HELMET SAFETY COMPONENTS

Abstract

A control device for a safety helmet. The control device comprises a first component and a second component. The first component is a slidable helmet shaft, and the second component is a vest with an elongated receiver for the first component. The control device lessens impact to the head in the event of a collision yet is flexible enough to allow use in an organized sport such as football.

Claims

1. A control device for a safety helmet, said control device comprising a first component and a second component wherein: said first component is a slidable helmet shaft and said second component is a vest with an elongated receiver for said first component; said first component comprising a module attachable to a rear edge of a safety helmet, said module having an elongated shaft; said second component capable of covering, shoulders, upper back and chest of a wearer, said second component having a neck opening and three fastening devices for holding said second component in place on the wearer, said fastening devices comprising: i) an upper tab and receiver for said tab, ii) a chest belt, and, iii) a back shoulder belt; wherein the shaft is slidable horizontally and vertically within the elongated receiver.

2. In combination, a control device as claimed in claim 1 and a fillable set of packs, said fillable packs capable of providing impact protection beneath said vest, said packs being formed of front packs and rear packs being attached to each other by a strap, said packs having an inlet port and an outlet port.

3. The combination as claimed in claim 2 wherein the strap is adjustable.

4. The combination as claimed in claim 2 wherein the fillable packs contain water.

5. The combination as claimed in claim 2 wherein the fillable packs contain a gas.

6. The combination as claimed in claim 5 wherein the gas is helium.

7. The combination as claimed in claim 5 wherein the gas is air.

8. A control device for a safety helmet, said control device comprising a first component and a second component wherein: said first component is a slidable helmet shaft and said second component is fillable packs with an elongated receiver for said first component; said first component comprising a module attachable to a rear edge of a safety helmet, said module having an elongated shaft; said second component capable of covering, shoulders, upper back and chest of a wearer, said second component having a neck opening and three fastening devices for holding said second component in place on the wearer, said fastening devices comprising: iv) an upper tab and receiver for said tab, v) a chest belt, and, vi) a back shoulder belt; wherein the shaft is slidable horizontally and vertically within the elongated receiver.

9. A combination that is a sub-vest and an elongated receiver.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

[0026] FIG. 1 is a full side view of a football helmet with the control device elongated shaft and receiver.

[0027] FIG. 2 is a back view of a component 2 (vest) of this invention.

[0028] FIG. 3 is a full front view of a vest of this invention showing the tab and receiver for fastening the vest together on the shoulders of a player.

[0029] FIG. 4 is a full front view of a vest of this invention fastened together by a chest belt.

[0030] FIG. 5 is a full top view of the first component of this invention showing an elongated receiver.

[0031] FIG. 6 is the top view of FIG. 5 showing the elongated shaft topped with a stop.

[0032] FIG. 7 is a full front view of a set of packs.

[0033] FIG. 8 is a full front view of a control device of this invention combined with fillable packs.

[0034] FIG. 9 is a full front view of a combination of a sub-vest and elongated receiver.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION AND DRAWINGS

[0035] Turning now to FIG. 1 which is a full side view of a control device of this invention on a football helmet 1, there is shown a first component 2 with a slidable elongated shaft 3 inside an elongated receiver 4. As shown, the module that is the elongated shaft 3 is attached to a football helmet 1. This attachment is either glued or formed integrally with the helmet when the helmet is manufactured in order to forego any metallic or plastic fasteners.

[0036] FIGS. 5 and 6 are a top view of the elongated receiver 4 wherein in FIG. 6, there is also shown the stop 14.

[0037] The second component 6 is shown in FIG. 2 which is a vest 7 or garment that is utilized over the shoulders of a person wearing it and quite often worn under traditional shoulder pads. The elongated receiver 4 is mounted on the vest 7 at the back of the vest 7. The elongated receiver 4 is slightly curved to accommodate the curve of a neck of a user (see FIGS. 5 and 6). The elongated receiver 4 is normally about 4 to 6 inches in length and is deep enough so that the total of the elongated shaft 3 will set fully into the elongated receiver 4 when it is necessary. The width of the elongated receiver 4 is normally about inch to 1 inch and the depth of the elongated receiver is about 1 to 3 inches. The top of the shaft 3 is surrounded by a stop 14 which prevents the elongated shaft 3 from dropping too far into the elongated receiver 4 and also acts as a guide for the elongated shaft 3 in the elongated receiver 4.

[0038] The vest 7 can have three fastening devices that can be used to hold the vest 7 in place, namely, an upper tab 8 and receiver 9 for the tab 8 which is in the front 10 of the vest 7 (See FIG. 3), a chest belt 11 (see FIG. 2), and a back shoulder belt 12. For the chest belt 11 and the back shoulder belt 12, the fastening can be buttons, zippers, laces, or a Velcro? type fastener.

[0039] It should be noted that the specific construction of the elongated shaft 3 and the elongated receiver 4 is such that the elongated shaft 3 can slide vertically in the elongated receiver 4 or can slide horizontally in the elongated receiver 4. The length of the elongated shaft 3 is such that the elongated shaft 3 cannot move out of the elongated receiver 4 unless the helmet 1 is removed.

[0040] By this method, the control device allows for backward and forward movement of the player's head, but does not allow aggressive movement in these directions, thus, preventing serious head injury.

[0041] Moreover, the allowable movement in a horizontal direction allows the player the latitude to move his or her head in either direction horizontally, thus giving the player unrestricted movement and view. In football, this would be especially needful for a quarterback or receivers.

[0042] The elongated shaft module and the elongated receiver are manufactured from plastic such as polypropylene, polyethylene, urethane and like polymers.

[0043] It is contemplated within the scope of this invention to utilize fillable packs in combination with the control device of this invention (see FIG. 7). Thus, in FIG. 7 there is shown packs of this invention, showing fillable packs 13, holding straps 15, filler inlet 16 and outlet 17.

[0044] The fillable packs 13 consist of at least two liquid or gas leakproof sacks that are attached to each other by a strap 15 or similar device that allows the fillable packs 13 to drape over the shoulder of a player. Thereafter, the fillable packs 13 are covered by the control device as described just Supra. The fillable packs 13 are held together by the strap 15.

[0045] In yet another embodiment of this invention it is contemplated that the fillable packs 13 can be part of the shoulder pads and not a separate component of the assembly. (See FIG. 8).

[0046] The Figure shows fillable packs 13 and 13 connected together by a stiff bar 18 on which is mounted a control device of this invention.

[0047] The packs have fill ports 16 and outlet ports 17 which allow the packs to be filled with a liquid, for example, cooling water, or heating water. The packs can also be filled with cooled gas, for example helium, or air, or heated gas or air.

[0048] Turning now to FIG. 9, there is shown a full front view of a combination of a sub-vest 19 containing an elongated receiver 4 wherein the elongated receiver 4 is built into the sub-vest 19. This device is intended to be used without traditional shoulder pads, in that, it allows padded protection without the weight accompanying traditional shoulder pads with the added benefit of the protective device of this invention.

[0049] Shown is the sub-vest 19 and the elongated receiver 4 built into the sub-vest 19. The Sub-vest 19 has a front fastening device which can be fastened by any convenient means such as Velcro?, laces, or buttons 20. In addition, the sub-vest 19 has an extended tab 21 (shown in phantom) that inserts into a pocket 22 (shown in phantom) to hold the sub-vest 19 in place. By this means, the sub-vest 19 is easily put into place and easily removed.