Athletic collar

A collar comprising:

• a lower flange configured to partially encircle a neck of a user, the lower flange including:
• a back pad configured to contact an upper back region of the user, and
• a shoulder flap configured to provide a contact surface to be placed atop a shoulder of the user;
• an upper flange coupled to the lower flange and configured to encircle a portion of the neck and to allow unrestricted forward movement of a head of the user, wherein the upper flange includes:
• a first side segment opposing a second side segment, the first side segment and the second side segment configured to limit movement of the head in a sideways direction, and a rear segment configured to limit movement of the head in a rearward direction;
• and
• at least one bumper affixed to the upper flange, wherein the at least one bumper is located on the upper flange and configured to exert a force on a back of the head or a side of the head during lateral flexion of the neck in a sideways direction or extension of the neck in a rearward direction to dampen movement of the head, wherein the at least one bumper includes a portion extended from a cavity of an upper surface of the upper flange.

An athletic collar comprising:

• a lower flange configured to partially encircle a neck of a user, the lower flange including:
• a back pad configured to contact an upper back region of the user,
• a shoulder flap configured to provide a contact surface to be placed atop a shoulder of the user;
• and
• an upper flange coupled to the lower flange and configured to encircle a portion of the neck and to allow unrestricted forward movement of a head of the user, wherein the upper flange includes:
• a first side segment opposing a second side segment, wherein the first and second side segments are configured to gradually restrict movement of the head in a sideways direction to dampen movement of the head and to mitigate lateral hyperflexion of the neck;
• and
• a rear segment configured to gradually restrict movement of the head to mitigate hyperextension of the neck;
• and
• at least one bumper affixed to the upper flange, wherein the at least one bumper is located on the upper flange between an upper edge, a lower edge and a forward edge thereof, wherein the at least one bumper is configured to exert a force on a back of the head or a side of the head during lateral movement of the neck in a sideways direction or extension of the neck in a rearward direction to dampen movement of the head, wherein the at least one bumper is positioned on the upper flange and does not extend forward of the forward edge thereof.