Patent ID: 6588022
Filing Date: 2003-07-08
Classification: A42B,A63B

Abstract:
A head and spine protection system for use in high impact physical activities, comprising:a. a shock-resistant, transparent head dome, of a diameter within a range between 8 and 20 inches, of a thickness of a range between 8 and 20 millimeters, enclosing with a suitable gap the entire head and neck of the wearer during high impact physical activities, which dome has two curved sections on opposite ends of two cylindrical downward extensions cut out in order for the lower edge of the dome to snugly contact and rest on the wearer's shoulders or shoulder pads, without leaving any appreciable gaps between the dome and the shoulders or shoulder pads, providing the wearer freedom of head and neck movement, unobstructed vision and comfort, and which dome is constructed of a material having high levels of mechanical, optical, electrical and thermal strength, and is capable when affixed to the wearer of protecting the head, skull, face, neck, cervical spine, and upper thoracic spine of the wearer by withstanding the impacts of persons wearing identical units, stationary objects, and projectiles, including bullets, rocks, bricks, or shrapnel, without significantly deforming, denting, cracking or shattering; b. a cushioned head cap, of a diameter exceeding that of the wearer's skull by several inches but less than the diameter of the inner surface of the head dome by several inches, providing a soft padding for the head within the confines of the head dome, cushioning the face and head from whiplash, top, frontal, rear and lateral impact upon the exterior of the head dome, such that no part of the interior surface of dome can come in contact with the wearer's head or face following trauma to the exterior, which cushioned head cap is constructed of durable, soft, comfortable, suitably cushioning or inflatable material; c. a cushioned head cap chin strap system, which straps are made of suitably tough strapping material, and which connect at between three and eight points on the cap to a connections system located under the wearer's chin; d. four fastener slots cut through the dome material, with two cut into the lower corners of a front wing of a curved section of a cylindrical downward extension, and two cut into a rear wing of the other cylindrical downward extension, which slots are between Â¼ to {fraction (1/2)} inch in height and between {fraction (1/2)} to 2 inches in width; e. four fastener straps, which are attached to the four front and rear fastener slots, and which extend downward to the harness system, and which are constructed of a suitably strong, comfortable strapping material, and which have a degree of elasticity to firmly hold the head dome down onto the wearer's shoulders when tightened onto the harness system while providing enough elasticity to enable the wearer to bend in all directions comfortably; f. a harness system to downwardly secure the four fastener straps to the stable lower body anchor of the wearer's legs and hips, which harness system includes a means to secure the four fastener straps to the waist/hips area of the wearer, and to manually adjust the strap length to an effective yet comfortable tension, and which harness system distributes the upward pull force of the straps to as large a percentage of the wearer's hips, upper legs, and waist to provide maximal comfort.