CA2012375C - Neck and throat protector for athletes - Google Patents

Neck and throat protector for athletes Download PDF

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Publication number
CA2012375C
CA2012375C CA 2012375 CA2012375A CA2012375C CA 2012375 C CA2012375 C CA 2012375C CA 2012375 CA2012375 CA 2012375 CA 2012375 A CA2012375 A CA 2012375A CA 2012375 C CA2012375 C CA 2012375C
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CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
neck
throat
protector
helmet
throat protector
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Fee Related
Application number
CA 2012375
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French (fr)
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CA2012375A1 (en
Inventor
William H. Carveth
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to CA 2012375 priority Critical patent/CA2012375C/en
Publication of CA2012375A1 publication Critical patent/CA2012375A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA2012375C publication Critical patent/CA2012375C/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

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Abstract

A neck and throat protector for athletes, in association with a helmet being worn by the athlete is provided.
A circular support means depends from a helmet and is adapted to support a collar-like neck and throat protector so as to permit the athlete to rotate his or her head fully to each side without any restrictive tightening of the protective collar an the athlete's neck. The protector includes means for easy donning by the athlete and quick attachment and removal. The protector affords complete protection from cuts by skate blades, blows by hockey pucks, and the like, for the complete neck and throat of the athlete.

Description

~~~3i~

The inventian relates to a neck and throat protector, particularly for use by athletes engaged in a sport where a helmet is worn, such as hockey players and the like. As will become evident, the throat protector will find equal usefulness in other sports such as football and the like.
It is now mandatory for hockey players to wear helmets.
Indeed, the major portion of a hockey player's body is protected by a helmet, shoulder pads, elbow and knee pads, kidney pads, and so on. 'However, one portion of the body has remained relatively unprotected, namely, the neck and particularly the throat.
The death of several hockey players has occurred in the recent past, as a direct result of a blow or cut to the throat by a skate blade, hockey puck, hockey stick, or elbow.
Attempts have been made to provide protection for the throat of a hockey player, one common expedient being the provision of a fabric collar, adapted to be worn in direct contact with the throat, surrounding the neck, with the hope that it will provide a cushioning effect should a blow to the throat be received. Such devices are relatively ineffective in protecting the wearer, and, moreover, are both uncomfortable and hot.
Another device designed to protect the neck of a hockey player is disclosed in Canadian patent No. 1,242,051 issued September 20, 1988, to Robert Lagace.' This patent discloses a neck protector for attachment to a helmet of a hockey player.
The protector is a cylinder that is fixedly attached to the 2~~. :~'~;~
helmet and face guard of the player, by means of fixed rings.
The lower portion of the neck protector is attached by VELCRO
(trade mark) fasteners for attachment to the shoulder pads or sweater of the player. 'this protector has a major disadvantage, in that it is fixedly attached to the helmet and face guard and to the sweater or shoulder pads of the wearer, who is thr.~s restricted in head movement. In other words, when the head of the player is rotated relative to his shoulders, the neck protector of Canadian patent No. 1,242,051 is forced to twist, and tighten on the player's neck, and thus to inhibit free rotation of the player's head, in a restrictive and uncomfortable manner.
The invention disclosed herein overcomes all of the disadvantages of the prior art discussed above and provides several other significant advantages.
In addition, the neck protector disclosed herein includes latching means far quick and easy donning and removal by the wearer, as will become clear hereinafter.
The throat protector according to the invention provides maximum protection to the entire throat and neck of the wearer, without inhibiting rotation of the head of the wearer, and without creating undue warmth in the neck and throat area.
As will become clear hereinafter, the throat protector of the invention surrounds the neck and throat of the wearer very loosely, so that good air circulation is ensured between the neck and throat, and the throat protector. Further, the throat protector may desirably be constructed of material or fabric of a loose mesh type, so as to permit additional air circulation.
...3 It is a still further object of the invention to provide a throat protector for use in combination with a helmet and face guard, which will eliminate the need for the usual mask straps required to retain the face guard in closed position when being worn.
A further object of the invention is to provide a neck and throat protector for athletic use, in association with a helmet and face guard, comprising a circular support means extending from the face guard adapted to support a collar-like neck and throat protector for relative rotation thereon.
A still further object of the invention is to provide a neck and throat protector in combination with a helmet and face guard, comprising a face guard hingedly affixed to the helmet with a circular support for a collar-like neck and throat protector affixed to the face guard and with latch means at the rear of the hoop support adapted for releasable engagement with the helmet, with the collar-like neck and throat protector being mounted for relative rotation on the circular support by a plurality of eyes.
These and other objects of the invention will become apparent with reference to the following specification, and to the attached drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view taken from one side of the throat and neck protector according to the invention, and of a helmet to which it is attached;
Figure 2 is a front perspective of the embodiment of Figure 1; and ~~D1.~'3'7J
Figure 3 is a bottom plan of a helmet and throat and neck protector mounting hoop, with the 'throat and neck protector itself removed.
Detailed reference will now be made to the drawings, in which like numerals will identify like parts.
Referring firstly to figure 1, a helmet 10 is provided with a face-guard assembly indicated generally at 12.
A hoop-support 14 is attached to and supported by face guard assembly 12 at 16 and 18 (please also see figure 3). It will be seen that circular support hoop 14 is comprised of two identical halves, being mirror images one of the other. Support hoop 14, therefore, is attached to and supported by. the face-guard assembly at 16 and 18, and to the helmet 10 by a pair of U-shaped latch members 20, 22 (please refer again to figure 1).
Rods 16a and 18a, being unitary extensions of hoop 14, project forwardly and upwardly where connection with face mask 12 is effected at 16 and 18 respectively.
Rods 16a and 18a serve a dual purpose. In addition to serving to connect neck'protector 28 to face guard 12, rods 16a and 18a themselves effect protection of the space between neck and throat protector 28 and mask 12. Thus, it is not possible for a skate blade to come in contact with the neck of a wearer in the space between the neck protector 28 and the face guard 12.
Whether a skate blade should thrust toward the neck of the wearer in this area from the front of the wearer or from the side thereof, rods 16a and 18a will prevent contact with the throat.
...5 -s- 2~~~3'?' Latch members 20 and 22 are adapted to be engaged in recesses 24 and 26 within the side portions of helmet 10. When latch members 20 and 22 are engaged within recesses 24 and 26, they will not be visible from the side of the helmet and the neck-guard assembly 28. Latches 20 and 22 may be quickly and easily removed by the wearer from recesses 24 and 26 by slight downward pressure on the upper arm of iJ-shaped latch members 20 and 22, by inserting a finger through an adjacent vent hole in the helmet.
Throat arid neck protector 28 is mounted on supporting hoop 14 by a plurality of eyes 30. Eyes 30 are, in turn, affixed to elongate plates 32 which are fixedly attached to the upper portion of throat and neck protector 28. Plates 32, attached to protecting collar 28a, are of relatively substantial size, so that if a blow occurs directly on hoop 14 its effect will be spread over a relatively large area, to minimize the likelihood of injury to the wearer. As is seen most clearly in Figures 1 and 2, neck and throat protector 28, which may be constructed of any desired fabric including artificial fabrics, comprises an upper collar portion 28a, and a lower, widely flanged portion 28b. A plurality of VELCRO (trade mark) fasteners 34, are adapted for attachment to the shoulder gads of the player. The rear of collar 28a is also adapted to be held closed by a VELCRO
(trade mark) fastener 36.
It is believed that the procedure followed in putting on the helmet and throat protector according the invention will ...6 _6_ be self-explanatory to a hockey player. The ends of hoop 14 at the rear of the player's necsk are slightly separated, but can be pulled apart easily, to permit entry of the player's neck therein. The hoop portions 14 will then spring back to their original shape and loosely surround 'the pla~ye.r's neck. When the helmet and neck protector according to the invention are worn, the rear of the hoop 14 is very close to the bottom edge of the helmet 10, so as to eliminate any likelihood of a blow or skate cut occurring therebetween. Thus, in donning the helmet with attached throat and neck protectors, face guard 12 will be pivoted forwardly at I2a, to permit the player to don his helmet 10. As face guard 12 is then pivoted toward the wearer's face, hoop portions 14 are held open, so that neck and throat protector 28 will surround the player's throat and neck. Latch members 20 and 22 are then engaged in recesses 24 and 26, while VELCRO
(trade mark) fasteners 34 engage with the player's shoulder pads.
'Phe VELCRO (trade mark) fastener 36 is then engaged to close the rear of collar 28a of the,throat protector 28.
A further advantage of the throat protector of the invention is 'that it is permanently affixed to helmet 12 by rods 16a and 18a. In other words, it is not possible for a player to remove the neck and throat protector 28, and the safety of the player is thus permanently enhanced. Thus, it is not possible to remove the Fabric throat protector 28 from circular hoop 14 without cutting the throat protector fabric, or mutilating 'the hoop 14. Because heJ.mets are mandatory in many sports, therefore, a helmet with a neck protector, according to the invention, ...7 affixed thereto will afford the desired protection at all times when the helmet itself is worn.
As will be evident from the forgoing disclosure, hoop 14 is slidably mounted within eyes 30, so that neck and throat protector 28 is rotatably mounted on hoop 14.
As the neck and throat protector is affixed to the player's shoulder pads by connectors 34, it remains stationary relative to the neck of the player's, while the head is freely rotatable to left or right, without any inhibiting effect caused by the throat and neck protector 28.
As protector 28 surrounds the neck and throat of the player relatively loosely, there is no restrictive tightening of the protector on the player's neck even when his head is rotated fully to one side or the other.
Accordingly, the neck and throat protector disclosed will substantially eliminate any likelihood of injury to a player as a result of skate cut, blow by a puck, or the like, without being restrictive or uncomfortable for the player. The quality of each sport in which the neck protector according to the invention is worn will be greatly enhanced, and the mobility of the player's upper body, including the neck and head will be in no way restricted.
The foregoing is by way of example only, and the invention should be limited only by the scope of the following claims.

Claims (9)

1. A neck and throat protector for athletic use, in association with a helmet and face guard comprising:
a circular support means extending from said face guard and adapted to support a collar-like neck and throat protector for relative rotation thereon.
2. A neck and throat protector for athletic use in association with a helmet and face guard comprising:
a circular support means being fixedly connected to said face guard at the front thereof and removably connected to said helmet at the rear thereof;
a collar-like neck and throat protector mounted for relative rotation on said circular support means.
3. A neck and throat protector according to Claims 1 or 2, said circular support means and said collar-like neck and throat protector being separable at the rear thereof, to permit donning and removal thereof by an athlete.
4. A neck and throat protector according to Claim 2, said circular support means being removably connected to said helmet at the rear thereof by a pair of spring latches.
5. A neck and throat protector in combination with a helmet and face guard comprising:
a face guard hingedly affixed to said helmet;

a circular support for a collar-like neck and throat protector affixed to said face guard;
latch means at the rear of said circular support adapted for releasable engagement with said helmet;
said collar-like neck and throat protector being mounted for relative rotation on said circular support by a plurality of eyes.
6. The neck and throat protector according to Claims 1, 2 or 5, said collar-like neck and throat protector being of fabric.
7. The neck and throat protector accordingly to Claims 1, 2,or 5, said collar-like neck and throat protector being removably attachable at its lower periphery to an athlete's shoulder pads.
8. A neck and throat protector according to Claim 6, said eyes each being affixed to a backing plate in turn attached to the neck and throat protector near the upper edge thereof.
9. A neck and throat protector according to Claims 1, 2 or 5 said circular support being affixed to said face guard by means of a pair of rods extending vertically therebetween.
CA 2012375 1990-03-16 1990-03-16 Neck and throat protector for athletes Expired - Fee Related CA2012375C (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA 2012375 CA2012375C (en) 1990-03-16 1990-03-16 Neck and throat protector for athletes

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA 2012375 CA2012375C (en) 1990-03-16 1990-03-16 Neck and throat protector for athletes

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2012375A1 CA2012375A1 (en) 1991-09-16
CA2012375C true CA2012375C (en) 2000-06-13

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CA 2012375 Expired - Fee Related CA2012375C (en) 1990-03-16 1990-03-16 Neck and throat protector for athletes

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Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
SE2151407A1 (en) * 2021-11-18 2023-05-19 Sin Bin Ab Neck guard for skating sports athletes
WO2023091074A1 (en) * 2021-11-18 2023-05-25 Sin Bin Ab Neck guard

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FI107998B (en) * 1997-04-17 2001-11-15 Kari Arto Olavi Viitalahti Skid player cover

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
SE2151407A1 (en) * 2021-11-18 2023-05-19 Sin Bin Ab Neck guard for skating sports athletes
WO2023091074A1 (en) * 2021-11-18 2023-05-25 Sin Bin Ab Neck guard
SE545340C2 (en) * 2021-11-18 2023-07-11 Sin Bin Ab Neck guard for skating sports athletes

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CA2012375A1 (en) 1991-09-16

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