A brace (10) which can be used in the orthopedic sector for correctly blocking and anatomically supporting the vertebral column, substantially consisting of a semirigid slat (11), with elongated vertical development, shaped in accordance with the vertebral column and thus making it possible to follow and support the column, the lower part being attached to straps (12) which are fixed at the front to an abdominal plate (13), wrapping around the waist, and the upper part to the end of straps (14) which also couple to the same abdominal plate (13), passing through loops (15) positioned at the sides, there being, in the initial part of the straps (14), that is to say in the coupling area (16) of the casing that encloses the semirigid slat and to a certain extent the section towards the front of the brace, a pocket (17) surrounded by stitching and in which there is a slit (18), said pocket being designed to accommodate a stiffening element (19) with a substantially arched shape.

The present disclosure seeks to reduce the effects of rotational and linear acceleration experienced by the body of a user in response to an impact force. Modular disengaging systems of the present disclosure are generally suitable for coupling to protective equipment to provide a disengaging motion between various layers such that the effects of the impact force to the body of the user are reduced. Generally described, the modular disengaging systems of the present disclosure include layers configured to facilitate relative lateral motion therebetween upon an impact force.

A spinal support device comprises a biomechanically stiff trapezius grapnel adapted to extend over and engage human trapezius muscles from a dorsal position toward a ventral position, a harness coupled to the trapezius grapnel and adapted to snugly anchor onto a human torso to maintain engagement of the trapezius grapnel with the human trapezius muscles, and a penannular cervical spine support portion coupled to and supported by the trapezius grapnel. The cervical spine support portion comprises a series of biomechanically stiff vertebra supports and a series of symphyseal resistive dampers. The vertebra supports are spaced from one another by symphyseal resistive joints formed by the symphyseal resistive dampers so that the vertebra supports alternate with the symphyseal resistive joints. The vertebra supports and the symphyseal resistive joints are positioned for dorsal alignment with respective alternating human vertebrae.

A garment worn on the upper body is provided with a back support system that can be selectively actuated as needed, and otherwise remains relatively unobtrusive when not actuated. The back support system includes a selectively inflatable and deflatable air bladder positioned at a desired location on a rear part of the garment opposite a portion of the wearer's back that needs support. Preferably, the air bladder is disposed within a pocket or compartment, preferably defined on an interior side of the garment, thereby leaving the exterior of the garment relatively unaltered in a visual sense. In a particular example, the air bladder of the present invention has a physical configuration designed to support specific portions of the spinal column as well as adjoining musculature.

A back protection device for the practice of sporting activities includes a plate covering at least partially the surface of the back and in the thickness of which recesses are made intended to ensure the flexibility of the plate. The plate comprises a longitudinal ridge, the axis of which is intended to extend along the spine by delimiting, on either side, two right and left parts, each composed of an upper zone and a lower zone. The four zones are movable relative to each other, each being provided with recesses in the form of slots opening onto at least one face of the plate and being oriented with an inclination angle that is variable relative to the axis of the longitudinal ridge, so as to dissociate the flexibility of said zones.

A garment includes a wearer protection assembly for a driver of an open vehicle, such as a motorcycle. The wearer protection assembly is operative to automatically detect for the driver wearing the garment, the driver's departure, for example, as a consequence of a highway accident, from the vehicle. In response to such detection, the wearer protection assembly deploys a normally (prior to departure from the motor vehicle) deflated bladder-like gas reservoir to be explosively inflated with a previously-stored compressed gas. The inflated bladder-like gas reservoir provides a gas-filled volume between an outer surface of the garment and body parts of the thrown person. That gas-filled volume is compressible and the gas within absorbs some of the energy encountered by the thrown person in response to external forces resulting from the accident or other separation-causing event.

A structural support system for reinforced garments having an axial support member joined to a spinal support member by a quick release mechanism. The axial support member may be incorporated with a reinforced garment belt, while the spinal support member is incorporated with a jacket or vest. The members may be joined by a quick release pin mechanism, so that the jacket may be quickly removed, while the support belt remains in place. The structural support system may be easily adapted based on the needs of a particular user and configured for a variety of applications. For example, the structural support system may be adapted to be incorporated into a reinforced garment or alternately configured to provide external support.

A motion restrictor device is wearable with a helmet to reduce the risk of head or spine injury caused by injurious movement of the helmet. The device includes a harness wearable by a user of the helmet and a helmet-engaging component supported on the harness. The helmet-engaging component presents laterally spaced apart, fore-and-aft extending helmet-engagement surfaces positioned on opposite sides of the neck of the user when the device is worn.

Systems for holding tactical gear, such as firearm magazines, weapons, etc., and for connecting such holders to a harness are described and may include a carrier, and an accessory holder that is configured to attach to the carrier. The carrier and/or the accessory holder may be formed from substantially rigid materials, such as plastic or the like, and may be configured to be easily attached and detached from one another, using preconfigured, integral connectors. The connectors may be configured to resist rotation of the carrier and accessory holder with respect to each other, and/or to secure the accessory holder at a fixed angle with respect to the carrier. The accessory holder may also include flanges, surface treatments, or other features, that assist in holding the accessory in the holder.

A back support system includes a flexible support formed in the shape of a portion of a spine of a person, the flexible support extending in an “S” shape corresponding to the shape of the spine, a brace portion coupled to the flexible support proximate ends of the flexible support, the brace portion adapted to force the spring portion toward the spine as a wearer bends, and at least one rib extending between the flexible support and the brace portion.