Head and neck support device with low collar

Abstract

A head and neck support (HANS) device comprises a yoke structure having a low collar, a left leg and a right leg extending respectively from a left side and a right side of the low collar, and a tether having a strap coupled to the low collar and a pair of catches connected to two ends of the strap. The low collar is characterized with a distance between a central line of the tether and a top end of each leg, where the distance is less than 70 mm. The catches of the tether are operable to attach to a helmet of the driver so as to engage the low collar with the helmet of the driver.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A head and neck support (HANS) device, comprising:
 a low collar having a left side, a right side, a central portion defined between the left side and the right side, and a pair of openings formed in the central portion and proximate to the left side and the right side, respectively;   a left leg having a top portion extending laterally and outwardly from the left side of the low collar, and a bottom portion extending curvedly and downwardly from the top portion; and   a right leg having a top portion extending laterally and outwardly extending from the right side of the low collar, and a bottom portion extending curvedly and downwardly from the top portion,   wherein the low collar, the left leg and the right leg integrally form a yoke structure therewith, such that the central portion of the low collar is operable to be positioned behind the neck of a driver, the top portion of the left leg is operable to engage the left shoulder of the driver, the bottom portion of the left leg is operable to engage the left chest area of the driver, the top portion of the right leg is operable to engage the right shoulder of the driver, and the bottom portion of the right leg is operable to engage the right chest area of the driver, respectively; and   wherein the low collar is characterized with a distance between a horizontal line crossing the middle of the pair of openings of the low collar and a top end of the top portion of each of the left leg and the right leg, wherein the distance is less than 70 mm.   
     
     
         2 . The HANS device of  claim 1 , further comprising a tether having a strap coupled to the low collar through the pair of openings of the low collar, and a pair of catches connected to two ends of the strap, wherein the catches of the tether are operable to attach to a helmet of the driver so as to engage the low collar with the helmet of the driver. 
     
     
         3 . The HANS device of  claim 2 , wherein the low collar is formed such that a portion of the strap of the tether is exposed at a rear surface of the low collar. 
     
     
         4 . The HANS device of  claim 2 , wherein the low collar has a recess formed on a rear surface of the low collar at the central portion of the low collar such that the pair of openings are located in the recess, and a peg member configured complementarily to the recess and operable to be received in the recess, and wherein as assembled, the strap of the tether passes through the pair of openings of the low collar and a portion of the strap is accommodated in the recess of the low collar, and the peg member is pegged into the recess, such that no portion of the strap of the tether is visually exposed in a rear view of the low collar. 
     
     
         5 . The HANS device of  claim 1 , wherein the low collar has a curved notch formed on a bottom edge of the central portion, wherein the notch is operable to accommodate the neck of the driver. 
     
     
         6 . The HANS device of  claim 1 , wherein the low collar has a collar height that varies gradually from a central portion to the left and right sides, wherein the collar height at the central portion is higher than that at the left and right sides. 
     
     
         7 . The HANS device of  claim 1 , further comprising a left cushion detachably attached to a bottom surface of the left leg, and a right cushion detachably attached to a bottom surface of the right leg, wherein each cushion is operable to provide a buffer action for the corresponding shoulder and chest area of the driver. 
     
     
         8 . The HANS device of  claim 1 , further comprising a left load-bearing thin layer formed on a top surface of the left leg, and a right load-bearing thin layer formed on a top surface of the right leg, wherein each load-bearing thin layer is formed of a friction material and is operable to resist the shoulder belts from slipping on the load bearing surfaces of the HANS device. 
     
     
         9 . The HANS device of  claim 1 , wherein a top surface of each of the left leg and the right leg is provided with a friction means, wherein the friction means is operable to provide for better transference of force from the load bearing surfaces to the shoulder belt of a safety harness. 
     
     
         10 . The HANS device of  claim 1 , wherein each of the left leg and the right leg has an upward lip with a variable height extending upwardly from an exterior edge of the top portion of the corresponding leg, wherein the upward lip is operable to reduce the chance of a shoulder belt of a safety harness sliding off the HANS device. 
     
     
         11 . A head and neck support (HANS) device, comprising:
 a low collar having a left side, a right side, a central portion defined between the left side and the right side, a front surface, a rear surface and at least one sleeve member attached to the rear surface to define an opening therewith;   a left leg having a top portion extending laterally and outwardly from the left side of the low collar, and a bottom portion extending curvedly and downwardly from the top portion; and   a right leg having a top portion extending laterally and outwardly extending from the right side of the low collar, and a bottom portion extending curvedly and downwardly from the top portion,   wherein the low collar, the left leg and the right leg integrally form a yoke structure therewith, such that the central portion of the low collar is operable to be positioned behind the neck of a driver, the top portion of the left leg is operable to engage the left shoulder of the driver, the bottom portion of the left leg is operable to engage the left chest area of the driver, the top portion of the right leg is operable to engage the right shoulder of the driver, and the bottom portion of the right leg is operable to engage the right chest area of the driver, respectively; and   wherein the low collar is characterized with a distance between a horizontal line crossing the middle of the opening of the at least one sleeve member and a top end of the top portion of each of the left leg and the right leg, wherein the distance is less than 70 mm.   
     
     
         12 . The HANS device of  claim 11 , further comprising a tether having a strap coupled to the low collar through the opening of the at least one sleeve member, and a pair of catches connected to two ends of the strap, wherein the catches of the tether are operable to attach to a helmet of the driver so as to engage the low collar with the helmet of the driver, such that a portion of the strap of the tether is exposed at the rear surface of the low collar. 
     
     
         13 . The HANS device of  claim 11 , wherein the low collar has a curved notch formed on a bottom edge of the central portion, wherein the notch is operable to accommodate the neck of the driver. 
     
     
         14 . The HANS device of  claim 11 , wherein the low collar has a collar height that varies gradually from a central portion to the left and right sides, wherein the collar height at the central portion is higher than that at the left and right sides. 
     
     
         15 . The HANS device of  claim 11 , further comprising a left cushion detachably attached to a bottom surface of the left leg, and a right cushion detachably attached to a bottom surface of the right leg, wherein each cushion is operable to provide a buffer action for the corresponding shoulder and chest area of the driver. 
     
     
         16 . The HANS device of  claim 11 , further comprising a left load-bearing thin layer formed on a top surface of the left leg, and a right load-bearing thin layer formed on a top surface of the right leg, wherein each load-bearing thin layer is formed of a friction material and is operable to resist the shoulder belts from slipping on the load bearing surfaces of the HANS device. 
     
     
         17 . The HANS device of  claim 11 , wherein a top surface of each of the left leg and the right leg is provided with a friction means, wherein the friction means is operable to provide for better transference of force from the load bearing surfaces to the shoulder harness. 
     
     
         18 . The HANS device of  claim 11 , wherein each of the left leg and the right leg has an upward lip with a variable height extending upwardly from an exterior edge of the top portion of the corresponding leg, wherein the upward lip is operable to reduce the chance of a shoulder belt of a safety harness sliding off the HANS device. 
     
     
         19 . A head and neck support (HANS) device, comprising:
 a yoke structure having a low collar, a left leg and a right leg extending respectively from a left side and a right side of the low collar; and   a tether having a strap coupled to the low collar and a pair of catches connected to two ends of the strap, wherein the catches of the tether are operable to attach to a helmet of the driver so as to engage the low collar with the helmet of the driver,   wherein the low collar is characterized with a distance between a central line of the tether and a top end of each leg, wherein the distance is less than 70 mm.   
     
     
         20 . The HANS device of  claim 19 , wherein the tether is coupled to the low collar through a pair of openings formed in a central portion of the low collar, or at least one sleeve member attached to a rear surface of the low collar.