A jacket and belt with airbags

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an inflatable airbags that is folded within a wearable, fashionable Jacket and belt that could be worn by people who want to protect themselves from hip bones injuries as well as injuries to cervical, thoracic and lumbar region.

In the next one to two decade, worldwide aging population would increase at an increasing rate. This would mean that incidents of fall from the aging population (normal elderly, as well as people who have poor eyesight, sickly, suffering from osteoporosis, Parkinson, high blood pressure and diabetes) would also be increased. Hence there is a need to provide these elderly with protection should falls occur during their activities of daily livings (example: -moving around the house, walking, standing and running out¬ door in all weather condition). The jacket could help to cushion fall and hence prevent very serious injuries to the hip and backbones. The tangible benefit is the reduction of the hospital stay hence a great saving to the national health care systems and some of the intangible benefit would include reduction of patient's pain and immobility.

This invention is about using airbags at appropriate hip region, cervical, thoracic and lumbar region. They will be. inflated once the systems (which consist of a handheld computer, sensor hub, accelerometer sensors and Co2 gas cylinders) detects users is falling and automatically inflate airbags.

Description of related Art There has been many usage of airbags from vehicle protection to motorcycle or even an airbags for Jockey falling from a horse. But airbags for protection of the people who does simple things (activity of daily living) like moving around, walking, sitting, standing or running etc... has no prior art. Osteopro Jacket appear to be the first that provide such basic protection or cushioning of fall, for people or elderly who have a higher tendency to fall doing activity of daily living. The means to monitor human movement in our case is using a small portable handheld computer with software and some sensors; just like Wearable computers which is a well known art which have been around for a some time. In our case usage of this computer is of the most basic or simple in nature as it is used to just process the signal from a few accelerometer sensors, whose signal passes through a sensor hub to the computer. The handheld computer will analyze, interpret and goes into action, if the wearer fall. Summary of Invention

Osteopro Jacket

Osteopro Jacket is a sleek design jacket for modern people who is fast growing into their sixties and seventies. It is also a jacket for people (child to adult) who are prone to fall, especially for those who suffer from medical condition and is on fall precaution. It is a Jacket that looks so good at all time and at the same time provide cushion for them from injuries sustain from fall which could be fatal or causes serious permanent disabilities. At that vulnerable age, any fall with prevalent Osteoporosis or other illnesses can create complications and cause the victim, family, and society much pain and money.

Making use of present day technology, like the handheld computer, software and hardware sensor accelerometers. The movement of a person can easily be monitor. A lightweight portable handheld computer (with necessary software and is bluetooth) will be carried in a pocket of the Osteopro jacket. Through the handheld computer — RS232 port, connections will be make to various accelerometers sensors passing through a sensor hub (this hub bridges between the RS232 serial interface on the computer and a multi-device serial protocol responsible for sensor data acquisition and sequencing). Accelerometers, placing at various positions of the body will detect motion and position of the body and send this signals via the sensor hub and back to the handheld computer for analysis, interpretation and action.

The arrangement of above sensors and computer together with software will be able to Classify the movement of the wearer, example like sitting, standing, walking and running. These data will be fed into a inference systems for complex interpretation and decision making - i.e. should the victim fall, The handheld computer will send a signal to automatically inflate (activating to puncture CO2 cylinder) airbags, primarily around the waist region plus cervical, thoracic and lumbar region.

Above is a basic system of detection of falls and activating a minimal basic airbags protection using an Osteopro Jacket with build in Computer and accessories. Should more features be required, the system is definitely expandable. This bluetooth handheld computer can be connected to a cellular telephone (or handheld computer with build-in cellular telephone can be used), SMS or voice messages can than be send to relatives of the victim who have just fall. Additional features of Ground positioning satellite (GPS) locating system can also be added to our sensor hub and this will serve as a means which we can locate the victim should they fall, especially useful for sufferer of Alzheimer disease. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

Details of the invention, and certain preferred embodiments thereof, will be further understood upon reference to the drawing Figures, wherein:

Drawing number 1/3 is a perspective showing of Osteopro Jacket, front (figl) and back (fig2.) with various position of the handheld computer, Sensor Hub, Accelerometers, CO2 cylinders and the airbag belt (deflated) all high lighted and jacket ready to be worn.

Drawing number 2/3 is as showing of the inflated view of the back (fig.3) and the side (fig4) of the Osteopro Jacket.

Drawing number 3/3, figure 5 is a block diagram/circuit diagram showing various components linking up to form a working system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to drawing number 1/3, figure 1: - Shows the Osteopro Jacket's front view. It can be made of any material or fabric that offer comfort to wearer. Number 5 is the leather (or any other suitable material) belt that house the airbag (deflated). Point 6 is where the airbag is folded into and hold in place by Velcro. The airbags will be connected to the two cylinders at the side of the waist at position 3 and 4. The connection can be in the form of tubing or through gas impregnable clothing materials forming passage from cylinders to the airbags (depending on the availability of design from manufacturer of gas cylinders).

Number 1 shows the handheld computer unit (open systems base, minimum 206 MHz processor, 64mb SDRAM, 16MB flash, CF and SD expansion slots, bluetooth, full duplex audio, qVGA color touch screen and an Qwerty keyboard) and number 2 is the sensor hub. Nos. 7, 8,9, and 10 are positions of the accelerometers that can be rearranged to suit the users, the numbers of accelerometer used will be dependent on manufacturer's specification.

Figure 2, shows the back view of the Ostepro Jacket. Number 6 shows the slit where airbag is enclosed all round the waist and Nos.16 & 15 (in fig.l) is a belt strap that holds the belt. No.14 seen as shaded is make of softer elastic material so that airbags have no problem in inflating through slit 6. Nos. 12 and 13 show slits or opening that is also hold together by Velcro and these positions hold the folded airbags for the cervical, thoracic and lumbar region. At position 11, we see an accelerometer at the neck region. Drawing number 2/3, figure 3 shows the back view of the Osteopro Jacket when it is inflated. No. 17 depicts the full airbag at the waist when it is fully inflated, this will give protection to the hip region. No. 19 is a smaller airbag to support the cervical (neck) so as to cushion off any impending injuries to the neck. No. 18 is the other airbag that protects the thoracic and lumbar region. Nos. 18 and 19 will share the same gas cylinder. The airbags can remain inflated for a few minutes, as the materials used (similar to that of the car's airbag except it is less porous) will ensure that the gas escape slowly. Figure 4 shows the side view of the fully inflated airbags. No. 17 is airbag from the waist belt, No.18 is airbag for the thoracic and lumbar and finally No. 19 is the airbag for the cervical neck region. Both the airbags at nos.18 and 19 are interconnected using the same CO2 cylinder.

Referring now to drawing number 3/3, figure 5: - This drawing shows the complete block diagram of various components that are connected or wired onto the Osteopro Jacket (wire used can be of the type that is suitable for wearable computers). Starting with no.l, our handheld computer have a RS232 port as shown which is connected to a sensor hub (2) through connector 22. The responsibilities of the sensor hub will be to bridge between the RS232 serial interface of the handheld computer and a multi-device serial protocol; the sensor hub is responsible for sensor data acquisition and sequencing. It is also battery powered (25 show - AA size batteries). Sensor hub connector 23 is connected to a few accelerometers whose sole function is to detect motion and position of the body and sending these signals via connector 23 through the sensor hub and back to the handheld computer for analysis and interpretation. Positioning of the sensor would depend on the type of available accelerometer sensors, as more advance model would require less numbers since it is only positioned at important location. Connector 23 could also mount any other type of sensors to measure temperature, diabetes condition or just connect to a global positional device or a bluetooth device.

Feedback from the accelerometers will be analyzed by the computer software and classify accelerometer spectral features as sitting, standing, walking, running or subject is falling. Once interpretation is make, if subject is falling, action signal will be send out through the sensor hub and through to connector 24 to activate a plungers located at the plunger cap (20 and 21) of the CO2 cylinders (3 and 4). Plunger will puncture gas CO2 cylinder and inflate airbags immediately.