Head and Neck Support Device

Abstract

A head and neck support device for an occupant of a vehicle with a shoulder harness over the shoulders of the occupant and a helmet on a head of the occupant. The head and neck support device having a yoke, a tether, and at least one sleeve member, which has a cavity defined therethrough. The tether is configured to slide through the sleeve member cavity for a defined distance, which allows the occupant a greater range of side-to-side rotary head mobility.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A head and neck support device for an occupant of a vehicle with a shoulder harness over the shoulders of the occupant and a helmet on a head of the occupant, which comprises:
 a yoke having a front portion and a rear portion;   a tether having a first end and a second end; and   at least one sleeve member, wherein the at least one sleeve member defines a cavity therethrough.   
     
     
         2 . The head and neck support device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sleeve member defines a first distance. 
     
     
         3 . The head and neck support device of  claim 2 , wherein the tether defines a second distance. 
     
     
         4 . The head and neck support device of  claim 3 , wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance. 
     
     
         5 . The head and neck support device of  claim 4 , wherein the tether second distance slidably moves within the sleeve member first distance in a plane that bisects the cavity. 
     
     
         6 . The head and neck support device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sleeve member is fixedly attached to the rear portion of the yoke. 
     
     
         7 . The head and neck support device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sleeve member is fixedly attached to the front portion of the yoke. 
     
     
         8 . The head and neck support device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sleeve member is a single-sided sleeve member. 
     
     
         9 . The head and neck support device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sleeve member is a double-sided sleeve member. 
     
     
         10 . The head and neck support device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sleeve member is flexible. 
     
     
         11 . The head and neck support device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sleeve member is rigid. 
     
     
         12 . The head and neck support device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sleeve member is formed therein the yoke. 
     
     
         13 . The head and neck support device of  claim 1 , further comprising a means for attaching the first end of the tether to a first side of the helmet, and a means for attaching the second end of the tether to a second, opposite side of the helmet. 
     
     
         14 . The head and neck support device of  claim 13 , wherein the means for attaching the first end of the tether to the first side of the helmet comprises a tether anchor mounted to the helmet, and the means for attaching the second end of the tether to the second side of the helmet comprises a tether anchor mounted to the helmet. 
     
     
         15 . The head and neck support device of  claim 13 , wherein the means for attaching the first end of the tether to the first side of the helmet comprises attaching the first end of the tether to a helmet chin strap, and the means for attaching the second end of the tether to the second side of the helmet comprises attaching the second end of the tether to a helmet chin strap. 
     
     
         16 . The head and neck support device of  claim 13 , wherein the means for attaching the first end of the tether to the first side of the helmet comprises attaching the first end of the tether through a first slot defined therein the first side of the helmet, wherein the first end of the tether is configured to resist extraction, and the means for attaching the second end of the tether to the second side of the helmet comprises attaching the second end of the tether through a second slot defined therein the second side of the helmet, wherein the second end of the tether is configured to resists extraction. 
     
     
         17 . The head and neck support device of  claim 13 , wherein the means for attaching the first end of the tether to the first side of the helmet comprises attaching the first end of the tether through a first slot defined therein the first side of the helmet and the second end of the tether through a second slot defined therein the second side of the helmet; and wherein the first and second ends of the tether are continuous such that they resist extraction. 
     
     
         18 . The head and neck support device of  claim 1 , wherein the yoke further comprises a collar. 
     
     
         19 . The head and neck support device of  claim 18  wherein the at least one sleeve member is connected to the collar. 
     
     
         20 . The head and neck support device of  claim 1 , wherein the tether comprises a strap.