# US 2013/0152288 A1 · Cervical spine protection device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0152288 A1 - Document ID: US20130152288A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/764,284 - Filed: 2013-02-11 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2006-01-18 - Assignees: Patrick E. Kerr - Inventors: Patrick E. Kerr - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130152288A1 ## CPC - A41D 13/0512: {Neck or shoulders area} - A41D 2600/102: Motorcycling - A41D: OUTERWEAR; PROTECTIVE GARMENTS; ACCESSORIES ## 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. ## Claims ### 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 an opening at the rearward facing side of a user's body; a middle portion disposed between the lower portion and the upper portion; an inside portion shaped to fit around a user's neck, 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, further comprising an outside portion shaped to engage with shoulder pads, wherein the lower portion is shaped to fit adjacent to or under shoulder pads. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the upper portion comprises an upper surface to provide a contact area that may receive a lower edge of the user's head protection device when an axial force is applied to a portion of the user's head protection device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the lower portion is shaped to follow the contours of a user's neck and shoulders, and wherein the lower portion is shaped to direct an axial force away from the cervical spinal column. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, further comprising a first horizontal portion on the upper portion and a tapered portion on the lower portion designed to follow the contours of a user's neck and shoulders, wherein a force applied to the first horizontal portion is directed along the tapered lower portion away from the user's cervical spinal column in an oblique direction. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the upper portion comprises a width that is in the range of between 2 to 4 inches in length. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the cervical spine protection device comprises plastic, polyurethane, or foam. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the lower portion comprises an opening at a forward facing side of the user's body. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the opening in the upper portion at the rearward facing side of the user's body is of a width substantially equal to the width of a user's neck. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the openings at the forward and rearward facing sides of the user's body are sufficient in size to allow substantially unrestricted movement of a user's head and neck. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, further comprising a means for fastening, wherein the means for fastening is capable of engaging the device with shoulder pads. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The device according to claim 11, wherein the means for fastening comprises laces, snaps, hook and loop, tape, clamps, clips, couplings, docks, hooks, latches, pins, buttons, slides, or tongue and groove attachments. ### Claim 13 A cervical spine protection system comprising: 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 an opening at the rearward facing side of a user's body; a middle portion disposed between the lower portion and the upper portion; an inside portion shaped to fit around a user's neck, 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. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system according to claim 13, wherein the cervical spine protection device further comprises an outside portion shaped to engage with the shoulder pads, wherein the lower portion is shaped to fit adjacent to or under the shoulder pads. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The device according to claim 13, wherein the cervical spine protection is integral with the shoulder pads. ### Claim 16 A cervical spine protection device comprising: 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 portion; and a back portion, wherein the lower portion is shaped to engage with a user's shoulders, wherein the back portion 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 a surface of the upper portion, the device directs the force away from the user's cervical spine. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The device according to claim 16, wherein the inside portion includes a tapered lower portion designed to follow contours of the user's neck, and wherein the force applied to the top surface of the upper portion is directed along the tapered lower portion away from the user's cervical spine. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The device according to claim 16, wherein the lower portion extends further than the upper portion. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The device according to claim 16, wherein the upper portions are shaped to fit above shoulder pads, and the lower portions are shaped to fit beneath shoulder pads. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The device according to claim 16, wherein a top surface of the upper portion is designed to engage a lower edge of a helmet when a force is applied to a top of the helmet. ### Claim 21 A cervical spine protection device comprising: a foam or foam-like 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 portion; and a back portion, 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 back portion 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 a surface of the upper portion, the device acts as a compressive element and directs the force away from the user's cervical spine.