Anti-Horse Collar Tackle Safety Device

Abstract

An anti-horse collar tackle safety device, comprising a base having means for attaching the base to a pair of shoulder pads, wherein the base comprises an interior portion facing the shoulder pads and an exterior portion that is accessible from outside a jersey placed over the shoulder pads, and a releasable portion releasably attached to the exterior portion of the base via means for releasable attachment, wherein the releasable portion is configured to release via application of a force equal to or less than about 15 pounds.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An anti-horse collar tackle safety device, comprising:
 a base having slots or holes for attaching the base to a pair of shoulder pads, wherein the base comprises an interior portion facing the shoulder pads and an exterior portion that is accessible from outside a jersey placed over the shoulder pads, wherein the exterior portion has a first surface facing toward the shoulder pads and a second surface facing away from the shoulder pads; and   a releasable portion releasably attached to the second surface of the exterior portion of the base via a hook and loop fastener having hook surface and a loop surface, wherein (i) the releasable portion comprises the hook surface and the second surface of the exterior portion consists of the loop surface or (ii) the releasable portion comprises the loop surface and the second surface of the exterior portion consists of the hook surface, and   wherein the releasable portion releases upon grasping by an opposing player during game play, thereby preventing a horse-collar tackle and possibility for resultant injury to an athlete wearing the safety device.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the base comprises a J-hook shaped plastic plate having a lip, and the lip comprises the second surface of the exterior portion that is accessible from outside the jersey. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the J-hook forms a cap that receives a collar of the jersey placed over the shoulder pads. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the releasable portion comprises an upper cushioning portion and a lower support portion. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the upper cushioning portion is thicker than the lower support portion. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the upper cushioning portion is sized and positioned to substantially block or impede access to a collar of the shoulder pads and/or jersey. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the upper cushioning portion comprises a cylindrical roll. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of bolts and nuts, wherein the bolts and nuts are sized to fit within the holes or slots and extend into corresponding holes or slots in the shoulder pads. 
     
     
         9 . An anti-horse collar tackle safety device, comprising:
 a releasable portion comprising an upper cushioning portion and a lower support portion; and   a base having slots or holes for securing the base to shoulder pads, wherein the base comprises an interior portion facing the shoulder pads and an exterior portion that is accessible from outside a jersey placed over the shoulder pads, wherein the exterior portion has a first surface facing toward the shoulder pads and a second surface facing away from the shoulder pads,   wherein the releasable portion and the base have cooperative hook and loop fastener surfaces for releasably attaching the releasable portion to the base such that the releasable portion is positioned at the upper back, spine and shoulders of an athlete when wearing the safety device,   wherein (i) the releasable portion comprises the hook surface and the second surface of the exterior portion consists of the loop surface or (ii) the releasable portion comprises the loop surface and the second surface of the exterior portion consists of the hook surface, and   wherein the releasable portion is releasably attached to the base and the base is secured by bolts extending through the slots or holes and into holes in the shoulder pads and nuts attached to the bolts such that the releasable portion is operable to release upon grasping by an opposing player during game play, thereby preventing a horse-collar tackle and possibility for resultant injury to an athlete wearing the safety device.   
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the base further comprises a lip extending up and over the collar of the jersey and an outer surface of the lip comprises the second surface of the exterior portion. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the base comprises a J-hook shaped plastic plate having a lip, and the lip comprises the second surface of the exterior portion that is accessible from outside the jersey. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the releasable portion comprises an upper cushioning portion and a lower support portion. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the upper cushioning portion is thicker than the lower support portion. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the upper cushioning portion is sized and positioned to substantially block or impede access to a collar of the shoulder pads and/or jersey. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the upper cushioning portion comprises a cylindrical roll. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the releasable portion is configured to release via application of a force equal to or less than 15 pounds. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the releasable portion is configured to release via application of a force equal to or less than 15 pounds. 
     
     
         18 . A method for preventing injury to an athlete due to horse-collar tackling, comprising:
 releasably attaching an athletic safety device to a piece of equipment to be worn by the athlete, wherein the athletic safety device is positioned at the upper spine and back shoulders of an athlete and wherein the athletic safety device is releasably attached to the piece of athletic equipment such that the safety device is operable to release upon grasping by an opposing player during game play, thereby preventing a horse-collar tackle and possibility for resultant injury to the athlete.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the athletic safety device is the device of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the safety device is operable to release upon application of a force equal to or less than 15 pounds.