US3507273A - Cervical brace - Google Patents

Description

A ril 21, 1970 L. YELLIN 3,507,273

CERVICAL BRACE Filed May 22, 19s? 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 NVVE/VTOR LOU/S YELL/N A TTORNEYS.

April2l, 1970 Y L. YELLIN Y 3,

CERVICAL BRACE Filed May 22, 1967 r/as L l 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENZ-OR LOU/S YELL/IV edg'a Z ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent 3,507,273 CERVICAL BRA'CE Louis Yellin, 242 S. 17th St., Philadelphia, Pa. Filed May 22, 1967, Ser. No. 640,041

Int. Cl. A6111 1/02; A61f /04 US. Cl. 12875 5 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present invention relates to a new and improved cervical brace and more particularly to an improved cervical brace which gives rigid support to the cervical spline to prevent flexion and hypertension thereof and yet reduces discomfort of a wearer when talking, eating and otherwise moving his chin.

In order to provide adequate immobilization and transfer the weight of the head of the wearer of a cervical brace to the shoulders and trunk of the wearer, cervical braces have generally prevented movement of the chin of a wearer. This has resulted in great discomfort to the wearers of cervical braces with the result that it is often necessary for wearers to remove the brace while eating or engaging in prolonged conversation. For the brace to have the greatest salutory effect, removal of it should be kept to a minimum.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present inventlon to provide a cervical collar which is comfortable for the wearer, may be worn over long periods of time and will not restrict movement of the chin of a wearer.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a cervical brace which relieves pressures on cervical nerves by supporting the head of the wearer, maintains front to back stability of the head of the wearer, and reduces discomfort of the wearer when eating or talking and avoids the need to remove the brace when movement of the chin is desired.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a new and improved cervical brace which is highly effective in use and which can easily be put on and removed.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention there is shown in the drawings forms which are presently preferred; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a person wearing the cervical brace of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the anterior frame of the cervical brace of the present invention;

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 33 in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 44 in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a side elevational view of a modified form of a cervical brace embodying the features of the present invention;

FIGURE 6 is a plan view of the cervical brace of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a top view of the cervical brace of FIGURE 5 taken along lines 7-7 in FIGURE 5; and

the posts 48 and 50 respectively,

"ice

FIGURE 8 is a section view of the cervical brace of FIGURE 6 taken along lines 8-8 in FIGURE 6.

Referring now to FIGURES 1-4 of the drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to like structure throughout the several views, there is shown in FIGURE 1 a man generally indicated by the reference numeral 10. The man 10 is shown wearing the cervical brace 12 of the present invention. The cervical brace 13 consists of posterior bar 14 and an anterior frame shaped to fit the mandible of a wearer.

The anterior frame 16 includes a lower chest engaging member 18. The lower chest engaging member 1 8 is composed of a a rigid metal sheet 20 and a cushioning member 22 secured thereto by means of rivets 24. The cushioning member 22 is composed of resilient material having a washable fabric thereabout. The cushioning member 22 conforms generally to the shape of the rigid metal sheet 20 and is larger than the sheet 20 so that only the cushioning member 22 will engage the chest of a wearer.

The lower chest engaging member 18 has support arms 26 and 28 rigidly secured thereto and extending upwardly therefrom. The support arms 26 and 28 are made of rigid metal members which will not yield or flex when supporting the weight of the head of a wearer. The support arms 26 and 28 may be suitably secured to the rigid metal sheet 20 by means of rivets 30. At their uppermost ends, the support arms 26 and 28 are secured by rivets 32 to segments 34 and 36.

The segments 34 and 36 are attached to a further segment 38 therebetween. The segments 34, 36 and 38 together define a substantially U-shaped structure adapted to fit the mandible of the man 10. The segments 34 and 36 are rigidly held in place and will not flex or yield under the weight of the mandible of a wearer. The segments 34 and 36 have strong spring members 40 and 42 secured thereto, respectively. The spring members 40 and 42 are secured to headed members 44 and 46 on the segments 34 and 36, respectively. Posts 48 and 50 are provided on projections 52 and 54, respectivel on the central segment 38. The spring members 40 and 42 engage and also engage the bottom of the segment 38.

The segment 38 will normaliy be maintained in the position shown in FIGURE 2 and will be resiliently biased to be maintained in such position. However, the springs 40 and 42 will permit pivoting movement of the segment 38 thus permitting movement of the chin of a wearer. Movement of the chin will be permitted without sacrificing the effectiveness of the cervical brace 12 since the segments 34 and 36 will be rigidly retained in place.

The segments 34, 36 and 38 are composed of metal sheets 35, 37 and 39, respectively, and each has a cushioning member secured thereto. Each cushioning member is composed of resilient material 56 having a washable fabric 58 thereabout.

The posterior bar 14 is provided with a flanged upper end 60 which is curved to receive the base of the skull and thus prevent rotation of the head of the wearer 10. The posterior bar 14 may also be composed of a strong metal sheet having a cushioning member secured thereto.

The posterior bar 14 may have a plurality of sets of straps 64 secured thereto. The straps 64 may be fixedly secured to the posterior bar or may be removably secured thereto. The posterior bar 14 is secured to the anterior frame 16 by connecting the straps 64 to various sets of headed rivets 66, 68 and 70. As clearly illustrated in FIGURE 1, the straps 64 have a plurality of holes 65 therein to provide for adjustment of the cervical brace 12 to suit the size and shape of various wearers.

' 3 The selective adjustment provided for by the cooperation of the straps 64 with the headed rivets 66, 68 and 70 permits the brace 12 to be rapidly put on by the wearer with little effort. Furthermore, the brace may be rapidly removed by merely removing the straps 64 from the headed rivets 66, 68 and 70.

It is readily seen that the cervical brace illustrated in FIGURES 1-4 gives rigid support to the cervical spine of the wearer and also prevents rotation of the head of the wearer. The support provided by the cervical brace is necessary to prevent flexion and hypertension of the cervical spine. The discomfort to the wearer is reduced by permitting the wearer to eat and talk Without suffering further discomfort, and without sacrificing the effectiveness of the necessary functions performed by the cervical brace.

FIGURES -8 illustrate another type of cervical brace utilizing the principles of the present invention. In FIG- URES 5-8 there is illustrated a cervical brace 80 comprising a substantially U-shaped collar member 82. The U-shaped collar is open at one end thereof. The collar may be provided with a selectively adjustable strap fastener, such as Velcro, formed on mating surfaces of the strap and collar. The use of Velcro as the means of achieving selective securement of the collar on the wearer permits a wearer to place the collar into position by himself and also permits accurate adjustment of the collar.

The collar 82 is given its shape by a flexible plastic former 84 which is generally U-shaped. A cushioning member 86 is secured to the former 84 by means of rivets 88. The cushioning member comprises an inner body portion of resilient foam 90 and an outer covering of a Washable fabric material 92.

To provide rigid reinforcement of the former 84, a U-shaped metal bar is secured thereto. The rivets 88 not only secure the cushionmember 86 to the former 84 but also serve to secure the metal bar 94 to the former 84.

A plurality of pairs of support arms 96 and 98 extend upwardly from the metal bar 94. The arms 96 and 98 have segments 102 and 104 of a mandible supporting member 100 secured thereto. The segments 102 and 104 are rigidly retained in their desired orientation by the support arms 96.

The segments 102 and 104 have a further segment 106 therebetween. The support arms 98 include hinged members 99 thereon and permit movement of the segment 106 of the mandible supporting member 100. The segment 106 is normally spring-biased by means of strong springs 108 to the position shown in FIGURE 6. Should the wearer of the collar desire to speak or eat, it is unnecessary to remove the collar and the segment 106 will move with the chin of the wearer. The hinges on the support arms 98 permit the segment 106 to move in the direction of the arrows in FIGURES 5 and 8.

The mandible support member 100 may be composed of a tough wear resistant plastic and may have a cushioning member secured on the inner surface thereof which engages the mandible of a wearer.

The principles of the present invention are not limited to a single type of cervical brace and may be utilized on all braces which have mandible supporting members. The present invention reduces discomfort of the wearer of a brace when talking or eating.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and, accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than to the foregoing specification as indicating the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A cervical brace including a cervical brace frame, a mandible support member adapted to support a mandible of a wearer, means for attaching said mandible support member to said frame, said mandible support member having a plurality of segments, means permitting movement of one of said segments, said movable segments being located between the remaining of said plurality of segments, said remaining segments being stationary with respect to the frame and being adapted to remain in contact with the sides of the mandible of the wearer.

2. A cervical brace as set forth in claim 1 including spring means connected to said movable segment of said mandible supporting member for permitting the chin of a wearer of a cervical brace to move while said remaining segments provide a stationary support for at least a portion of the mandible of a wearer.

3. A cervical brace as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means permitting movement of said movable segment includes spring means for maintaining said movable segment in chin-engaging position, said spring means permitting movement of said movable segment upon movement of the chin of a wearer.

4. A cervical brace as set forth in claim 1 including at least one support arm for suporting said movable segment, said support arm having a hinge thereon to permit movement of said movable segment.

5. A cervical brace as set forth in claim 4 wherein said hinge includes a spring means for biasing said movable segment against the chin of a wearer.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,088,207 7/1937 Kaiser 15S175 3,364,926 1/ 1968 Alderson 128-75 RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner J. D. YASKO, Assistant Examiner A US. Cl. X.R. 128-87

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