GB2537874A

GB2537874A - Torso protector

Info

Publication number: GB2537874A
Application number: GB1507311.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Brown Colin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2015-04-28
Filing date: 2015-04-28
Publication date: 2016-11-02
Also published as: GB201507311D0

Abstract

A body protector for use by a motorcyclist comprises two halves 1 and 2 which may be made from carbon fibre or resin injected aluminium. The halves may continuously connect along the shoulders and under the armpit to the hip area and may surround the wearer. The halves may be fastened by male 3 and female 4 locating means including dowels (Figures 6 and 7). A lip may be provided to locate each shell together. Shoulder and waist belts and straps 5 8 may be used to secure the device. Strengthening ribs 10, 11, 13 may run horizontally and vertically around the shoulder and chest area. V shaped ribs 14 may be provided on the back of the protector in the area of the spine and a flexible joint 9 may be provided. The device may have a foam padded lining (Fig 5,18) in varying thicknesses. The protector may be worn under other garments and is intended to protect the spine and the internal organs of the wearer. The rigid shell is intended to protect against impacts and to overcome relative flexing between the halves.

Description

TORSO PROTECTOR DESCRIPTON

This invention relates to a torso protection system that will help prevent death or serious injuries to a Motor cycle rider or others participating in dangerous high speed activities. It is designed to protect the spinal column, ribs and collar bone as well as the vital organs within the torso.

If a rider falls from their motorcycle and is hit by a following machine as happens regularly in motorcycle racing. The rider will almost certainly sustain fatal injuries.

There are existing designs of upper body Protection currently on the market that offer some protection. However these are limited to the back or chest with some offering both. These prior art protectors are made from a foam covered plastic that conforms to the shape of the spine and worn underneath a racing suit. The chest protector is a smaller foam covered plastic that inserts into the front of the racing suit. This chest protector will only cover the sternum area. At the present time there is nothing available which offers protection to the abdomen and sides of the torso, as well as the back and front.

This current type of protection is very popular with motorcyclists, both on the road and on the track. Not because they are effective but because they are the only designs that are available to them on the market.

The problem with the current designs is that they allow compression within the two parts of the protector. If a rider falls to the ground then this sort of protector will soften and defuse the impact of the fall upon the body of the rider. The issue that needs to be addressed is when a rider falls and is hit or run over by the following motorcycle or vehicle. The front wheel of a motorcycle hitting a rider on the ground with the current design, will allow the force to compress or penetrate into the body due to its flexible nature. It being of a sandwich design, will allow the impact to cause major internal injuries either to the internal organs or to the skeletal structure within the upper torso.

If a rider is to be fully protected in this type of accident, they need to be protected by a design that does not have the flexing movement between the two parts. To overcome these problems the present invention proposes a solid body protector made from carbon fibre or resin injected aluminium.

The protector will consist of two halves. A front and back. The two halves will join together at each side of the torso, along each shoulder and down from the arm pit to the hips. These two halves will be joined together by a tapered male and female locating and securing system. Straps or any other securing method may be used to hold the two parts firmly together so there can be no lateral movement between the two parts of the protector.

The way in which this present invention improves upon existing prior art is the fact that it surrounds the wearer within a solid protective bodice.

The strategically placed strengthening ribs that surround the torso will give greater strength and resistance to the compression forces the user may experience. These carbon fibre strengthening ribs are placed down each side of the spine, across and down the sternum, around the ribs, shoulders and abdomen.

EXAMPLE 1

If the solid body protector is to be used for Road racing. For example Moto GP road racing or the TT, then the back part of the protector may be incorporated within a set of racing leathers. The leather protective suit will be applied and worn as normal. The back part of the protector may be sewn inside and secured within the suit in the manufacturing process. The front part of the protector can then be inserted and secured into place using the straps through the opening of the suit.

Example 2

If the solid body protector is to be used for motor cross or speed way, then the protector will be held together using the tapered male and female locating system and secured with the straps or any other method suitable. This will maintain two parts together preventing lateral deviation. It will be worn underneath the riders existing and traditional outer garments.

In this design there may be an additional internal strap that will hold the back part of the protector to the riders back until the front part of the protector is secured upon the user.

During the manufacturing proses of the solid body protector one method will be to make varying sizes as an off the peg item in children's sizes small, medium, large and adult sizes extra small, small, medium, large and extra-large. There will then be varying thicknesses of padding made available with the protector. This will enable the various body shapes and sizes of the people wanting to use this design.

The other method of manufacturing will be a made to measure procedure. The two parts will be made from taking a mould from the riders body, the back and front using modelling plaster. The moulds will then be used to create a pattern of the rider's body. The pattern will then be used to create the protector.

By manufacturing the body protector in carbon fibre or aluminium, it will be both strong and light and will allow free movement of the rider taking part in any of the above mentioned motorcycle activities as well as been able to withstand the compression trauma of a racing accident.

Prior Art application EP1519659 B1

This application offers an enclosed design but it offers solutions to so many different activities; from motor sports to miners been crushed in a mine. It is not specific to the sole purpose of a motorcycle rider. The fact that the design uses a hinge method (claims 7) to allow the protector to be placed upon the body of the rider, gives proof that the design is unable to offer the required strength. If a hinge method is used anywhere on the protector it provides a weakness within that structure that will allow for deformation of the protector thus allowing injury to the torso. It does not provide the protection that the proposed invention offers to a motorcyclist with a truly solid body protector.

Prior Art application U.S 3878561.

This is an alternative rider protector. This method offers protection to the torso, the hips and the head. It restricts the movement of the rider so much that it is impractical. It would be both cumbersome and very uncomfortable to the rider.

The present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings to give more detail.

Fig 1 shows a side view of the two halves of the protector 1 and 2.

Fig 2 shows the outside of the front section of the protector 1.

Fig 3 shows the outside of the back section of the protector 2.

Fig 4 shows the inside of the back section of the protector 2.

Fig 5 shows the inside of the front section of the protector 1.

Fig 6 shows an enlarged diagram of the tapered dowel method 3 and 4, for locating and securing the two parts of the protector 1, 2.

Fig 7 shows an alternative securing method to Fig 6 using a tapered spade locating and securing method of 3 and 4.

Fig 8 shows an alternative design to the protector where they may be more than two vertical strengthening ribs and may be more than two horizontal strengthening ribs.

Fig 1 shows that the protector is made of two parts 1, 2. The two parts will be made of carbon fibre or resin injected aluminium and will fuse together upon the rider's body using the male and female fusing system 3,4.

Fig 1 In addition to the fusing system the protector will be held together with two sets of straps 5, 6 at the shoulders and 7, 8 at the lower chest, upper abdomen area. Both sets of straps may use a hook and eye method to secure the protector. Straps 7 and 8 may use a DD method of securing the straps. This will prevent any lateral movement of the two parts.

Fig 1 Because of the rider's position in road racing there may or may not be a flex joint made within the base of the spinal area of the protector 9. This will allow for the arching of the back when a rider tucks underneath the fairing.

Fig 1 shows there will be at least two horizontal ribs 10, 11. Rib 10 will encircle the shoulder area and rib 11 will encircle the mid chest, upper abdominal area.

Fig 2 shows the front part of the protector 1, where there will be at least 2 vertical strengthening ribs 12, 13. Each of which will run from the middle of the shoulder down the front of said protector in a V shape to protect the upper chest and abdomen.

Fig 2 also shows a front view of the protector 1 and identifies 17 as the method of securing the shoulder straps 5, 6 with hook and eye fastening.

Fig 3 shows the back part of the protector 2, where there will be at least two vertical strengthening ribs 14, 15. Each one of the ribs will run from the middle of each shoulder in a v shape down either side of the spine and meeting at the base of the spine.

Fig 3 also shows the rear of the protector 2 and identifies the position of the shoulder straps 5, 6 and the straps that secure the rib section 7, 8.

Fig 4 shows the inside of the back section of the protector 2 and identifies the foam padding 18 that will be employed to provide comfort to the user. The foam 18 will be available in various thicknesses when the protector is sold as an off the shelf product. The foam 18 may also extend beyond all the joining edges and openings of the two main parts 1, 2, to create an internal bodice that will prevent the trapping or nipping of the skin upon application of the protector.

Fig 5 shows the inside of the front section of the protector 1 and the foam padding 18 that will be employed to provide comfort to the user. Again This foam padding may extend beyond the orifice of the neck arms and waist of the protector to prevent the nipping or trapping of the skin upon use. The bodice will be made of a breathable material to help keep the user cool in warm weather.

Fig 6 shows an enlarged diagram of the tapered dowel male and female fusing system 3, 4 in which the two parts of the protector 1, 2 will be located into position and joined together. This method may use a tapered dowel shape or a tapered spade shape. This will prevent any lateral movement of said design.

Fig 7 shows a diagram of the alternative method of securing the two parts together 1, 2 with said tapered spade method 3, 4.

Fig 8 shows an alternative design where there may be more than two vertical strengthening ribs on the front 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and more than two horizontal strengthening ribs 10, 11.

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Fig 8 also shows an extra rib 16 that may run from the nape of the neck and run down the spine to join horizontal rib 11.

Claims

CLAIMS1 A torso protector consists of two halves, of which the two halves will join together down the left and right sides of the user to form a solid body protector. It is designed specifically but not exclusively, to protect a motorcycle racer in the event of a racing accident where the rider is hit by a following motorcycle.
2 A solid body torso protector as in claim 1 that will help prevent traumatic injuries to the Heart.
3 A solid body torso protector as in claim 1 that will help prevent traumatic injuries to the lungs.
4 A solid body torso protector as in claim 1 that will help prevent traumatic injuries to spleen.A solid body torso protector as in claim 1 that will help prevent traumatic injuries to the ribs 6 A solid body torso protector as in claim 1 that will help prevent traumatic injuries to the collar bone.7 A solid body protector as inthe above claims that will be made preferably of high strength carbon fibre.8 A solid body protector as in the above claims that may or may not be made of resin injected Aluminium.9 A solid body torso protector according to the previous claims in which the two halves may use a tapered dowel to locate and secure the protector upon the rider's body.A solid body torso protector according to the previous claims in which the two halves may use a tapered spade shape to locate and secure the protector upon the rider's body.11 A solid body torso protector according to claim 1 in which the strengthening ribs will incorporate the joining mechanism.12 A solid body protector as in the above claims where the protector will use a series of ribs running down the vertical plain that will increase the overall structure of the protector.13 A solid body protector as in the above claims where the protector will use a series of ribs across the horizontal plain that will increase the overall structure of the protector.14 A solid body torso protector according the above claims in which the protector will have at least one outer strengthening rib that will encircle around the shoulders.A solid body torso protector according to any of the previous claims in which the protector will have at least one outer strengthening rib/ribs encircle around the upper chest area of the user's body.16 A solid body torso protector according to any of the previous claims in which the protector will have at least one outer strengthening rib / ribs encircle around the lower chest or around the floating ribs area of the user's body.17 A solid body torso protector according to any of the above claims in which the back part of the protector will have at least two vertical outer protective ribs that will form from the middle of each shoulder in a V shape down the side of the spine to meet at the base of the spine.18 A solid body torso protector according to the previous claims in which the front part of the protector will have at least two vertical protective ribs that will form from the middle of the shoulder down the front of the protector in a V shape to meet below the sternum.19 A solid body torso protector according to the above claims in which there may or may not be a protecting lip that will cover the two adjoining parts of said protector to prevent the nipping of the user's skin.A solid body torso protector according to the above claims in which the protective lip may or may not be moulded from carbon fibre.21 A solid body torso protector according to the above claims in which the protective lip may or may not be moulded from Resin Injected Aluminium.22 A solid body torso protector according to the above claims in which the protective lip may be made from a foam covered plastic.23 A solid body torso protector according to the above claims in which a foam bodice maybe worn under the protector to prevent the nipping of the skin.24 A solid body torso protector according to the above claims in which the foam bodice will be used to fit the varying shapes and sizes of the user.A solid body torso protector according to the previous claims in which there may or may not be a waist strap that will fasten around the mid-section of the protector body.26 A solid body torso protector according to the above claims in which the waist strap may be secured at the front by a hook and eye fastening system.27 A solid body torso protector according to the above claims in which the waist strap may use a double D buckle fastener.28 A solid body torso protector according to the above claims in which the two shoulder straps may pass from the back part of the protector over each shoulder and secure by the use of a hook and eye fastening system at the front.29 A solid body torso protector according to the above claims in which the two parts may use any other method of securing the two parts together.A solid body torso protector as in the above claims that is designed to protect a person participating in any dangerous activity such as a Stunt person 31 A solid body torso protector as in the above claims that is designed to protect a person participating in any dangerous activity such as Speedway.32 A solid body torso protector as in the above claims that is designed to protect a person participating in any dangerous activity such as motocross.33 A solid body torso protector as in the above claims that may also be used by a motorcyclist riding a motorcycle on the public roads.34 A solid body torso protector as in the above claims that is designed to protect a person participating in any dangerous activity such as road racing.A solid body torso protector as in the above claims that may also be used by any person participating in any other dangerous sporting activity.