Head and neck support device

Abstract

A head and neck support device for a user of a vehicle with a safety harness over the shoulders of the user and a helmet on a head of the user is provided having a collar and a plurality of tethers. The helmet is configured to interact with the collar or the shoulder of the user to limit rotation of the head of the user. Lateral motions and associated forces on the user's head and spine are reduced by the transfer of associated forces to the user's body through the plurality of tethers and the interaction between the helmet and the collar or shoulder of the user.

1 . A head and neck support device for a user of a vehicle with a safety harness configured to pass over the shoulders of the user and for a helmet that is selectively mountable on a head of the user, comprising:
 a plurality of tethers;   a collar comprising a pair of opposed side members defining an opening for a neck of the user, wherein the collar has a longitudinal axis that bisects the opening, and wherein the longitudinal axis of the collar is in a movement plane that is coplanar with the longitudinal axis and bisects opposed portions of the respective pair of opposed side members; and   a means for selectively limiting movement of the head of the user relative to the movement plane and the longitudinal axis of the collar.   
     
     
         2 . The head and neck support device of  claim 1 , wherein the means for selectively limiting movement of the head of the user relative to the movement plane and the longitudinal axis of the collar comprises a means for selectively limiting translation of the head of the user relative to the movement plane and the longitudinal axis of the collar. 
     
     
         3 . The head and neck support device of  claim 1 , wherein the means for selectively limiting movement of the head of the user relative to the movement plane and the longitudinal axis of the collar comprises a means for selectively limiting rotation of the head of the user relative to the movement plane and the longitudinal axis of the collar. 
     
     
         4 . The head and neck support device of  claim 1 , wherein the means for selectively limiting movement of the head of the user relative to the movement plane and the longitudinal axis of the collar comprises a means for selectively limiting translation and rotation of the head of the user relative to the movement plane and the longitudinal axis of the collar. 
     
     
         5 . The head and neck support device of  claim 1 , wherein each side member of the pair of opposed side members has a load bearing surface, and wherein at least a portion of the load bearing surface is configured to engage the safety harness. 
     
     
         6 . The head and neck support device of  claim 5 , wherein the means for selectively limiting movement of the head of the user relative to the movement plane and the longitudinal axis of the collar comprises:
 a beam connected to an inner side edge of each of the respective side members and extending substantially transverse to at least a portion of the load bearing surface of the respective side members; and   a platform having an upper surface, wherein the platform is connected to a distal end of the beam such that the platform is positioned a distance from and overlies at least a portion of the load bearing surface, and wherein at least a portion of the upper surface of the platform is configured to interact with at least a portion of a bottom edge of the helmet.   
     
     
         7 . The head and neck support device of  claim 6 , further comprising means for selectively adjusting the distance between the platform and the load bearing surface. 
     
     
         8 . The head and neck support device of  claim 6 , wherein at least a portion of the upper surface of the platform has a width that is greater than at least a portion of a width of the bottom edge of the helmet. 
     
     
         9 . The head and neck support device of  claim 1 , wherein a first end of each tether of the plurality of tethers is selectively connected to the collar, and a second end of each tether is selectively connected to the helmet. 
     
     
         10 . The head and neck support device of  claim 1 , wherein a first end of at least one tether of the plurality of tethers is slideably, selectively connected to the collar, and a second end of each tether is selectively connected to the helmet. 
     
     
         11 . The head and neck support device of  claim 5 , wherein at least a portion of the load bearing surface of the pair of opposed side members comprises a friction material configured to engage at least a portion of the safety harness. 
     
     
         12 . A head and neck support device for a user of a vehicle with a safety harness configured to pass over the shoulders of the user comprising:
 a helmet that is selectively mountable on a head of the user;   a plurality of tethers;   a collar comprising a pair of opposed side members defining an opening for a neck of the user, wherein the collar has a longitudinal axis that bisects the opening, and wherein the longitudinal axis of the collar is in a movement plane that is coplanar with the longitudinal axis and bisects opposed portions of the respective pair of opposed side members; and   a means for selectively limiting movement of the head of the user relative to the movement plane and the longitudinal axis of the collar.   
     
     
         13 . The head and neck support device of  claim 12 , wherein the means for selectively limiting movement of the head of the user relative to the movement plane and the longitudinal axis of the collar comprises a means for selectively limiting translation and rotation of the head of the user relative to the movement plane and the longitudinal axis of the collar. 
     
     
         14 . The head and neck support device of  claim 12 , wherein at least a portion of a bottom edge of the helmet defines at least one downwardly extending extension member that extends downwardly longitudinally relative to bottom edge of the helmet to a distal end that is positioned a predetermined distance from the shoulders of the user when the helmet is placed on the head of the user. 
     
     
         15 . The head and neck support device of  claim 14 , comprising means for selectively adjusting an elongate longitudinal length of the at least one downwardly extending extension member. 
     
     
         16 . The head and neck support device of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one downwardly extending extension member comprises a pair of downwardly extending members that are positioned in substantial opposition to each other on opposed sides of the helmet. 
     
     
         17 . The head and neck support device of  claim 16 , wherein each side member of the pair of opposed side members has a load bearing surface, wherein at least a portion of the load bearing surface is configured to engage the safety harness, and wherein at least a portion of the respective load bearing surfaces are configured to interact with at least a portion of the distal ends of the pair of downwardly extending members. 
     
     
         18 . The head and neck support device of  claim 12 , wherein a first end of each tether of the plurality of tethers is selectively configured to be attached to the collar, and a second end of each tether is selectively configured to be attached to the helmet. 
     
     
         19 . The head and neck support device of  claim 12 , wherein a first end of at least one tether of the plurality of tethers is slideably selectively connected to the collar, and a second end of each tether is selectively connected to the helmet. 
     
     
         20 . A head and neck support device for a user of a vehicle with a safety harness configured to pass over the shoulders of the user, comprising:
 a helmet configured to be selectively mountable on a head of the user, wherein the helmet has an extension such that at least a portion of a bottom edge of the helmet extends downwardly longitudinally to a predetermined distance from the shoulders of the user when the helmet is placed on the head of the user, and wherein the extension of the helmet is configured to interact with the shoulders of the user; and   a plurality of tethers, wherein a first end and a second end of each tether is selectively configured to be attached to the helmet, and wherein a center portion of each tether is configured to engage the safety harness; and   a means for selectively limiting movement of the head of the user relative to a longitudinal axis of the neck of the user.   
     
     
         21 . The head and neck support device of  claim 20 , wherein the means for selectively limiting movement of the head of the user relative to the longitudinal axis of the neck of the user comprises a means for selectively limiting translation and rotation of the head of the user relative to the longitudinal axis of the neck of the user. 
     
     
         22 . The head and neck support device of  claim 20 , wherein the first end and the second end of each tether are selectively attached to the helmet at a common helmet attachment point. 
     
     
         23 . The head and neck support device of  claim 20 , wherein the first end and the second end of each tether are selectively attached to the helmet at separate helmet attachment points.