GARMENT INCLUDING A PROTECTION DEVICE

Abstract

 A garment (100) including a protection device (10) for protection of a user is described. The garment comprises at least one garment portion (102) having a visible surface (103), and a visible cavity or empty area (104) of said visible surface (103). The personal protection device (10) includes an inflatable element (12) which is configured to assume at least one inflated active configuration and one deflated rest configuration, wherein at least the inflatable element (12) is removably associated with the visible cavity or empty area of said visible surface and acts as a completion of the visible cavity or empty area of said garment portion in the active configuration and in the deflated rest configuration. A method for customizing and a kit for customization of the aforementioned garment is also described.

Description

[0001] The present disclosure relates in general to a garment including a protection device for protection of a user. The protection device includes in turn an inflatable element which in the inflated condition, is configured to protect from impacts and/or falls a motorcycle rider, passenger, skier or similar user, during a sporting and/or working activity and/or any other activity.

[0002] A garment including a known protection device is for example that described in European patent EP3291697B1. Such a device includes an inflatable element designed to assume an inflated active condition and a deflated rest condition. The inflatable element includes a knitted body, namely a body made by means of knitting process. Said knitted body is a closed or at least tubular structure defining an inner region or area or chamber. This inner chamber is occupied at least partially by a plurality of joining threads which connect together opposite portions of the knitted body. The fact of providing a single knitted body has the advantage of limiting the manufacturing waste and minimizing the production time; in fact, the joining threads and knitted parts may be processed using a single knitting machine. The joining threads form part of single thread connected to the opposite portions of the knitted body. In particular, the thread passes along alternate sections and continuously between a first portion and a second portion of the knitted body.

[0003] Preferably, the inflatable element also includes sealing walls which allow the inflation fluid to be contained for a predetermined period of time. The walls consist, for example, of a first sheet, or first wall, and a second sheet, or second wall, which are fixed together along respective perimetral edges. Said first and second sheets cover and line on an outer side or outer surface the knitted body.

[0004] The inflatable element may be an integral part of the garment, namely the garment may be made using the same knitting machine used to make the inflatable element substantially during a single working process.
Alternatively, the garment includes a pocket which houses inside it the inflatable element or the entire personal protection device.
The author of the present disclosure has noted that the known garments have a limited functionality, namely that the protection device associated with or included in it is intended only for protection of the person, without any additional function. This limited functionality may condition the production of the protective garment and the convenience of adapting the protective garment to other requirements of a user.

[0005] One technical problem underlying the present disclosure is that of providing a garment including a protection device for protecting a user, which is able to improve further the prior art for the purposes of the functionality of the garment and/or to achieve further advantages.

[0006] This problem is solved by a garment including a personal protection device, a customization kit and a customization method for customizing a garment including a protection device according to the respective independent claims.

[0007] Secondary characteristic features forming the subject of the present disclosure are defined in the respective dependent claims.

[0008] A garment including a protection device according to the present disclosure for the protection of a user comprises at least one garment portion having a visible surface, and a cavity or empty area, namely a region of the garment portion which results in the visible surface having a missing part. The garment also includes a personal protection device including an inflatable element which is configured to assume at least one inflated active configuration and one deflated rest configuration. According to one aspect of the present disclosure, the inflatable element is removably associated with the visible cavity or empty area of said visible surface and visibly occupies or covers with its surface said cavity or empty area. Consequently, the inflatable element forms an integral part of the visible surface of the garment and acts as a completion of said garment portion in the visible cavity or empty area and covers, therefore visually, said visible cavity or area. Consequently, the garment may be completed also only by the presence of the inflatable element.

[0009] The term "visible surface" is understood as meaning a surface of the garment which normally defines the appearance surface of the garment, namely the surface which may be seen and viewed externally by a user. The garment may also be associated with a possible further garment which covers it, for example, for the purpose of providing further protection or for providing protection against climatic agents.

[0010] The term "cavity" or "empty area" is understood as meaning an area of the garment where the garment has no visible surface, namely an area which results in the visible surface having something missing, such that the visible surface does not appear complete from the point of view of appearance. The cavity or empty area are not necessarily through-holes, but may also be closed areas, namely seats defining a blind seat. The cavity or empty areas may also be defined by an inner lining of the garment. What is important for the present disclosure is the fact that the cavity or empty area is visible and completed by the inflatable element and this inflatable element completes the visible surface of the garment. The inflatable element covers or closes the visible cavity or empty area of the garment both in the inflated condition and in the deflated condition.

[0011] Preferably, said visible cavity or empty area of the visible surface is, or forms, or corresponds to, a missing part of the garment.

[0012] It is to be understood moreover that the inflatable element mentioned in the present disclosure may be a single inflatable part or a plurality of inflatable parts.

[0013] Preferably, the inflatable element is of the type comprising a first knitted portion and a second knitted portion, wherein the first knitted portion and the second knitted portion are situated opposite each other and connected together by means of a plurality of tie elements, wherein the ties are tensioned when the inflatable element is inflated and in fact limit the inflation of the inflatable element. Preferably, moreover, the inflatable element also includes sealing walls which allow the inflation fluid to be contained for a predetermined period of time. The walls consist, for example, of a first sheet, or first wall, and a second sheet, or second wall, which are fixed together along respective perimetral edges. Said first and second sheets cover and line on an outer side or outer surface the knitted portions. The sealing walls act as visible surfaces for the garment.

[0014] Preferably again, the inflatable element has a perimetral profile both in the inflated condition and in the deflated condition. The inflatable element is connected to a remaining portion of the garment along the perimetral profile, preferably along a main portion of the perimetral profile.

[0015] The perimetral profile is for example the profile which can be seen when the inflatable element is placed on a support surface.

[0016] For example, the inflatable element is connected along at least 50% of the overall perimeter, mainly between 50% and 100% of the perimeter, and more preferably between 50% and 90%. For example, the connection may be formed by means of a perimetral zip or by means of a similar connection structure. The connection structure therefore includes a connection component associated with the inflatable element and a connection counter-component associated with the remaining garment portion. The connection counter-component is associated with a free profile of the garment portion which defines the aforementioned cavity or missing area of the garment.

[0017] In one embodiment, the garment is configured so that an inflatable element portion is located underneath the visible surface; for example, it may consist of an inflatable element portion having the function of containing functional devices for operation of the personal protection device, such as electronics, sensors and a fluid source for inflating the inflatable element. There is therefore a portion of the inflatable element which is hidden. In this case, the connection structure for connecting the inflatable element to the remaining portion of the visible surface of the garment is not located completely on the perimeter of the inflatable element, but above the inflatable element so as to allow positioning of that hidden inflatable element portion underneath the visible surface of the garment portion.

[0018] For example, a first inflatable element portion which completes and covers the aforementioned cavity or empty area and a second inflatable element portion which is located underneath the visible surface may be provided. This second inflatable element portion includes preferably at least some of the functional components, such as the inflation device. In order to ensure a continuous connection with the remaining garment portion, the connection component associated with the inflatable element extends partly along the perimetral profile of the inflatable element and partly, more particularly along said second inflatable element portion, on an outer side of the inflatable element. This allows the positioning of said second inflatable element portion underneath the visible surface of the remaining garment portion without affecting the general appearance of the garment. This second inflatable element portion may be a spinal portion.

[0019] Owing to the garment according to the present disclosure, a kit for customization of the garment may be provided. This kit includes the garment portion, or a garment, and an assortment of inflatable elements which are interchangeable with each other and different from each other so as to allow customization of the garment as desired, both in terms of protection and in terms of appearance.

[0020] The present disclosure also relates to a customization method for customizing a garment including a personal protection device.

[0021] The customization method includes a step of providing a garment provided with a garment region having a visible surface with a cavity or empty area and removably fixing in the cavity or empty area an inflatable element of a personal protection device so that the inflatable element occupies the cavity or empty area. The inflatable element therefore acts a visible completion of the garment and part of the visible surface of the garment. The customization method also envisages replacing the protection device and consequently the inflatable element and choosing another protection device also having an inflatable element suitable for being housed in the empty area or cavity. By using an inflatable element with a different colour or structure it is possible to modify the appearance of the garment or its functionality.

[0022] The inflatable element may be connected, along the perimeter, or part of the perimeter, to the corresponding visible cavity or empty area of the garment.

[0023] For example, an inflatable element able to provide a different protection, or having a different breathability, or having just a different colour, or different design may be chosen. Basically, an inflatable element may be chosen from an assortment of inflatable elements which are different from each other depending on needs.

[0024] Further characteristic features and modes of use forming the subject of the present disclosure will become clear from the following detailed description of a number of preferred examples of embodiment thereof, provided by way of a nonlimiting example. It is nevertheless evident that each embodiment may have one or more of the advantages listed above; in any case it is nevertheless not necessary that each embodiment should have simultaneously all the advantages listed.

[0025] Reference will be made to the figures of the attached drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a schematic front view of a garment according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Figure 2 shows a schematic rear view of a garment according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Figure 3 shows a schematic view of a detail III of the garment according to Figure 1 in an operating condition or working condition.

Figure 4 shows a schematic view of a detail III of the garment according to Figure 1 in an operating condition or working condition.

Figure 5 shows a schematic view of a detail V of the garment according to Figure 2 in an operating condition or working condition.

Figure 6 shows a schematic view of the rear portion of the garment according to

Figure 1 in a working condition.

Figure 7 shows a schematic front view of a garment according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, with parts separated.

Figure 8 shows a schematic rear view of a garment according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, with parts separated.

[0026] With reference to the attached figures, the reference number 100 indicates a garment including a personal protection device 10 according to the present disclosure in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0027] The personal protection device 10 comprises an inflatable element 12 which is adapted to assume substantially a first rest condition or deflated condition, and a second active condition or inflated condition. The modes of inflating the inflatable element 12 will be described in the description below.

[0028] In one embodiment of the present disclosure the garment 100 has a jersey-like form and is designed to surround the torso of a user's body. The protection device is intended consequently to cover a top zone of the torso. In particular, the inflatable element includes a first operating region 20 for protecting the back of the neck and the nape area between the shoulders, a second protective operating region 21 on the shoulders and a third protective operating region 22 on the chest. More particularly, because of the anatomy of the human body, each second protective operating region 21 and third protective operating region 22 are each divided up into two parts, on the right and left of the human body, in a symmetrical manner with respect to a sagittal plane. The inflatable element 12 moreover includes a spinal portion 23 for protecting the back of the user.

[0029] The inflatable element 12 may made using the technology described in patent application PCT/IB2009/055512 and in patent application PCT/IT2009/000547, which are incorporated here by reference in their entirety in the present disclosure, or more preferably using the technology described in patent application WO2016178143A1, or even more preferably in patent application WO2017163196A1. Namely it consists preferably of an inflatable element with threads, which is formed by meshes and walls as described in these patent applications, and even more preferably with a curved configuration due to a varying expansion capacity of an inner side facing the user and an outer side. The inflatable element 12 in the deflated condition has a substantially flat form and defines an edge or perimetral profile 25.

[0030] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, the garment 100 has a garment portion 102 having a visible surface 103, and an empty area 104, namely an area without a visible surface 103. This consists of a visible empty area 104. According to one aspect of the present disclosure, the inflatable element 12 occupies an empty area 104 and is fixed to the remaining portion of the garment 102, for example at least partly along the perimetral profile 25. In other words, the inflatable element 12 covers the empty area 104.

[0031] The inflatable element 12, once it has been engaged with the empty area 104, performs the same function as the visible surface 103 of the garment 100. The inflatable element 12 is detachable from the visible surface 103. For this purpose, a connection structure 30 is provided for connecting the inflatable element 12 to the visible surface 103. In this case said structure consists of a zip which includes a component 32 associated with the inflatable element 12 and a counter-component 33 associated with the visible surface. The zip connection structure 30 extends along the entire inflatable element 12, except in the spinal portion. In particular, it can be seen from the figures that the connection structure 30 extends over most of the perimetral profile 25, also around the portions of the neck 20, the shoulders 21 and the chest 22. It can be seen that that counter-component 33 extends as far as a collar zone of the garment 100.

[0032] In the region of the spinal portion 23, the component 32 is associated with an outer surface or face of the inflatable element. Owing to this feature the spinal portion 23 may be included underneath the visible surface 103 of the back portion of the garment, and the appearance of a uniform connection with the inflatable element 12 may in any case be maintained. The spinal portion 23 may include a pressurised gas source 50 or other fluid generator for inflating the inflatable element and also an optional electronic control unit with sensors for detecting an impact (not visible). The appearance of the garment is therefore that of a normal protective garment. According to another aspect of the present disclosure a method for customizing a garment 100 by means of a personal protection device 10 is provided. In fact a user may remove the personal protection device 10 and replace it with another one which has a different inflatable element 12, namely a different structure, a different colour or a different design.

[0033] It is possible to replace the entire protection device 10, or only the inflatable element 12, with the gas source included therein, where required.

[0034] With regard to inflation, in order to perform inflation of the inflatable element 12, in the event of a sudden fall and/or sliding action and/or an impact involving a user or a vehicle being ridden/driven, the protection device 10 is adapted to cooperate with special activation means (normally consisting of the aforementioned control unit and sensors) which are operationally connected for example to a pressurised-gas source 50, such as a cylinder 50 containing compressed cold gas, for example helium. The cylinder may be provided with a respective shut-off valve (not shown).

[0035] Alternatively, the inflation fluid source may comprise gas generators preferably of the pyrotechnic or other hybrid type or other types known according to the state of the art.

[0036] Opening of the shut-off valve of each inflation cylinder is preferably controlled by a control unit depending on detection of the state of the user wearing a garment or the vehicle being ridden/driven by the user; for example said control unit may implement a system for predicting the fall which allows early identification of the fall event and a reliable prediction of this by accelerometer sensors fixed to the vehicle or user and a unit for processing the signals produced by the said sensors.

[0037] As mentioned, the aforementioned activation and inflation means may be incorporated in the protection device according to the present invention or located on the outside thereof.

[0038] It should also be noted that the activation modes, although being an aspect of particular importance for effective operation of the device, will not be further described in greater detail since they are methods which are essentially already known to a person skilled in the art of protection of an individual from sudden impacts.

[0039] The subject-matter of the present disclosure has been described hitherto with reference to embodiments thereof. It is to be understood that other embodiments relating to the same inventive idea may exist, all of these falling within the scope of protection of the claims which are provided below.

Claims

1. Garment (100) including a protection device (10) for the protection of a user, wherein the garment (100) comprises at least one garment portion (102) having a visible surface (103), and a visible cavity or empty area (104) of said visible surface (103), wherein the personal protection device (10) includes at least one inflatable element (12) which is configured to assume at least one inflated active configuration and one deflated rest configuration, wherein the at least one inflatable element (12) occupies and covers removably, and visibly in said garment portion, both in the active configuration and in the deflated rest configuration, said visible cavity or empty area (104) of said visible surface, and the at least one inflatable element (12) acts both in the active configuration and in the deflated rest configuration as a completion of the visible cavity or empty area (104) of said garment portion (102).

2. Garment (100) according to claim 1, wherein said visible cavity or empty area (104) of said visible surface (103) is, or forms, or corresponds to, a missing part of the garment.

3. Garment (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the inflatable element (12) has a perimetral profile (25), and the inflatable element (12) is connected to the remaining portion (102) of the garment at least partially along the perimetral profile (25) so as to cover said visible cavity or empty area (104), preferably along a main portion of the perimetral profile, greater than 50% of the overall perimeter, and preferably between at least 50% and 100% of the overall perimeter, and more preferably between 50% and 90%.

4. Garment (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the inflatable element is connected to the remaining portion (102) of the garment by means of a connection structure (30), wherein said connection structure (30) includes a connection component associated with the inflatable element (32) and a connection counter-component (33) associated with the remaining garment portion.

5. Garment according to claim 4, wherein the connection counter-component is associated with a profile or edge of the garment portion (102) defining the aforementioned visible cavity or area (104) of the garment.

6. Garment according to claim 4 or 5, wherein at least a portion (23) of inflatable element (12) is located under the visible surface (103), and wherein, in the region of said portion (23), said component (32) of the connection structure (30) associated with the inflatable element (12) is positioned on an outer face of said portion of the inflatable element (12).

7. Garment according to claim 5 and claim 6, wherein said portion is an inflatable element portion having the function of containing functional devices for the operation of the personal protection device, such as for example electronics, sensors and a fluid source for inflating the inflatable element.

8. Garment according to claim 6 or 7, wherein said portion is a spinal portion (23).

9. Garment according to any one of claims 6, 7 or 8, wherein in the region of said portion (23) where the latter is located under the garment portion, said component (32) associated with the inflatable element (12) of the connection structure (30) extends from a perimetral edge (25) to an outer face of said portion of the inflatable element (12).

10. Garment according to any one of claims 3 to 9, wherein said connection structure (30) is a zip structure.

11. Customization kit for customizing a garment according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the kit includes an assortment of inflatable elements (12) interchangeable with each other and different from each other so as to allow customization of the garment as desired.

12. Customization method for customizing a garment (100) including a personal protection device including at least one inflatable element (12) which is configured to assume at least one inflated active configuration and a deflated rest configuration, wherein the customization method includes a step of providing a garment (100) provided with a garment region (102) having a visible surface (103) with a visible cavity or empty area (104) and detachably fixing in the visible cavity or empty area (104) the inflatable element (12) so that the inflatable element (12) removably and visibly occupies and covers the cavity or empty area (104) both in the inflated active configuration and in the deflated rest configuration, and wherein the inflatable element (12) acts as a visible completion of the garment, wherein the method involves replacing the inflatable element (12) of the protection device with another inflatable element (12).

13. Method according to claim 12, wherein the other inflatable element of (12) has a different colour or structure and allows the appearance of the garment or the functionality of the garment to be modified.

Drawing