# US 4,397,046 A · Protecting device especially for motor-cyclists > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 4,397,046 A - Document ID: US4397046A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 06/278,465 - Filed: 1981-06-29 - Granted: 1983-08-09 - Earliest claimed: 1981-06-29 - Assignees: Lacoray S.A. - Inventors: Michel Steiner - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4397046A ## CPC - A41D 13/0512: {Neck or shoulders area} - A41D 13/018: inflatable automatically - A41D 13/0525: {Loin or waist area} - A41D 13/0531: {Spine} - A61F 5/055: Cervical collars - Y10S 2/908: Guard or protector having a hook-loop type fastener - A41D: OUTERWEAR; PROTECTIVE GARMENTS; ACCESSORIES - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) - Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS ## Abstract The protecting device comprises a vertebral column protecting element (2) presenting at its higher end a nape protecting element (3) and at its lower end a belt (1), a tight chamber extending on these three elements and being provided with automatically releasable inflating means (10). The protecting device can be beared as a harness by means of straps (15, 16) or incorporated to a clothing. It allows in case of accident to decrease the risks or the severity of injuries to the vertebral column, to the nape and to the lumbar region. ## Claims ### Claim 1 Protecting device especially for motor-cyclists comprising at least a tight chamber which is provided with automatically releasable inflating means and is presenting fixing means intended for cooperating in service position with the body of the user and in such a manner that said chamber is disposed at least along the vertebral column and the nape of said user. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) Device according to claim 1 comprising a vertebral column protecting element presenting a nape protecting element at its higher end and a belt at its lower end. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) Device according to claim 2 in which a sole inflatable chamber extends on the three elements. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) Device according to claim 1 comprising several independent chambers each being provided with automatically releasable inflating means. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) Device according to claim 1 comprising several chambers connected the ones with the others and with a sole automatically releasable inflating device. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) Device according to claim 1 in which the inflating means comprise a compressed gas cartridge provided with fixing means cooperating with corresponding fixing means with which a gas intake element of the chamber is provided, said cartridge being further connected to an automatic opening control device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) Device according to claim 6 in which the automatic control device of the opening of the compressed gas cartridge comprises a split pin connected to a control thread or wire intended to be attached to an element independent from the user. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) Device according to claim 6 in which the cartridge is attached near one of the ends of the belt, in order to be in service position on the ventral region of the user. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) Device according to claim 1 in which the tight chamber is constituted by an air tube made of an elastic material, and is disposed between two layers of leather or synthetic material, the external layer being more thick and more rigid than the internal layer. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) Device according to claim 1 which is provided with straps intended for the fixation thereof in service position on a user in such a manner that the inflatable chamber extends at least along his vertebral column and on his nape. ### Claim 11 Protecting clothing especially for motor-cyclists, comprising a protecting device incorporated within its internal lining or attached to it in a removable manner, said protecting device comprising at least a tight chamber which is provided with automatically releasable inflating means and is presenting fixing means intended for cooperating in service position with the body of the user and in such a manner that said chamber be disposed at least along the vertebral column and the nape of said user. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) Protecting clothing according to claim 11 in which said device comprises a vertebral column protecting element presenting a nape protecting element at its higher end and a belt at its lower end. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) Protecting clothing according to claim 12 in which a sole inflatable chamber extends on the three elements. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) Protecting clothing according to claim 11 in which said device comprises several independent chambers each being provided with automatically releasable inflating means. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) Protecting clothing according to claim 11 in which said device comprises several chambers connected the ones with the others and with a sole automatically releasable inflating device. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) Protecting clothing according to claim 11 in which the inflating means of the protecting device comprise a compressed gas cartridge provided with fixing means cooperating with corresponding fixing means with which a gas intake element of the chamber is provided, said cartridge being further connected to an automatic opening control device. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) Protecting clothing according to claim 16 in which the automatic control device of the opening of the compressed gas cartridge comprises a split spin connected to a control thread or wire intended to be attached to an element independent from the user. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) Protecting clothing according to claim 16 in which the cartridge is attached near one of the ends of the belt, in order to be in service position on the ventral region of the user. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) Protecting clothing according to claim 11 in which the tight chamber of the protecting device is constituted by an air tube made of an elastic material, and is disposed between two layers of leather or of synthetic material, the external layer being more thick and more rigid than the internal layer.