Protective device

Abstract

A protective device for protecting a user, having an inflatable element configured to assume at least an active inflated configuration and a deflated rest configuration. The inflatable element has a first mesh portion and a second mesh portion situated opposite each other and connected together by a plurality of tie elements arranged in a plurality of rows. The inflatable element has at least one preferential curvature and the rows of tie elements are arranged parallel to each other and are oriented transversely or orthogonally with respect to the preferential curvature.

1 . A protective device for protection of a user, said protective device comprising an inflatable element configured to assume at least an inflated active configuration and a deflated rest configuration, said inflatable element comprising a first mesh portion and a second mesh portion, wherein
 said first mesh portion and said second mesh portion are situated opposite each other and are connected to each other by a plurality of tie elements;   the tie elements are arranged in a plurality of rows;   the inflatable element has at least one preferential curvature; and   i) the rows of the tie elements are arranged parallel to each other and oriented transversely or orthogonally with respect to the preferential curvature and/or   ii) the rows of the tie elements are arranged parallel to each other and a direction going from a row to a subsequent row is along said preferential curvature.   
     
     
         2 . The protective device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the inflatable element comprises a first protective operating region and a second protective operating region,   the first protective operating region is different or separate from said second protective operating region,   the first protective operating region includes a first group of tie elements arranged in respective rows parallel to each other,   the second operating region includes a second group of tie elements arranged in respective parallel rows, and   the rows of the first group of tie elements are oriented or arranged with a different orientation or in a different direction with respect to the rows of the second group of tie elements.   
     
     
         3 . The protective device according to  claim 1 , wherein the tie elements belonging to the same row of tie elements are arranged substantially parallel to each other and wherein the tie elements, in a condition of at least partial tension, extend along a direction of development substantially perpendicular to a direction of extension of the rows of tie elements. 
     
     
         4 . The protective device according to  claim 1 , wherein the device is an inflatable device, and wherein when the inflatable element is arranged around the human body said preferential curvature is a curvature both i) around a sagittal axis and ii) around a median axis and/or a transverse axis. 
     
     
         5 . The protective device according to  claim 4 , wherein the inflatable element, or a portion thereof, when arranged around the human body, is curved about hinge axes orthogonal to a sagittal plane and the rows of the tie elements are oriented along an axis orthogonal to the sagittal plane, parallel to a coronal plane and to a transverse plane. 
     
     
         6 . The protective device of  claim 5 , wherein the inflatable element is arranged around a nape area. 
     
     
         7 . The protective device according to  claim 4 , wherein the inflatable element or a portion thereof, when arranged around the human body, is curved about hinge axes parallel to a sagittal axis of the human body, transversely or orthogonally with respect to a coronal plane and to a transverse plane. 
     
     
         8 . The protective device of  claim 7 , wherein the inflatable element is arranged in a shoulder area. 
     
     
         9 . The protective device according to  claim 4 , wherein the inflatable element or a portion thereof, when arranged around the human body, is curved about hinge axes parallel to a sagittal axis of the human body, transversely or orthogonally with respect to a coronal plane. 
     
     
         10 . The protective device according to  claim 1 , further comprising an external protective covering comprising at least a first wall and a second wall, wherein said first mesh portion internally lines said first wall and said second mesh portion internally lines said second wall. 
     
     
         11 . The protective device according to  claim 10 , wherein, in order to obtain said preferential curvature, said first mesh portion has a yielding capacity different from that of said second mesh portion. 
     
     
         12 . The protective device according to  claim 10 , wherein, in order to obtain said preferential curvature, said first wall has a yielding capacity different from that of said second wall. 
     
     
         13 . The protective device according to  claim 1 , wherein the protective device is a wearable device. 
     
     
         14 . A garment including the protective device according to  claim 1 .