Integrated Head and Neck Tandem-Bracing Device for Protective Helmets

Abstract

An Integrated Head and Neck Tandem-Bracing Device for Protective Helmets is introduced for hazardous activities such as hockey, American football, and others which require safety helmet protections against head impact trauma. The default vulnerability in such hazardous events is the lack of solid securitization of the neck of helmet wearers during such activities. The novel art is designed to protect the wearer against external impact injuries to the head but essentially to the extent the neck is solidly braced, in-tandem, between helmet and torso, at instance of an impinging impact. The novel device presumes optimal protections based upon safeguarding the integrity of the central nervous system: head, neck, and all vertebrae, the torso. This standard of care and the novel technology are integral for maintaining vital safety measures which have been unanticipated by conventional equipment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A body impact bracing apparatus, comprising:
 (a) a vest/torso bracing framework component, including a torso jacket, a multiplicity of at least tubular bracing members together with their clench-switch devices, bracing modules WCRModule-1 and WCRModule-2 for correspondence of onset-of-impact bracing signals between said framework component, on one part, and a collar/shoulder bracing component, on the other,   (b) the collar/shoulder bracing component for a protective helmet, including:
 1. a neck stabilizing and spanning device for said onset-of-impact bracing signals between the helmet and the vest/torso bracing framework component, said device consisting of at least friction and anchoring/controlling rods for means of immobilizing tandem movement between said protective helmet of the collar/shoulder bracing component and the vest/torso bracing framework component, 
 2. a harnessing and position sensing device for detection of movements between the helmet and the vest/torso bracing framework component, 
 3. a clamping device for securitization of said helmet onto the harnessing and position sensing device, 
 4. multiple said clench-switch devices for said onset-of-impact bracing signals correspondence between said collar/shoulder bracing component and said vest/torso bracing framework component, 
 5. a buttressing device for supporting the weight of said helmet on the head of a wearer of the apparatus, 
 6. a lateral movement/flex damper device for damping any counter-movement of the head of the wearer against any side of interior wall surface of the protective helmet; 
 7. at least one switching device for detecting multi-angular impressions, such device being contiguous with said damper device and said protective helmet; 
   (c) at least one signal transmission means for correspondence of said onset-of-impact bracing signals for cessation of movement arising from one or more exterior impacts against said protective helmet, against the collar/shoulder bracing component, and against said vest/torso bracing framework component;   (d) protective means for the head, neck and torso/spinal cord segments of the wearer of the apparatus, said segments being biologically predisposed as integrated and unified segments harboring the entirety of the central nervous system of the human body; accordingly, said collar/shoulder bracing component and said vest/torso bracing framework component of the apparatus are predisposed for inter-dependent bracing signals, and so constituting a mutually unified means of the apparatus for encompassing, thereby protecting, said integrated segments from injurious impacts, thus neither said collar/shoulder bracing component nor said vest/torso bracing framework component being exclusive to itself with respect to its own, independent, sending said onset-of-impact bracing signals or to its receipt of said signals; both said components interactively, and necessarily, correspond, providing means for mutual bracing protection as a dual-component unit, alternating said onset-of-impact bracing signals when required.   
     
     
         2 . The body impact bracing apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said harnessing and position sensing device is concentrically disposed within said lateral movement/flex damper device which is functionally contiguous to the interior central crown area of the protective helmet. 
     
     
         3 . The body impact bracing apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said vest/torso bracing framework component comprises a frame of at least a grating-like said array of a plurality of at least semi-rigid interconnection of at least tubular bracing members having means for facilitating intervals of bracing. 
     
     
         4 . The body impact bracing apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said collar/shoulder bracing component is structurally attachable to, and contiguous with, said vest/torso bracing framework component for means of a coordinated bracing interval, said neck stabilizing and spanning device of the collar/shoulder bracing component, is functionally contiguous to, and disposed between, the base of said protective helmet along its lower edge and securely anchored and disposed within and about a shoulder guard harness of a wearer of the apparatus at the lower edge of the spanning device, said collar/shoulder bracing component being further securely anchored and buttressed around and about the waist of the wearer. 
     
     
         5 . The body impact bracing apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said vest/torso bracing framework component comprises:
 a. electrical devices for contact between said exterior impacts and said clench-switch devices for inhibiting movement of at least tubular bracing members at multiple locations in said vest/torso bracing framework component, said electrical devices being channeled through bracing and cord retraction modules, said devices for said contact include at least: an actuator, signal transmission means, at least one electrical switch, a battery, electrical hard-wired conduction mechanisms capable of executing processes for effectuating said electrical devices for said contact and said bracing interval of the protective helmet, said collar/shoulder bracing component, and said vest/torso bracing framework component against said exterior impacts, 
 b. mechanical devices for said contact is operative within said bracing and cord retraction modules of the WCRModule-1 and the WCRModule-2, anterior and posterior frame segments respectively, said mechanical devices for said contact include at least one mechanical switch, line-cord mechanisms capable of executing processes for effectuating said mechanisms for the contact and the bracing interval of the protective helmet and the vest/torso bracing framework component against said exterior impacts, without utilization of an electrical power sourcing implement, 
 c. said bracing interval for momentary cessation of independent movement and a mechanically fortifying means for instantaneous rendering as rigid said array such that it will effectuate a solid, inflexible, but momentary wall-like structure for said frame thereby rendering the torso/spinal cord of the wearer of the apparatus less vulnerable to injuries that may arise from said exterior impacts against the vest/torso bracing framework component; 
 
     
     
         6 . The body impact bracing apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said collar/shoulder bracing component includes:
 a. the neck stabilizing and spanning device for bracing between the helmet and said shoulder guard harness, latter said spanning device includes mechanical, non-electronic clenching elements, said friction and anchoring/controlling rods for means of processes of said bracing, 
 b. the harnessing and position sensing device for the helmet, 
 c. a clamping device for securitization of said helmet onto the harnessing and position sensing device, 
 d. said buttressing device for supporting the weight of said helmet on the head of the wearer of the apparatus, 
 e. a mechanical means for impetus of bracing of the collar/shoulder bracing component consequent to said exterior impacts against both the shoulder guard harness and the protective helmet, 
 f. said lateral movement/flex damper device for damping any counter movement of the head of the wearer against any side of interior wall surface of the protective helmet; 
 
     
     
         7 . The body impact bracing apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said collar/shoulder bracing component and said vest/torso bracing framework component are both involved with electrical and mechanical, coordinated, and corresponding means for processes of said bracing due to said exterior impacts against said protective helmet of the collar/shoulder bracing component and said vest/torso bracing framework component, such that the collar/shoulder bracing component would receive said immediate, and reciprocal onset-of-impact bracing signals originating from both the protective helmet or the vest/torso bracing framework component, further such that said vest/torso bracing framework component would receive said immediate and reciprocal onset-of-impact bracing signals originating from both the protective helmet and the vest/torso bracing framework component itself; both the collar/shoulder bracing component, together with the protective helmet, and the vest/torso bracing framework component are mutually inter-reactive, mutually protective, operating mainly as a two-component, integrated, tandem system, the apparatus, working in unison as a singular cooperative unit, against injurious impacts; 
     
     
         8 . The body impact bracing apparatus of  claim 5  wherein said mechanical devices for said contact is operative within said collar/shoulder bracing component such that the collar/shoulder bracing component may operate exclusive of electrical processes; accordingly, the collar/shoulder bracing component would immobilize any measure of movement of the protective helmet thereby circumventing injury to both the head and neck of said wearer of the body impact bracing apparatus, said collar/shoulder bracing component thus providing an anchoring and stabilizing means for said protective helmet against said external impacts; 
     
     
         9 . The body impact bracing apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said collar/shoulder bracing component and said signal transmission means involve both electrical and mechanical processes for means of said bracing of the collar/shoulder bracing component itself with its harnessing and position sensing device thus achieving the objective said bracing for protection of the head and neck segments, exclusive of torso segment, upon said onset-of-impact bracing signals from the protective helmet and from the shoulder guard harness of said collar/shoulder bracing component, latter said bracing entails that, at least:
 a. an onset-of-impact bracing signal will correspond with said neck stabilizing and spanning device of the apparatus causing said collar/shoulder bracing component to brace, 
 b. a structural assembly of said friction and anchoring/controlling rods of the neck stabilizing and spanning device is predetermined for process of said bracing upon said onset-of-impact bracing signals arising from said impact against said protective helmet or against said vest/torso bracing framework component thus further protecting the neck and head against said external impact, 
 c. the harnessing and position sensing device of said collar/shoulder bracing component will initiate upon being moved off its center configuration by a jolt from said exterior impact to the protective helmet, or to the shoulder guard harness; 
 
     
     
         10 . The body impact bracing apparatus of  claim 3  wherein said array is disposed between at least two layers of said torso bracing jacket, within the vest/torso bracing framework component, and, further contained and partitioned in its processes, there being at least a protective sheath closest to the wearer's body so that the operations of said vest/torso bracing framework component are inhibited from direct and adverse physical contact with the body of the wearer, said vest/torso bracing framework component materially consisting of layers of at least durable and semi-rigid fabrics that are predetermined for sustained forceful and robust field usage against wear, tear, stress, and breakage presumed in sports activities such as hockey, American football, and even rodeo bull riding competitions such, said fabrics being designed to allow contoured ease-of-movement for both wearer and for the vest/torso bracing framework component itself;
 whereby, in sports activities such as hockey, American football, rugby, rodeo bull riding, etc., said wearer of the apparatus would be capable of deflecting potentially injurious field impacts of force without the usual results of traumatic and incapacitating injuries to the head and torso, but more importantly, to the neck, which has been generally overlooked in concussive, TBI/CTE injury determinations; the neck, the upper cervix spine, and Atlas vertebra, are the most vulnerable segment between the head and the torso with respect to impact injuries, according to medical specialists; so, any impact to the helmet/head in hockey and American football, and any punch to the face/head in boxing will be adversely registered both in the brain and by the neck, cumulatively; the most muscular of necks cannot protect against unforeseen, split-second offensive impacts; accordingly, the mid-segment “bracing bridge,” the neck stabilizing and spanning device between the head and torso is introduced; it instantaneously stabilizes impacting movements of the head and torso from either falls or from lateral offensive impacts, such tandem bracing device, being so integrally-positioned is the focal point and central protective means for the body impact bracing apparatus without which, and continuing to use flawed conventional protective gear, debilitating and fatal health issues will continue. 
 
     
     
         11 . A method of using a body impact bracing apparatus, comprising the steps:
 a. securely donning a collar/shoulder bracing component for a protective helmet for means of bracing protection against possible external impact injuries to the head, neck, or torso of a wearer of the body impact bracing apparatus, said collar/shoulder bracing component includes:
 1. a neck stabilizing and spanning device for bracing between the helmet and a vest/torso bracing framework component, 
 2. a harnessing and position sensing device for the helmet, 
 3. a clamping device for securitization of said helmet onto the head of a wearer of the harnessing and position sensing device, 
 4. a buttressing device for supporting the weight of said helmet on the head of the wearer of the apparatus, 
 5. a lateral movement/flex damper device for damping any counter movement of the head of the wearer against any side of interior wall surface of the protective helmet, 
 6. a shoulder guard harness with its respective means for onset-of-impact bracing signals to both the protective helmet and to the vest/torso bracing framework component, said shoulder guard harness being further stabilized by tubing which, itself is structurally supported by a strapping facility being secured by a strapping means at the waist of the wearer; 
   b. securely donning and strapping into place the vest/torso bracing framework component for means of protection against said possible external impacts to the head, neck, and torso of the wearer of the apparatus, said apparatus providing protective means such that said collar/shoulder bracing component and said vest/torso bracing framework component are predisposed for inter-dependent bracing thus constituting a mutually dependent means of the apparatus for enclosing, thus protecting, the central nervous system of the human body, head, neck, and torso/spinal cord, from injurious impacts, said system extending from the head to below the torso waist; accordingly, neither of said collar/shoulder bracing component nor of the vest/torso bracing framework component, being exclusive with respect to the onset-of-impact bracing signals arising from either component, so necessarily providing inter-reactive means for mutual bracing protection as a two-component apparatus means for operating in unison for total protection of head, neck and torso/spinal cord members;   c. then said wearer, being so protected, exposing the apparatus, being thus worn, to known, but unpredictable and potentially injurious occasions of aggressive forces from said external impacts, said apparatus employing at least one signal transmission means for inter-reactive correspondences of onset-of-impact bracing signals for cessation of movement arising from said external impacts against said protective helmet of the collar/shoulder bracing component and against said vest/torso bracing framework component of the apparatus;   
     
     
         12 . The method of using the body impact bracing apparatus of  claim 11  wherein said neck stabilizing and spanning device being a linking, inter-component, process whereby said collar/shoulder bracing component and said vest/torso bracing framework component are predisposed for bracing with respect to each other for an interval, said bracing being due to said onset-of-impact bracing signals arising from said external impacts against the head, neck, or torso; said spanning device of the collar/shoulder bracing component, therefore, is central to the apparatus, providing a contiguous, tandem-bracing relationship between:
 a. upper and lower components of the apparatus, which are the collar/shoulder bracing component and the vest/torso bracing framework component, respectively, and 
 b. a first component means and a second component means for their corresponding protective bracing of: 1. Head, 2. Neck, and 3. Torso, thus being a three-segment exposure to injury requiring a three-segment protective apparatus in two components, neither component working in isolation, without the other, for complete protection of the CNS as a whole: head, neck, and torso/spinal cord, each being suspect upon medical assessments due to concussion impact determinations; 
 whereby, the 3-segment dual component protective focus of the bracing apparatus solves a major problem by providing protective means against impact injuries, not just to the head within a faulty protective helmet but, more importantly with this new technology, to the neck: the cervix section of the vertebral column, which continues extending downward through the torso to below the waist; accordingly, the design of such dual component apparatus presumes the integrity, the entirety, of the Central Nervous System, any part of which being damaged, at least by concussive impacts, can cause subtle but cumulative withdrawals of vital elements for neurological health thus rendering those wearing flawed conventional protective equipment vulnerable to likely debilitating neurological diseases, TBI/CTE, (Traumatic Brain Injury & Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy) which too often, in hockey and American football alone, result in serious behavioral problems, memory loss, other long-term health issues, referred to as post concussion syndrome, PCS; its symptoms, from even mild head injury, include: headache, dizziness, fatigue, poor memory, poor concentration, irritability, depression, sleep disturbance, frustration, restlessness, sensitivity to noise, blurred vision, double vision, photophobia, nausea, tinnitus, and others; recovery can take weeks or months, some of these can become chronic; medical research has found that cumulative concussions may lead even to death as related to, or subsequent to, the above as causative factors; medical research has also found that impact concussions, being too often misdiagnosed as a problem in the head, must be attributed to the head, neck, (cervix) and spinal cord, which are, per se, the confines of the central nervous system, for which the Body Impact Bracing Apparatus seeks to provide integral adequate protection.