Neck protection device

Abstract

A neck protection device 10 which comprises a rigid plastics restraining structure 12 , a rigid plastics support structure 14 and a pair of flexible shoulder straps 15.1 and 15.2 . The device 10 is used by a person wearing a helmet for attenuating movement of the person's head relative to the person's torso. The restraining structure 12 is in the form of a U-shaped collar which has a closed rear end and an open front end. The restraining structure 12 defines a number of planar abutment faces against which a lower edge region of the helmet abuts for preventing further movement of the person's head thereby protecting the person's neck from injury.

1 . A neck protection device for use by a person wearing a helmet, the neck protection device including:
 a restraining structure which is in the form of a rigid collar which is generally U-shaped when viewed in plan view and which has an open front end and a closed rear end, the collar being configured so as to partially surround the neck of the person; and   support means for supporting the restraining structure relative to the upper torso of the person in an arrangement wherein the restraining structure at least partially surrounds the persons neck, the neck protection device being characterised in that the restraining structure has a number of abutment formations against which lower regions of the helmet abut, in use, when the persons head is tilted relative to the persons torso thereby attenuating further movement of the persons head relative to the torso, the abutment formations being in the form of abutment faces which are each angled so as to provide for attenuation of movement of the persons head at a predetermined angular position of the persons head relative to the persons torso.   
     
     
         2 . The neck protection device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each of the abutment faces of the abutment formations, has a planar configuration. 
     
     
         3 . The neck protection device as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the abutment faces slope downwardly relative to a plane which is disposed normal to a thoracic spine of a wearer of the neck protection device, at angles wherein the direction of movement of a lower edge region of the helmet of the wearer relative to any relevant one of the planar abutment faces, in use, is substantially normal to the abutment face. 
     
     
         4 . The neck protection device as claimed in  claim 1  or  claim 2 , wherein the collar comprises a pair of spaced apart side members and a connecting member which extends between the side members and which defines the rear end of the collar. 
     
     
         5 . The neck protection device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the support means comprises a support structure and a pair of flexible shoulder straps which are each connected to the support structure and configured to extend over a different shoulder of the person, in use.