bof thewrap portion62 in theouter cover60 to each other by using the hook-and-loop fastener63 as wearing means (refer toFIG. 9). In addition, in wearable airbag device S2 of the second embodiment, in a state of being worn on the wearer M, when thesensor part2 detects the fall of the wearer M, the operating signal is output to thegas generator5 from theoperation control device1, the inflation gas flows into theairbag40, and theairbag40 completes the inflation as illustrated inFIGS. 13 and 14.
• In the wearable airbag device S2 of the second embodiment as well, theairbag40 is configured to include the plurality of columnar inflation portions44 (columnarmain body portions44a) in which the width dimension is set to be smaller than that of the trochanter circumferential edge part TO as the targeted body part. Therefore, the volume of theairbag40 can be reduced as compared with a case where the airbag has a simple bag shape. Further, since theairbag40 maintains the arranged state of the columnar inflation portion44 (columnarmain body portion44a) by interposing the non-inflation connectingportion45 therebetween when the inflation is completed, theairbag40 can stably protect the trochanter circumferential edge part TO (trochanter TP of femur) as the targeted body part when the inflation is completed.
• Further, in the wearable airbag device S2 of the second embodiment, when the inflation is completed, theairbag40 is configured to provide the overlapping region disposed to stack the columnar inflation portions44 (vertical columnarmain body portions50ab,50ac,50ae, and50af) on the surface of the targeted body part (trochanter circumferential edge part TO). Therefore, theairbag40 can be inflated to be thick at a predetermined place. Specifically, in the second embodiment, each of the protectingmain body portions48 in theairbag40 is configured such that the overlappingportion53 and the overlappedportion54 are stacked on the surface of the targeted body part (trochanter circumferential edge part TO) over the region in the vicinity of the center in the front-rear direction where the side part of the trochanters TP of femurs is covered from the front edge side in a worn state. Therefore, theairbag40 can thickly inflate the region that covers the trochanter TP of femur, and can stably protect the circumferential edge part of the trochanter TP of femur.
• Furthermore, as theairbag70, those having the configurations illustrated inFIGS. 15 to 20 may be used. Similar to theairbag40 of the above-described second embodiment, theairbag70 is worn by being wrapped around the hip MW of the wearer M, and protects the circumferential edge parts of the left and right trochanters TP of femurs of the wearer M as the targeted body part when the inflation is completed. Similar to the above-describedairbag40, theairbag70 includes two protecting main body portions86 (86L,86R) that cover the left and right sides of the hip MW of the wearer M when the inflation is completed, and a connectinginflation portion85 that connects the upper ends of the protectingmain body portions86 to each other.
• Theairbag70 is made of a flexible sheet material. In the case of the embodiment, theairbag70 is made of a woven fabric made of polyester yarns, polyamide yarns or the like. In the case of the embodiment, theairbag70 is configured such that a plurality ofcolumnar inflation portions73 in which the width dimensions are set to be smaller than the width dimension W1 (refer toFIG. 19) of the targeted body part (the trochanter circumferential edge part TO) are arranged side by side to communicate with each other by theintersections78. Specifically, theairbag70 includes aninner wall70adisposed on the inner side (wearer M side) at the time of wearing, anouter wall70bdisposed on the outer side, aside wall70cthat connects theinner wall70aand theouter wall70b, and apartition wall71 for partitioning the internal region of the airbag70 (refer toFIGS. 15 to 18). The partition walls71 (71UL,71UR,71DL,71DR) form the circumferential wall of thecolumnar inflation portion73, and partitions the internal region of theairbag70 into an inflow region (columnar inflation portion73) into which the inflation gas flows and anon-inflow region80 into which the inflation gas does not flow. In the case of the embodiment, the partition walls71 (71UL,71UR,71DL,71DR) include anupper wall71a, alower wall71b, and aside wall71cthat connects theupper wall71aand thelower wall71b, and twopartition walls71 are arranged side by side in the up-down direction in the regions of each of the protectingmain body portions86 as a substantially U shape which is flat (refer toFIGS. 15, 16, and 18). In the case of the embodiment, thecolumnar inflation portion73 includes an upperhorizontal inflation portion74 disposed substantially along the left-right direction over substantially the entire region in the width direction on the upper end side of theairbag70, twovertical inflation portions76L and76R arranged to extend downward from the upperhorizontal inflation portion74 while being substantially orthogonal to the upperhorizontal inflation portion74, and two lower horizontal inflation portions75UL,75UR,75DL, and75DR (four in total) extending substantially along the left-right direction to be branched from the vicinity of the center in the up-down direction and the lower end sides of each of thevertical inflation portions76L and76R. The upperhorizontal inflation portion74, thevertical inflation portions76L and76R, and the lower horizontal inflation portions75UL,75UR,75DL, and75DR communicate with each other by intersections78 (78UL,78UR,78CL,78CR,78DL, and78DR), respectively. Further, the end portion of the upperhorizontal inflation portion74 and the tip end on the side separated from thevertical inflation portions76L and76R in the lower horizontal inflation portions75UL,75UR,75DL, and75DR are closed. In the case of the embodiment, thecolumnar inflation portion73 is configured such that the width dimension is substantially constant over the entire length except for thecenter side part74aof the upperhorizontal inflation portion74 that forms the connectinginflation portion85 as will be described later.
• The connectinginflation portion85 is formed of acenter side part74awhich is a region on the center side in the left-right direction of the upperhorizontal inflation portion74 in the columnar inflation portion73 (a region between thevertical inflation portions76L and76R). Thegas generator5 is connected to the vicinity of the center of the connectinginflation portion85 in the length direction (left-right direction) (refer toFIG. 15). The width dimension of thecenter side part74aof the upperhorizontal inflation portion74 that forms the connectinginflation portion85 is set to be larger than that of the other parts in thecolumnar inflation portion73. Although the details are omitted in the drawing, the connectinginflation portion85 is also disposed at a position which is the rear side of the pelvis MP of the wearer M when the inflation is completed in a state of being worn on the wearer M.
• Each of the protecting main body portions86 (86L,86R) is configured to cover the outer side of the circumferential edge part of the trochanter TP of femur of the wearer M as the targeted body part when the inflation is completed, while the external shape is a substantially rectangular shape. In the case of the embodiment, in each of the protectingmain body portions86, the width dimension in the up-down and left-right directions in a state of being laid flat is set to be a dimension that can widely cover the surrounding (trochanter circumferential edge part TO) of the trochanter TP of femur including the front, rear, upper, and lower parts of the trochanter TP of femur when the inflation of theairbag70 is completed (refer toFIGS. 19 and 20). As described above, each of the protectingmain body portions86 partitions the internal region by twopartition walls71U and71D. Then, each of the protectingmain body portions86 is configured to be arranged side by side such that the vertical inflation portion76 is provided on the inner end side in the left-right direction in a state of being laid flat, and the non-inflow regions80U and80D are interposed in the up-down direction between anend side part74bof the upperhorizontal inflation portion74 and two lowerhorizontal inflation portions75U and75D, outside the vertical inflation portion76 in the left-right direction. Each of the protectingmain body portions86 inflates such that the inflation gas G that has flowed into the connecting inflation portion85 (thecenter side part74aof the upper horizontal inflation portion74) flowed to the lowerhorizontal inflation portions75U and75D through the vertical inflation portion67. In each of the protectingmain body portions86, the upperhorizontal inflation portion74 and the lowerhorizontal inflation portions75U and75D are connected to each other by the non-inflow regions80U and80D, and thus, at the time of the inflation, the arranged state of the upperhorizontal inflation portion74 and the lowerhorizontal inflation portions75U and75D is maintained.
• Even when theairbag70 is used, theairbag70 is configured to have a plurality ofcolumnar inflation portions73 in which the width dimensions are set to be smaller than that of the trochanter circumferential edge part TO as a targeted body part. Therefore, the volume of theairbag70 can be reduced as compared with a case where the airbag has a simple bag shape. Further, when the inflation is completed, theairbag70 is connected to each other by the non-inflow regions80U and80D such that the arranged state of the columnar inflation portion73 (the upperhorizontal inflation portion74, the lowerhorizontal inflation portions75U and75D) is maintained. Therefore, theairbag70 can stably protect the trochanter circumferential edge part TO (trochanter TP of femur) as the targeted body part when the inflation is completed.
• Further, in theairbag70 having the above-described configuration, by arranging thepartition walls71U and71D inside, theinner wall70aand theouter wall70bare arranged to be separated from each other even in the non-inflow regions80U and80D when the inflation is completed. (refer toFIG. 20). In other words, in the non-inflow regions80U and80D, the width dimension (the separation distance between theupper wall71aand thelower wall71bin the partition wall71) in the up-down direction is set to be a dimension that does not bring theinner wall70aand theouter wall70binto contact with each other (does not bring the walls into contact with the bottom). In other words, in theairbag70 having the above-described configuration, when the inflation is completed, the non-inflow regions80U and80D are arranged in a state of having a certain thickness, and tension is also generated by the inflatedcolumnar inflation portion73 in the non-inflow regions80U and80D. Therefore, even when theairbag70 is configured such that the columnar inflation portions73 (lowerhorizontal inflation portions75U and75D) are arranged so as to intersect the trochanter TP of femur, similar to the airbag that is inflated to be thick entirely, the trochanter circumferential edge part TO (trochanter TP of femur) as the targeted body part can be stably protected. It is needless to say that, even an airbag of the type in which the columnar inflation portions communicate with each other by the intersections may be formed by directly joining (sewing) the two base fabrics similar to the above-described airbag.
• In theairbags20 and40 of the embodiment, theinner walls20aand42aand theouter walls20band42bare sewn so as to provide continuous joiningparts21 and43, and thecolumnar inflation portions22 and44 are formed. Then, the region between thecolumnar inflation portions22 and44 in theairbags20 and40 is connected to each other over the entire surface by the non-inflation connectingportions23 and45 arranged such that theinner walls20aand42aand theouter walls20band42bare arranged to be overlapped with each other. Further, in theairbag70, thepartition wall71 is provided between theinner wall70aand theouter wall70bto partition thecolumnar inflation portion73 and thenon-inflow region80. In other words, theairbags20,40, and70 of the embodiment are all configured such that theairbags20,40, and70 themselves can maintain the arranged state of thecolumnar inflation portions22,44, and73 when the inflation is completed. However, the configuration of the airbag is not limited to the embodiment. For example, as an airbag, a configuration may be used in which holding bodies capable of forming a columnar inflation portion from a tubular body that can be inflated by allowing the inflation gas to flow thereinto and maintaining the arranged state of the columnar inflation portions when the inflation is completed are separately provided. Further, similar to the second embodiment, when the airbag is inflated in the outer cover, the columnar inflation portion of the airbag may be configured to be maintained by the outer cover.
• The present disclosure relates to a wearable airbag device having the following configuration.
• A wearable airbag device is configured to protect a targeted body part of a wearer, and includes an airbag configured to inflate to cover the targeted body part by allowing an inflation gas to flow thereinto. The airbag has a plurality of columnar inflation portions in which width dimensions are set to be smaller than that of the targeted body part, and configured to maintain an arranged state of the columnar inflation portions when the inflation is completed, and to protect the targeted body part.
• In the wearable airbag device of the present disclosure, since the airbag is configured to have a plurality of columnar inflation portions in which the width dimensions are set to be smaller than that of the targeted body part, the volume can be reduced as compared with a case where the airbag has a simple bag shape. Further, since this airbag maintains the arranged state of the columnar inflation portions when the inflation is completed, it is possible to stably protect the targeted body part when the inflation is completed.
• Therefore, in the wearable airbag device of the present disclosure, the airbag can be rapidly inflated, and the inflated airbag can stably protect the targeted body parts.
• Specifically, in the wearable airbag device according to the present disclosure, it is preferable that the targeted body part includes left and right femoral trochanter circumferential edge parts of the wearer, and a head, and the airbag includes a hip protecting portion that inflates to cover a side of the femoral trochanter circumferential edge part, and a head protecting portion that inflates to cover at least back of the head, and is configured to position the hip protecting portion on an upstream side of a flow of the inflation gas, and inflate the head protecting portion after inflating the hip protecting portion.
• When the wearable airbag device has such a configuration, it is possible to suppress an increase in volume by having a configuration having a plurality of columnar inflation portions, and the airbag can be rapidly inflated even when the hip protecting portion and the head protecting portion are provided. In addition, corresponding to the contact order with the fall destination part when the wearer falls, the inflated hip protecting portion can rapidly protect the femoral trochanter circumferential edge part, and then the inflated head protecting portion can also accurately protect the head of the wearer.
• Furthermore, in the wearable airbag device having the above-described configuration, it is preferable that, when the airbag is configured such that the overlapping region is provided in which the columnar inflation portions are arranged to be stacked on the surface of the targeted body part when the inflation is completed, the airbag can also be inflated to be thick at a predetermined place.
• Specifically, the airbag may be formed by arranging the columnar inflation portions in a single stroke manner, and further, the airbag may be configured such that the columnar inflation portions communicate with each other by the intersection.

Claims (5)

What is claimed is:

1. A wearable airbag device configured to protect a targeted body part of a wearer, comprising:

an airbag configured to inflate to cover the targeted body part by allowing an inflation gas to flow thereinto, wherein

the airbag has a plurality of columnar inflation portions in which width dimensions are set to be smaller than that of the targeted body part, and configured to maintain an arranged state of the columnar inflation portions when the inflation is completed, and to protect the targeted body part.

2. The wearable airbag device according toclaim 1, wherein

the targeted body part includes left and right femoral trochanter circumferential edge parts of the wearer, and a head, and

the airbag includes a hip protecting portion that inflates to cover a side of the femoral trochanter circumferential edge part, and a head protecting portion that inflates to cover at least back of the head, and is configured to position the hip protecting portion on an upstream side of a flow of the inflation gas, and inflate the head protecting portion after inflating the hip protecting portion.

3. The wearable airbag device according toclaim 1, wherein,

the airbag is configured to have an overlapping region in which the columnar inflation portions are arranged to be stacked on a surface of the targeted body part when the inflation is completed.

4. The wearable airbag device according toclaim 1, wherein,

the airbag is formed by arranging the columnar inflation portions in a single stroke manner.

5. The wearable airbag device according toclaim 1, wherein,

the airbag is configured to allow the columnar inflation portions to communicate with each other by intersections.

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