Protective device for the protection of the cervical spine, methods for its manufacture and protective equipment thereof

Abstract

Collar-like protector device (2), designed and intended to be arranged and attached to a protective helmet 1 for the protection of the cervical spine 5, comprising a cushion-like body (20) having a plurality of chambers (200, 202, 210) designed and intended to be permanently filled with a gaseous, liquid, or gel-like damping medium and to be attached by a fastening device (3) in the region of the lower edge (100) of the protective helmet (1), and by a filling device 4 for filling the chambers (200, 202, 210) with the damping medium, wherein the protector device (2) is arranged exclusively in the lateral and rear region of the protective helmet (1), wherein a first chamber (200, 202) is designed and intended to have a first internal pressure and the second chamber (210) is designed toto have a second internal pressure and wherein, with reference to the position towards the lower edge (100) of the protective helmet (1), two first chambers (200, 202) are arranged laterally and a second chamber (210) is arranged in the rear area.

Description

The invention describes a protective device for the cervical spine with a cushion-like body, a method for manufacturing such a protective device, and protective equipment incorporating such a protective device. This protective equipment is preferably used to protect the cervical spine in a wide variety of sports, such as, but not limited to, motorcycling with street or any type of off-road motorcycle, cycling, especially off-road, or horseback riding. In all these sports, an accident, particularly a fall, can cause a sudden, forceful impact on the front of a helmet, accelerating the helmet and the wearer's head backward or obliquely backward. Without a protective device, such a movement can lead to significant damage to the cervical spine. DE 10 2017 010 533 A1 discloses a protective device for the cervical spine, comprising a first damping device and a support device. The support device is designed to dampen an impulse force applied to the first damping device, either directly or indirectly, against the upper body of a person. The first damping device comprises an enclosure and a first chamber containing a gaseous, liquid, or gel-like first damping medium. Preferably, this enclosure is inelastic or only slightly elastic, to the extent technically feasible. The effectiveness of the protective device is therefore not primarily based on the elasticity of the enclosure, but rather on the damping effect of the first damping medium. AT 410 625 B discloses a crash helmet with an air cushion arranged along the lower edge of the helmet, which can be inflated from a folded rest position to a protective cuff via a valve using a gas pressure source associated with the crash helmet, the cuff protrudes over the lower edge of the helmet and rests on the shoulders of a helmet wearer, characterized in that the air cushion inflated to form the protective cuff is removable from the crash helmet and surrounds the lower edge of the helmet with a bead on the outside. DE 101 49 849 A1 discloses a protective helmet with an at least partially closed helmet shell, with a viewing opening arranged on the helmet shell and a neck opening, characterized by a pressure chamber arrangement arranged in the area of ​​the neck opening of the helmet shell, substantially enclosing the neck opening and having at least one tubular pressure chamber. DE 198 15 381 A1 discloses a headliner for a motor vehicle with at least one airbag module arranged in the area of ​​the vehicle roof, wherein the airbag module has an airbag and a gas supply device and is integrated into the headliner, so that the airbag module and the headliner form a unit. DE 38 15 333 A1 discloses a motorcycle suit that has a projection at the back of the neck which, in racing position, connects the rider's back to the helmet. This motorcycle suit can have a projection that is essentially curved, frustoconical in shape with a lower edge and an upper rim, and which runs essentially concentrically to the neck. With knowledge of the prior art, the invention is based on the objective of presenting protective equipment and a protector device as well as a manufacturing method for this, which can be more compact compared to the prior art and whose position relative to the head of a person wearing this protector device is better positioned. This problem is solved according to the invention by a collar-like protector device, which is designed and intended to be arranged and attached to a protective helmet for the protection of the cervical spine, with a cushion-like body having a plurality of chambers which are designed and intended to be permanently filled with a gaseous, liquid or gel-like damping medium and which is designed and intended to be attached with a fastening device in the area of ​​the lower edge of the protective helmet, and which has a filling device for filling the chambers with the damping medium, wherein the protector device is arranged exclusively in the lateral and rear area of ​​the protective helmet. It can be advantageous if the fastening device forms a force-fit, form-fit, or material-fit connection, or preferably a combination of at least two such connections, between the protective helmet and the protector device, preferably on a side of the cushion-like body facing the protective helmet. In particular, a fastening device can be designed as a tab-shaped, flat body projecting away from the cushion-like body in the direction of the protective helmet, preferably intended to be arranged in the minimal gap between a helmet shell and the helmet's inner padding. A combination of a force-fit and a material-fit connection is particularly preferred. The force-fit connection can be created by the arrangement between the helmet shell and the helmet's inner padding.The additional material-bonded connection can be formed by an adhesive bond, preferably with the helmet shell. On the one hand, it can be advantageous if a first chamber is designed and configured to have a first internal pressure, and the second chamber is designed to have a second internal pressure, preferably with a further cushion-like body forming this second chamber. On the other hand, it can be advantageous if the first and second chambers are connected in a connecting area such that the damping medium can flow from the second to the first chamber and preferably also back, and preferably the first and second chambers are designed to have a common internal pressure. It is particularly advantageous if the respective chambers can be filled individually or jointly with a gaseous damping medium by means of a pumping device via the filling device, and if the filling device is arranged on the respective chamber or on one of several connected chambers. On the one hand, it may be preferred if, relative to the lower edge of the protective helmet, two first chambers are arranged laterally and a second chamber is arranged in the rear region, wherein the maximum thickness of the second chamber is preferably at least 1.2 times, and preferably at least 1.5 times, the maximum thickness of the first chambers. Alternatively, it may be preferred if, relative to the lower edge of the protective helmet, a second chamber is arranged in the rear region surrounding a first chamber, wherein the maximum thickness of the superimposed first and second chambers is preferably at least 1.2 times, and preferably at least 1.5 times, the maximum thickness of the first chambers. The thickness should preferably be measured in the direction of the body axis. Furthermore, the thickness is preferably determined before the assembly is mounted on a protective helmet, but absolutely without any mechanical stress. The problem is further solved by a method for manufacturing a protective device, wherein a first gas-tight and inelastic material layer and a second gas-tight and inelastic material layer are arranged one above the other in a planar fashion, and these two layers are joined together by means of an ultrasonic welding process and a resulting first weld seam in such a way that a chamber is formed. The respective layers are preferably arranged so that, in conjunction with the protective helmet and in its use, they are parallel to the transverse plane of the wearer's body. The two material layers preferably consist of two sub-material layers themselves, a first inner sub-material layer made of a polyurethane film and a second, outer sub-material layer made of a polyurethane-coated fabric made of polyamide, in particular polyhexamethylene adipamide. It can be particularly advantageous if the existing chamber is divided into a first and a second chamber by means of ultrasonic welding and a resulting second weld seam, preferably leaving a connection area between adjacent chambers free through which the damping medium can flow. The two ultrasonic welding processes can be carried out simultaneously or sequentially. The problem is further solved by protective equipment with a protector device as described above, or manufactured using the method described above, and with a protective helmet 1, wherein the fastening device 3 attaches the protector device 2 to the lower edge 100 of the protective helmet 1. This is advantageous because the protector device is always correctly aligned with the protective helmet, and moreover, the protective device remains in the desired position relative to the protective helmet due to the unit formed by the protective equipment. Advantageously, the protector device is located exclusively in the side and rear areas of the helmet, thus allowing sufficient freedom for the desired and necessary movement of the head while wearing protective equipment. In this context, it can be advantageous if the protector device is designed to brace itself against a support device without being mechanically connected to the support device itself. Furthermore, it may be preferred if the support device has a first support, is designed like a backpack, and has a strap system with straps that go over the shoulder and / or around the waist of a person wearing this support device. Alternatively, it may be preferred if the support device has a second support and is designed as an integral part, preferably in the form of a hump, of upper body clothing. The upper body clothing may be a protective jacket or part of a protective suit. The aforementioned variants of protective equipment with the aforementioned designs of the protector device are able to reduce hyperextension of the cervical spine and thus significantly reduce the risk or severity of a cervical spine injury in the event of a fall. All features mentioned here in the singular, in particular the respective fastening devices, can of course be present multiple times, insofar as this is technically possible and advantageous. It is further understood that the various embodiments of the invention, whether mentioned in connection with the protector device, the manufacturing process, or the protective equipment, can be implemented individually or in any combination to achieve improvements. In particular, the aforementioned and explained features, which are not mutually exclusive, can be used not only in the combinations specified, but also in other combinations or individually, without departing from the scope of the present invention. Further explanation of the invention, advantageous details and features will become apparent from the following description of the embodiments of the invention or parts thereof shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 to 9. Figures 1, 2, 3 to 4 show a protective helmet and the arrangement of various views and configurations of a protective device according to the invention in a section perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the body from the perspective of the transverse plane (xy-plane) of a human body. Figures 5, 6 to 7 show various configurations of protective equipment according to the invention viewed from the sagittal plane (yz-plane) of a human body. Figure 8 shows protective equipment according to the invention viewed from behind from the frontal plane (xz-plane) of a human body. Figure 9 shows protective equipment according to the invention in a three-dimensional view. Fig. 1 schematically shows a cross-sectional view of the cervical spine 5 with a cervical vertebra of a person, including the surrounding tissue, and a cross-sectional view of a protective helmet 1 placed on the head of this person. The standard protective helmet 1 has a helmet shell 10 and inner padding 14 arranged therein. Typically, the inner padding 14 rests against the helmet shell 10 and can be bonded to it at least at certain points. Nevertheless, a small gap 12 exists, particularly in the area of ​​the lower edge 100 of the protective helmet 1, between the inner padding 14 and the helmet shell 10. Fig. 2 shows the position of the collar-like, here U-shaped, protector device 2 according to the invention at the lower edge 100 of the protective helmet 1. The upper surface of this protector device 2, more precisely its cushion-like body 20, rests against a lower end of the helmet's inner padding 14. The protector device 2 is arranged exclusively in the lateral and rear area of ​​the protective helmet 1 and thus of the person wearing it, and projects radially beyond the helmet shell 10 at both its lateral and rear edges. The protector device 2 therefore explicitly does not extend to the front of the protective helmet 1, i.e., to its chin guard, and thus does not encircle the neck of the wearer of the protective equipment and therefore does not encircle the front of the neck. The protector device 2 itself is formed here from a cushion-like body 20, which has a plurality of chambers 200, 202, 210 (see Fig. 4) designed and configured to be temporarily or permanently filled with a damping medium, in this case gaseous. The cushion-like body 20 is formed here from a first gas-tight and inelastic material layer 22, shown here, and a second gas-tight and inelastic material layer 24 (see Fig. 8). As long as they are not filled with a damping medium, both material layers 22 and 24 lie flat on top of each other and parallel, or at least approximately parallel, to each other and to the transverse plane of the person wearing the protective equipment consisting of the helmet 1 and the protector device 2. The two material layers 22, 24 are each formed from a first inner layer of polyurethane film and a second, outer layer of polyurethane-coated fabric made of polyhexamethylene adipamide. The term "inelastic" here means that the material layers do not undergo significant elongation when a first or second internal pressure, i.e., a service pressure, is applied. Fig. 3 shows a collar-like, here U-shaped, protector device 2 according to the invention, wherein the cushion-shaped body 20 is somewhat more tapered at its two ends, i.e., thinner, than that shown in Fig. 2. This results in a damping capacity that is greater in the rear area than in the lateral area. This allows for improved freedom of movement of the head while simultaneously providing the best possible protection, particularly against impulsive forces acting on the head of the wearer of the protective equipment in the sagittal plane. A further depiction shows, as a variant of a fastening device 3 for attaching the protector device 2 to the lower edge of the protective helmet 1, a plurality of individual tab-shaped, flat bodies 30, which project away from the cushion-like body 20 towards the protective helmet 1 and are arranged in the space 12 between the helmet shell 10 and the helmet inner padding 14. This arrangement alone, and due to the minimal distance between the helmet inner padding 14 and the helmet shell 10, results in a mixed form-fit and force-fit fastening of the protector device 2 to the protective helmet 1. The fastening can be further improved by preferably bonding all the tab-shaped, flat bodies 30 to the helmet shell 14 or, alternatively, to the helmet inner padding 10, more precisely to a section of the helmet inner padding 10 facing the helmet shell 14, using an adhesive bond. Alternatively, another force-fit connection, particularly in the form of a hook-and-loop fastener, can be formed between the tab-shaped, flat bodies 30 and the helmet's inner padding 14 or the helmet shell 10. In the case of the hook-and-loop fastener to the helmet shell 10, one of the two connecting partners of the hook-and-loop fastener can be adhesively bonded to the helmet shell 10. This results, in particular, in a completely reversible attachment of the protector device 2 to the protective helmet 1. The individual tab-shaped, flat bodies 30 can also be connected to one another, thus forming a single body, advantageously with some constrictions. Fig. 4 shows three chambers of the protector device 2. These were created here by way of example by arranging the first gas-tight and inelastic material layer 22 and the second gas-tight and inelastic material layer 24 on top of each other and joining these two layers 22, 24 together by means of an ultrasonic welding process and the resulting first weld seam 260. Furthermore, the resulting chamber was divided into two first chambers and one second chamber 200, 202, 210 by creating islands by means of the ultrasonic welding process and the resulting second and third weld seams 262. This creates two connection areas 212 through which the damping medium can flow in both directions between the second and the respective first chambers 200, 202, 210. This is crucial for the damping function in the application described above. Also shown is a filling device 4 for the simultaneous filling of all chambers 200, 202, 210 by means of a pumping device with a gaseous damping medium. The pumping device can be designed here as a manual hand-operated air pump, because a sufficient initial internal pressure in all chambers 200, 202, 210 can already be achieved with this. This initial, as well as the subsequent, internal pressure is in the range of 1.1 hPa to 1.4 hPa, preferably between 1.15 hPa and 1.2 hPa. Fig. 5 shows a first embodiment of a protector device 2 according to the invention in use and a side view looking towards the sagittal plane of a human body. The upper body 8 of a person and a protective helmet 1 are shown. As described in principle in Figs. 2, 3 to 4, the protector device 2 is arranged at the lower edge of the protective helmet 1. The protector device 2 is positively connected to the lower edge of the helmet's inner padding 14 by means of a hook-and-loop fastener 32 as a fastening device 3. Also shown are a first and a second chamber 202, 210 of the cushion-like body 20 of the protector device 2, as already described in Fig. 4. In this configuration of the protector device 2, the second chamber 210 has a first internal pressure at which it has a maximum thickness, i.e., a thickness at its thickest point, which corresponds to 1.3 times the maximum thickness of the first chambers 200, 202. The respective values ​​for the first internal pressure of the connected first and second chambers are determined without external pressure loading, i.e., in the unloaded resting state. Fig. 6 shows a second embodiment of a protector device 2 according to the invention in the same view as Fig. 5. In contrast, the fastening device 3 is designed with a plurality of individual tab-shaped, planar bodies 30, as already described under Fig. 3. Fig. 7 shows the first embodiment of the protector device 2 according to the invention, arranged on a protective helmet 1. Also shown is a support device 6, which has a second support 62 that is formed as an integral part, here designed as a hump, of upper body clothing 64, i.e., a protective jacket. Various embodiments of such humps are already common in the art. Fig. 8 shows protective equipment according to the invention, viewed from the left onto the frontal plane of a human body. The protective helmet 1 and a protector device 2 attached to it are again shown. In the right part of the image, the protector device is not filled with the damping medium, here air, while in the left part of the image it is filled with air under a first internal pressure. Also shown is an alternative abutment device 6 to Fig. 7 with a first abutment 60. This abutment device 6 is designed here in a backpack-like form and has a strap system 600, which has straps over the shoulder and, not shown, around the waist of a person carrying this abutment device 6. Fig. 9 shows, for further clarification, a protective equipment according to the invention, consisting of a protective helmet 1 and a protector device 2 in a three-dimensional view. Although the protective equipment in the exemplary embodiments is always shown with a helmet 1 with a chin guard, the protector device 2 and the protective equipment are not limited to this preferred case. In principle, the protector device can be combined with a wide variety of protective helmets, as long as there is a sufficient lower rim and the rear of the head is adequately covered by the helmet shell. Adequate coverage is understood to mean that at least two-thirds of the back of the head is covered.

Claims

Collar-like protector device (2), designed and intended to be arranged and attached to a protective helmet 1 for the protection of the cervical spine 5, comprising a cushion-like body (20) having a plurality of chambers (200, 202, 210) designed and intended to be permanently filled with a gaseous, liquid, or gel-like damping medium and to be attached by a fastening device (3) in the region of the lower edge (100) of the protective helmet (1), and by a filling device 4 for filling the chambers (200, 202, 210) with the damping medium, wherein the protector device (2) is arranged exclusively in the lateral and rear region of the protective helmet (1), wherein a first chamber (200, 202) is designed and intended to have a first internal pressure and the second chamber (210) is designed toto have a second internal pressure and wherein, with reference to the position towards the lower edge (100) of the protective helmet (1), two first chambers (200, 202) are arranged laterally and a second chamber (210) is arranged in the rear area. Collar-like protector device (2), designed and intended to be arranged and attached to a protective helmet 1 for the protection of the cervical spine 5, comprising a cushion-like body (20) having a plurality of chambers (200, 202, 210) designed and intended to be permanently filled with a gaseous, liquid, or gel-like damping medium and to be attached by a fastening device (3) in the region of the lower edge (100) of the protective helmet (1), and by a filling device 4 for filling the chambers (200, 202, 210) with the damping medium, wherein the protector device (2) is arranged exclusively in the lateral and rear region of the protective helmet (1), wherein the first and second chambers (200, 202, 210) are connected in a connecting region (212) such that the damping medium can flow from the second to the first chamber and preferably also back again.and wherein, with reference to the position relative to the lower edge (100) of the protective helmet (1), two first chambers (200, 202) are arranged laterally and a second chamber (210) is arranged in the rear area. Protector device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the fastening device (3) forms a force-fit or form-fit or material-fit connection, preferably a combination of at least two of these connections, between the protective helmet (1) and the protector device (2), preferably a side of the cushion-like body (20) facing the protective helmet (1). Protector device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the fastening device (3) is designed as a tab-shaped, planar body (30) projecting away from the cushion-like body (20) in the direction of the protective helmet (1), which is preferably provided to be arranged in the space (12) between a helmet shell (10) and a helmet inner padding (14). Protector device according to one of claims 1, 3 or 4, wherein a further cushion-like body forms this second chamber (210). Protector device according to one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the first and second chambers (200, 202, 210) are provided to have a common internal pressure. Protector device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the respective chambers (200, 202, 210) can be filled individually or jointly with a gaseous damping medium by means of a pump device through the filling device (4) and for this purpose the filling device (4) is arranged on a respective chamber (210) or on one of several connected chambers (200, 202, 210). Protector device according to one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the maximum thickness of the second chamber (210) is at least 1.2 times, preferably at least 1.5 times, the maximum thickness of the first chambers (200, 202). Method for manufacturing a protector device according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein a first gas-tight and inelastic material layer (22) and a second gas-tight and inelastic material layer (24) are arranged over one another, these two layers (22, 24) are joined together by means of an ultrasonic welding process and a first weld seam (260) resulting therefrom, such that a chamber is formed. Method according to claim 9, wherein the existing chamber is divided into a first and a second chamber (200, 202, 210) by means of the ultrasonic welding process and a second weld seam (262) resulting therefrom, preferably leaving a connection area (212) between adjacent chambers, which can be permeated by the damping medium. Protective equipment (1) comprising a protector device (2) according to one of claims 1 to 8 or manufactured according to one of claims 9 to 10 and comprising a protective helmet (1), wherein the fastening device (3) fastens the protector device (2) to the lower edge (100) of the protective helmet (1). Protective equipment according to claim 11, wherein the protector device (2) is configured to support itself against a support device (6) without being mechanically connected to the support device (6) itself. Protective equipment according to claim 12, wherein the support device (6) has a first support (60) and is designed in a backpack-like manner, and has a strap system (600) that has straps over the shoulders and / or around the waist of a person wearing it. Protective equipment according to claim 12, wherein the abutment device (6) has a second abutment (62) and is designed as an integral part of an upper body garment (64).

Images