EP1285860A2

EP1285860A2 - Impact absorbing device

Info

Publication number: EP1285860A2
Application number: EP02018128A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Mario Fernandes Ribeiro
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-08-14
Filing date: 2002-08-14
Publication date: 2003-02-26
Also published as: US20030034270A1; EP1285860A3; CA2398318A1

Abstract

Impact absorbing device (1) of the type made up of pneumatic chambers (1,2) designed to protect fragile elements (7) such as calculators, electronic plates (circuits), measuring instruments, remote controls and a the similar ones. It consist of a first impact absorbing chamber (2) at the bottom and a top flexible cover (3) which rests on the mentioned first chamber (2). The chambers (1,2) can be inflated through an entrance valve (4) for exterior air, carbon dioxide gas, or gases generated through a chemical reaction produced by reacting elements contained inside the first chamber (2). The top flexible cover (3) can have a Velcro® type clasp or similar. It gets a perfect filling and therefore the pressure of the mentioned chambers (1,2) on the protected element (7) due to the fact that the hole or perforation for the gas to go into the second chamber is placed on the opposite side to the ingoing perforation of the first chamber (2) or, correspondingly, from the place where the gases are generated; which will fill the impact absorbing chambers (1,2).

Description

1. Field of Invention

The invention herein refers to an impact absorbing device, the structure of wich enables avoiding damage to fragile objects during a fall or knocks during its transport and/or use.

2. Background Art

In the prior art, there are other protection devices that use pneumatic chambers such as disclosed in US 4.858.755, which describes an inflatable protector to transport fish bowls, having inflatable perimeter edges, the sides being made of transparent material.
Another element of previous invention is described in the patent US 4.860.901, dated August 29, 1989; being in this case a protector for measuring instruments consisting of a rigid plastic case that would contain the measuring instrument itself.
A third device of previous invention to be considered figures in US patent 5.360.108, dated November 01, 1994. Herein is described an impact absorbing device for electronic elements. That patent describes a case, containing the element to be protected, made in elastic material PCV or latex.
A fourth gadget for fragile article protection is described in US patent 5.392.920 in which two bodies are observed, these are set into the opposite edges of the element to be protected.
A fifth protection gadget, forming part of the prior art , can be observed in patent US 5.368.159, it consists of a protection device for remote controls made of rubber material, allowing for lengthwise extension to enable its use on different element lengths.

3. Object of the present invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide an impact absorbing device, the structure of which enables avoiding damage to fragile objects during a fall or knocks during its transport and/or use in an improved manner and which is further easy to handle.

4. Solution according to the present invention

According to the present invention this objective has been performed by an impact absorbing device of the type formed by pneumatic chambers and that contain the element to protected, the device comprising a first pneumatic chamber to absorb impacts in communication with a second chamber and a top flexible cover that rests on the first chamber.
The device possesses an optimum impact absorbing structure because of its internal channel conformation. These channels contain the fluid which gives it protection structure for fragile elements such as electronic plates ( containing an electronic circuit), calculators, measuring instruments or any other kind or apparatus or devices sensitive to impact or any other element that is wanted to be protected .
Preferred further developments of this invention are disclosed in the dependent claims,
In the following, the present invention will be disclosed in further detail with reference to a conventional protection device ,described in US 5.175.876 so that the differences between this conventional device and the present invention should be more clearly understood.
As can be observed in the patent US 5.175.876, two independent air chambers, left and right to protect both sides and an elastic set of lengthwise parallel tubes filled with liquid , to protect the base of the remote control. Each one of the side chambers is filled with air using a valve in each side chamber ( see references 26 and 27 of that patent ). Each one's filling has to be even so that the remote control stays in the center of the protector. As can be observed both pneumatic chambers are contained inside element 29 (a flexible sheet).
Also to protect smaller side faces or edges ( not to expose them in case of a fall), it is necessary to fit it into the protector device correctly otherwise and if there were a fall, the mentioned sides could be knocked causing damage to the remote control.
Regarding how the remote control is set into the device , we can see that it is dune through one of the smaller sides ( reference 29), later to be held inside by the pneumatic chambers left and right. If the chambers aren't properly filled there will be the possibility of the remote control not being held properly and coming out the protector device.
As can be observed all these characteristics described previously are different in our invention. The proposed invention has two pneumatic chambers ( side and bottom) that can be filled with air from outside through a one and only valve or using carbon dioxide contained in an ampoule situated inside one of the chambers of the device, preferably the side chamber.
Filling the side and the base chamber , one after the other , allows for a firm holding and in a centered position. This is independent of how the chambers have been filled , because it is supported by a flexible panel or sheet ( reference 3 ).
All the characteristics of our invention enable, apart from the advantages for the user, more efficient manufacturing , processes and lower cost than these obtained in the manufacturing described in patent US 5.175.876.
As can be observed from analyzing prior art , the impact absorbing device gives more protection against impacts on falling or other cases. This extra protection is due to a firm pressing and it protects the fragile element totally on sides and base.
The conformation and ingoing or circulating gases towards or in these chambers (impact absorbing), side and base, will allow them to be filled in a homogeneous way, exerting pressure uniformly over the different parts of the device to be protected the top opening of the proposed device is done by a Velcro ® or similar, allowing the rapid extraction of the protected element without needing to remove the fluid from the impact absorbing channels.
The Velcro® or similar one in our invention allows taking out the protected element without having to take out fluid from the chambers. This is preferred in case there is no valve to decompress the chambers.
The base impact absorbing chamber will give total protection of the base of the fragile element to be protected against knocks and falls.
As is already expressed , these impact herein absorbing chambers can be filled through an external valve , by the rupture of an ampoule containing carbon dioxide or a similar gas, or by an internal generation of gases when two chemical elements are mixed or put into contact.
Another prior invention document is the publishing of the European Application EP 0708462a1, of this inventor, where an inflatable protector with some similar characteristics and other far different ones; these last enable the obtaining protector device much more efficient for the function for which it was designed. The EP 0708463 A1 mentions a protector device with an inflatable chamber that surrounds the sides of the element to be protected and to flexible sheets, top and bottom that allow for the containing of the mentioned element.
With the structure described in this European publication it is not possible to absorb impact on the base of the element as there is not any protection whatsoever on it. Neither can the element be held firmly as in this invention described herein as it is not enough to hold it with the sides chambers. It is necessary to hold the element from one of its faces on our invention from the base. In that publication there is no mentioning as to the filling of the chamber , in our invention the carbon dioxide ampoule provides a firm holding of the element to be protected.
It is also very important to notice the position of the filling holes of both chambers, side and bottom. The hole for gas entrance to the bottom chamber is at an opposite side in relation to the hole for the first chamber , this allows a homogeneous filling of both chambers and therefore an adequate pressure of the chambers over the element to be protected.
It must be noticed also that in our invention, the conformation of the bottom chamber ( base chamber) is made up of two internal chambers ( references 10 and 11) that give more impact absorption regarding the top flexible cover in the European invention, it is fixed, not being able to be removed so the device has to be deflated when the element is to be removed from inside ( for example: changing batteries of same ).
Further details of the present invention will become evident from the following explanations in connection with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figures 1 and 2: illustrate in two general perspectives the protector device proposed in one its modalities.
Figures 3 and 4: illustrate respectively top and bottom perspectives, top and bottom of the protection device proposed according to figures 1 and 2
Figures 5 and 6: show general perspectives of the device from figures 1 to 4 with the element to be protected already incorporated.
Figure 7: shows a top view of the device proposed on its first modality.
Figure 8: shows a bottom view of the invention.
Figures 9 and 10: illustrate side views.
Fig. 11: shows an top view of a second preferred modality of the invention which includes a Velcro® or similar.
Figures 12 and 13: illustrate a second modality preferred of the impact absorber.

Here the Velcro® material can be observed in the protector device in the top cover, to be able to undo same and use the device without cover or top protection.
It can be seen in figures 1 and 2 that the impact absorbing device is made up of 1 side camber and another bottom one that will be filled with air, carbon dioxide or gases from a chemical reaction. In the case of filling from outside there will be a corresponding valve.
In figure 1 we can observe the side chamber 1 that make up the side protection panels and the bottom chamber 2 that will protect the base of the element to be contained , both make up the continuous chamber mentioned before.
In figure 1 we can also observe the top sheet 3 and entrance direction "e" of the element to be protected , sheet 3 allows the use of the contained element without the necessity of taking it out of the protector device.
This sheet 3 can be fixed ( soldering its perimeter sides to the impact absorbing device) having on one of its sides a auto-adhesive , Velcro® or similar which will allow the element to be removed without having to decompress the chambers ( one or two chambers).
In figures 3 and 4 we can observe a side view of the impact absorbing device , observing the bottom chamber 2 and the sides of the chamber 1. Also the filling valve 4 ( external filling modality).
Figures 5 and 6 show the element to be protected 7 inside the impact absorbing device.
Figure 7 shows a top view of the device of the proposed invention in which chamber 1 ( side protection of the element contained) bottom chamber 2 ( base protection of the contained element. One can also observe the top sheet 3 through which it is possible to use the protected element without having to take it out. Also the communication opening connecting chamber 1 and 2, the arrows "a" ( chamber 1) and "b" ( chamber 2) identify the circulation of air or gases of the chambers at the moment of its expansion.
As can be observed in figure 8, the impact absorbing device is filled in its external valve modality by the circulation of air or another gas according to arrows "a" that will ensure the filling of chamber 1 first which makes up the sides and the chamber 2 that conforms the base of the device. As we can see after the fluid circulates in chamber 1., it goes through hole "c" and it goes to fill chamber 2 as per arrows "b". as can be observed , hole "c" is positioned on the opposite side in relation to the entrance hole in the first chamber.
In figures 9 and 10 we can observe inside views both impact absorbing chambers 1 and 2.
In figures 11 the position of the Velcro® type clasp is shown or similar "d" to make possible a rapid extraction of the element to be protected.
It is evident that the element to be protected will remain pressed by chambers 1 and 2 and that this element will be able to be taken out from the protector device decompressing the chambers when using a top sheet ( soldered) opening the Velcro® or similar type clasp without having to decompress the chambers.
When the chambers are filled by rupture of the ampoule of carbon dioxide or by the gases chemical, generated in a chemical reaction between elements contained inside the walls of the first pneumatic chamber, it is necessary that there should be a non-fixed opening on sheet 3 (to enable taking out the element contained).
It is evident that elements to be transported or used contained in this structure , will not absorb in the least any impacts. In the case of impacts due to fall or other cause.
The Impact absorbing device of the present invention is of the type made up of pneumatic chambers designed to protect fragile elements such as calculators, electronic plates ( circuits), measuring instruments, remote controls and a the similar ones. It consist of a first impact absorbing chamber at the bottom and a top flexible cover which rests on the mentioned first chamber . The chambers can be inflated through an entrance valve for exterior air, carbon dioxide gas, or gases generated through a chemical reaction produced by reacting elements contained inside the first chamber. The top flexible cover can have a Velcro® type clasp or similar. It gets a perfect filling and therefore the pressure of the mentioned chambers on the protected element due to the fact that the hole or perforation for the gas to go into the second chamber is placed on the opposite side to the ingoing perforation of the first chamber or , correspondingly , from the place where the gases are generated ; which will fill the impact absorbing chambers.

Claims

An impact absorbing device of the type formed by pneumatic chambers and that contain the element to protected, the device comprising:

a first pneumatic chamber to absorb impacts in communication with a second chamber and a top flexible cover that rests on the first chamber.
An impact absorbing device according to claim 1, wherein a hole for fluid to enter the second chamber is situated opposite an entrance hole of the first chamber.
An impact absorbing device according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the top flexible cover is soldered to the first chamber.
An impact absorbing device according to at least one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the top flexible top cover has in one of its sides an opening or clasp.
An impact absorbing device according to at least one of claims 1 to 4, wherein pneumatic chambers are filled through a valve situated in one of the sides of the device.
An impact absorbing device according to at least one of claims 1 to 5, wherein inside the first pneumatic chamber and on its bottom wall there is an ampoule containing carbon dioxide.
An impact absorbing device according to at least one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the second impact absorbing chamber is made up of two parallel longitudinal chambers.