Cervical protection system
First Claim
1. A deployable cervical protection system for a wearer, the system for mitigating to preventing injury to the wearer due to impact, the system comprising in operative combination:
- an impact resistant helmet including a bottom periphery;
a hollow collar having an elongated opening, the hollow collar removably mounted to the bottom periphery, the hollow collar including two channels formed in opposing edges of the elongated opening;
an inflatable bag constructed of an abrasion resistant material, the bag adapted to be inflated with gas, the bag in collapsed form being disposed within a hollow region defined by the hollow collar so that head movement is substantially unrestricted;
a flexible seal including two horseshoe shaped strips, the strips each attached to an outer surface of the bag, the strips adapted to mate with the two channels for packing and sealing the bag into the hollow region defined by the hollow collar; and
a source of gas removably mounted on the helmet and coupled to the bag for deploying the bag by inflation thereof;
the bag being deployable from the hollow collar, deployment of the bag being produced by filling the bag with gas under pressure;
the bag in deployed configuration having an anterior and a posterior contour, the anterior contour and posterior contour in combination extending circumferentially around the neck of the wearer, the anterior contour extending from the bottom periphery of the helmet to approximately the mid-sternal area in the front of the wearer, the posterior contour extending from the bottom periphery of the helmet to approximately the fifth thoracic vertebrae in the back of the wearer, the anterior contour and the posterior contour in combination extending to approximately midway between the sternal mastoid muscle group and the lateral tip of the scapula of the wearer;
the bag in deployed configuration providing means for effectively limiting flexion-extension and rotation about a horizontal axis;
the anterior contour and the posterior contour having a base, the base located about a region where the bag is connected to the hollow collar, the bag being extended at the base;
the bag effectively limiting rotation about a vertical axis.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Effective support of the head and neck during high impact accidents or rapid or sudden acceleration or deceleration of riders of motorcycles, skimobiles, jet skis and power boats, is provided by a cervical protection system having a gas-filled bag (110) rapidly deployable from a collar (105) disposed around the base of a helmet (101). When deployed, the bag (110) extends to the mid-sternal area anteriorly, to approximately the fourth or fifth thoracic vertebrae posteriorly, and laterally on the shoulders to a point approximately mid-way between the sternomastoid muscle group and the lateral tip of the scapula, and holds the wearer'"'"'s head in slight extension to mitigate physical harm. Also, a deployable cervical collar which is removably mounted to a helmet. The collar deployable before or after impact.
62 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A deployable cervical protection system for a wearer, the system for mitigating to preventing injury to the wearer due to impact, the system comprising in operative combination:
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an impact resistant helmet including a bottom periphery; a hollow collar having an elongated opening, the hollow collar removably mounted to the bottom periphery, the hollow collar including two channels formed in opposing edges of the elongated opening; an inflatable bag constructed of an abrasion resistant material, the bag adapted to be inflated with gas, the bag in collapsed form being disposed within a hollow region defined by the hollow collar so that head movement is substantially unrestricted; a flexible seal including two horseshoe shaped strips, the strips each attached to an outer surface of the bag, the strips adapted to mate with the two channels for packing and sealing the bag into the hollow region defined by the hollow collar; and a source of gas removably mounted on the helmet and coupled to the bag for deploying the bag by inflation thereof; the bag being deployable from the hollow collar, deployment of the bag being produced by filling the bag with gas under pressure; the bag in deployed configuration having an anterior and a posterior contour, the anterior contour and posterior contour in combination extending circumferentially around the neck of the wearer, the anterior contour extending from the bottom periphery of the helmet to approximately the mid-sternal area in the front of the wearer, the posterior contour extending from the bottom periphery of the helmet to approximately the fifth thoracic vertebrae in the back of the wearer, the anterior contour and the posterior contour in combination extending to approximately midway between the sternal mastoid muscle group and the lateral tip of the scapula of the wearer; the bag in deployed configuration providing means for effectively limiting flexion-extension and rotation about a horizontal axis; the anterior contour and the posterior contour having a base, the base located about a region where the bag is connected to the hollow collar, the bag being extended at the base; the bag effectively limiting rotation about a vertical axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 17)
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7. A deployable cervical device for a wearer which is attachable to a helmet, the helmet having a chin bar and a neck roll, the deployable cervical device comprising in operative combination:
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a collar having a bottom periphery, the bottom periphery defining an elongated opening, the elongated opening providing a substantially hollow region in the collar; coupling means for removably attaching the collar to the chin bar and neck roll regions of the helmet; an inflatable bag adapted to be inflated with gas, the bag in collapsed form disposed within the hollow region of the collar; and an inflation means coupled to the bag and the collar for inflating the bag, the inflation means including a pressurized gas capsule for providing the gas to inflate the bag, the bag being deployed from the hollow region of the collar when inflated with the gas; the bag in deployed configuration extending circumferentially around the neck of the wearer, extending under the jaw in the front of the wearer, extending down to the sternum region in the front of the wearer, extending under the occipital area in the back of the wearer, extending down to at least the seventh cervical vertebrae in the back of the wearer, and extending laterally on the shoulders of the wearer; the bag in deployed configuration providing means for effectively limiting flexion-extension of the cervical spine of the wearer about a horizontal axis, limiting rotation of the cervical spine of the wearer about a horizontal and a vertical axis, and maintaining the head of the wearer in slight extension. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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18. A cervical protection helmet for a wearer comprising:
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an inflatable bag disposed within a hollow collar region of and defined by the helmet; and an inflation means disposed in a defined contour of the helmet, the inflation means coupled to the bag through a tube means for inflating the bag when initiated, the inflation means including a capsule, the capsule for providing a substance for inflating the bag; the bag is deployed configuration extending continuously circumferentially around the neck of the wearer, extending under the jaw in the front of the wearer, extending under the occipital area in the back of the wearer, extending down to the sternum region in the front of the wearer, extending down to at least the seventh cervical vertebrae in the back of the wearer, and extending laterally on the shoulders of the wearer; the bag being disconnectable from the helmet after deployment of the bag. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification