The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 04, 2004
Filed:
Mar. 01, 2002
John W. Bassick, Paxton, MA (US);
Edward A. DuBois, Auburn, MA (US);
Daniel M. Barry, Oxford, MA (US);
David Clark Company, Inc., Worcester, MA (US);
Abstract
For use in a high performance racing vehicle or the like in which the torso of a driver is restrained in a seat by a harness that includes shoulder straps extending over the driver's shoulder, and a helmet is worn by the driver, a neck support and head restraint device comprises an inflatable collar configured and dimensioned to surround the driver's neck at a location between the driver's helmet and shoulders. The collar is anchored to the shoulder straps of the restraining harness. At least one and preferably two tethers are strategically connected at opposite ends to the collar and the helmet. The collar is normally in a pliable collapsed state, with the tethers loosely extending between the helmet and collar to thereby accommodate relatively unimpeded head movement. In an emergency situation, the collar is instantaneously inflated to a relatively stiff expanded state that tensions the tethers, resulting in the rear portion of the helmet being pulled down against the collar to thereby provide beneficial neck support and head restraint.