CA2739859A1 - Neck protection apparatus with pivotal brace arm and flexible helmet connection - Google Patents
Neck protection apparatus with pivotal brace arm and flexible helmet connection Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2739859A1 CA2739859A1 CA 2739859 CA2739859A CA2739859A1 CA 2739859 A1 CA2739859 A1 CA 2739859A1 CA 2739859 CA2739859 CA 2739859 CA 2739859 A CA2739859 A CA 2739859A CA 2739859 A1 CA2739859 A1 CA 2739859A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- brace arm
- helmet
- flexible elongate
- elongate member
- arm
- 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.)
- Granted
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- Helmets And Other Head Coverings (AREA)
Abstract
A neck protection apparatus features a support member arranged to couple to a pair of shoulder pads, a brace arm connected to the support member by a pivotal coupling to allow pivoting of the brace arm toward and away from a plane of the shoulder pads, a flexible elongate member for coupling between the brace arm and a helmet, and stop features for limiting a pivotal motion of the brace arm relative to the support member to a predetermined angular range. Maximum extent of the angular brace arm in opposing directions limits neck movement by using the arm to block rearward movement of the helmet and using tension in the flexible elongate member to restrain forward movement of the helmet, while the flexible elongate member accommodates freedom of head movement between these extents.
Claims (20)
1. A neck protection apparatus for limiting extreme head movements of a person wearing a helmet and shoulder pads, the apparatus comprising:
a support member arranged to coup[e to the shoulder pads;
a brace arm connected to the support member by a pivotal coupling adjacent a first end of said brace arm to allow pivoting of the brace arm about a pivot axis in directions toward and away from a plane containing at least two connection points at which the support member is arranged to couple to the shoulder pads;
a flexible elongate member comprising an arm connecting feature for coupling to the brace arm adjacent a second end of the brace arm opposite the first end, and comprising a helmet connecting feature arranged to couple to the helmet at a distance spaced along the flexible elongate member from the arm connecting feature; and stop features associated with the pivotal coupling between the support member and the brace arm to limit a pivotal motion of the brace arm relative to the support member to a predetermined continuous angular range preventing the brace arm from reaching horizontal in either direction when the plane containing the connection points of the support member is vertically oriented;
whereby, when the support member is coupled to the shoulder pads, maximum extent of the angular brace arm in one direction defines a blocking position at which rearward movement of the helmet is stopped by the brace arm to limit posterior extension of the neck, maximum extent of the angular brace arm in the other direction defines a restraining position past which forward movement of the helmet is subsequently stopped by tension of the flexible elongate member between the brace arm and the helmet to limit anterior flexion of the neck, and flexibility of the flexible elongate member accommodates freedom of head movement between these extents.
a support member arranged to coup[e to the shoulder pads;
a brace arm connected to the support member by a pivotal coupling adjacent a first end of said brace arm to allow pivoting of the brace arm about a pivot axis in directions toward and away from a plane containing at least two connection points at which the support member is arranged to couple to the shoulder pads;
a flexible elongate member comprising an arm connecting feature for coupling to the brace arm adjacent a second end of the brace arm opposite the first end, and comprising a helmet connecting feature arranged to couple to the helmet at a distance spaced along the flexible elongate member from the arm connecting feature; and stop features associated with the pivotal coupling between the support member and the brace arm to limit a pivotal motion of the brace arm relative to the support member to a predetermined continuous angular range preventing the brace arm from reaching horizontal in either direction when the plane containing the connection points of the support member is vertically oriented;
whereby, when the support member is coupled to the shoulder pads, maximum extent of the angular brace arm in one direction defines a blocking position at which rearward movement of the helmet is stopped by the brace arm to limit posterior extension of the neck, maximum extent of the angular brace arm in the other direction defines a restraining position past which forward movement of the helmet is subsequently stopped by tension of the flexible elongate member between the brace arm and the helmet to limit anterior flexion of the neck, and flexibility of the flexible elongate member accommodates freedom of head movement between these extents.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the pivotal joint comprises a pin defining the pivot axis about which the brace arm pivots relative to the support member.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the pin is removable for selective disconnection of the brace arm from the support member.
4. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 3 comprising only one of said flexible elongate member.
5. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the connection feature of the flexible elongate member comprises a snap fastener.
6. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein an effective length of the flexible elongate member between the arm and helmet connecting features thereof is adjustable.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the helmet connection feature is relocatable to different positions along the flexible elongate member to adjust the effective length thereof.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the helmet connection feature is carried on a buckle that is slidable to different positions along the flexible elongate member and lockable thereto in any of said different positions.
9. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the helmet connection feature comprises a first snap fastener element engagable with a corresponding second snap fastener element on the helmet.
10. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein the arm connection feature comprises a closed loop formed by the flexible elongate member and passing through an opening in the brace arm proximate the second end thereof.
11. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein the brace arm comprises a longitudinal portion carrying a transverse portion that extends laterally outward on both sides of the longitudinal portion at proximate the second end of the brace arm.
12. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 11 wherein the flexible elongate member comprises a strap.
13. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 12 wherein the stop features are defined by pairs of surfaces on opposing ones of the brace arm and the support member, each pair of surfaces being shaped to seat against one another in a respective one of the blocking and restraining positions.
14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein a blocking pair of surfaces arranged to seat against one another in the blocking position comprise an end surface at the first end of the brace arm and a surface of the support member facing toward the pivot axis from a same side thereof as the plane containing the connection points of the support member.
15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the same surface of the support member against which the end surface of the brace arm sits in the blocking position contacts a lengthwise surface of the brace arm in the restraining position.
16. The apparatus of any one of claims 13 to 15 wherein the brace arm has a U-shaped cross-section at the pivotal joint, opposite sides of the U-shaped cross section embrace around a protruding feature of the support member and a central portion of the U-shaped cross section joining the opposite sides thereof contacts the protruding feature at one or more of the blocking and restraining positions.
17. A neck protection apparatus for limiting extreme head and neck movements of a person, the apparatus comprising:
shoulder pads arranged for wearing over both shoulders of the person for protection thereof;
a helmet arranged for wearing on the head of the person for protection thereof;
a pivotal coupling secured to a rear portion of the shoulder pads at a central position thereacross so as to position the pivotal coupling below the head of the person when the shoulder pads are worn;
a brace arm coupled to the shoulder pads through the pivotal coupling adjacent a first end of said brace arm to allow pivoting of the brace arm forwardly toward and rearwardly away from the shoulder pads;
a flexible elongate member comprising an arm connecting feature for coupling to the brace arm adjacent a second end thereof opposite the first end, and a helmet connecting feature arranged to couple to the helmet at a distance spaced along the flexible elongate member from the arm connecting feature; and stop features associated with the pivotal coupling between the support member and the brace arm to limit pivotal motion of the brace arm relative to the support member to a predetermined continuous angular range limiting the brace arm to orientations extending upwardly from the pivotal joint when the shoulder pads are worn;
whereby, when the helmet and shoulder pads are worn with the flexible elongate member coupled between the brace arm and the helmet, maximum angular extent of the brace arm in one direction defines a blocking position at which rearward movement of the helmet is stopped by the brace arm to limit posterior extension of the neck, maximum extent of the angular brace arm in the other direction defines a restraining position past which forward movement of the helmet is subsequently stopped by tension of the flexible elongate member between the brace arm and the helmet to limit anterior flexion of the neck, and flexibility of the flexible elongate member accommodates freedom of head movement between these extents.
shoulder pads arranged for wearing over both shoulders of the person for protection thereof;
a helmet arranged for wearing on the head of the person for protection thereof;
a pivotal coupling secured to a rear portion of the shoulder pads at a central position thereacross so as to position the pivotal coupling below the head of the person when the shoulder pads are worn;
a brace arm coupled to the shoulder pads through the pivotal coupling adjacent a first end of said brace arm to allow pivoting of the brace arm forwardly toward and rearwardly away from the shoulder pads;
a flexible elongate member comprising an arm connecting feature for coupling to the brace arm adjacent a second end thereof opposite the first end, and a helmet connecting feature arranged to couple to the helmet at a distance spaced along the flexible elongate member from the arm connecting feature; and stop features associated with the pivotal coupling between the support member and the brace arm to limit pivotal motion of the brace arm relative to the support member to a predetermined continuous angular range limiting the brace arm to orientations extending upwardly from the pivotal joint when the shoulder pads are worn;
whereby, when the helmet and shoulder pads are worn with the flexible elongate member coupled between the brace arm and the helmet, maximum angular extent of the brace arm in one direction defines a blocking position at which rearward movement of the helmet is stopped by the brace arm to limit posterior extension of the neck, maximum extent of the angular brace arm in the other direction defines a restraining position past which forward movement of the helmet is subsequently stopped by tension of the flexible elongate member between the brace arm and the helmet to limit anterior flexion of the neck, and flexibility of the flexible elongate member accommodates freedom of head movement between these extents.
18. A neck protection apparatus for limiting extreme head and neck movements of a person, the apparatus comprising:
shoulder pads worn over both shoulders of the person for protection thereof;
a helmet worn on the head of the person for protection thereof;
a pivotal coupling secured to a rear portion of the shoulder pads at a central position thereacross below the head of the person;
a brace arm coupled to the shoulder pads through the pivotal coupling adjacent a first end of said brace arm to allow pivoting of the brace arm forwardly toward and rearwardly away from the shoulder pads;
a flexible elongate member coupled between the brace arm and the helmet; and stop features associated with the pivotal coupling between the support member and the brace arm to limit pivotal motion of the brace arm relative to the support member to a predetermined continuous angular range limiting the brace arm to orientations extending upwardly from the pivotal joint;
whereby maximum angular extent of the brace arm in one direction defines a blocking position at which rearward movement of the helmet is stopped by the brace arm to limit posterior extension of the neck, maximum extent of the angular brace arm in the other direction defines a restraining position past which forward movement of the helmet is subsequently stopped by tension of the flexible elongate member between the brace arm and the helmet to limit anterior flexion of the neck, and flexibility of the flexible elongate member accommodates freedom of head movement between these extents.
shoulder pads worn over both shoulders of the person for protection thereof;
a helmet worn on the head of the person for protection thereof;
a pivotal coupling secured to a rear portion of the shoulder pads at a central position thereacross below the head of the person;
a brace arm coupled to the shoulder pads through the pivotal coupling adjacent a first end of said brace arm to allow pivoting of the brace arm forwardly toward and rearwardly away from the shoulder pads;
a flexible elongate member coupled between the brace arm and the helmet; and stop features associated with the pivotal coupling between the support member and the brace arm to limit pivotal motion of the brace arm relative to the support member to a predetermined continuous angular range limiting the brace arm to orientations extending upwardly from the pivotal joint;
whereby maximum angular extent of the brace arm in one direction defines a blocking position at which rearward movement of the helmet is stopped by the brace arm to limit posterior extension of the neck, maximum extent of the angular brace arm in the other direction defines a restraining position past which forward movement of the helmet is subsequently stopped by tension of the flexible elongate member between the brace arm and the helmet to limit anterior flexion of the neck, and flexibility of the flexible elongate member accommodates freedom of head movement between these extents.
19. The apparatus of claim 17 or 18 wherein the helmet connecting feature of the flexible elongate member is arranged to couple to the helmet at a central position across a rear of the helmet.
20. The apparatus of any one of claims 17 to 19 wherein the helmet comprises a fastener element fixed thereto at a central location across a rear of the helmet for engagement with a corresponding fastener element of the helmet connecting feature of the flexible elongate member.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US201161000472P | 2011-04-05 | 2011-04-05 | |
| US61/472,030 | 2011-04-05 |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2739859A1 true CA2739859A1 (en) | 2011-09-21 |
| CA2739859C CA2739859C (en) | 2012-01-17 |
Family
ID=44671800
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2739859 Expired - Fee Related CA2739859C (en) | 2011-04-05 | 2011-05-11 | Neck protection apparatus with pivotal brace arm and flexible helmet connection |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2739859C (en) |
-
2011
- 2011-05-11 CA CA 2739859 patent/CA2739859C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| CA2739859C (en) | 2012-01-17 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| MKLA | Lapsed |
Effective date: 20150511 |