Head and neck protection apparatus

Abstract

In certain variations, head and/or neck protection apparatus and methods are provided. A head and/or neck protection apparatus may include shoulder pads, a collar and/or a helmet. The shoulder pads may include a central opening for receiving a user's neck. A collar may extend from the periphery of the central opening or the collar may be positioned at or around the periphery of the central opening. The helmet may surround but remain spaced apart from a user's head. The helmet may be removably connected or fastened to the collar or shoulder pads. The helmet may be connected or fasted to the collar or shoulder pads such that the helmet cannot move relative to the shoulder pads and a force applied to the helmet is distributed to the collar and transferred to the shoulder pads, shoulders, chest and/or back of a user.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A head and neck protection apparatus comprising:
 shoulder pads having a central opening for receiving a user's neck;   a collar extending from the periphery of the central opening; and   a helmet configured to surround but remain spaced apart from the user's head, wherein the helmet is removably connected to the collar such that the helmet cannot move relative to the shoulder pads and a force applied to the helmet is distributed circumferentially or peripherally to the collar and transferred to the user's shoulders.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the collar comprises a locking mechanism for securely connecting the helmet to the shoulder pads. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the collar is an expandable collar and wherein the locking mechanism is a latch, the collar being configured to receive the helmet when the latch is in an open position and to securely connect the helmet to the shoulder pads when the latch is in a closed position. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the helmet comprises an o-ring or a gasket that provides a seal between the helmet and the collar. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the collar comprises an o-ring or a gasket that provides a seal between the helmet and collar. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the collar comprise a plurality of slots or protrusions located along a surface of the collar and wherein the helmet comprises a plurality of protrusions or slots located along a surface of a bottom periphery of the helmet, wherein the protrusions are inserted into the slots to lock the helmet to the collar. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the helmet is a clear dome. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the helmet is a metal cage. 
     
     
         9 . A helmet apparatus for use with shoulder pads that remain underneath a user's jersey to protect the user's head and neck from an impact force, the helmet comprising:
 a dome portion configured to surround but remain spaced apart from the user's head, the helmet including a bottom periphery surrounding an opening, the opening for receiving the user's head, wherein the bottom periphery is substantially lockable to the shoulder pads such that when locked the helmet cannot move relative to the shoulder pads and a force applied to the helmet is distributed to the bottom periphery and to the shoulder pads, wherein the helmet is removable from the shoulder pads by the user without removing the user's jersey.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the bottom periphery is matable to the shoulder pads, such that the helmet locks upon rotation relative to the shoulder pads. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the bottom periphery comprises an o-ring or a gasket that provides a seal between the helmet and the shoulder pads. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the helmet is a clear dome. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the helmet is a metal cage. 
     
     
         14 . A method for dispersing a force applied to a helmet to the shoulders of a user comprising:
 providing shoulder pads having a central opening for receiving a user's neck and a collar extending from the periphery of the central opening;   securely fastening a bottom portion of the helmet to the collar such that the helmet cannot move relative to the shoulder pads, wherein the helmet is configured to surround but remain spaced apart from the user's head such that the user can turn their head fully in any direction within the helmet; and   distributing a force applied to the helmet circumferentially or peripherally to the collar, thereby transferring the force to the user's shoulders.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the collar comprises a locking mechanism for securely fastening the helmet to the shoulder pads. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein a base of the helmet comprises an o-ring or a gasket that provides a seal between the helmet and the collar. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the collar comprises an o-ring or a gasket that provides a seal between the helmet and collar. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein securely fastening a bottom portion of the helmet to the collar comprises:
 expanding the collar by opening a collar latch;   inserting a portion of the helmet into the expanded collar; and   closing the latch to securely fasten the helmet to the collar and to the shoulder pads.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein securely fastening a bottom portion of the helmet to the collar comprises:
 inserting a plurality of protrusions located along an outer surface of a bottom portion of the helmet into a plurality of slots located along an inner surface of the collar; and   rotating the helmet such that the bottom portion of the helmet is rotated relative to the collar, locking the protrusions within the slots.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the helmet is a clear dome. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the helmet is a metal cage.