NECK PROTECTION DEVICE

Abstract

A neck protection device 10 which comprises a rigid plastics restraining structure 12, a rigid plastics support structure 14 and a pair of flexible shoulder straps 15.1 and 15.2. The device 10 is used by a person wearing a helmet for attenuating movement of the person's head relative to the person's torso. The restraining structure 12 is in the form of a U-shaped collar which has a closed rear end and an open front end. The restraining structure 12 defines a number of planar abutment faces against which a lower edge region of the helmet abuts for preventing further movement of the person's head thereby protecting the person's neck from injury.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to a neck protection device for use by a person wearing a helmet.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

A neck protection device for use by a person wearing a helmet, the neck protection device including:

• • a restraining structure which is in the form of a rigid collar which is generally U-shaped when viewed in plan view and which has an open front end and a closed rear end, the collar being configured so as to partially surround the neck of the person; and
  • support means for supporting the restraining structure relative to the upper torso of the person in an arrangement wherein the restraining structure at least partially surrounds the persons neck, the neck protection device being characterised in that the restraining structure has a number of abutment formations against which lower regions of the helmet abut, in use, when the persons head is tilted relative to the persons torso thereby attenuating further movement of the persons head relative to the torso, the abutment formations being in the form of abutment faces which are each angled so as to provide for attenuation of movement of the persons head at a predetermined angular position of the persons head relative to the persons torso.

Each of the abutment faces of the abutment formations, may have a planar configuration.

The abutment faces may slope downwardly relative to a plane which is disposed normal to a thoracic spine of a wearer of the neck protection device, at angles wherein the direction of movement of a lower edge region of the helmet of the wearer relative to any relevant one of the planar abutment faces, in use, is substantially normal to the abutment face.

The collar may comprise a pair of spaced apart side members and a connecting member which extends between the side members and which defines the rear end of the collar.

The support means may comprise a support structure and a pair of flexible shoulder straps which are each connected to the support structure and configured to extend over a different shoulder of the person, in use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features of the invention are described hereinafter by way of a non-limiting example of the invention, with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying diagrammatic drawings. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a neck protection device in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a side view of the neck protection device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a rear view of the neck protection device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 shows a front view of the neck protection device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 shows a top plan view of the neck protection device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 shows a side view of the neck protection device of FIG. 1, illustrating the manner in which the restraining structure thereof attenuates movement of the head of a person wearing the neck protection device in a forward and rearward direction;

FIG. 7 shows a top plan view of the neck protection device of FIG. 1, illustrating the manner in which the restraining structure thereof attenuates movement of the head of a person wearing the device in a lateral direction; and

FIG. 8 shows a side view of the neck protection device of FIG. 1, supported on the upper torso of a person.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to the drawings, a neck protection device in accordance with the invention, is designated generally by the reference numeral 10. The neck protection device 10 comprises, broadly, a rigid plastics restraining structure 12 and support means in the form of support structure 14 and a pair of flexible shoulder straps 15.1 and 15.2.

The neck protection device 10 is used by a person 16 wearing a helmet 18, for attenuating movement of the person's head relative to the person's torso.

The restraining structure 12 is in the form of a rigid plastics collar which is generally U-shaped when viewed in plan view. The collar has an open front end 20 and a closed rear end 22. More particularly, the collar comprises a pair of spaced apart side members 24.1 and 24.2 and a rear connecting member 26 which extends between the side members at the rear end of the collar. The side members 24 and the connecting member 26 are integrally moulded so as to form a unitary structure.

The restraining structure defines a number of planar abutment formations 28 for attenuating movement of the person's head, in use. More particularly, the side member 24.1 defines abutment formations in the form of three planar frontal abutment faces 28.11, 28.12 and 28.13 and a planar side abutment face 28.14. The side member 24.2 similarly defines abutment three planar abutment faces 28.21, 28.22 and 28.23 and a planar side abutment face 28.24.

The rear connecting member 26 comprises a first connecting part 26.1 and a second connecting part 26.2 which are connected to one another by means of a connector 27. The connecting part 26.1 defines an abutment formation in the form of a planar rear abutment face 29.1. The connecting part 26.2 similarly defines an abutment formation in the form of a planar rear abutment face 29.2.

The support structure 14 includes a pair of rigid plastics support arms 30.1 and 30.2 which are shaped and configured so as to extend over the shoulders and upper front and rear torso of the person 16 and an integral rigid plastics rear support portion 32 which is connected to and which extends between rear ends of the support portions 30.1 and 30.2. The rear support portion 32 is generally U-shaped when viewed in plan view and is configured so as to extend across the upper rear torso of the person 16 when wearing the neck protection device and thus also assists with the secure location of the neck device on the torso of the wearer.

The support arms 30.1 and 30.2 have connecting formations 34.1 and 34.2, respectively, at front ends thereof to which the shoulder straps 15.1 and 15.2, respectively, are attached.

The rear support portion 32 has a central section 36 and a pair of side support sections 38.1 and 38.2 which extend laterally outwardly and downwardly from the central section. The side support sections 38.1 and 38.2 have connecting formations 40.1 and 40.2, respectively, at lower distal ends thereof, to which the other ends of the shoulder straps 15.1 and 15.2, respectively, are attached. As such, the shoulder straps extend over the shoulders of the person 16 and extend between the attachment formations 34.1 and 34.2 at the person's chest and the attachment formations 40.1 and 40.2 at the person's upper back.

The rear support portion 32 is hingedly connected to the support arms 30.1 and 30.2 so as to permit hinged displacement of the support arms relative to the rear support portion thereby to adjust the spacing between the front ends of the support arm and the rear support portion thereby to accommodate persons of different body size.

In use, the abutment faces of the restraining structure 12 interact with the lower edge region of the helmet 18 so as to form a rigid unit when the helmet contacts the restraining structure, i.e. the helmet shell and the restraining structure effectively become one rigid structure. The load applied via the helmet to the restraining structure is transferred to the upper torso of the person via the flexible shoulder straps 15.1 and 15.2.

The location and angle of each abutment face is calculated so as to allow for sufficient movement of the person's head so as to have an appropriate field of vision of the surroundings, yet to prevent any further movement of the person's head relative to his torso which may cause injury to his neck. The lower edge of a helmet typically has a generally flat profile. As such, the abutment faces are planar so as to conform to the flat profile of the lower edge region of the helmet 18 and thus provide for stable contact between the lower edge of the helmet, thereby preventing the helmet from rolling on the restraining structure when contact is made therewith, which may otherwise cause injury to the neck of the person wearing the helmet.

The abutment faces are angled so as to provide for stable contact between the lower edge of the helmet and the restraining structure thus ensuing that the helmet and the restraining structure form a unitary rigid structure upon contact. More specifically, when the device is worn, the abutment faces slope downwardly relative to a plane which is normal to the thoracic spine of the wearer, thereby providing for contact between the lower edge region of the helmet and the abutment faces wherein the load applied by the helmet to a relevant one of the abutment faces is substantially normal to the abutment face, thereby providing for stable contact between the helmet and the abutment face.

The front ends of the support arms 30.1 and 30.2 and the support sections 38.1 and 38.2 apply pressure on either side of the sternum and thoracic spine, respectively, under loading conditions, thereby distributing the load on the restraining structure across the upper torso of the wearer. The pressure applied by the neck protection device, under loading conditions, is thus applied to musculo-skeletal regions of the wearer's body, which are laterally spaced from to the sternum and thoracic spine, respectively, and which are better suited to absorbing loads applied thereto.

By being open at its front end, the collar can be fitted around the neck of the person relatively easily by allowing the person's neck to pass through the open front end. In the case of injury to the wearer, the open front end allows the collar to be removed relatively easily with a minimum of disturbance to the wearer's neck position. The open front end also does not provide any impedance to the larynx/throat area of a wearer and thus allows unimpeded access by medical personnel in the case of an injury to the throat/larynx area. Furthermore, in the case of an impact force to the front of the neck protection device, the collar is able to move in a rearward direction relative to the wearer's neck, without impacting the front area of the person's neck. It will be appreciated that in the case of a collar having a closed front end, relative rearward movement of such a collar, may cause injury to a wearer.

The Applicant believes that the neck protection device in accordance with the invention, can be used in a number of activities during which a helmet is typically worn such as motorcycle riding, for protecting the neck of the person wearing the helmet from injury.

Claims

1. A neck protection device for use by a person wearing a helmet, the neck protection device including:

a restraining structure which is in the form of a rigid collar which is generally U-shaped when viewed in plan view and which has an open front end and a closed rear end, the collar being configured so as to partially surround the neck of the person; and

support means for supporting the restraining structure relative to the upper torso of the person in an arrangement wherein the restraining structure at least partially surrounds the persons neck, the neck protection device being characterised in that the restraining structure has a number of abutment formations against which lower regions of the helmet abut, in use, when the persons head is tilted relative to the persons torso thereby attenuating further movement of the persons head relative to the torso, the abutment formations being in the form of abutment faces which are each angled so as to provide for attenuation of movement of the persons head at a predetermined angular position of the persons head relative to the persons torso.

2. The neck protection device as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the abutment faces of the abutment formations, has a planar configuration.

3. The neck protection device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the abutment faces slope downwardly relative to a plane which is disposed normal to a thoracic spine of a wearer of the neck protection device, at angles wherein the direction of movement of a lower edge region of the helmet of the wearer relative to any relevant one of the planar abutment faces, in use, is substantially normal to the abutment face.

4. The neck protection device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the collar comprises a pair of spaced apart side members and a connecting member which extends between the side members and which defines the rear end of the collar.

5. The neck protection device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support means comprises a support structure and a pair of flexible shoulder straps which are each connected to the support structure and configured to extend over a different shoulder of the person, in use.