Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A41—WEARING APPAREL
  • A41D—OUTERWEAR; PROTECTIVE GARMENTS; ACCESSORIES
  • A41D13/00—Professional, industrial or sporting protective garments, e.g. surgeons' gowns or garments protecting against blows or punches
  • A41D13/015—Professional, industrial or sporting protective garments, e.g. surgeons' gowns or garments protecting against blows or punches with shock-absorbing means
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A41—WEARING APPAREL
  • A41D—OUTERWEAR; PROTECTIVE GARMENTS; ACCESSORIES
  • A41D13/00—Professional, industrial or sporting protective garments, e.g. surgeons' gowns or garments protecting against blows or punches
  • A41D13/05—Professional, industrial or sporting protective garments, e.g. surgeons' gowns or garments protecting against blows or punches protecting only a particular body part
  • A41D13/0518—Chest
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A41—WEARING APPAREL
  • A41D—OUTERWEAR; PROTECTIVE GARMENTS; ACCESSORIES
  • A41D13/00—Professional, industrial or sporting protective garments, e.g. surgeons' gowns or garments protecting against blows or punches
  • A41D13/05—Professional, industrial or sporting protective garments, e.g. surgeons' gowns or garments protecting against blows or punches protecting only a particular body part
  • A41D13/0531—Spine

Definitions

• This invention relates to a personal protection device.
• impact resistant body protectors in sports, working environments and even travelling, such as when riding a horse, motorbike or bicycle, is common and widespread. These typically take the form of helmets, padded jackets/vests, padded trousers and the like.
• this type of protector does little to prevent injury when the user is caught between an immovable surface, such as the ground, on one side and the application of a large impact or crushing force from the other side.
• padded body protectors are ineffective in preventing serious injury and even fatality when a horse falls, trapping the rider beneath it.
• the present invention seeks to overcome this problem.
• a personal protection device comprising a resilient structure which, in use, surrounds a bodypart of the user, the energy from an impact by a first surface being transmitted through the structure from the impact side to the other side(s) and dissipated to an external second surface with which the structure is in contact.
• the resilient structure is a rigid frame.
• the resilient structure may be a one piece structure.
• the resilient structure may comprise two or more interconnectable parts.
• the structure is contoured to the bodypart.
• the bodypart is the upper torso.
• Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a first embodiment of a personal protection device, in accordance with the present invention.
• Figure 2 is a side perspective view of the personal protection device shown in Figure 1;
• Figure 3 is a rear perspective view of the personal protection device shown in Figure 1; and
• Figure 4 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the personal protection device, in accordance with the present invention.
• FIG. 1 a first embodiment of a personal protection device, generally referenced at 10, is shown therein.
• the personal protection device 10 comprises a resilient, typically rigid frame, structure 12 which is adapted to house a bodypart of a user.
• the resilient structure 12 may be formed from metal material or any other suitable material which is light weight and able to withstand relatively high compressive forces.
• the resilient structure 12 is a unitary one-piece structure, and the bodypart is the upper torso.
• the resilient structure 12 comprises two continuous hoop elements 14, and two pairs of integral cross-member elements 16 which set the hoop elements 14 in relative spaced-apart relationship.
• the cross-member elements 16 typically extend in parallel or substantially in parallel with each other.
• the pairs of cross-member elements 16 are positioned on the hoop elements 14 to be diametrically or substantially diametrically opposed, and each cross-member element 16 in the pair is spaced from the other cross-member element 16.
• One or more further cross-member elements may extend at an angle between the hoop elements 14, and typically between the cross-member elements 16, to aid in the rigidity of the resilient structure 12.
• the hoop elements 14 are contoured and/or shaped to fit a user.
• the cross- member elements 16 may also be contoured and/or shaped. Some or all of the elements 14 and 16 may include padding.
• the personal protection device 10 is slid over the head and onto the body of the user so that the upper torso is, essentially, surrounded by an external cage.
• Each hoop element 14 is supported on a respective shoulder of the user and extends around and under the arm.
• One pair of cross-member elements 16 extends across the back of the user, and the other pair extends across the chest.
• FIG. 4 a second embodiment of the personal protection device 10 is shown therein.
• This structure 12 comprises two parts 12' which are interconnectable.
• each cross-member element 16 is formed with fastening means, typically in the form of a snap-lock fastener 18, part way along its length.
• the fasteners 18 are initially separated, the user inserts a respective arm through each opening in the hoop elements 14, and the hoop elements 14 are hung from the shoulders. The fasteners 18 are then engaged, fastening the cross-member elements 16 across the back and the chest.
• fasteners 18 need not necessarily be provided on all cross-member elements 16.
• one pair of the cross-member elements 16 could be formed with hinges, thereby allowing hinged opening of the structure 12.
• the cross-member elements 16 could remain as unitary constructions and the hoop elements 14 could be provided with hinges and fastening means.
• the structure 12 may also comprise more than two parts. These parts would typically all be interconnectable. This would facilitate the use of a resilient structure intended to protect more than one bodypart.
• the structure 12 could also be used in conjunction with existing padded protectors.
• the structure 12 and the padded protector may be securable together, and the structure 12 and/or the padded protector would include suitable securing means (not shown).
• the hoop elements 14 and/or the cross- member elements 16 may be adjustable. This would enable a user to optimise the fit of the device 10.
• the personal protection device described above it is possible to protect at least the vital organs housed in the upper torso of a user when the body is crushed or squeezed between two resilient surfaces, without limiting or restricting the freedom of movement of the user. This is of benefit in at least the field of horse riding, and in particular event riding, where a thrown rider caught between the ground and a falling horse can sustain serious and even fatal injuries.
• the resilient structure may not be a frame or may only be part-framework.

Landscapes

• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Physical Education & Sports Medicine (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Textile Engineering (AREA)
• Heart & Thoracic Surgery (AREA)
• Orthopedic Medicine & Surgery (AREA)
• Professional, Industrial, Or Sporting Protective Garments (AREA)
• Casings For Electric Apparatus (AREA)
• Aiming, Guidance, Guns With A Light Source, Armor, Camouflage, And Targets (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=30011662

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (5)

Families Citing this family (8)

Family Cites Families (5)

• 2002
  • 2002-07-12 CA CA002492268A patent/CA2492268A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2002-07-12 AU AU2002317340A patent/AU2002317340A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2002-07-12 US US10/521,220 patent/US20060101553A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2002-07-12 EP EP02745625A patent/EP1542557A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2002-07-12 WO PCT/GB2002/003223 patent/WO2004006701A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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