Apparatus and method for protection of body areas upon impact

An apparatus for protecting a user, comprising:

• a) an elongated belt dimensioned and configured to be worn about a waist of a user;
• b) an inflatable/deflatable airbag supported on the belt including an inflatable/deflatable airbag;
• c) an inflate/deflate pump supported on the belt and communicating with the the inflatable/deflatable airbag for inflating and/or deflating the inflatable/deflatable airbag upon receiving an activation signal;
• d) a position sensor operatively associated with the electronic controller for sensing a change in a user's position;
• e) an electronic controller operatively connected to the inflate/deflate pump to activate and/or deactivate the inflate/deflate pump in response to an activation signal, wherein the activation signal is initiated by detection of a change in the user's position by the position sensor,
• wherein upon sensing a change in the user's position from a first position to a second position, the electronic controller commands the inflate/deflate pump to inflate the inflatable/deflatable airbag,
• wherein upon sensing a change in the user's position from the second position to a third position, the electronic controller commands the inflate/deflate pump to deflate the inflatable/deflatable airbag.

A method for deploying an apparatus for protecting a user, the method comprising:

• a) providing a user with an apparatus, wherein the apparatus is worn around a user's waist;
• b) sending a first activation signal to inflate an inflatable/deflatable airbag by way of the means associated with the electronic controller;
• and
• c) inflating, with an inflate/deflate pump, the inflatable/deflatable airbag to a target pressure to act as a cushion for the user.