# US 2017/0245576 A1 · System for mitigating musculoskeletal stresses from head- related moments exerted on a person > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0245576 A1 - Document ID: US20170245576A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/510,042 - Filed: 2015-09-10 - Published: 2017-08-31 - Earliest claimed: 2014-09-10 - Assignees: Thumbprint Solutions, Inc. - Applicants: Thumbprint Solutions Inc. - Inventors: Markus Hetzler; Steven Fischer; Joan Stevenson; Susan Reid - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170245576A1 ## CPC - A42B 3/0473: {Neck restraints} - A42B 3/0406: {Accessories for helmets} - A42B: HATS; HEAD COVERINGS (headbands A41D20/00; head-scarves A41D23/00) ## Abstract In an aspect, a stress mitigation system is provided for mitigating stresses in a wearer of a headgear configured to apply a load on the wearer that is offset from a center of gravity of the wearer's head to apply a first torque in a first direction on the wearer's head. The system includes a track, a shuttle, and a flexible elongate connector. The track is mounted to either the headgear or a bodywear member and extends generally laterally. The shuttle is movable along the track. The connector is configured to connect between the shuttle and the other of the headgear and the bodywear member. The connector applies a second torque on the headgear in a second direction that is generally opposite to the first direction. When the wearer's head pivots, the shuttle is movable laterally along the track to maintain the connector in a substantially vertical orientation. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A stress mitigation system for mitigating stresses in a wearer of a headgear, wherein the headgear is configured to apply a load on the wearer that is offset from a center of gravity of a head of the wearer so as to apply a first torque in a first torque direction on the head of the wearer, the stress mitigation system comprising: a track that is mounted to one of the headgear and a bodywear member configured for wearing on a body of the wearer, wherein the track extends generally laterally; a shuttle that is movable along the track; and a flexible elongate connector that is configured to connect between the shuttle and the other of the headgear and the bodywear member, wherein, when the wearer is upright, the flexible elongate connector is biased so as to apply a second torque on the headgear in a second torque direction that is generally opposite to the first torque direction, wherein, when the head of the wearer pivots about a generally vertical axis, the shuttle is movable laterally along the track so as to maintain the flexible elongate connector in a substantially vertical orientation. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A stress mitigation system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the track is mounted to the bodywear member. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A stress mitigation system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the track has a generally circular cross-sectional shape. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A stress mitigation system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the shuttle body has a bushing that defines a generally cylindrical shuttle aperture that receives the track therethrough. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) A stress mitigation system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the shuttle aperture has a geometric center, wherein the shuttle further includes a pivot member pivotably connected to the shuttle body for pivotal movement about a pivot member axis that passes proximate to the geometric centre of the shuttle aperture, and wherein the flexible elongate connector has a first end that pivotally connects to the pivot member such that the pivot member transmits tension force from the flexible elongate connector to the shuttle body proximate to the geometric centre of the shuttle aperture. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A stress mitigation system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a tensioning device that tensions the flexible elongate connector. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) A stress mitigation system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the tensioning device includes a flexible elongate connector biasing member that is a clock spring. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A stress mitigation system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the tensioning device includes a tension adjustment mechanism that permits adjustment of a first end of the clock spring so as to adjust a preload in the clock spring. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) A stress mitigation system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the tensioning device includes a spool to which the flexible elongate connector is connected. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) A stress mitigation system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the tensioning device is releasably connected to the headgear. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) A stress mitigation system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the flexible elongate connector is releasable from at least a portion of the shuttle. ### Claim 12 (depends on 5) A stress mitigation system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the pivot member has a first limit surface and the shuttle body has a first limit surface, and wherein a selected tension in the flexible elongate connector over a selected range of angle causes the first pivot surfaces on the pivot member and the shuttle body to engage one another and to act as a fulcrum to cause the pivot member to release from the shuttle body. ### Claim 13 A stress mitigation system for mitigating stresses in a wearer of a headgear, wherein the headgear is configured to apply a load on the wearer that is offset from a center of gravity of a head of the wearer so as to apply a first torque in a first torque direction on the head of the wearer, the stress mitigation system comprising: a flexible elongate connector arrangement that is connectable between the headgear and a bodywear member configured for wearing on a body of the wearer; wherein, when the wearer is upright, the flexible elongate connector arrangement is biased so as to exert a connector arrangement force in a connector arrangement force direction that is generally opposite to the load force direction on the headgear, and so as to exert a second torque in a second torque direction that is generally opposite to the first torque direction on the headgear, wherein the flexible elongate connector arrangement is positioned on first and second lateral sides of the headgear only. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A stress mitigation system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the flexible elongate connector arrangement includes a first elongate semi-rigid connector that extends along a generally C-shaped path between the headgear and the bodywear member on a first lateral side of the headgear, and a second elongate semi-rigid connector that extends along a generally C-shaped path between the headgear and the bodywear member on a second lateral side of the headgear. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) A stress mitigation system as claimed in claim 14, wherein each elongate semi-rigid connector is an elongate helical spring. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) A stress mitigation system as claimed in claim 14, wherein each elongate semi-rigid connector is oriented to flex in a substantially vertical plane. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) A stress mitigation system as claimed in claim 14, wherein each elongate semi-rigid connector is oriented to flex in a substantially vertical plane that extends substantially sagittally. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) A stress mitigation system as claimed in claim 14, wherein, for each elongate semi-rigid member there is a lifting force adjustment device that is configured to control the amount of flexure is present in the elongate semi-rigid member. ### Claim 19 A stress mitigation system for mitigating stresses in a wearer of a headgear, wherein the headgear is configured to apply a load on the wearer that is offset from a center of gravity of a head of the wearer so as to apply a first torque in a first torque direction on the head of the wearer, the stress mitigation system comprising: a first force transfer cable segment and a second force transfer cable segment, wherein each force transfer cable segment has a first end and a second end, wherein the first ends are mounted to one of the headgear and the bodywear member and the second ends are mounted to the other of the headgear and the bodywear member, wherein the first ends are laterally inboard from the second ends and are vertically spaced from the second ends such that, during pivoting movement of the head of the wearer in a first pivot direction about a vertical axis, the first force transfer cable segment changes orientation towards a vertical orientation and the second force transfer cable segment changes orientation towards a horizontal orientation, and during pivoting movement of the head of the wearer in a second pivot direction about the vertical axis, the first force transfer cable segment changes orientation towards the horizontal orientation and the second force transfer cable segment changes orientation towards the vertical orientation; and a tensioning device that is configured to reduce tension in any of the first and second force transfer cable segments that changes orientation towards the horizontal orientation and to increase tension in any of the first and second force transfer cable segments that changes orientation towards the vertical orientation. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) A stress mitigation system as claimed in claim 19, wherein the tensioning device includes a first spool and a second spool, and a cable segment biasing member that extends between the first and second spools, wherein the first force transfer cable segment forms connects to a first spool engaging cable segment which is received on the first spool and wherein the second force transfer cable segment forms connects to a second spool engaging cable segment which is received on the second spool. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) A stress mitigation system as claimed in claim 20, wherein the first and second spools each have a groove for retaining the associated one of the first and second spool engaging connector segments, wherein the groove on each spool has a progressively increasing diameter from a first groove end to a second groove end, such that when the spool pays out the associated spool engaging cable segment, the associated spool engaging cable segment leaves the groove at a progressively increasing diameter and when the spool reels in the associated spool engaging connector segment, the associated spool engaging cable segment leaves the groove at a progressively decreasing diameter. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) A stress mitigation system as claimed in claim 20, wherein the tensioning device is configured to permit adjustment of the tension in the first and second force transfer cable segments. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) A stress mitigation system as claimed in claim 22, wherein the tensioning device includes a cable segment biasing member that has a first end that is connected to the first spool, and a second end that is connected to an intermediate member that is removably connectable to the second spool. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) A stress mitigation system as claimed in claim 23, wherein the tensioning device includes a spool locking biasing member that urges the second spool to a first position in which the second spool is locked rotationally with the intermediate member, and wherein the second spool is movable to a second position in which the second spool is rotationally disconnected from the intermediate member. ### Claim 25 A stress mitigation system for mitigating stresses in neck muscles of a person, comprising: a headgear configured to mount to the head of the person; a track that is mounted to one of the headgear and a bodywear member configured for wearing on a body of the person, wherein the track extends generally laterally; a shuttle that is movable along the track; and a flexible elongate connector that is configured to connect between the shuttle and the other of the headgear and the bodywear member, wherein, in a selected position, the flexible elongate connector is biased so as to apply a torque on the headgear in a selected torque direction, wherein, when the head of the wearer pivots about a generally longitudinal axis, the shuttle is movable laterally along the track so as to maintain the flexible elongate connector in a substantially longitudinal orientation.