Helmet to protect cervical spine against axial impact forces

Claim 2

A helmet for specific protection of the cervical spine of a wearer against axial compressive force sufficient to cause serious injury, comprising: a rigid helmet having a lower rim partially encircling the head of a wearer behind the face; extensible means attached to both sides of said helmet and normally not projecting substantially below said rim but being extendable therebelow to engage the shoulders of a wearer and substantially transfer to the shoulders the force of an external impact on the crown area of said helmet, said extensible means comprising inflatable bag means attached to said lower rim, said bag means being normally deflated and restrictedly folded so as to not impede normal movements of the head and neck of the wearer, but constructed and arranged to fill the gap between said lower rim and the shoulders of a wearer when inflated; gas-operable means carried by said helmet for extending said extensible means to engage the shoulders of a wearer within approximately 25 milliseconds of an external impact on said gas-operable means, said gas-operable means including means carried by said helmet for almost instantaneously generating gas for operating said gas-operable means and sensor means located in the crown area of said helmet for operating said gas-generating means on an external impact on said crown area with a predetermined force to substantially instantaneously extend said extensible means to engage the shoulders of a wearer so as to transfer the impact force to the shoulders instead of directly through said helmet and head of the wearer generally axially to the cervical spine of the wearer, said gas generating means being operable to almost instnataneously generate inflating gas and communicate it to said bag means; and a channel-like downward facing shell which opens in a direction opposite a crown region of said helmet so as to allow said bag means to expand toward a wearer's shoulders when inflated wherein the bag means is folded and packed and wrapped with a rupturable membrane which has perforations arranged in a pattern to direct selected portions of the bag means in desired directions on exit from the shell during inflation.

Claim 3

The helmet defined in claim 1 including means for rapidly deflating the bag means a short time after inflation.

Claim 4

The helmet defined in claim 1 wherein the bag means, gas generating means and sensor means comprise a module attachable to the helmet.

Claim 5

The helmet defined in claim 1 including a channel-like downward facing shell which opens in a direction opposite a crown region of said helmet so as to allow said bag to expand toward a wearer's shoulders when inflated wherein the bag means is folded and packed and wrapped with a rupturable membrane.

Claim 6

The helmet defined in claim 1 wherein the sensor means comprises an adjustable accelerometer.

Claim 7

The helmet defined in claim 1 wherein said inflatable bag means has a substantially oval cross-sectional profile.

Claim 8

The helmet defined in claim 1 wherein the extensible means, gas generating means and sensor means comprise a module attachable to the helmet.

Claim 9

The helmet defined in claim 1 wherein the sensor means comprises an adjustable accelerometer.

Claim 10

The helmet defined in claim 1 wherein the extensible means comprises a polycarbonate plastic ring of small cross section padded with foam rubber.

Claim 11

A helmet for specific protection of the cervical spine of a wearer against axial compressive force sufficient to cause serious injury, comprising: a rigid helmet having a lower rim partially encircling the head of a wearer behind the face; extensible means attached to both sides of said helmet and normally not projecting substantially below said rim but being extendable therebelow to engage the shoulders of a wearer and substantially transfer to the shoulders the force of an external impact on the crown area of said helmet, said extensible means comprising inflatable bag means attached to said lower rim, said bag means being normally deflated and restrictedly folded so as to not impede normal movements of the head and neck of the wearer, but constructed and arranged to fill the gap between said lower rim and the shoulders of a wearer when inflated; gas-operable means carried by said helmet for extending said extensible means to engage the shoulders of a wearer within approximately 25 milliseconds of an external impact on said gas-operable means, said gas-operable means including means carried by said helmet for almost instantaneously generating gas for operating said gas-operable means and sensor means located in the crown area of said helmet for operating said gas-generating means on an external impact on said crown area with a predetermined force to substantially instantaneously extend said extensible means to engage the shoulders of a wearer so as to transfer the impact force to the shoulders instead of directly through said helmet and head of the wearer generally axially to the cervical spine of the wearer, said gas generating means being operable to almost instantaneously generate inflating gas and communicate it to said bag means; and a protective face guard attached to the helmet and extending over at least the eyes and nose of the wearer and wherein the bag means is also attached to the lower portion of said face guard and completely encircles a wearer, and a generally oval, channel-like shell which opens in a direction opposite a crown region of said helmet so as to allow said bag means to expand toward a wearer's shoulders when inflated wherein the bag means is folded and packed and wrapped with a rupturable membrane.

Claim 12

A helmet for specific protection of the cervical spine of a wearer against axial compressive force sufficient to cause serious injury, comprising: a rigid helmet having a lower rim partially encircling the head of a wearer behind the face; extensible means attached to both sides of said helmet and normally not projecting substantially below said rim but being extendable therebelow to engage the shoulders of a wearer and substantially transfer to the shoulders the force of an external impact on the crown area of said helmet, said extensible means comprising inflatable bag means attached to said lower rim, said bag means being normally deflated and restrictedly folded so as to not impede normal movements of the head and neck of the wearer, but constructed and arranged to fill the gap between said lower rim and the shoulders of a wearer when inflated; gas-operable means carried by said helmet for extending said extensible means to engage the shoulders of a wearer within approximately 25 milliseconds of an external impact on said gas-operable means, said gas-operable means including means carried by said helmet for almost instantaneously generating gas for operating said gas-operable means and sensor means located in the crown area of said helmet for operating said gas-generating means on an external impact on said crown area with a predetermined force to substantially instantaneously extend said extensible means to engage the shoulders of a wearer so as to transfer the impact force to the shoulders instead of directly through said helmet and head of the wearer generally axially to the cervical spine of the wearer, said gas generating means being operable to almost instantaneously generate inflating gas and communicate it to said bag means; and a protective face guard attached to the helmet and extending over at least the eyes and nose of the wearer and wherein the bag means is also attached to the lower portion of said face guard and completely encircles a wearer, and a generally oval, channel-like shell which opens in a direction opposite a crown region of said helmet so as to allow said bag means to expand toward a wearer's shoulders when inflated wherein the bag means is folded and packed and wrapped with a rupturable membrane.

Claim 13

A helmet for specific protection of the cervical spine of a wearer against axial compressive force sufficient to cause serious injury, comprising; a rigid helmet having a lower rim partially encircling the head of a wearer behind the face; extensible means attached to both sides of said helmet and normally not projecting substantially below said rim but being extendable therebelow to engage the shoulders of a wearer and substantially transfer to the shoulders the force of an external impact on the crown area of said helmet; gas-operable means carried by said helmet for extending said extensible means to engage the shoulders of a wearer within approximately 25 milliseconds of an external impact on said gas-operable means, said gas-operable means including means carried by said helmet for almost instantaneously generating gas for operating said gas-operable means and sensor means located in the crown area of said helmet for operating said gas-generating means on an external impact on said crown area with a predetermined force to substantially instantaneously extend said extensible means to engage the shoulders of a wearer so as to transfer the impact force to the shoulders instead of directly through said helmet and head of the wearer generally axially to the cervical spine of the wearer; and a protective face guard attached to the helmet and extending over at least the eyes and nose of the wearer and wherein the extensible means is proximate to the lower portion of said face guard and completely encircle a wearer.

Claim 14

A helmet for specific protection of the cervical spine of a wearer against axial compressive force sufficient to cause serious injury, comprising; a rigid helmet having a lower rim partially encircling the head of a wearer behind the face; extensible means attached to both sides of said helmet and normally not projecting substantially below said rim but being extendable therebelow to engage the shoulders of a wearer and substantially transfer to the shoulders the force of an external impact on the crown area of said helmet; gas-operable means carried by said helmet for extending said extensible means to engage the shoulders of a wearer within approximately 25 milliseconds of an external impact on said gas-operable means, said gas-operable means including means carried by said helmet for almost instantaneously generating gas for operating said gas-operable means and sensor means located in the crown area of said helmet for operating said gas-generating means on an external impact on said crown area with a predetermined force to substantially instantaneously extend said extensible means to engage the shoulders of a wearer so as to transfer the impact force to the shoulders instead of directly through said helmet and head of the wearer generally axially to the cervical spine of the wearer; and a protective face guard attached to the helmet and extending over at least the eyes and nose of the wearer and wherein the extensible means is proximate to the lower portion of said face guard and completely encircle a wearer.

Claim 15

A helmet for specific protection of the cervical spine of a wearer against axial compressive force sufficient to cause serious injury, comprising: a rigid helmet having a lower rim partially encircling the head of a wearer behind the face; extensible means attached to both sides of said helmet and normally not projecting substantially below said rim but being extendable therebelow to engage the shoulders of a wearer and substantially transfer to the shoulders the force of an external impact on the crown area of said helmet; and gas-operable means carried by said helmet for extending said extensible means to engage the shoulders of a wearer within approximately 25 milliseconds of an external impact on said gas-operable means, said gas-operable means including means carried by said helmet for almost instantaneously generating gas for operating said gas-operable means, and sensor means located in the crown area of said helmet for operating said gas-generating means on an external impact on said crown area with a predetermined force to substantially instantaneously extend said extensible means to engage the shoulders of a wearer so as to transfer the impact force to the shoulders instead of directly through said helmet and head of the wearer generally axially to the cervical spine of the wearer, and a cylinder having a piston disposed in an interior portion thereof.

Claim 16

A helmet for specific protection of the cervical spine of a wearer against axial compressive force sufficient to cause serious injury, comprising: a rigid helmet having a lower rim partially encircling the head of a wearer behind the face; extensible means attached to both sides of said helmet and normally not projecting substantially below said rim but being extendable therebelow to engage the shoulders of a wearer and substantially transfer to the shoulders the force of an external impact on the crown area of said helmet; and gas-operable means carried by said helmet for extending said extensible means to engage the shoulders of a wearer within approximately 25 milliseconds of an external impact on said gas-operable means, said gas-operable means including means carried by said helmet for almost instantaneously generating gas for operating said gas-operable means, and sensor means located in the crown area of said helmet for operating said gas-generating means on an external impact on said crown area with a predetermined force to substantially instantaneously extend said extensible means to engage the shoulders of a wearer so as to transfer the impact force to the shoulders instead of directly through said helmet and head of the wearer generally axially to the cervical spine of the wearer, and a cylinder having a piston disposed in an interior portion thereof.

Claim 17

The helmet as defined in claim 12, wherein: said piston comprises a piston head and a piston rod; said gas generating means is operable to provide gas to a chamber within said cylinder formed by said cylinder and said piston head; and an end of said piston rod opposite said piston head is connected to said extensible means so as to extend said extensible means when said generating means provides gas to said gas operable means.

Claim 18

The helmet as defined in claim 13, wherein said cylinder is formed integrally with said rigid helmet so that an interior surface of said rigid helmet is substantially smooth.

Claim 19

The helmet as defined in claim 13, further comprising detents for maintaining said extensible means in position when not extended by said gas operable means.

Claim 20

The helmet as defined in claim 13, further comprising ratchet means for engaging said piston when extended to prevent said cylinder from becoming compressed.

Claim 21

A helmet for specific protection of the cervical spine of a wearer against axial compressive force sufficient to cause serious injury, comprising: a rigid helmet having a lower rim partially encircling the head of a wearer behind the face, inflatable bag means of generally oval configuration attached to said lower rim, said bag means being normally deflated and restrictedly folded so as to allow normal movements of the head and neck of the wearer, but constructed and arranged to fill the gap between said lower rim and the shoulders of a wearer when inflated; a channel-like shell which opens in a direction opposite a crown region of said helmet so as to allow said bag means to expand toward a wearer's shoulders when inflated wherein the bag means is folded and packed and wrapped with a rupturable membrane which has perforations arranged in a pattern to direct selected portions of the bag means in desired directions on exit from the shell during inflation; means carried by said helmet for almost instantaneously generating inflating gas and communicating the gas to said bag means; and sensor means located in the crown area of said helmet for operating said gas generating means on an external impact on said crown area with a predetermined force to substantially instantaneously inflate said bag means sufficiently to fill the gap and transfer the impact force substantially to the shoulders of a wearer instead of generally axially to the cervical spine.

Claim 22

A helmet for specific protection of the cervical spine of a wearer against axial compressive force sufficient to cause serious injury, comprising: a rigid helmet having a lower rim partially encircling the head of a wearer behind the face, inflatable bag means of generally oval configuration attached to said lower rim, said bag means being normally deflated and restrictedly folded so as to allow normal movements of the head and neck of the wearer, but constructed and arranged to fill the gap between said lower rim and the shoulders of a wearer when inflated; a channel-like shell which opens in a direction opposite a crown region of said helmet so as to allow said bag means to expand toward a wearer's shoulders when inflated wherein the bag means is folded and packed and wrapped with a rupturable membrane which has perforations arranged in a pattern to direct selected portions of the bag means in desired directions on exit from the shell during inflation; means carried by said helmet for almost instantaneously generating inflating gas and communicating the gas to said bag means; and sensor means located in the crown area of said helmet for operating said gas generating means on an external impact on said crown area with a predetermined force to substantially instantaneously inflate said bag means sufficiently to fill the gap and transfer the impact force substantially to the shoulders of a wearer instead of generally axially to the cervical spine.

Claim 23

The helmet defined in claim 17 including means for rapidly deflating the bag means a short time after inflation.

Claim 24

The helmet defined in claim 18 wherein the bag means, gas generating means and sensor means comprise a module attachable to the helmet.

Claim 25

A helmet for specific protection of the cervical spine of a wearer against axial compressive force sufficient to cause serious injury, comprising: a rigid helmet having a lower rim partially encircling the head of a wearer behind the face, inflatable bag means of generally oval configuration attached to said lower rim, said bag means being normally deflated and restrictedly folded so as to allow normal movements of the head and neck of the wearer, but constructed and arranged to fill the gap between said lower rim and the shoulders of a wearer when inflated; a channel-like shell which opens in a direction opposite a crown region of said helmet so as to allow said bag means to expand toward a wearer's shoulders when inflated wherein the bag means is folded and packed and wrapped with a rupturable membrane; means carried by said helmet for almost instantaneously generating inflating gas and communicating the gas to said bag means; sensor means located in the crown area of said helmet for operating said gas generating means on an external impact on said crown area with a predetermined force to substantially instantaneously inflate said bag means sufficiently to fill the gap and transfer the impact force substantially to the shoulders of a wearer instead of generally axially to the cervical spine; and a protective face guard attached to the helmet and extending over at least the eyes and nose of the wearer and wherein the bag means is also attached to the lower portion of said face guard and completely encircles a wearer.

Claim 26

A helmet for specific protection of the cervical spine of a wearer against axial compressive force sufficient to cause serious injury, comprising: a rigid helmet having a lower rim partially encircling the head of a wearer behind the face, inflatable bag means of generally oval configuration attached to said lower rim, said bag means being normally deflated and restrictedly folded so as to allow normal movements of the head and neck of the wearer, but constructed and arranged to fill the gap between said lower rim and the shoulders of a wearer when inflated; a channel-like shell which opens in a direction opposite a crown region of said helmet so as to allow said bag means to expand toward a wearer's shoulders when inflated wherein the bag means is folded and packed and wrapped with a rupturable membrane; means carried by said helmet for almost instantaneously generating inflating gas and communicating the gas to said bag means; sensor means located in the crown area of said helmet for operating said gas generating means on an external impact on said crown area with a predetermined force to substantially instantaneously inflate said bag means sufficiently to fill the gap and transfer the impact force substantially to the shoulders of a wearer instead of generally axially to the cervical spine; and a protective face guard attached to the helmet and extending over at least the eyes and nose of the wearer and wherein the bag means is also attached to the lower portion of said face guard and completely encircles a wearer.

Claim 27

The helmet defined in claim 20 wherein the extensible means is proximate to the lower portion of said face guard and completely encircles a wearer.

Claim 28

The helmet defined in claim 18 wherein the sensor means comprises an adjustable accelerometer.

Claim 29

The helmet defined in claim 18 wherein the extensible means, gas generating means and sensor means comprise a module attachable to the helmet.

Claim 30

The helmet defined in claim 18 including a helmet retaining strap having the opposite ends thereof rigidly fastened to opposite inner sides of said helmet and having a padded support intermediate said strap ends adapted to engage the chin of a wearer, said strap being divided between one of said ends and said support and having a readily releasable two-part connecting buckle, one part being connected to one divided end and the other part to the other divided end.

Claim 31

The helmet defined in claim 24 wherein one buckle part has a notched tongue that slides into and snap locks in the other buckle part, said parts being releasable by an application of a pinching force to said other part.

Claim 32

The helmet defined in claim 24 wherein a portion of said helmet retaining strap is made from an elastic material to permit displacement of said helmet from a player's head while preventing removal of said helmet.

Claim 33

The helmet defined in claim 18 wherein said gas generating means and said gas operable means are operable to extend said extensible means within approximately 25 milliseconds of an external impact on said sensor means.

Claim 34

The helmet defined in claim 18 wherein said inflatable bag means has a substantially oval cross-sectional profile.