Protective device for protection of a user and related manufacturing process

Abstract

A protective device for protection of a user, a process for manufacture thereof and use of a knitting machine for manufacturing such a protective device. In particular the protective device includes an inflatable element able to assume an active inflated condition and a deflated rest condition. The inflatable element includes a knitted body with closed structure on at least four sides or walls and having an at least partially tubular form and defining an inner zone or inner chamber. The knitted body also includes a second filament which forms a plurality of joining threads which cross the inner chamber and are knotted to two faces of the knitted body.

1 .- 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A protective device for protection of a user, said protective device comprising
 an inflatable element, able to assume at least an active inflated condition and including a knitted body made with at least one first thread to form a plurality of knit units, the knitted body defining an inner chamber,   wherein the knitted body comprises a second thread extending multiple times into the inner chamber between a first face and a second face of the knitted body to form a plurality of joining threads,   wherein said second thread is woven to form a knot with one or more knit units of the first face in a corresponding first connecting area and a knot with one or more knit units of the second face in a corresponding second connecting area,   and wherein   i) in said active inflated condition of the inflatable element, each knot is tightened and prevents a relative movement between said second thread and said one or more knit units in the first connecting area and the second connecting area, or   ii) by means of said knot, said second thread is tightened to said one or more knit units in the first connecting area and the second connecting area.   
     
     
         21 . The protective device according to  claim 20 , wherein the inflatable element is also able to assume a deflated rest condition in which each knot is loose and is able to allow the relative movement between said second thread and said knit unit. 
     
     
         22 . The protective device according to  claim 20 , wherein said knot is a slipknot formed by one or more knit units and the second thread in the joining zone, said slipknot being able to tighten in response to a tension of said second thread. 
     
     
         23 . The protective device according to  claim 20 , wherein
 each knit unit is an eyelet of the first or second face of the knitted body, and   said second thread is inserted into each said eyelet, said eyelet being smaller in a tightened condition corresponding to the inflated condition of the inflatable element.   
     
     
         24 . The protective device according to  claim 23 , wherein the second thread forms said knot with three knit units in a respective connecting area. 
     
     
         25 . The protective device according to  claim 23 , wherein said first face and said second face of the knitted body each comprise a plurality of knitted rows, and wherein said knit units are formed along said knitted rows. 
     
     
         26 . The protective device according to  claim 25 , wherein of said three knit units
 a first knit unit and a third knit unit are arranged side-by-side and are part of a first knitted row and   a second knit unit is part of a second knitted row adjacent to the first knitted row, to form three areas for connecting the second thread or second filament to respective knit units.   
     
     
         27 . The protective device according to  claim 26 , wherein said second knit unit is arranged in an intermediate position along a respective second knitted row with respect to the first knit unit and the third knit unit. 
     
     
         28 . The protective device according to  claim 26 , wherein the second thread is inserted into said first knit unit and said second knit unit to form an eyelet engaging with said first knit unit and said third knit unit, and wherein the second thread is inserted twice inside said second knit unit. 
     
     
         29 . The protective device according to  claim 20 ,
 wherein said first face and said second face of the knitted body are opposite each other, and   wherein the knitted body comprises at least a third face, continuously knitted together with the first face and with the second face, and at least a fourth face, continuously knitted together with the first face and the second face, the fourth face being opposite the third face.   
     
     
         30 . The protective device according to  claim 20 , further comprising a first wall and a second wall, wherein the knitted body is covered by the first wall and the second wall. 
     
     
         31 . A garment including the protective device according to  claim 20 . 
     
     
         32 . A process for manufacturing a protective device for protection of a user, comprising:
 knitting at least one first thread to obtain a knitted body having an inner chamber, said knitting comprising forming by way of said first thread a plurality of knit units on at least a first face and a second face of the knitted body, and   during the knitting, knitting at least one second thread so that the second thread extends multiple times into an inner chamber between said first face and said second face of the knitted body to define a plurality of joining threads crossing the inner chamber;   
       wherein said step of knitting said second thread comprises weaving said second thread and one or more knit units of the second face, forming:
 a knot between said second thread and said one or more knit units of the first face, and 
 a knot between said second thread and said one or more knit units of the second face. 
 
     
     
         33 . The process according to  claim 32 , wherein the knot is obtained by tightening of one or more of said knit units and the second thread in a respective contact area or joining point. 
     
     
         34 . The process according to  claim 32  comprising
 knitting said first thread to form a plurality of knitted rows 
 providing a first eyelet to form a first knit unit 
 providing a second eyelet to form a third knit unit, arranged side-by-side along a first knitted row, and 
 providing a second eyelet or loop to form a second knit unit along a second knitted row adjacent to the first knitted row, in an intermediate position with respect to said first knit unit and said third knit unit. 
 
     
     
         35 . The process according to  claim 34 , comprising
 knitting said second thread in the following sequence: inserting said second thread or second filament into said second knit unit, said first knit unit and said third knit unit and again into said second knit unit.   
     
     
         36 . The process according to  claim 32 , wherein the first thread and the second thread are knitted by a same knitting machine and the knot is formed by knitting. 
     
     
         37 . A flat knitting machine for manufacture of a protective airbag device,
 wherein said flat knitting machine is configured to process
 a first thread to form a knitted body comprising a plurality of knit units defining an inner chamber of the protective airbag device, and 
 a second thread to form joining threads arranged in the inner chamber, 
   and wherein the knitting machine forms a knot between one or more knit units and the second thread in a mutual connection.   
     
     
         38 . The flat knitting machine according to  claim 37 , wherein the protective airbag device comprises an inflatable element, able to assume at least an active inflated condition and including a knitted body made with at least one first thread to form a plurality of knit units, the knitted body defining an inner chamber,
 wherein the knitted body comprises a second thread extending multiple times into the inner chamber between a first face and a second face of the knitted body to form a plurality of joining threads,   wherein said is woven to form a knot with one or more knit units of the first face in a corresponding first connecting area and a knot with one or more knit units of the second face in a corresponding second connecting area or joining point,   and wherein   i) in said active inflated condition of the inflatable element, each knot is tightened and prevents a relative movement between said second thread or second filament and said one or more knit units in the first connecting area and the second connecting area, or   ii) by means of said knot, said second thread is tightened to one or more knit units in the first connecting area and the second connecting area.