Neck brace
DCFirst Claim
Patent Images
1. A neck brace, comprising:
- a ring adapted to substantially encircle a wearer'"'"'s neck and to provide a clearance between the ring and a front lower rim of a full face helmet when the helmet is worn by the wearer, the clearance allowing a range of freedom of movement of the helmet above the ring, the ring having a front section constructed and arranged to limit forward tilt of the helmet through contact of the front lower rim of the helmet with the front section of the ring; and
a lower forward member extending from the ring and having sufficient rigidity to transfer to the wearer'"'"'s chest at least some of a force applied to the front section of the ring by the front lower rim of the helmet; and
wherein the ring further has a side surface constructed and arranged to limit sideward tilt of the helmet through contact of a side lower rim of the helmet and the side surface of the ring.
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Abstract
A neck brace (10) is disclosed which comprises two sections (12, 14) which are releasably connected to one another along a split line (18). The ring has upwardly facing surfaces (30, 76.1, 20.2) which limit tilting movement of a helmeted head in all directions. The brace further has a column (68, 70) which extends downwardly from the ring for transferring loads to the wearer'"'"'s back on each side of the spine.
53 Citations
56 Claims
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1. A neck brace, comprising:
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a ring adapted to substantially encircle a wearer'"'"'s neck and to provide a clearance between the ring and a front lower rim of a full face helmet when the helmet is worn by the wearer, the clearance allowing a range of freedom of movement of the helmet above the ring, the ring having a front section constructed and arranged to limit forward tilt of the helmet through contact of the front lower rim of the helmet with the front section of the ring; and a lower forward member extending from the ring and having sufficient rigidity to transfer to the wearer'"'"'s chest at least some of a force applied to the front section of the ring by the front lower rim of the helmet; and wherein the ring further has a side surface constructed and arranged to limit sideward tilt of the helmet through contact of a side lower rim of the helmet and the side surface of the ring. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A neck brace, comprising:
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a ring adapted to substantially encircle a wearer'"'"'s neck and to provide a clearance between the ring and a front lower rim of a full face helmet when the helmet is worn by the wearer, the clearance allowing a range of freedom of movement of the helmet above the ring, the ring having an upwardly extending rear surface configured to limit rearward tilt of the helmet through contact of a rear lower rim of the helmet with the upwardly extending rear surface; and a lower rear member extending from the ring and having sufficient rigidity to transfer to the wearer'"'"'s back at least some of a force applied to the upwardly extending rear surface by the rear lower rim of the helmet. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A neck brace, comprising:
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a first U-shaped section adapted to be operatively positioned around the neck of a wearer and configured to allow clearance between a lower rim of a full face helmet when worn on the wearer'"'"'s head and the first U-shaped section, the clearance allowing freedom of movement of the helmet above the first U-shaped section, the first U-shaped section including a rear section configured to limit tilt of the helmet through contact of a rear lower rim of the helmet with the rear section of the first U-shaped section; and a lower section, extending from the first U-shaped section, and having sufficient rigidity to transfer to the wearer'"'"'s back at least some of a force applied to the rear section of the first U-shaped section by the rear lower rim of the helmet. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A neck brace, comprising:
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a ring adapted to substantially encircle a wearer'"'"'s neck and to provide a clearance between the ring and a front lower rim of a full face helmet when the helmet is worn by the wearer, the clearance allowing a range of freedom of movement of the helmet above the ring, the ring having a front section constructed and arranged to limit forward tilt of the helmet through contact of the front lower rim of the helmet with the front section of the ring; a lower forward member extending from the ring and having sufficient rigidity to transfer to the wearer'"'"'s chest at least some of a force applied to the front section of the ring by the front lower rim of the helmet; and a first fracture zone, adjacent the front section, configured to collapse prior to the remainder of the brace collapsing in response to a first force applied to the front section of the ring by the front lower rim of the helmet thereby absorbing at least some of the first force. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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46. A neck brace, comprising:
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a ring adapted to substantially encircle a wearer'"'"'s neck and to provide a clearance between the ring and a front lower rim of a full face helmet when the helmet is worn by the wearer, the clearance allowing a range of freedom of movement of the helmet above the ring, the ring having a front section constructed and arranged to limit forward tilt of the helmet through contact of the front lower rim of the helmet with the front section of the ring; a lower forward member extending from the ring and having sufficient rigidity to transfer to the wearer'"'"'s chest at least some of a force applied to the front section of the ring by the front lower rim of the helmet; and a rigid structure connected to and extending between the ring and the lower forward member. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56)
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Specification