Abstract:
A whiplash restrainer for use by riders in vehicles, generally in conjunction with safety belts. A helmet-like device is secured, with reasonable freedom of motion of the rider&#39;s head, to a shock absorber by a joint device. The shock absorber is removeably secured to the vehicle seat back.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
   1. Field of Invention 
   This invention relates generally to a safety device for drivers and passengers of vehicles, such as automobiles, speedboats, aircrafts and the like, and is more particularly designed for preventing head or neck injury caused by sudden and dramatic change in speed, such as in traffic crashes. 
   2. Discussion of Related Arts 
   Although the use of safety belts has greatly reduced the number of injuries and deaths in traffic accidents, many drivers or passengers, generally referred to herein as “riders,” still suffer from head or neck injuries in traffic accidents or sudden and dramatic changes in speed when using safety belts. The deficiency of the safety belt is that it only restrains that portion of the body part below the neck of the seat-belt user. The head of the user is still subject to large deceleration forces during a crash, which often results in head or neck damage to the user, commonly known as “whiplash.” 
   Whiplash is a soft tissue (with or without bone) injury to the neck resulting in neck sprain or neck strain. Such injury is usually caused by the sudden backward movement (extension) and forward movement (flexion) of the neck during a vehicle crash when the rider&#39;s body experiences dramatic change in speed in a very short time interval. Severe whiplash may cause injury to intervertebral joints, discs, ligaments, cervical muscles and nerve roots, vertebral bone fracture, or may even be fatal to the rider. 
   During a crash or sudden change in speed, the head of the user is fixed safely on the headrest by the present invention, and the body part below the neck position of the user is fixed onto the seat by the seat belt. The continuing forward or backward movement of the head or the neck with respect to the body of the user is avoided by the present invention. 
   Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 6,363,540 discloses a helmet with the forehead portion of the helmet being connected to the seat by a strap. The disadvantage of this device is that during sudden deceleration, the restraint force is applied mainly to the forehead of the user, while the continuing forward motion of the head and neck, with the forehead being restrained, will result in hyper-extension, thereby causing neck injury. The strap also experiences high frictional force in the channel for its large contact surface area which hinders the turning movement of the user&#39;s head. The rigid shell design of the helmet is also inconvenient for a domestic car driver. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,909,459 discloses another restraint device. The disadvantage of this device is that a considerable length of the strap between the loop and the helmet is required to allow a free and smooth rotational movement of the user&#39;s head, while the increased length will fail to restrain the backward movement (extension) and forward movement (flexion) of the neck to prevent the whiplash. 
   Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 6,009,566 discloses another restraint device using a restraining yoke and collar. The disadvantage of this device is that it is inconvenient and uncomfortable for riders in domestic cars. The strap restrains the user&#39;s head movement in a horizontal plane and limits the rotational movement of the head. A considerable length of the strap is required to enable a free rotation of the user&#39;s head, while such increased length of the strap will reduce the protection against whiplash, as encountered in the &#39;459 patent. 
   The existing safety restraints do not effectively restrain the backward movement (extension) and forward movement (flexion) of the neck so as to prevent whiplash. Some restraint devices are inconvenient and uncomfortable for the riders in domestic car. Other restraint devices either restrain the rotational movement of the user&#39;s head or otherwise limit the range of vision of the user. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   A purpose of the present invention is to provide a whiplash restrainer to be used with a body restraining device to protect the user from whiplash. 
   Another object of the invention is to provide a whiplash restrainer which comprises a head and neck restrainer, a shock absorber and a joint device, the joint device being embedded in the shock absorber and connecting the head and neck restrainer with the shock absorber. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide a whiplash restrainer which comprises a head and neck restrainer, a shock absorber and a joint device, the shock absorber confining the head and neck restrainer close to its front surface and preventing the neck of the user from bending up or down, except for a very limited degree. 
   Another object of the invention is to provide a whiplash restrainer which restrains the user&#39;s neck from moving forward or backward beyond the vertical axis of the body. 
   Still another object of this invention is to provide a whiplash restrainer which prevents any sudden extension or flexion on the neck of the user which may result in whiplash. 
   Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a whiplash restrainer containing a head and neck restrainer which is worn on the user&#39;s head and follows the movement of the head, providing forward and lateral fields of view for the user. 
   A further object of this invention is to provide a whiplash restrainer containing a head and neck restrainer and a joint device which enables the user&#39;s head to turn freely and smoothly in the horizontal plane. 
   Another object of the invention is to provide a whiplash restrainer containing a head and neck restrainer and a joint device which enables the user&#39;s head to rotate and move freely to a limited degree to prevent the type of backward and forward movement of the neck which results in whiplash. 
   Still another object of the present invention is to provide a whiplash restrainer containing a joint device which uses bearings to reduce the friction experienced at the joint during the turning movement of the user&#39;s head. 
   A further object of the invention is to provide a whiplash restrainer containing a joint device with a T-shaped rail to enhance the durability of the joint. 
   Yet another object of the invention is to provide a whiplash restrainer containing a shock absorber, the size of which can be readily adjusted to fit with the user&#39;s head and neck. 
   Another object of this invention is to provide a whiplash restrainer containing a shock absorber which absorbs the shock from behind when the vehicle collision occurs at the back, and prevents the shock from transmitting directly to the user. 
   Yet another object of this invention is to provide a whiplash restrainer which can be conveniently put on and removed from the user. 
   A still further object of the invention is to provide a whiplash restrainer which can be conveniently installed onto any existing vehicle seat. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING 
     The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures, wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a stylized sectional view of a whiplash restrainer in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the whiplash restrainer in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention in use; 
       FIG. 3A  is a perspective view of a head and neck restrainer portion of the apparatus of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 3B  is a side view of the head and neck restrainer of  FIG. 3A ; 
       FIG. 3C  is a top plan view of the head and neck restrainer of  FIG. 3A ; 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective partial view of a T-shaped rail used with the apparatus of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 5A  is a perspective view of a curved metal case used with the apparatus of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 5B  is a cross-sectional view of the curved metal case, taken along line  5 B- 5 B of  FIG. 5A ; 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective partial view of the structures of  FIGS. 4 and 5  in an interlock position for use in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 7  is a enlarged partial sectional view of the structure of  FIG. 6 ; 
       FIG. 8A  is a front view of the shock absorber in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 8B  is a cross-sectional view of the shock absorber, taken along line  8 B- 8 B of  FIG. 8A ; 
       FIG. 8C  is a cross-sectional view of the shock absorber, taken along line  8 C- 8 C of  FIG. 8A ; 
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the device of  FIG. 5A  in an attached condition; 
       FIG. 10  is a rear perspective view of the apparatus of  FIG. 8 ; 
       FIG. 11  is a side view of the apparatus of  FIG. 8  showing an additional cushion sheet; and 
       FIG. 12  is the front view of the whiplash restrainer in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention in use. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
   With reference now to the drawing, and more particularly to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown which includes head and neck restrainer  10 , shock absorber  30 , and joint device  50 . 
   As illustrated in  FIGS. 3A ,  3 B and  3 C, head and neck restrainer  10  has rigid outer shell  12  enclosing the forehead, the chin, the side and the back of the user&#39;s head. The head and neck restrainer has top opening  14 , front opening  16  and bottom opening  18  exposing the corresponding areas of the user&#39;s head. The top opening and the front opening facilitate the ventilation inside the head and neck restrainer. The front opening also provides forward and lateral fields of view for the user. The outer shell is formed from a rigid material, such as aluminum. 
   Head and neck restrainer  10  is further provided with front portions  20  at the forehead area and the chin area of the user, which may open up to provide access for the user&#39;s head. By way of non-limiting example, each front portion  20  has a right portion and a left portion having hinge joint  22  on its one end connecting the head and neck restrainer, and locking device  24  on its other end for buckling up the right portion and the left portion in the middle of the front portion. 
   Alternatively, each of front portions  20  may be a single portion containing a hinge joint on one end connecting the head and neck restrainer, and a locking device on its other end for buckling up with head and neck restrainer  10 . 
   The inner surface of the head and neck restrainer is covered by a shock absorbing layer  26  for protecting the user&#39;s face and head during impact. Alternatively, the head and neck restrainer may be in other form, such as a conventional helmet. 
   As illustrated in  FIGS. 3A and 4 , a portion of joint device  50  (see  FIG. 6 ) includes metal curvilinear T-shaped rail  52  protruding out from and extending around the back portion of head and neck restrainer  10 . The T-shaped rail has a curvilinear horizontal plane  53  attached to outer shell  12 . By way of example, the horizontal plane may be about 5 cm wide and about 5 mm thick. The horizontal plane extends from a position on one side of the outer shell behind front opening  16  around the back portion of the head and neck restrainer to the corresponding position on the other side. Horizontal plane  53  is further attached to a curvilinear vertical plane  54  having the same length as the horizontal plane. By way of example, the vertical plane may be about 6 cm high and about 5 mm thick. 
   As illustrated in  FIGS. 3A and 3B , a lower front portion  21  of the head and neck restrainer  10  is provided for supporting the user&#39;s chin during a sudden forward movement of the head. Some of the restraining force from the joint device  50  can therefore be transmitted to a lower position of the head, that is, the chin area near the upper part of the neck of the user. Otherwise, the restraining force will be focused on the forehead of the user and may cause injury to the user&#39;s neck when the sudden forward movement of the head is restrained. 
   As illustrated in  FIGS. 5A and 5B , another portion of joint device  50  includes curved metal case  55  having a back wall  56  in the shape of the vertical plane  54  of T-shaped rail  52  for receiving the T-shaped rail. Two clamp teeth  57  and  58  are formed at the front of the curved metal case extending from the top and bottom inner surface of the curved metal case near the middle part to interlock with the T-shaped rail  52 . 
   The interlocked position of the T-shaped rail  52  and the curved metal case  55 , forming joint device  50 , is illustrated in  FIG. 6 . The clamp teeth  57  and  58  are in a curvilinear shape to match with the vertical plane of the T-shaped rail. The curved metal case further contains bearings  60  adjacent to the clamp teeth and above and below the T-shaped rail for reducing friction encountered in the sliding movement of the T-shaped rail inside the curved metal case near the clamp teeth and for enhancing a smooth turning movement of the head and neck restrainer  10  with respect to the joint device  50 . By way of non-limiting example, the inner dimension of the curved metal case may be about 8 cm high and about 5.5 cm deep in the middle part. 
   Bearings  60  may be ball bearings or cylindrical bearings arranged in a plane parallel with curvilinear vertical plane  54  of T-shaped rail  52 . The bearings are positioned anterior to vertical plane  54 . All bearings are in contact with the vertical plane when the vertical plane is in touch with the bearings vertically. 
   By way of non-limiting example, curved metal case  55  contains eight ball bearings of about 1 cm diameter each. As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , four bearings in two vertical columns are positioned above horizontal plane  53  and anterior to curvilinear vertical plane  54 . Two vertical poles  62  may be attached to the inner top surface of the curved metal case adjacent to upper clamp tooth  57  for co-axially connecting the bearings in each vertical column and for fixing the axial turning direction of the bearings. Two circular stops  63  may be formed on each pole for fixing the position of the bearings to the non-attached end of the pole. By way of example, each pole has a length of about 3 cm. 
   By way of non-limiting example, four bearings  60  and two vertical poles  62  are arranged in the curved metal case  55  below horizontal plane  53  of T-shaped rail  52  and in their corresponding positions of the bearings and the poles above the horizontal plane. 
   By way of example, there may be approximately 2 cm vertical distance between top and bottom bearings  60 . The front of clamp teeth  57  and  58  may be covered by cushioning material  31  of about 1 cm thick. In the position when vertical plane  54  is in touch vertically with all eight bearings  60 , by way of example, there may be approximately 2.5 cm horizontal distance between the surface curvature of outer shell  12  and the corresponding cushioning material in front of the clamp teeth. In the same position, there may be an approximately 4 cm horizontal distance between vertical plane  54  and back wall  56  of curved metal case  55  wherein T-shaped rail  52  may tilt upward or downward in a limited degree. The user is thus allowed to move their head in a degree within a safe range, for example, of about 2.5 cm forward and backward and about 2 cm upward and downward, but is restrained from extensive backward and forward movement of the neck which may cause whiplash. The user can turn their head freely to the right and left. 
   As illustrated in  FIGS. 8A ,  8 B and  8 C, curved metal case  55  is embedded in cavity  66  in the shape of the curved metal case in the front portion of shock absorber  30 . Clamp teeth  57  and  58  may be covered by cushioning material  31  of the shock absorber at its front for absorbing the shock from the impact of outer shell  12 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 3A and 3B , the back of the outer shell may be in the form of a curvilinear vertical plane having a height greater than the height of the curved metal case, so that the contact area for absorbing the shock from an impact between the front of clamp teeth  57  and  58  and outer shell is maximized. 
   Shock absorber  30  may include solely cushion  32  of collapsible material formed from, for example, a foamed polymeric material for absorbing the shock of impact from outer shell  12 . Front surface  34  of the cushion is shaped to fit the head and neck restrainer  10  while back surface  36  of the cushion is of a curved shape for matching with seat back  46 . The shock absorber absorbs the shock from behind when the vehicle collision occurs at the back, and prevents the shock from being transmitted directly to the user. H-shaped opening  35  is formed on the front surface of the cushion for the access of T-shaped rail  52 . 
   As illustrated in  FIGS. 8C ,  9  and  10 , the shock absorber  30  further includes two metallic strips  38  each extending horizontally and sideward from ends of back wall  56  of curved metal case  55 . A portion of said metallic strip is contained inside cushion  32 . The metallic strip may further extend backward at the side of the shock absorber and connect with length adjustable strap  39  extending backward along side of the shock absorber for securing the shock absorber onto seat back  46 . Straps  39  further include buckle device  40  for connection behind the seat back  46  for securing the shock absorber onto the seat back. The shock absorber may further contain, another set of straps and buckle device at a position lower than strap  39  for securing shock absorber  30  onto the seat back. 
   As illustrated in  FIG. 11 , additional cushion sheet  44  of various thickness, or numerous cushion sheets, may be placed between cushion  32  and seat back  46  for adjusting the thickness of shock absorber  30  to fit with the user&#39;s head and neck. The front and back surfaces of the cushion sheet are adapted to match with the shape of the surfaces of the cushion and the seat back or with each other. 
   As an alternative, shock absorber  30  may be directly built into a seat back to be sold with the vehicle. 
   As illustrated in  FIG. 12 , the present invention should be used with body restraining device  70  attached to seat back  46 , such as a safety belt, to restrain the body of the user on to the seat back. By way of unlimited example, the safety belt is bilateral to spread the force evenly on the user&#39;s body. 
   While the invention has been described in detail with reference to disclosed embodiments, various modifications within the scope of the invention will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in this technological field. It is to be appreciated that features described with respect to one embodiment typically may be applied to other embodiments. Therefore, the invention properly is to be construed only with reference to the claims.