Head and neck protection system

1. A head and neck protection system comprising:

a dome portion including a rear frame and a cage having a plurality of viewports attached to a front of the rear frame;

a base ring formed around a bottom perimeter of the rear frame and cage;

an upper torso padded portion removably attached to the base ring; and

a front locking device that includes a U-shaped latch that extends over a top of the base ring through one of the plurality of viewports and downward over both sides of the base ring thereby engaging a locking device disposed on an upper portion of a chest plate when the dome portion is in a closed position,

wherein the dome portion is configured such that a when a wearer's head moves in its full range of motion, the wearer's head does not touch the inside of the dome portion in any direction such that a force from a collision is transmitted to the wearer's upper torso, thereby bypassing the wearer's head and neck.

2. The head and neck protection system of claim 1 , wherein the upper torso padded portion includes shoulder pads, a front protector attached to a front of the shoulder pads, and a rear protector attached to a rear of the shoulder pads.

3. The head and neck protection system of claim 2 , wherein the front protector includes a front padding extending downward from the shoulder pads to protect the wearer's upper torso and a front chest plate attached to a front of the front padding.

4. The head and neck protection system of claim 2 , wherein the rear protector includes a rear padding extending downward from the shoulder pads to protect a back of the wearer's upper torso and a rear plate attached to a front of the rear padding.

5. The head and neck protection system of claim 2 further comprising a pair of straps that attach to a lower portion of the rear plate, wherein each strap extends around opposite sides of the wearer's upper torso and attaches to a tightening device attached to the front protector that facilitates a tightening of the front protector and the rear protector in accordance with the wearer's upper torso.

6. The head and neck protection system of claim 5 , wherein the tightening device is a ratcheting device, wherein each strap is inserted through a slot defined in the front protector and engages the ratcheting device, wherein the wearer rotates a handle on the ratcheting device to tighten the pair of straps thereby tightening the front protector and the rear protector in accordance with the wearer's upper torso.

7. The head and neck protection system of claim 1 further comprising a hinged rear fastening device attached to a rear upper portion of the upper torso padded portion that pivotally attaches a rear of the dome portion to a rear of the upper torso padded portion.

8. The head and neck protection system of claim 7 , wherein the front locking device further includes a release mechanism that releases the U-shaped latch from the locking device when depressed.

9. The head and neck protection system of claim 1 further comprising a first stabilizer that surrounds the neck area, a second stabilizer disposed behind the wearer's head that extends upward to approximately the center of gravity of the head, and a third stabilizer disposed below a chin of the wearer.

10. A helmet and shoulder/vest system comprising:

a rear frame;

a cage attached to a front of the rear frame and having a plurality of viewports defined between intersecting vertical members and cross members, wherein the rear frame and the cage form the helmet;

shoulder pads;

a front protector attached to a front of the shoulder pads;

a rear protector attached to a rear of the shoulder pads;

a channel defined inside a top perimeter defined by the attachment of the shoulder pads, the front protector, and the rear protector;

a base ring formed around a bottom perimeter of the rear frame and cage that engages the channel such that a force from a collision is transmitted through the helmet and through the channel and to the shoulder pads, front protector, and rear protector, thereby bypassing the wearer's head and neck; and

a front locking device that includes a U-shaped latch that extends over a top of the base ring through one of the plurality of viewports and downward over both sides of the base ring thereby engaging a locking device disposed on an upper portion of the front protector when the dome portion is in a closed position.

11. The helmet and shoulder/vest system of claim 10 , wherein the rear frame and cage are configured such that a when a wearer's head moves in its full range of motion, the wearer's head does not touch the inside of the rear frame or the cage in any direction.

12. The helmet and shoulder/vest system of claim 10 , wherein the front protector includes a first left front plate, a second left front plate disposed below the first left front plate, a left padding attached to the first and second left front plates such that the left padding contacts the wearer's front left side upper torso area, a first right front plate, a second right front plate disposed below the first right front plate, and a right padding attached to the first and second right front plates such that the right padding contacts the wearer's front right side upper torso area.

13. The helmet and shoulder/vest system of claim 10 , wherein the rear protector includes a first left rear plate, a second left rear plate disposed below the first left rear plate, a left padding attached to the first and second left rear plates such that the left padding contacts the wearer's rear left side upper torso area, a first right rear plate, a second right rear plate disposed below the first right rear plate, and a right padding attached to the first and second right rear plates such that the right padding contacts the wearer's rear right side upper torso area.

14. The helmet and shoulder/vest system of claim 10 , wherein at least one viewport is fitted with a mesh like material.