U.S. patent application number 12/272248 was filed with the patent office on 2009-05-21 for motorcycle helmet with a spinal cord protective device.
Invention is credited to Maria Moss Gale.
Application Number | 20090126085 12/272248 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40640412 |
Filed Date | 2009-05-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090126085 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Gale; Maria Moss |
May 21, 2009 |
MOTORCYCLE HELMET WITH A SPINAL CORD PROTECTIVE DEVICE
Abstract
A motorcycle helmet is disclosed with a detachable spinal cord
protective device or attachment, wherein the protective device or
attachment is a detachable collar that, for example, snaps to the
inside of the helmet and closes at the front neck with a securing
mechanism, such as a Velcro.TM. strap. A motorcycle helmet with a
spinal cord protection extension is also disclosed, wherein the
extension comprises an elongation in the back to the base of the
neck. Also disclosed is a half-helmet with spinal cord protection,
wherein a securing mechanism, such as a Velcro.TM. strap, provides
closure around the neck. The disclosed variation in motorcycle
helmets enables full range of motion to the sides and front but not
to the back of the head, insuring neck protection upon impact.
Inventors: |
Gale; Maria Moss; (Woodland
Hills, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
IP Authority, LLC;Ramraj Soundararajan
4821A Eisenhower Ave
Alexandria
VA
22304
US
|
Family ID: |
40640412 |
Appl. No.: |
12/272248 |
Filed: |
November 17, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60988141 |
Nov 15, 2007 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
2/415 ; 2/411;
2/468 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A42B 3/0473
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
2/415 ; 2/411;
2/468 |
International
Class: |
A42B 3/04 20060101
A42B003/04 |
Claims
1. A device comprising: a. a full-face helmet with a base modified
to engage a snap-fit arrangement; and b. a U-shaped spinal cord
protection attachment, said spinal cord protection attachment
engaging said full-face helmet via said snap fit arrangement, said
U-Shaped spinal cord protection attachment having a securing
mechanism for securing said U-Shaped spinal cord protection
attachment around a subject's neck.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein securing mechanism comprises hook
and loop fasteners.
3. The device of claim 1, wherein dimensions of said U-shaped
spinal cord protection attachment are picked to fully cover a neck
region, thereby providing protection to the spinal cord in said
neck region.
4. The device of claim 1, wherein exterior of said U-shaped spinal
cord protection attachment is made of any of the following: Kevlar,
Nylon, or leather and interior if said U-shaped spinal cord
protection device is made up of a plurality of thin titanium
strips, said titanium strips providing reinforcement.
5. The device of claim 1, wherein said U-shaped spinal cord
protection attachment further includes an access mechanism
providing access to interior of said U-shaped spinal cord
protection attachment for placement of an airbag deployment
mechanism that deploys an airbag around said subject's neck upon
impact, said airbag extending from ear-to-ear of said subject.
6. A full-face helmet, wherein the improvement comprises: a
U-shaped spinal cord protection extension integrated into said
standard full-face helmet, said U-Shaped spinal cord protection
attachment having a securing mechanism for securing said U-Shaped
spinal cord protection attachment around a subject's neck.
7. The full-face helmet of claim 6, wherein securing mechanism
comprises hook and loop fasteners.
8. The full-face helmet of claim 6, wherein dimensions of said
U-shaped spinal cord protection extension are picked to fully cover
a neck region, thereby providing protection to the spinal cord in
said neck region.
9. The full-face helmet of claim 6, wherein exterior of said
U-shaped spinal cord protection extension is made of any of the
following: Kevlar, Nylon, or leather and interior if said U-shaped
spinal cord protection device is made up of a plurality of thin
titanium strips, said titanium strips providing reinforcement.
10. The full-face helmet of claim 6, wherein said U-shaped spinal
cord protection extension further includes an access mechanism
providing access to interior of said U-shaped spinal cord
protection extension for placement of an airbag deployment
mechanism that deploys an airbag around said subject's neck upon
impact, said airbag extending from ear-to-ear of said subject.
11. A device comprising: a. a half-face helmet with a base modified
to engage a snap-fit arrangement; and b. a U-shaped spinal cord
protection attachment, said spinal cord protection attachment
engaging said half-face helmet via said snap fit arrangement, said
U-Shaped spinal cord protection attachment having a securing
mechanism for securing said U-Shaped spinal cord protection
attachment around a subject's neck.
12. The device of claim 7, wherein securing mechanism comprises
hook and loop fasteners.
13. The device of claim 7, wherein dimensions of said U-shaped
spinal cord protection attachment are picked to fully cover a neck
region, thereby providing protection to the spinal cord in said
neck region.
14. The device of claim 7, wherein exterior of said U-shaped spinal
cord protection attachment is made of any of the following: Kevlar,
Nylon, or leather and interior if said U-shaped spinal cord
protection device is made up of a plurality of thin titanium
strips, said titanium strips providing reinforcement.
15. The device of claim 7, wherein said U-shaped spinal cord
protection attachment further includes an access mechanism
providing access to interior of said U-shaped spinal cord
protection attachment for placement of an airbag deployment
mechanism that deploys an airbag around said subject's neck upon
impact, said airbag extending from ear-to-ear of said subject.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional
Application 60/988,141 filed Nov. 15, 2007.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of Invention
[0003] The present invention relates generally to the field of
protective headgear, such as helmets. More specifically, the
present invention is related to a motorcycle helmet with a spinal
cord protective device.
[0004] 2. Discussion of Prior Art
[0005] Numerous instances of spinal injuries are reported in cases
even when either a full-face helmet or a half-face helmet is used.
The prior art helmet systems currently available in the market fail
to provide proper protection to the spinal cord. Whatever the
precise merits, features, and advantages of such known half- and
full-face helmets, none of them achieves or fulfills the purposes
of the present invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention, in a first embodiment, provides for a
motorcycle helmet with a detachable spinal cord protective device
or attachment, wherein the protective device or attachment is a
detachable collar that, in one embodiment, snaps to the inside of
the helmet and closes at the front neck with a securing mechanism,
such as a Velcro.TM. strap. The present invention's motorcycle
helmet with a detachable spinal cord protective device or
attachment allows for full range of head motion to the sides and
front, except to the back of the head, insuring neck protection
upon impact.
[0007] In the first embodiment, the device comprises a full-face
helmet with a base modified to engage a snap-fit arrangement, and a
U-shaped spinal cord protection attachment, wherein the spinal cord
protection attachment engages the full-face helmet via the snap fit
arrangement, and the U-Shaped spinal cord protection attachment has
a securing mechanism (e.g., a strap comprising hooks and loops such
as Velcro.TM.) for securing the U-Shaped spinal cord protection
attachment around a subject's neck.
[0008] The present invention, in a second embodiment, provides a
motorcycle helmet integrated with a spinal cord protection
extension, wherein the extension comprises an elongation in the
back to the base of the neck. The motorcycle helmet in this
embodiment enables full range of motion to the sides and front but
not to the back of the head, insuring neck protection upon impact.
It should be noted that, unlike the first embodiment, the
elongation in this embodiment is not detachable.
[0009] In the second embodiment, the present invention provides for
a full-face helmet, wherein the improvement comprises a U-shaped
spinal cord protection extension that is integrated into a standard
full-face helmet, wherein the U-Shaped spinal cord protection
attachment has a securing mechanism (e.g., a strap comprising hooks
and loops such as Velcro.TM.) for securing the U-Shaped spinal cord
protection attachment around a subject's neck.
[0010] The present invention, in a third embodiment, provides a
half-helmet with spinal cord protection, wherein a securing
mechanism (e.g., a strap comprising hooks and loops such as
Velcro.TM.) provides closure around the neck.
[0011] In the third embodiment, the device comprises a half-face
helmet with a base modified to engage a snap-fit arrangement, and a
U-shaped spinal cord protection attachment, wherein the spinal cord
protection attachment engages the half-face helmet via the snap fit
arrangement, and the U-Shaped spinal cord protection attachment has
a securing mechanism (e.g., a strap comprising hooks and loops such
as Velcro.TM.) for securing said U-Shaped spinal cord protection
attachment around a subject's neck.
[0012] The exterior of the U-shaped spinal cord protection
attachment is made of any of the following: Kevlar, Nylon, or
leather and the interior of the U-shaped spinal cord protection
device is made up of a plurality of thin vertically standing
titanium strips, said titanium strips providing interior
reinforcement.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIGS. 1a-b, 2a-b, and 3a-b illustrate various views of a
motorcycle helmet with a detachable spinal cord protection
according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
[0014] FIGS. 4a-b and 5a-b illustrate various views of a motorcycle
helmet with a spinal cord protection extension according to a
second embodiment of the present invention.
[0015] FIGS. 6a-b and 7a-b illustrate a various views of a
half-helmet with spinal cord protection according to a third
embodiment of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0016] While this invention is illustrated and described in a
preferred embodiment, the device may be produced in many different
configurations, forms and materials. There is depicted in the
drawings, and will herein be described in detail, a preferred
embodiment of the invention, with the understanding that the
present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the
principles of the invention and the associated functional
specifications for its construction and is not intended to limit
the invention to the embodiment illustrated. Those skilled in the
art will envision many other possible variations within the scope
of the present invention.
[0017] The present invention, in a first embodiment, provides for a
motorcycle helmet with a detachable spinal cord protective device
or attachment, wherein the protective device or attachment is a
detachable collar that, in one embodiment, snaps to the inside of
the helmet and closes at the front neck with a securing mechanism,
such as a Velcro.TM. strap. The present invention's motorcycle
helmet with a detachable spinal cord protective device or
attachment allows for full range of head motion to the sides and
front, except to the back of the head, insuring neck protection
upon impact.
[0018] In the first embodiment, the present invention's device
comprises a full-face helmet with a base modified to engage via,
for example, a snap-fit arrangement, and a U-shaped spinal cord
protection attachment, wherein the spinal cord protection
attachment engages the full-face helmet via the snap fit
arrangement, and the U-Shaped spinal cord protection attachment has
a securing mechanism (e.g., a strap comprising hooks and loops such
as Velcro.TM.) for securing the U-Shaped spinal cord protection
attachment around a subject's neck.
[0019] FIG. 1a illustrates a right side view of a full-face
motorcycle helmet with a detachable spinal cord protection 102
according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1b
illustrates a left side view of a motorcycle helmet with a
detachable spinal cord protection 102 according to the first
embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2a illustrates a front
view of a full-face motorcycle helmet with a detachable spinal cord
protection 102 according to the first embodiment of the present
invention. FIG. 2b illustrates a back view of a motorcycle helmet
with a detachable spinal cord protection 102 according to the first
embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3a illustrates a left
side 3/4 view of a full-face motorcycle helmet with a detachable
spinal cord protection 102 according to the first embodiment of the
present invention. FIG. 3b illustrates in-motion detaching of the
protective device 102 according to the first embodiment of the
present invention.
[0020] The U-shaped spinal cord protection device 102, as shown in
FIG. 3b, includes a flap 104 that holds part of engagement
mechanism (e.g., part of snap fit mechanism) that is used to retain
the spinal cord protection device 102 to the full-face helmet. In
FIG. 3b, the engagement mechanism is a snap fit mechanism. However,
other variations such as (but not limited to) hooks and Velcro.TM.
are considered within the scope of the invention. In a broad
context, a male component disposed on the flap 104 engages with a
female counterpart inside the full-face helmet, or vice versa.
[0021] Also shown in FIG. 3b is a zipper mechanism 106 that
provides access to the interior of the spinal cord protection
device 102. In one extended embodiment, such access is used to
place an airbag mechanism (not shown) that, upon impact, triggers
the release of an airbag in the space enclosed by the U-shaped
spinal cord protection device to protect a subject's neck. The
airbag mechanism can be a CO.sub.2 cartridge that inflates a small
airbag upon impact. The size of the airbag is preferably the shape
of a banana, wherein the airbag extends from ear-to-ear.
[0022] The present invention, in a second embodiment, provides a
full-face helmet (e.g., a full-face motorcycle helmet) with a
spinal cord protection extension, wherein the extension comprises
an elongation in the back to the base of the neck. The motorcycle
helmet in this embodiment enables full range of motion to the sides
and front but not to the back of the head, insuring neck protection
upon impact. It should be noted that, unlike the first embodiment,
the elongation in this embodiment is not detachable.
[0023] In the second embodiment, the present invention provides for
a full-face helmet, wherein the improvement comprises a U-shaped
spinal cord protection extension that is integrated into a standard
full-face helmet, wherein the U-Shaped spinal cord protection
attachment has a securing mechanism (e.g., a strap comprising hooks
and loops such as Velcro.TM.) for securing the U-Shaped spinal cord
protection attachment around a subject's neck.
[0024] FIG. 4a illustrates a right side view of a motorcycle helmet
with a spinal cord protection extension 402 according to a second
embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4b illustrates a left
side view of a motorcycle helmet with a spinal cord protection
extension 402 according to the second embodiment of the present
invention. FIG. 5a illustrates a front view of a motorcycle helmet
with a spinal cord protection extension 402 for impact resistance
and a hanging chinstrap according to the second embodiment of the
present invention. FIG. 5b illustrates a back view of a motorcycle
helmet with a spinal cord protection extension 402 for impact
resistance according to the second embodiment of the present
invention.
[0025] The present invention, in a third embodiment, provides a
half-helmet with spinal cord protection, wherein a securing
mechanism (e.g., a strap comprising hooks and loops such as
Velcro.TM.) provides closure around the neck.
[0026] In the third embodiment, the present invention's device
comprises a half-face helmet with a base modified to engage a
snap-fit arrangement, and a U-shaped spinal cord protection
attachment, wherein the spinal cord protection attachment engages
the half-face helmet via the snap fit arrangement, and the U-Shaped
spinal cord protection attachment has a securing mechanism (e.g., a
strap comprising hooks and loops such as Velcro.TM.) for securing
said U-Shaped spinal cord protection attachment around a subject's
neck.
[0027] FIG. 6a illustrates a right side view of a half-helmet with
spinal cord protection 602 according to a third embodiment of the
present invention. FIG. 6b illustrates a left side view of a
half-helmet with spinal cord protection 602 according to the third
embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7a illustrates a front
view of a half-helmet with spinal cord protection 602 according to
a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7b illustrates a
back view of a half-helmet with spinal cord protection 602
according to the third embodiment of the present invention.
[0028] In all three embodiments, the U-shaped spinal cord
protection device is made of a Nylon, Kevlar, or leather exterior
with a reinforced interior. An example of the interior
reinforcement material is a plurality of thin titanium strips. The
flap 104 in FIG. 3b also can be made of Nylon, Kevlar, or leather,
and can either be a single piece along with the exterior material
of the U-shaped protection device, or can be attached (e.g.,
stitched) onto the exterior material of the U-shaped protection
device.
CONCLUSION
[0029] An apparatus has been shown in the above embodiments for the
effective implementation of a motorcycle helmet with a spinal cord
protective device. While various preferred embodiments have been
shown and described, it will be understood that there is no intent
to limit the invention by such disclosure, but rather, it is
intended to cover all modifications and alternate constructions
falling within the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined in
the appended claims. For example, the present invention should not
be limited by size of the protection device, type of materials of
the protection device, or specific manufacturing techniques.
* * * * *