EP4620338A1

EP4620338A1 - Gas generator

Info

Publication number: EP4620338A1
Application number: EP25163865.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Andrea Azzolin; Giovanni ZORZIN
Original assignee: Dainese SpA
Current assignee: Dainese SpA
Priority date: 2024-03-20
Filing date: 2025-03-14
Publication date: 2025-09-24

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a gas generator (10) comprising a container body (12) suitable for defining an inner chamber (13) which is suitable for containing an inflation gas. In particular, the container body (12) has an annular shape or toroidal shape.

The present disclosure also relates to an inflation device (100) comprising the gas generator (10) and a personal protection device (100) for the personal protection of a user, comprising the inflation device (100) and an inflatable element (70).

The present disclosure also relates to a wearable accessory or a wearable article or garment (2000) comprising the personal protection device (1000).

Description

The present invention relates generally to the sector of providing protection by means of a personal protection device, preferably a wearable protection device, so as to protect a user from impacts due to falling or sliding, when travelling on a means of transport, such as a vehicle, preferably a two-wheeled vehicle, or any other means of transport, such as a horse or other animal, sports equipment, such as a pair of skis or a bobsleigh, or similar means of transport, or a user when performing any activity also without transport means.
More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a gas generator, for example designed to be placed on the back or flank of a user, namely in a zone of a user's body.
The term "gas generator" is understood as meaning a container device designed to contain a - preferably pressurised - gas or fluid intended to be introduced, when required, into an inflatable element. Said inflatable element forms part of the personal protection device for the protection, as mentioned, of a user in the event of falls and/or impacts of various types. In fact, the gas generator is a fluid source, preferably a pressurised fluid source.
The present disclosure also relates to an inflation device, including the aforementioned gas generator, for inflating the inflatable element. The personal protection device, which is preferably wearable, and also a protective garment or a wearable accessory, each comprising the aforementioned inflation device, also form the subject of the present disclosure.
In the sector of user protection it is known to use protection devices, also called "airbags", including an inflatable element, which are inflated in the event of impact by an inflation device in fluid communication with the inflatable element of the protection device. Generally, this inflation device consists of a fluid source, such as a cylindrical compressed-gas canister, which is fixed to the back portion of a protection device or a garment or arranged inside a back protector. The positioning of an inflation device in the back zone of a user makes the protection device comprising the inflation device safer, preventing the gas canister from being able to interfere, in the event of a fall, with the vital organs which are situated in the front or side part of the user. More precisely, the known inflation devices comprise a support structure which is formed by plates or other rigid mechanical components generally arranged in the region of the user's spinal column. This support structure is designed to support the gas generator(s) and is generally connected to a protection garment comprising the inflatable element.
The present disclosure is based on a recognition by the inventor of the present disclosure that the inflation devices such as those made available hitherto by the prior art, while being advantageous from many points of view, have not always been sufficient to ensure satisfactory mobility and comfort of use for a user.
More specifically, the inflation devices have been hitherto designed and arranged on protective garments so as to prevent them from being dangerous for the user in the event of falls, but without paying too much attention to ensuring the freedom of movement of the user and the user comfort in general.
In particular, the inventor of the present disclosure has noted that the known inflation devices often have very large dimensions in order to ensure a sufficient volume of gas, and these large dimensions are not always compatible with comfort for the user.
The starting point of the present disclosure is therefore the technical problem of providing a gas generator, and a wearable inflation device for an inflatable element which is able to satisfy all the aforementioned requirements mentioned with reference to the prior art and/or to achieve further advantages.
This is obtained by means of a gas generator, an inflation device, a personal protection device and a garment or wearable article, or accessible accessory, according to the respective independent claims. Secondary characteristics of the subject of the present disclosure are defined in the corresponding dependent claims.
In particular, in accordance with the present disclosure, in order to improve the comfort, it is proposed changing the shape of the gas generator with a shape which is able, for the same overall dimensions, to provide greater capacity and therefore include a much greater volume of gas.
For this purpose, it is proposed providing a gas generator comprising a container body suitable for defining an inner chamber which is able to contain an inflation gas. In particular, the container body has a shape which follows a closed line. For example, it may consist preferably of an annular shape or a toroidal shape. Closed-line polygonal shapes or other closed-line shapes are also possible.
Basically, the closed-line shape, such as the annular shape or toroidal shape, is preferably a closed ring shape or follows a closed line. It may be understood that, owing to the closed-line shape, such as the aforementioned annular or toroidal shape, the gas generator may occupy a much smaller space than a conventional generator and have a much greater gas/fluid containment capacity. In other words, for the same overall dimensions, a gas generator according to the present invention may contain an inflation gas volume which is greater than that of the generators according to the prior art.
The present invention also relates to an inflation device comprising a gas generator according to one of the embodiments of the present invention and a trigger assembly for triggering gas inflation.
The present invention also relates to a personal protection device for the personal protection of a user, comprising an inflation device according to one of the embodiments of the present invention and an inflatable element in fluid connection with the inflation device and intended to protect at least a part of a user's body.
Finally, the present invention relates to a wearable accessory or garment comprising a personal protection device according to one of the embodiments of the present invention.
The present invention is able to provide greater comfort for the user when the gas generator is situated next to a zone of the user's body, preferably a back zone, and is also able to reduce the specific pressure of the container body acting on the user's body in the event of impacts or falls. In other words, the shape which follows a continuous closed line, preferably an annular or toroidal shape, is able to reduce the pressure of the gas generator acting on the user's body, distributing the pressure in a more comfortable manner, namely preferably along a greater area compared to the generators of the prior art.
A further advantage of the present invention is that it is also able to obtain a volume of the inner chamber which is greater than that of the known generators for the same overall dimensions, for example for the same longitudinal dimension of a cylindrical gas generator. Consequently, by means of the present invention, it is possible to provide a higher volume of inflation gas which is in turn able to inflate an inflatable protection element which has larger dimensions, able to protect a greater area while therefore ensuring greater safety.
Further advantages, characteristic features and modes of use forming the subject of the present disclosure will become clear from the following detailed description of embodiments thereof, provided by way of a non-limiting example.
It is in any case clear that each embodiment forming the subject of the present disclosure may have one or more of the advantages listed above; in any case it is not required that each embodiment should have simultaneously all the advantages listed.
Reference will be made to the figures of the attached drawings in which:

- Figure 1 shows an axonometric view a personal protection device according to the prior art;
- Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view of a gas generator according to the prior art;
- Figure 3 shows an axonometric view of a personal protection device according to the present invention;
- Figure 4 shows an axonometric view of the device according to Figure 3, in which the inflation device is disconnected from the support plate structure;
- Figure 5 shows a cross-sectional view of the inflation device according to Figures 3 and 4;
- Figure 6 shows a cross-sectional view of an inflation device according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention;
- Figure 7 shows a partially sectioned view of a motorcyclist's suit including an inflation device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

With reference to the attached figures, a gas generator is denoted overall by the reference number 10.
The gas generator 10 is understood as being a device able to contain a gas and intended for the emission of a gas or an inflation fluid, preferably for an inflatable element 70, preferably an inflatable element 70 of a personal protection device 100. Preferably, the gas is kept under pressure inside the gas generator 10, i.e. at a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure. The pressure is for example 600-800 bar.
The gas generator 10 comprises a container body 12 able to define an inner chamber 13. The inner chamber 13 is able to include an inflation gas, i.e. to receive the inflation gas. Preferably, the gas generator comprises the inflation gas or fluid. The inflation gas may also be helium or another suitable gas,
According to the present disclosure, the container body 12 has a closed-line shape, preferably an annular shape or preferably a toroidal shape. In other words, the inner chamber 13 extends along a closed line, preferably an annular line, and follows a circular path, or has a toroidal geometric or generally closed-line shape.
Preferably, the inner chamber 13 has a volume of between 20 cm³ and 170 cm³, preferably between 30 cm³ and 150 cm³, more preferably between 50 cm³ and 100 cm³,
Preferably, the annular shape or toroidal shape of the container body 12 is a closed-ring shape or follows a closed line or has a closed toroidal shape. Basically, the annular shape or toroidal shape is a closed-ring shape or follows a closed line.
Even more preferably, the inner chamber 13 is not continuous along an annular direction and has an inner end wall 15. In other words, the container body 12, viewed externally, has a closed-ring shape, while internally the inner chamber 13 is not continuous along the circumference, but is closed by an end wall 15. In other words, the end wall 15 preferably interrupts the continuity of the inner chamber 13 of the container body 12.
Preferably, an inner zone of the container body 12 has a trigger zone 16 for gas inflation.
Preferably, the trigger zone 16 is positioned towards a sector of the container body and also the trigger zone 16 and the end wall 15 face towards or are adjacent to the sector of the container body. In other words, the trigger zone 16 and the end wall 15 are preferably positioned next to or facing or towards said sector of the container body.
In other words, preferably the trigger zone 16 is positioned towards the sector of the container body in such a way that triggering of the gas may be generated starting from said sector of the container body and then for example be distributed into the remaining volume of the container body and/or into other sectors of the container body, until it reaches the zone for connection with the inflatable element.
In other words, for example, the end wall may separate one end of said sector of the container body from one end of another sector of the container body in such a way that a triggering of gas generated in said trigger zone may fill said sector of the container body before expanding towards the other sector of the container body.
Preferably the container body 12 has a circular cross-section. Said circular cross-section may allow optimization of the overall dimensions of the container body 12 and also improve the comfort for the user, since the container body 12 with a circular cross-section preferably and advantageously does not have sharp edges which may create discomfort for the user.
Preferably, the gas generator 10 comprises the inflation gas which is contained for example inside the inner chamber 13,
The present invention also relates to an inflation device 100 comprising a gas generator 10 according to one of the embodiments described and further comprising a trigger assembly 20 for triggering gas inflation.
The trigger assembly 20 may comprise, for example, a pyrotechnic charge and an electrical resistor configured to trigger the pyrotechnic charge. The trigger assembly may also comprise a yielding element 28 which at least partially covers the pyrotechnic charge and is for example bell-shaped, where the yielding element 28 is preferably configured to yield following the explosion of the pyrotechnic charge.
Preferably, the container body 12 defines a free central inner zone 30 arranged on an inner circumference of the container body 12 and the inflation device 100 comprises a control unit 40 arranged in the central zone 30 inside the container body. In other words, the central zone 30 is positioned outside the container body 12, namely outside the inner chamber 13, and along the space circumscribed by the inner circumference or smaller circumference of the container body 12 which, as mentioned, follows a closed line, preferably with an annular shape or toroidal shape. This configuration allows optimization of the space occupied by the inflation device 100, therefore improving both the comfort and the overall dimensions of the inflation device 100.
The control unit 40 may be connected for example to the trigger assembly 20, in particular may be connected to the electrical resistor, in order to trigger the pyrotechnic charge in such a way as to allow actuation of the resistor so as to trigger the pyrotechnic charge and inflate by means of the inflation gas an inflatable element associated with the inflation device 100.
Preferably, the inflation device 100 comprises a support plate structure 50 for supporting and/or holding the container body 12 and the control unit 40. The support plate structure 50 may have a circular shape having a diameter the same as or similar to the external diameter of the container body 12 so as to favour more stable support of the container body 12.
Even more preferably, the support plate structure 50 comprises a clamp portion 51 designed to engage with a sector of the container body 12. In other words, the clamp portion may engage with or retain at least partially and removably a sector of the container body 12, for example so as to keep the container body 12 fixed or irremovably locked on the support plate structure 50.
Even more preferably, the support plate structure 59 comprises a counter-flange 53 located on the support plate structure 50 in a position opposite to the clamp portion 51 so as to retain the container body 12. In other words, the container body may be preferably removably held on the support plate structure 50 by means of the clamp portion 51 and if necessary also by means of the counter-flange 53 which is preferably located in a position opposite the clamp portion 51 along the external circumference of the container body 12. The counter-flange 53 is able to ensure a firmer connection of the gas generator 10 on the support plate structure 50.
The present disclosure also relates to a personal protection device 1000 for the personal protection of a user, comprising an inflation device 100 according to one of the embodiments described and an inflatable element 70. In particular, the inflatable element 70 is in fluid connection with the inflation device 100, for example in order to allow passage of the inflation gas from the gas generator 10 towards the inflatable element 70, and is intended to protect at least part of the body of a user.
With particular reference to Figure 5, the fluid connection between the container body 12 and the inflatable element 70 may be for example adjacent to the trigger zone 16 in the inner chamber 13 and at the same time may be separated from the trigger zone 16 by the end wall 15. In other words, a distance without obstacles for an inflation gas between the trigger zone 16 and the zone for fluid connection between the container body 12 and the inflatable element 70 is substantially equal to the circumference of the container body 12. In fact, as mentioned above, both the trigger zone 16 and the end wall 15 are located facing each other on the same side of the same sector of the inner chamber 13.
Alternatively, with particular reference to Figure 6, the fluid connection between the container body 12 and the inflatable element 70 may for example be provided in the trigger zone 16. In other words, alternatively, the trigger zone 16 and the zone for fluid connection between the container body 12 and the inflatable element 70 may be located in the same sector of the container body 12 and without obstacles for an inflation gas to divide them. In this case the end wall separates the trigger zone from the remainder of the inner chamber 13.
Preferably, the inflation device 100 may comprise one or more of the following:

a first mechanical filter 81 for filtering the inflation gas from any residues resulting from the explosion of the pyrotechnic charge, wherein the first mechanical filter 81 has one or more holes and is preferably positioned next to or close to the trigger zone 16;
a second mechanical filter 82 for the gas exiting towards the inflatable element 70, for example with a grid-like configuration and preferably positioned next to or close to the zone for fluid connection between the container body 12 and the inflatable element 70;
a diaphragm element 83, preferably configured to yield following the explosion of the pyrotechnic charge and preferably positioned next to or close to the zone for fluid connection between the container body 12 and the inflatable element 70, for example upstream of the second mechanical filter 82.

Preferably, the clamp portion 51 of the support plate structure 50 is made as a single body with at least a portion of the support plate structure 50 of the container body 12, and also the clamp portion 51 preferably comprises a bushing portion 52 for engagement with a counter-element for connection with the inflatable element 70. In other words, the bushing portion 52 may be associated with a counter-element for connection of the inflatable element 70 so as to keep the inflatable element 70 associated with the inflation device in a stable and firm manner.
For example, the bushing portion 52 may surround or be surrounded by the counter-element for connection of the inflatable element 70. The counter-element for connection of the inflatable element 70 may also be bush-shaped or cylinder-shaped.
Preferably, the inflatable element 70 is fixed by means of the sealed connection device so as to sealingly connect the inflatable element 70 to a sector of the container body 12. "Sealed connection" is understood as meaning a fluid-tight connection configured to prevent an undesirable outflow of the inflation fluid outside of the inflatable element 70 during inflation.
For example, an O-ring 60 may be inserted between the bushing 52 and the counter-element for connection of the inflatable element 70.
The present invention further relates to a wearable accessory/article or garment 2000 comprising a personal protection device 1000 according to one of the embodiments described. The wearable accessory/article or garment 2000, shown for example in Figure 7, may be for example a motorcyclist's garment such as a vest, a jacket or a suit.
It should be noted that the gas generator 10 is arranged in a back zone of the garment 2000, preferably, owing also to the small dimensions, inside the aerodynamic hump of the motorcyclist's suit or motorcyclist's jacket.
With regard to inflation, in order to perform inflation of the inflatable element, in the event of a fall and/or sliding and/or sudden impact involving a user or a vehicle being ridden/driven, the wearable protection device is adapted to cooperate with special activation means (not shown) which are operationally connected to the pressurised gas generator and associated with the components indicated above. Triggering is preferably controlled by the control unit 40 depending on detection of the user state; for example said control unit 40 may implement a system for predicting the fall which allows early identification of the fall event and a reliable prediction of this by accelerometer sensor means fixed to the vehicle/ski (or rider/skier) and a unit for processing the signals produced by the said sensors.
Alternatively, the device according to the present disclosure may also be applied using an activation cable connected to a vehicle ridden/driven by a user, which cable activates inflation of the inflatable element following the movement of the user away from the vehicle, for example following a fall or a sudden impact.
In any case the aforementioned activation means may be integrated in the wearable protection device according to the present invention or located on the outside thereof.
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 a person from sudden impacts.
The subject-matter of the present disclosure has been described hitherto with reference to its embodiments. 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 attached below.

Claims

Gas generator (10) comprising a container body (12) suitable for defining an inner chamber (13) suitable for containing an inflation gas, characterized in that the container body (12) has a shape following a continuous closed line.
Gas generator (10) according to claim 1, wherein the container body (12) has an annular shape or toroidal shape.
Gas generator (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said inner chamber (13) is not continuous along an annular direction and has an inner end wall (15).
Gas generator (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein an inner zone of said container body (12) has a trigger zone (16) for gas inflation, said trigger zone (16) being located in or towards a sector of said container body (12), wherein said trigger zone (16) and said end wall (15) face towards or are adjacent to said sector of said container body (12).
Gas generator (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said container body (12) has a circular cross-section.
Gas generator (10) according to any one of the preceding claims comprising the inflation gas.
Inflation device (100) comprising a gas generator (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, and a trigger assembly (20) for gas inflation.
Inflation device (100) according to the preceding claim, wherein said container body (12) defines a free central inner zone (30), said free central inner zone being disposed on an inner circumference of said container body, and said inflation device (100) comprises a control unit (40) disposed in said central inner zone of said container body (12).
Inflation device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims 7 or 8, comprising a support plate structure (50) for supporting said container body (12) and said control unit (40).
Inflation device (100) according to the preceding claim, wherein said support plate structure (50) comprises a clamp portion (51) suitable for engaging with a sector of said container body (12).
Inflation device (100) according to the preceding claim, wherein said support plate structure (50) comprises a counter-flange (53) positioned opposite said clamp portion (51) for retaining said container body (12).
Inflation device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims 7 to 11, wherein the trigger assembly (20) comprises a pyrotechnic charge and an electrical resistor configured to trigger the pyrotechnic charge, and wherein the trigger assembly comprises a yielding element (28) at least partially covering the pyrotechnic charge and wherein the yielding element (28) is configured to yield upon explosion of the pyrotechnic charge.
Inflation device according to claim 8 and claim 12, wherein the control unit (40) is connected to the electrical resistor of the trigger assembly (20), for triggering the pyrotechnic charge, in such a way as to allow actuation of the resistor so as to trigger the pyrotechnic charge and inflate by means of the inflation gas an inflatable element associated with the inflation device (100).
Inflation device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims 7 to 13, comprising a first mechanical filter (81) for filtering the inflation gas from any residue resulting from the explosion of the pyrotechnic charge, wherein the first mechanical filter is equipped with one or more holes and is preferably located next to or close to the trigger zone (16).
Personal protection device (1000) for the personal protection of a user comprising an inflation device (100) according to any one of claims 7 to 14 and an inflatable element (70) which is in fluid connection with said inflation device (100) and is intended to protect at least a part of a user's body.
Personal protection device (1000) according to the preceding claim in combination with claim 10 or 11, wherein said clamp portion (51) is made as a single body with at least a portion of said support plate structure (50) of the container body (12), and wherein said clamp portion (51) comprises a bushing portion (52) for engagement with a counter-element for connection with said inflatable element (70).
Personal protection device (1000) according to claim 15 or 16, wherein the inflatable element (70) is secured by means of a sealed connection (60) for sealingly connecting said inflatable element (70) to a sector of said container body (12).
Personal protection device (1000) according to any one of the preceding claims 15 to 17 in combination with claim 3, wherein the fluid connection between the container body (12) and the inflatable element (70) is adjacent to the trigger zone (16) in the inner chamber (13) and is separated from the trigger zone (16) by the end wall (15).
Personal protection device (1000) according to any one of the preceding claims 15 to 18, comprising a second mechanical filter (82) for gas exiting towards the inflatable element (70), wherein the second mechanical filter (82) is positioned next to or close to the fluid connection zone between the container body (12) and the inflatable element (70).
Personal protection device (1000) according to any one of the preceding claims 15 to 19, comprising a diaphragm element (83), preferably configured to yield upon explosion of the pyrotechnic charge and preferably positioned next to or close to the fluid connection zone between the container body (12) and the inflatable element (70), for example upstream of the second mechanical filter (82).
Wearable accessory or wearable article or garment (2000) comprising a personal protection device (1000) according to any one of claims 15 to 20.