| CPC A42B 3/0473 (2013.01) | 6 Claims |
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1. A protective equipment assembly comprising:
shoulder pads configured for donning by a user and attachment to a chest of the user;
a helmet configured for donning by the user and attachment to a head of the user;
an opening positioned in the helmet, wherein the opening is configured to enable viewing by the user;
a bracing element attached to and extending from one of the helmet and the shoulder pads, the bracing element being selectively attachable to the other of the helmet and the shoulder pads, such that the helmet is substantially fixedly positioned relative to the shoulder pads;
padding attached to an inner surface of the helmet, such that the padding defines an interior space larger than a head of the user, wherein the interior space is configured for allowing rotation and pivoting of the head of the user, wherein the bracing element is configured for limiting motion of the helmet relative to the shoulder pads upon application of a force to the helmet or to the shoulder pads, and wherein the padding is configured for reducing forces applied to the head and a neck of the user resulting from the force to the helmet or to the shoulder pads;
a face mask attached to the helmet and extending over the opening;
wherein the bracing element comprises
a first plate attached by a lower end to and extending upwardly from a rear facet of the shoulder pads,
a first fastener attached to the first plate proximate to an upper end of the first plate,
a second plate attached by an upper limit to and extending downwardly from a rear face of the helmet, and
a second fastener attached to the second plate proximate to a lower limit of the second plate, the second fastener being complementary to the first fastener, such that the second fastener is positioned for selectively fastening to the first fastener for removably attaching the second plate to the first plate;
a plurality of first apertures positioned in the first plate and extending from proximate to the lower end toward the upper end of the first plate;
a back plate attached to the rear facet of the shoulder pads, the first plate being selectively insertable between the back plate and the rear facet of the shoulder pads; and
a plurality of second apertures positioned in the back plate, such that respective first apertures of the plurality of first apertures are selectively alignable with respective second apertures of the plurality of second apertures, positioning the respective first apertures of the plurality of first apertures and the respective second apertures of the plurality of second apertures for insertion of mounting hardware for fixedly attaching the first plate to the back plate, such that the back plate is positioned to resist rotation of the first plate relative to the shoulder pads.
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