Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US8002723?dq=7143430
Timestamp: 2013-12-07 05:51:16
Document Index: 613479278

Matched Legal Cases: ['Application No. 04816084', 'Application No. 04816084', 'Application No. 09165346', 'Application No. 20040035072', 'Application No. 09165346', 'Application No. 548068', 'Application No. 2004293118', 'Application No. 04816084', 'Application No. 20062971', 'Application No. 200607118', 'Application No. 10', 'Application No. 10', 'Application No. 20040035072', 'Application No. 20040035072', 'Application No. 175931', 'Application No. 20062971', 'Application No. 20040035072', 'Application No. 2', 'Application No. 04816084', 'Application No. 04816084', 'Application No. 548068', 'Application No. 04816084', 'Application No. 20040035072', 'Application No. 10', 'Application No. 10', 'Application No. 175931', 'Application No. 20040035072', 'Application No. 2004293118', 'Application No. 2004293118', 'Application No. 2004293118', 'Application No. 2004293118']

Patent US8002723 - Neck brace - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Advanced Patent Search | Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsA neck brace (10) is disclosed which comprises two sections (12, 14) which are releasably connected to one another along a split line (18). The ring has upwardly facing surfaces (30, 76.1, 20.2) which limit tilting movement of a helmeted head in all directions. The brace further has a column (68, 70)...http://www.google.com/patents/US8002723?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US8002723 - Neck bracePublication numberUS8002723 B2Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 11/690,412Publication dateAug 23, 2011Filing dateMar 23, 2007Priority dateNov 26, 2003Also published asCA2547855A1, CN1886101A, DE602004025975D1, EP1696842A2, EP1696842B1, EP2113231A1, EP2113231B1, US7993293, US20070010771, US20070156072, US20120203157, WO2005051251A2, WO2005051251A3Publication number11690412, 690412, US 8002723 B2, US 8002723B2, US-B2-8002723, US8002723 B2, US8002723B2InventorsChristopher James LEATTOriginal AssigneeXceed Holdings CcPatent Citations (72), Non-Patent Citations (53), Referenced by (2), Classifications (12), Legal Events (3) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetNeck braceUS 8002723 B2Abstract A neck brace (10) is disclosed which comprises two sections (12, 14) which are releasably connected to one another along a split line (18). The ring has upwardly facing surfaces (30, 76.1, 20.2) which limit tilting movement of a helmeted head in all directions. The brace further has a column (68, 70) which extends downwardly from the ring for transferring loads to the wearer's back on each side of the spine.
a ring adapted to substantially encircle a wearer's neck and to provide a clearance between the ring and a front lower rim of a full face helmet when the helmet is worn by the wearer, the clearance allowing a range of freedom of movement of the helmet above the ring, the ring having a front section constructed and arranged to limit forward tilt of the helmet through contact of the front lower rim of the helmet with the front section of the ring; and
a lower forward member extending from the ring and having sufficient rigidity to transfer to the wearer's chest at least some of a force applied to the front section of the ring by the front lower rim of the helmet; and
2. The neck brace of claim 1, wherein the ring comprises:
two U-shaped sections.
4. The neck brace of claim 1, further comprising:
a first fracture zone, adjacent the front section, configured to collapse prior to the remainder of the brace collapsing in response to a first force applied to the front section of the ring by the front lower rim of the helmet thereby absorbing at least some of the first force.
5. The neck brace of claim 4, further comprising:
an upwardly extending rear surface constructed and arranged to limit rearward tilt of the helmet through contact of a rear lower rim of the helmet and the upwardly extending rear surface.
6. The neck brace of claim 5, further comprising:
a second fracture zone, adjacent the upwardly extending rear surface, configured to collapse prior to the remainder of the brace collapsing in response to a second force applied to the upwardly extending rear surface by the rear lower rim of the helmet thereby absorbing at least some of the second force.
7. The neck brace of claim 6, wherein at least one of the first and second fracture zones is formed by using one or more materials collectively having a strength that is less than the strength of the materials used to form the remainder of the brace.
flanges configured to prevent substantial rotation of the neck brace on the wearer.
9. The neck brace of claim 6, wherein at least one of the first and second fracture zones has walls that are thinner than the walls forming the remainder of the brace.
10. The neck brace of claim 1, further comprising:
a rigid structure connected to and extending between the ring and the lower forward member.
11. The neck brace of claim 10, wherein the ring extends outwardly beyond the rigid structure.
12. A neck brace, comprising:
a ring adapted to substantially encircle a wearer's neck and to provide a clearance between the ring and a front lower rim of a full face helmet when the helmet is worn by the wearer, the clearance allowing a range of freedom of movement of the helmet above the ring, the ring having an upwardly extending rear surface configured to limit rearward tilt of the helmet through contact of a rear lower rim of the helmet with the upwardly extending rear surface; and
a lower rear member extending from the ring and having sufficient rigidity to transfer to the wearer's back at least some of a force applied to the upwardly extending rear surface by the rear lower rim of the helmet.
13. The neck brace of claim 12, wherein the ring has a front section constructed and arranged to limit forward tilt of the helmet through contact of the front lower rim of the helmet with the front section of the ring.
a second fracture zone, adjacent the front surface, configured to collapse prior to the remainder of the brace collapsing in response to a second force applied to the front section of the ring by the lower rim of the helmet thereby absorbing at least some of the second force.
15. The neck brace of claim 14, wherein the second fracture zone is formed by using one or more materials collectively having a strength that is less than the strength of the remainder of the brace.
16. The neck brace of claim 12, further comprising:
a lower forward member extending from the ring and constructed and arranged to transfer to the wearer's chest at least some of a force applied to the front section of the ring by the front lower rim of the helmet.
18. The neck brace of claim 17, wherein the ring extends outwardly beyond the rigid structure.
19. The neck brace of claim 12, wherein the ring further has a side surface constructed and arranged to limit sideward tilt of the helmet through contact of a side lower rim of the helmet and the side surface of the ring.
20. The neck brace of claim 12, further comprising:
a first fracture zone, adjacent the upwardly extending rear surface, configured to collapse prior to the remainder of the brace collapsing in response to a first force applied to the upwardly extending rear surface by the rear lower rim of the helmet thereby absorbing at least some of the first force.
21. The neck brace of claim 20, wherein the first fracture zone has walls that are thinner than the walls forming the remainder of the brace.
22. The neck brace of claim 12, further comprising:
23. The neck brace of claim 12, wherein the ring comprises:
24. The neck brace of claim 23, wherein the U-shaped sections are configured to releasably latch together.
25. A neck brace, comprising:
a first U-shaped section adapted to be operatively positioned around the neck of a wearer and configured to allow clearance between a lower rim of a full face helmet when worn on the wearer's head and the first U-shaped section, the clearance allowing freedom of movement of the helmet above the first U-shaped section, the first U-shaped section including a rear section configured to limit tilt of the helmet through contact of a rear lower rim of the helmet with the rear section of the first U-shaped section; and
a lower section, extending from the first U-shaped section, and having sufficient rigidity to transfer to the wearer's back at least some of a force applied to the rear section of the first U-shaped section by the rear lower rim of the helmet.
26. The neck brace of claim 25, further comprising:
a second U-shaped section configured to releasably latch to the first U-shaped section so that the first and second U-shaped sections substantially encircle the wearer's neck, the second U-shaped section including a front section.
a first fracture zone, adjacent the rear section, configured to collapse prior to the remainder of the brace collapsing in response to a force applied to the rear section of the U-shaped section by the rear lower rim of the helmet.
28. The neck brace of claim 27, further comprising:
a second fracture zone, adjacent the front section, configured to collapse prior to the remainder of the brace collapsing in response to a second force applied to the front section of the U-shaped section by a front lower rim of the helmet.
29. The neck brace of claim 28, wherein at least one of the first and second fracture zones is formed by using one or more materials collectively having a strength that is less than the strength of the remainder of the brace.
30. The neck brace of claim 28, wherein at least one of the first and second fracture zones has walls that are thinner than the walls forming the remainder of the brace.
31. The neck brace of claim 25, wherein the ring further has a side surface constructed and arranged to limit sideward tilt of the helmet through contact of a side lower rim of the helmet and the side surface of the ring.
32. The neck brace of claim 25, further comprising:
33. The neck brace of claim 32, wherein the ring extends outwardly beyond the rigid structure.
34. The neck brace of claim 25, further comprising:
35. A neck brace, comprising:
a ring adapted to substantially encircle a wearer's neck and to provide a clearance between the ring and a front lower rim of a full face helmet when the helmet is worn by the wearer, the clearance allowing a range of freedom of movement of the helmet above the ring, the ring having a front section constructed and arranged to limit forward tilt of the helmet through contact of the front lower rim of the helmet with the front section of the ring;
36. The neck brace of claim 35, wherein the ring comprises:
37. The neck brace of claim 36, wherein the U-shaped sections are configured to releasably latch together.
38. The neck brace of claim 35, wherein the ring further has a side surface constructed and arranged to limit sideward tilt of the helmet through contact of a side lower rim of the helmet and the side surface of the ring.
39. The neck brace of claim 35, further comprising:
40. The neck brace of claim 39, further comprising:
41. The neck brace of claim 40, wherein at least one of the first and second fracture zones is formed by using one or more materials collectively having a strength that is less than the strength of the materials used to form the remainder of the brace.
42. The neck brace of claim 40, wherein at least one of the first and second fracture zones has walls that are thinner than the walls forming the remainder of the brace.
43. The neck brace of claim 41, further comprising:
44. The neck brace of claim 35, further comprising:
45. The neck brace of claim 44, wherein the ring extends outwardly beyond the rigid structure.
46. A neck brace, comprising:
47. The neck brace of claim 46, wherein the ring comprises:
48. The neck brace of claim 47, wherein the U-shaped sections are configured to releasably latch together.
49. The neck brace of claim 46, wherein the ring further has a side surface constructed and arranged to limit sideward tilt of the helmet through contact of a side lower rim of the helmet and the side surface of the ring.
50. The neck brace of claim 46, further comprising:
51. The neck brace of claim 50, further comprising:
52. The neck brace of claim 51, further comprising:
53. The neck brace of claim 52, wherein at least one of the first and second fracture zones is formed by using one or more materials collectively having a strength that is less than the strength of the materials used to form the remainder of the brace.
54. The neck brace of claim 53, further comprising:
55. The neck brace of claim 52, wherein at least one of the first and second fracture zones has walls that are thinner than the walls forming the remainder of the brace.
56. The neck brace of claim 46, wherein the ring extends outwardly beyond the rigid structure.
This application is a continuation of U.S. Utility patent application Ser. No. 11/440,576 filed May 25, 2006 which is a continuation of international application PCT/ZA2004/000148 filed 26 Nov. 2004, published in English under PCT Article 21(2), which claims benefit from South African Application Serial No. 2003/9174 filed 26 Nov. 2003, the specifications all of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.
The top edge and the inclined forward face 76.1 of the wall section 76 lie close to the wearer's crash helmet and limit both projection and rearward tilting movement of the head. The column constituted by the bar 68 and plate 70 transmits, via the pad 72, impact loads to the wearer's back. These loads are imposed not on the spine but on two zones lying one on each side of the spine.
The top flange 20 of the front section lies below the lower rim of a helmet of the full face type and thus limits forward tilting motion of a helmeted head. The front part of the flange 22 lies on the wearer's chest and transmits loads to it through the cushioning 40 on the underside of the flange 22.
The most significant difference between the two braces is that the wall section 76 of FIGS. 1 to 6 is of far smaller height as can best be seen in FIG. 12. The wall section 76 limits movement of the helmet and head in the direction of the arrow A. Such movement is referred to, in medical terms, as �projection�. The upper surface of the brace limits tilting of the head and helmet in the direction indicated by the arrow B.
By providing a rigid sub-structure of resin covered with cushioning material, and building fracture zones into the rigid sub-structure, it is possible to minimise the transmission of impact shocks to the wearer's neck region by absorbing the shocks. The lip 38, which forms a forward extension of the ring, controls forward tilting movement of the helmeted head. The lower edge of the rear part of the helmet is adjacent the sloping face 76.1 of the wall section 76 and limits both projection and tilting of the helmeted head. Finally the surfaces 20.2 of the top flanges which lie on opposite sides of the neck (see particularly FIGS. 1 and 11) inhibit sideways movement of the head by contact between themselves and the helmet.
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Gibson filed in opposition to Australian Patent Application No. 2004293118, Signed Mar. 24, 2010.51Substantive Examination Adverse Report, Malaysian Patent Application No. PI 20062407, mailed Aug. 1, 2009.52White, Augustus A. and Panjabi, Manohar M., "Clinical Biomechanics of the Spine," 2nd Edition, Lippincott, 1990.53Written Opinion of the International Searching Authority, PCT/ZA2004/000148, mailed Jul. 5, 2005.Referenced byCiting PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS8484768 *Oct 26, 2007Jul 16, 2013Xceed Holdings CcNeck braceUS20100088809 *Oct 26, 2007Apr 15, 2010Xceed Holdings (Pty) LimitedNeck brace* Cited by examinerClassifications U.S. Classification602/18, 2/422, 602/17International ClassificationA42B1/24, A61F5/00, A61F5/055Cooperative ClassificationA41D13/0512, A42B3/0473, A41D2600/102, A61F5/055European ClassificationA61F5/055, A42B3/04B8Legal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionOct 11, 2010ASAssignmentOwner name: XCEED HOLDINGS CC, SOUTH AFRICAFree format text: CONVERSION OF COMPANY INTO A CLOSE CORPORATION FROM COMPANIES AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY REGISTRAIONOFFICE (CIPRO);ASSIGNOR:XCEED HOLDINGS (PTY) LTD.;REEL/FRAME:025119/0441Effective date: 20100629May 5, 2009ASAssignmentOwner name: XCEED HOLDINGS (PTY) LTD., SOUTH AFRICAFree format text: CHANGE OF NAME;ASSIGNOR:LEATT BRACE HOLDINGS (PTY) LTD.;REEL/FRAME:022637/0590Effective date: 20081022Sep 10, 2008ASAssignmentOwner name: LEATT BRACE HOLDINGS LTD., SOUTH AFRICAFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:LEATT, CHRISTOPHER JAMES, DR.;REEL/FRAME:021508/0522Effective date: 20080813RotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services©2012 Google