Head protection system

Abstract

An apparatus to prohibit user injury from sudden impact or rotational or whiplash movement. The apparatus includes a helmet, a body harness configured to secure to the user, a plurality of tethers and a plurality of spools. Each tether has one end attached to the helmet and an opposing end fixed relative to the body harness. Each spool is positioned with a tether in wound engagement with the spool. Each spool includes a locking mechanism moveable between an unlocked condition and a locked condition. Upon pre-determined movement of at least one of the tethers, the corresponding locking mechanism moves from the unlocked condition to the locked condition to prohibit additional movement of the tether.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This non-provisional application claims the benefit of United States Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 61 / 332,432, entitled HEAD PROTECTION SYSTEM TO MINIMIZE ROTATIONAL OR WHIPLASH INJURY and filed May 7, 2010, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, to the extent that it is not conflicting with the present application.BACKGROUND[0002]Recreation is one of the most commonly pursued activities. Some recreational activities require the participant to move at a heightened speed, such as for example, dirt bikes, snowmobiles, and jet skis. Certain recreational activities, such as athletics, require the user to run at a top personal speed. Unfortunately, head, neck, and spinal cord injuries can occur when a participate collides with another participant or an object.[0003]To reduce the risk of injury, athletes, vehicle occupants, and others subject to sudden impact, acceleration or deceleration, commonly wear ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0004]The present invention describes various apparatus and methods to prohibit user injury from sudden impact or rotational or whiplash movement. The invention may prohibit injury to the head and neck, and specifically, injury to the brain caused by sudden rotational acceleration or deceleration of the head.

Problems solved by technology

Unfortunately, head, neck, and spinal cord injuries can occur when a participate collides with another participant or an object.

Unconstrained movement of the head may result in so-called whiplash or rotational brain injury, a major cause of serious brain damage.

Although helmets have been extensively developed to protect the head from crushing and penetrating injuries, helmets do not protect against the very serious rotational or whiplash injuries in which the impact causes the head to rotate rapidly with respect to the body around the neck.

Although the head may not appear to be damaged in such an impact situation, the rapid rotation or whiplash motion can cause the brain to move within the cranium and be severely damaged.

Such apparently “hidden” damage can lead to severe permanent impairment or death.

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