Patent ID: 8918920

Claim:
An impact protection device configured for optional use with a neck brace including a front extension, the front extension having a shape defined by a first side edge extending downward and a second side edge extending downward opposite the first side edge, the first and second side edges diverging away from one another in a downward direction, a third side edge extending from the first side edge and a fourth side edge extending downwardly from the second side edge opposite the third side edge, the third and fourth side edges converging toward one another in a downward direction, and an arcuate bottom edge extending between the third and fourth side edges, the impact protection device comprising: a front protective assembly including a shoulder region configured to extend over a wearer's clavicles or shoulders and a chest region configured to extend over the wearer's ribcage; a chest pad receiving region disposed within the chest region at a location corresponding to where the front extension of the neck brace would nest when the neck brace is used, the chest pad receiving region having a shape that corresponds to the shape of the front extension of the neck brace; a rear protective assembly; and a chest pad removably secured within the chest pad receiving region, the chest pad having a shape that corresponds to the shape of the front extension of the neck brace such that the front extension of the neck brace fits into the chest pad receiving region when the chest pad is removed and the chest pad fits within the chest pad receiving region when the wearer chooses not to use the neck brace.