Head support apparatus
First Claim
1. A head support apparatus for protecting the head of a subject positioned in a vehicle against the detrimental effects of acceleration, comprising:
- (a) a beam housing attachable to a support device for supporting a subject'"'"'s upper body while positioned in said vehicle, said beam housing having a side opening on each side thereof and a channel formed in the interior of said housing extending from one side opening to the opposite side opening, said beam housing including,beam housing support means for rigidly supporting said beam housing to said support device within a y-z plane defined by the intersection of a y-axis and a z-axis, but allowing rotation about an x-axis, said x, y, and z axes defining an orthogonal coordinate system, said x-axis extending through the subject'"'"'s face to the back of the head, said y-axis extending laterally from ear to ear, and said z-axis extending vertically from the top of the subject'"'"'s head through the chin;
(b) a substantially U-shaped rigid beam mountable through said side openings and within said channel;
(c) bearing means secured to said housing along said channel for rigidly supporting said beam within the x-y plane but allowing rotation of said beam about said z-axis within said channel; and
(d) helmet attachment means for rigidly supporting the subject'"'"'helmet relative to said rigid beam within the x-z plane but allowing rotation of said helmet about said y-axis.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A head support apparatus for protecting the head of a subject positioned in a vehicle against the detrimental effects of acceleration. Generally, the invention comprises a beam housing attachable to a support device for supporting a subject'"'"'s upper body while positioned in the vehicle. The beam housing has a side opening on each side thereof and a channel formed in the interior of the housing, extending from one side opening to the opposite side opening. Beam housing support is provided for rigidly supporting the beam housing to the support device within a y-z plane defined by the intersection of a y-axis and a z-axis, but allowing rotation about an x-axis. The x, y and z axes define an orthogonal coordinate system wherein the x-axis extends through the subject'"'"'s face to the back of the head, the y-axis extends laterally from ear-to-ear, and the z-axis extends vertically from the top of the head through the subject'"'"'s chin. A substantially U-shaped rigid beam having a non-circular cross section is mountable through side openings and within the channel. Bearings are secured to the housing along the channel for rigidly supporting the beam within the x-y plane but allowing rotation of the beam about the x-axis within the channel. Helmet attachments are provided for rigidly supporting the subject'"'"'s helmet relative to the rigid beam within the x-z plane but allowing rotation of the helmet about the y-axis.
-
Citations
10 Claims
-
1. A head support apparatus for protecting the head of a subject positioned in a vehicle against the detrimental effects of acceleration, comprising:
-
(a) a beam housing attachable to a support device for supporting a subject'"'"'s upper body while positioned in said vehicle, said beam housing having a side opening on each side thereof and a channel formed in the interior of said housing extending from one side opening to the opposite side opening, said beam housing including, beam housing support means for rigidly supporting said beam housing to said support device within a y-z plane defined by the intersection of a y-axis and a z-axis, but allowing rotation about an x-axis, said x, y, and z axes defining an orthogonal coordinate system, said x-axis extending through the subject'"'"'s face to the back of the head, said y-axis extending laterally from ear to ear, and said z-axis extending vertically from the top of the subject'"'"'s head through the chin; (b) a substantially U-shaped rigid beam mountable through said side openings and within said channel; (c) bearing means secured to said housing along said channel for rigidly supporting said beam within the x-y plane but allowing rotation of said beam about said z-axis within said channel; and (d) helmet attachment means for rigidly supporting the subject'"'"'helmet relative to said rigid beam within the x-z plane but allowing rotation of said helmet about said y-axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A head support apparatus for protecting the head of a subject positioned in an aircraft against the detrimental effects of acceleration, comprising:
-
(a) a beam housing attachable to a support device for supporting a subject'"'"'s upper body while positioned in said aircraft, said beam housing having a side opening on each side thereof and a channel formed in the interior of said housing extending from one side opening to the opposite side opening, said beam housing including, beam housing support means for rigidly supporting said beam housing to said support device within a y-z plane defined by the intersection of a y-axis and a z-axis, but allowing rotation about an x-axis, said x, y, and z axes defining an orthogonal coordinate system, said x-axis extending through the subject'"'"'s face to the back of the head;
said y-axis extending laterally from ear to ear, and said z-axis extending vertically from the top of the subject'"'"'s head through the chin;(b) a substantially U-shaped rigid beam mountable through said side openings and within said channel; (c) bearing means secured to said housing along said channel for rigidly supporting said beam within the x-y plane but allowing rotation of said beam about said z-axis within said channel; and (d) helmet attachment means for rigidly supporting the subject'"'"'s helmet relative to said rigid beam within the x-z plane but allowing rotation of said helmet about said y-axis.
-
Specification