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US 10,391,382 B2Granted
Head and neck restraint device with dynamic articulation
AssigneeSchroth Safety Products GmbH
InventorsMark Anthony Stiles, Donald Thomas Myers
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A head and neck restraint device for high performance race car drivers. The device includes a yoke, a collar and a pair of legs. The yoke and/or collar are adapted to pivotably articulate with respect to the legs. At least a portion of each leg can flex in response to force.
Claims18
A head and neck restraint device, comprising:
- a) a yoke having
- i) a base portion,
- ii) a stand-up collar portion coupled to the base portion,
- iii) a first sidewing coupled to a first side of the base portion, the first sidewing including a top surface and a bottom surface opposite the top surface, the top surface configured to receive a portion of a safety belt of a vehicle thereon,
- iv) a second sidewing coupled to a second side of the base portion opposite the first side, the second sidewing including a top surface and a bottom surface opposite the top surface, the top surface configured to receive a portion of the safety belt thereon, and,
- v) a tether coupled to the collar portion and adapted to connect with a helmet;
- b) a first leg having
- i) a proximal portion,
- ii) a distal portion spaced apart from the proximal portion,
- iii) a front surface configured to receive a portion of the safety belt thereon,
- iv) a rear surface opposite the front surface, and
- v) a first connector member extending outward from the front surface adjacent the proximal portion of the first leg, the first connector member configured to couple the first leg with the first sidewing for pivoting articulation with respect to the yoke, and
- c) a second leg having
- i) a proximal portion,
- ii) a distal portion spaced apart from the proximal portion,
- iii) a front surface configured to receive a portion of the safety belt thereon,
- iv) a rear surface opposite the front surface,
- v) a second connector member extending outward from the front surface adjacent the proximal portion of the second leg, the second connector member configured to couple the second leg with the second sidewing for pivoting articulation with respect to the yoke, and
- wherein the first and second legs are each pivotable relative to the yoke between at least a first position and a second position,
- wherein engaging portions of the front surfaces of the first and second legs are spaced apart from the respective first and second sidewings and the first and second legs are engaged with the bottom surfaces of the respective first and second sidewings to limit pivoting movement of the first and second legs when the first and second legs are in the first position,
- wherein the first and second legs are spaced apart from the bottom surfaces of the respective first and second sidewings and the engaging portions of the front surfaces of the first and second legs are engaged with the respective first and second sidewings to limit pivoting movement of the first and second legs when the first and second legs are in the second position, and
- wherein each of the first and second legs is pivotable relative to the yoke independent of the other of the first and second legs.
19 more elements
A head and neck restraint device, comprising:
- a) a yoke having i) a base portion, ii) a stand-up collar portion coupled to the base portion, iii) a first sidewing coupled to one side of the base portion, and, iv) a second sidewing coupled to an opposing side of the base portion from the first sidewing;
- and, b) first and second legs, each leg having i) a proximal portion, ii) a distal portion spaced apart from the proximal portion, iii) a front surface, iv) a rear surface opposite the front surface, v) a connector member mounted for rotation relative to one of the first and second sidewings such that each leg is capable of limited pivoting articulation relative to the respective first or second sidewing, wherein the first and second legs and first and second sidewings are configured to absorb forces as the yoke moves from a first configuration to a second configuration relative to the first and second legs, and the first and second legs are independently pivotable relative to the yoke, wherein the first and second legs are each pivotable relative to the yoke between at least a first position and a second position, wherein each of the first and second legs further includes a flap extending from the proximal portion along a bottom surface of the respective first or second sidewing, wherein engaging portions of the front surfaces of the first and second legs are spaced apart from the respective first and second sidewings and the flaps of the first and second legs are engaged with the bottom surfaces of the respective first and second sidewings to limit pivoting movement of the first and second legs when the first and second legs are in the first position, and wherein the flaps of the first and second legs are spaced apart from the bottom surfaces of the respective first and second sidewings and the engaging portions of the front surfaces of the first and second legs are engaged with the respective first and second sidewings to limit pivoting movement of the first and second legs when the first and second legs are in the second position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.