Exotect

• US 20140245529A1
• Filed: 03/03/2013
• Published: 09/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Christopher V. Beckman
• Original Assignee: Christopher V. Beckman
• Inventors: Beckman, Christopher V.
• Application Number:
  US13/783,345
• Publication Number:
  US 20140245529A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 2/468
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/0531 Spine

Abstract

New spine-protecting motoring and sports equipment and apparel are provided. In some aspects of the invention, variably-joined pivoting and sliding members with both overall and local pivoting-speed and/or range-limits pivot about central points, lines and/or curves, which approximates the rotational center line of a user'"'"'s spine, spinal cord or points of optimal flex reduction for a wearer'"'"'s safety. Aiding in creating pivot-points and/or pivot lines are external body-holding extensions, connected to at least some of the pivoting and sliding members (a.k.a., “brace sections”). In one preferred embodiment, a torso-gripping jacket implements the above-described aspects, and a top-most member, linked with the other members, rotates more greatly and variably interlocks with rigid slot in the rear base of a specialized protective helmet, protecting the user'"'"'s neck from breaking in a crash.

Claims

1. A system for permitting movement while controlling over-movement of a user'"'"'s body in the same direction(s), comprising a set of connected variable-position and/or variable relative movement (with respect to one another) brace sections, each of which holds and/or otherwise confines at least part of the user'"'"'s body, and each of which encounters both local (with respect to other, neighboring brace sections) and overall (with respect to a foundation or the remainder of the set) limits to its range of movement and, thereby, the range of movement of parts of the user'"'"'s body.

2. The system for permitting movement while controlling over-movement of a user'"'"'s body in the same direction(s) of claim 1, in which the system further comprises a centering or other resting conformation bias, which may comprise a force bias such as a spring, for returning or urging the brace sections to a desired default posture.

3. The system for permitting movement while controlling over-movement of a user'"'"'s body in the same direction(s) of claim 1, in which said limits to its range of movement comprise rotational limits.

4. The system for permitting movement while controlling over-movement of a user'"'"'s body in the same direction(s) of claim 3, in which said rotational limits further comprise a central point(s), line(s) or curve(s) (or progression thereof) of rotation located within a desired area of protection from over movement within the user'"'"'s body.

5. The system for permitting movement while controlling over-movement of a user'"'"'s body in the same direction(s) of claim 4, in which said central point(s), line(s) or curve(s) (or progression thereof) of rotation is/are located within or about the user'"'"'s spinal cord, or within or about a potential location of a potential user'"'"'s spinal cord.

6. The system for permitting movement while controlling over-movement of a user'"'"'s body in the same direction(s) of claim 5, in which said central point(s), line(s) or curve(s) (or progression thereof) of rotation is/are located, at least in part, at or about the center of a vertebral foramen and/or spinal cord of a user or a potential center of a vertebral foramen and/or spinal cord of a potential user.

7. The system for permitting movement while controlling over-movement of a user'"'"'s body in the same direction(s) of claim 5, in which said central point(s), line(s) or curve(s) (or progression thereof) of rotation is/are located, at least in part, at or about an evidentiarily-established potential center of rotation of at least one of a user'"'"'s (or potential user'"'"'s) vertebra in vivo, such as, but not limited to, a location at or about the anterior edge of the spinal cord and/or the posterior edge of the vertebral body.

8. The system for permitting movement while controlling over-movement of a user'"'"'s body in the same direction(s) of claim 1, in which the system is integrated into a user-wearable harness or garment, such as a racing jacket, which may also contain other shielding and/or padding.

9. The system for permitting movement while controlling over-movement of a user'"'"'s body in the same direction(s) of claim 8, further comprising shoulder and/or posterior straps for better controlling extension and/or compression of the system and/or part of the user'"'"'s body.

10. The system for permitting movement while controlling over-movement of a user'"'"'s body in the same direction(s) of claim 1, in which an upper brace section comprises a motion-controlling variable fastener for variably attaching a head and/or neck-gripping helmet or other process(es) to control over-movement of the user'"'"'s head and/or neck relative to the remainder of his or her spine or associated body parts beyond safe limits.

11. The system for permitting movement while controlling over-movement of a user'"'"'s body in the same direction(s) of claim 10, further comprising a user-actuable release for decoupling said head and/or neck-gripping helmet or other process(es) from said upper brace section.

12. The system for permitting movement while controlling over-movement of a user'"'"'s body in the same direction(s) of claim 1, in which a lower brace section comprises a motion-controlling variable fastener for variably attaching a posterior and/or pelvis-gripping brace, straps, harness other process(es) to control over-movement of the user'"'"'s pelvis and/or other extremities relative to the remainder of his or her spine or associated body parts beyond safe limits.

13. The system for permitting movement while controlling over-movement of a user'"'"'s body in the same direction(s) of claim 1, in which said limits comprise limits to the tilt of each section of each section and/or associated body part(s).

14. The system for permitting movement while controlling over-movement of a user'"'"'s body in the same direction(s) of claim 1, in which said limits comprise limits to the lateral shift of each section of each section and/or associated body part(s).

15. The system for permitting movement while controlling over-movement of a user'"'"'s body in the same direction(s) of claim 1, in which said limits comprise limits to the extension and/or compression of each section and/or associated body part(s).

16. The system for permitting movement while controlling over-movement of a user'"'"'s body in the same direction(s) of claim 1, in which said limits comprise limits to the rotation, tilt, lateral shift and extension/compression of each section and/or associated (held or otherwise confined) body part(s).

17. A set of variable user-confining braces in which a computer hardware and software control system actively controls the location and safe limits of movement, including functions or progressions of movement, of at least parts of a user'"'"'s body to prepare it for and/or decrease the risk of injury from (projected) potential, imminent or initiated impacts in a crash.

18. The set of variable user-confining braces of claim 17, further comprising in which said braces are or comprise seatbelts or may variably couple with a variable-length, system-actuable cable, seat or other structural platform in a motor vehicle.

19. A set of user-confining braces in which force against said braces beyond acceleration and/or other physical limits may result in absorbing and/or transferring and translating energy from that force to a kinetic sink.

20. The set of user-confining braces of claim 19, further comprising in which said absorbing and/or transferring may be accomplished, at least in part, by push rods and said kinetic sink may comprise, at least in part, dual gyros and/or flywheels and/or a resistive medium, and in which the transfer is one-way only (to the sink, gyro(s) and/or flywheel(s)), preventing rebound from the kinetic sink, accomplished, for example, by operation a ratchet or other one-way slip rotational device.