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  Head stabilizing systemUSPTO Application #: 20070245464Title: Head stabilizing system Abstract: A head stabilizing system is provided. The head stabilizing system is intended to minimize loads on the head and the neck, some of which may be injurious or even fatal, by generating a reaction force that substantially opposes a force acting on the head and generated by rapid deceleration of a vehicle or a crash impact. The head stabilizing system includes a helmet, a connection structure, and at least one resisting member. The resisting member generates a reaction force that opposes the crash impact force, yielding a reduced net force on the head. This reaction force can be generated as a function of position, velocity or acceleration. The resisting member may include a tether, a dashpot, or a dashpot containing a controllable rheological fluid. The viscosity of the controllable rheological fluid can be automatically adjusted in response to changes in status of a vehicle or it's occupant. (end of abstract) Agent: Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner LLP - Washington, DC, US Inventor: Gregg S. Baker USPTO Applicaton #: 20070245464 - Class: 002411000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Apparel, Guard Or Protector, For Wearer's Head, Including Energy-absorbing Means The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070245464. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
[0001] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 119 based on U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/312,754, filed Aug. 17, 2001, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/315,359, filed Aug. 29, 2001, the complete disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention relates to a head stabilizing system for minimizing loads on the head and the neck, some of which may be injurious or even fatal, by generating a reaction force that substantially opposes a force acting on the head and generated by rapid deceleration of a vehicle or a crash impact. [0004] 2. Background of the Invention [0005] Activities that involve high speed, such as racing cars or boats and flying aircraft, involve a large risk of a high speed crash. Such crashes involve rapid deceleration of the vehicle and the portion of its occupant connected, via seatbelt or harness, to the vehicle. However, the head and the neck of the occupant are generally not connected to the seat, and thus the head of the occupant accelerates rapidly with respect to the body, exerting a large force on the base of the skull, the neck muscles, ligaments, and the spinal cord of the occupant, and creating a large risk for severe head and neck injuries. Injuries caused by violent head movement were the most common cause of death among race car drivers during the last decade. When the head accelerates rapidly with respect to the body, large loads on the neck will occur, commonly resulting in basilar skull fracture, a condition in which the base of the skull cracks from stress, often causing trauma to arteries and the spinal cord. [0006] Several head and neck protection devices have been developed to protect individuals from injury during rapid deceleration. For example, one device attaches a helmet to a yoke to be fitted around a wearer's shoulders. By attaching the helmet to the yoke around a user's shoulders, force is transferred away from the neck of the wearer through the device to the shoulder harness of a vehicle. Another device, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,371,905, limits motion of the head due to actuation of a valve achieved by attaining a minimum velocity of the head. Other devices include helmets attached to a wearer's yoke, to the seat or other fixed portion of the vehicle, or a network of webbing worn by the driver. Many of these devices restrict movement of the wearer during normal use, making the devices cumbersome and even dangerous to wear, due, for example, to their potential for limiting driver visibility, interference with control of the vehicle, or inhibiting the wearer's ability to exit the vehicle in the event of fire. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0007] In accordance with the invention, a system for stabilizing the head during deceleration is provided, the system generates a reaction force that substantially opposes the force generated by the deceleration, yielding a reduced net force on the head. [0008] According to one aspect of the present invention, a head stabilizing system for limiting the load acting on a wearer's head and generated by displacement, velocity, or acceleration of the wearer's head with respect to the wearer's body is provided. The system comprises a helmet, a connection structure, and at least one resisting member positioned between and connected to the helmet and the connection structure, wherein the at least one resisting member generates a reaction force that substantially opposes a crash impact force to yield a reduced net force on the head. [0009] According to another aspect of the present invention, a head stabilizing system for limiting the load acting on a wearer's head and generated by displacement, velocity, or acceleration of the wearer's head with respect to the wearer's body is provided. The system comprises a resisting member having first and second ends, a helmet mount connector for connecting the resisting member to a helmet, the helmet mount being attached to the first end of the resisting member, and a movable harness connector for connecting a safety harness of a vehicle to the resisting member, the harness connector being attached to the second end of the resisting member. [0010] According to a further aspect of the present invention, a head stabilizing system for limiting the load acting on a wearer's head and generated by displacement, velocity, or acceleration of the wearer's head with respect to the wearer's body comprises a helmet, and means for generating a reaction force that substantially opposes a crash impact force to yield a reduced net force on the head. [0011] According to yet another aspect of the present invention, an automatically adjustable head stabilizing system for limiting the load acting on a wearer's head and generated by displacement, velocity, or acceleration of the wearer's head with respect to the wearer's body is provided. The system comprises a helmet, a connection structure, means for continuously monitoring a status of a vehicle and/or driver, and at least one dashpot containing a controllable rheological fluid, the at least one dashpot positioned between and connected to the helmet and the connection structure, wherein the viscosity of the Theological fluid in the dashpot automatically changes in response to or in anticipation of a change in a load being applied to the helmet and head of the wearer. [0012] According to another aspect of the present invention, an automatically adjustable head stabilizing system for limiting the load acting on a wearer's head and generated by displacement, velocity, or acceleration of the wearer's head with respect to the wearer's body comprises a bladder positionable around a wearer's neck and containing a controllable rheological, wherein the viscosity of the rheological fluid in the bladder automatically changes based on changes in a load being applied to the head of the wearer. [0013] According to a further aspect of the present invention, a method of automatically limiting the load acting on a wearer's head and generated by displacement, velocity, or acceleration of the wearer's head with respect to the wearer's body is provided. The method comprises providing an occupant of a moving vehicle with a system comprising a helmet, a connection structure, means for continuously monitoring a status of a vehicle and/or driver, and at least one dashpot containing a controllable rheological fluid, the at least one dashpot positioned between and connected to the helmet and the connection structure, wherein the viscosity of the rheological fluid in the dashpot automatically changes in response to or in anticipation of a change in a load being applied to the helmet and head of the wearer, continuously monitoring the status of at least one of the vehicle and the occupant, and automatically changing the viscosity of the rheological fluid in the dashpot in response to changes in the status. [0014] According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a method of automatically limiting the load acting on a wearer's head and generated by displacement, velocity, or acceleration of the wearer's head with respect to the wearer's body includes providing an occupant of a moving vehicle with a system comprising a bladder positionable around a wearer's neck and containing a controllable rheological, wherein the viscosity of the rheological fluid in the bladder automatically changes based on changes in a load being applied to the head of the wearer, continuously monitoring the status of at least one of the vehicle and the occupant, and automatically changing the viscosity of the rheological fluid in the dashpot in response to changes in the status. [0015] According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a head stabilizing system for limiting the load acting on a wearer's head and generated by displacement, velocity, or acceleration of the wearer's head with respect to the wearer's body comprises a helmet having an upper portion and a lower portion connected via a hinge, and at least one resisting member having a first end connected to the upper portion of the helmet and having a second end connected to the lower portion of the helmet, wherein the at least one resisting member generates a reaction force that substantially opposes a crash impact force to yield a reduced net force on the head. [0016] Additional advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description that follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. [0017] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed. [0018] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate several embodiments of the invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0019] FIG. 1A is a side view of a head stabilizing system according to one aspect of the present invention; [0020] FIG. 1B is a side view of an alternative embodiment of a head stabilizing device according to one aspect of the present invention; [0021] FIG. 1C is a side view of an alternative embodiment of a head stabilizing device according to one aspect of the present invention; Continue reading... Full patent description for Head stabilizing system Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Head stabilizing system patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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