ADJUSTABLE ORTHOPEDIC PROTECTIVE APPARATUS AND METHOD

• US 20100088808A1
• Filed: 10/13/2008
• Published: 04/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Guido Rietdyk, Kevin Heinz
• Original Assignee: Guido Rietdyk, Kevin Heinz
• Inventors: Heinz, Kevin, Rietdyk, Guido
• Granted Patent: US 8,281,419 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 2/467
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/0512 Neck or shoulders area
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/0531 Spine
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 2600/102 Motorcycling
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/0473 Neck restraints

Abstract

An orthopedic protective assembly is disclosed. The orthopedic protective apparatus includes a foam shaped collar to conform to a user'"'"'s neck area. The foam shaped collar comprises a multi-layer polymer material having a pliable outermost protective layer to absorb initial impact energy and additional layer(s). The additional layer(s) require(s) greater impact energy to deform than those of the pliable outermost protective layer. In one embodiment, shim extension(s) customize(s) impact energy absorption properties of the foam shaped collar by filling a gap between an underside of the foam shaped collar and a shoulder region of a user.

Claims

1. An orthopedic protective assembly to reduce extent of an impact related injury of a user comprising:

a foam shaped collar to conform to a user neck area, the foam shaped collar comprising a polymer material including a multi-layer structure with a pliable outermost circumferential protective layer to absorb initial impact energy and at least one additional circumferential protective layer;

wherein the at least one additional circumferential protective layer requires a greater impact energy to deform than those of the pliable outermost circumferential protective layer; and

a shim extension apparatus to customize impact energy absorption properties of the foam shaped collar, the shim extension apparatus fills a gap between an underside of the foam shaped collar and a shoulder region of a user to customize in accordance with a user'"'"'s neck length absorptive energy properties of the foam shaped collar.

2. The orthopedic protective assembly of claim 1, wherein the foam shaped collar comprises a stretchable sleeve;

wherein the shim extension apparatus comprises at least one foam insert; and

wherein a user chooses to detachably attach the at least one foam insert within the stretchable sleeve to align and secure the at least one foam insert to the foam shaped collar.

3. The orthopedic protective assembly of claim 1, wherein the shim extension apparatus comprises a multitude of foam inserts;

wherein a user chooses to detachably attach one or more of the multitude of foam inserts within the stretchable sleeve to align and secure the at least one foam insert to the foam shaped collar.

4. The orthopedic protective assembly of claim 1, further comprising an opening mechanism to allow the user open the foam shaped collar and close the foam collar about a neck region.

5. The orthopedic protective assembly of claim 2, further comprising an inner liner, the inner liner comprising a bio-foam material insert having a unidirectional oriented, axially sculptured surface located along at least one user skeletal group or muscular group to diffuse the initial impact energy.

6. The orthopedic protective assembly of claim 3, wherein the inner liner comprises an outer surface polymer material having at least one cup-shaped structure to spread and channel impact energy over a larger effective user skeletal or muscular group or area than that of an initial impact contact point to a larger skeletal or muscular group or area.

7. The orthopedic protective assembly of claim 6, wherein the at least one cup-shaped structure comprises a heat-molded cross-link bio-foam material that substantially conforms to a rear protruding portion of a user spinal column to prevent fracture upon being impacted.

8. The orthopedic protective assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

an inner liner having at least one uniaxial, aligned axis to that of at least one a shoulder or a neck region and having at least one substantially c-shaped foam area; and

a vertebrae protective chassis;

wherein the vertebrae protective chassis having a rigid construction and being fitted with the inner liner and to conform with a user'"'"'s spinal cord region; and

wherein the vertebrae protective chassis comprises a protective region to conform with a bony protruding portion of a user'"'"'s spinal column to diffuse and deflect the initial impact energy at the bony protruding portion across at least one muscular group or one skeletal group.

9. The orthopedic protective assembly of claim 8, wherein the vertebrae protective chassis detachably connects and the protective region substantially aligns with the substantially c-shaped foam area.

10. The orthopedic protective assembly of claim 8, wherein the vertebrae protective apparatus comprises an upper portion and a lower portion that are integrally connected through a series of stress bars to improve tensile strength while providing reduced overall weight and increased air circulation as compared to a conventional solid vertebrae protective apparatus.

11. The orthopedic protective assembly of claim 8, further comprising a chest protector fastening apparatus, the chest protector fastening apparatus comprising a quick-release mechanism that detachably connects to a conventional chest protector and web-looping apparatus to secure an outer surface of the conventional chest protector to shoulders of the user.

12. A spinal column protective apparatus to reduce extent of an impact related injury comprising:

a collar substantially encompassing a user'"'"'s neck area and having a multi-layer, foam, protective structure, the collar having a pliable outermost edge to absorb the initial impact energy and additional protective layer;

wherein the additional protective layer requires a greater impact energy to deform than those of the pliable outermost protective edge; and

a shim extension apparatus to customize impact energy absorption properties of the collar, the shim extension apparatus fills a gap between an underside of the collar and a shoulder region of a user to custom fit absorption energy properties of the collar.

13. The spinal column protective apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a sleeve wherein the collar is disposed;

wherein the shim extension apparatus comprises at least one foam insert; and

wherein the user chooses to detachably attach the at least one foam insert to the collar disposed in the sleeve to align and secure the at least one foam insert to the collar to provide a energy channel that extends from a user'"'"'s helmet to the shoulder area of user.

14. The spinal column protective apparatus of claim 12, wherein the foam collar comprises an expandable fastener;

wherein the shim extension apparatus comprises a multitude of foam inserts; and

wherein the user chooses to detachably attach one or more of the multitude of foam inserts within the expandable fastener capable of accepting a multitude of foam inserts and aligning and securing the at least one foam insert to the collar.

15. The spinal column protective apparatus of claim 12, further comprising an inner liner disposed under the collar, the inner liner comprising a bio-foam material insert having a unidirectional oriented, axially sculptured surface substantially aligned along at least one skeletal group or muscular group to diffuse initial impact energy.

16. The spinal column protective apparatus of claim 15, wherein the inner liner comprises an outer surface polymer material having at least one cup-shaped structure to spread and channel impact energy over a larger effective user skeletal and muscular group or area than that of an initial impact group or area.

17. The spinal column protective apparatus of claim 16, wherein the at least one cup-shaped structure comprises a heat-molded cross-link bio-foam material that substantially conforms to a rear protruding part of a user'"'"'s spinal column to prevent breakage upon impact.

18. The spinal column protective apparatus of claim 17, further comprising a vertebrae protective apparatus that fits over the inner liner, conforms to a user'"'"'s spinal cord region, and has a rigid construction;

wherein the vertebrae protective chassis comprises a region to conform to a bony protruding portion of a user'"'"'s spinal column to diffuse and deflect the initial impact energy at the bony protruding portion across at least one muscular group or one skeletal group.

19. An impact protective apparatus to reduce extent of an impact related injuries for sporting injury when a user wears a helmet comprising:

a collar surrounding a user'"'"'s neck area, the collar having a foam, multi-layer, polymer structure capable of being opened and closed, a pliable outermost edge to absorb the initial impact energy, and an additional protective layer, the additional protective layer requires a greater impact energy to deform than those of the pliable outermost protective edge;

a shim extension apparatus to customize impact energy absorption properties of the collar, the shim extension apparatus fills a gap between an underside of the collar and a shoulder region of a user to custom fit absorption energy properties of the collar;

a rigid contoured chassis to substantially conform to a user'"'"'s neck and shoulder region;

a pliable liner disposed within the rigid contoured chassis, the pliable liner having a unidirectional shaped axial protective orientation along a front side of the liner that corresponds to elements and structural aspects of at least one major muscle or skeletal group of the user;

wherein the shim extension apparatus comprises at least one insert; and

wherein the user chooses to detachably attach the at least one insert to the collar to align and secure the at least one insert to the collar to provide a dissipative energy channel that collects initial impact energy from the helmet, the collar, and the rigid contoured chassis disposed about a neck and shoulder area of the user; and

wherein the dissipative energy channel comprises at least one major muscular or skeletal group of the user.

20. The impact protective apparatus of claim 19, wherein the rigid contoured chassis detachably connects;

and wherein the inner liner comprising a substantially c-shaped foam area that aligns with a lower back region of the rigid contoured chassis.