WEARABLE AIRBAG DEVICE

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.

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.

BACKGROUND

1. 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.

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 S1of 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 S1includes an airbag20, a gas generator5for feeding the airbag20with an inflation gas, an operation control device1that includes a sensor part2for detecting a fall of the wearer M and operates the gas generator5, and a clothing portion10as an accommodating portion for accommodating and holding the airbag20. When the inflation of the airbag20is completed, the wearable airbag device S1of 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.

The operation control device1includes the sensor part2including 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. The operation control device1is configured to operate the gas generator5when a falling behavior different from a normal behavior of the wearer M is detected by the signal from the sensor part2. Specifically, when the wearer M starts the falling behavior different from the normal behavior, the operation control device1includes 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 the gas generator5is operated. The operation control device1further includes a power source formed of a battery (not illustrated) or the like for outputting signals for the operation of the sensor part2and for the operation of the gas generator5.

The clothing portion10is formed as a vest that can be worn on the upper body MU of the wearer M, and includes a left front portion11and a right front portion12that cover the front surface of the upper body MU of the wearer M, and a back surface portion13that covers the back surface of the upper body MU of the wearer M. The left front portion11and the right front portion12are configured such that the facing inner edges can be joined to each other by a fastening tool15such as a fastener. In other words, the clothing portion10is configured such that the left front portion11is provided to be connected to the front side of the left portion of the back surface portion13, and the right front portion12is provided to be connected to the front side of the right portion of the back surface portion13. The clothing portion10is made of a flexible sheet material (woven fabric) and covers the outer circumferential side of the folded airbag20.

The airbag20is made of a flexible sheet material. In the case of the embodiment, the airbag20is made of a woven fabric made of polyester yarns, polyamide yarns or the like. In the case of the embodiment, the airbag20is configured such that columnar inflation portions22in which the width dimensions are set to be smaller than the width dimensions W1and 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, the airbag20has an inner wall20adisposed on the inner side (wearer M side) and an outer wall20bdisposed on the outer side at the time of wearing, with substantially the same external shape. Then, the airbag20is formed by stacking the inner wall20aand the outer wall20bin a state of being laid flat, and by joining (sewing by suturing) predetermined places such that continuous joining parts21are formed. The airbag20is configured such that the columnar inflation portions22that can inflate so as to separate the inner wall20aand the outer wall20bare provided in a single stroke manner to extend in two forks starting from the arranged part of the gas generator5, by forming the joining part21, and the regions between the columnar inflation portions22are connected over the entire surface by a non-inflation connecting portion23disposed such that the inner wall20aand the outer wall20bcan be overlapped with each other (refer toFIGS. 2 to 4). The columnar inflation portion22includes columnar main body portions22aarranged substantially along the up-down direction or the horizontal direction when the inflation is completed, and a connecting portion22bfor connecting the columnar main body portions22ato each other. In the case of the embodiment, the columnar inflation portion22(the columnar main body portion22a, the connecting portion22b) is configured such that the width dimension is substantially constant over the entire length. Specifically, in the columnar inflation portion22, the width dimension is set to be smaller than the width dimensions W1and 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 columnar main body portion22aincludes a horizontal columnar main body portion26a, vertical columnar main body portions27aa,27ab,27ac, and27ad, a horizontal columnar main body portion27b, a vertical columnar main body portion29a, and vertical columnar main body portions31aa,31ab, and31ac, which will be described later. Connecting portion22bincludes connecting portions27ca,27cb,27cc,27cd, and27ceand connecting portions31baand31bb, which will be described later.

Further, the airbag20includes a hip protecting portion25that can protect the hip MW of the wearer M when the inflation is completed, a head protecting portion31that can protect the head MH of the wearer M when the inflation is completed, and a communication path29for allowing the hip protecting portion25and the head protecting portion31to communicate with each other. The airbag20is symmetrical in the left-right direction in a state of being laid flat.

The hip protecting portion25is configured to be folded and accommodated on the lower end side from the back surface portion13to the left front portion11and the right front portion12on the left and right sides in the clothing portion10, and to be inflated to protrude downward from the clothing portion10and 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, the hip protecting portion25includes two protecting main body portions27(27L,27R) that cover the left and right sides of the hip MW of the wearer M, and a connecting inflation portion26that connects the upper ends of the protecting main body portions27to each other.

The connecting inflation portion26is formed of a single horizontal columnar main body portion26aprovided substantially along the left-right direction when the inflation is completed. Although the details are omitted in the drawing, the connecting inflation portion26is disposed at a position which is the rear side of a pelvis MP of the wearer M when the inflation of the airbag20is completed. In addition, in the embodiment, the gas generator5is connected to the connecting inflation portion26for feeding the airbag20with an inflation gas (refer toFIG. 2). The gas generator5is disposed in the vicinity of the center in the length direction of the connecting inflation portion26(horizontal columnar main body portion26a), and is connected to the airbag20by using a retainer (not illustrated). The gas generator5is configured to contain a compressed gas therein, and to release the contained state and discharge a cold gas into the airbag20when being operated. The gas generator5is configured to be electrically connected to the above-described operation control device1, and to be operated with an operating signal input from the operation control device1that has detected the fall of the wearer M. In the case of the embodiment, the inflation gas G discharged from the gas generator5flows to the left and right in the connecting inflation portion26(horizontal columnar main 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 connecting inflation portion26in a state where the airbag20is 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 protecting main 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 the airbag20is completed. In the case of the embodiment, each of the protecting main body portions27is configured such that four vertical columnar main body portions27aa,27ab,27ac, and27ad, which are provided to be substantially along the up-down direction when the inflation is completed, one horizontal columnar main body portion27bprovided to be substantially orthogonal to the vertical columnar main body portions27aa,27ab,27ac, and27adabove each of the vertical columnar main body portions27aa,27ab,27ac, and27ad, and connecting portions27ca,27cb,27cc,27cd, and27cewhich are respectively connected to the vertical columnar main body portions27aa,27ab,27ac, and27adand the horizontal columnar main body portion27bare provided in a single stroke manner. In each of the protecting main body portions27, the vertical columnar main body portions27aaarranged on the left and right inner sides in a state where the airbag20is laid flat communicate with the connecting inflation portion26(horizontal columnar main body portion26a) via the connecting portion27ca. In each of the protecting main body portions27, the vertical columnar main body portions27aa,27ab,27ac, and27adare provided at substantially equal intervals, and in the non-inflation connecting portions23arranged between the vertical columnar main body portions27aa,27ab,27ac, and27ad, the width dimensions are set to be smaller than those of the vertical columnar main body portions27aa,27ab,27ac, and27adin a state of being laid flat. In each of the protecting main body portions27, the vertical columnar main body portions27aa,27ab,27ac, and27adare connected to each other over the entire surface by the non-inflation connecting portion23such that the arranged state of the vertical columnar main body portions27aa,27ab,27ac, and27adis maintained at the time of the inflation. The horizontal columnar main body portion27bis configured to be provided substantially along the horizontal columnar main body portion26aabove the horizontal columnar main body portion26athat forms the connecting inflation portion26, and to extend to the vicinity of the center of the horizontal columnar main body portion26ain the left-right direction (refer toFIG. 2). Then, each of the protecting main body portions27is configured to be inflated by allowing the inflation gas G that flows out of the connecting inflation portion26to sequentially flow into the vertical columnar main body portions27ab,27ac, and27adfrom the vertical columnar main body portion27aadisposed on the connecting inflation portion26side, and by allowing the inflation gas G to flow out of the horizontal columnar main body portion27btoward the communication path29.

In the communication path29, two vertical columnar main body portions29aand29aformed to respectively extend from the horizontal columnar main body portions27barranged on each of the left and right protecting main body portions27are formed to be arranged side by side in the left-right direction, and are provided substantially along the up-down direction, and the communication path29is inflated by allowing the inflation gas to flow thereinto through the horizontal columnar main body portion27b. The communication path29is attached to the inner side of the center portion of the back surface portion13of the clothing portion10.

The head protecting portion31is configured to be folded and accommodated on the upper end side of the back surface portion13of the clothing portion10, and to inflate to protrude upward from the clothing portion10and cover the rear side of the head MH of the wearer M at the time of the inflation. The head protecting portion31is 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, the head protecting portion31is configured such that the inflation completed shape is wider in the left-right direction than the head MH. In the case of the embodiment, the head protecting portion31is configured such that three vertical columnar main body portions31aa,31ab, and31ac, which are formed to extend from each of the vertical columnar main body portions29athat form the communication path29, and the connecting portions31baand31bbthat connect the vertical columnar main body portions31aa,31ab, and31acto each other are provided symmetrically in the left-right direction (refer toFIG. 2). The vertical columnar main body portion31aaprovided on the center side in the left-right direction is configured to extend upward from each of the vertical columnar main body portions29athat form the communication path29, and each of the vertical columnar main body portions31abadjacent to the vertical columnar main body portion31aaon the center side thereof is configured to close the tip end side (upper end side). Then, the head protecting portion31is configured to be inflated by allowing the inflation gas G to sequentially flow into the vertical columnar main body portions31aband31acfrom the two vertical columnar main body portions31aadisposed on the center side in the left-right direction through the communication path29. In the head protecting portion31, the width dimension of the non-inflation connecting portion23disposed between the vertical columnar main body portions31aa,31ab, and31acis set to be smaller than those of the vertical columnar main body portions31aa,31ab, and31acin a state of being laid flat. In the head protecting portion31, the vertical columnar main body portions31aa,31aa,31ab,31ab,31ac, and31acare connected to each other over the entire surface by the non-inflation connecting portion23, and the arranged state of the vertical columnar main body portions31aa,31aa,31ab,31ab,31ac, and31acis maintained at the time of the inflation.

In the airbag20, as illustrated inFIG. 2, a plurality of attaching tabs20care provided at predetermined places on the upper edge side of the hip protecting portion25, the lower edge side of the head protecting portion31, and the side edge side of the communication path29, and these attaching tabs20care attached to the inner circumferential surface side of the clothing portion10by sewing or the like, and are maintained by the clothing portion10.

The wearable airbag device S1of a first embodiment is worn on the wearer M so as to cover the upper body MU of the wearer M by using the fastening tool15. In addition, in the wearable airbag device S1of the first embodiment, in a state of being worn on the wearer M, when the sensor part2detects the fall of the wearer M as illustrated inFIGS. 5A and 5B, the operating signal is output to the gas generator5from the operation control device1, the inflation gas flows into the airbag20. In the embodiment, first, the hip protecting portion25of the airbag20inflates so as to protrude downward from the clothing portion10and covers the surrounding of the hip MW (refer toFIG. 5B). After this, when the inflation gas flows into the head protecting portion31through the communication path29, the head protecting portion31inflates so as to protrude upward from the back surface portion13of the clothing 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 S1of the first embodiment, the airbag20is configured to include the plurality of columnar inflation portions22in 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 the airbag20can be reduced as compared with a case where the airbag has a simple bag shape. Further, by disposing the non-inflation connecting portion23between the columnar inflation portions22, when the inflation of the airbag20is completed, the arranged state of the columnar inflation portions22is 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 S1of the first embodiment, the airbag20can be rapidly inflated, and the inflated airbag20can 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 S1of the first embodiment, the airbag20includes the hip protecting portion25that inflates so as to cover the side of the trochanter circumferential edge part TO (trochanter TP of femur), and the head protecting portion31that inflates to cover the back of the head MH. However, since the hip protecting portion25and the head protecting portion31respectively have a plurality of columnar inflation portions22(columnar main body portions22a), it is possible to suppress an increase in volume, and the airbag20can be rapidly inflated even when the hip protecting portion25and the head protecting portion31are provided. Further, the airbag20is configured to first allow the inflation gas G discharged from the gas generator5to flow into each of the protecting main body portions27(27L,27R) in the hip protecting portion25, and then allow the inflation gas to flow into the head protecting portion31through the communication path29. In other words, the airbag20is configured such that the hip protecting portion25is positioned on the upstream side of the flow of the inflation gas, and the head protecting portion31is inflated after the inflation of the hip protecting portion25. Therefore, corresponding to the contact order with the fall destination part F when the wearer M falls, the inflated hip protecting portion25can rapidly protect the trochanter circumferential edge part TO (trochanter TP of femur), and then the inflated head protecting portion31can also accurately protect the head MH of the wearer M.

Next, a wearable airbag device S2of a second embodiment will be described. As illustrated inFIG. 9, the wearable airbag device S2of the second embodiment is configured to be worn by being wrapped around the hip MW of the wearer M. The wearable airbag device S2of 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 the airbag40is completed.

As illustrated inFIG. 10, the wearable airbag device S2includes the airbag40, the gas generator5for feeding the airbag40with the inflation gas, the operation control device1, and an outer cover60that covers an outer circumferential side of the airbag40. The operation control device1and the gas generator5have the same configurations as those of the operation control device1and the gas generator5in the above-described wearable airbag device S1, and therefore, the detailed description thereof will be omitted. In the wearable airbag device S2, the airbag40is accommodated inside the outer cover60in a state of being laid flat.

The airbag40is formed of a flexible sheet material (specifically, a woven fabric made of polyester yarn, polyamide yarn, and the like) similar to the above-described airbag20, and as illustrated inFIG. 11B, the airbag40includes 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 connecting inflation portion47that connects the upper ends of the protecting main body portions48to each other. The airbag40is symmetrical in the left-right direction in a state of being laid flat. In the case of the embodiment, the airbag40is configured by folding back a part of the airbag base member42as illustrated inFIG. 11Aand joining the predetermined places such that the folded state can be maintained.

The airbag base member42is configured such that columnar 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. The airbag base member42has an inner wall42adisposed on the inner side (wearer M side) and an outer wall42bdisposed on the outer side at the time of wearing, with substantially the same external shape. Then, the airbag base member42is formed by stacking the inner wall42aand the outer wall42bin a state of being laid flat, and by joining (sewing by suturing) predetermined places such that continuous joining parts43are formed. The airbag base member42is configured such that the columnar inflation portions44that can inflate so as to separate the inner wall42aand the outer wall42bare provided in a single stroke manner to extend in two forks starting from the arranged part of the gas generator5, and the regions between the columnar inflation portions44are connected over the entire surface by a non-inflation connecting portion45disposed such that the inner wall42aand the outer wall42bcan be overlapped with each other (refer toFIG. 11A). The columnar inflation portion44includes columnar main body portions44aarranged substantially along the up-down direction or the horizontal direction when the inflation is completed, and a connecting portion44bfor connecting the columnar main body portions44ato each other. In the case of the embodiment, the columnar inflation portion44(the columnar main body portion44a, the connecting portion44b) is configured such that the width dimension is substantially constant over the entire length. The width dimension of the columnar inflation portion44is 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 columnar main body portion44awhen the inflation is completed. In the case of the embodiment, the columnar main body portion44aincludes a horizontal columnar main body portion47aand vertical columnar main body portions50aa,50ab,50ac,50ad,50ae, and50af, which will be described later. The connecting portion44bincludes connecting portions50ba,50bb,50bc,50bd,50be, and50bf, which will be described later.

As illustrated inFIG. 11A, the airbag base member42includes the connecting inflation portion47, and two protecting main body configuration portions50(50L,50R) that form each of the protecting main body portions48(48L,48R).

The connecting inflation portion47has the same configuration as that of the connecting inflation portion26of the hip protecting portion25in the above-described airbag20, and is formed of a single horizontal columnar main body portion47aprovided substantially along the left-right direction when the inflation is completed. The connecting inflation portion47is disposed in the region of a wrap portion62(which will be described later) in the outer cover60, and thus, although the details are omitted in the drawing, the connecting inflation portion47is disposed at a position which is the rear side of the pelvis MP of the wearer M when the inflation of the airbag40is completed. Similar to the above-described connecting inflation portion26, the connecting inflation portion47connects the gas generator5to 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 columnar main 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 connecting portions50ba,50bb,50bc,50bd,50be, and50bfthat respectively connect each of the vertical columnar main body portions50aa,50ab,50ac,50ad,50ae, and50afare arranged in a single stroke manner. (refer toFIG. 11A). Each of the vertical columnar main 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 columnar main body portion50aaarranged on the left and right inner sides in a state where the airbag base member42is laid flat communicates with the connecting inflation portion47(horizontal columnar main body portion47a) via the connecting portion50ba, and the vertical columnar main body portion50afdisposed on the end side in the left-right direction is configured to close the terminal (upper end side). Each of the vertical columnar main body portions50aa,50ab,50ac,50ad,50ae, and50afis provided over substantially the entire upper and lower regions of the protecting main body configuration portion50. Each of the protecting main body configuration portions50is configured to be inflated by allowing the inflation gas G that flows out of the connecting inflation portion47to sequentially flow into the vertical columnar main body portions50ab,50ac,50ad,50ae, and50affrom the vertical columnar main body portion50aadisposed on the connecting inflation portion47side (refer toFIG. 11A). Each of the protecting main body configuration portions50has a region on the end edge side in the left-right direction in a state of being laid flat as an overlapping portion53. Then, the protecting main body portion48is configured by overlapping the overlapping portion53with an overlapped portion54formed 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 overlapping portion53respectively to the upper edge side and the lower edge side of the overlapped portion54. In other words, the protecting main body portion48is 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 overlapping portion53and the overlapped portion54on the surface of the targeted body part (trochanter circumferential edge part TO), and in the overlapping region, the columnar inflation portions44(vertical columnar main 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 overlapping portion53is overlapped on the outside of the overlapped portion54.

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 the airbag40is completed (refer toFIGS. 13 and 14). Then, as described above, each of the protecting main body portions48is inflated by first allowing the inflation gas G that flows out of the communication path46to flow into the vertical columnar main body portion50aa, and sequentially, by allowing the inflation gas G to flow into the vertical columnar main body portions50ab,50ac,50ad,50ae, and50af. Further, in each of the protecting main body portions48, since the vertical columnar main body portions50aa,50ab,50ac,50ad,50ae, and50afare connected to each other over the entire surface by the non-inflation connecting portion45, the arranged state of the vertical columnar main body portions50aa,50ab,50ac,50ad,50ae, and50afis also maintained at the time of the inflation.

The outer cover60is made of a flexible woven fabric. In the case of the embodiment, the outer cover60is made of a polyester woven fabric. The outer cover60has an inner wall60adisposed on the inner side (wearer M side) at the time of wearing and an outer wall60bdisposed on the outer side at the time of wearing, with substantially the same external shape. The outer cover60has a bag shape by joining (sewing) the outer circumferential edges of the inner wall60aand the outer wall60bto each other, and thus the airbag40can smoothly inflate inside. As illustrated inFIG. 10, the outer cover60has the substantially band-shaped wrap portion62disposed 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 the wrap portion62and cover the outer circumferential sides of each of the protecting main body portions48(48L,48R). A pair of hook-and-loop fastener63as wearing means are provided on end portions62aand62bsides of the wrap portion62. The hook-and-loop fastener63has a hook surface63aand a loop surface63barranged on the end portions62aand62bsides of the wrap portion62, respectively, and is configured to connect the end portions62aand62bof the wrap portion62to each other. The main covering portions65L and65R are formed to extend downward from the wrap portion62, and are configured to respectively smoothly inflate the protecting main body portions48(48L,48R) inside.

The wearable airbag device S2of the second embodiment is worn on the wearer M by being wrapped around the hip MW (pelvis MP) of the wearer M by connecting the end portions62aand62bof the wrap portion62in the outer cover60to each other by using the hook-and-loop fastener63as wearing means (refer toFIG. 9). In addition, in wearable airbag device S2of the second embodiment, in a state of being worn on the wearer M, when the sensor part2detects the fall of the wearer M, the operating signal is output to the gas generator5from the operation control device1, the inflation gas flows into the airbag40, and the airbag40completes the inflation as illustrated inFIGS. 13 and 14.

In the wearable airbag device S2of the second embodiment as well, the airbag40is configured to include the plurality of columnar inflation portions44(columnar main 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 the airbag40can be reduced as compared with a case where the airbag has a simple bag shape. Further, since the airbag40maintains the arranged state of the columnar inflation portion44(columnar main body portion44a) by interposing the non-inflation connecting portion45therebetween when the inflation is completed, the airbag40can 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 S2of the second embodiment, when the inflation is completed, the airbag40is configured to provide the overlapping region disposed to stack the columnar inflation portions44(vertical columnar main body portions50ab,50ac,50ae, and50af) on the surface of the targeted body part (trochanter circumferential edge part TO). Therefore, the airbag40can be inflated to be thick at a predetermined place. Specifically, in the second embodiment, each of the protecting main body portions48in the airbag40is configured such that the overlapping portion53and the overlapped portion54are 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, the airbag40can 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 the airbag70, those having the configurations illustrated inFIGS. 15 to 20may be used. Similar to the airbag40of the above-described second embodiment, the airbag70is 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-described airbag40, the airbag70includes 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 connecting inflation portion85that connects the upper ends of the protecting main body portions86to each other.

The airbag70is made of a flexible sheet material. In the case of the embodiment, the airbag70is made of a woven fabric made of polyester yarns, polyamide yarns or the like. In the case of the embodiment, the airbag70is configured such that a plurality of columnar inflation portions73in 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 the intersections78. Specifically, the airbag70includes an inner wall70adisposed on the inner side (wearer M side) at the time of wearing, an outer wall70bdisposed on the outer side, a side wall70cthat connects the inner wall70aand the outer wall70b, and a partition wall71for partitioning the internal region of the airbag70(refer toFIGS. 15 to 18). The partition walls71(71UL,71UR,71DL,71DR) form the circumferential wall of the columnar inflation portion73, and partitions the internal region of the airbag70into an inflow region (columnar inflation portion73) into which the inflation gas flows and a non-inflow region80into which the inflation gas does not flow. In the case of the embodiment, the partition walls71(71UL,71UR,71DL,71DR) include an upper wall71a, a lower wall71b, and a side wall71cthat connects the upper wall71aand the lower wall71b, and two partition walls71are arranged side by side in the up-down direction in the regions of each of the protecting main body portions86as a substantially U shape which is flat (refer toFIGS. 15, 16, and 18). In the case of the embodiment, the columnar inflation portion73includes an upper horizontal inflation portion74disposed substantially along the left-right direction over substantially the entire region in the width direction on the upper end side of the airbag70, two vertical inflation portions76L and76R arranged to extend downward from the upper horizontal inflation portion74while being substantially orthogonal to the upper horizontal 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 the vertical inflation portions76L and76R. The upper horizontal inflation portion74, the vertical 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 upper horizontal inflation portion74and the tip end on the side separated from the vertical inflation portions76L and76R in the lower horizontal inflation portions75UL,75UR,75DL, and75DR are closed. In the case of the embodiment, the columnar inflation portion73is configured such that the width dimension is substantially constant over the entire length except for the center side part74aof the upper horizontal inflation portion74that forms the connecting inflation portion85as will be described later.

The connecting inflation portion85is formed of a center side part74awhich is a region on the center side in the left-right direction of the upper horizontal inflation portion74in the columnar inflation portion73(a region between the vertical inflation portions76L and76R). The gas generator5is connected to the vicinity of the center of the connecting inflation portion85in the length direction (left-right direction) (refer toFIG. 15). The width dimension of the center side part74aof the upper horizontal inflation portion74that forms the connecting inflation portion85is set to be larger than that of the other parts in the columnar inflation portion73. Although the details are omitted in the drawing, the connecting inflation portion85is 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 protecting main 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 the airbag70is completed (refer toFIGS. 19 and 20). As described above, each of the protecting main body portions86partitions the internal region by two partition walls71U and71D. Then, each of the protecting main body portions86is configured to be arranged side by side such that the vertical inflation portion76is 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 an end side part74bof the upper horizontal inflation portion74and two lower horizontal inflation portions75U and75D, outside the vertical inflation portion76in the left-right direction. Each of the protecting main body portions86inflates such that the inflation gas G that has flowed into the connecting inflation portion85(the center side part74aof the upper horizontal inflation portion74) flowed to the lower horizontal inflation portions75U and75D through the vertical inflation portion67. In each of the protecting main body portions86, the upper horizontal inflation portion74and the lower horizontal 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 upper horizontal inflation portion74and the lower horizontal inflation portions75U and75D is maintained.

Even when the airbag70is used, the airbag70is configured to have a plurality of columnar inflation portions73in 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 the airbag70can be reduced as compared with a case where the airbag has a simple bag shape. Further, when the inflation is completed, the airbag70is connected to each other by the non-inflow regions80U and80D such that the arranged state of the columnar inflation portion73(the upper horizontal inflation portion74, the lower horizontal inflation portions75U and75D) is maintained. Therefore, the airbag70can 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 airbag70having the above-described configuration, by arranging the partition walls71U and71D inside, the inner wall70aand the outer 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 the upper wall71aand the lower wall71bin the partition wall71) in the up-down direction is set to be a dimension that does not bring the inner wall70aand the outer wall70binto contact with each other (does not bring the walls into contact with the bottom). In other words, in the airbag70having 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 inflated columnar inflation portion73in the non-inflow regions80U and80D. Therefore, even when the airbag70is configured such that the columnar inflation portions73(lower horizontal 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 the airbags20and40of the embodiment, the inner walls20aand42aand the outer walls20band42bare sewn so as to provide continuous joining parts21and43, and the columnar inflation portions22and44are formed. Then, the region between the columnar inflation portions22and44in the airbags20and40is connected to each other over the entire surface by the non-inflation connecting portions23and45arranged such that the inner walls20aand42aand the outer walls20band42bare arranged to be overlapped with each other. Further, in the airbag70, the partition wall71is provided between the inner wall70aand the outer wall70bto partition the columnar inflation portion73and the non-inflow region80. In other words, the airbags20,40, and70of the embodiment are all configured such that the airbags20,40, and70themselves can maintain the arranged state of the columnar inflation portions22,44, and73when 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.