GB2352162A

GB2352162A - Motorcyclists protective wear

Info

Publication number: GB2352162A
Application number: GB9916884A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Francis Robinson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-07-19
Filing date: 1999-07-19
Publication date: 2001-01-24
Also published as: GB9916884D0

Abstract

A protective suit for a motorcyclist which may be in one piece or comprise separate jacket and trousers has inflatable areas which overly vulnerable parts of the body and are adapted to inflate automatically in the event of an accident by means of a link connecting the suit to the motorcycle which actuates an inflation capsule. Where the suit is in two pieces as shown, bayonet-fitting valves are provided on the jacket and trousers to enable them to be inflated together or to be worn separately. The suit may be worn under a normal suit in which case the inflatable areas are mounted on mesh material. An audio warning sounds if the link is tensioned when the ignition is switched off. The suit may have a quick deflation valve.

Description

2352162 Sheet no; 1 Motorcyclists Protective Wear Jbi-s invention relates

to a Niotorcyclists suit. which, protects the Motorcyclist ni case of accidents.

Traditionally Motorcyclists wear, in the fonn of a one piece oycrall, or a hk-o piece suite comprised of jacket and trousers, are generai IN, made of leather or other matenals. The better cliality suites have protective padding at vilal points on the body and limbs.

-A Jtljough die al'urenientioned "i protoct agaiiLst scuffniv upvji iiiipaQt, die, otTer very little in the way of'protection against broken hones. and more seriow, Injuries.

According to the present invention, there is provided autoniatic inflation of the suit at the most vulnerable parts of the body. The present invention is operated via a flexible connection between the Motorcyclists suit and a part of the Motorcycle and autoniatialy inflates should dic person be thrown from tlic Motorevele.

A specific detail will now he describeA by way of reference to the accompanying dra-.,-,,hi& in which;- Figure I shows the frontal aspect of the suit.

F Igurc 2 shows the rear aspect of the suit.

Mc hatcliing on the drawhigs 'rigures I and 2 indicat' tbc arcas -,kill inflate automatically. should the Motorcycle rider he thrown from the Motorcycle.

Shectno;Z Phe suit rcfcrcd to above can bc, made of 1"ather, or any of the other conventional materials, whilst the hatched area, built in as part of said suit, Is made of a double layer of such material!hat can be inflated, i.e. rubber, latex,or sinillar.

The hatched area can Aso L-o-- constructed scparaicly, and flic construLAlon held together and in place, by Kelng fixed To a rnesh tinderstill, Io he ii-,ed under a MotorCyclists own suit.

Pherc is a i-cplaccablic inflation capsule fittcd to the ififlata-ble area, connectcd to a part of the Motorcycle via a flexible link, which can be unclipped from the Nlotorcycle i-N,hen the rider dismourits. To remind the rider to unclip the flexible link from the Moturcycic before diSMOUnting, there is an audio wariung alanii, which sounds when the Motorcycle igpition is, switched (AT or alternatively, to sound if any strain is put on the flexiblc link.

Should the Nlotorcyclist be thrown from ffic'Niotorcyc1c, the aforcinelitio lied flexible link- pulls a trip i e device, which operates the inflation capsule and instantly infl. ates the mit.

There is a quick release valve in order to allow the quit to be deflated after!he accident.

Should the inflation capsule be operated, it can be removed and replaced With a new one.

The i'loxible link haq e breaking s.1-rain slig-Mly higher thin the force ncee-zqary C) LO OpCratl-C thl ii1flatIOD capsule, but lovv enough to break- relatively easily should the rider be thrown from the Motorcycle, without causing damage to the suit by pulling the inflation capsuh-a,.vay, Sheet no; 3 A specific embodynient of the invention will be described with i- cferciiec to the accompanying drawing.

Claims

CLAINIS Figure 1 Shows the frontal vie", of the Niotorcvcle suit, the

hatched areas indicate the inflatable areas, (8) Figure 2Shows the rear %, ie", of the MoLorcycle sul(, flic hatched arta iiidiQales the intlatable area. (13)

This invention is designed to protect the shoulders, back, elbows, hips, and knees. Al of tho inflatable, areas as shown, are constj-uctcd as onc ul to bc inflated by one inflation capsule smilultaneously.

Figure 3 Shows the rear view of the Motorcycle Jacket, the hatched area indicates the inflatable area. the frontal view is a repeat of 1he top paii of ligure Figure 4 Shows the frontal view of separate trousers.

The inflainble areas of lh, sepmle Jacket and fronsm will he linked by twn tubes, one each side, these will be fixed to the trouscri, with a Bayotict(or similai) ty pe fittmig, in order to couple up w th the 'acketwhich when fitted will automatically open two valves on the jacket. In order that the Jacket may be used without the trousers, the two valves will remain 4Aosed. (P) Sheet no, 4 Claims 1) A one piece A.1otorcyclism suit made with conventional materials (usually leather) with built m inflatable areas made of inflatable materials (rubber or latex or similar) covering the most vulnerable areas of the wearers body and limbs whicli, should the Motorc- t own o yclis be thr fr ni the Motorcvcle.. will autoTnaticaDv inflate.

2) A one piece Motorcyclists suit as claimed in claim I - except made of Mesh material to hold the inflatable materials in position, intended to be used under a standard Motorcycle suit.

3) A two piece Motorcyclists suit as claimed in claim one, comprised ofjacket and trousers, with two Bayonet type two part valve wnn"tors linking the inflatablo areas of the jacket and trousers, one part of each valve fitted to the jacket, the valves normally closed, the second part fitted to the trousers which, when connoctcd to the jacket automatically opcns the valves, thcreby allowing the trousers to inWte.

4) A Nlotorcyclis-ts suit as claimcd in claim 1.2 &3 with built in interchangeable "Explosive" capsule connected to the inflataMe areas. (The same principle as Motor car air bags).

5) A motorcyclists suit as claimed in claims 1. 2. 3 and 4 with a flexible link connected to the operating trigger of the "Explosive" capsule on one end and the other end connected to the Motorcycle via two part device, designed to operate the capsule and inflate the suit in case of accident. Said flexible link- to have a breaking strain slightly higher than that necessary to operate the;apsule valve and to br;:ak away after the capsule has been operated.

6) The flexible link- two part device as claimed in claim 5. to have a base part with audio,'visual warning alarm fixed to the Motorcycle and connected to the Motorcycle electrical system and the second part which clips onto the base part, fixed to the flexible link, the alarin designed to operate when the Motorcycle ignition is switched off, or under the slightest tension should the I'vlotorcyclist dismount.

7) A Motorcyclist suit as claimed in above claims with an integral quick release valve to quickly deflate the suit after inflation.

9) AlMotorcycle suit substantially as herein dm-ribed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.