WO2005094620A1

WO2005094620A1 - Protective ski-suit, particularly against damages caused by avalanches or snowslides

Info

Publication number: WO2005094620A1
Application number: PCT/IT2004/000170
Authority: WO
Inventors: Fabio Ciliegi
Original assignee: Fabio Ciliegi
Priority date: 2004-04-02
Filing date: 2004-04-02
Publication date: 2005-10-13

Abstract

This invention concerns a protective suit, particularly a ski-suit, equipped with air chambers and air tanks connected to them. In the case of avalanche or snowslide, a pressurization mechanism starts filling the air chambers with the air contained in the tanks in order to inflate the suit. This inflation permits to protect the body from the bumps during fall, and facilitates “floating” on the snow. If the person is buried under the snow, the two nozzles placed at the neck, which let the air gradually come out, will allow the person to breathe and will permit the creation of a vacuum around the body allowing the person to move and consequently rescue him/herself.

Description

" PROTECTIVE SKI-SUIT , PARTICULARLY AGAINST DAMAGES CAUSED BY AVALANCHES OR SNOWSLIDES " Description Technical Field The present invention concerns the technical sector relative to the production of sport clothing, in particular of ski-suits, or any suit suitable for any activity to be carried out on the snow. This invention concerns the technical sector relative to the production of these items aimed for the protection of skiers against any accident and even any damage caused by snowslides or similar. Background Art

In order to save the life of a person overwhelmed by a snowslide and trapped under the snow, rescue crews usually use electronic systems, consisting of satellite sensors placed inside the suit, permitting to locate the exact point where the person is under the snow heap. Unfortunately, this method is not always efficacious, as the person can be totally covered by the snow and not able to move and above all to breathe, due to the compactness of the snow and to the pressure it exerts on the whole body. Therefore, also in the case the person is immediately found, there is still a high risk that the time for rescue is not sufficient. For this reason, experts suggest, during the fall, to try to "swim" on the snow mass plunging down the valley, comparing it, for its consistency, with a fluid mass, with the purpose to remain as more as possible on the surface. However, in the case of fall under the level of the overwhelming wave, it's important to maintain, at the end, a space large enough to contain the necessary volume of air permitting to breathe for all the time rescuers need to find the body and recover it. Some positions of the body, during the fall, can facilitate the creation of such a vacuum, but obviously this condition, even if necessary, is often due- to good or bad luck, rather than voluntary precautionary movements. As a matter of fact, we have to consider the context where the person is moving, which makes the action difficultly rational and coherent, both for the emotional state and for the actual difficulty to accomplish sequences of complex coordinated movements. Therefore, nowadays reality is that this vital condition is due to the fate or the fortune, as a matter of fact, unfortunately, asphyxiation is the main cause of the deaths caused by avalanches. Disclosure of invention

The present invention aims at eliminating these and other drawbacks, supplying an instrument that, in a simple and fast way, with a very easy action, substantially reduces the possibility of fatal outcome in the case of avalanches, performing a positive action regarding the possibility to "float" on the snowslide during the fall, as well as to ensure a volume of air for breathing, and in any case, also if under the snow, to create a vacuum large enough to permit movements or, at least, contain the amount of air sufficient for breathing while waiting for the arrival of the rescuers.

This invention can be used in the particular situations of danger caused by avalanches or snowslides or however in all those circumstances involving the high risk to be buried under the snow.

The advantages resulting from the present invention essentially consist of the fact that it's possible, in case of snowslide or avalanche, to shelter from what it's happening managing to float on the snow thanks to the increased body volume; that in the case of burying under the snow, the gradual deflating of the invention implies the creation of a vacuum inside which the person can freely move; that in this circumstance, the person gets air from valves placed near the face helping him/her to breathe. Reduced to its essential structure and with reference to the figures of the enclosed drawings, a protective ski-suit, according to the present invention, comprises: means to increase the volume of the suit, in one or more parts of it, with one or more air chambers (air-bags) (6) , connected with one or more air tanks under pressure (8, 13) that fill with air every time pressurization is started; means to gradually deflate the suit after its inflation, with two nozzles placed at the neck, from which the air contained in said air chambers (air-bags) slowly comes out.

This invention consists of a whole ski-suit made of a lining of flexible plastic material able to suit different volumes and therefore such as to be loose in the case of lack of air inside or otherwise stiff when air is put inside. Said lining can form the same body of the suit or be inserted inside it.

In particular, this suit can be apparently similar to the existing ski-suits, but it's made of three different layers: the first internal one, of suitable size, represents the lining of the suit; the second layer, physically comprised between the above-described internal layer (lining) and a third external layer, is separated in empty sectors (air-bags) set to be filled with air when necessary; the third last external layer is similar in shape and design to the common ski-suits.

In a practical example, this second layer, comprised between lining and external suit, is separated into eight different sectors: two for the legs, two for the arms, two for the front part of the body and two for the back. This feature permits to subdivide the whole volume to fill up, so permitting, by means of relative feeds coming out of the distributor, to quickly inflate the suit, once the outlet valve/s of the global tank is/are open. This feature does not prevent the air-bags forming the suit being in different number or even single, even if this last manufacturing hypothesis involves the risk that, in the case of accidental break of the air-bag, the whole suit will steadily deflate.

Conveniently, the suit can be realized so that, following the inflation, the external part breaks and opens in those breaking points (6) located during the manufacturing phase.

Conveniently, the air tanks under pressure are made of non-rigid material but resistant enough to keep compressed air inside. Conveniently, the tanks are integrated into the suit, in particular at the waistline. Further tanks, replacing or added to the above tanks, are integrated into the suit at the back surface, so as not to cause particular bulks involving difficulties in natural movements.

Conveniently, in a different solution of the invention, said tanks can however be apart from the suit and form a separate belt or a sort of separate rucksack, which is worn over the suit equipped with air-bags for receiving air and connected to them, getting the same function previously described.

In both the cases, the tanks have one or more outlet valves, according to their reciprocal connection. The type of these valves is not important for the function of the invention, but it's sufficient they are suitable to the outlets of the tanks and of small sizes, such as not to create excessive bulk to the overall . The air tanks (8) connected each other and, at the rear also to the back tanks (13), by means of connectors (10), however permitting the reciprocal movement, have a single outlet valve (15). Said valve (15) is made of a pin (17), which is kept in position by a transversal cotter pin (18) and does not allow the air to come out. Said cotter pin, by means of any stay (19) passing through the outer layer of the suit, is connected to a handle (16). When said handle (16) is pulled (T) , it causes the cotter pin (18) to come out from its place, so releasing the pin that, pushed by a spring, removes the plug (25) , opening the passage of the air from the tank to a tube (27) conveying the air into a distributor (26) . Said distributor (26) , anyway placed near the belt, has such an entrance section (28) sufficient to provide pressure to the various outlets (30) , which reach the different sectors forming the air chambers. Conveniently, the handle to be pulled for the inflation of the suit is placed in the front top part of the suit near the neck, so that it's easier to grab it to start the pressurization. Conveniently, the valves, which are activated manually, permit to feed a distributor (26) , normally open, which connects the outlet of the global tank (total sum of the different sectors/tanks under pressure) with the branches connecting the various separate closed sectors forming the air chambers.

Conveniently, the start of the pressurization is given by a small pin mechanism, fixed over one or more outlets of the tanks and connected to a distributor feeding the various inflating sectors placed in the second layer of the suit.

Each air tank (8, 13) has its own outlet valve connecting it to a single air chamber, so that each tank feeds and fills only one air chamber.

Conveniently, the outlets (30) towards the air chambers consist of non-return valves.

In order to start the extension pressurization, it's necessary to pull a handle that activates a spring releasing the pin of the outlet valve.

The initial volume conditions can be restored thanks to two nozzles, which are simultaneously activated after that all the internal sectors have been filled up, but, due to their position, they release the air contained inside in a quite long time, necessary to prolong the time of survival. Therefore said nozzles, after the maximum extension of the internal sectors and the peak of pressure sufficient to activate them, permit the restoring of the initial volume conditions, but slowly, releasing air little by little, so as to create a vacuum around the body, probably overwhelmed by the snow, and allow the person to move. In summary, the invention works in this way: the person overwhelmed by the avalanche activates by a single and simple movement the opening of the outlet valves of the air tanks under pressure, placed in the internal layer, around the waist and on the back surface; these tanks, releasing quickly the compressed air to the relative inner sectors of the suit, permit its rapid inflation, considerably increasing its total volume, therefore the person will be shortly surrounded on the entire surface of his/her body by a sort of air ball.

This principal effect has a positive value per se, because it protects anyway the body during the fall from possible bumps against hard obstacles; in addition, the rise in volume increases the possibility to remain on the surface, "floating" on the avalanche.

However, in the unfortunate case the avalanche ends with the body completely overwhelmed by the snow, the air will automatically come out thanks to the nozzles placed at the neck, so the gradual deflating of the suit will ensure enough air for the survival. This process will create a cavity inside the snow that, even if not enough to try to dig, will be however enough to permit to breathe, thanks to a volume of air sufficient to wait for rescuers without risking the asphyxiation, first cause of death for avalanche. Furthermore, the particular position of the nozzles allows the person to receive in face the air coming out, thus immediately facilitating the breathing also in the case of faints . Obviously, the tanks of the suit can be fed again after their use; it's sufficient to replace their external part in order to restore all the numerous safety features.

Conveniently, if the suit inflates and then the danger is over, it will be possible to activate a further valve that permits the fast and immediate deflating of the same suit.

The present invention, thanks to the above-described characteristics, has a principal protective function against bumps during fall, because of its air-bags over the whole body. It offers a second protective function given by the same rise in volume around the body, with the immediate consequent decrease of weight density, which considerably helps the person overwhelmed by the avalanche to "float" on it, as all experts in this field suggest. This invention, even under the snow, permits, thanks to its gradual deflating, to get a lot of free volume around the body, allowing the person to move and, if not blocked by other causes, independently come out from the snow.

Also in the case that, for several reasons, the person is not able to move, this invention however ensures a considerable reserve of air, allowing the person to breathe while waiting for the external rescuers.

The activation of the deflating system, thanks to the position of the two valves and to the use of the compressed air rather than the most common gases such as the C02, permits to blow air out towards the face of the person, thus facilitating first breathing.

Both the pressurization and the deflating system, can be replaced with various existing mechanisms, e.g. manual valves or electric boost valves at low pressure by means of battery, however within the purposes of this invention.

In practice, the manufacturing details may however equally vary as regards shape, size, position of elements and type of materials used, but still remain within the range of the idea proposed as a solution and consequently within the limits of the protection granted by this patent for invention.

Brief description of drawings

The advantages and characteristics of the present invention can be better understood by every expert in this field reading the following description and referring to the enclosed drawings, given as practical examples of the invention, but not to be considered restrictive. Fig. 1 includes the general outer front (1) and rear (2) views of the suit, showing the various points with seams, connections, or other, which are however the breaking points (3) necessary for the extrusion of the internal sectors. Obviously, these intentional "breaking points" correspond to every one of the eight sectors forming the air-bags, placed in the second layer between lining and outer layer.

Fig. 2 shows the front (4) and rear (5) views of the different sectors (6), distributed all over the surface; each sector comprises a rapid start (Ir) for the connection with the feeding tubes. Fig. 3 shows the front view (11) of the internal lining (7) : at the waistline (8) we can see the various sectors set to hold the pressurized air (9); these sectors, even if connected each other by means of a connecting sector (10), are dynamically independent, so as to perfectly adhere to the curves of the body without preventing movements. The rear view (12) of the internal layer shows the supplementary tanks placed on the back (13) , communicating with the ones on the belt by means of a further internal connector (10a) , thus permitting to have a single exit of the pressurized air of the global tank; this feature facilitates the activation mechanism (14) , consisting of a pin valve (15) , manually activated by pulling a handle (16) placed outside in a position easy to get. Fig. 4 is a schematic example of this system of pressurization to start inflation, showing the "belt" formed by the air tanks (8), connected each other and, on the rear also to the back tanks, by means of connectors (10), however permitting the reciprocal movement. Said tanks have a single outlet valve (15) , made of a pin (17) , which is kept in position by a transversal cotter pin (18) and does not allow the air to come out. Said cotter pin, by means of any stay (19) passing through the outer layer of the suit, is connected to a handle (16) . When said handle (16) is pulled (T) , it causes the cotter pin (18) to come out from its place, so releasing the pin that, pushed by a spring, removes the plug (25) , opening the passage of the air from the tank to a tube (27) conveying the air into a distributor (26) . Said distributor (26) , anyway placed near the belt, has such an entrance section (28) sufficient to provide pressure to the various outlets (30), which reach the different eight sectors forming the air chambers that will extend until the maximum volume permitted by their size. Fig. 5 shows a view and a section of the two nozzles (32) placed at the neck of the front inflating sectors (35, 36) . Because of their small sizes, these nozzles let the suit inflated until the avalanche has finished and then begin a gradually deflation in order to restore the initial whole volume.

Fig. 6 shows that the system of global tank, without changing the above-described conditions, can be separate from the lining or however applied to it through various systems (38) (buttons, Velcro, etc.). This feature permits, in such a zone where there is no risk, to remove this bulk from the suit and use it as a common ski-suit.

Claims

1) Protective ski-suit, characterized in that it comprises: means to increase the volume of the suit, in one or more parts of it, with one or more air chambers (air-bags), connected with one or more air tanks under pressure, which fill with the air contained in the tanks every time pressurization is started; means to gradually deflate the suit after its inflation, with two nozzles placed at the neck, from which the air contained in said air chambers (air-bags) slowly comes out.

2) Protective ski-suit, as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that it includes one or more air chambers, made of flexible plastic material, able to suit different volumes and therefore such as to be loose in the case of lack of air inside or otherwise stiff when air is put inside.

3) Protective ski-suit, as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that it' s made of three different layers : the first internal one represents the lining of the suit; the second layer is separated in empty sectors (air-bags) set to be filled with air when necessary; the third external layer is similar in shape and design to the common ski-suits.

4) Protective ski-suit, as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the external layer includes seams, or anyway connections between the various parts, which are the breaking points (3) permitting its break in the case of inflation of the inner air chambers .

5) Protective ski-suit, as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the air chambers forming the suit are numerous, so as to ensure the hold of at least another air chamber in the case of break of an air-bag. In particular, the suit is separated into eight different sectors: two for the legs, two for the arms, two for the front part of the body and two for the back.

6) Protective ski-suit, as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the air tanks under pressure are made of non-rigid material but resistant enough to keep compressed air inside.

7) Protective ski-suit, as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the tanks are integrated into the suit, in particular at the waistline and/or at the back surface, so as not to cause particular bulks.

8) Protective ski-suit, as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said tanks can however be apart from the suit and form a separate belt or a sort of separate rucksack, which is worn over the suit equipped with air-bags for receiving air and connected to them, getting the same function previously described.

9) Protective ski-suit, as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the tanks have one or more outlet valves, from which the air comes out and through a tube (27) is conveyed into a distributor (26) . Said distributor (26) has such an entrance section (28) sufficient to provide pressure to the various outlets (30), which reach the different sectors forming the air chambers.

10) Protective ski-suit, as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the tanks have one or more outlet valves, everyone providing pressure to an outlet for every single air chamber, so that each tank feeds and fills only one air chamber.

11) Protective ski-suit, as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the pressurization is activated manually pulling a handle, placed at the waistline or at the front neck, which causes the cotter pin to come out from its place, so releasing the pin that, pushed by a spring, removes the plug, opening the passage of the air from the tank to a tube conveying the air into the air chambers or a single distributor (26) .

12) Protective ski-suit, as claimed in claims 1, 9 and 10, characterized in that the outlets towards the air chambers consist of non-return valves.

13) Protective ski-suit, as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the initial volume conditions can be restored thanks to two nozzles, which are simultaneously activated after that all the internal sectors have been filled up, but they release the air contained inside in a quite long time, necessary to prolong the time of survival.

14) Protective ski-suit, as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that if it inflates and then the danger is over, it will be possible to activate a further valve that permits the fast and immediate deflating of the same suit.