GB2532237A

GB2532237A - Protection system

Info

Publication number: GB2532237A
Application number: GB1420133.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jenkins Barry
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-11-12
Filing date: 2014-11-12
Publication date: 2016-05-18
Also published as: GB201420133D0

Abstract

A soft foam protective head guard H comprising a sensor S1 located in a receptacle in the head guard. The sensor transmits sensor data and information. Preferably, the sensor is an accelerometer, or a biometric sensor. Preferably the sensor is removable from the head guard and transmits information to a personal computer, a mobile phone with relevant application software, or any other monitoring equipment. Preferably the sensor is located behind and between the ears. The sensor may be located in a pocket or pouch with a top opening and sealed on its right, left and bottom sides, such that it sits behind the ear of the user. The sensor may report events wirelessly by storing data relating to movement and sending data to remote monitoring equipment. The events may be sudden deceleration or dangerous manoeuvres. The head guard preferably has space available for personalisation, such as the name of the player N.

Description

PROTECTION SYSTEM

This invention relates to a protection system for providing information concerning the movement of a participant in contact sports such as rugby, football, and the like, wherein the information is transmitted from a sensor, for instance an accelerometer, or a biometric sensor, located, as part of the system, in the region of the head of the said participant, inside a head guard.

In one application, the system incorporates means for inserting, and removing, a sensor, which transmits information measured by the accelerometer 1) to a Personal Computer, which stores and interprets the information by means of appropriate software, ii) to a mobile phone containing application software, commonly referred to as an Application, or App, which interprets the information, and iii) to any other monitoring equipment.

The system is incorporated into a specially designed, soft-foam, protective head guard, of the type commonly used in rugby, and which is becoming increasingly common in many other sports, wherein the protective head guard incorporates a receptacle which accepts a sensor. The head guard provides a tight, but comfortable, fit, around the head of the user, thereby ensuring that the said sensor is in close contact with that part of the body of the user, which best provides data, pertinent to monitoring them. Ideally, the sensor will be located anywhere on the surface of the head, at the rear, behind, and between, the ears where there will be a minimum probability of contact with another player.

The sensor is located inside a receptacle, which is described in more detail, later in the description.

Other sensors, such as biometric sensors, are utilisable as part of the protection system, 30 and these, measure, body temperature, perspiration, heart rate, breathing rate, glucose levels, and the like, wherein the location of any particular sensor, will depend on the body parameters to be measured.

Trials of sensors worn by rugby players will be undertaken according to the 35 regulations set by the International Rugby Board, particularly Regulation 12, regarding the standards set for clothing worn by a rugby player.

The location of the sensors will therefore be critical, in order, i) to protect the wearer, and ii) to protect other players. It will also be important to i) ensure that the sensor is adequately covered, in order to protect the wearer, and other players, and ii) protect the sensor itself, from damage during use, and in transit. The size of the sensor needs to be considered so that it performs the required function, and so that it is not too large.

According to the present invention, a protective system involving a soft, foam based head guard, which is used in a range of sports for the protection of the player, accommodates a sensor, for instance an impact sensor, or a biometric sensor, which stores data, and reports events wirelessly, to a receiving device, wherein such events are, for instance, the movement of the head of a player wearing the head guard of the system, when the player undergoes potentially dangerous manoeuvres, such acceleration and deceleration of the head, during participation in contact sports such as rugby, football, and the like, wherein the information is transmitted from, a biometric sensor, or an accelerometer, which is located, as part of the system, in the region of the head of the said participant, inside the said head guard.

The head guard contains, on its inside region, a receptacle which comprises a pocket which has a top opening and which is sealed on its right, left, and bottom, regions, for embedding the said sensor in a position located at the rear of the headgear, so that it sits behind the ear of the user, where it is less likely to receive a direct impact from another player, and thereby enables the monitoring of the movement of the head, wherein data relating to such movement, is then sent to monitoring equipment located remotely, for the purposes of monitoring the condition of the player.

It is envisaged that, based upon Moore's law, the size and shape of the biometric sensor will reduce over a period of time due to continual advances in electronics, and medical knowledge.

It is pointed out that the head gear of the system has a space available for personalisation, via the placement of the name of the user in an easily identifiable position on the head guard, wherein this feature can be implemented by means of, but not limited to, the sewing in, of the name on a label, the embroidering of the name directly onto the head guard, or by screen printing, and the like.

In order to describe the invention in more detail, reference will now be made to the accompanying diagrams in which: Figure 1, shows two-dimensional, views of embodiments of the invention from a range of directions.

Figure 2 shows, two-dimensional and three dimensional views of embodiments of the invention and includes an enlarged view of the part of an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 3 shows, in three-dimensional form, outside views and inside views of embodiments of the invention.

Figure 4 shows, in three-dimensional form, outside views and inside views of embodiments of the invention.

Figure 5 shows, in three-dimensional form, outside views and inside views of embodiments of the invention, with enlarged views of parts of the embodiments.

Figure 6 shows, in three-dimensional shaded form, outside views and inside views of 20 embodiments of the invention, with enlarged views of parts of the embodiments.

Figure 7 shows, in thee-dimensional form, outside views and inside views of embodiments of the invention, with enlarged views of parts of the embodiments, and with the inside view shown in shaded form.

With reference to Figure 1, this represents, three, three-dimensional views of the soft, head guard, HG, in which a sensor has been inserted in either of two positions, Si, or S2. The left hand diagram, 1, shows the rear of the head guard, with one of the alternative positions, S1, of the sensor, located inside a receptacle (not shown in the diagram) formed inside the head guard, and shown rearward of the position of the left ear of the player when the head guard is worn, thereby enabling it to send appropriate data to the receiving station. Ties, T, allow the head guard to be placed on the head of the player, initially in a loose configuration for fitting, so that the ties can subsequently be tied securely by the player. Holes, H, allow for adequate ventilation, and soft protrusions, SP, provide protection for the head of the player. The inside of the head guard is lined with soft material so that the head of the player is adequately protected.

In order to ensure correct identification of the player whose medical data is being transmitted during a game, the name, N, of the player, in this case shown as the words, NAME 15, is permanently located as shown, and this naming is implemented, i) by sewing in of a label indicating the name of the player, ii) by the embroidering of the name directly onto the head guard, iii) by screen printing, or iv) by other suitable methods. According to rules that can be established for use of the head guard of the o invention, each sensor is marked internally, and externally, with the name of a player, wherein the said name will also be programmed into the electronics of the sensor, and also placed on the outside of the sensor, wherein this name will be exactly the same as that on the head guard label, and will be officially checked, and officially endorsed, by a person or body responsible for ensuring that the said established rules are complied with.

Thus, before the commencement of a game, essential procedures will be enforced in order to ensure that the name on the head guard worn by a player, matches that on the sensor, both, via externally visible names, and via the information transmitted by the sensor to the receiving equipment, during essential test routines. The referee of the game, or someone appointed officially, will oversee this procedure.

With further reference to Figure 1, the middle diagram, 2, represents a side-elevation of the head guard, and shows, the name, N, the alternative position of the sensor, S2, in a receptacle located inside the head guard and behind the right ear of the player, and a chin strap, CS. A group of holes, ER, formed in the head guard, in the region of the right ear of the player, allow the player to hear external sounds, and a symmetrically placed set of holes performing the same function, are formed on the other side of the head guard, in the region of the left ear.

With still further reference to Figure 1, the right hand diagram, 3, represents a front view of the head guard, and shows the two alternative positions, S1, and S2, of the sensor, the ties, T, and the holes, H. With reference to Figure 2, which represents two dimensional and three-dimensional views, this shows the location of the sensor, in the head guard, HG, in its two alternative positions, S 1, and S2, as already described with reference to Figure 1, and shows, in the right hand diagram, an inset, enlarged view of the sensor receptacle, SR.

It is pointed out that, although one sensor has been shown in two alternative, positions, there can be more than one sensor, with an appropriate receptacle for each, and all sensors need to be fitted in a positon which provides for sufficient measurement of biometric parameters, and which does not present a hazard to the wearer of the head to guard, and to other players.

With reference to Figure 3, which represents three-dimensional views of the head guard, HG, this shows, in the left hand diagram, 10, a view of the outside of the head guard, HG, before final assembly as a fittable item, and shows the holes, H, the soft protrusions, SP, the location, S1, of the sensor, the name, N, and the positions, ER, right, and EL, left, of the groups of holes which provide for adequate hearing.

With reference to Figure 4, which represents three-dimensional views of the head guard, this is similar to Figure 3, but shows the various parts, in shaded form, so, for brevity, is not described again.

With reference to Figure 5, which represents three-dimensional views of the head guard, HG, this is similar to Figure 3, but shows enlarged views of parts of the head guard, HG. Since the parts shown have already been described with reference to 25 Figure 3, for the purposes of brevity, they are not described again.

With reference to Figure 6, which represents three-dimensional views of the head guard, this is similar to Figure 5, but is shown in shaded form. Since the parts shown have already been described with reference to Figure 5, for the purposes of brevity, 30 they are not described again.

With reference to Figure 7, which represents three-dimensional views of the head guard, this is similar to Figure 6, but shows only the right hand diagram, 11, in shaded form, and also shows the sensor, in position, S I, in shaded enlarged, form. Since the parts shown have already been described with reference to Figure 5, for the purposes of brevity, they are not described again.

Claims

Claims 1. A protection system for providing information concerning the movement of a participant in contact sports, the system comprising: a soft-foam protective head guard; and a sensor located inside a head guard, in the region of the head of said participant, in use; wherein the sensor is configured to transmit the information; and wherein the head guard incorporates a receptacle configured to accept the sensor to inside.
2. The protection system of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises an accelerometer.
3. The protection system of claim 2, wherein: the head guard incorporates means for inserting and removing the sensor; and T the sensor is configured to transmit information measured by the accelerometer to: CD i) a Personal Computer, which is configured to store and interpret the CO 20 information by means of appropriate software; C\J ii) a mobile phone containing application software, which is configured to interpret the information; and iii) to any other monitoring equipment.
4. The protection system of any preceding claim wherein, in use, the sensor is located on the surface of the head, at the rear, behind and between, the ears.
5. The protection system of any preceding claim, wherein the sensor may comprise a biometric sensor. 30
6. The protection system of claim I: wherein the receptacle is located on an inside region of the head guard, and comprises a pocket which has a top opening and which is sealed on its right, left, and bottom, regions, for embedding said sensor in a position located at the rear of the headgear, so that it sits behind the ear of the user; wherein the sensor is configured to report events wirelessly to a receiving device by storing data relating to movement and sending said data to monitoring equipment located remotely, for the purposes of monitoring the condition of the player; and wherein the head guard has a space available for personalisation, via the placement of the name of the user in an easily identifiable position on the head guard.
7. The protection system of claim 6, wherein such events arc the movement of the head of a player wearing the head guard, when the player undergoes potentially dangerous manoeuvres, such acceleration and deceleration of the head. (3) OCO