Personal protection device and garment including such a device

Abstract

A personal protection device for the protection of a portion of the body of a user is described. The device has an inflatable element adapted to protect at least partially a region of the pelvis of the user and including a first side protection portion adapted to protect at least one hip region, and a second side protection portion adapted to protect at least the other region of the hip of the user, and a connecting portion defining a zone of connection between the first side protection portion and the second side protection portion. The connecting portion defines a fluid communication between the first side protection portion and the second side protection portion.

1 . A personal protection device for the protection of a portion of the body of a user, said device comprising:
 an inflatable element adapted to protect at least partially a region of the pelvis of the user and including:
 a first side protection portion adapted to protect at least one hip region, and 
 a second side protection portion adapted to protect at least the other region of the hip of the user, and 
   a connecting portion defining a zone of connection between the first side protection portion and the second side protection portion , and defining a fluid communication between said first side protection portion and the second side protection portion .   
     
     
         2 . The personal protection device according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the first side protection portion and the second side protection portion are substantially “C”-shaped with a curved profile or with a curved region defining a cavity or a concavity. 
     
     
         3 . The personal protection device according to  claim 2 , wherein the first side protection portion and the second side protection portion are connected to each other at the curved region such that the cavities or concavities are pointing on the side opposite to the connecting portion. 
     
     
         4 . The personal protection device according to  claim 2 , wherein the connecting portion is shaped as an elongated band and acts both as a fluid connection between the first side protection portion and the second side protection portion and as a protection element for a corresponding rear region of the user, at the bottom of the back. 
     
     
         5 . The personal protection device according to  claim 1 ,  further comprising an appendage protruding from an edge of the connecting portion and adapted intended to protect the coccyx and/or the sacrum of a user. 
     
     
         6 . The personal protection device according to  claim 1 ,  wherein the first side protection portion and the second side protection portion are shaped and sized to surround a protruding hip bone including the iliac crest bone. 
     
     
         7 . The personal protection device according to  claim 1 ,  wherein the first side protection portion , the second side protection portion and the connecting portion form a single bag. 
     
     
         8 . The personal protection device according to  claim 1 ,  further comprising a second inflatable element structurally independent from said inflatable element and located at a zone of the shoulders of a user. 
     
     
         9 . The personal protection device according to  claim 8 , wherein the second inflatable element includes:
 a first part adapted to be disposed in a region of the neck ( 41 ) of the user, and   a second part having an elongated shape and adapted to be disposed in a zone which extends from an articulation region of a shoulder to the articulation region of the other shoulder , passing through a region of the back.   
     
     
         10 . The personal protection device according to  claim 8 , wherein the second inflatable element includes a portion for the spine which is adapted to protect the region of the spine of the user. 
     
     
         11 . The personal protection device according to  claim 8 , wherein the second inflatable element ( 112 ) is connected in fluid communication to the inflatable element by at least one cannula. 
     
     
         12 . The personal protection device according to  claim 10 , wherein the second inflatable element ( 112 ) includes a fluid source, wherein said source of inflation fluid is associated with said portion for the spine. 
     
     
         13 . A garment comprising a personal protection device according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         14 . A method to protect a user comprising the steps of:
 providing an inflatable element at least partially at a region of the pelvis of the user, in which a first side portion of said inflatable element of protection protects at least one hip region, and a second side protection portion of said inflatable element protects at least the other region of the hip of the user,   connecting in fluid communication the first side protection portion and the second side protection portion via a connecting portion; and   inflating said inflatable element.   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein each of the first side protection portion and the second side protection portion is arranged on the respective region of the hip of the user surrounding a protruding hip bone. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the inflatable element is put in fluid communication with a second inflatable element located at the shoulders of a user. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein a source of fluid under pressure is located inside the second inflatable element to inflate both the inflatable element and the second inflatable element. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the connecting portion of the inflatable element protects a bottom zone of the back of a user. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the inflatable element is arranged on the user so as to embrace at least partially the pelvis of the user.