Personal protection device

Abstract

A personal protection device for the protection of a portion of the body of a user is described. The device includes an inflatable member intended to protect at least partially a zone of the body of a user. The personal protection device includes at least a first portion and a second portion. The first portion and the second portion are superimposed in a corresponding overlapping area or superimposition area. The personal protection device includes at least one connecting device or structure associated with the first portion of the inflatable member and the second portion in the superimposition area.

1 . A personal protection device for protection of a portion of the body of a user, said device comprising:
 an inflatable member intended to protect at least partially a zone of the body of the user, including at least a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion and the second portion are superimposed in a corresponding overlapping area or superimposition area, and   at least one connecting device or structure associated with the first portion and the second portion in the overlapping area.   
     
     
         2 . The personal protection device according to  claim 1 , wherein the connecting device or structure is a structure which allows a reversible connection between the first portion and the second portion. 
     
     
         3 . The personal protection device according to  claim 1 , wherein the connecting device or structure is a structure which allows adjustment of the superimposition of the first portion and the second portion. 
     
     
         4 . The personal protection device according to  claim 1 , wherein the connecting device or structure is a zip structure or a structure with strings, straps or laces. 
     
     
         5 . The personal protection device according to  claim 1 , wherein the connecting device or structure is centered in said superimposition area. 
     
     
         6 . The personal protection device according to  claim 1 , wherein the connecting structure comprises two flaps, or panels, made of soft material, wherein one side of one of the two flaps is, directly or indirectly, fixed or connected to one of the two portions of the inflatable member, and the other side of the two flaps, on a side facing the other of the two portions of the inflatable member, is free and mobile and adapted to be connected to the other of the two flaps associated with the other of two portions of the inflatable member. 
     
     
         7 . The personal protection device according to  claim 6 , wherein each of the two flaps is a cloth or fabric piece or panel which is, directly or indirectly, connected to the respective first portion or second portion in an intermediate region between the overlapping area and a remaining part of the inflatable member. 
     
     
         8 . The personal protection device according to  claim 1 , wherein the connecting structure comprises elastic inserts or is made of elastic material. 
     
     
         9 . The personal protection device according to  claim 7 , wherein each or one of the two flaps includes elastic inserts or is made of elastic material. 
     
     
         10 . The personal protection device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first portion and the second portion are terminal portions, or end portions, of the inflatable member intended to face to each other. 
     
     
         11 . The personal protection device according to  claim 1 , wherein the overlapping area is a front area of the torso of a user and/or a side area of the torso of a user. 
     
     
         12 . A garment including, or in combination with, the personal protection device according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         13 . The garment according to  claim 12 , wherein said connecting device or connecting structure is part of the garment and is indirectly associated with the first portion and the second portion of the inflatable member in the overlapping area. 
     
     
         14 . A method for protecting a user comprising the steps of
 arranging an inflatable member at least partially on a region of the user's body, wherein   a first portion of said inflatable member is superimposed on a second portion of the inflatable member in a corresponding overlapping area or superimposition area, and wherein the first portion and the second portion are connected together in the superimposition area.   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the first portion and the second portion are connected by elastic means such that, during inflation of the first portion and the second portion, the first portion and the second portion move temporarily away from each other thus decreasing a respective overlapping condition and, at the end of inflation, the elastic means return into an original condition such that the first portion and the second portion move again close to each other.