A combination helmet and body protection device for use in contact sports and other activities requiring protection from force impacts is provided. The combination helmet and body protection device provides protection for the human body from potentially crippling forces applied to the head and upper body, comprising shoulder pad collar, a rear helmet portion, a main helmet portion, and a locking mechanism. The rear helmet portion is securely connected to the shoulder pad collar such that the rear helmet portion transfers impact forces inflicted along the helmet to the shoulder pad collar. The main helmet portion is rotatably connected to the rear helmet portion, allowing the main helmet portion to flip open along the rear helmet portion. The main helmet portion is also releasably connected to the shoulder pad collar through a locking mechanism, allowing the user to selectively position the main helmet between an open and a closed configuration.

A head and neck support and protection device includes an arm that is pivotably mounted, at a first end, to a support and has at a second end a slidably-mounted element connected to a helmet clip. The helmet clip engages a helmet pin. A resistance block transfers energy into a vehicle chassis when the arm hits the resistance block. The slidably-mounted element slides out of the arm, in a controlled manner, when conditions indicating a crash have been met.

An impact diffusing system for protecting a user's head includes a headpiece cage coupled to a thoracic framework. In one aspect, the headpiece cage includes at least two support bars, a plurality of rigid bars surrounding at least a portion of the forehead, top, and sides of the head, and a face mask that encloses at least a portion the user's face. The thoracic framework covers at least a portion of a chest, upper back, and shoulders of the user, and the thoracic framework is attached to the support bars of the headpiece cage in a manner that prevents movement of the headpiece cage relative to the thoracic framework. In another aspect, the system includes a helmet component (formed of e.g., carbon fiber) coupled to a thoracic cage, wherein the helmet component is a solid, unitary piece that surrounds the top, back, and sides of the user's head.

The present invention relates to a device that stabilizes and/or protects the head and spine from injuries. An immobilization device includes one or more pillars with multiple segments that protect the head and spine of a user. The pillars typically run along the part of the head and spine and pelvis that the device protects. A cable or wire runs through these segments in the pillars. By design, when the pillars of the invented system are not activated and the system is in normal use, the pillars are designed to be as flexible as possible and allow full physiologic motion of the protected body part. Activation of the system confers rigidity to the system and prevents or lessens harmful, non-physiologic motion of the body part intended to be protected. The present invention also encompasses a immobilization device with cables used to guide the deployment of rigid tubes to stabilize and protect the head of the user. The present invention further includes segments with flat guide protrusions for increased stability of the pillars. The immobilization device can further include rigid tubes that extent to receivers when they are activated, and which can also be used to stabilize and protect the head or neck of the user.

A protective device and method of use includes a collar portion for positioning behind the neck of a wear and a right leg and a left leg connected to the collar portion that extend over the chest of a wearer. The collar portion and legs may be constructed of a single piece. An upwardly extending portion extends upwardly behind the head of a wearer and is movably affixed to the collar portion. A shock absorber has a first end attached to the collar portion and a second end attached to the upwardly extending portion to resist forward motion of the upwardly extending portion. A connector, such as a strap, communicates the upwardly extending portion to a helmet. Therefore, deceleration of the upwardly extending portion and a connected helmet is affected by the shock absorber, thereby mitigating the effects of a sudden deceleration as is often experienced during an auto accident.

A protective helmet is provided having an upper section and a lower section, each having an inside and an outside surface. A gap is formed between the upper section and the lower section. Resilient members in the form of a plurality of spaced apart compression struts are provided for connecting the upper section to the lower section. The upper section is movable with respect to the lower section whereby a portion of the force of an impact to the upper section will be absorbed and will not be transmitted to the lower section. A suspension harness is attached to the inside surface of the lower section. The suspension harness is adapted to receive a portion of the helmet user's head and to keep the helmet user's head from contacting the inside surface of the upper section.

Example implementations relate to providing head and neck support. An example system includes a helmet, a load bearing harness, and a flexible extension coupled between the helmet and the load bearing harness. An activation of a magnetic field proximate the flexible extension causes a ferromagnetic infused medium to transition from a fluid state to a substantially rigid state causing the flexible extension to transition from a flexible state to a rigid state. When the flexible extension is in the rigid state, force applied to the helmet transfers through the flexible extension to the load bearing harness. The system further includes a sensor configured to detect an event. Particularly, the sensor causes the activation of the magnetic field proximate the flexible extension in response to detecting the event.

An improved head protection helmet assembly includes a helmet and a torso subassembly that is either a support vest or a shoulder pad subassembly. The helmet and torso subassembly are attached together in a way the helmet cannot move relative to the torso subassembly. A force applied to the helmet is transferred to the torso subassembly. The head of a person using the head protection helmet assembly can be moved inside, and relative to, the helmet. The head protection helmet assembly can also include front and rear body plates attached to the torso subassembly to reduce movement of the torso subassembly and the helmet.

A protective helmet attachment connects a helmet to a set of shoulder pads. The attachment includes a set of links that are attached to the helmet, and are adapted to ride within an annular track situated around the head opening in the shoulder pads. The links redistribute the force from a blow to the head down to the shoulders and body. The links may be of one piece that is rigidly attached to the helmet, thus providing maximum protection. Alternatively, the links may be formed of two pieces that are pivotally connected using a shoulder bolt, thus somewhat reducing the level of protection afforded against a blow to the front or back of the head but maintaining the ability to tilt the head.

An anti-concussion helmet attachment collar assembly includes a cowl body attached to a curved helmet attachment ring segment at its upper end, and to a cowl support ring at its lower end. A circular rolling element bearing is interposed between the bottom of the cowl support ring and the interior shoulder of an underlying central ring, facilitating rotation of the cowl support ring with respect to the central ring. A modified helmet incorporates a flange with keyhole openings coupleable with standoff rivets on the helmet attachment ring segment. A base attached to equipment, such as football shoulder pads, is configured to selectively couple with the central ring during use.