Neck protective gear

Claim 2

A neck protective gear comprising: a helmet for covering a user's ears and at least partially a user's, head region, said helmet further having an extensible member integrally extending downwardly from and along a bottom edge of said helmet for covering at least a portion of a user's neck region; and a shoulder pad member having a collar integrally extending upwardly from said should pad member for covering at least a portion of a user's neck region, said shoulder pad member having a pair of shoulder portions for covering at least a portion of a user's shoulder, said shoulder pad member having a chest portion for covering at least a portion of a user's chest region and extending between said pair of shoulder portions, said shoulder pad member having a substantially U-shaped opening extending downwardly from an upper edge of said collar into said chest portion towards a bottom edge of said shoulder pad member for allowing forward movement of a user's neck; wherein said extensible member has an upper portion which is essentially tapered inwardly and is generally rigid.

Claim 3

A neck protective gear as described in claim 1 , wherein said extensible member has a lower portion which is generally circular and smooth.

Claim 4

A neck protective gear as described in claim 2 , wherein said collar is adapted to receive at least said lower portion of said extensible member of said helmet.

Claim 5

A neck protective gear as described in claim 3 , wherein said collar is adapted to essentially come into contact with said tapered upper portion of said extensible member to essentially transfer the impact to the user's head to one's shoulders instead of to one's neck thus reducing probability of injury to the user's neck.

Claim 6

A neck protective gear as described in claim 2 , wherein said lower portion of said extensible member is adapted to freely rotate within said collar to allow freedom of movement of the user's head.

Claim 7

A neck protective gear comprising: a helmet having a bottom edge which essentially extends below both user's ears and about a back of the user's head and further having an extensible member which integrally extends downwardly from and along said bottom edge of said helmet, said extensible member having an inwardly tapered upper portion and a circular lower portion, said extensible member being dimensioned and having a width capable of substantially covering the user's neck region when said helmet is worn by the user; and a shoulder pad member having a collar which extends upwardly to at least cover a portion of the user's neck region, said collar defining an opening therein for receiving at least a portion of said lower portion of said extensible member, said collar also being adapted to come into contact with said tapered upper portion of said extensible member when the user receives a blow to one's head as is commonly the occurrence during a football game, said collar and said extensible member being adapted to transfer the impact to the user's head to said collar and to said should pad member thus substantially reducing probability of injury to the user's neck, said shoulder pad member having a pair of shoulder portions for covering at least a portion of a user's shoulder, said shoulder pad member having a chest portion for covering at least a portion of a user's chest region and extending between said pair of shoulder portions, said shoulder pad member having a substantially U-shaped opening extending downwardly from an upper edge of said collar into said chest portion towards a bottom edge of said shoulder pad member for allowing forward movement of a user's neck.

Claim 8

A neck protective gear comprising: a helmet having a bottom edge which essentially extends below both user's ears and about a back of the user's head and further having an extensible member which integrally extends downwardly from and along said bottom edge of said helmet, said extensible member having an inwardly tapered upper portion and a circular lower portion, said extensible member being dimensioned and having a width capable of substantially covering the user's neck region when said helmet is worn by the user; and a shoulder pad member having a collar which extends upwardly to at least cover a portion of the user's neck region, said collar defining an opening therein for receiving at least a portion of said lower portion of said extensible member, said collar also being adapted to come into contact with said tapered upper portion of said extensible member when the user receives a blow to one's head as is commonly the occurrence during a football game, said collar and said extensible member being adapted to transfer the impact to the user's head to said collar and to said should pad member thus substantially reducing probability of injury to the user's neck, said shoulder pad member having a pair of shoulder portions for covering at least a portion of a user's shoulder, said shoulder pad member having a chest portion for covering at least a portion of a user's chest region and extending between said pair of shoulder portions, said shoulder pad member having a substantially U-shaped opening extending downwardly from an upper edge of said collar into said chest portion towards a bottom edge of said shoulder pad member for allowing forward movement of a user's neck.