Back protection shield

• US 6,427,695 B1
• Filed: 07/12/2000
• Issued: 08/06/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Spidi Sport SRL
• Original Assignee: Spidt Sport SRL
• Inventors: Zago, Gianni, Zanetti, Pietro
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Michael A.
• Application Number:
  US09/614,561
• Time in Patent Office: 755 Days
• Field of Search: 128/845, 128/846, 128/869, 128/870, 2 1/6, 602/5, 602/19
• US Class Current: 128/846
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/0531 Spine

Abstract

A back protection shield, which includes at least one anatomic shell-like body made of substantially rigid material and longer than wider, so as to extend longitudinally and cover a substantial portion of user'"'"'s backbone. The shield has a concave inner surface designed to face, in use, the user'"'"'s back and a convex outer surface and at least one series of spaced stiffening ribs which extend at least partly in a transverse direction.

Claims

1. A back protection shield for protecting user'"'"'s backbone, constituted by at least one anatomic shell body made of substantially rigid material longitudinally extending so as to cover, in use, a substantial portion of a user'"'"'s backbone, said shell body including a concave inner surface designed to face a user'"'"'s back and a convex outer surface opposite to said inner surface, said at least one shell body comprising:

a first section constituting an upper shell body;

a second section constituting a lower shell body;

at least one series of stiffening ribs spaced from one another, said stiffening ribs extending at least partly in a transverse direction; and

hinging means for joining said first and second sections so that the lower shell body is movable independently from said upper shell body, and

wherein said hinging means are made of inserted, resiliently yieldable material, which is secured to said upper shell body at a first end thereof and to said lower shell body at a second end thereof.

2. The shield of claim 1, comprising two series of ribs which extend along two longitudinal lateral edges of the shell body.

3. The shield of claim 2, wherein said two series of ribs are transversely aligned with each other.

4. The shield of claim 3, wherein each rib of the rib series farms a transverse hump that delimits a traverse seat open towards said inner surface which comprises an impact cushion pad located therein.

5. The shield of claim 1, wherein the shell body has at least one through lightening opening thereby assisting perspiration and ventilation of user'"'"'s back.

6. The shield of claim 5, comprising a plurality of though lightening openings in the form of holes with elliptical configuration aligned along a longitudinal median portion of the shield.

7. The shield of claim 1, wherein said inserted material is a rubber material which is injection-molded at said adjacent ends of said upper and lower shell bodies.

8. The shield of claim 7, wherein at least said upper shell body comprises a plurality of adjacent segments and a weakening portion between each pair of said adjacent segments, whereby said adjacent segments are adapted to perform slight mutual movements.

9. The shield as claimed in claim 8, wherein said weakening portions comprise a plurality of transversely aligned openings and connection points located been said openings for mutually connecting said segments.

10. The shield of claim 9, wherein said weakening portions are covered by inserted, resiliently yieldable material.

11. The shield of claim 1, wherein said shell body has at least one transverse wider portion at a scapular portion thereof, thereby protecting a wider back portion of the user'"'"'s back upon impact against rigid and abrasive surfaces.

12. The shield of claim 1, wherein said shell body comprises two anatomical ends designed to protect cervical and sacral portions of user'"'"'s backbone.

13. The shield of claim 12, wherein said two anatomical ends ate made of a highly deformable material.

14. The shield of claim 13, filter comprising two tabs projecting from an upper end of said shell body and shaped like an anatomic pad, the anatomical end designed for protection of the cervical portion is injection-molded on said two tabs.

15. The shield as claimed in claim 14, wherein the anatomical end designed for protection of the sacral portion of user'"'"'s backbone comprises a substantially triangular tab.

16. The shield of claim 13, wherein said anatomical ends are made of rubber material.