HEAD AND NECK PROTECTION APPARATUS
Various protective apparatus are described. One protective apparatus includes a shoulder pad assembly having an opening for a neck of a user, a supporting element affixed to the shoulder pad assembly, the supporting element being configured to extend above the shoulder pad assembly and to encircle a portion of the opening, one or more clips arranged on the surface of the supporting element, and a helmet having one or more first bars that, when engaged within the one or more clips, secure the helmet to the supporting element.
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/148,340, filed Jan. 6, 2014 which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/102,843, filed May 6, 2011 (now U.S. Pat. No. 8,621,672). This application is also related to and claims the benefit of U.S. patent application No. 62/143,867, filed Apr. 7, 2015 and U.S. Patent Application No. 62/157,502, filed May 6, 2015. Each of the referenced applications is incorporated herein by reference in its respective entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELDThe present apparatus and methods relate generally to an improved head and/or neck protection apparatus.
BACKGROUNDCatastrophic injuries often occur in football, hockey, and other sports and activities as a result of excessive axial loading on the cervical spine and excessive force applied to the head. Such injuries are now occurring more frequently because participants in sporting and other physical activities are much larger and weigh considerably more than in previous years. In recent years, the careers (and lives) of numerous professional and amateur football players were shortened because of recurrent concussions, paraplegia and quadriplegia.
SUMMARYThe following presents a simplified summary of various aspects of this disclosure in order to provide a basic understanding of such aspects. This summary is not an extensive overview of all contemplated aspects, and is intended to neither identify key or critical elements nor delineate the scope of such aspects. Its purpose is to present some concepts of this disclosure in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.
In an aspect of the present disclosure, a protective apparatus includes a shoulder pad assembly having an opening for a neck of a user, a supporting element affixed to the shoulder pad assembly, the supporting element being configured to extend above the shoulder pad assembly and to encircle a portion of the opening, one or more clips arranged on the surface of the supporting element, and a helmet having one or more first bars that, when engaged within the one or more clips, secure the helmet to the supporting element.
In another aspect of the present disclosure a protective apparatus includes a shoulder pad assembly having an opening for a neck of a user, a wire having two ends, the wire arranged to surround the opening, each of the two ends being secured to a lever that is affixed to the shoulder pad assembly, one or more locking mechanisms affixed to the shoulder pad assembly, and a helmet having one or more bars configured for insertion into the one or more locking mechanisms, wherein, upon insertion of the one or more bars into the one or more locking mechanisms and upon a raising of the lever, the helmet is secured to the shoulder pad assembly.
In another aspect of the present disclosure a protective apparatus includes a shoulder pad assembly having an opening for a neck of a user, the shoulder pad assembly including a chest plate at the front of the shoulder pad assembly, a helmet configured for placement upon the shoulder pad assembly in a manner that surrounds the opening from above, a collar affixed to the shoulder pad assembly, wherein the collar, when positioned along at least a portion of a base of the helmet and secured to the chest plate, secures the helmet to the shoulder pad assembly.
In another aspect of the present disclosure a protective apparatus includes a shoulder pad assembly having an opening for a neck of a user, and a helmet capable of attachment to the shoulder pad assembly, the helmet having a front portion and a rear portion, wherein the front portion of the helmet, when lowered against the shoulder pads can be secured to the shoulder pad assembly via a locking mechanism.
Aspects and implementations of the present disclosure will be understood more fully from the detailed description given below and from the accompanying drawings of various aspects and implementations of the disclosure, which, however, should not be taken to limit the disclosure to the specific aspects or implementations, but are for explanation and understanding only.
Aspects and implementations of the present disclosure are directed to an improved head and/or neck protection apparatus and related technologies.
As described herein, in one variation a head and/or neck protection apparatus may include shoulder pads and a helmet. In certain implementations, the shoulder pads include a central opening for receiving a user's neck. A collar may extend from the periphery of the central opening or the collar may be positioned at or around the periphery of the central opening. The helmet may surround a user's head while remaining spaced apart from the user's head. The helmet may be removably connected or fastened to the collar or shoulder pads. The helmet may be connected, fastened or otherwise secured to the collar or shoulder pads such that the helmet, while secured, cannot move relative to the shoulder pads and a force applied to the helmet may be distributed circumferentially or peripherally to the collar and transferred to the shoulder pads, shoulders, chest and/or back of a user.
As also described herein, in another variation a helmet apparatus is provided. In certain implementations the helmet may be used with shoulder pads (that may remain underneath a user's jersey) to protect the user's head and neck from an impact force. The helmet may include a dome portion configured to surround the user's head while remaining spaced apart from the user's head. The helmet may have a bottom periphery surrounding an opening in the helmet for receiving the user's head. The bottom periphery of the helmet may be substantially lockable to the shoulder pads such that when locked or otherwise secured the helmet, while secured, cannot move relative to the shoulder pads. A force applied to the helmet may be distributed to the bottom periphery of the helmet and/or to the shoulder pads. The helmet may be removable from the shoulder pads by the user without removing the user's jersey.
As also described herein, in another variation a method for dispersing or distributing a force applied to a helmet to the shoulders, back and/or chest of a user is provided. Shoulder pads having a central opening for receiving a user's neck and/or head, and optionally having a collar extending from the periphery of the central opening or positioned at or around the periphery of the central opening are provided. The shoulder pads may be applied to the shoulders of a user. A helmet may be securely fastened or connected to a collar and/or the shoulder pads such that the helmet cannot move relative to the shoulder pads. Once connected to a collar and/or the shoulder pads, the helmet may surround but remain spaced apart from the user's head such that the user can turn their head, e.g., in any direction within the helmet. A force applied to the helmet may be circumferentially or peripherally distributed or dispersed to a collar and/or the shoulder pads, thereby transferring the force to the shoulder pads, shoulders, chest, and/or back of the user.
As shown in
In use, the helmet 38 is inserted or pushed down into the collar 36 (as indicated by arrow ‘A’ in
In another variation, the protrusions or tabs may be configured to snap into slots or openings in a collar or helmet, locking the helmet to the collar and shoulder pads.
In certain variations, the helmet may include an o-ring or a gasket positioned at the base or bottom lip or periphery of the helmet. The o-ring or gasket may provide a tight locking seal between the helmet and the collar to securely fasten and/or lock the helmet to the shoulder pads.
In another variation, the collar or shoulder pads may include an o-ring or a gasket, which provides a tight locking seal between the helmet and collar and/or shoulder pads. Optionally, the collar, shoulder pads and/or the helmet may include an o-ring, gasket or other component or mechanism for providing a sealing engagement, lock or seal between the collar and/or shoulder pads and helmet.
The dome 78 may also include a face mask 73, e.g., a rubberized and/or steel or metal facemask 73, which may be built into an opening 75 in the front of the dome 78. The face mask may be open or have openings, allowing for ventilation and air such that the apparatus 70 would be tolerable during use, e.g., during a sporting event or game. The open facemask may allow user access to their nose or mouth, e.g., to drink or spit. The open facemask may, for example, reduce claustrophobia for users and may improve a user's ability to communicate signals or commands and/or hear communications from others. Ear holes 74 may be provided in the sides of the dome 78. The opening 75, ear holes 74 and/or the facemask 73 may help facilitate breathing and communication by the user, e.g., with teammates, officials or other individuals, when the user is wearing the head and neck protection apparatus 70.
Because the dome 78 and shoulder pads 72 form a single unit, a user would position the dome 78 and shoulder pads 72 onto their body at the same time, and the user would be required to remove the shoulder pads 72 in order to remove the dome 78 and vice versa. In certain implementations, the dome 78 may not be removable from the user without also removing the shoulder pads as the components are part of a single unit or construct.
In certain implementations, once in position on the user, the dome 78 may surround but remain spaced apart from the user's head, such that, for example, the dome 78 does not contact and/or squeeze the user's head. The dome 78 may allow for a wide range of motion of the head, where the head of the user is in spaced relation to the inside surfaces of the dome, providing a user with full or substantially full mobility or motion of the head. This may allow a user to better access their nose or mouth, e.g., to drink or spit. It may reduce claustrophobia for users and may improve the user's ability to communicate signals or commands and/or hear communications from others.
Force applied to the dome 78 may be equally or substantially equally distributed or dispersed circumferentially or peripherally from the dome 78 to the shoulder pads 72 (and/or a collar or other extension of the shoulder pads), transferring the force to the shoulders, back and/or chest of the user.
In the case of a neck, head or other injury, the domes and helmets according to any of the variations described herein may be removed from a user in a manner that would avoid injury or be less likely to cause injury or further injury to the neck, spine or head. In contrast, for example, removing a traditional football helmet from a user's head requires significant force which could potentially move the cervical vertebrae and further injure the spinal cord. The domes and helmets according to any of the variations described herein may be removed without contacting the user's head or neck or without moving the vertebrae or spinal cord or without causing injury or harm or further injury or harm to the user. The domes or helmets may be removed from the user in a manner that would reduce or substantially reduce the likelihood of causing further injury to the user during the dome or helmet removal process or in a manner that would avoid injury. Similarly, the shoulder pads or the head and neck protection apparatus as a whole may be removed from a user in a manner that would reduce the chance of injury or avoid injury to the spine, neck or head.
Any of the head and neck protection apparatus described herein may be worn without a separate cap or helmet positioned on the user's head, within the dome or helmet of the head and neck protection apparatus. In certain implementations, the various head and neck protection apparatus described herein can surround but remain spaced apart from the user's head, making it unnecessary for the user to wear a separate cap on the user's head to protect the user's head from injury due to helmet impact.
In use, the various head and neck protection apparatus described herein may protect the user from injury by dispersing, distributing or redistributing a force applied to a helmet, e.g., an axial loading force or impact force, to or over a base, bottom or bottom surface of the helmet, or bottom periphery or circumference of the helmet surrounding an opening in the helmet, or other portion of the helmet, and from the base, bottom, bottom surface, bottom periphery or circumference of the helmet, or other portion of the helmet to or over a collar or a locking mechanism of the collar and/or shoulder pads, or over the circumference or periphery of a collar and/or shoulder pads, transferring the force to the shoulders, back and/or chest of the user. The force may be distributed or dispersed circumferentially or peripherally from the helmet to a collar or to a locking mechanism of the collar and/or to the shoulder pads. In certain variations, the connection between the helmet and a collar or shoulder pads may be such that every point or substantially every point along the bottom periphery, bottom surface or base of the helmet is in contact with the collar or the shoulder pads. In certain variations, when a force is applied to the helmet, the interaction or contact between the bottom periphery, surface or base of the helmet and a collar or shoulder pads may maximize the area over which a force applied to the helmet is dispersed or distributed and may result in the force being circumferentially or peripherally distributed or dispersed over or to the base or bottom periphery of the helmet and over a collar and/or shoulder pads or over the circumference or periphery of a collar and/or shoulder pads and/or over the entire or substantially entire shoulder area, back, chest and/or torso, rather than being transferred, focused or channeled solely to the users neck or to or solely to localized points on the user's head or body. In certain variations, the force to the helmet may be equally or substantially equally distributed or dispersed to the bottom periphery or circumference, bottom surface or base of the helmet and from the bottom periphery or circumference, bottom surface or base of the helmet to and over the periphery or circumference of a collar and/or the shoulder pads, ultimately transferring the force to the user's shoulders, chest, and/or back. The design of the head and neck apparatus may provide a dampening and/or reduction of the impact to the user's head, neck and/or spine from the force applied to the helmet. In certain variations, a force may be dispersed or distributed over the entire or at least a portion of the bottom periphery or circumference, bottom surface or base of the helmet, the periphery or circumference of a collar, shoulder pads, shoulders, chest, and/or back.
In one variation, a method for dispersing or distributing a force applied to a helmet to the shoulders of a user includes providing shoulder pads having a central opening for receiving a user's neck and a collar extending upward from or positioned at the periphery of the central opening. The base or bottom periphery of the helmet may be securely fastened to the collar such that the helmet cannot move relative to the shoulder pads and the helmet is configured to surround but remain spaced apart from the user's head allowing the user to turn their head fully in any direction within the helmet. A force applied to the helmet may be equally or substantially equally distributed or dispersed circumferentially or peripherally from a bottom periphery or base of the helmet to the collar, thereby transferring the force to the shoulders, back and/or chest of a user. The collar may include a locking mechanism for securely fastening the helmet to the shoulder pads. A base or bottom surface of the helmet or bottom periphery surrounding the helmet opening or the collar or shoulder pads may include an o-ring or a gasket that provides a locking seal between the helmet and the collar.
The helmet may be securely fastened to the collar by opening a latch on the collar to expand the collar and inserting a portion of the helmet into the expanded collar. The latch is then closed to securely fasten the helmet to the collar and to the shoulder pads. In another variation, a plurality of protrusions located along an outer surface of a base or bottom portion or bottom periphery of the helmet may be inserted into a plurality of slots located along an inner surface of the collar. The helmet is rotated such that the helmet base or bottom portion of the helmet is rotated relative to the collar, locking the protrusions within the slots. The helmet may be in form of a clear dome or a cage. Optionally, in certain variations, the base or bottom periphery or other portion of the helmet may be securely fastened or attached to the shoulder pads such that the helmet cannot move relative to the shoulder pads and the helmet is configured to surround but remain spaced apart from the user's head, and the shoulder pads may not include a collar.
The helmets, e.g., the various domes or cages described herein, may be made from a variety of materials suitable for withstanding force or tremendous force, e.g., axially loaded forces, impact forces, or other forces, without cracking or shattering. Materials include but are not limited to Plexiglas, polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), fiberglass, metal, and hard plastics. The domes may be completely or at least partially clear to allow for visibility by the user in any direction. The domes may include holes or slits for ventilation, hearing and/or speaking. The cage may be metallic and/or may be wrapped or encased in rubber, padding material, resilient material or other material suitable for absorbing shock and/or softening or dampening the impact to the cage and to the user. The helmets also allow for improved visualization of the players faces for spectators and television coverage.
As described herein, in certain implementations the helmet may be spaced apart from the head providing space around the entire or substantially entire head of the user such that the head does not contact the inner surface of the helmet when the helmet is securely fastened to the shoulder pads. The helmet may allow for complete or a wide range of motion of the head. Indeed, the head of the user may be in spaced relation to the inside surfaces of the helmet, providing a user with full or substantially full mobility of motion of the head and good all-around visibility. Because the user's head may not contact the helmet, the helmet prevents concussive affects from a helmet to helmet collision or blow.
The base, bottom periphery or bottom of a helmet in any of the variations described herein may surround the opening of the helmet for receiving the user's head. The base or bottom periphery of a helmet may extend about the rear, front and/or sides of a bottom or bottom surface of a helmet. In certain variations, the base, bottom surface or bottom periphery of the helmet and/or the collar may have a variety of shapes, e.g., annular or circular. In certain variations, the base, bottom or bottom periphery of the helmet or other portion of the helmet may be attached or connected to the collar by being received within the collar. In other variations, the base, bottom or bottom periphery of the helmet or other portion of the helmet may surround the collar. Optionally, the base or bottom or bottom periphery of the helmet and the collar may be concentrically arranged or connected. In certain variations, once the helmet is locked to the shoulder pads, minimal mobility between the helmet and shoulder pads may remain. In certain variations, the collar may extend upward from a periphery of a central opening in the shoulder pads or the collar may be positioned at or around a periphery of the centrally opening or on a surface or other portion of the shoulder pads. In other variations, the base or bottom or bottom periphery of the helmet or other portion of the helmet may be attached or connected directly to the shoulder pads and the shoulder pads may not have a collar.
In certain variations, the shoulder pads may include padding to soften or dampen the impact to the musculature of the shoulders, chest and/or back. Padding may extend down as far as the waist to provide protection to the user's rib cage, lower back and abdomen. The shoulder pads may include straps, strings or buckles to allow for adjustment to fit users of various sizes and to secure the pads to the user.
It should also be noted that, in certain implementations, the described collar and/or shoulder pads can include and/or otherwise incorporate various shock absorbing materials, elements, etc., such as in order to absorb force received at the surface of the helmet, such that as little of such force as possible is passed on to the shoulder pads and/or body of the user. For example, as depicted in
As also shown in
At this juncture it should be noted that various other elements, components, sensors, interfaces, and/or devices can also be incorporated/implemented within the helmets, pads, etc., described herein. For example, as shown in
In certain implementations, the described functions can be implemented with respect to the described head and neck protection apparatus by integrating and/or otherwise incorporating various technologies, such as electronic and/or computing devices. Examples of such devices are depicted in
Memory 220 and/or storage 290 may be accessible by processing device 210, thereby enabling processing device 210 to receive and execute instructions stored on memory 220 and/or on storage 290. Memory 220 can be, for example, a random access memory (RAM) or any other suitable volatile or non-volatile computer readable storage medium. In addition, memory 220 can be fixed or removable. Storage 290 can take various forms, depending on the particular implementation. For example, storage 290 can contain one or more components or devices. For example, storage 290 can be a hard drive, a flash memory, a rewritable optical disk, a rewritable magnetic tape, or some combination of the above. Storage 290 also can be fixed or removable.
As shown in
A communication interface 250 is also operatively connected to control circuit 240. Communication interface 250 can be any interface (or multiple interfaces) that enables communication between device 102 and one or more external devices, machines, platforms, systems, and/or elements. Communication interface 250 can include (but is not limited to) a modem, a Network Interface Card (NIC), an integrated network interface, a radio frequency transmitter/receiver (e.g., WiFi, Bluetooth, cellular, NFC), a satellite communication transmitter/receiver, an infrared port, a USB connection, or any other such interfaces for connecting device 102 to other computing devices, systems, platforms, and/or communication networks such as the Internet. Such connections can include a wired connection or a wireless connection (e.g. 802.11) though it should be understood that communication interface 250 can be practically any interface that enables communication to/from the control circuit 240 and/or the various components described herein.
At various points during the operation of described technologies, device 102 can communicate with one or more other devices, systems, platforms, servers, etc. Such devices, systems, platforms, servers, etc., can transmit and/or receive data to/from the user device 102, thereby enhancing the operation of the described technologies, such as is described in detail herein. It should be understood that the referenced devices, systems, platforms, servers, etc., can be in direct communication with device 102, indirect communication with device 102, constant/ongoing communication with device 102, periodic communication with device 102, and/or can be communicatively coordinated with device 102.
Also connected to and/or in communication with control circuit 240 of user device 104 are one or more sensors 245A-245N (collectively, sensors 245). Sensors 245 can be various components, devices, and/or receivers that can be incorporated/integrated within and/or in communication with user device 102. Sensors 245 can be configured to detect one or more stimuli, phenomena, or any other such inputs, described herein. Examples of such sensors 245 include, but are not limited to, an accelerometer 245A, a gyroscope 245B, a GPS receiver 245C, a microphone 245D, a magnetometer 245E, a camera 245F, a light sensor 245G, a temperature sensor 245H, an altitude sensor 2451, a pressure sensor 245J, a proximity sensor 245K, a near-field communication (NFC) device 245L, a compass 245M, and a tactile sensor 245N. As described herein, device 102 can perceive/receive various inputs from sensors 245 and such inputs can be used to initiate, enable, and/or enhance various operations and/or aspects thereof, such as is described herein. By way of example, inputs received via GPS receiver 245C can be processed to determine a location of device 102.
It should also be understood that certain aspects and implementations of various devices, systems, servers, platforms, etc., such as those depicted in
It should also be understood that, in certain implementations, the helmets described/depicted herein (including but not limited to those depicted in
The various head and neck protection apparatus described herein may be worn by a user participating in a variety of sports or activities such as those in which contact with other participants and/or objects may occur or where there exists a risk of injury to the head/brain, neck, or spine. Examples of such sports or activities include but are not limited to: football, lacrosse, hockey, driving, motor-cross, cycling, riot control, firefighting, etc. The various head and neck protection apparatus described herein would be suitable for various users, including but not limited to: professional athletes, children participating in pee-wee sports or junior sports, and athletes of all ages all the way up through high school and college.
At this juncture it should be noted that while the present disclosure and accompanying figures depict and/or describe various implementations of the present technologies, such presentation is for the sake of clarity and/or brevity and should not be construed as limiting. Thus, for example, the description of various types of helmets and other features should be understood in a manner such that an element depicted and/or described with respect to one implementation can be combined or otherwise associated with a feature, etc., depicted/described with respect to another implementation, and such is intended to be within the scope of the present disclosure.
The head and neck protection apparatus described herein may protect the user from various injuries, including, but not limited to: injury to the neck from hyper-extension or flexion injuries, direct axial loading injuries, concussions, brain injuries, cervical spine injuries, fractures, ligamentous injuries, spinal cord injuries, and/or paralysis.
Each of the individual variations described and illustrated herein has discrete components and features which may be readily separated from or combined with the features of any of the other variations. Modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation, material, composition of matter, process, process act(s) or step(s) to the objective(s), spirit or scope of the present disclosure.
Methods recited herein may be carried out in any order of the recited events which is logically possible, as well as the recited order of events. Furthermore, where a range of values is provided, every intervening value between the upper and lower limit of that range and any other stated or intervening value in that stated range is encompassed within the present disclosure. Also, any optional feature of the inventive variations described may be set forth and claimed independently, or in combination with any one or more of the features described herein.
The exemplary computer system 2300 includes a processing system (processor) 2302, a main memory 2304 (e.g., read-only memory (ROM), flash memory, dynamic random access memory (DRAM) such as synchronous DRAM (SDRAM)), a static memory 2306 (e.g., flash memory, static random access memory (SRAM)), and a data storage device 2316, which communicate with each other via a bus 2308.
Processor 2302 represents one or more processing devices such as a microprocessor, central processing unit, or the like. More particularly, the processor 2302 may be a complex instruction set computing (CISC) microprocessor, reduced instruction set computing (RISC) microprocessor, very long instruction word (VLIW) microprocessor, or a processor implementing other instruction sets or processors implementing a combination of instruction sets. The processor 2302 may also be one or more processing devices such as an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), a digital signal processor (DSP), network processor, or the like. The processor 2302 is configured to execute instructions 2326 for performing the operations and steps discussed herein.
The computer system 2300 may further include a network interface device 2322. The computer system 2300 also may include a video display unit 2310 (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD) or a cathode ray tube (CRT)), an alphanumeric input device 2312 (e.g., a keyboard), a cursor control device 2314 (e.g., a mouse), and a signal generation device 2320 (e.g., a speaker).
The data storage device 2316 may include a computer-readable medium 2324 on which is stored one or more sets of instructions 2326 embodying any one or more of the methodologies or functions described herein. Instructions 2326 may also reside, completely or at least partially, within the main memory 2304 and/or within the processor 2302 during execution thereof by the computer system 2300, the main memory 2304 and the processor 2302 also constituting computer-readable media. Instructions 2326 may further be transmitted or received over a network via the network interface device 2322.
While the computer-readable storage medium 2324 is shown in an exemplary embodiment to be a single medium, the term “computer-readable storage medium” should be taken to include a single medium or multiple media (e.g., a centralized or distributed database, and/or associated caches and servers) that store the one or more sets of instructions. The term “computer-readable storage medium” shall also be taken to include any medium that is capable of storing, encoding or carrying a set of instructions for execution by the machine and that cause the machine to perform any one or more of the methodologies of the present disclosure. The term “computer-readable storage medium” shall accordingly be taken to include, but not be limited to, solid-state memories, optical media, and magnetic media.
In the above description, numerous details are set forth. It will be apparent, however, to one of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure, that embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In some instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form, rather than in detail, in order to avoid obscuring the description.
Some portions of the detailed description are presented in terms of algorithms and symbolic representations of operations on data bits within a computer memory. These algorithmic descriptions and representations are the means used by those skilled in the data processing arts to most effectively convey the substance of their work to others skilled in the art. An algorithm is here, and generally, conceived to be a self-consistent sequence of steps leading to a desired result. The steps are those requiring physical manipulations of physical quantities. Usually, though not necessarily, these quantities take the form of electrical or magnetic signals capable of being stored, transferred, combined, compared, and otherwise manipulated. It has proven convenient at times, principally for reasons of common usage, to refer to these signals as bits, values, elements, symbols, characters, terms, numbers, or the like.
It should be borne in mind, however, that all of these and similar terms are to be associated with the appropriate physical quantities and are merely convenient labels applied to these quantities. Unless specifically stated otherwise as apparent from the above discussion, it is appreciated that throughout the description, discussions utilizing terms such as “receiving,” “processing,” “providing,” “selecting,” or the like, refer to the actions and processes of a computer system, or similar electronic computing device, that manipulates and transforms data represented as physical (e.g., electronic) quantities within the computer system's registers and memories into other data similarly represented as physical quantities within the computer system memories or registers or other such information storage, transmission or display devices.
Aspects and implementations of the disclosure also relate to an apparatus for performing the operations herein. A corresponding computer program may be stored in a computer readable storage medium, such as, but not limited to, any type of disk including floppy disks, optical disks, CD-ROMs, and magnetic-optical disks, read-only memories (ROMs), random access memories (RAMs), EPROMs, EEPROMs, magnetic or optical cards, or any type of media suitable for storing electronic instructions.
The present disclosure is not described with reference to any particular programming language. It will be appreciated that a variety of programming languages may be used to implement the teachings of the disclosure as described herein.
It is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. Many other embodiments will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reading and understanding the above description. Moreover, the techniques described above could be applied in many other contexts, settings, and/or industries. The scope of the disclosure should, therefore, be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.
Claims
1. A protective apparatus comprising:
- a shoulder pad assembly having an opening for a neck of a user;
- a supporting element affixed to the shoulder pad assembly, the supporting element being configured to extend above the shoulder pad assembly and to encircle a portion of the opening;
- one or more clips arranged on the surface of the supporting element; and
- a helmet comprising one or more first bars that, when engaged within the one or more clips, secure the helmet to the supporting element.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the supporting element comprises an overhang extending downward from a rear portion of the supporting element.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the supporting element comprises an overhang extending downward from a rear portion of the supporting element in a manner that produces a slot at the rear of the supporting element.
4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the helmet further comprises one or more second bars.
5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the one or more second bars are affixed to a rear surface of the helmet.
6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the one or more second bars are affixed to an inner surface of the helmet.
7. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the one or more second bars are affixed to an inner rear surface of the helmet.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the protective apparatus further comprises one or more communication devices.
9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more clips comprises a hook and a lever.
10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the lever, when raised, raises the hook above at least one of the one or more first bars.
11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the lever, when raised, raises the hook above at least one of the one or more first bars to enable the hook to engage the at least one of the one or more first bars.
12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the lever, when lowered, lowers the hook to secure at least one of the one or more first bars.
13. A protective apparatus comprising:
- a shoulder pad assembly having an opening for a neck of a user;
- a wire having two ends, the wire arranged to surround the opening, each of the two ends being secured to a lever that is affixed to the shoulder pad assembly;
- one or more locking mechanisms affixed to the shoulder pad assembly; and
- a helmet having one or more bars configured for insertion into the one or more locking mechanisms;
- wherein, upon insertion of the one or more bars into the one or more locking mechanisms and upon a raising of the lever, the helmet is secured to the shoulder pad assembly.
14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein upon a lowering of the lever, the helmet is unsecured from the shoulder pad assembly.
15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein upon a lowering of the lever, the locking mechanism is released.
16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the protective apparatus further comprises one or more communication devices.
17. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the protective apparatus further comprises a collar.
18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the collar is configured to be positioned in between a base of the helmet and an outer surface of the shoulder pad assembly.
19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the collar includes shock-absorbing material.
20. A protective apparatus comprising:
- a shoulder pad assembly having an opening for a neck of a user, the shoulder pad assembly comprising a chest plate at the front of the shoulder pad assembly;
- a helmet configured for placement upon the shoulder pad assembly in a manner that surrounds the opening from above; and
- a collar affixed to the shoulder pad assembly;
- wherein the collar, when positioned along at least a portion of a base of the helmet and secured to the chest plate, secures the helmet to the shoulder pad assembly.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 7, 2016
Publication Date: Mar 9, 2017
Inventors: John Chuback (Allendale, NJ), Joseph Piacentile (Woodcliff Lake, NJ)
Application Number: 15/093,729