Cervical spine protection device
First Claim
1. A cervical spine protection device comprising:
- a lower portion engaged with a user'"'"'s shoulders;
an upper portion designed for engagement with a user'"'"'s head protection device when an axial force is applied to a portion of the user'"'"'s head protection device, the upper portion having a front section, a rear section, and side sections, wherein the front section, rear section, and side sections of the upper portion have a top surface;
a middle portion disposed between the lower portion and the upper portion;
an inside portion shaped to fit around a user'"'"'s neck,an outside portion shaped to engage with shoulder pads, wherein the outside portion comprises a substantially c-shaped design, with the lower portion and the upper portion extending laterally further than the middle portion away from the user'"'"'s neck,wherein the top surface of the side sections of the upper portion has an apex that is higher than the top surface of the front section and the rear section when the cervical spine protection device is worn by a user,wherein the axial force applied to the portion of the user'"'"'s head protection device is at least partially absorbed by the cervical spine protection device and at least partially directed away from a cervical spinal column of the user by the cervical spine protection device, andwherein the cervical spine protection device allows extension of the head and neck during athletic movement.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A cervical spine protection device including a lower portion engaged with a user'"'"'s shoulders, and an upper portion designed for engagement with a user'"'"'s helmet when an axial force is applied to a portion of the user'"'"'s helmet, where the upper portion has an opening at the rearward facing side of a user'"'"'s body. The device further includes a middle portion disposed between the lower portion and the upper portion, and an inside portion shaped to fit around a user'"'"'s neck. The axial force applied to the top portion of the user'"'"'s helmet is at least partially absorbed by the cervical spine protection device and at least partially directed away from a cervical spinal column of the user by the cervical spine protection device. The cervical spine protection device allows extension of the head and neck during athletic movement.
36 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A cervical spine protection device comprising:
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a lower portion engaged with a user'"'"'s shoulders; an upper portion designed for engagement with a user'"'"'s head protection device when an axial force is applied to a portion of the user'"'"'s head protection device, the upper portion having a front section, a rear section, and side sections, wherein the front section, rear section, and side sections of the upper portion have a top surface; a middle portion disposed between the lower portion and the upper portion; an inside portion shaped to fit around a user'"'"'s neck, an outside portion shaped to engage with shoulder pads, wherein the outside portion comprises a substantially c-shaped design, with the lower portion and the upper portion extending laterally further than the middle portion away from the user'"'"'s neck, wherein the top surface of the side sections of the upper portion has an apex that is higher than the top surface of the front section and the rear section when the cervical spine protection device is worn by a user, wherein the axial force applied to the portion of the user'"'"'s head protection device is at least partially absorbed by the cervical spine protection device and at least partially directed away from a cervical spinal column of the user by the cervical spine protection device, and wherein the cervical spine protection device allows extension of the head and neck during athletic movement. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A cervical spine protection system comprising:
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shoulder pads; a cervical spine protection device comprising a lower portion engaged with a user'"'"'s shoulders; an upper portion designed for engagement with a user'"'"'s helmet when an axial force is applied to a portion of the helmet, the upper portion having a front section, a rear section, and side sections, wherein the front section, rear section, and side sections of the upper portion have a top surface; a middle portion disposed between the lower portion and the upper portion; an outside portion shaped to engage with shoulder pads, wherein the outside portion comprises a substantially c-shaped design, with the lower portion and the upper portion extending laterally further than the middle portion away from the user'"'"'s neck, an inside portion shaped to fit around a user'"'"'s neck, wherein the top surface of the side sections of the upper portion has an apex that is higher than the top surface of the front section and the rear section when the cervical spine protection device is worn by a user, wherein the axial force applied to the top portion of the helmet is at least partially absorbed by the cervical spine protection device and at least partially directed away from a cervical spinal column of the user by the cervical spine protection device, and wherein the cervical spine protection device allows extension of the head and neck during athletic movement. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. A cervical spine protection device comprising:
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an inside portion shaped to fit around a user'"'"'s neck; an outside portion comprising an upper portion, a lower portion, and a middle portion, wherein the middle portion is located between the upper portion and the lower portion; a front section; a rear section; and side portions, wherein the front section, rear section, and side sections have a top surface, wherein the top surface of the side sections has an apex that is higher than the top surface of the front section and the rear section when the cervical spine protection device is worn by a user, wherein the lower portion is shaped to engage with a user'"'"'s shoulders, wherein the rear section includes an opening that is sized and shaped to allow a user to move their head and neck backwards without substantial restriction, wherein the outside portion comprises a substantially c-shaped design, with the lower portion and the upper portion extending laterally further than the middle portion away from the user'"'"'s neck, and wherein, when a force is applied to the top surface of the upper portion, the device directs the force away from the user'"'"'s cervical spine. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A cervical spine protection device comprising:
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a foam material that includes at least an open cell microcellular structure; an inside portion shaped to fit around a user'"'"'s neck; an outside portion comprising an upper portion, a lower portion, and a middle portion, wherein the middle portion is located between the upper portion and the lower portion; a front section; a rear section; and side sections, wherein the front section, rear section, and side sections have a top surface wherein the top surface of the side sections has an apex that is higher than the top surface of the front section and the rear section when the cervical spine protection device is worn by a user, wherein the upper portion includes more material than the lower portion, wherein the lower portion is more flexible than the upper portion, wherein the lower portion is shaped to engage with a user'"'"'s shoulders, wherein the rear section includes an opening that is sized and shaped to allow a user to move their head and neck backwards without substantial restriction, wherein the outside portion comprises a substantially c-shaped design, with the lower portion and the upper portion extending laterally further than the middle portion away from the user'"'"'s neck, and wherein, when a force is applied to the top surface of the upper portion, the device acts as a compressive element and directs the force away from the user'"'"'s cervical spine.
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Specification