U.S. patent number 3,900,896 [Application Number 05/526,721] was granted by the patent office on 1975-08-26 for neck brace for athletes.
Invention is credited to Eugene J. Ackerman.
United States Patent |
3,900,896 |
Ackerman |
August 26, 1975 |
Neck brace for athletes
Abstract
A rigid vertical member is secured to the base of the athlete's
helmet and extends downwardly therefrom into a telescoping support
secured to the shoulder pad and which allows rotation of the helmet
and head of the athlete upon an axis substantially close to the
neck and parallel to the axis of the neck, and limits flexion and
extension of the neck, thereby protecting the neck from trauma.
Inventors: |
Ackerman; Eugene J. (Cudahy,
WI) |
Family
ID: |
24098516 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/526,721 |
Filed: |
November 25, 1974 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
2/468; 2/425;
2/461 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A42B
3/0473 (20130101); A63B 71/1291 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A42B
3/04 (20060101); A63B 71/08 (20060101); A63B
71/12 (20060101); A41D 013/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;2/2,3R |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
627,567 |
|
Jun 1927 |
|
FR |
|
719,676 |
|
Apr 1942 |
|
DD |
|
Primary Examiner: Guest; Alfred R.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Andrus, Sceales, Starke &
Sawall
Claims
I claim:
1. A neck brace for an athlete wearing a protective helmet and
shoulder pads, comprising a rigid vertical member having its upper
end fixed to the helmet and its lower end pivotally and extensibly
supported by the shoulder pad to turn on a substantially vertial
axis near the back of the neck of the athlete.
2. The neck brace of claim 1 in which the lower end portion is
cylindrical to be telescoped by a sleeve secured to the shoulder
pad of the athlete.
3. The neck brace of claim 1 in which abutment means between the
brace and the shoulder pad prevents backlash of the neck of the
athlete.
4. The neck brace of claim 3 in which said abutment means comprises
a downwardly facing shoulder on the brace adapted to rest upon a
portion of the shoulder neck.
5. The neck brace of claim 2 and a downwardly facing shoulder on
the brace at the upper end of said cylindrical portion and adapted
to rest upon the upper end of said sleeve to prevent backlash of
the neck of the athlete.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a neck brace for athletes such as
football players.
The general purpose is to protect the athlete from possible neck
fractures or spinal cord injuries which may cause paralysis and
even death.
Heretofore devices for this general purpose have either failed to
give the desired protection or they have greatly restricted the
ability of the athlete to turn his head as needed particularly in
playing of football and other games.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The neck brace of the present invention generally comprises a
vertically disposed rigid member disposed immediately posterior to
the neck of the athlete, with the upper end of the member secured
to the protective helmet and with the lower end of the member
supported upon a bracket constituting a part of the suit or
shoulder pad of the athlete.
The connection between the member and the bracket provides for free
rotation of the member upon a vertical axis generally parallel to
the neck and close to it, and limits forward and backward tilting
of the head.
For this purpose the lower end of the member preferably has a
reduced section in cylindrical form and which extends freely down
into a tubular recess in the bracket which in effect telescopes the
member and permits the member to rotate upon the vertical axis of
the telescoping parts.
Abutment means in the form of a shoulder at the upper end of the
cylindrical portion is adapted to rest upon the bracket and prevent
backlash.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 is a perspective elevation of an athlete wearing a neck
brace embodying the invention;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged top plan view of the head and adjacent
shoulder portions of the athlete of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged detail vertical section showing the neck
brace and adjacent portions of the helmet and the shoulder pad;
FIG. 4 is a section taken on line 4--4 of FIG. 3; and
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the brace.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, the neck
brace 1 comprises a rigid member extending between and joining the
helmet 2 and the shoulder pad 3 of the athlete 4.
The brace is preferably molded of acrylic plastic or any suitable
lightweight metal or alloy, and consists of two portions: an upper
portion 5 curved to fit an adjacent part of the helmet 2 and
secured thereto as by rivets 6, and a lower portion 7 which is
cylindrical and fits into a sleeve 8 constituting a part of a
bracket 9 on the shoulder pad 3.
A flange or downwardly facing shoulder 10 is disposed at the upper
end of cylindrical portion 7 and is adapted to rest upon the top of
bracket 9.
The construction illustrated protects the neck of the athlete
against direct forces generally resulting in backlash and lateral
stresses, thereby reducing the possibility of neck fractures and
spinal cord injuries.
The construction provides for free rotation of the helmet upon the
vertical axis of the cylinder 7 and sleeve 8, and which axis is
disposed near and generally parallel to the axis of the neck upon
which the athlete tends to turn his head.
The length of cylinder 7 and sleeve 8 should be sufficient to
accommodate a limited forward tilting of the head without
endangering the desired rigidity of lateral support of the helmet 2
by brace 1.
Various modes of carrying out the invention are contemplated as
being within the scope of the following claims particularly
pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which is
regarded as the invention.
* * * * *