Apparatus to be worn on an individual's chest below a full face helmet to limit the occurrence of cervical spinal cord injuries in the event of a crash

• US 8,393,017 B2
• Filed: 08/09/2011
• Issued: 03/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brady Sheren Designs Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Brady Sheren Designs Incorporated
• Inventors: Sheren, Brady
• Primary Examiner(s): Muromoto, Jr., Bobby
• Application Number:
  US13/136,721
• Publication Number:
  US 20130036538A1
• Time in Patent Office: 581 Days
• Field of Search: 602/18, 602/17, 602/12, 602/5, 602/1, 242/5, 2/2, 241/0, 241/1, 241/5, 241/6, 241/8, 242/1, 242/2, 245/5, 245/9, 246/1, 246/8, 280/290, 244/122.AG
• US Class Current: 2/468
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/0512 Neck or shoulders area
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/0473 Neck restraints

Abstract

An apparatus to be worn on an individual'"'"'s shoulders, chest and back below a full face helmet to limit the occurrence of cervical spinal cord injuries in the event of a crash.

Claims

1. A neck protector comprising:

a. a left main frame which extends from an upper section and curves forwardly to a left main frame chest covering section which at its lower innermost portion includes a first interconnecting member, the left main frame has a chest support member extending from its front, the left main frame has a back support member supported on a connection member which has a separate left axle receiving opening and a closing nut, underneath the upper section is a shoulder padding; and

b. a right main frame which extends from an upper section and curves forwardly to a right main frame chest covering section which at its lower innermost portion includes a second mating interconnecting member, the left main frame and right main frame are interconnected at their bottom portions by a front axle so that the left main frame section and right main frame section can be pushed together at their lowermost portions by having the first interconnecting member coupled with the second mating interconnecting member by sliding along the front axle, a front axle nut is used to tighten the left main frame to the right main frame, extending from its front, the right main frame has a chest support member, extending from its rear the right main frame has a back support member supported on a connection member which has a separate right axle receiving opening with a separate tightening nut, the second right rear axle extends through an axle receiving opening and is tightened by a nut so that the upper section of the main frames are rotatable underneath the upper section on the shoulder padding.

2. The neck protector in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

separate receiving openings between the left main frame and the right main frame, with each axle having a separate tightening nut.

3. The neck protector in accordance with claim 1, the chest support used in conjunction with an individual'"'"'s sternum by sitting on either side of the individual'"'"'s sternum which will limit an individual from suffering a fracture from a force applied by a support system.

4. The neck support system in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

the chest supports are fastened to the support system by way of a single axle and a single nut.

5. The neck protector in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

a. independently rotatable adjustable back support systems which are designed to be used in conjunction with and to sit on either side of the user'"'"'s spinal cord, so that this dual support system further reduces the likelihood of injury when forces are applied through the back, since it does not sit directly on the spinal cord; and

b. the back supports are mounted through adjustable mounts and use of this mounting system allows for forward, rearward, upward, downward, angular, or any combination of adjustments through different mounting options.

6. The neck support in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

a. having the neck support split, the two-part frame allowing an individual to remove the device safely and easily in the event of an accident;

b. the neck support main frame is two separate parts, joined in the front by a single male/female insert system that pulls apart horizontally with the simple removal of a front axle and nut, this split two-part frame allows for an emergency release system that is unique to the present design; and

c. the split, two-part design also allows the entire support system to flex vertically upward and downward to create mobility and comfort for the user.

7. The neck support system in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

a. each chest support system has independent padding which rests against the user'"'"'s chest;

b. each back support system has independent padding which rests against the user'"'"'s back; and

.

c. each of the chest and back padding systems designed to help disperse energy when in contact between two hard surfaces, the specific cutout pattern of the padding, along with its material properties, allowing this padding to reduce harsh impacts by dispersing energy before it reaches the body, further adding to the safety of the user.

8. The neck projector in accordance with claim 7, further comprising:

a. the incorporation of padding underneath the shoulders which extends along a user'"'"'s collarbone to reduce impact by the dispersion of energy.

9. The neck protector in accordance with claim 8, further comprising:

a. a dual layer padding allows for optional height adjustment of the neck protector in case a specific user has a longer neck and therefore needs the invention to sit higher on his or her shoulders.

10. A helmet stabilizing device, comprising:

a. a left main frame which extends from an upper section having a generally flat upper surface which extends with a first left surface to the left of the upper surface and then curves forwardly to a left main frame chest covering section which at its lower innermost portion includes a first interconnecting member, the left main frame covering section extends from its front to a chest support member;

b. the left main frame member further comprises a back support member which extends below the left upper section, the back support is supported on a connection member;

c. underneath the left main frame upper section first left surface is left shoulder padding;

d. a right main frame which extends from an upper section having a generally flat upper surface which extends with a first right surface to the right of the upper surface and then curves forwardly to a right main frame chest covering section which at its lower innermost portion includes a second mating interconnecting member,

e. the right main frame covering section extends from its front to a chest support member, the right main frame member further comprises a back support member which extends below the right upper section, the back support is supported on a connection member;

f. underneath the right main frame upper section first right surface is right shoulder padding;

g. the left main frame and right main frame are interconnected at their bottom portions by a front axle so that the left main frame section and right main frame section can be pushed together at their lowermost portions by having the first interconnecting member coupled with the second interconnecting member by sliding along the front axle, and a front axle nut helps tighten the left main frame to the right main frame, the front axle holds everything together; and

h. extending from its front, the right main frame has a chest support member extending from its front, the right main frame has a back support member supported on a connection member which has an axle receiving opening, there are two separate rear axle assemblies, left and right, the left rear axle extends through the left axle receiving opening and is tightened by a nut to allow the left back support to be fastened to the left main frame, and also create a point of rotation about the axle to allow the left back support to fold inward, this dual system causes the back supports to rotate or fold, similarly, a right rear axle extends through axle receiving opening and is tightened by a nut so that the upper portion of right main frame is tightened to allow the right back support to be fastened to the right main frame, and also create a point of rotation about the axle to allow the right back support to fold inward, this dual system causes the back supports to rotate or fold.

11. A helmet stabilizing device in accordance with claim 10, further comprising:

a. the independently rotating chest supports are designed to be used in conjunction with an individual'"'"'s sternum and sit on either side of the individual'"'"'s sternum, limiting the likelihood of an individual suffering a fracture from a force applied by the support system;

b. the chest supports fastened to the support system selected from the group consisting of a single axle and nut, a single bolt and nut, dual bolt and nut, single axle and nut, dual axle and nut, single quick release pin system, or dual quick release system; and

c. the selected fastening system also includes rubber bushings or insert to allow the fasteners to be rubber mounted to the support system.

12. The helmet stabilization device in accordance with claim 10, further comprising:

a. the dual, independently rotating, adjustable back support system is used in conjunction with an individual'"'"'s spinal cord and is designed to sit on either side of the user'"'"'s spinal cord, the dual support system further reduces the likelihood of an individual suffering injury when forces are applied through the back, since it does not sit directly on the spinal cord; and

b. the back supports are mounted via adjustable mounts and use of this mounting system allows for forward, rearward, upward, downward, angular, or any combination of said adjustments via different mounting options supplied with the support system.

13. The helmet stabilization device in accordance with claim 10, further comprising:

a;

the split, two-part frame allows an individual to remove the device safely and easily in the event of an accident due to the fact that the invention'"'"'s main frame is a two separate parts, joined in the front of the device by a single male/female insert system that pulls apart horizontally with the simple removal of the front axle and nut; and

b. this split two-part frame allows for an emergency release system that allows the whole support system to flex vertically upward and downward to create mobility and comfort for the user.

14. The helmet stabilization device in accordance with claim 10 further comprising:

a. padding materials with and patterns specifically designed to reduce impacts by the dispersion of energy because when in contact with two solid surfaces, the cutout pattern of the material (and the material properties themselves) drastically reduce harsh impacts by dispersing the load in a forty-five degree angle direction from the load being applied which further reduces the likelihood of injury sustained to a user'"'"'s body during an accident.

15. The helmet stabilization device in accordance with claim 10, further comprising:

a. the top of the main frame curvature of the invention acts as stopping points for a users full face helmet, so that the helmet can stop rotation before it reaches the body, which reduces the likelihood of injury;

b. the stopping points of the helmet are designed to prevent the following extreme movements;

hyper flexion (head forward), hyper extension (head backwards), lateral hyper flexion (head sideways), posterior hyper translation (head/helmet reward on the neck), axial loading (spinal column compression); and

c. the two-part design also allows the whole support system to flex vertically upward and downward to create mobility and comfort for the user.

16. The helmet stabilization device with in accordance with claim 10, further comprising:

a. padding materials and patterns specifically designed to reduce impacts by the dispersion of energy so that when in contact with two solid surfaces, the cutout pattern of the material (and the material properties themselves) drastically reduce harsh impacts by dispersing the load in a forty-five degree angle direction from the load being applied so that this further reduces the likelihood of injury sustained to a user'"'"'s body during an accident.

17. The helmet stabilization device in accordance with claim 10, further comprising:

a. a user holds the device by the left and right main frame and places it over the user'"'"'s head, lowering the support system down until contact is made between the shoulders and shoulder supports, the chest and chest supports, and the back and back supports;

b. once in place, the chest supports will rest on the user'"'"'s chest around the sternum, and the back supports will rest on the user'"'"'s back, to the left and right of the spine; and

c. to adjust the height of the support system which is the distance between the main frame and the user'"'"'s shoulders, the user opts to use an additional layer of padding because height adjustment is necessary depending on the user'"'"'s neck length and mobility while using the support system.

18. The helmet stabilization device in accordance with claim 10, further comprising:

a. once in place on the user'"'"'s body and a full face helmet is used in conjunction with the support system, activity and/or sport may take place; and

b. during an accident, the support system will provide alternative stopping points for the full face helmet, limiting movement, and lowering the potential risk of a cervical spine injury.

19. The helmet stabilization system in accordance with claim 10, further comprising:

a. to use the emergency release system and disassemble the support system, the user removes the front axle nut and then pulls the two main left and right frame components apart horizontally off the user.