WO2007080064A1

WO2007080064A1 - Safety and protective device with optical luminous indicator

Info

Publication number: WO2007080064A1
Application number: PCT/EP2007/000005
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mario Quaranta; Luca Favalesi; Augusto Carasi
Original assignee: Qfc S.R.L.
Priority date: 2006-01-11
Filing date: 2007-01-02
Publication date: 2007-07-19
Also published as: ITBS20060005A1; EP1976402A1

Abstract

A personal protective and safety device, especially for applications in the field of road and work safety which can also be used for a number of sports activities including one or more luminous indicator(s) (14 - 24) that is/are in co-operation with at least one position sensor (11 - 26) fed by one or more batteries.

Description

"Safety and protective device with optical luminous indicator"

DESCRIPTION TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention refers to a personal safety and protective device with luminous indicator.

More particularly this invention refers to a safety device especially suitable for applications in the field of road and work safety and can also be used for several sports activities. BACKGROUND ART As known, urban roads, suburban roads and motorways are daily travelled over by a large number of several transport vehicles ranging from bicycles to motorcycles, cars and the like; moreover, on the same roads there are people who work to service them. Unfortunately, accidents, more or less serious, may happen and motor vehicles drivers or road maintenance workers may get involved. These individuals, who after being involved in an accident cannot move, are not always and easily seen, especially if the roads are badly lighted, by other people who happen to be driving along the same roads, with evident dangerous consequences. Even other individuals who work in a number of several fields are exposed to accidents as in the case of work sites. As far as sports is concerned several disciplines impose or suggest the use of safety helmets or headgears considering that the head itself is the most delicate part of the human body and the one that is most exposed to the risk of trauma. These people, in case of accident and ensuing fall, may appear to be less visible especially in case of bad road lighting. DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

The object of this invention is to provide a device to remedy the drawbacks above-mentioned.

More particularly the object of this invention is to provide a protective and safety device equipped with a luminous indicator allowing the injured party who suffered from an accident e.g. a road accident to be easily seen by other people even in case of bad environment lighting conditions.

A further object of this invention is to provide a safety device as described above which can be installed partly on transport vehicles e.g. motorcycles or totally coupled with a protective helmet in case it is used by parties other than motorcyclists e.g. by site workers, skiers and cyclists who practice sports.

In its preferred embodiment the personal protective and safety device of this invention is arranged to be used especially by motorcyclists who use integral and non-integral helmets but this device will be meant to be arranged for any kind of sports safety headgear, work safety helmet or any other kind of helmet. However it is to be expected that the above-mentioned protective and safety device can be at least partially incorporated into items of clothing or clothing accessories to be worn by motorcyclists or by other parties. A further object of this invention is to make a personal safety device available to users as described above which is suitable to ensure a high degree of resistance and reliability in the course of the time and also to be easily and cheaply manufactured.

These and other objects are fulfilled by the personal protective and safety device especially for applications in the field of road safety, work safety and which can also be used for several sports activities, including one or more luminous indicators which co-operate with at least a position sensor fed by one or more batteries.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The structural and functional characteristics of the protective and safety device with optical luminous indicator of this invention could be better understood from the detailed description that follows wherein reference is made to the enclosed drawings showing a preferred embodiment which is not meant to be restrictive wherein:

Figure 1 schematically represents a side view of a motorcycle whereto part of the personal protective and safety device with luminous indicator is applied;

Figure 2 schematically represents a side view of a motorcycle helmet that integrates a portion of the device described in this invention;

Figure 3 schematically represents a perspective view of a sports helmet typically for motorcyclists equipped with the safety device of this invention;

Figure 4 is a block diagram of the same device according to a preferred embodiment;

Figure 5 is a block diagram of the same device according to an alternative embodiment. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION With reference to the above-mentioned figures the personal protective and safety device with luminous indicator of this invention includes basically a unit 10 equipped with means that are fit to emit an electric or radio signal and at least one support 12 made of a plastic material or any other suitable material applied in a known manner e.g. through the use of an adhesive to a motorcyclist's helmet like the one shown in figure 2. Unit 10, which is advantageously applied generally to a motorcycle or a vehicle close to or next to the dashboard in areas that are easily accessible and protected like e.g. the area underneath the saddle, includes in its inside a transmission system T for a signal e.g. a radio-controlled one, composed of a two-channel coded transmitter of the traditional type which is fed by a battery Bl preferably defined by a long-lasting battery. However it is to be understood that the transmitter may also be connected to the motorcycle battery as to continue to operate when the battery Bl is low. Such transmitter T, in the illustrative case of a general motorcycle or bicycle according to figure 1, is connected to the electrical circuit of the vehicle to that part of the circuit that controls or operates the motorcycle brake light(s), if necessary.

This same unit 10 includes in its inside a position sensor 11 which controls the vehicle balance position whose function will be described later on, composed for instance, by a mercury bulb. This sensor 11 is advantageously fed through a battery B2 that is independent from the one that feeds the above-mentioned transmitter. However sensor 11 is to be meant to be fed through the battery of the vehicle itself, as to ensure continuous operation for the sensor 11. The support 12 applied to the motorcyclist's helmet is equipped with at least one luminous indicator 14 which includes e.g. a plurality of high-intensity LED (Light Emitting Diodes) or luminous strips that are basically red coloured, as to be reminiscent of the motorcycle brake light. This light indicator 14 has a fixed or flashing light. The support 12 itself or the helmet 16 lodges inside a two-channel coded receiver R of traditional kind and compatible with the transmitter T located inside unit 10.

It is also to be meant that the transmitter/receiver device of this invention can be made by using the well-known signal transmission technology named "bluetooth". The motorcyclist before starting the motor switches on the safety device in a known manner e.g. through a switch or a pushbutton or a key.

When, due to a road accident or a fall, the motorcyclist happens to be thrown from the motorcycle saddle with the motorcycle overturned on the road the position sensor 11 detects the change in position of the motorcycle as to its vertical axis and causes the lock of the electrical circuit that controls the brake light control system consequently switching on the motorbike brake light. At the same time the transmitter T located inside the unit 10 lodged on the motorbike sends the sensor signal 11 to the receiver R which switches on the luminous indicator 14 of the support 12 that is fixed to the motorcyclist's helmet, thus signalling the emergency condition. In an alternative embodiment the safety device of this invention can be used by road maintenance workers or by sportsmen e.g. skiers or cyclists. A helmet that is typically addressed to the latter category is marked with reference 20 in figure 3.

This helmet includes, in the central-upper part, at least one portion 22 with a basically planar development of any shape and size which forms the support for a plurality of LED 24 that are fed through a battery B3 and co-operating with a position sensor 26 similar to the sensor previously described. Both the battery and the sensor are advantageously arranged e.g. in one of the shaped cavities of the crown forming the helmet 20, cavities that are partly screened by a traditional soft lining or padding that has to come into contact with the user's head.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment at least the above- mentioned sensor 26 is protected by the above-mentioned lining or padding on the inner side of the crown forming the helmet 20. In case of accident or fall of the individual wearing the helmet 20, the sensor 26 detects the change in the state of balance and switches on the circuit that causes the emergency signalling LED 24 to go on.

In the preferred embodiment illustrated in figure 5, the sensor 26 and the LED 24 are fed through one sole battery B3, preferably fixed to the inner side of the portion 22. As noticeable from the foregoing description the advantages achieved by the invention are evident.

The personal protective and safety device with a luminous indicator of this invention allows anybody having suffered from a road accident or a fall to be easily seen by other people who drive along the same road or by rescuers.

A further advantage of the safety device of this invention is the versatile character since it may be used and coupled not only with motorcycles but also with non motor-driven vehicles e.g. bicycles, or integrated into helmets that are intended to serve a number of several applications.

Although this invention has been described above with special reference to one embodiment, which is only meant to be illustrative and not restrictive, several variations and changes will be evident to anybody skilled in the art considering the foregoing description. Hence, this invention shall be meant to include all those variations and changes that fall under the object and scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A personal protective and safety device, especially for applications in the field of road and work safety and which can also be used for several sports activities, characterized in that it includes one or more luminous indicators (14 - 24) that co-operate with at least one position sensor (11 - 6) fed by one or more batteries.

2. The safety device according to claim 1, characterized in that it is integrated into a protective helmet (16 - 20) or in clothing items and/or accessories.

3. The safety device according to the previous claims, characterized in that it includes one unit (10), applied to a motorcycle or a vehicle in general close to or next to the dashboard or in the area underneath the saddle, equipped with means issuing an electric or radio signal co-operating with a receiver (R) that is fixed to at least one support (12) made of a plastic material or any other suitable one and applied to or integrated into this helmet (16), the support (12) including the luminous indicator(s) (14). 4. The safety device according to the previous claims, characterized in that the means emitting the electric or radio signal comprise a two-channel coded transmitter (T) fed by the battery (Bl) and fed by the vehicle battery if necessary.

5. The safety device according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that the receiver (R) is a two-channel coded receiver.

6. The safety device according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that the position sensor (11) is formed by a mercury bulb.

7. The safety device according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that the light indicator(s) (14) of the support (12) are a plurality of high-intensity LED (Light Emitting Diodes).

8. The safety device according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that the light indicator(s) (24) of the portion (22) of the helmet (20) are a plurality of high-intensity LEDs (Light Emitting Diode) (24) arranged along at least one portion (22) with a basically planar development.

9. The safety device according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that the light indicator(s) (14 - 24) of the support (12) or the portion (22) of the helmet (20) are luminous strips. 10. The safety device according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that the position sensor (11 - 26) is fed by a battery (B2 - B3).

11. The safety device according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that the position sensor (11) is fed by the vehicle battery.

2. The safety device according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that the transmitter/receiver device is made by using the bluetooth signal transmission technology.