Protective neck collar

Claim 2

A protective neck collar for use in conjunction with protective athletic shoulder gear which has a head opening formed therethrough, comprising an inflatable annular tube of a pliable material adapted to extend circumferentially about a player''s neck between the protective shoulder gear and the player''s head, and means for connecting said tube to the protective shoulder gear to prevent displacement of said tube about the player''s neck, the size and shape of said tube being such that said tube generally conforms to the front to rear contour of the head opening in the protective shoulder gear and substantially fills the gap between the player''s protective shoulder gear and head, said tube forming an air cushion which when inflated encircles the player''s neck and compresses slightly with little effort to accommodate normal head and neck movements, and is pinched between the player''s head and protective shoulder gear upon sharp blows to the head and neck to absorb said blows and prevent injury due to extreme neck flexion in any direction.

Claim 3

A protective neck collar as set forth in claim 1 wherein said tube is stretchable to be pulled over the player''s head and regain its original size and shape when about the player''s neck and inflated.

Claim 4

A protective neck collar as set forth in claim 1 wherein said tube has a generally circular cross section, and the cross-sectional circumference of said tube tapers from about 5 inches at the back of the player''s neck to about 3 inches in the front.

Claim 5

A protective neck collar as set forth in claim 1 wherein the cross section of said tube tapers from a large portion at the back of the player''s neck to a relatively smaller portion in the front.

Claim 6

A protective neck collar as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for connecting said tube to the protective shoulder gear is connected to the portion of said tube at the front of the player''s neck, said means being operative to pull downwardly on said portion to cause said tube to closely fit the frontal contour of the shoulder protective gear.

Claim 7

A protective neck collar for use in conjunction with protective athletic head gear and protective athletic shoulder gear having a head opening formed therethrough, comprising an inflatable annular tube of a pliable material and a generally circular cross section adapted to extend circumferentially about a player''s neck between the shoulder gear and the player''s head and head gear, said tube being stretchable to be pulled over the player''s head and to regain its original shape abOut the player''s neck, and means for connecting said tube to the shoulder gear to prevent displacement of said tube about the player''s neck, said tube having a cross section tapering from a large portion at the back of the player''s neck to a relatively smaller portion in the front to generally conform when inflated to the front to rear contour of the head opening in the shoulder gear and to substantially fill the gap between the player''s shoulder gear and his head and head gear, said tube forming an air cushion which encircles the player''s neck and compresses slightly with little effort upon engagement with the player''s head and head gear during normal head and neck movements to accommodate said normal movements, and is pinched between the player''s shoulder gear and his head and head gear upon sharp blows to the head and neck to absorb said blows and prevent injury due to extreme neck flexion in any direction.

Claim 8

A protective neck collar for use in conjunction with protective athletic head gear and protective athletic shoulder gear having a head opening formed therethrough, comprising an inflatable annular tube of a pliable material and a generally circular cross section adapted to extend circumferentially about a player''s neck between the shoulder gear and the player''s head and head gear, said tube being stretchable to be pulled over the player''s head and to regain its original shape abOut the player''s neck, and means for connecting said tube to the shoulder gear to prevent displacement of said tube about the player''s neck, said tube having a cross section tapering from a large portion at the back of the player''s neck to a relatively smaller portion in the front to generally conform when inflated to the front to rear contour of the head opening in the shoulder gear and to substantially fill the gap between the player''s shoulder gear and his head and head gear, said tube forming an air cushion which encircles the player''s neck and compresses slightly with little effort upon engagement with the player''s head and head gear during normal head and neck movements to accommodate said normal movements, and is pinched between the player''s shoulder gear and his head and head gear upon sharp blows to the head and neck to absorb said blows and prevent injury due to extreme neck flexion in any direction.

Claim 9

A protective neck collar as set forth in claim 6 wherein said means for connecting said tube to the protective shoulder gear is connected to the relatively smaller portion of said tube at the front of the player''s neck, said means being operative to pull downwardly on said smaller portion to cause said tube to closely fit the frontal contour of the shoulder protective gear.

Claim 10

A protective neck collar as set forth in claim 6 wherein the cross-sectional circumference of said tube tapers from about 5 inches at the back of the player''s neck to about 3 inches in the front.