Devices for preventing cervical spine injuries in contact sports
OwnerGeorge E. Abraham, IIinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Helmet accessory devices are provided for protecting a wearer from cervical spine injuries. The devices comprise a shoulder assembly (401, 501) to which at least one leaf spring (408, 508) has its first end (404, 504) rigidly connected. A post (406, 506) is formed on the leaf spring to carry a hood (410) superposed above a helmet (430) worn by the wearer. Axially compressive forces sustained by the hood (410) are opposed by the post (408, 508) and the shoulder assembly (401, 501).
Claims34
Apparatus for protecting its wearer from cervical spine injuries, the apparatus comprising:
- a shoulder assembly;
- at least one leaf spring having a first end rigidly connected to the shoulder assembly;
- a post formed on the leaf spring;
- a hood connected to the post whereby the hood is superposed over a helmet worn by the wearer and whereby axially compressive forces sustained by the hood are opposed by the post and the shoulder assembly.
An apparatus for protecting its wearer from cervical spine injuries, the apparatus including:
- a helmet, the helmet having a circumferential exterior portion and a neck opening, the helmet further having a flange projecting outwardly from the circumferential exterior portion and spaced above and away from the neck opening;
- a helmet support ring mounted above the neck opening, the helmet support ring encircling and in rotating contact about a vertical axis with at least a portion of a circumferential exterior portion of the helmet, the flange on the helmet being positioned so as to engage the helmet support ring and thereby prevent anterior flexion upon application of a force to the helmet;
- and
- a stationary frame for mounting the helmet support ring on two shoulders of the wearer whereby the force experienced by the helmet is transmitted by the frame to the two shoulders.
An apparatus for use in conjunction with a helmet having a neck opening, the apparatus protecting its wearer from cervical spine injuries, the apparatus including:
- a flange for outwardly projecting attachment to a circumferential exterior portion of the helmet;
- a helmet support ring mounted above the neck opening, the helmet support ring encircling and for rotating contact with at least a portion of the circumferential exterior portion of the helmet;
- the flange being attachable to the circumferential exterior portion of a helmet so as to be engagable by the helmet support ring and prevent anterior flexion when a force is applied to the helmet;
- and
- a stationary frame for mounting the helmet support ring on two shoulders of its wearer whereby force experienced by the helmet is transmitted by the frame to the two shoulders.
An apparatus for use in conjunction with a helmet for protecting its wearer from cervical spine injuries, the apparatus comprising:
- two base members configured to be attachably borne by a wearer's shoulders, a first of the base members being borne by a left shoulder and a second of the base members being borne by a right shoulder;
- a hood having an underside surface of curvature substantially similar to a curvature of the helmet worn by the wearer;
- and,
- two post members for holding the underside surface of the hood aloft above the helmet by a predetermined distance, a first post member having a lower end attached to the first of the base members and a second post member having a lower end attached to the second of the base members, tops of each post member having the hood mounted thereon.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.