Airbag rescue system and triggering device therefor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016016045-A1
Application number	US-201514802475-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 17, 2015
Priority date	Jul 18, 2014
Publication date	Jan 21, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An airbag rescue system employed as a life-saving system to enable a person to survive an avalanche or other situation, such as a water rescue. The airbag system includes an air movement device that takes the form of a source of compressed air or an electrically powered air mover, such as one that includes a bladed rotor for inflating the airbag with ambient air, such as 100% ambient air, for example. The system further includes a supporting device, such as a harness or a backpack, for supporting the inflatable airbag and the powered air movement device on a user in a ready position of the airbag rescue system. The system also includes triggering device that includes a trigger handle configured and arranged to initiate inflation of the inflatable airbag by being manipulated by the user. In the ready position of the airbag rescue system, while the airbag is not yet in a deployed position, the trigger handle is conveniently externally accessible for the user to trigger the inflation of the airbag.

First claim

1 . An airbag rescue system for a user, the system comprising:
an inflatable airbag designed to be in a non-deployed position or a deployed and inflated position; a gas or air movement device comprising at least one of the following: a source of compressed gas or air or an electrically powered air mover that includes a bladed rotor; a supporting apparatus comprising a harness or a backpack designed to support the inflatable airbag and the gas or air movement device on the user in a ready position of the airbag rescue system; a base plate fixed to the supporting apparatus; a triggering device designed to be manipulated by the user according to at least first and second manipulations to initiate inflation of the inflatable airbag, the triggering device comprising:
a base fixed in relation to the base plate, the base including a blocking part;
a trigger handle designed for movement by the user, in relation to the base, from a non-airbag-inflation-initiation position to an airbag-inflation-initiation position;
a safety lock designed for movement by the user, in relation to the base, from a locked position and an unlocked position;
said movement of the safety lock comprising the first manipulation of the triggering device, and said movement of the trigger handle comprising the second manipulation of the triggering device; and
in the locked position of the safety lock, the safety lock engages the blocking part and blocks the movement of the trigger handle, and, in the unlocked position of the safety lock, the safety lock is not blocked by the blocking part of the base.

2 . An airbag rescue system according to claim 1 , wherein:
the supporting apparatus comprises a shoulder strap; and the base plate is fixed in relation to the shoulder strap.

3 . An airbag rescue system according to claim 1 , wherein:
the safety lock is mounted over the base and the movement of the safety lock is transverse in relation to the base.

4 . An airbag rescue system according to claim 1 , wherein:
the safety lock is mounted over the base and the movement of the safety lock is rotational in relation to the base.

5 . An airbag rescue system according to claim 1 , wherein:
the triggering device further comprises a cable extending between the trigger handle and the supporting apparatus.

6 . An airbag rescue system according to claim 5 , wherein:
the base is tubular and extends from the base plate in a direction to the trigger handle, the trigger handle slidably mounted on the tubular base; and the cable of the triggering device is fixed in relation to the trigger handle, extends through the tubular base and the cable and a cable housing extend between the base plate and the supporting apparatus.

7 . An airbag rescue system according to claim 6 , further comprising:
an electric power switch designed to activate the electrically powered air mover; and the cable is connected to the electric power switch.

8 . An airbag rescue system according to claim 1 , wherein:
in the non-airbag-inflation-initiation position of the triggering device in the ready position of the airbag rescue system, the trigger handle is suspended from the base plate, the airbag rescue system having no pocket or cover for the trigger handle.

9 . An airbag rescue system according to claim 5 , wherein:
the supporting apparatus comprises a closeable airbag compartment containing the airbag in the non-deployed position; and the airbag compartment includes an opening system to allow the airbag to emerge from an opening in the compartment upon the initiation of the inflation of the airbag by the triggering device.

10 . An airbag rescue system according to claim 9 , wherein:
the opening system comprises a readily burstable slide fastener that releasably closes the opening of the airbag compartment and is designed to open upon inflation of the airbag; and the cable is operably connected to the air movement device to activate either the source of compress gas or air or the electrically powered air mover upon initiation of the inflation of the airbag by the triggering device.

11 . An airbag rescue system according to claim 10 , wherein:
the air movement device is an electrically powered air mover comprising a power switch; and the cable is operably connected to the power switch to activate the electrically powered air mover upon initiation of the inflation of the airbag by the triggering device.

12 . An airbag rescue system according to claim 9 , wherein:
the opening system includes a lid and a latch mechanism to releasably secure the lid over the opening; the latch mechanism comprises:
a latch fixed to one of a surface of the compartment or a surface of the lid; and
a post fixed to a second of the surface of the compartment or the surface of the lid; and
the cable is operably connected to the air movement device to activate either the source of compress air or the electrically powered air mover.

13 . An airbag rescue system for a user, the system comprising:
an inflatable airbag designed to be in a non-deployed position or a deployed and inflated position; a gas or air movement device comprising at least one of the following: a source of compressed gas or air or an electrically powered air mover that includes a bladed rotor; a supporting apparatus comprising a harness or a backpack designed to support the inflatable airbag and the gas or air movement device on the user in a ready position of the airbag rescue system, the supporting apparatus comprising first and second shoulder straps; a base plate fixed in relation to the first shoulder strap; a triggering device designed to be manipulated by the user to initiate inflation of the inflatable airbag, the triggering device comprising:
a base fixed in relation to the base plate;
a trigger handle designed for movement by the user, in relation to the base, from a non-airbag-inflation-initiation position to an airbag-inflation-initiation position;
a supplemental triggering mechanism comprising a lanyard having a first end fixed in relation to the trigger handle and a second end having a releasable clip;
the lanyard having a length designed to allow the releasable clip to removably fasten the lanyard to a second location spaced apart from the trigger handle.

14 . An airbag rescue system according to claim 13 , wherein:
the second location is the second shoulder strap, and wherein the lanyard extends between the first and second shoulder straps.

15 . An airbag rescue system according to claim 14 , wherein:
the base plate is removably fixed in relation to the first shoulder strap to allow relocating the base plate to be fixed in relation to the second shoulder strap.

16 . An airbag rescue system for a user, the system comprising:
an inflatable airbag designed to be in a non-deployed position or a deployed and inflated position; a gas or air movement device comprising at least one of the following: a source of compressed gas or air or an electrically powered air mover that includes a bladed rotor; a supporting apparatus comprising a harness or a backpack designed to support the inflatable airbag and the gas or air movement device on the user in a ready position of the airbag rescue system, the supporting apparatus comprising at least one shoulder strap; a base plate fixed in relation to the shoulder strap; a triggering device designed to be manipulated by the user to initiate inflation of the inflatable airbag, the triggering device comprising:
a base fixed in relation to the base plate and having a length extending from the base plate;

Assignees

• Amer Sports Canada Inc

Inventors

• Rose Gordon
• Bryant Gary

Classifications

• B63C9/155

  inflatable · CPC title

• A63B29/021 Primary

  Means for indicating the location of accidentally buried, e.g. snow-buried, persons · CPC title

• A62B33/00

  Devices for allowing seemingly-dead persons to escape or draw attention; Breathing apparatus for accidentally buried persons · CPC title