DEVICE TO AVOID WHIPLASH INJURIES

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for preventing whiplash injuries and is characterized in that it has the form of a cylindrical ring (1) which is worn around the user's neck and which is made of a rigid, but deformable, material; and in that the ring (1) is lockably divided (2) at at least one location.

Description: DEVICE TO AVOID WHIPLASH INJURIES The present invention relates to a device for preventing whiplash injuries. Even light vehicle collisions can result in serious whiplash injuries to vehicle passengers. Such whiplash injuries constitute a very large percentage of the total number of traffic injuries and are so well known as to make unnecessary any detailed account of the nature of these injuries in this document. Such injuries can be caused to the passengers of a vehicle as a result of a rear-end collision, a front-end collision and a side-on collision. The so-called neck rests with which the majority of modern cars are equipped are unable to prevent whiplash injuries. In this regard, attempts have been made to equip vehicles with a protective device that is activated in the event of a collision and that prevents the head being thrown rearwards in the event of a tail-end collision. Attempts have also been made to restrain the head of a vehicle occupant in the event of a side-on collision. These vehicle-installed protective devices against whiplash injuries are complicated and expensive and, in the best of cases, protect the passenger in only one collision direction. The inventors have come to the conclusion that in order to provide complete protection to a vehicle occupant against whiplash injury as a result of a collision from any direction, the passenger must carry the protective device himself/herself . Accordingly, the invention provides a device according to the characterizing clause of Claim 1 with which the head of a person using the inventive device is prevented from executing the exaggerated "whipping motion" that causes said injury. Because the device is made from a rigid but deformable material, it is able to absorb and dampen effectively those forces concerned in this respect. Once having been subjected to the strains concerned in the present context, however, the device is no longer usable and must be replaced with an unused device. The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to an exemplifying embodiment thereof and also with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 illustrates the inventive device from above; Fig. 2 illustrates the device of Fig. 1 from one side; Fig 3 is a sectional view of the inventive device, taken on the line III-III in Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 shows the device when open, for instance in order to don the device. Fig. 1 shows the inventive device in the form of a cylindrical ring 1 having a certain height or vertical extension and made of a rigid but deformable material, such as Frigolit®, for instance, or material of comparable qualities. The illustrated ring 1 is divided at 2 and also at 3, although a hinge is provided at this latter division in the form of a flexible band 4, which is fastened to the ring and forms said hinge in the outer peripheral surface of the ring. Fastened to the inner surface of the ring at the hinge and the division 3 is a piece of elastic 5 which stretches when the ring is opened (Fig. 4) and contracts when the ring is closed, such as to form a smooth surface against the neck of the wearer. The wearer will not feel any discomfort as a result of the hinge or the division 3. The reference numeral 6 identifies a touch-and-close fastener which may be permanently fastened to the ring 1 on one side of the division 2 and which functions to hold the ring 1 together when in use, with the end edges of the divided location 2 in mutual abutment. The device can thus be put on and taken off very easily. With respect to wearer comfort, it has been found possible to form the ring 1 so that a part 7 of its bottom edge will conform to the wearer's shoulders and such that a forward part 8 of said bottom edge will conform to the extension of the wearer's neck down towards his/her chest, and with a rearwardly located part 9 that conforms to the extension of the neck down towards the shoulders . As will be seen from Fig. 2, the upper edge of the ring 1 may conform to the extension of the bottom edge and therewith contribute to the comfort of the inventive device. The upper edge of the ring is suitable covered with a softer material 10 of foam-rubber type, also to enhance the comfort of the ring when worn. The ring 1, including the soft material 10, is suitably given an outer covering of aesthetically attractive, skin-comfortable material, such as a textile 11 or like material. The ring is donned by the wearer, by opening the ring around the hinge 4, see Fig. 4, and placing the ring around his/her neck with the part 7 of the bottom edge resting against the shoulders. The ring-halves are locked together with the aid of the touch-and-close fastener band 6, so as to hold the ring in place. By virtue of its rigid, but pliable, material the inventive device will absorb the kinetic energy of the wearer's head and neck and prevent the neck from being bent to extreme positions in which the cervical vertebrae are damaged. The inventive device provides the same protective function irrespective of the direction of a collision. The device is adapted to the wearer's "neck size" and the ring 1 may have a height or vertical extension of between about 30 to 50 mm and a thickness of about 20 mm. It will be understood that the term "cylindrical ring" does not mean that the ring need be completely circular-cylindrical, but includes a slightly oval profile so as to fit the shape of the wearer's neck. The bottom edge of the ring may also be covered with a softer material. It is, of course, also possible to use a material or an inside lining that enables the hinge 4 to be excluded and the ring, itself, to be sufficiently resilient to enable the device to be put on and taken off.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A device for preventing whiplash injuries, characterized in that the device has the form of a cylindrical ring ( 1 ) that is worn around the wearer's neck and made of a rigid, but deformable, material; and in that the ring (1) is lockably divided (2) at at least one location on said ring; and in that the ring includes generally diametrically of said divided location a hinge-like joint (4) which is positioned generally in the outer peripheral surface of the ring; and in that the joint is covered on the inside of the ring with a piece of elastic (5). 2. A device according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the ring (1) is comprised of Frigolit®. 3. A device according to Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the ring ( 1 ) is provided with a wearer-comfort lining (11) at least on the inner surface of the ring. 4. A device according to any one of the preceding Claims, characterized in that when the ring (1) is worn, at least the upper edge of the ring will include a soft material (10) in the nature of a rubber-foam material. 5. A device according to any one of the preceding Claims, characterized in that the ring ( 1 ) includes at the divided location (2) a touch-and-close fastener (6) which functions to hold the ring together when worn. 6. A device according to any one of the preceding Claims, characterized in that the bottom edge ( 7 ) of the ring ( 1 ) , as seen when the device is worn, conforms to the shoulders of the wearer and forwardly ( 8 ) accompanies the extension of the wearer's neck down towards his/her chest, and rearwardly (9) conforms to the extension of the neck down towards the shoulders .

Inventors: BLAUS MARTIN, EWALD MATTIAS, HALVARDSSON CONNY, LERJESTAD JOERGEN, BLAUS, MARTIN, EWALD, MATTIAS, HALVARDSSON, CONNY, LERJESTAD, JOERGEN
Applicants: BLAUS MARTIN, EWALD MATTIAS, HALVARDSSON CONNY, LERJESTAD JOERGEN, BLAUS, MARTIN, EWALD, MATTIAS, HALVARDSSON, CONNY, LERJESTAD, JOERGEN
Application year: 1997
Main classification: A41D13
IPC codes: A41D13, A61F5