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US4977623A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

User wearable inflatable garment

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1989-05-01
•
Granted: 1990-12-18
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Expires: 2009-05-01
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Abstract

Abstract A garment such as a vest or jump suit containing one or more inflatable gas-bags which will automatically expand upon appropriate signals from remote and garment contained deceleration sensors. A unique coded signal system is employed to insure that in fact inflation is required of the gas-bag or gas-bags prior to inflation to prevent accidental inflation.

Inventors

  • 👤 Vincent J. DeMarco

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-27 16:42
CPC Classifications
A; A41; A41D; A41D13/00; A41D13/015; A41D13/018; B; B60; B60R; B60R21/00; B60R21/01; B60R21/013; B60R21/0132; A41D2600/00; A41D2600/10; A41D2600/102; B60R2021/0065; B60R2021/0088; B60R2021/0104; B60R2021/01081; B60R2021/01088; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S2/00; Y10S2/03

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim 156 words
A garment for personal crash impact protection comprising: said garment designed to enclose at least the upper torso of a person, said garment is non-restraining to the normal routine of the wearer; a plurality of first crash sensors located in a fixed position remote from the garment; a plurality of second crash sensors located in close relationship to the garment; each of said plurality of first and second crash sensors provide a separate coded output signal when a predetermined threshold level of deceleration is sensed; at least one inflatable air bag located in said garment which when inflated substantially encompass the torso of the wearer adjacent thereto; and inflation means connected to receive said output signals from said plurality of first and second crash sensors for inflating said at least one inflatable air bag when a preselected number of signals are simultaneously received from a selected number of said plurality of first and second crash sensors.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 156 words
A garment for personal crash impact protection comprising: said garment designed to enclose at least the upper torso of a person, said garment is non-restraining to the normal routine of the wearer; a plurality of first crash sensors located in a fixed position remote from the garment; a plurality of second crash sensors located in close relationship to the garment; each of said plurality of first and second crash sensors provide a separate coded output signal when a predetermined threshold level of deceleration is sensed; at least one inflatable air bag located in said garment which when inflated substantially encompass the torso of the wearer adjacent thereto; and inflation means connected to receive said output signals from said plurality of first and second crash sensors for inflating said at least one inflatable air bag when a preselected number of signals are simultaneously received from a selected number of said plurality of first and second crash sensors.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 13 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said garment is a vest.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 14 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said garment is a jump suit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 18 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said plurality of first and second crash sensors are accelerometers.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 36 words
The invention as defined in claim 4 additionally comprising a ferroelectric member associated with said each of said accelerometers for generating a voltage when each of said plurality of deceleration crash sensors have an output signal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 32 words
A garment for personal crash impact protection comprising: said garment designed to enclose at least the upper torso of a person, said garment is non-restraining to the normal routine of the wearer;
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 32 words
A garment for personal crash impact protection comprising: said garment designed to enclose at least the upper torso of a person, said garment is non-restraining to the normal routine of the wearer;
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 32 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said at least one air bag inflates when signals from at least two first and two second plurality of crash sensors are simultaneously received.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 17 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 additionally comprising a power source for powering said inflation means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 38 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said inflation means comprises a pressurized cylinder of gas which is released into said at least one air bag when said first and second crash sensors produce an output signal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 32 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said inflation means comprises pyrotechnic means which when activated produces gas under pressure when said first and second deceleration sensors produce an output signal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 39 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said first and second plurality of crash sensors number four and at least simultaneous outputs from two of each are required to cause said at least one air bag to inflate.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 22 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein at least said first crash sensors have an RF link with said inflation means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 171 words
A garment for personal crash impact protection comprising: said garment designed to enclose at least the upper torso of a person, said garment is non-restraining to the normal routine of the wearer; a plurality of first accelerometers located in a fixed position remote from the garment; a plurality of second accelerometers located in close relationship to the garment; said plurality of first and second accelerometers provide an output signal when a predetermined threshold level of deceleration is sensed; a ferroelectric member associated with each of said accelerometers for generating a voltage when each of said plurality of accelerometers have an output signal; at least one inflatable air bag located in said garment which when inflated substantially encompass the torso of the wearer adjacent thereto; and inflation means connected to receive said output signals from said plurality of first and second accelerometers for inflating said at least one inflatable air bag when a preselected number of signals are simultaneously received from a selected number of said plurality of first and second accelerometers.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 171 words
A garment for personal crash impact protection comprising: said garment designed to enclose at least the upper torso of a person, said garment is non-restraining to the normal routine of the wearer; a plurality of first accelerometers located in a fixed position remote from the garment; a plurality of second accelerometers located in close relationship to the garment; said plurality of first and second accelerometers provide an output signal when a predetermined threshold level of deceleration is sensed; a ferroelectric member associated with each of said accelerometers for generating a voltage when each of said plurality of accelerometers have an output signal; at least one inflatable air bag located in said garment which when inflated substantially encompass the torso of the wearer adjacent thereto; and inflation means connected to receive said output signals from said plurality of first and second accelerometers for inflating said at least one inflatable air bag when a preselected number of signals are simultaneously received from a selected number of said plurality of first and second accelerometers.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3921944A Cited
US3895396A Cited
US3995320A Cited
US4089065A Cited
FR2499373A1 Cited
GB2099687A Cited
US4825469A Cited
US4637074A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1993-12-17 1994-06-18 1994-12-18 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1997-12-17 1998-06-18 1998-12-18 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2001-12-17 2002-06-18 2002-12-18 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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