Patent ID: 6766535
Filing Date: 2004-07-27
Classification: A41D

Abstract:
A body protection device for a person riding a vehicle that resembles and may be warn as a garment, comprising:an inflatable vest and having an exterior surface and an airtight interior bladder; a first plurality of jacket securing elements attached to the inflatable vest; at least one compressed gas cartridge held in at least one interior pocket formed in the inflatable vest between the exterior surface and the airtight interior bladder; a cartridge actuation mechanism operably connected to the at least one compressed gas cartridge and comprising: a triggering device that is operable to open the at least one compressed gas cartridge; and an actuation lever operatively connected to the triggering device so as to actuate the triggering device in response to a pulling force of a predetermined magnitude, wherein the actuation lever is detachable from the actuation mechanism in response to the pulling force of predetermined magnitude; at least one inflation tube having a first end connected to the at least one gas cartridge through the actuation mechanism and a second end opening into the interior of the vest, whereby gas can flow from the at least one gas cartridge into the interior of the vest through the at least one inflation tube when the at least one gas cartridge is opened by the triggering device; and a lanyard having a first end connected to the actuation lever and a second end that is attachable to a vehicle, whereby the application of the pulling force of predetermined magnitude to the lanyard actuates the triggering device and separates the actuation lever from the actuation mechanism.