Abstract: A neck brace has two legs with a gap between them and the legs extend on either side of the wearer's neck and along the front of his torso. Shoulder protuberances, and chest protuberances extending laterally from each leg, are received underneath the shoulder straps of a harness, in the region of the wearer's shoulders and chest, respectively. A recess is defined on an underside of each leg between the shoulder protuberance and the chest protuberance to form a beam that is elevated above the wearer's chest. Each leg and its associated chest protuberance, define a channel in which one of the shoulder straps of the harness is receivable to be held captive.

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 neck brace has two legs with a gap between them and the legs extend on either side of the wearer's neck and along the front of his torso. Shoulder protuberances, and chest protuberances extending laterally from each leg, are received underneath the shoulder straps of a harness, in the region of the wearer's shoulders and chest, respectively. A recess is defined on an underside of each leg between the shoulder protuberance and the chest protuberance to form a beam that is elevated above the wearer's chest. Each leg and its associated chest protuberance, define a channel in which one of the shoulder straps of the harness is receivable to be held captive.

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: 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).