Protection device for protecting the sides/the ribs, the back and the chest of a user

Abstract

Protection device ( 1 ) for protecting the sides/the ribs, the back and the chest of a user comprising a main body ( 2 ) designed to protect the sides/the ribs and the back of the user, a front protection element ( 4 ) designed to protect the chest of the user and removably connected to the main body ( 2 ), the main body ( 2 ) and the front protection element ( 4 ) being movable there between and delimiting an inner space (S) for the body of the user. The protection device ( 1 ) further comprises connection means ( 6 ) for removably connecting the front protection element ( 4 ) to the main body ( 2 ) and adjustment means ( 42 ) designed to be handled by the user for adjusting the size of the inner space (S) according to the size of the body of the user. The connection means ( 6 ) and the adjustment means ( 42 ) are distinct there between and are at least partially and operatively associated there between.

1 . A protection device for protecting the sides/the ribs, the back and the chest of a user, comprising:
 a main body designed to protect the sides/the ribs and the back of the user;   a front protection element designed to protect the chest of the user and removably connected to the main body, the main body and the front protection element being movable there between and delimiting an inner space for the body of the user;   connection means for removably connecting the front protection element to the main body;   adjustment means designed to be handled by the user for adjusting the size of the inner space according to the sizes of the body of the user;   wherein the connection means and the adjustment means are distinct there between and are at least partially and operatively associated there between.   
     
     
         2 . The protection device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the front protection element comprises a rigid or semi-rigid outer shell. 
     
     
         3 . The protection device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the main body has a front opening for making the inner space accessible from the outside, the opening being covered by the front protection element removably connected to the main body. 
     
     
         4 . The protection device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the main body comprises two side protection elements for protecting the ribs of the user and a back protection element for protecting the back of the user, the connection means being designed for removably connecting the front protection element to at least one of the side protection elements. 
     
     
         5 . The protection device according to  claim 4 , characterized in that the side protection elements and the back protection element comprise rigid or semi-rigid outer shells. 
     
     
         6 . The protection device according to  claim 4 , characterized in that the side protection elements are connected to the opposite sides of the back protection element by at least one hinge. 
     
     
         7 . The protection device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the connection means comprises a closed-loop wire slidably coupled to the front protection element and to the main body or to the side protection elements. 
     
     
         8 . The protection device according to  claim 7 , characterized in that the opposite side ends or to the side protection elements. 
     
     
         9 . The protection device according to  claim 7 , characterized in that the front protection element and the main body or the side protection elements comprise guide elements having channels for the sliding of the closed-loop wire. 
     
     
         10 . The protection device according to  claim 9 , characterized in that the guide elements are formed, as channels or grooves, on the outer surface of the front protection element. 
     
     
         11 . The protection device according to  claim 7 , characterized in that the adjustment means comprise a rotatable element partially engaging at least one section of the closed-loop wire, the rotation of the rotatable element allowing the sliding of the closed-loop wire. 
     
     
         12 . The protection device according to  claim 11 , characterized in that the rotatable element is round and has two angularly offset slots for the entry and the exit of the at least one section of the closed-loop wire, the rotatable element further comprising an inner pivot for winding or un-winding the closed-loop wire. 
     
     
         13 . The protection device according to  claim 11 , further comprising lock means for locking the rotatable element upon rotation thereof and/or once the at least one section of the closed-loop wire has been wound. 
     
     
         14 . The protection device according to  claim 11 , characterized in that the rotatable element is positioned in a recess formed in the front protection element. 
     
     
         15 . The protection device according to  claim 8 , characterized in that the sides of the front protection element or of the side protection elements, the degree of overlap between the sides of the front protection element and the front ends of the main body the side protection elements varying during the sliding of the closed-loop wire and the adjustment of the size of the inner space. 
     
     
         16 . The protection device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the connection means comprises at least one belt having a first end secured to a side of the front protection element and a second end removably secured to the main body or to one of said side protection elements. 
     
     
         17 . The protection device according to  claim 16 , characterized in that the second end of the at least one belt and one of the side ends of the closed-loop wire is associated to a plate removably fastened to the main body or to one of the side protection elements. 
     
     
         18 . The protection device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the adjustment means are arranged on the front protection element. 
     
     
         19 . The protection device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the protection device is a karting body protection. 
     
     
         20 . The protection device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the protection device meets the requirements of FIA standard 8870-2018.