Patent Publication Number: US-2013239310-A1

Title: Anti-concussion compression, survibility and sustainbilty safty device for the neck and spine

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No. 61/612,036, filed Mar. 16, 2012, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to survivability, sustainability and safety devices and more particularly, to survivability, sustainability and safety unit worn in high contact activities that can minimize injuries and increase survivability and sustainability. 
     Conventional devices are typically a pad wrapped around the muscle to protect it from objects. These devices are not support devices and are not engineered to replicate and enhance muscle and bone kinematic skeleton characteristics. These conventional devices do not have compression resistance and do restrict movement. 
     As can be seen, there is a need for an improved safety unit that can be worn in high contact, impact and endurance activities to reduce the risk of injury and Increase the probability of surviving a injury. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one aspect of the present invention, a survivability, sustainability and safety unit to be worn in high contact activities comprises a globe and base shell frame; and a synthetic muscle shell bonded to the globe and base shell frame, wherein the synthetic muscle shell is formed in a peanut shape and is adapted to fit about the back and sides of a neck of a user. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, a survivability and safety unit to be worn in high contact, impact and or strain on the neck and spine activities comprising a globe and base shell frame; a synthetic muscle shell bonded to the globe and base shell frame; a tension and stabilizer strap bonded to the synthetic muscle shell; and an adjustable strap bonded to the synthetic muscle shell and the tension and stabilizer strap, the adjustable strap operable to span about a front of a user&#39;s neck wherein the synthetic muscle shell is formed in a peanut shape and is adapted to fit about the back and sides of the neck of the user. 
     In a further aspect of the present invention, a method for reducing head and neck impact injuries comprises disposing a survivability, sustainability and safety unit, device or garment about the user&#39;s neck, the safety unit, device or garment including a globe and base shell frame and a synthetic muscle shell bonded to the globe and base shell frame, wherein the synthetic muscle shell is formed in a peanut shape and is adapted to fit about the back and sides of a neck of a user; attaching an adjustable strap around a front portion of the user&#39;s neck; and absorbing and dampening impact received on the user&#39;s head, neck and spine through the safety unit, device or garment mimicking neck muscles of the user. 
     These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a safety unit according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of the safety unit of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of the safety unit of  FIG. 1  with the adjustable strap removed for clarity; 
         FIG. 4  is a rear view of the safety unit of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a composite illustrating the position of the synthetic shell relative to the globe and base shell frame of the safety unit of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a composite illustrating the position of the tension and stabilizer strap and the skin side memory reactive smart film and or form shell layer relative to the composite of  FIG. 6 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
     Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a survivability and safety unit (also referred to as a safety unit) to be worn in high contact activities that will minimize injuries and help prevent quadriplegic injuries and concussions. The survivability, sustainability safety unit and or embodiments of the present invention provides synthetic muscle and skeleton frame, strength and resistance enhancement. The safety unit of the present invention can replicate neck muscle and bone function as a kinematic device. It can withstand high velocity impacts, it dampens the impact load and extends the shock impact or strain absorption distribution. 
     Referring now to the  FIGS. 1 through 7 , a globe and base shell frame  12  provides the foundation for the other element relationships, as described in greater below. A synthetic muscle shell  14  can be bonded to the shell frame  12 . In some embodiments of the present invention, the synthetic muscle shell  14  can include first and second synthetic muscle shells  14 , each bonded to the globe and base shell frame  12 . 
     A tension and stabilizer strap  16  can be bonded to the synthetic muscle shell(s)  14 . In some embodiments, a synthetic kinematic muscle mechanism linkage connector can kinematically bond the synthetic muscle shell(s)  14  to the tension and stabilizer strap  16 . 
     An adjustable strap  24  can be bonded to the synthetic muscle shell(s)  14  and the tension and stabilizer strap  16 . A skin side memory smart foam shell layer  18  can optionally be bonded to the inside of the globe and base shell frame  12 . The foam shell layer  18  may be made of a memory foam molded insert, a memory foam molded and coated insert or a reactive film memory foam molded and inserted. Optionally, the globe and base shell frame  12  may be coated with a polymer coating during the sheet molding and embodiment process. 
       FIG. 6  shows a composite  20  formed of the globe and base shell frame  12  bonded to the synthetic muscle shell(s)  14 .  FIG. 7  shows a composite  22  formed of the tension and stabilizer strap  16  and the skin side memory reactive smart film and or form shell layer  18  bonded to the composite  20 . 
     Each element of the safety unit of the present invention may be scientifically engineered in material specifications, geometrical shape, mathematical kinematic linkage definition and interacting relationship with every body or shell assimilated composition process into a single apparatus safety device. Pivot joints can be created at specific points during the composition process of each synthetic shell. In essence, the safety unit of the present invention acts as a disposable muscle graft, enhancing the wearer&#39;s own neck muscles to help support the neck from high velocity impacts by dampening the impact load and extending the shock absorption distribution. 
     As shown in the Figures, especially in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the safety unit is typically designed as a trapezoidal shape. It has been found that such a shape is effective to mimic the user&#39;s own neck muscles and help the user survive, recover from and prevent impact injuries. 
     The globe and base shell frame can be manufactured from a mandrel hot wrap form mold and pressure formed cool process. This process to form, mold and interweave this material is then wrapped in a special way to be molded into the forming die or mold, then pressure cooled, trimmed and protected for the next assembly process. 
     Various components of the safety unit of the present invention can be made from various materials known in the art, such as rubber nylon, rubber plastic, rubber plastic LPM 60/40 grade nitrogen/air micro reaction spheres, reactive charged and intelligent polymer fabric film, and memory reactive smart film or foam or electronic embodiments like ribbon circuitry and sensor or medical survivability and sustainability systems, chemical reservoir&#39;s or fire prevention support and flotation embodiments. Depending on the embodiment composition protocol and processes will determine encapsulated objective embodiments. 
     Typically, the survivability, sustainability safety unit of the present invention is used for enhancing and improving stabilization of the neck and spine. However, the safety unit of the present invention can be applied to any aspect to the human neck and spine muscle and skeletal structure. 
     Testing of the survivability, sustainability safety unit of the present invention has shown an increase in the survivability rate of a brain concussion or spine impact type of injury by up to 40%. The safety unit of the present invention can be a foundation in many survivability areas that are subject to impact brain concussions and/or neck spinal injuries, such as hockey, football, NASCAR and 
     Depart of Defense medical and security and automotive applications. The safety unit of the present invention can increase the sustainability of the brain and spine by increasing the endurance and strength of the neck by up to 50%, typically by absorbing, dispersing and reducing the energy received. The safety unit of the present invention can reduce the violent reactions of an impact on the skull by up to 27% and can reduce the violent movement results of a skull impact from the neck by up to 2:1. 
     A static shear overlay study of nine different safety units made according to embodiments of the present invention, as compared to an un-braced impact measured displacement (mm) as a function of load (N). A 6 mm displacement was found with a load of about 320N for the un-braced impact, while, with the safety unit of the present invention, a 6 mm impact was not achieved until a load from about 350N to about 550N was applied. 
     It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.