Patent Description:
Inflatable airbags are widely used to restrain impacts. They bring to a minimum the risk of injury and ensure the personal safety of the user during various activities/movements (accidental or not), which require landing from the air to the ground.

Inflatable airbag disclosed in <CIT>which is divided into three parts: a lower (main) air bag (<NUM>), an upper airbag (<NUM>) and optionally a side airbag (<NUM>), as well a cover (<NUM>) and an air tank (<NUM>) with injection passages. The described Inflatable airbag is equipped with at least one main air chamber (<NUM>) with at least one inlet and outlet, air pressure regulator valve and plurality perpendicularly fixed shock absorbing air chambers (<NUM>) of upper airbag (<NUM>), connected in their base to the main air chamber (<NUM>), and with at least one protective cover (<NUM>), positioned above the shock absorbing air chambers, wherein the shock absorbing air chambers (<NUM>) of upper air bag (<NUM>) are opened in their base and connected fixedly to the upper surface of the lower airbag on which is with centrally positioned air opening (<NUM>). The bottom side (<NUM>) of the upper airbag (<NUM>) is fixed directly to the upper surface of the main shock chamber <NUM> by sewing and bonding (<NUM>) without gaps so that air does not leak out. A space between shock absorbing chambers (<NUM>) along their entire height is different and becomes larger (<NUM>) at a bottom side of each shock absorbing chamber and smaller in size at top side of it. The shock absorbing chambers (<NUM>) have a different perimeter on them top and bottom side, where the upper side of each shock absorbing chamber is closely attached to each other and tied with a string and fixed (<NUM>). There is a distance (<NUM>) between such upper and lower side (<NUM>,<NUM>) of shock absorbing chambers (<NUM>) of the upper airbag (<NUM>).

In the center of the bottom side of the upper airbag (<NUM>) is positioned small air channel (<NUM>) with a diameter from <NUM> to <NUM>, which is a passage through which the lower airbag and air pass. The minimum height of main inflatable chamber (<NUM>) is more than <NUM> and this height proportionally increased according to the height from the start point where the person falls to the landing point. The protective cover (<NUM>) is fastened by side parts connected between themselves and is fastened to the main inflatable chamber (<NUM>) and fixed with the upper airbag (<NUM>). The main inflatable chamber (<NUM>) is divided to the room in both horizontal and vertical directions.

The diameter of the air channels (<NUM>) of the main airbag (<NUM>) is too small and airflow pass can leave too slowly through it. Therefore, when an external shock is applied, the surface of the upper shock absorbing chamber (<NUM>) remains hard and this shock can be absorbed quite slowly, since the air of the channels of the upper airbag is pushed so difficult into the main air chamber by the small air channel (<NUM>). This diameter together with the height of the projections is of particular constructive significance, since they define the feature of shock absorbance, i.e. the damping force which is in direct dependence and reflects in the hardness of the inflatable surface. The higher hardness of the airbag surface makes possible the bouncing back of the body and hides a risk of injury.

Another disadvantage is an existing large distance (<NUM>) between each shock absorbing chambers, which obligatorily requires a connecting device in between and make unstable the shock absorbing chambers in working mode. Otherwise, this distance will be a sufficient prerequisite for loss of stability and falling of the user between the projections and risk of injury, respectively, which makes the airbag not sufficiently reliable.

What is particularly important for these constructions is also the connection between the shock absorbing chambers and the main chamber as well as their contact surface of joining, which distributes the load and provides the bond strength.

The present invention is to provide a safe and effective inflatable airbag, eliminating the abovementioned problems as well as to increase the uniformity of load distribution of the falling body on the working surface, resulting in maximum absorbance and restraining the impact of the falling body, thus ensuring a high level of safety during its use.

The present invention provides an inflatable airbag according to the disclosure of the appended claims.

It is disclosed an airbag, which is equipped with at least one main inflatable chamber with internally distributed one or more transverse ribs with openings, connecting the upper and lower base of the main inflatable chamber, forming sectors respectively, with at least one air inlet and at least one air outlet positioned on the external side of the side walls of the main inflatable chamber, as well as with at least one air valve for air pressure regulation.

Perpendicularly fixed to the main inflatable chamber on the side of the impact there are multiple parallel to each other shock absorbing chambers which are connected fixedly through them bottom opening side to the upper face side of each connecting base, named (skirt), which is fastened with its back to the surface of the main inflatable chamber by a flexible connection - self-adhesive band or zip, or is firmly fixed by sewing, gluing or welding, wherein a distance between the shock absorbing chambers is the same along their entire height and being not less than <NUM> and not more than <NUM>. The height of the shock absorbing chambers (h) is directly dependent on the height of the main chamber (H) and is from <NUM> % to <NUM>% of the height of the main inflatable chamber (H).

Openings are positioned on the skirts and centrally for the shock absorbing chambers, and they coincide with their respective openings on the main chamber, through which the ventilator-supplied airflow moves. The diameter of these openings is from <NUM> to <NUM>.

The upper free ends of the shock absorbing air chambers are covered with a protective cover with side parts and/or side skirts fastened to the protective cover by a flexible connection of a self-adhesive strip, hook-and-loop or a zip or by a fixed connection by sewing, gluing or welding, and are jointly connected to the main air chamber by an elastic connection through openings so that the cover repeats entirely and fixes lastingly the three-dimensional form of the cushion.

The openings for the flexible elastic connections for fastening the protective cover to the main chamber are positioned simultaneously on strips in the upper end, under the side parts and the side skirts of the protective cover as well as the opening are positioned on strips fixed along the external edge of the upper and lower side of each side part of the main chamber.

One or more air-permeable areas are positioned on the side parts and/or the side skirts of the protective cover, with a possibility to cover also the whole surface of the side skirt. The connection between the side parts of the protective cover is accomplished by angle connections, which are strengthening elements of trapezoidal or rectangular form, joined by a flexible connection of self-adhesive strips or a zip, or by a fixed connection by sewing, gluing or welding.

The shock absorbing chambers may have the form of a cylinder, cube, cone, parallelepiped or other irregular three-dimensional forms. The base binding (skirt) may have a square, rectangular, polygonal or oval form. The air bag created according the present invention is made of a polyester cloth with a one-sided or two-sided coating of polyvinylchloride, polyurethane, acryl etc..

The airbag according the present invention can be connected sequentially or in parallel to other identical airbags - one or more modules, this way forming various configurations of airbags in one inflatable facility. In such case the connection is accomplished by the connective elements of the protective cover and with coinciding of the relevant air inlets/outlets between separate modules.

The inflatable airbag developed under this invention has a stable, effective and optimized construction which provides a high absorption level of the falling body energy and a high level of safety. The shock absorbing chamber positioned extremely close to each other have a minimum distance between them, which ensures optimum and effective working surface in impact, and stability of each airbag separately or in configuration, since they operate with the same functionality in the constructions - both separately and jointly.

At the same time, the introduction of the special constructive element of the skirt makes possible the simplified replacement of the wearing parts and also makes the construction easy to maintain, convenient for assembly and disassembly, compact for transportation purposes, and generally, cost effective for its owner. The used intermediate element of the (skirt) ensures also a large contact surface of joining between the (skirt) and the main chamber and increases this surface by <NUM>-<NUM>% compared to the same shock absorbing chamber joined directly (without a skirt) to the main chamber, thus ensuring the proper distribution of the strength in the joining point of the shock absorbing chamber to the main chamber.

The accurate selection of the elements, their dimensions and material provide a maximum protection from wearing of the inflatable airbag construction and warrant its efficacy and safety during use.

The specially selected diameter of the air opening of the (skirt) between both chambers (the main and the shock absorbing) predetermines the optimum performance of the shock absorbing chambers during impacts from different angles and as a result, the shock absorbing chamber constructed this way guarantees the damping strength.

The strengthening elements in the main chamber keep its form during operation and let the air to pass through their openings with the relevant speed.

The protective cover used is easily fastened to the main chamber and can be easily replaced if damaged or worn out; it protects completely the inflatable shock absorbing chamber (projections) and ensures them the appropriate strength, flexibility and high resistance to tearing and mechanical perforation as well as a rapid and easy access in case of replacement of the shock absorbing chambers under it.

The inflatable airbag according to the present invention can be used in the construction of facilities for indoor and outdoor sports, entertainment and training activities, including water and any air sports, for security measures during accidents, including rescue and firefighting activities etc..

It is intended for assembly in the area of falling, landing and jumping and can include more than one module, other modules being easily joined in parallel or sequentially to form various configurations of the joined airbags depending on the requirements, the terrain and the intended use.

The modules are compact, easy for safe storage when kept uninflated. The functional mechanisms of the airbag systems have been designed so as to provide the highest possible safety during landing, and when used for sports and games, they ensure safe and optimum enjoyable experience with the inflatable facility.

In one described example according to <FIG> and <FIG>, the inflatable airbag <NUM> is equipped with: one rectangular main inflatable air chamber <NUM> with many sectors distributed in its inner space and connected with upper <NUM> and lower <NUM> base by means of ribs <NUM> with openings <NUM>, the height of which <NUM> is equal to the height of the side parts of the main chamber <NUM>; where on the side parts of the main chamber <NUM> there are positioned at least one opening for air inlet <NUM> and at least one opening for air outlet <NUM> and at least one air pressure control valve <NUM>.

To the main inflatable chamber <NUM> perpendicularly, on the side of the impact, there are fixed many removable cylindrical shock absorbing chambers <NUM> with diameter of <NUM>, and each shock absorbing chamber <NUM> is joined by a fixed connection at the joining point <NUM> on the face part of the connecting square skirt base <NUM> with an air opening in its center <NUM> with a diameter of <NUM> which ensures the two-way air passage. Each shock absorbing chamber <NUM> together with each its skirt <NUM>. is attached by a flexible connection <NUM> fixed in advance to the back of the skirt <NUM> by sewing, self-adhesive band or zip in a place <NUM> to the surface of the main chamber <NUM>, with a distance of <NUM> between the shock absorbing chambers <NUM>. On the upper side <NUM> of the shock absorbing chambers <NUM>, there is positioned also a protective rectangular cover <NUM> (<FIG>), which is removably connected by a self-adhesive strip, hook-and-loop or a zip <NUM> with its side parts <NUM>, the angle connections of which <NUM> are rectangular and fastened to the side parts <NUM> by a double Velcro strip (crocodile mouth type) <NUM>. On the side parts <NUM> there are located also air-permeable zones <NUM>, made of net. The main air chamber <NUM> is connected to the protective cover <NUM> by an elastic connection (not shown on the figures), which passes simultaneously through openings <NUM> on strips <NUM>. , fastened in advance in the upper end, under side parts <NUM> and through openings <NUM>, which are located on strips <NUM> and fixed in advance by a seam to the external edge on the upper and lower side of each side part <NUM> of the main chamber <NUM>.

The inflatable airbag is suitable for indoor and outdoor sports, entertainment and training purposes, games and rescue activities and makes possible the joining of one or more airbags in configurations suitable for the terrain and the intended use. The height (h) of the shock absorbing chamber (<NUM>) is <NUM>% of the height (H) of the main chamber (<NUM>).

In another example the inflatable airbag <NUM> is made the same way as in <FIG> and <FIG>, with the difference that the shock absorbing chambers <NUM> are cuboid according to <FIG> with size <NUM>×<NUM> ×<NUM>, each shock absorbing chamber <NUM> being connected in joining point <NUM> to its square skirt <NUM>, which is fixed by connection <NUM> by means of sewing or gluing to the surface of the main inflatable chamber <NUM>, where the air openings <NUM> have a diameter of <NUM> at a distance of <NUM> between the shock absorbing chambers <NUM>. The protective rectangular cover <NUM> is fixed (rigidly) by means of sewing or gluing to the side parts <NUM>, and the angle connections <NUM> with trapezoid form are fixed to the side parts <NUM> by means of sewing, gluing or welding <NUM>. The main air chamber <NUM> is joined to the protective cover <NUM> by an elastic connection which passes simultaneously through openings <NUM> located on strips <NUM> in the upper end, on the side parts <NUM> and through openings <NUM> located on strips <NUM> fixed in advance by a seam to the external edge of the upper and lower side of each side part <NUM> of the main chamber <NUM>. The height (h) of the shock absorbing chamber (<NUM>) is <NUM>% of the height (H) of the main chamber (<NUM>).

Represents the same example of the inflatable air chamber <NUM> as in Example <NUM> with the difference that the distance between the shock absorbing chambers (<NUM>) is <NUM>,<NUM>, the diameter of the air openings <NUM> is <NUM> and the height (h) of the shock absorbing chamber (<NUM>) is <NUM>% of the height (H) of the main chamber (<NUM>).

Initially, the user supplies air to the first main chamber <NUM> of the inflatable airbag <NUM> through air supply inlet <NUM> until the main chamber <NUM> fills its volume. At the same time the shock absorbing chambers <NUM> of inflatable airbag <NUM> are also inflated, valve <NUM> being used for air pressure regulation to the required working value.

Claim 1:
Inflatable airbag (<NUM>) equipped with at least one divided into sectors main inflatable chamber (<NUM>) with at least one air inlet (<NUM>), at least one air outlet (<NUM>), and an air pressure regulation valve (<NUM>), wherein the sectors of the main inflatable chamber (<NUM>) are arranged by one or more transverse ribs (<NUM>) with openings (<NUM>) that connect an upper (<NUM>) and a lower base (<NUM>) of the main air chamber (<NUM>), respectively, with a height equal to the height of side parts (<NUM>) of the main inflatable chamber (<NUM>), the inflatable airbag (<NUM>) being further equipped with a plurality of perpendicularly positioned inflatable shock absorbing air chambers (<NUM>), connected flexible or fixed at their base to the main inflatable chamber (<NUM>), , the inflatable airbag (<NUM>) being further equipped with at least one protective cover (<NUM>) positioned over the shock absorbing air chambers (<NUM>) and fastened to the main inflatable chamber (<NUM>), characterized in that, the shock absorbing air chambers (<NUM>) have a height of <NUM>-<NUM>% of the height of the main inflatable chamber (<NUM>) and each shock absorbing air chamber (<NUM>) is respectively connected fixedly through a respective bottom side to a respective upper face side of a respective skirt (<NUM>) which discloses a centrally positioned air channel (<NUM>) with a diameter from <NUM> to <NUM>, wherein each skirt (<NUM>) is joined by a flexible or fixed fastening between its back and the surface of the main inflatable chamber (<NUM>), wherein a distance between each pair of the shock absorbing air chambers (<NUM>) is substantially the same along their entire height when the shock absorbing air chambers (<NUM>) are not being deformed, such distance being not less than <NUM> and not more than <NUM>, and wherein the protective cover (<NUM>) is fastened to the main inflatable chamber (<NUM>) by an elastic connection and by movable or fixed side parts (<NUM>) of the protective cover (<NUM>) or, alternatively, by an elastic connection and by side skirts (<NUM>) of the protective cover (<NUM>), wherein the side parts (<NUM>) and the side skirts (<NUM>) are respectively connected between themselves by respective angle connections (<NUM>, <NUM>)) to which they are fastened.