Neck brace
First Claim
1. A neck brace comprising:
- at least one impact surface which, when said brace is used with a helmet, limits movement of said helmet by contacting an underside of said helmet, wherein at least part of said impact surface is displaceable towards the body of a wearer of said neck brace;
at least one bearing surface which is shaped and configured for bearing on the body of a wearer of said brace;
a structure extending between said impact surface and said bearing surface having sufficient resilience to transfer impact loads of said helmet on said impact surface, to said wearer'"'"'s body; and
a brake element, extending between said impact surface and at least one of said structure and said bearing surface, said brake element configured to permit said displacement of said impact surface at rates slower than a predetermined rate of displacement and to resist said displacement if the rate of displacement exceeds said predetermined rate.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Neck brace that inhibits excessive neck movement during impact, yet allows for a high degree of movement of the wearer'"'"'s head during normal operation of the neck brace. May include impact surface(s) that limits movement of a helmet by contacting an underside of the helmet; bearing surface(s) configured for bearing on wearer; a structure between impact surface and bearing surface, sufficiently resilient to transfer impact loads of the helmet to the impact surface, to the wearer'"'"'s body; wherein the impact surface is displaceable towards an adjacent part of the bearing surface and wherein the structure is configured to permit the displacement at rates slower than a predetermined rate of displacement and to resist the displacement if the rate of displacement exceeds the predetermined rate. May include a pivotal joint between the displaceable part and remainder of neck brace and impact brake element(s).
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A neck brace comprising:
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at least one impact surface which, when said brace is used with a helmet, limits movement of said helmet by contacting an underside of said helmet, wherein at least part of said impact surface is displaceable towards the body of a wearer of said neck brace; at least one bearing surface which is shaped and configured for bearing on the body of a wearer of said brace; a structure extending between said impact surface and said bearing surface having sufficient resilience to transfer impact loads of said helmet on said impact surface, to said wearer'"'"'s body; and a brake element, extending between said impact surface and at least one of said structure and said bearing surface, said brake element configured to permit said displacement of said impact surface at rates slower than a predetermined rate of displacement and to resist said displacement if the rate of displacement exceeds said predetermined rate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A neck brace useable with a helmet comprising:
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at least one bearing surface configured to be worn on the body of a wearer of said brace; at least one impact surface configured to limit movement of said helmet through contact with an underside of said helmet, wherein at least part of said impact surface is displaceable towards said bearing surface; and a structure extending between said impact surface and said bearing surface configured to transfer impact loads of said helmet on said impact surface to said bearing surface; and a brake element extending between said impact surface and at least one of said structure and said bearing surface, said brake element configured to permit said displacement of said impact surface at rates slower than a predetermined rate of displacement, and to resist said displacement of said impact surface if the rate of displacement exceeds said predetermined rate. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification