JP7435494B2 - worn airbag device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a wearable airbag device that is configured to protect the lower back of a wearer.

Conventionally, wearable airbag devices that can protect the lower back of the wearer (for example, an elderly person) in the event of a fall have been designed to be worn so as to wrap around the pelvis, and to protrude downward when activated. There is a structure that protects the lower back by covering the lower back with an inflated airbag (for example, see Patent Document 1).

International Publication No. 2019/207474

In conventional wearable airbag devices, the airbag goes from being wrapped around the pelvis, which is narrower (smaller in diameter) than the lower back (the area around the trochanter of the femur), to being wrapped around the pelvis, which extends beyond the pelvic area. Since the airbag is configured to inflate while protruding downward around the waist area (which is said to have a large diameter), the inflating airbag may lift its lower end away from the waist area, causing the person to fall. At times, there is a risk that the lower back region cannot be covered quickly and accurately.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a wearable airbag device that can stably protect the lower back of a wearer.

A wearable airbag device according to the present invention is a wearable airbag device configured to be able to protect the lower back of a wearer, and includes:
It is configured to be worn by being wrapped around the wearer around the pelvis,
an airbag that can be inflated by allowing inflation gas to flow into the airbag so as to cover the outside of a region to be protected consisting of the right and left femoral trochanteric regions of the wearer;
It is composed of a flexible sheet body, holds the airbag in a fully inflated state, and has a wrapping part on the upper edge side that covers the outer circumference of the airbag and can be wrapped around the wearer. The outer cover part that is
It is configured to include
The airbag is configured to include two protection main bodies disposed so as to respectively cover the outsides of left and right protection target parts when inflation is completed, and a communication passage part that communicates the upper ends of the protection main bodies with each other. ,
The outer cover section is characterized in that it is configured to include lifting suppressing means that can suppress lifting of the protection main body section from the wearer when inflation is completed.

In the wearable airbag device of the present invention, when the airbag is fully inflated, the protection main body part that covers the outside of the protected area consisting of the trochanteric part of the femur is arranged so as to extend downward from the communication passage part. Even if the protective main body part is disposed to cover the outer circumference of the airbag, the protection body part is prevented from lifting up from the waist area by the lifting suppressing means provided in the outer cover part disposed to cover the outer circumferential side of the airbag. (femoral trochanteric region). Therefore, the protection main body portion can quickly and accurately cover the outside of the site to be protected (femoral trochanteric portion). Further, in the wearable airbag device of the present invention, since the airbag has a configuration in which the outer circumferential side is covered by the outer cover portion, the wearable airbag device has a good design when worn. Furthermore, in the wearable airbag device of the present invention, since the lifting suppressing means is disposed not in the airbag but in the outer cover portion, the airbag can be used when the airbag is fully inflated without affecting the protective performance of the airbag. You can control the placement position of.

Therefore, the wearable airbag device of the present invention can stably protect the lower back of the wearer.

Specifically, the outer cover part is configured to include an inner panel part disposed between the airbag and the wearer when worn, and an outer panel part disposed outside the airbag,
A belt-shaped attachment belt portion for wrapping around the pelvis and wearing it is disposed on the inner panel side of the wrapping portion,
It is preferable that the mounting belt portion constitutes lifting suppressing means.

If the wearable airbag device is configured in this way, when worn, the outer cover part will be wrapped around the pelvis by the wearing belt part placed on the inner panel part side, which is the wearer's side, and the air in the outer cover part will be wrapped around the pelvis. The outer panel part that covers the outside of the bag is an area on the upper end side of the protective main body (including the communication passage part) that expands without being affected by the attachment belt part that is wrapped close to the wearer. This allows for outward protrusion. Therefore, in the wearable airbag device having the above configuration, the attachment belt is wrapped around the pelvis, which is narrower than the lower back (around the trochanter of the femur, which is the area to be protected). However, the protective body can be inflated downward while causing the upper end area (including the communication passage) to slightly protrude outward from the periphery of the pelvis. It is possible to prevent the side from lifting up so as to separate it from the area to be protected. As a result, the protection main body portion can accurately cover the outside of the site to be protected (femoral trochanteric portion).

Furthermore, in the wearable airbag device configured as described above, the wearing belt part can be freely moved in the circumferential direction of the wearer with respect to the inner panel part by the plurality of belt loops attached to the wearer side surface of the inner panel part. If the configuration is such that the inner panel portion of the outer cover portion is held as possible and arranged in the outer cover portion, the inner panel portion of the outer cover portion may shift in the circumferential direction around the pelvis with respect to the attachment belt portion wrapped around the pelvis. In addition, it is possible to move the belt loop part outwardly from the mounting belt part by bending the belt loop part, so that when the airbag is inflated, the area on the upper end side of the protection body part and the communication passage part It is possible to once project outward more smoothly, which is preferable.

Further, as a wearable airbag device, the outer cover portion is configured to include an inner panel portion disposed between the airbag and the wearer when worn, and an outer panel portion disposed outside the airbag.
At least a part of the outer panel section is configured as a low elongation material arrangement region made of a material with lower elongation than the inner panel section, so that the expanding protective inflatable section can be pushed downward while restricting its protrusion in the lifting direction. The structure is as follows.
The low elongation material arrangement region may constitute lifting suppressing means.

In a wearable airbag device having such a configuration, when the airbag is inflated, at least a part of the outer panel part of the outer cover part (low elongation material arrangement area) is difficult to expand, and conversely, the inner panel part Therefore, the protective body of the airbag is inflated toward the inner panel, that is, toward the wearer, and a low-stretch material is arranged on at least a portion of the outer panel. The area allows the expansion to push downward rather than upward. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the expanded protection body from lifting up so as to separate the lower end from the protection target area, and the protection body accurately covers the outside of the protection target area (femoral trochanter). be able to.

Furthermore, a weight part may be disposed on the lower end side of the outer cover part, and this weight part may be used as lifting suppressing means. By disposing the weight part on the lower end side of the outer cover part, the protection main body part can be It is possible to prevent the lower end side from floating away from the protected area due to being pulled downward by the weight part, and the protection main body allows the outer side of the protected area (femoral trochanteric area) to be can be covered accurately.

Furthermore, a configuration may be adopted in which a wrapping band that is wrapped around the wearer's thigh is disposed on the lower end side of the outer cover part, and this wrapping band is used as lifting suppression means. Since the lower end side of the outer cover part can be prevented from separating from the thigh by the wrapping band wrapped around the thigh, the expanding protection main body part floats up so as to separate the lower end side from the area to be protected. This can be suppressed, and the outside of the region to be protected (femoral trochanteric region) can be accurately covered by the protection main body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a wearable airbag device according to an embodiment of the present invention being worn by a wearer. FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the wearable airbag device of the embodiment in a flattened state. 3 is an end view of the III-III section in FIG. 2. FIG. FIG. 3 is an end view of the section IV-IV in FIG. 2; FIG. 2 is a plan view of the airbag used in the wearable airbag device of the embodiment in a flattened state. In the wearable airbag device of the embodiment, it is a partially enlarged plan view showing a connecting portion connecting an end portion of the airbag and an outer cover portion. In the wearable airbag device of the embodiment, it is a schematic diagram of a state in which the airbag is completely inflated while being worn by a wearer. In the wearable airbag device of the embodiment, it is a schematic partial cross-sectional view along the front-rear direction (schematic cross-sectional view on the left side) in a state where the airbag has completed inflation. FIG. 2 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view of the wearable airbag device of the embodiment in a fitted state, showing a state in which the airbag has completed inflation. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a region near a mounting belt portion at an initial stage of inflation of the airbag in the wearable airbag device of the embodiment. FIG. 7 is a plan view of a wearable airbag device according to another embodiment of the present invention in a flattened state; 12 is an end view of the XII-XII section in FIG. 11. FIG. FIG. 12 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view of the wearable airbag device of FIG. 11 in a fitted state, showing a state in which the airbag has completed inflation. It is a top view which shows the wearable airbag apparatus which is still other embodiment of this invention. FIG. 15 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view of the wearable airbag device of FIG. 14 in a fitted state, showing a state in which the airbag has completed inflation. It is a top view which shows the wearable airbag apparatus which is still other embodiment of this invention. FIG. 17 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view of the wearable airbag device of FIG. 16 in a fitted state, showing a state in which the airbag has completed inflation.

Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described based on the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the wearable airbag device S1 of the embodiment is configured to be worn by being wrapped around the waist MW of the wearer M (specifically, around the pelvis MP). In the embodiment, the up-down, front-back, and left-right directions correspond to the up-down, front-back, and left-right directions of the wearer M when the wearer M wears the device, unless otherwise specified.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the wearable airbag device S1 includes an airbag 10, a gas generator 5 that supplies inflation gas to the airbag 10, and a sensor unit 2 that detects a fall of the wearer M. The airbag 10 is configured to include an operation control device 1 that operates the gas generator 5 and an outer cover portion 20 that covers the outer circumferential side of the airbag 10. In the wearable airbag device S1 of the embodiment, the airbag 10 is disposed within the outer cover portion 20 in a flattened state, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 4.

The operation control device 1 includes a sensor unit 2 having an angular velocity detection sensor capable of detecting angular velocity around three axes (up, down, front, back, left and right) and an acceleration sensor capable of detecting acceleration in the three axis directions. The gas generator 5 is configured to operate when a falling motion of the wearer M that is different from the normal motion is detected by a signal from the gas generator 5 . Specifically, if the wearer M has started a falling motion that is different from the normal motion, the actuation control device 1 is equipped with a determining means that can determine from various threshold values, so that the determination of the determining means is performed. Based on this, a fall of the wearer M is detected, and the gas generator 5 is activated. The operation control device 1 has a built-in power source such as a battery (not shown) for operating the sensor section 2 and outputting signals for operating the gas generator 5.

The airbag 10 is formed from a flexible sheet body, and in the case of the embodiment, is formed from a woven fabric made of polyester thread, polyamide thread, or the like. The airbag 10 is held by an outer cover portion 20, and is configured to be worn by the wearer M by being wrapped around the wearer M at a wrapping portion 24 of the outer cover portion 20, which will be described later. As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the airbag 10 has substantially the same external shape, and includes an inner wall portion 10a placed on the wearer M side (inside) when worn, and an outer wall portion 10b placed on the outside. By sewing (bonding) the peripheral edges of the inner wall portion 10a and the outer wall portion 10b to each other, the bag-like shape is formed so that the fully inflated shape is substantially plate-like. In the case of the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the airbag 10 includes two protection main body parts 13 (13L, 13R) that cover the left and right sides of the waist region MW of the wearer M when inflation is completed; and a communication passage portion 12 that communicates with the upper ends 13d of the two. The airbag 10 has a symmetrical shape when it is flattened.

The communication passage section 12 has a fully expanded shape that is a rod shape that extends substantially in the left-right direction, and is arranged within the area of the wrapping portion 24 of the outer cover section 20 . In the case of the embodiment, this communication passage portion 12 is arranged at a position on the rear side of the pelvis MP of the wearer M when the wearer M wears the wearer M. The communication passage section 12 has a vertical width dimension slightly smaller than a vertical width dimension of the central region 25 of the winding region 24 in the outer cover section 20 when unfolded flat, so that the air When the bag 10 is fully inflated, it will be placed inside the center section 25 so that the center section 25 is completely filled. In other words, when the communication passage section 12 is worn, the upper edge portion 12b, which is inflated by inflating gas flowing therein, is connected to the outer side of the later-described mounting belt portion 35 (belt main body 36) provided at the wrapping portion 24. (See FIG. 4).

Further, in the embodiment, a gas generator 5 is connected to the communication passage portion 12 so as to be able to supply inflation gas to the inside of the airbag 10 (see FIG. 2). Although detailed illustrations are omitted, the gas generator 5 is disposed at approximately the center in the longitudinal direction of the communication passage section 12 and approximately at the center in the width direction, and supplies compressed gas therein. It is configured to be sealed, and when activated, the sealed state is released and cold gas can be ejected into the airbag 10. This gas generator 5 is electrically connected to the above-mentioned operation control device 1, and is configured to be activated by inputting an operation signal from the operation control device 1 that detects the fall of the wearer M.

The protection main body portions 13 (13L, 13R) are formed to extend downward from the communication passage portion 12 while extending outwardly to the left and right. In the case of the embodiment, the protection main body portion 13 (13L, 13R) is configured such that the upper edge 13a is located below the upper edge 12a of the communication passage portion 12 when the airbag 10 is flattened. , an upper edge 12a of the communication passage part 12 is provided with a step with respect to the communication passage part 12, and is arranged so that the outer end side (the front end side in the installed state) remote from the communication passage part 12 is located on the upper side. (See FIG. 5). The slope of the upper edge 13a side of the protection main body portion 13 is configured to substantially follow the slope of end portions 26 (26L, 26R) of the winding portion 24 of the outer cover portion 20, which will be described later. Each protection main body part 13 has an external shape in a flat expanded state so that it can widely cover the periphery of the femoral trochanteric part TP, which is the part to be protected of the wearer M, including the outside, when the airbag 10 is fully inflated. is formed into a substantially trapezoidal shape that becomes narrower toward the lower end 13b. Specifically, each protection main body part 13 is formed into a substantially trapezoidal shape that is substantially bilaterally symmetrical with the upper edge 13a that is inclined with respect to the communication passage part 12 as the base, and when the airbag 10 is fully inflated, it is attached. It is configured to broadly cover an area from the side of the pelvis MP of the person M to below the trochanteric part TP of the femur (subtrochanteric). Further, each protection main body portion 13 is configured such that the upper edge side portion 13c is disposed within the region of the end side portion 26 (26L, 26R) in the wrapping portion 24. Specifically, the upper edge side portion 13c of each protection main body portion 13 is arranged at a position below the vertical center of the end side portion 26 in the wrapping portion 24 in a flat expanded state. (See FIG. 2), and more specifically, each protective body portion 13 has its upper edge 13a slightly lower than the attachment belt portion 35 (belt body 36) when the airbag 10 is fully inflated in the attached state. It is configured to be located on the side (see FIG. 9). That is, in the airbag 10 of the embodiment, each protection main body part 13 is configured such that, when worn, the region inflated by inflation gas flowing therein is located at a position that does not overlap with the mounting belt part 35. It is configured.

In the airbag 10 of the embodiment, the connecting member formed on the outer cover portion 20 side is connected to both ends of the upper edge side in the flat expanded state (the front upper edge side of each protection main body portion 13L, 13R when installed). Connection openings 15, 15 are formed for this purpose (see FIG. 5). The connecting opening 15 is formed into a substantially circular opening, and has a pair of planar shapes as connecting members disposed on the inner surfaces 21a and 22a of the inner panel section 21 and outer panel section 22 in the outer cover section 20. The fasteners 30 are configured to be able to be connected to each other in the opening area (see FIG. 6). That is, both ends of the upper edge 10c of the airbag 10 (the front upper edge sides of the protective main bodies 13L and 13R when installed) are connected to the outer cover by using the planar fastener 30 as a connecting member and the connecting opening 15. It is configured to be connected to both ends of the winding portion 24 in the portion 20 (the end portion 26a side of each end portion 26L, 26R). When the airbag 10 is in the fully inflated state, the airbag 10 inflates so as to fill the central portion 25 of the wrapping portion 24 of the outer cover portion 20 with the communication passage portion 12 disposed at the center, and the upper edge 10c (the front upper edge side of each protection main body part 13L, 13R at the time of attachment) is connected to the end part 26a of the winding part 24 of the outer cover part 20 (specifically, the end parts 26L, 26R of the winding part 24). It is configured to be held by the outer cover portion 20 by being connected to the side.

The outer cover part 20 that covers the outer circumferential side of the airbag 10 is formed from a flexible woven fabric that has a better feel than the base fabric that makes up the airbag 10, and in the case of the embodiment, is made of a polyester fabric. Made from woven fabric. The outer cover part 20 has substantially the same external shape, and has an inner panel part 21 disposed on the inside (on the wearer M side) when worn, and an outer panel part 22 disposed on the outside when worn. The outer peripheral edges of the portion 21 and the outer panel portion 22 are joined (sewn) together to form a bag shape. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the outer cover portion 20 includes a substantially band-shaped wrapping portion 24 disposed on the upper edge side and wrapped around the upper region of the pelvis MP of the wearer M, and a wrapping portion 24 extending downward from the wrapping portion 24. The main cover portions 28 (28L, 28R) are formed to extend to cover the outer peripheral sides of the respective protection main body portions 13 (13L, 13R).

The winding portion 24 includes a center portion 25 and end portions 26 (26L, 26R) extending from both ends of the center portion 25. The central portion 25 is a portion in which the communication passage portion 12 of the airbag 10 is housed, and is configured as a band-like shape that extends substantially in the left-right direction when unfolded flat. The width of the central portion 25 when unfolded flat is set to be slightly larger than the width of the communication passage 12 so that the communication passage 12 can be accommodated therein. The end portions 26 (26L, 26R) are configured to have a narrower width than the center portion 25, and are flattened so that the end portion 26a on the side remote from the center portion 25 is located on the upper side. In this state, it is formed to be inclined with respect to the central portion 25. The end portions 26L, 26R are inclined with respect to the center portion 25 so as to substantially follow the upper edge 13a of each protection main body portion 13L, 13R. Each of the end portions 26L, 26R is configured such that the end portion 26a on the side remote from the center portion 25 projects slightly outward from the main cover portion 28 (28L, 28R), and It is configured to have a narrower width than the central portion 25 (in the case of the embodiment, the width dimension is approximately 1/2). In the winding portion 24, inside the end portion 26a of the end portions 26L and 26R, as described above, a planar fastener 30 as a connecting member for connecting both ends of the upper edge 10c of the airbag 10 is provided. It is arranged. Specifically, the planar fastener 30 is composed of a pair of hook-shaped side parts 30a and a loop side part 30b, which are arranged on the inner surfaces 21a and 22a of the inner panel part 21 and the outer panel part 22, respectively. In the case of the embodiment, the outer shape is a rectangular shape that is slightly larger than the connecting opening 15 formed in the airbag 10 (see FIG. 6). As shown in FIG. 6, this planar fastener 30 connects the hook-shaped side portion 30a and the loop side portion 30b to each other in the opening area of the connection opening 15, thereby attaching the upper edge 10c of the airbag 10. Both ends are connected to the end 26a side of the wrapping portion 24 (specifically, the end portions 26L and 26R of the wrapping portion 24) in the outer cover portion 20.

A band-shaped mounting belt portion 35 is provided at the wrapping portion 24 to be wrapped around the pelvis MP of the wearer M to make the wearer M wear the belt. The mounting belt section 35 is arranged on the inner panel section 21 side of the wrapping portion 24 at a position between the inner panel section 21 and the wearer M when worn (see FIG. 9), and in the case of the embodiment. , disposed approximately along the upper edge 24a of the winding portion 24 at a position approximately in the vertical center of the end portions 26L, 26R (that is, in the center portion 25, above the vertical center). has been done. In the embodiment, the wearing belt portion 35 is attached to the inner panel portion 21 by a plurality of belt loop portions 32 attached to the surface of the inner panel portion 21 facing the wearer M (the outer surface 21b of the inner panel portion 21). It is held and attached so that it can be moved relative to the inner panel part 21 (freely movable in the circumferential direction of the wearer M with respect to the inner panel part 21). Each belt loop portion 32 is shaped like a band and is arranged substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of a belt main body 36 (described later) in the mounting belt portion 35, and has both upper and lower ends connected to the inner panel portion 21 side, and is connected to the inner panel portion 21 side. 21, the belt body 36 is configured to be able to be inserted therethrough. In the case of the embodiment, 14 belt loop portions 32 are provided. The mounting belt section 35 includes a belt main body 36 made of a flexible band-like body, and a buckle composed of a male side member 38a and a female side member 38b arranged on the ends 36a and 36b of the belt main body 36. A section 38 is provided. A length adjustment part 38c that can adjust the length of the belt main body 36 is formed on the male side member 38a side of the buckle part 38 (see FIGS. 1 and 2). In the wearable airbag device S1 of the embodiment, the mounting belt portion 35 constitutes a lifting suppressing means that can suppress lifting of the protection main body portion 13 (13L, 13R) from the wearer M when inflation is completed. .

The main cover portions 28 (28L, 28R) are formed to extend downward from the respective end portions 26L, 26R of the wrapping portion 24, and each protects the protection body portion 13 (13L, 13R) smoothly inside. In order to be able to inflate, the outer shape of the protective main body part 13 when unfolded flat is larger than the protective main body part 13, and is configured to have a substantially trapezoidal shape that is substantially similar to the protective main body part 13.

The wearable airbag device S1 of the embodiment attaches the wrapping portion 24 of the outer cover portion 20 by connecting the end portions 36a and 36b of the belt body 36 using the buckle portion 38 of the attachment belt portion 35. It is worn on the wearer M by being wrapped around the waist MW (pelvis MP) of the wearer M (see FIG. 1). In the wearable airbag device S1 of the embodiment, when the sensor unit 2 detects a fall of the wearer M while the wearer M is wearing it, the operation control device 1 outputs an activation signal to the gas generator 5. As a result, the inflation gas flows into the airbag 10, and the airbag 10 completes inflation as shown in FIGS. 7 to 9.

In the wearable airbag device S1 of the embodiment, in the airbag 10, when the inflation is completed, the protection main body part 13 that covers the outside of the protection target region consisting of the femoral trochanteric part TP extends downward from the communication passage part 12. Even in such a configuration, the protection main body portion 13 can be protected by the mounting belt portion 35 as lifting suppressing means disposed on the outer cover portion 20 disposed so as to cover the outer circumferential side of the airbag 10. It will be placed in a state where lifting from the waist MW is suppressed, that is, in a state close to the site to be protected (femoral trochanteric part TP). Therefore, the protection main body portion 13 can quickly and accurately cover the outside of the site to be protected (femoral trochanteric portion TP). Furthermore, in the wearable airbag device S1 of the embodiment, since the airbag 10 has a configuration in which the outer peripheral side is covered by the outer cover portion 20, the design when worn is also good. Furthermore, in the wearable airbag device S1 of the embodiment, since the lifting suppressing means is disposed not in the airbag 10 but in the outer cover portion 20, the inflation is completed without affecting the protection performance of the airbag 10. The arrangement position of the airbag 10 can be controlled at the time.

Therefore, in the wearable airbag device S1 of the embodiment, the lower back MW of the wearer M can be stably protected.

Specifically, in the wearable airbag device S1 of the embodiment, a belt-shaped attachment belt portion 35 for wrapping around and wearing the pelvis MP is provided on the inner panel portion 21 side at the wrapping portion 24 of the outer cover portion 20. This mounting belt portion 35 constitutes lifting suppressing means. In the wearable airbag device S1 of the embodiment, when worn, the outer cover part 20 is wound around the pelvis MP by the wearing belt part 35 disposed on the inner panel part 21 side, which is the wearer M side, and the outer cover part At 20, the outer panel part 22 covering the outside of the airbag 10 is not affected by the attachment belt part 35, and the outer panel part 22 covers the outside of the area on the upper end 13d side (including the communication passage part 12) of the inflating protection main body part 13. This will allow protrusion in the opposite direction. Therefore, in the wearable airbag device S1 of the embodiment, the wearing belt part 35 is wrapped around the pelvis MP, which is narrower than the lower back MW (around the femoral trochanteric part TP, which is the part to be protected). Even in the configuration in which the protective main body portion 13 is worn, it is possible to inflate the protective main body portion 13 downward while causing the region on the upper end 13d side (including the communication passage portion 12) to slightly protrude outward from the periphery of the pelvis MP. As a result, as shown in FIG. 9, it is possible to prevent the protection main body portion 13 from floating up in such a way that the lower end 13b side is separated from the area to be protected. As a result, the protection main body portion 13 can accurately cover the outside of the site to be protected (femoral trochanteric portion TP).

Further, in the wearable airbag device S1 of the embodiment, the mounting belt section 35 (belt main body 36) is provided with a plurality of belt loop sections 32 attached to the surface (outer surface 21b) of the inner panel section 21 on the wearer M side. Since it is configured to be disposed on the outer cover part 20 so as to be freely movable in the circumferential direction of the wearer M with respect to the inner panel part 21, the wearing belt part 35 (belt body 36), the inner panel portion 21 of the outer cover portion 20 can shift and move in the circumferential direction around the pelvis MP, and due to the bending of the belt loop portion 32, the inner panel portion 21 of the outer cover portion 20 can shift relative to the wearing belt portion 35 (belt main body 36). It is also possible to move the object to the outside. To explain in detail, at the initial stage of inflation of the airbag 10, as shown in FIG. (so as to create a gap between the two). Therefore, when the airbag 10 is inflated, the region on the upper end 13d side of the protection main body portion 13 and the communication passage portion 12 can be once projected outward more smoothly. Note that if such points are not taken into account, the mounting belt portion may be configured to be directly connected (coupled) to the inner panel portion without using the belt loop portion. Further, the mounting belt portion does not have to be disposed over the entire length of the wrapping portion, but may be arranged only at both ends of the wrapping portion so as to extend from the end portions.

Furthermore, the configuration shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 may be used as the wearable airbag device S2. The wearable airbag device S2 includes an airbag 40, a gas generator 5 that supplies inflation gas to the airbag 40, and a sensor unit 2 that detects a fall of the wearer M. It is configured to include a control device 1 and an outer cover portion 45 that covers the outer peripheral side of the airbag 40. Also in this wearable airbag device S2, the airbag 40 is disposed within the outer cover portion 45 in a flattened state, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. The operation control device 1 and the gas generator 5 are the same as the operation control device 1 and the gas generator 5 in the above-described wearable airbag device S1, so a detailed explanation will be omitted.

The airbag 40 is held by an outer cover portion 45, and is configured to be worn by the wearer M by being wrapped around the wearer M at a wrapping portion 49 (described later) in the outer cover portion 45 (see FIG. 13). . Like the airbag 10 described above, this airbag 40 also has substantially the same external shape, with an inner wall portion 40a placed on the wearer M side (inside) when worn, and an outer wall portion 40b placed on the outside. By sewing (joining) the peripheral edges of the inner wall part 10a and the outer wall part 10b to each other, it becomes a bag-like shape with a substantially plate-like shape when the inflation is completed. It includes two protection main body parts 43 (43L, 43R) that cover the left and right sides of the waist part MW of the wearer M, and a communication passage part 42 that communicates with the upper ends 43a of the protection main body parts 43. The protection main body part 43 is not inclined with respect to the communication passage part 42 and is configured such that its upper edge is continuous from the upper edge of the communication passage part 42 . Note that this airbag 40 has the same configuration as the airbag 10 in the wearable airbag device S1 described above, except that the outer shape is slightly different.

The outer cover part 45 is formed from a flexible woven fabric with a better feel than the base fabric constituting the airbag 40, similar to the outer cover part 20 in the wearable airbag device S1 described above. They have substantially the same shape and have an inner panel part 46 arranged on the inner side (on the wearer M side) when worn, and an outer panel part 47 arranged on the outer side when worn, and the inner panel part 46 and the outer panel part By joining (sewing) the outer peripheral edges with 47, it is shaped like a bag. As shown in FIG. 11, the outer cover portion 45 includes a substantially band-shaped wrapping portion 49 disposed on the upper edge side and wrapped around the upper region of the pelvis MP of the wearer M, and a wrapping portion 49 extending downward from the wrapping portion 49. The main cover portions 52 (52L, 52R) are formed as shown in FIG. A pair of planar fasteners 50 as attachment means are disposed on the end portions 49a, 49b side of the winding portion 49. The planar fastener 50 has a hook-shaped side portion 50a and a loop side portion 50b, which are disposed on the end portions 49a and 49b of the wrapping portion 49, respectively. It is configured so that it can be connected. The main cover portions 52L, 52R are formed to extend downward from the wrapping portion 49, and are each expanded flat so that the protective body portion 43 (43L, 43R) can be smoothly expanded inside. The outer shape of the state is made larger than the protection main body part 43 and is configured to have a substantially similar shape to the protection main body part 43.

In the outer cover portion 45 of the embodiment, a low elongation material placement region 55 made of a material with a lower elongation than other regions in the inner panel portion 46 and the outer panel portion 47 is formed in a part of the outer panel portion 47. ing. In the case of the embodiment, the low elongation material placement region 55 is made of a material on the surface of the outer panel portion 47 that has a lower elongation than the woven fabric forming the outer panel portion 47 and the inner panel portion 46 and has a certain degree of flexibility. It is constructed by forming a synthetic resin layer (for example, a urethane coat layer, a nylon coat layer, etc.). This low elongation material arrangement region 55 is configured to be able to push the expanding protective inflatable portion 43 downward while restricting its protrusion in the lifting direction. For example, the low elongation material placement area 55 may have a different color tone from other parts of the outer panel portion 47, or may have a decorative portion such as marks or letters on the surface to give it a design. In the case of the embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the low elongation material placement region 55 is a region on the upper end 47a side of the outer panel portion 47, specifically, from the wrapping portion 49 to the upper end 52a side of the main cover portion 52. It is formed in the area between. In the wearable airbag device S2, the low elongation material arrangement region provided on the outer panel portion constitutes a lifting suppressing means that can suppress lifting of the protection main body portion 43 from the wearer M when inflation is completed.

In the wearable airbag device S2 having such a configuration, when the airbag 40 is inflated, at least a part of the area (low elongation material arrangement area 55) of the outer panel part 47 of the outer cover part 45 is difficult to expand, and conversely, the inner side Since the panel portion 46 becomes relatively stretchable, the protective body portion 43 of the airbag 40 is inflated toward the inner panel portion 46 side, that is, toward the wearer M, and the outer panel portion 47 is expanded. The low elongation material placement area 55 formed in at least a portion of the material can cause the expansion to be pushed downward rather than in the upward direction. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the lower end 43b of the expanded protection main body part 43 from floating away from the protection target site (femoral trochanteric part TP), and the protection main body part 43 can prevent The outside of the trochanteric portion TP) can be accurately covered (see FIG. 13). Specifically, in the wearable airbag device S2 of the embodiment, the low elongation material arrangement region 55 is formed in the region from the wrapping portion 49 to the upper end side of the main cover portion 52; It is arranged in a region covering the outer side of the upper end 43a of the portion 43. Therefore, when the airbag 40 is inflated, it is possible to suppress the outward protrusion of the area on the upper end 43a side of the protection body part 43 and to inflate the protection body part 43 so as to smoothly push it downward. can. As a result, it is possible to suppress the protection main body portion 43 from lifting up so as to separate the lower end 43b side from the protection target region (see FIG. 13), and the protection main body portion 43 prevents the lower end 43b from floating away from the protection target region (femoral trochanteric region TP). ) can be accurately covered. In addition, the arrangement position of the low elongation material arrangement region is not limited to the embodiment, and can be set at any position in the outer panel portion as long as it covers the outside of the protective main body portion. Further, the low elongation material arrangement region may be constructed by impregnating the outer panel portion with urethane resin or nylon resin, and furthermore, the outer panel portion itself may be made of a material with lower elongation than the inner panel portion (for example, A different material such as cotton or linen, a base material with a different weave compared to the base material that makes up the inner panel (for example, a high-density plain weave material), or two layers of the base material that makes up the outer panel. etc.), and the entire outer panel portion may be a low elongation material placement region.

Further, as the outer cover portion 45A, a structure shown in FIGS. 14 and 15 may be used. In the outer cover part 45A, a low elongation material arrangement area is not provided in the outer panel part, and a weight part 57 is arranged on the lower end 52b side of the main cover part 52A, which is the lower end side. In the case of the embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the weight portion 57 is illustrated as a plate-shaped plate disposed over substantially the entire width direction on the outer panel portion 47A side near the lower end 52b of the main cover portion 52A. A predetermined portion that is not connected to the outer panel portion 47A is connected to the outer panel portion 47A side. In this outer cover part 45A, the weight part 57 constitutes a lifting suppressing means that can suppress lifting of the protection main body part 43 from the wearer M when the inflation is completed.

Even when the outer cover section 45A having such a configuration is used, by disposing the weight section 57 on the lower end side of the outer cover section 45A (lower end 52b side of the main cover section 52A), the protection main body section 43 can be attached to the weight section. 57, and the lower end 43b side is prevented from floating away from the protection target site (femoral trochanteric part TP). (See FIG. 15). In the embodiment, the weight portion 57 is provided on the outer panel portion 47A side, but may be provided on the inner panel portion side.

Furthermore, as the outer cover portion 45B, those having the configurations shown in FIGS. 16 and 17 may be used. The outer cover part 45B has a configuration in which a wrapping band 59 to be wrapped around the thigh MT of the wearer M is disposed on the lower end 52b side of the main cover part 52B, which is the lower end side. The wrapping band 59 is wound around the thigh MT when the wearer wears it so that the wrapping portion is wrapped around the pelvis. It is configured such that the wrapped state can be maintained simply by wrapping it around the portion MT. Specifically, the wrapping band 59 is disposed on the lower end 52b side of the main cover portion 52B so as to extend from the outer edge side in the left-right direction when the outer cover portion 45B is flattened, and Although not shown, the length is set to be longer than the circumference of the thigh MT around which it is wrapped. In this outer cover part 45B, the wrapping band 59 constitutes a lifting suppressing means that can suppress lifting of the protection main body part 43 from the wearer M when the inflation is completed.

Even when the outer cover part 45B having such a configuration is used, the lower end 45a side of the outer cover part 45B (the lower end 52b side of the main cover part 52A) is connected to the thigh by the wrapping band 59 wrapped around the thigh MT. Since it is possible to prevent the expanding protection main body part 43 from lifting up so as to separate the lower end 43b side from the protection target part (femoral trochanteric part TP), the protection main body part 43, the outside of the site to be protected (femoral trochanteric region TP) can be accurately covered (see FIG. 17). In the embodiment, the wrapping band 59 has a built-in leaf spring and is configured to be able to maintain the wrapping state simply by wrapping it around the thigh. However, as the wrapping band 59, It is also possible to use a structure in which a plate spring is not built in, and connecting means such as a surface fastener or a snap are separately provided on both ends.

In the wearable airbag devices S1 and S2 of the embodiment, the two protection main body parts 13 and 43 of the airbags 10 and 40 stabilize the vicinity of the base of the femur TB (femoral trochanteric part TP) of the wearer M. Since this can be protected, it is possible to prevent the wearer M from fracturing the femur TB due to a fall, which would require prolonged treatment, and it can be suitably used for elderly people.

In the wearable airbag devices S1 and S2 of the embodiment, the airbags 10 and 40 are housed in the outer cover parts 20, 45, 45A, and 45B in a flat expanded state, but the mounting belt part is prevented from lifting up. As long as the airbag in the fully inflated state can be held by the outer cover part and the outer periphery of the inflated airbag can be covered by the outer cover part, for example, the outer cover part and the air bag can be It may be configured such that the bag is folded together and worn so as to be wrapped around the pelvis.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10... Airbag, 12... Communication passage part, 13 (13L, 13R)... Protection body part, 13b... Lower end, 13c... Upper edge side part, 13d... Upper end, 20... Outer cover part, 21... Inner panel part, 21b... Outside Surface, 22... Outer panel part, 24... Wrapping part, 28 (28L, 28R)... Main cover part, 32... Belt loop part, 35... Mounting belt part (lifting suppressing means), 36... Belt main body, 38... Buckle Part, 40... Air bag, 42... Communication passage part, 43 (43L, 43R)... Protection body part, 43a... Upper end, 43b... Lower end, 45, 45A, 45B... Outer cover part, 46... Inner panel part, 47... Outer side Panel part, 49... Wound part, 52 (52L, 52R), 52A, 52B... Main cover part, 52a... Lower end, 55... Low elongation material arrangement area (lifting suppressing means), 57... Weight part (lifting suppressing means) , 59... Wrap band (lifting suppressing means), M... Wearer, MW... Lower back, MP... Pelvis, TB... Femur, TP... Femoral trochanter (part to be protected), S1, S2... Worn airbag Device.

Claims (4)

A wearable airbag device configured to protect the lower back of a wearer,
It is configured to be worn by being wrapped around the wearer around the pelvis,
an airbag that can be inflated by allowing inflation gas to flow into the interior so as to cover the outside of a region to be protected consisting of the wearer's left and right femoral trochanteric regions;
It is composed of a flexible sheet body, holds the airbag in a fully inflated state, covers the outer circumferential side of the airbag, and has a wrapping part on the upper edge side to be wrapped around the wearer. , an outer cover part arranged,
It is configured to include
A configuration in which the airbag includes two protection main body parts arranged to respectively cover the outsides of the right and left protection target parts when inflation is completed, and a communication passage part that communicates the upper ends of the protection main body parts with each other. It is said that
The outer cover part is configured to include lifting suppressing means that can suppress lifting of the protective main body part from the wearer when inflation is completed ,
The outer cover portion includes an inner panel portion disposed between the airbag and the wearer when worn, and an outer panel portion disposed outside the airbag,
A belt-shaped attachment belt portion for wrapping and wearing around the pelvis is disposed on the inner panel portion side of the wrapping portion,
A wearable airbag device characterized in that the mounting belt portion constitutes the lifting suppressing means . The wearing belt part is held so as to be freely movable in the circumferential direction of the wearer with respect to the inner panel part by a plurality of belt loops attached to the wearer side surface of the inner panel part, and The wearable airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the wearable airbag device is disposed in the outer cover portion. A wearable airbag device configured to protect the lower back of a wearer,
It is configured to be worn by being wrapped around the wearer around the pelvis,
an airbag that can be inflated by allowing inflation gas to flow into the interior so as to cover the outside of a region to be protected consisting of the wearer's left and right femoral trochanteric regions;
It is composed of a flexible sheet body, holds the airbag in a fully inflated state, covers the outer circumferential side of the airbag, and has a wrapping part on the upper edge side to be wrapped around the wearer. , an outer cover part arranged,
It is configured to include
A configuration in which the airbag includes two protection main body parts arranged to respectively cover the outsides of the right and left protection target parts when inflation is completed, and a communication passage part that communicates the upper ends of the protection main body parts with each other. It is said that
The outer cover part is configured to include lifting suppressing means that can suppress lifting of the protective main body part from the wearer when inflation is completed ,
The outer cover portion includes an inner panel portion disposed between the airbag and the wearer when worn, and an outer panel portion disposed outside the airbag,
The outer panel section has at least a part of the region as a low elongation material arrangement region made of a material with a lower elongation than the inner panel section, and restricts the protrusion of the expanding protective main body section in a lifting direction. It is configured so that it can be extruded downward,
A wearable airbag device characterized in that the low elongation material arrangement region constitutes the lifting suppressing means . A wearable airbag device configured to protect the lower back of a wearer,
It is configured to be worn by being wrapped around the wearer around the pelvis,
an airbag that can be inflated by allowing inflation gas to flow into the interior so as to cover the outside of a region to be protected consisting of the wearer's left and right femoral trochanteric regions;
It is composed of a flexible sheet body, holds the airbag in a fully inflated state, covers the outer circumferential side of the airbag, and has a wrapping part on the upper edge side to be wrapped around the wearer. , an outer cover part arranged,
It is configured to include
A configuration in which the airbag includes two protection main body parts arranged to respectively cover the outsides of the right and left protection target parts when inflation is completed, and a communication passage part that communicates the upper ends of the protection main body parts with each other. It is said that
The outer cover part is configured to include lifting suppressing means that can suppress lifting of the protective main body part from the wearer when inflation is completed ,
A weight portion is disposed on the lower end side of the outer cover portion,
A wearable airbag device characterized in that the weight portion constitutes the lifting suppressing means .

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