Abstract: An exercise hoop is assembled from arcuate segments attached end to end. Each segment has a base with male and female fittings at opposite ends and a sidewall extending between the ends. The sidewall defines a central space and a centerline. A cover attaches to the base. The base and the cover have reinforcing bulkheads to prevent kinking and use stirrups to engage legs having feet deflected by a deflector body to provide positive mechanical engagement between the base and the cover to secure each to the other. End to end attachment of the segments is secured using a spring biased button detent in the male fitting that engages an opening in the female fitting.

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.

Abstract: A head and neck support device for use by a person wearing a helmet. The head and neck support device include a pair of flexible shoulder straps, a stiff carrier structure and a pair of tethering systems. The shoulder straps are each configured to fit a torso and different shoulder of a person. The stiff carrier structure includes a U-shaped yoke (18) and a high collar (20) which is hingedly connected to the yoke (18). The carrier structure includes an upper attachment formation near an upper end of each front carrier portion for attachment to a different one of the shoulder straps and a lower attachment formation near a lower end of each front carrier portion for attachment to a different one of the shoulder straps. The tethering systems include tether straps (44) which extend between the carrier structure and the helmet for providing a restraint between the carrier structure and the helmet.

Abstract: A helmet (10) is provided, that has a first resilient shell (12), a support structure (16,18) inside the first shell to support the first shell on the wearer's head (14), a chin strap (20), to hold the helmet in position, a deformable layer (24) on the outside of the first shell and a tough outer shell (26) on the outside of the deformable layer. The deformable layer is of a material that absorbs energy when it is deformed and returns slowly to its original shape afterwards. The helmet includes a chin bar (34) with two opposing ends (36) that are displaceable relative to the outer shell, immediately inwardly of the outer shell. The outer profile of the helmet has a plurality of generally planar surfaces (28) and the helmet has a rear strap (38) that is attachable to the chin strap and that is configured to extend around the back of the wearer's head.

Abstract: Neck brace that inhibits excessive neck movement during impact, yet allows for a high degree of movement of the wearer's head during normal operation of the neck brace. May include impact surface(s) that limits movement of a helmet by contacting an underside of the helmet; bearing surface(s) configured for bearing on wearer; a structure between impact surface and bearing surface, sufficiently resilient to transfer impact loads of the helmet to the impact surface, to the wearer's body; wherein the impact surface is displaceable towards an adjacent part of the bearing surface and wherein the structure is configured to permit the displacement at rates slower than a predetermined rate of displacement and to resist the displacement if the rate of displacement exceeds the predetermined rate. May include a pivotal joint between the displaceable part and remainder of neck brace and impact brake element(s).

Abstract: A protective device is provided for protecting the back of a wearer against injury. The device includes an array of support elements that extend along the wearer's back adjacent his spine and is held in position on his back by attachment means, which can include a neck brace attached to the upper end of array, a chest strap, a waist strap and/or webbing that are spaced apart axially along the array. The support elements are attached to each other in such a way that they can move relative to each other to allow free, but limited bending, extension and contraction of the array, but the connection means between the elements is configured to prevent further movement between them once a predetermined limited movement has taken place, so that the array becomes practically rigid and can bear further loading that may otherwise have been born by the spine.

Abstract: A neck brace comprising an impact surface which that can limit movement of a helmet by contacting an underside of the helmet. The neck brace further comprises at least one bearing surface configured for bearing on the body of a wearer, and a structure extending between the impact surface and the bearing surfaces configured to transfer impact loads of the helmet on the impact surface to the wearer's body. A part of the impact surface is displaceable towards the wearer's body and the structure is configured to permit the displacement at rates slower than a predetermined rate, as well as to resist displacement if the rate exceeds the predetermined rate.

Abstract: Head and neck restraint apparatus for an occupant of a vehicle comprises a stiff yoke shaped to engage the upper torso and shoulders of the occupant. The yoke is generally U-shaped, with a base and upwardly extending limbs, and has a frontal portion shaped to extend over the chest of the occupant which corresponds to the base of the U. An intermediate portion of the yoke is shaped to fit over the shoulders of the occupant, and an upper portion of the yoke, corresponding to the upper ends of the limbs, extends beyond the intermediate portion to constrain movement of a helmet worn by the occupant. A set of first guides on the yoke are arranged to engage harness members of a safety harness worn by the occupant. Each guide is shaped to engage a respective harness strap or buckle and responds to longitudinal movement of the harness strap or buckle.

Abstract: A neck brace (10) comprises an impact surface (39,55) adjacent the neck of a wearer of the brace (10) that it is spaced from a helmet (42) and that is configured to limit movement of the helmet by contacting an underside (46) of the helmet, a bearing surface (15,35) bearing on the wearer's body; and a resilient structure (12) between the impact surface (39,55) and the bearing surface (15,35) for transferring impact loads from the helmet (42) on the impact surface, to the wearer's body via the bearing surface. The brace (10) further includes restraining means (58) that is attachable to the rear of the structure (12) with a releasable clip mechanism (66) and to the helmet (42) to inhibit movement of the helmet. The restraining means is in the form of a tether (58) that is attached to the helmet (42) at two spaced locations and that passes with clearance through an aperture in an anchor element (62,64), to allow the helmet (42) to be moved freely while the tether (58) slides through the aperture.

Abstract: Neck brace that inhibits excessive neck movement during impact, yet allows for a high degree of movement of the wearer's head during normal operation of the neck brace. May include impact surface(s) that limits movement of a helmet by contacting an underside of the helmet; bearing surface(s) configured for bearing on wearer; a structure between impact surface and bearing surface, sufficiently resilient to transfer impact loads of the helmet to the impact surface, to the wearer's body; wherein the impact surface is displaceable towards an adjacent part of the bearing surface and wherein the structure is configured to permit the displacement at rates slower than a predetermined rate of displacement and to resist the displacement if the rate of displacement exceeds the predetermined rate. May include a pivotal joint between the displaceable part and remainder of neck brace and impact brake element(s).