U.S. patent application number 12/598383 was filed with the patent office on 2010-10-21 for accessory for inhibiting back injury.
This patent application is currently assigned to LEATT CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Mark Eric Hopkins, Andre Pieter Keevy, Christopher James Leatt, Grant Leigh Nelson.
Application Number | 20100263111 12/598383 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39768623 |
Filed Date | 2010-10-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100263111 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Leatt; Christopher James ;
et al. |
October 21, 2010 |
ACCESSORY FOR INHIBITING BACK INJURY
Abstract
A protective device is provided for protecting the back of a
wearer against injury. The device includes an array of support
elements that extend along the wearer's back adjacent his spine and
is held in position on his back by attachment means, which can
include a neck brace attached to the upper end of array, a chest
strap, a waist strap and/or webbing that are spaced apart axially
along the array. The support elements are attached to each other in
such a way that they can move relative to each other to allow free,
but limited bending, extension and contraction of the array, but
the connection means between the elements is configured to prevent
further movement between them once a predetermined limited movement
has taken place, so that the array becomes practically rigid and
can bear further loading that may otherwise have been born by the
spine.
Inventors: |
Leatt; Christopher James;
(Constantia, ZA) ; Hopkins; Mark Eric;
(Durbanville, ZA) ; Nelson; Grant Leigh;
(Claremont, ZA) ; Keevy; Andre Pieter;
(Durbanville, ZA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CONNOLLY BOVE LODGE & HUTZ LLP
1875 EYE STREET, N.W., SUITE 1100
WASHINGTON
DC
20006
US
|
Assignee: |
LEATT CORPORATION
Las Vegas
NV
|
Family ID: |
39768623 |
Appl. No.: |
12/598383 |
Filed: |
April 30, 2008 |
PCT Filed: |
April 30, 2008 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/IB08/51675 |
371 Date: |
June 23, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60915089 |
Apr 30, 2007 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
2/467 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A41D 2600/102 20130101;
A41D 13/0512 20130101; A41D 13/0531 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
2/467 |
International
Class: |
A41D 13/00 20060101
A41D013/00 |
Claims
1. A protective device comprising: an elongate array of support
elements configured to extend along the back of a wearer of the
device, adjacent the wearer's spine; and attachment means for
removably attaching the array of support elements to the wearer's
body in at least two locations that are spaced apart axially along
the array; pivotal connection means for attaching the support
elements to each other, wherein the pivotal connection means is
configured to allow pivotal movement between adjacent support
elements only to a limited, predetermined extent, said pivotal
connection means between adjacent support elements including: pivot
formations that interact to allow pivoting movement between the
adjacent support elements and limit formations that interact with
predetermined play when the elements are pivoted relative to each
other and that abut when the play has been taken up, to inhibit
further pivotal movement, along at least one pivot axis, wherein
the limit formations include at least one protuberance extending
from one element, which is receivable with said predetermined play
in a recess defined in the adjacent element.
2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the limit formations
include two protuberances extending from one element, which are
receivable with said predetermined play, in two recesses defined in
the adjacent element.
3. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pivot formations
of the adjacent support elements are configured to bear loads
longitudinally along the device, while allowing pivotal movement
between the adjacent support elements, to said limited,
predetermined extent.
4. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the attachment means
includes at least one elongate flexible element for attaching the
device to the waist of the wearer, said elongate flexible element
being configured to expand elastically to a predetermined extent
and to inhibit further expansion once it has expanded to a limit of
said predetermined extent.
5. The device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the device includes
lateral protuberances that are attached to at least one support
element in the pelvic region, with the flexible element attachable
to said lateral protuberances.
6. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the attachment means
includes at least one elongate flexible element for attaching the
device to the upper body of the wearer, said elongate flexible
element being configured to expand elastically to a predetermined
extent and to inhibit further expansion once it has expanded to a
limit of said predetermined extent.
7. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the operational upper
end of the array is configured to be attachable to a neck brace to
be worn by the wearer of the device, said neck brace being
configured to extend around the wearer's neck and to interact with
a helmet worn by the wearer.
8. The device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the attachment between
the array and the neck brace provides for limited pivotal movement
between the upper end of the array and the neck brace.
9. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the device includes a
lower protuberance extending from the support element at the
operational lower end of the array adjacent the coccyx of the
wearer, to a position where the wearer's buttocks would rest on a
seat.
10. The device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the lower
protuberance has a support plate at its end that is remote from the
array of support elements.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a national stage application under 35
USC .sctn.371 (c) of PCT Application No. PCT/IB2008/051675,
entitled "ACCESSORY FOR INHIBITING BACK INJURY," filed on Apr. 30,
2008, which claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent
Application No. 60/915,089, entitled "ACCESSORY FOR INHIBITING BACK
INJURY," filed on Apr. 30, 2007. The entire disclosure and contents
of the above applications are hereby incorporated by reference
herein.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] This application generally relates to protective equipment
to be worn by participants in activities such as motorcycling, in
which they are potentially exposed to injury. In particular, the
invention relates to a protective device to protect a wearer's
thoracic and lumber spine.
[0004] 2. Related Art
[0005] In activities where the bodies of participants and
particularly their spines, are often exposed to extreme motions
such those that can result during a motorcycling accident, the
spine can be injured, often resulting in neurological fallout e.g.
paralysis.
[0006] Particularly in motorcycling, injuries to the thoracic and
lumbar spine often occur as a result of the trunk of the rider
being flexed or extended in relation to the pelvis and head and
neck. The spine is also often exposed to axial loading or
compression which could result in compression fractures. Further,
after any of these types of injury, the spine can be unstable,
especially if fractured, and movement of the spine in this
condition can also result in neurological fallout or paralysis.
[0007] It may be possible to prevent injuries of this kind by
stabilizing the spine and preventing movement of the spine, but
this would be too inhibiting for a motorcyclist to control the
motorcycle and/or too uncomfortable. The same applies to other
sports such as skiing or horse riding, where freedom of movement is
required.
[0008] Attempts have been made at providing protection against
these injuries, by providing supports worn on the backs of
motorcyclists, which comprise a number of resilient elements that
are fitted together or attached to a flexible base. The elements
interact telescopically in some instances, with interference
between the elements that increases as the support is bent with the
wearer's back. In other supports, resiliently compressible elements
are provided between support elements and similarly, the support
allows some bending, but its stiffness increases as it bends
further. However, these supports only stabilize the spine under
relatively moderate bending loads, such as light impacts, but their
stiffness increases with bending up to a point where the supports
fail, with the result that they offer insufficient or no support to
the spine under severe loads, e.g. during severe accidents.
[0009] The present invention seeks to inhibit the exposure to
injuries of the thoracic and lumbar spine, while allowing
sufficient freedom of movement when not exposed to extreme loads on
the spine. In particular, the invention seeks to inhibit extreme
movements of the spine, e.g. by limiting extreme flexion and
extension.
SUMMARY
[0010] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a
protective device is provided. The protective device comprises an
elongate array of support elements configured to extend along the
back of a wearer of the device, adjacent the wearer's spine; and
attachment means for removably attaching the array of support
elements to the wearer's body in at least two locations that are
spaced apart axially along the array; pivotal connection means for
attaching the support elements to each other, wherein the pivotal
connection means configured to allow pivotal movement between
adjacent support elements only to a limited, predetermined extent,
said pivotal connection means between adjacent support elements
including: pivot formations that interact to allow pivoting
movement between the adjacent support elements and limit formations
that interact with predetermined play when the elements are pivoted
relative to each other and that abut when the play has been taken
up, to inhibit further pivotal movement, along at least one pivot
axis, wherein the limit formations include at least one
protuberance extending from one element, which is receivable with
said predetermined play in a recess defined in the adjacent
element.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] Illustrative embodiments of the present invention will now
be described with reference to the accompanying figures, in
which:
[0012] FIG. 1 is a three-dimensional view of the protective device
of the present invention, from the front;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a three-dimensional view of the device of FIG. 1,
from the rear;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a sectional side view of the device of FIG. 1;
[0015] FIG. 4 is a detail sectional side view of two adjacent
support elements of the device of FIG. 1, in alignment;
[0016] FIG. 5 is a detail sectional side view of the support
elements of FIG. 4, at an angular orientation and
[0017] FIG. 6 is an inverted (upside-down) three-dimensional view
of a single element of the device of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0018] Referring to the drawings, a protective device in accordance
with the present invention is generally indicated by reference
numeral 10.
[0019] The device 10 includes six support elements 12 that resemble
links in a chain and that are attached to each other to form an
elongate array in the form of an external vertebral construct 14,
which is shaped and dimensioned so that it can extend along the
back of a wearer along his spine in the thoracic and lumbar
regions. The number of support elements 12 in the device 10 can be
different, e.g. to suit a larger wearer of the device.
[0020] Each of the support elements 12 is a unitary component of
resilient material, such as a fiber reinforced polymer composite
and includes a central wall 16 and two outer walls 18,20 that are
spaced from the central wall and extend to the front and rear of
the central wall, but the walls are joined in a region about two
thirds from the top of the element in a joining region 22 of the
element.
[0021] A part cylindrical recess 24 is defined in the joining
region 22 of each element 12 along a pivot axis that extends
transverse to the vertebral construct 14. The central wall 16
extends centrally in the element 12 from the joining region 22,
directly above the recess 24 and at the upper edge of the central
wall, a cylindrical ridge 26 is defined that is complemental in
shape to the recess 24 and that extends parallel to the recess.
[0022] At the upper end of the front wall 18, it forms a
protuberance in the form of a hook formation 28 that extends
rearward and similarly, a hook formation 30 extends forward from
the upper edge of the rear wall 20. Each of the hook formations
28,30 defines an internal passage 32 that extends along its length.
The upper part of each of the outside walls 18,20 narrows towards
its top, so that each hook formation 28,30 is significantly
narrower than the rest of the element 12.
[0023] Near the lower end of the front wall 18, it forms a recess
in the form of an aperture 34 with a width slightly more than that
of the front hook formation 28 and similarly, a rear aperture 36 is
defined near the lower end of the rear wall 20 with a width
slightly more than that of the rear hook formation 30. The width of
the element in the region of the apertures 34,36 is less than the
distance between the insides of the walls 18,20 in the regions of
the hook formations 28,30, i.e. each element 12 tapers towards its
lower end.
[0024] The interaction of the elements 12 in the vertebral
construct 14 is best illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, which shows two
adjacent elements in a straight configuration and a pivoted
configuration, respectively.
[0025] The elements 12 are attached together by receiving the ridge
26 of the lower element in the recess 24 of the upper element, but
to achieve this, the outer walls 18,20 of the lower element have to
be flexed outwardly, to clear the lower edges of the outer walls of
the upper element. When the ridge 26 of the lower element is
received in the recess 24 of the upper element, the hook formations
28,30 of the lower element are generally in register with the
apertures 34,26 of the upper element and the resilience of the
outer walls 18,20 of the lower element causes their hook formations
to be flexed inwardly, into the apertures. The resilience of the
element 12 is sufficient to prevent the hook formations 18,20 from
flexing outwardly and disengaging their respective apertures 34,36,
but in order to ensure that this does not happen in cases of
extreme loading, a metal clip (not shown) is passed through the
passages 32 of both the hook formations of the lower element 12, to
hold them together.
[0026] The complemental, part cylindrical shapes of the recess 24
of the upper element and the ridge 26 of the lower element allows
these formations and thus the two elements 12 to pivot relative to
each other about the pivot axis, while the ridge rotates inside the
recess. The ridge 24 and recess 26 together comprise pivot
formations of the elements 12.
[0027] Each aperture 34,36 is slightly wider than its associated
hook formation 28,30 as mentioned above and is significantly higher
than the (vertical) thickness of its hook formation, with the
result that each hook formation 28,30 can move up and down inside
its associated aperture 34,36 with clearance, while the elements
pivot relative to each other about the pivot axis or the ridge 24
and recess 26. However, the shape and thickness of each hook
formation 28,30 and the height of each aperture 34,36 is configured
to limit the pivotal movement to a predetermined extent.
[0028] As can be seen in FIG. 5, once the lower element 12 has
pivoted forward relative to the upper element to a certain degree,
the front hook formation 28 of the lower element abuts the upper
edge of the front aperture 34 of the upper element and similarly,
the rear hook formation 30 of the lower element abuts the lower
edge of the rear aperture 36 of the upper element (although there
is still some space left in the rear aperture 36 in FIG. 5 because
the lower element has not been pivoted forward to the maximum).
[0029] The shape and configuration of the hook formations 28,30 and
of the apertures 34,36 are thus deliberately and precisely selected
to allow pivotal movement between adjacent elements to take place
with minimal or no interference until the pivotal movement has
reached a predetermined limit, in which case the hook formations
interact with the peripheries of the apertures and allow
practically no further movement. It could be added that the
structure of each element 12 is sufficiently sturdy to avoid any
significant deflection or deformation, so that pivotal movement
between elements 12 is practically arrested when the hook
formations 28,30 abut the peripheries of their associated apertures
34,36. Accordingly, the hook formations 28,30 and apertures 34,36,
together comprise limit formations of the elements 12. The pivot
formations 24,26 and the limit formations 28,30,34,36 together
comprise the pivotal connection means of the elements 12.
[0030] Bending or deflection of the vertebral construct 14 has thus
far only been described with reference to pivoting relative to the
pivot axes of the pivot formations 24,26. However, each recess 24
is generally U-shaped in cross-sectional profile and does not hold
its associated ridge 26 captive inside it. As a result, one or both
ends of the ridge 26 of the lower element 12 can be withdrawn from
the recess 24 of the upper element and the elements can thus pivot
also relative to an axis that extends front-to-back, i.e. sideways
or lateral flexion between elements 12 is possible. Further, in the
same way that limitation of the movement of each hook formation
28,30 in its associated aperture 34,36 limits pivotal movement
relative to the pivot axis between adjacent elements 12, it also
limits lateral flexion between the elements.
[0031] Further, if an axial load is applied along the vertebral
construct 14 i.e. generally vertically between adjacent elements
12, these loads are also born by the elements. In case of axial
compression loads, the compression is transferred through the pivot
formations 24,26 and along the central walls 16. If buckling occurs
in the case of axial compression, either one of the hook formations
28,30 abuts the upper edge of its associated aperture 34,36 to stop
further buckling and to bear some of the load. Even if further
buckling occurs, the extent to which the vertebral construct 14
will bend is limited by the limit formations 28,30,34,36 as
described above. In the event of axial extension loads, both the
hook formations 28,30 of the lower element 12 abut the lower edges
of their associated apertures 34,36 to transfer a tensile load
between the elements 12.
[0032] The vertebral construct 14 is thus configured to allow free
axial compression and axial extension, backwards-forwards flexion
and lateral flexion, but in the cases of each of these degrees of
freedom, the pivotal connection means is configured to allow
movement between each pair of adjacent elements 12 only to a
predetermined extent. Further, once the limit of movement in any of
these directions has been reached, the construct 14 is configured
to bear the axial compression or extension, backwards-forwards
flexion and/or lateral flexion loads, as the case may be.
[0033] The pivotal connection means between the elements 12 does
not allow any significant movement along other axes than those
described herein.
[0034] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the uppermost support element 12
is removably connected to a neck brace 38 that is configured to
extend around the wearer's neck and to protect the upper cervical
spine of the wearer by interacting with a helmet worn by the
wearer. Preferably, the neck brace 38 is a neck brace as described
in International Patent Application No PCT/ZA04/00148. The
attachment of the uppermost element 12 to the neck brace 38 can
allow limited relative movement, e.g. it can include pivotal
connection means as described above in relation to adjacent
elements 12. However, in a preferred embodiment, the thoracic
column of the neck brace 38 is removed and the uppermost element 12
of the construct 14 is rigidly attached to the neck brace 38 using
the attachment means configured for attaching the thoracic
column.
[0035] The lowermost support element 12 includes a lower or
coccygeal protuberance 40 that extends downwardly from the support
element and that is curved forward to follow the shape of the
wearer's coccyx. At the lower end of the coccygeal protuberance 40
there is a support plate 42 in a region and at an orientation that
correspond to the position where the wearer's buttocks would rest
on a seat.
[0036] The lowermost support element 12 further includes two
lateral or pelvic protuberances 44 that are curved to extend
generally along the posterior edges of the wearer's pelvis.
[0037] The device 10 includes attachment means in the form of a
number of elongate flexible elements or straps with which it can be
removably attached to the wearer's body at a number of locations
that are spaced apart along the vertical axis of the vertebral
construct 14. The neck brace 38 can also be viewed as "attachment
means" in the sense that it also serves to keep the upper end of
the construct 14 in position.
[0038] The device 10 includes a chest strap 46 that is shown in the
drawings to pass through the body of the third lowest element 12
and that is configured to fit tightly around the upper body of the
wearer in the mid torso or chest region. The chest strap 46 should
preferably be tight enough to keep the middle part of the construct
14 generally in close contact with the wearer's back, but it should
also not inhibit breathing. Accordingly, the chest strap 46
includes an expansion region 48, which is configured to expand
elastically, e.g. with breathing movements of the wearer. Further,
the expansion region 48 includes tensile elements that prevent
further expansion of the strap 46 once a predetermined tensile load
is reached in the strap, i.e. once a "controlled endpoint" has been
reached. A practical limit for such a load has been found to be
about 10% of the weight of the wearer. The chest strap 46 should
preferably be pre-tensioned to a percentage of the body weight of
the wearer.
[0039] In a preferred embodiment, the chest strap 46 is not
directly connected to the construct 14, but the device 10 includes
a sheath 54 in which the construct 14 is housed and the chest strap
is attached to the sheath. The sheath is wider in the region of the
chest strap 46, to allow the construct 14 to move laterally inside
the sheath, curing normal use of the device 10.
[0040] The device 10 includes a waist strap 50 that extends from
the lateral ends of the pelvic protuberances 44 and that is
configured to extend tightly around the wearers waist, to hold the
lower end of the construct 14 generally in contact with the
wearer's lower back. The waist strap 50 should preferably also be
pre-tensioned to a percentage of the body weight of the wearer. The
waist strap 50 is assisted in its function by webbing 52 extending
between the support plate 42 and the waist strap.
[0041] During normal use, when the device 10 is fitted to a
wearer's back with the straps 46,50 extending tightly around the
wearer's chest and waist and with the neck brace 38 around the
wearer's neck, the vertebral construct 14 flexes and twists with
the wearer's spine, without inhibiting movement to any significant
extent.
[0042] If extreme bending loads are exerted on the wearer's spine,
e.g. when the trunk is flexed relative to the head and neck or
relative to the pelvis, the vertebral construct 14 flexes up to a
predetermined limit, when the peripheries of the apertures 34,36
prevent further movement of the hook formations 28,30 and the
construct resists further flexion. The attachment of the device 10
to the wearer's back and the condition of the construct 14 that
resists further flexion, causes the device 10 to act as a rigid
support for the spine, inhibiting further flexion of the spine
beyond what is anatomically appropriate and thus inhibiting spinal
injury.
[0043] If extreme extension loads are exerted on the spine, e.g.
during rapid deceleration, the peripheries of the apertures 34,36
prevent movement beyond a predetermined extent and thus prevents
the elements 12 of the construct 14 from being separated and thus
prevents the vertebral construct from extending axially beyond a
predetermined degree, with the result that the device 10 resists
axial extension of the spine beyond what is anatomically
appropriate.
[0044] If extreme compression loads are exerted on the spine from
below, the load is transferred from the support plate 42 to the
vertebral construct 14 via the coccygeal protuberance 40 and is
borne largely by the construct, thus relieving the axial load borne
by the spine. At the same time, the vertebral construct 14 inhibits
excessive flexion of the spine.
[0045] In the event that the wearer's spine has been injured and
even if the spine is unstable as a result of the injury, the device
10 inhibits post loading injury by inhibiting spinal movement as
described above.
[0046] It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that
numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the
invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing
from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. The
present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all
respects as illustrative and not restrictive.
* * * * *