Neck and spine protection device

Claim 1

A neck and spine protection device to be worn by a person comprising: a helmet for head protection; pads for shoulder protection; a fluid dampening mechanism having a rod and a fluid type type cylinder including a casing with two ends, said casing having fluid therewithin, said piston being connected to said rod and movable between said ends of said casing and having at least two valves operable in opposed relation relative to each other so that fluid can flow through said piston and said valves, with one valve restricting movement of the internal piston as it approaches one end of said casing and the other valve restricting movement of the internal piston as it approaches the other end of the casing; a first coupling between said pads and said fluid dampening mechanism; and a second coupling between said rod and said helmet, said second coupling including a guide rail connected to said helmet having a bar extending the length of said guide rail and a first and second stop at each end of said bar; a bearing block having a ball at one end and a C-shaped end at another end, said C-shaped end surrounding said rod; bearing placed between said C-shaped end and said bars so that said C-shaped end can easily move between said first and second stops; and a locking mechanism connected to said rod having a socket and a rotating portion, said rotating portion being spring released between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein said locking mechanism secures said ball in said socket in said locked position and allows said ball to be moved from said socket in said unlocked position.