Garment provided with an inflatable protective device and associated method for adjusting operational modes of the inflatable protective device
A garment comprising an inflatable protective device. The inflatable protective device includes at least one inflatable bag, an inflator unit designed for inflating the at least one inflatable bag, sensors designed for monitoring the user's body for detecting shocks or unexpected movements, and a control unit designed for processing the data provided by the sensors and for activating the inflator unit if, on the basis of the data received by the sensors, a danger situation is identified. The control unit includes storing means containing at least two different setup parameter sets and/or firmwares of the control unit for controlling the activation of the inflator unit. The control unit is further provided with selecting means for selecting one of the said at least two different setup parameter sets and/or firmwares. Also a method for adjusting the operational modes of the inflatable protective device of the garment.
1. A protective garment for motorcycle riders comprising an inflatable protective device, the inflatable protective device comprising:
at least one inflatable bag suitable for moving between a rest condition, wherein it is deflated, and an operating condition, wherein it is inflated;
an inflator unit designed for inflating the at least one inflatable bag;
sensors designed for monitoring the user's body;
a control unit designed for processing the data provided by the sensors and for activating the inflator unit if, on the basis of the data received by the sensors, a danger situation is identified;
characterized in that the control unit comprises storing means containing at least two different setup parameter sets and/or firmwares of the control unit for correspondingly controlling activation of the inflator unit in at least two different riding conditions, the control unit being further provided with selecting means for selecting one of the at least two different setup parameter sets and/or firmwares according to one of the at least two different riding conditions, the control unit configured to send an activation signal to the inflator unit so as to inflate the at least one inflatable bag in said at least two differing riding conditions, if a danger situation is detected by the control unit.
2. The protective garment according to claim 1 , characterized in that the selecting means are manually and/or automatically operable.
3. The protective garment according to claim 1 , characterized in that the storing means comprise at least two data storage memories.
4. The protective garment according to claim 3 , characterized in that in a first data storage memory common parameters dealing with the overall functionality of the control unit are installed, specific parameters of each of the at least two different setup parameter sets and/or firmwares being installed on a second data storage memory.
5. The protective garment according to claim 1 , characterized in that the inflatable protective device comprises a user interface suitable for sending an identification signal to the control unit which, by means of the selecting means, executes the setup parameter set and/or firmware corresponding to the received identification signal.
6. The protective garment according to claim 1 , characterized in that the inflatable protective device is provided with a display unit which comprises an alphanumeric and/or graphical visual display for providing messages and/or symbols about which setup parameter set and/or firmware of the control unit is selected.
7. The protective garment according to claim 5 , characterized in that the user interface is integrated in a display unit comprising an alphanumeric and/or graphical visual display for providing messages and/or symbols about which setup parameter set and/or firmware of the control unit is selected, the user interface being a slide switch or a button or a touch sensing device provided on the display unit.
8. The protective garment according to claim 1 , characterized in that the inflatable protective device is provided with a wireless communication module suitable for communicating with a corresponding wireless communication module of a smart portable device, the selection of one of said at least two different setup parameter sets and/or firmwares being operated by means of the smart portable device.
9. The protective garment according to claim 1 , characterized in that the control unit autonomously controls the selecting means so as to select, on the basis of predefined conditions, one of said at least two different setup parameter sets and/or firmwares.
10. The protective garment according to claim 1 , characterized in that the inflatable protective device is connected to a GPS module suitable for receiving a plurality of positional information, a database of specific geo-locations being stored in an additional memory or in the storing means of the control unit, each specific geo-location of the database being matched with one of said at least two different setup parameter sets and/or firmwares.
11. The protective garment according to claim 10 , characterized in that the control unit is configured to compare the positional information received by the GPS module with the geo-locations of the database, the control unit being able to identify when the garment is situated in proximity of one of the specific geo-locations of the database so as to autonomously operate the selecting means for selecting the setup parameter set and/or firmware associated with said specific geo-location.
12. The protective garment according to claim 1 , characterized in that a database of specific sets of parameters, each set identifying a riding style, is stored in an additional memory or in the storing means of the control unit.
13. The protective garment according to claim 12 , characterized in that the control unit is configured to compare the data provided by the sensors with the sets of parameters of database, the control unit being able to autonomously operate the selecting means for selecting the setup parameter set and/or firmware more suited with the riding style identified by the database.
14. The protective garment according to claim 13 , characterized in that the control unit autonomously operates the selecting means after expiration of a monitoring period, wherein the control unit verifies if repeated sequences are found in the data provided by the sensors.
15. The protective garment according to claim 11 , characterized in that the control unit autonomously operates the selecting means after expiration of a monitoring period, wherein the control unit verifies if repeated sequences are found in the positional information received by the GPS module.
16. A method for adjusting the operational modes of a protective garment for motorcycle riders comprising an inflatable protective device, the inflatable protective device comprising:
at least one inflatable bag suitable for moving between a rest condition, wherein it is deflated, and an operating condition, wherein it is inflated;
an inflator unit designed for inflating the at least one inflatable bag;
sensors designed for monitoring the user's body;
a control unit designed for processing the data provided by the sensors and for activating the inflator unit if, on the basis of the data received by the sensors, a danger situation is identified;
wherein the control unit comprises storing means containing at least two different setup parameter sets and/or firmwares of the control unit to correspondingly control activation of the inflator unit in at least two different riding conditions, the control unit being further provided with selecting means for selecting one of the said at least two different setup parameter sets and/or firmwares according to one of the at least two differing riding conditions;
said method adjusting the operational modes of the inflatable protective device according to conditions of use of the protective garment, the method comprising the steps of:
receiving a selection signal according to the riding condition;
selecting, among said at least two different setup parameter sets and/or firmwares of the control unit of the inflatable protective device, the setup parameter set and/or the firmware corresponding to the received selection signal; and
sending an activation signal to the inflator unit so as to inflate the at least one inflatable bag in said at least two differing riding conditions, if a danger situation is detected by the control unit.
17. The method according to claim 16 , characterized in that the selection step is automatically executed.
18. The method according to claim 17 , characterized in that the selection signal is provided by comparing positional information received by a GPS module with a database of specific geo-locations and in that the selecting step is carried out by selecting, among the setup parameter sets and/or firmwares of the control unit, the setup parameter set and/or the firmware associated with the identified geo-location of the database.
19. The method according to claim 17 , characterized in that the selection signal is provided by comparing data provided by sensors of the inflatable protective device with a database of specific sets of parameters, each set identifying a riding style, and in that the selecting step is carried out by selecting, among the setup parameter set and/or firmwares of the control unit, the setup parameter set and/or firmware more suited with the riding style identified by the database.
20. The method according to claim 16 , characterized in that the selection step is manually executed.
21. The method according to claim 20 , characterized in that the selection signal is provided by performing a predefined action on a user interface of the garment and in that the selecting step is carried out by selecting, among the setup parameter sets and/or firmwares of the control unit, the setup parameter and/or firmware associated with said predefined action.