Patents by Inventor Colin Ballantyne

Colin Ballantyne has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11540566
    Abstract: A garment is intended to identify a danger situation for the user and react. The garment comprises an emergency device provided with sensors. Furthermore, the emergency device comprises an electronic processing unit and a supervisor and communication unit. The supervisor and communication unit, after being informed of the danger situation by the electronic processing unit, monitors the user by means of the sensors and assesses the level of user activity in order to decide or not to call for further assistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: ALPINESTARS RESEARCH S.P.A.
    Inventors: Giovanni Mazzarolo, Colin Ballantyne
  • Patent number: 10602784
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an inflatable lining (20) comprising a control unit (26), at least one inflatable bag (22) and at least one gas source (24). According to the invention, the inflatable lining (20) further comprises automatic enabling means (28) suitable for switching the control unit (26) from a first operative mode to a second operative mode and viceversa. In the first operative mode the control unit (26) is set so as to ignore any identified danger situation, while in the second operative mode the control unit (26) is set for activating the gas source (24) when a danger situation is identified. The automatic enabling means (28) comprise receiving means suitable for acquiring data from at least one external data source and for maintaining the control unit (26) in the first operative mode in case no data can be acquired from the external source or the acquired data identifies an external source incompatible with the lining mounted inflatable protector (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: ALPINESTARS RESEARCH SRL
    Inventors: Giovanni Mazzarolo, Colin Ballantyne
  • Patent number: 10584980
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a sensing device (10) designed for being applied on a first flap (11) and on a second flap (12) of an opening (13) arranged in a wearable item (14). The sensing device (10) comprises: a triggering element (20) arranged on the first flap (11) of the opening (13) and comprising an activating component (23); a switch element (30) arranged on the second flap (12) of the opening (13) and comprising a sensing component (33); the sensing component (33) being designed for emitting an electrical output signal when it is put in a predetermined mutual position with respect to the activating component (23).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: ALPINESTARS RESEARCH SRL
    Inventors: Colin Ballantyne, Giovanni Mazzarolo
  • Patent number: 10300975
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a protective garment (10, 110) provided with an inflatable protective device. The inflatable protective device comprises: at least one inflatable bag (12), suitable for moving between a rest condition, wherein it is in a deflated status, and an operating condition, wherein it is in an inflated status; an inflator device (14) coupled to the at least one inflatable bag (12) and designed for inflating the at least one inflatable bag (12), once the inflator device (14) is triggered; at least one acceleration sensor (16) suitable for detecting the acceleration undergone by the garment (10, 110) and a control unit (18) designed for processing the acceleration data detected by the at least one acceleration sensor (16) and for sending a triggering signal to the inflator device (14), when a crash situation is identified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: ALPINESTARS RESEARCH SRL
    Inventors: Giovanni Mazzarolo, Colin Ballantyne
  • Publication number: 20170314963
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a sensing device (10) designed for being applied on a first flap (11) and on a second flap (12) of an opening (13) arranged in a wearable item (14). The sensing device (10) comprises: a triggering element (20) arranged on the first flap (11) of the opening (13) and comprising an activating component (23); a switch element (30) arranged on the second flap (12) of the opening (13) and comprising a sensing component (33); the sensing component (33) being designed for emitting an electrical output signal when it is put in a predetermined mutual position with respect to the activating component (23).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2015
    Publication date: November 2, 2017
    Inventors: Colin Ballantyne, Giovanni Mazzarolo
  • Publication number: 20170202279
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a protective garment (10, 110) provided with an inflatable protective device. The inflatable protective device comprises: at least one inflatable bag (12), suitable for moving between a rest condition, wherein it is in a deflated status, and an operating condition, wherein it is in an inflated status; an inflator device (14) coupled to the at least one inflatable bag (12) and designed for inflating the at least one inflatable bag (12), once the inflator device (14) is triggered; at least one acceleration sensor (16) suitable for detecting the acceleration undergone by the garment (10, 110) and a control unit (18) designed for processing the acceleration data detected by the at least one acceleration sensor (16) and for sending a triggering signal to the inflator device (14), when a crash situation is identified.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2015
    Publication date: July 20, 2017
    Inventors: Giovanni Mazzarolo, Colin Ballantyne
  • Publication number: 20160174626
    Abstract: A garment (12) is intended to identify a danger situation for the user and react. The garment comprises an emergency device (13) provided with sensors. Furthermore, the emergency device comprises an electronic processing unit (16) and a supervisor and communication unit (17). The supervisor and communication unit (17), after being informed of the danger situation by the electronic processing unit, monitors the user by means of the sensors and assesses the level of user activity in order to decide or not to call for further assistance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2014
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventors: Giovanni MAZZAROLO, Colin BALLANTYNE
  • Patent number: 9332794
    Abstract: A garment which comprises an inflatable protective device able to expand from a rest condition, wherein it's in a deflated status, to a working condition, wherein it's in an inflated status, inflation means able to inflate said protective device and an electronic controller able to activate the inflation means if a risk and/or danger signal is detected by sensors incorporated in the garment. The inflatable protective device, after being moved to the working condition, can return automatically to the rest condition without requiring to be repacked or reset and the inflation means can inflate the protective device more than once without requiring to be recharged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Alpinestars Research Srl
    Inventors: Giovanni Mazzarolo, Colin Ballantyne
  • Publication number: 20150173433
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an inflatable lining (20) comprising a control unit (26), at least one inflatable bag (22) and at least one gas source (24). According to the invention, the inflatable lining (20) further comprises automatic enabling means (28) suitable for switching the control unit (26) from a first operative mode to a second operative mode and viceversa. In the first operative mode the control unit (26) is set so as to ignore any identified danger situation, while in the second operative mode the control unit (26) is set for activating the gas source (24) when a danger situation is identified. The automatic enabling means (28) comprise receiving means suitable for acquiring data from at least one external data source and for maintaining the control unit (26) in the first operative mode in case no data can be acquired from the external source or the acquired data identifies an external source incompatible with the lining mounted inflatable protector (20).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Inventors: Giovanni Mazzarolo, Colin Ballantyne
  • Patent number: 8832871
    Abstract: A collar for protecting the neck of a user, useful in particular for motorcycle riders, is envisaged, said collar comprising two half-collars which are pivotably hinged together at one end so as to be rotatable in a substantially horizontal plane and which can be connected together by means of a fastening and release lever, a safety structure which at the rear extends downwards from the bottom edge of the collar so as to be centered with respect to the spinal column of the user, and a protective shield which extends downwards at the front. The safety structure has a breakable structure made of the material with an impact strength lower than the material forming the collar so as to break in a programmed manner in the event of impacts following falls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Alpinestars Research SRL
    Inventors: Giovanni Mazzarolo, Colin Ballantyne
  • Patent number: 8291521
    Abstract: A collar for protecting the neck of a user, useful in particular for motorcycle riders, is envisaged, said collar comprising two half-collars which are pivotably hinged together at one end so as to be rotatable in a substantially horizontal plane and which can be connected together by means of a fastening and release lever, a plate which at the rear extends downwards from the bottom edge of the collar so as to be centred with respect to the spinal column of the user, and a protective shield which extends downwards at the front. The collar is provided with removable padding means where the collar rests on the user's shoulders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Alpinestars Research Srl
    Inventors: Giovanni Mazzarolo, Colin Ballantyne
  • Publication number: 20120073035
    Abstract: A garment which comprises an inflatable protective device able to expand from a rest condition, wherein it's in a deflated status, to a working condition, wherein it's in an inflated status, inflation means able to inflate said protective device and an electronic controller able to activate the inflation means if a risk and/or danger signal is detected by sensors incorporated in the garment. The inflatable protective device, after being moved to the working condition, can return automatically to the rest condition without requiring to be repacked or reset and the inflation means can inflate the protective device more than once without requiring to be recharged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2009
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: ALPINESTARS RESEARCH SRL
    Inventors: Giovanni Mazzarolo, Colin Ballantyne
  • Publication number: 20100263112
    Abstract: A collar for protecting the neck of a user, useful in particular for motorcycle riders, is envisaged, said collar comprising two half-collars which are pivotably hinged together at one end so as to be rotatable in a substantially horizontal plane and which can be connected together by means of a fastening and release lever, a safety structure which at the rear extends downwards from the bottom edge of the collar so as to be centred with respect to the spinal column of the user, and a protective shield which extends downwards at the front. The safety structure has a breakable structure made of the material with an impact strength lower than the material forming the collar so as to break in a programmed manner in the event of impacts following falls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2009
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Applicant: Alpinestars Research Srl
    Inventors: Giovanni Mazzarolo, Colin Ballantyne
  • Patent number: D605300
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Alpinestars Research SRL
    Inventors: Giovanni Mazzarolo, Colin Ballantyne