Neck brace

Abstract

A neck brace comprising an impact surface which that can limit movement of a helmet by contacting an underside of the helmet. The neck brace further comprises at least one bearing surface configured for bearing on the body of a wearer, and a structure extending between the impact surface and the bearing surfaces configured to transfer impact loads of the helmet on the impact surface to the wearer's body. A part of the impact surface is displaceable towards the wearer's body and the structure is configured to permit the displacement at rates slower than a predetermined rate, as well as to resist displacement if the rate exceeds the predetermined rate.

1 . A neck brace comprising:
 at least one impact surface which, when said brace is used with a helmet, limits movement of said helmet by contacting an underside of said helmet;   at least one bearing surface shaped and configured for bearing on the body of a wearer of said brace; and   a structure that extends between said impact surface and said bearing surface, said structure being sufficiently resilient to transfer impact loads of said helmet on said impact surface to said wearer's body,   wherein at least part of said impact surface is displaceable towards an adjacent part of said bearing surface, and wherein said structure comprises at least one brake configured to permit said displacement and to selectively resist said displacement.   
     
     
         2 . The neck brace of  claim 1 , wherein said brake is configured to permit said displacement at rates slower than a predetermined rate of displacement and to resist said displacement at rates that exceed said predetermined rate. 
     
     
         3 . The neck brace of  claim 1 , wherein said brake is configured to resist said displacement in the event of an impact. 
     
     
         4 . The neck brace of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one pivotal joint disposed between said displaceable part and the non-displaceable part of said neck brace.   
     
     
         5 . The neck brace of  claim 4 , wherein said pivotal joint is configured to permit pivotal, as well as sliding displacement of said displaceable part relative to the non-displaceable part of said neck brace. 
     
     
         6 . The neck brace of  claim 1 , wherein said displaceable part comprises: a rear displaceable part at said rear of said neck brace which is downwardly pivotable towards the upper back of said wearer. 
     
     
         7 . The neck brace of  claim 1 , wherein said displaceable part comprises: a front displaceable part at said front of said neck brace which is downwardly pivotable towards the chest of said wearer. 
     
     
         8 . The neck brace of  claim 7 , wherein said front displaceable part is configured to slide rearwards towards said wearer's chest during said pivotal movement. 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The neck brace of  claim 1 , wherein said brake comprises:
 a first component defining a first brake surface;   a second component defining a second brake surface and which is displaceable relative to said first component when said displaceable part is displaced relative to the non-displaceable part of said neck brace, said first and second braking surfaces extending at an acute angle relative to each other; and   at least one lock element disposed between said first and second brake surfaces;   wherein said lock element is configured to allow movement between said first and second components at rates lower than a predetermined rate and to engage said first and second brake surfaces in a taper lock, when displacement between said two components occurs at a rate exceeding said predetermined rate.   
     
     
         11 . The neck brace of  claim 10 , wherein said first brake surface is a cylindrical surface and said second brake surface is a frusto-conical surface. 
     
     
         12 . The neck brace of  claim 11 , wherein said first component is an outer cylindrical sleeve and said second component is elongate in shape and is longitudinally displaceable with at least part of said second component inside said sleeve, said second component including a protuberance that is configured to protrube outside said sleeve. 
     
     
         13 . The neck brace of  claim 10 , further comprising: an annular recess around the second component and wherein said second brake surface is defined on the inner circumference of said annular recess and wherein at least one lock element is held captive inside said annular recess. 
     
     
         14 . The neck brace of  claim 1 , wherein said selective brake further comprises: a catch connected to a first component of said impact brake element and a recess defined on a second component of said brake element, said catch being receivable in said recess to lock said first and second components against movement relative to each other. 
     
     
         15 . The neck brace of  claim 14 , further comprising: a plurality of said recesses formed in said second component. 
     
     
         16 . The neck brace of  claim 1 , wherein said selective brake further comprises: a first component and a second component received inside said first component and a fluid disposed in the brake between said first and second components, to dampen movement between said components. 
     
     
         17 . The neck brace of  claim 16 , wherein said fluid has a viscosity that can be varied by applying an electrical charge to said fluid.