EP3747293A1

EP3747293A1 - Equipment for neck protection

Info

Publication number: EP3747293A1
Application number: EP20177408.0A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Francesco d'Urso
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2019-06-07
Filing date: 2020-05-29
Publication date: 2020-12-09
Anticipated expiration: 2040-05-29
Also published as: IT201900008319A1; EP3747293B1

Abstract

Equipment (1) for neck protection, comprising: a supporting body (3) adapted to be positioned at the back of a user, a protection component (2) protruding from the supporting body (3) towards the user's neck and adapted to be arranged behind the user's neck, a containment body (4) adapted to be fixed or integrated outside a safety helmet (100) and defining a containment seat (51) between the containment body (51) and the helmet (100), and an abutment member (52) connected to the supporting body (3) through the protection component (2) and adapted to be inserted into the containment seat (51). The abutment member (52) is movable within the containment seat (51) between the lower opening (56) and an upper portion (55b) of the containment body (4), as well as sideways and toward/away from the helmet (100).

Description

Field of application

The invention develops in the technical field of wearable body protections, for example in sports. In particular, the invention relates to a neck protection.

Description of prior art

In some sports, the athlete's body is subject to high risks due to the athlete's speed or the presence of heavy objects moving at high speed. Among these sports are, for example, skiing, kite, windsurfing, motorcycle racing and car racing.
For this reason, those who practice these sports, especially at the competitive level, use special protections to avoid fractures, distortions or other types of issue that may occur in the event of an impact or a fall. Of course, protections can also be useful for safety outside the sporting field.
The neck is a part of the body that requires special protection for various reasons. In fact, injuries that occur to the cervical part of the spine such as crushes and fractures are not always reversible, and in the worst cases can lead to particularly serious consequences such as paralysis of various parts of the body below the neck.
The neck is exposed to the risk of injury not only in the case of direct impacts, but also as a result of impacts or tractions that indirectly lead the head to a sudden movement with respect to the chest, with a consequent so-called whiplash injury.
It is to be noted that protection against whiplash injury is especially important when a person is wearing a protective suit with one or more airbags built in at the chest.
Such airbags, in case of impacts directed mainly against the chest, in fact, increase the distance of the head from the body with which the impact occurs.
The head, therefore, before colliding with the impact body has more space to stop or in any case to slow down and therefore the impact, in case the head is effectively retained by the neck muscles, could be avoided altogether or could occur with a lower intensity. If the forces involved, as in most cases where the air bag is activated, are such as to overcome the resistance of the muscles of the neck, the latter undergoes a greater bending with an increased risk of spinal injury.
Neck protections should therefore be sufficiently rigid to protect against direct impacts and to avoid excessive bending, while allowing the user to perform with the head the necessary movements for the activity he/she is carrying out, as well as to have adequate lateral vision.
A known protection of a first type has a semi-rigid ribbing to be worn behind the neck to protect the neck from direct impacts. The ribbing is formed of rigid plaques superimposed and suitably joined together with textile material. Therefore, the protection has flexibility features so as not to impair the movements necessary for the user.
A lower part of the protection may be worn under a suitably tight suit to bind the protection to the back, which suit may optionally provide semi-rigid protection for the remainder of the spine.
A known protection of a second type consists of a semi-rigid collar to be used in combination with an integral helmet. The collar rests on the shoulders and has an upper profile shaped substantially complementary to the lower profile of the helmet.
When the user is in the upright position, the helmet is spaced from the collar by a few centimetres, and therefore small head movements are allowed. Wider movements instead lead the helmet to meet the collar, preventing the risk of whiplash injuries.
These protections can also be effective against direct impacts, but the neck remains accessible through the space between the helmet and collar.

Known art problem

The known protections of the first type leave the neck excessively free to move in various directions, and therefore do not effectively protect it from whiplash injury.
In fact, they offer some protection from whiplash injury only if the head is brought to move backwards from the back, or towards the protection itself. On the other hand, no movement of the head forward or sideways away from the protection is hindered in any way.
In addition, such protections may leave the upper part of the neck uncovered, and thus exposed to the risk of direct impact. In fact, the protection can bend backwards when a user during normal activity moves their head backwards within the allowed limits, but when the user brings his/her head forward the protection does not necessarily come back forward and therefore moves away from his/her neck.
The protections of the second type are effective only when used in combination with an integral helmet, where the presence of a chin-rest is provided. Therefore, these protections, also due to the excessive size and weight of the helmet, are excessively limiting for normal head movements required in various types of sports, such as skiing, where freedom of movement improves race performance and makes skiing more enjoyable.
In addition, the chin-rest can pose a hazard in the event of a direct impact to the chin from the bottom to the top. In fact, in such a situation, the chin is protected, but the chin-rest is a lever that amplifies the movement of the head backwards, worsening the extent of a whiplash injury to the neck.

Summary of the Invention

The object of the present invention is to provide a neck protection that solves the problems set forth above, effectively protecting the neck from whiplash injury without the need for an integral helmet and substantially independent of the direction of movement of the head.
This and other objects are achieved by an equipment for neck protection according to any of the appended claims.
The equipment according to the invention provides a supporting body adapted to be positioned at the back of a user, and secured to it for example by wearing a suit or a wetsuit, possibly suitably reinforced, above the supporting body.
A protection component protrudes from the supporting body towards the user's neck so as to be arranged behind the neck. The protection component may have the necessary rigidity for protection against direct impacts.
The equipment also provides a containment body adapted to be fixed outside a helmet or integrated into its structure. The containment body defines a containment seat delimited rearward by a containment wall adapted to be faced to the helmet. The preferred containment seat is further delimited frontally by the helmet and laterally and at the top by a peripheral wall of the seat, while an opening is provided below.
The equipment further comprises an abutment member insertable into the containment seat and movable therein substantially in all directions, and in particular towards and away from an upper portion of the peripheral wall, sliding through the opening, and further between two side positions and between a backward position, in which it is in contact with the containment wall, and a forward position, in which it is spaced from the containment wall, coming into contact with the helmet. The protection component connects the abutment member to the supporting body.
Advantageously, contact of the abutment member with the containment wall and the peripheral wall prevents excessive head movements in any direction. It is therefore the protection component that is placed under stress, and not the neck muscles, thus preventing whiplash injuries. The mobility of the abutment member within the containment wall still guarantees the necessary freedom of movement for the user's head.
The peripheral wall of the containment seat, in case of activation of air bags and lever backwards towards a hard body, also protects directly from whiplash injury, as it impacts the hard body before overcoming the neck bending limits, which causes fractures or injuries. In addition, the back of the neck is also protected from direct impacts, since the protection component and the abutment member, together, leave no open space between the back and the helmet.
Preferably, to increase freedom of movement, the protection component in use is spaced from the user's neck, when the user keeps the head upright. Alternatively, the protection component may be close to the neck, and in this case it has sufficient flexibility to allow neck movements within specific limits.
It should also be noted that the equipment according to the invention may be used with any type of helmet, not necessarily integral, provided that it is possible to fix or integrate the containment component therein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of a possible practical embodiment thereof, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the series of drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a side view of a user using an equipment for neck protection according to the invention;
Figure 2 shows a side view of the user of Figure 1 wherein the user wears a suit or wetsuit above the equipment;
Figure 3 shows a rear view of a user using the equipment of Figure 1;
Figure 4 shows a rear view of a supporting body of the equipment of Figure 1;
Figure 5 shows a rear view of an abutment member of the equipment of Figure 1;
Figure 6a shows a rear view of a protection component of the equipment of Figure 1;
Figure 6b shows a back view of a protection component of an equipment according to a different embodiment of the equipment;
Figures 7 and 8 respectively show a rear view and a front view of the abutment member of Figure 5 inserted inside a containment seat of an anchoring body of the equipment of Figure 1;
Figure 9 shows a rear view of a helmet to be used in combination with the equipment of Figure 1;
Figure 10 shows a top sectional view of an abutment member inserted within an anchoring body in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the equipment;
Figure 11 shows a partially sectional side view of the abutment member inserted inside the anchoring body according to the embodiment of Figure 10;
Figure 12 shows a rear view of an abutment member in accordance with the embodiment of the equipment of Figure 10;
Figure 13 shows a sectional side view of an abutment member according to a further embodiment of the equipment.

Detailed description

With reference to the accompanying figures, an equipment 1 for neck protection is generally indicated with the number 1. The equipment 1 may be used in conjunction with a helmet 100 to protect a user's head and/or with a suit or wetsuit 200.
The suit or wetsuit 200 is optionally configured to protect the user's back according to techniques known per se. For example, the suit 200 may comprise a semi-rigid ribbing (not shown) arranged at the user's back, and in particular at the spine. However, as will become clearer below, in some embodiments the suit/wetsuit 200 is not necessary for the use of the equipment 1, which may itself provide protection for the entire spine.
The equipment 1 comprises a supporting body 3 adapted to be positioned at the back of a user.
The supporting body 3 is suitable to be secured to the user's back. Preferably, the supporting body 3 is suitable to be arranged between the suit/wetsuit 200 and the user's back when the user wears the suit/wetsuit 200.
The supporting body 3 can however be secured to the back in various other ways recognizable by a person skilled in the art, without necessarily having to wear a suit or wetsuit 200.
For example, in a non-illustrated embodiment, the supporting body 3 may comprise straps and/or elastic bands adapted to be secured to one another with velcros suitable for wrapping the user's chest and/or shoulders. In a further embodiment, the supporting body 3 itself includes a suit/wetsuit 200. Optionally, the supporting body 3 may further comprise a semi-rigid ribbing (not shown) adapted to be arranged at the user's back along the entire spine to provide integral protection to it according to already known embodiments.
In the preferred embodiment, the supporting body 3 comprises a rigid or semi-rigid panel 31 that is adapted to be positioned at the user's back to extend along at least a portion of the back, preferably an upper portion of the back. The panel 31 preferably has the most anatomical shape possible, and is further made partially flexible through appropriate grooves to allow limited back movements.
Moreover, the equipment 1 comprises a protection component 2 protruding along a longitudinal direction X-X from the supporting body 3 towards the user's neck and adapted to be arranged behind the user's neck.
The equipment further comprises an abutment member 52, described in further detail below. The protection member 2 connects the supporting body 3 to the abutment member 52.
The protection component 2 comprises a junction portion 23 extending between a first 21 and a second 22 connecting portion along the longitudinal direction X-X. The longitudinal direction X-X is then the main development direction of the protection component 2. The first 21 and second 22 connecting portions may be tilted relative to each other and/or to the longitudinal direction X-X.
In the embodiment illustrated in the accompanying figures, the protection component 2 is connected to the supporting body 3 at the first connecting portion 21. Furthermore, as clarified below, the protection component 2 is connected to the abutment member 52 at the second connecting portion 22.
In an embodiment not shown, the protection component 2 may form a single body together with the supporting body 3, or, in other words, the protection component 2 may be non-reversibly connected to the supporting body 3.
Two embodiments of the junction portion 23 are shown for example in Figures 6a and 6b.
In the preferred embodiment, the junction portion 23 is shaped as a substantially rigid junction plate. In use, it is envisaged that this junction plate is spaced from the neck of the user, when he/she maintains an upright position of the head.
Alternatively, the junction portion 23 can be shaped for example as a protection ribbing, shown for example in Figure 6b. The ribbing is formed of one or more rigid or semi-rigid plaques 25. The rigid plaques 25 are flexibly connected to each other so as to allow a limited bending of the protection component 2 between the first connecting portion 21 and the second connecting portion 22. In a rest configuration, the rigid plaques 25 are spaced apart along the longitudinal direction X-X.
The supporting body 3 must be secured to the back so as to retain the protection component 2 in case of a force exerted on the abutment member 52. This can be achieved e.g. by appropriate sizing of the panel 31 so that it can be effectively secured to the back by known or specially reinforced suits/wetsuits 200.
To make the equipment 1 adaptable to different users, in the preferred embodiment the protection component 2 is slidable with respect to the supporting body 3 to adjust the distance between the supporting body 3 and the abutment member 52 along the longitudinal direction X-X. More specifically, the protection component 2 is slidable with respect to the supporting body 3 along an adjusting direction K-K, which in some embodiments may coincide with the longitudinal direction X-X. In the illustrated embodiments however, the adjustment direction K-K is inclined with respect to the longitudinal direction X-X. Preferably, a tilting angle between the adjustment direction K-K and the longitudinal direction is less than 45°, more preferably less than 30°.
In detail, the supporting body 3 includes a pocket 32 open towards the protection component 2. The pocket 32 in particular is formed in the panel 31. Furthermore, the first connecting portion 21 of the protection component 2 is shaped as an insert 26 that is slidably insertable into the pocket 32.
The equipment 1 further comprises locking means 7 configured to reversibly lock the protection component 2 to the supporting body 3 in a plurality of locking positions. The locking means 7 thus prevent the protection body 2 from sliding with respect to the supporting body 3, i.e. the insert 26 in the pocket 31. In this way, it is possible to secure the protection component 2 to the supporting body 3 at the desired height. The locking means 7 are still releasable to unlock the protection component 2 from the supporting body 3.
The locking means 7 comprise at least one first locking seat 71 formed in the supporting body 3, and at least one second locking seat 72 formed in the protection component 2. In particular, the at least one first locking seat 71 is formed in the insert 26, while the second locking seat 72 is open on the pocket 32.
For the sake of symmetry there are preferably first and second locking seats 71, 72 in equal number on two sides of the supporting body 3 and the protection component 2, where the two sides are spaced apart along a first transverse direction Y-Y. The first transverse direction Y-Y is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X-X and the adjustment direction K-K.
However, it is sufficient that such seats 71, 72 are on one side only. Thus, the seats 71, 72 relating to a single side are described, while it is understood that the mentioned features can be applied to seats 71, 72 on both sides.
In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the locking means 7 comprise (for each side) a single first locking seat 71 and a plurality of second locking seats 72. The second locking seats 72 are spaced from each other along the adjustment direction K-K. A person skilled in the art will however recognize from the following that embodiments may also be provided with a plurality of first locking seats 71 spaced along the adjustment direction K-K and a single second locking seat 72, or a plurality of first and second locking seats 71, 72.
The locking means 7 further comprise at least one locking member 73, for example a locking member 73 per side. At each locking position, the locking member 73 simultaneously engages a respective first locking seat 71 and a respective second locking seat 72 thereby preventing the protection component 2 from sliding relative to the supporting body 3.
The locking member 73 may be shaped for example as a pin, while the first and second locking seats 71, 72 may be shaped as holes extending predominantly in the first transverse direction Y-Y. Note that at each locking position the first locking seat 71 receiving the locking member 73 is aligned along the first transverse direction Y-Y to the second locking seat 72 receiving the locking member 73.
Preferably, the at least one first locking seat 71 is an open through-hole on the pocket 32, while the at least one second locking seat 72 is a blind seat. Further, the locking member 73 has an extension along the first transverse direction Y-Y greater than the sum of the extensions in the first transverse direction Y-Y of the at least one first locking seat 71 and the at least one second locking seat 72. Thus in the locking positions the locking member 73 emerges at least partially from the first locking seat 71 away from the second locking seat 72.
Advantageously, the position of the protection component 2 can be adjusted with respect to the supporting body 3 along the adjustment direction K-K, and consequently at least in part along the longitudinal direction X-X. The equipment 1 is therefore adaptable to users with different neck lengths. In fact, the protection component 2 may slide relative to the supporting body 3 along the adjustment direction K-K to the desired position by aligning a first locking seat 71 to a second locking seat 72. Then the locking member 73 may be inserted into the two locking seats 71, 72 aligned with each other to keep the protection component 2 in place.
If the same equipment 1 is subsequently to be used by a different user, the locking member 73, emerging from the locking seats 71, 72, may be removed to readjust the position of the protection component 2.
However, according to alternative embodiments not illustrated, the position of the protection component 2 with respect to the supporting body 3 may not be adapted to be adjusted, or adapted to be adjusted with different systems.
According to an aspect of the invention, the equipment 1 comprises a containment body 4 fixable or integrated externally to the protection helmet 100. The helmet 100 and the containment body 4 are shown especially in Figures 7, 8 and 9.
Note that the helmet 100 has a front opening 101 for the user's view, and an opposite rear surface 102, usually arcuate. The containment body 4 is adapted to be fixed or integrated to the helmet 100 at the rear surface 102. In a preferred embodiment, screws (not shown in the accompanying figures) may be used for fixation of the containment body 4 to the rear surface 102 of the helmet 100.
In this embodiment, the helmet has a plurality of through holes 103 for inserting the screws. The containment body 4 instead comprises a connection flange 41 having a plurality of through holes 42. The holes 42 are configured to receive screws (not shown) for securing the containment body 4 to the helmet 100.
In other words, by inserting and fixing the screws into the through holes 42 of the containment body 4 and the corresponding holes 103 of the helmet 100, the containment body 4 is fixed to the helmet 100.
The containment body 4 defines a containment seat 51 having a containment wall 54 adapted to be faced to the helmet 100. In particular, the containment seat 51 is formed in the containment body 4.
The abutment member 52, connected to the protection component 2 on the opposite side of the supporting body 3 as discussed above, is insertable into the containment seat 51.
The abutment member 52 is shown individually in Figure 5. Furthermore, in Figures 7 and 8, the containment body 4 and the abutment member 52 inserted in the containment seat 51 are visible, as shown respectively from behind and from the front, i.e. from the outside and from the inside.
In the preferred embodiment, the abutment member 52 comprises an arcuate plate 53 adapted to be faced to the helmet 100, substantially shaped as a cap. The arcuate plate 53 in particular is concave toward the helmet 100, i.e. convex toward the containment seat 51.
In the preferred embodiment, the containment wall 54 is arcuate in shape, generally analogous to the rear surface 102 of the helmet 100 where it is applied. The containment wall 54 in detail is concave toward the arcuate plate 53. The containment wall 54 is further spaced from the rear surface 102 of the helmet 100 to define a gap between the containment wall 54 and the helmet 100. The arcuate plate 53 is arranged within this gap.
In particular, the containment seat 51 is delimited by a peripheral wall 55 having two opposite side portions 55a. The peripheral wall 55 is arranged around the containment wall 54. The two side portions 55a are spaced apart along the first transverse direction Y-Y.
The containment seat 51 has a lower opening 56. The lower opening 56 extends between two end portions 58. The lower opening 56 is defined between the containment body 4 and the helmet 100. The abutment member 52 extends through the lower opening 56. In particular, in the embodiment of the figures, the abutment member 52 has a connecting portion 57 that emerges from the lower opening 56 for connection with the second connecting portion 22 of the protection component 2. The connecting portion 57 protrudes from the arcuate plate 53.
The peripheral wall 55 has an upper portion 55b opposite the lower opening 56. In greater detail, the upper portion 55b is spaced along the longitudinal direction X-X from the lower opening 56.
In the preferred embodiment, the equipment 1 comprises coupling means 6 configured to removably secure the abutment member 52 to the protection component 2. The coupling means 6 may for example comprise a male element 61 of a clip and a female element 62 of a clip configured to accommodate the male element 61, for example by a snap fit. In detail, there are two male elements 61 and two female elements 62.
In the illustrated embodiment, each male member 61 is associated with the abutment member 52, and in particular with the connecting portion 57 of the abutment member 52. Furthermore, each female member 62 is associated with the protection component 2, and in particular with the second connecting portion 22 of the junction portion 23 of the protection component 2.
The coupling means 6 then allow the user to wear or remove the helmet 100 before or after use of the equipment 1 by separating it from the protection component 2 without having to disconnect the containment body 4 from the helmet 100. The protection component 2 and the supporting body 3 can be removed later, after removing the suit 200.
The abutment member 52 is movable within the containment seat 51. In particular, the arcuate plate 53 has smaller dimensions than the containment seat 51 along the longitudinal direction X-X and/or the first transverse direction Y-Y in order to move within the containment seat 51. Preferably, the arcuate plate 53 further has larger dimensions than the lower opening 56. Accordingly, the abutment member 52 cannot be withdrawn from the containment seat 51 through the lower opening 56, when the containment body 4 is attached to the helmet 100.
In particular, the abutment member 52 is movable between a backward position and a forward position. In the backward position, the abutment member 52 engages the containment wall 54, while in the forward position the abutment member 52 disengages the containment wall 54. In addition, the abutment member engages the helmet 100 in the forward position and disengages the helmet 100 in the backward position.
In the backward position, however, sliding of the abutment member 52 along the containment wall 54 may be allowed, and a similar sliding may be allowed in the forward position between the abutment member 52 and the helmet 100. To facilitate such sliding, the abutment member 52 preferably is made of or covered with a low friction material such as Teflon or may have integrated spheres free to rotate in dedicated seats. Low friction can mean, for example, that the dynamic friction coefficient is less than 0.1, relative to contact of the abutment member 52 with the containment wall 54 and/or with the helmet 100.
In more detail, the abutment member 52 is movable, within the containment seat 51, moving toward/away from the helmet 100 along a second transverse direction Z-Z. Such second transverse direction Z-Z is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X-X and the first transverse direction Y-Y.
The abutment member 52 may further assume a number of first intermediate positions. These first intermediate positions are between the forward position and the backward position.
For each first position taken by the abutment member 52, a distance of the abutment member 52 from the helmet 100 along the second transverse direction Z-Z can be defined. The distance of the abutment member 52 from the helmet 100 is progressively increasing from the forward position to the backward position. In more detail, in the forward position the abutment member 52 is in contact with the helmet 100. That is, the distance from the helmet 100 is zero at the forward position. In the backward position, however, the distance from the helmet is maximum.
In each of the first intermediate positions, in the forward position and in the backward position, the distance along the first transverse direction Y-Y of the abutment member 52 from the two side portions 55a remains constant.
Similarly, in each of the first intermediate positions, in the forward position and in the backward position, the distance, along the longitudinal direction X-X, of the abutment member 52 from the upper portion 55b remains constant.
In addition, the abutment member 52 is movable within the containment seat 51 between two side positions. In such side positions, the abutment member 52 is abutting against respective side portions 55a of the end wall 55. That is, the abutment member 52 is movable, within the containment seat 51, along the first transverse direction Y-Y.
In more detail, the abutment member 52 may assume a series of second intermediate positions. Such second intermediate positions are between the two side positions. The second intermediate positions also comprise a central position. In the central position, the abutment member 52 is equidistant from the two side portions 55a.
In each of the second intermediate positions and in the side positions, the distance of the abutment member 52 from the helmet 100, along the second transverse direction Z-Z, remains constant.
Similarly, in each of the second intermediate portions and side positions, the distance of the abutment member 52 from the upper portion 55b, along the longitudinal direction X-X, remains constant.
Further, the abutment member 52 is movable through the lower opening 56 towards and away from the upper portion 55b. That is, the abutment member 52 is movable within the containment seat 51 along the longitudinal direction X-X.
In greater detail, the abutment member 52 may assume an upper position and a lower position. In the upper position, the abutment member 52 is in contact with the upper portion 55b. In the lower position, however, the abutment member 52 is in contact with the lower opening 56 at the arcuate plate 53.
Even more in detail, the abutment member 52 may assume a series of third intermediate positions. These third intermediate positions are between the lower position and the upper position.
In each of the third intermediate positions, in the lower position and in the upper position, the distance of the abutment member 52 from the helmet 100, along the second transverse direction Z-Z, remains constant.
Similarly, in each of the third intermediate positions, in the lower position and in the upper position, the distance of the abutment member 52 from the side portions 55a, along the first transverse direction Y-Y, remains constant.
In summary, the abutment member 52 is movable within the containment seat 51 along the longitudinal direction X-X, the first transverse direction Y-Y and the second transverse direction Z-Z. Clearly, movements are allowed not only parallel to these directions, but generally along any direction having components along the longitudinal direction X-X, and/or the first transverse direction Y-Y and/or the second transverse direction Z-Z.
Advantageously, movement of the abutment member 52 is restricted within the containment seat 51. In more detail, the movement of the abutment member 52 is limited at least along the second transverse direction Z-Z between the helmet 100 and the containment wall 54. Preferably, movement of the abutment member 52 is also restricted along the first transverse direction Y-Y between the two side portions 55a. Finally, the movement of the abutment member 52 may be limited along the longitudinal direction X-X between the lower opening 56 and the upper portion 55b. Excessive excursions of head movement are thus prevented.
It should be noted that the containment body 4 is movable with respect to the protection component 2 and the abutment member 52 according to the typical movements of the head of a user. In particular, the movement along the first transverse direction Y-Y of the abutment member 52 may be considered equivalent to a rotation of the containment body 4 along an axis in the longitudinal direction X-X. Similarly, the movement along the longitudinal direction X-X of the abutment member 52 may be considered corresponding to a rotation of the containment body 4 about an axis in the first transverse direction Y-Y.
Normal movements of the user's head are therefore allowed, as the helmet 100 is movable together with the containment body 4 with respect to the protection component 2.
In order to better define the X-X direction travel of the helmet 100 relative to the protection component 2 and thus the level of forward or backward bending of the user's neck in the event of impact or traction, in some alternative embodiments of the invention, shown in Figures 10-13, the arcuate plate 53 of the abutment member 52 has at least one enlargement flange 531 projecting toward the containment wall 54 when the abutment member 52 is inserted into the containment seat 51. Optionally, the enlargement flanges 531 of the arcuate plate 53 are also projecting toward the helmet 100 when the abutment member 52 is inserted into the containment seat 51. For example, in Figures 10-12, the enlargement flanges 531 project only towards the containment wall 54, while in Figure 13 they protrude also towards the helmet 100.
In greater detail, the enlargement flange 531 is arcuate in shape, similar to the arcuate plate 53, and extends throughout the arcuate plate 53 along the first transverse direction Y-Y. Preferably, the enlargement flange 531 is projecting by a depth section L1 toward the containment wall 54, when the abutment member 52 is inserted into the containment seat 51.
In accordance with this alternative embodiment of the invention, the containment wall 54 has at least one narrowing flange 541 projecting into the containment seat 51. Preferably, the narrowing flange 541 is arcuate in shape, similar to the containment wall 54, and extends throughout the containment wall 54 between the side portions 55a of the peripheral wall 55. The narrowing flange 541 projects in the containment seat 51 by a length of depth L.
The enlargement flange 531 and the narrowing flange 541 are configured to mutually contact in such a way as to limit the range of movement of the arcuate plate 53 with respect to the containment body 4 along the longitudinal direction X-X.
In other words, movement of the arcuate plate 53 along the longitudinal direction X-X is stopped at least according to a first orientation when an enlargement flange 531 abuts a narrowing flange 541. In the case, not shown, where there is only one enlargement flange 531 and only one narrowing flange 541, in the second orientation opposite the first, the movement of the arcuate plate 53 along the longitudinal direction X-X is stopped by the upper portion 55b.
In accordance with the embodiments described in Figures 10-13, on the other hand, the arcuate plate 53 of the abutment member 52 has a pair of enlargement flanges 531 and the narrowing flange 541 of the containment wall 54 is interposed between the pair of enlargement flanges 531. Advantageously, the movement of the arcuate plate 53 along the longitudinal direction X-X is controlled both in proximity to the upper portion 55b of the peripheral wall 55, and in proximity to the lower opening 56, or in both orientations of the longitudinal direction X-X.
As an alternative to the embodiments shown in Figures 10-13, according to an example not shown in the accompanying figures, the containment wall 54 has a pair of narrowing flanges 541 and the enlargement flange 531 of the arcuate plate 53 is interposed between the pair of narrowing flanges 541. Again, the movement of the arcuate plate 53 along the longitudinal direction X-X is limited both in approaching the upper portion 55b of the peripheral wall 55 and in approaching the lower opening 56.
The smaller the distance along the longitudinal direction X-X between the enlargement flanges 531 and the narrowing flanges 541, and the smaller the range of movement of the arcuate plate 53 along the longitudinal direction X-X.
In addition, the enlargement flange 531 is configured to limit the range of movement of the abutment member 52 also along the second transverse direction Z-Z. In fact, the excursion of the abutment member 52 along the second transverse direction Z-Z is defined by the distance of the containment wall 54 from the helmet 100, and by the thickness of the arcuate plate 53, which are influenced by the presence of enlargement flanges 531 and narrowing flanges 541. The greater the depth L1 of the enlargement flange 531, the greater the thickness of the arcuate plate 53, and the smaller the range of movement of the abutment member 52 along the second transverse direction Z-Z.
The thickness of the arcuate plate 53, as preferred, can be adjusted by acting on both portions of the enlargement flange 531 facing the containment wall 54 and the helmet 100, respectively, or only on the portion facing the containment wall 54, if no protruding portion facing the helmet 100 is provided.
In all embodiments described heretofore, assembly of the equipment 1 requires first positioning the arcuate plate 53 facing the rear surface 102 of the helmet 100, then arranging the containment body 4 so that the containment wall 54 faces the arcuate plate 53, and finally securing the containment body 4 to the helmet 100.
The invention has so far been described with reference to preferred embodiments. A person skilled in the art may, however, make numerous variations without thereby departing from the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

Equipment (1) for neck protection, comprising:
- a supporting body (3) adapted to be positioned at the back of a user,

- a protection component (2) protruding along a longitudinal direction (X-X) from the supporting body (3) towards the user's neck and adapted to be arranged behind the user's neck,
characterized in that it comprises:
- a containment body (4) adapted to be fixed or integrated outside a safety helmet (100), the containment body (4) defining a containment seat (51) with a lower opening (56), the containment seat (51) having a containment wall (54) adapted to be faced to the helmet (100) and delimited by a peripheral wall (55) with an upper portion (55b), opposite to the lower opening (56), and two opposite side portions (55a), and

- an abutment member (52) insertable in the containment seat (51) and at least partially extending through the lower opening (56), the protection component (2) connecting the abutment member (52) to the supporting body (3).

- wherein the abutment member (52) is movable within the containment seat (51):
- through the lower opening (56) moving toward and away from the upper portion (55b) of the peripheral wall (55),

- between two side positions wherein it abuts against respective side portions (55a) of the peripheral wall (55), and

- between a backward position, wherein it engages the containment wall (54), and a forward position, wherein it disengages the containment wall (54).
The equipment (1) according to claim 1, wherein the abutment member (52) has an arcuate plate (53) adapted to be faced to the helmet (100).
The equipment (1) according to claim 2, wherein the arcuate plate (53) of the abutment member (52) has at least one enlargement flange (531) projecting towards the containment wall (54) when the abutment member (52) is inserted in the containment seat (51), and the containment wall (54) has at least one narrowing flange (541) projecting in the containment seat (51), the enlargement flange (531) and the narrowing flange (541) being configured to mutually contact such as to limit the range of movement of the arcuate plate (53) with respect to the containment body (4) along the longitudinal direction (X-X).
The equipment (1) according to claim 3, wherein:
- the arcuate plate (53) of the abutment member (52) has a pair of enlargement flanges (531) and the narrowing flange (541) of the containment wall (54) is interposed between the pair of enlargement flanges (531), or:

- the containment wall (54) has a pair of narrowing flanges (541) and the enlargement flange (531) of the arcuate plate (53) is interposed between the pair of narrowing flanges (541).
The equipment (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising coupling means (6) configured to removably fix the abutment member (52) to the protection component (2).
The equipment (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the protection component (2) is slidable with respect to the supporting body (3) to adjust a distance between the supporting body (3) and the abutment member (52) along the longitudinal direction (X-X), the equipment (1) comprising locking means (7) configured to lock the protection component (2) to the supporting body (3) in a plurality of locking positions.
The equipment (1) according to claim 6, wherein locking means (7) comprise at least one first locking seat (71) obtained in the supporting body (3), at least one second locking seat (72) obtained in the protection component (2), and at least one locking member (73) which simultaneously engages in each locking position a respective first locking seat (71) and a respective second locking seat (72) preventing the protection component (2) from sliding with respect to the supporting body (3).
The equipment (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a helmet (100), the containment body (4) being fixed or integrated in the helmet (100), the abutment member (52) engaging the helmet (100) in said forward position and disengaging the helmet (100) in said backward position.