Cervical brace with interlock assembly

• US 5,531,669 A
• Filed: 11/18/1994
• Issued: 07/02/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Center For Prosthetics Orthotics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Center For Prosthetics Orthotics, Inc.
• Inventors: Varnau, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Apley, Richard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEWIS, KIM M
• Application Number:
  US08/342,164
• Time in Patent Office: 592 Days
• Field of Search: 602/18, 602/19, 602/32, 602/33, 602/35, 602/36, 602/17-19, 128/DIG. 23
• US Class Current: 602/18
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/055 Cervical collars

Abstract

A cervical brace including occipital and chin supports rigidly interconnected by rigid support bar means and interlocking assemblies in a manner maintaining such in fixed though adjustable position for fitting thereof to a patient. As the preferred form, a U-shaped support bar extends between an occipital support and a chin support with fastening means provided on each side of the chin support for releasably securing the legs of the support bar to the chin support. Adjustable stops are provided along the support bar legs.

Claims

1. A cervical brace, comprising back and chest plates with interconnecting strap means to hold them in fixed position on the torso of a patient,

an occipital support fixedly mounted on said back plate,

a chin support fixedly mounted on said chest plate,

elongate, rigid support bar means pivotally secured in the coronal plane directly to said occipital support and extending over the shoulders of a patient to said chin support, and means rigidly and adjustably connecting and securing the support bar means directly to the chin support and holding the chin support in fixed position relative to the occipital support during use.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said support bar means includes a pair of laterally spaced apart legs extending transversely from said occipital support over the shoulders of the patient, and said means rigidly and adjustably connecting and securing the support bar means directly to the chin support includes fastening means on each side of said chin support releasably connecting and securing said legs directly to said chin support, said fastening means including means for varying the fixed distance between said occipital support and said chin support.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein each said leg has an adjustable stop secured to it, and wherein each said fastening means comprises a channel in the side of said chin support, a notch adjacent to said channel for receiving a respective said stop, and a locking plate pivotally secured to said side of said chin support to slide over the portion of said leg in each said channel to maintain the associated said stop fixed in its said notch and the leg in its channel and thereby rigidly interconnect said occipital support and said chin support.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said support bar means includes a pair of laterally spaced apart rigid legs adapted to extend from said occipital support over the shoulders of a patient, wherein said brace includes pivotally releasable fastening means on each side of said chin support releasably securing said legs directly to said chin support, and wherein said fastening means includes means for adjusting the distance between said occipital support and said chin support and means for rigidly interconnecting said occipital support and said chin support.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said fastening means for each said leg of said support bar means comprises an adjustable stop secured thereto, and also comprises a notch in said chin support for receiving a respective said stop, an elongate channel on each side of said chin support adjacent said notch for receiving a respective said leg, and a locking plate hinged to said chin support to slide over the portion of said leg in each said elongate channel to maintain the associated said stop fixed in its respective said notch and thereby rigidly interconnect said occipital support and said chin support.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein each said leg has an adjustable said stop secured to it;

and wherein each said fastening means comprises a said notch in said chin support for receiving a respective said stop, a said elongate channel on each side of said chin support adjacent to said notch for receiving a respective said leg, and a separate said locking plate pivotally secured to the side of said chin support to slide over the portion of the said leg in each said channel to maintain the associated said stop fixed in its respective said notch and thereby maintain said chin support in fixed position relative to the said occipital support.

7. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said legs are fabricated of a round aluminum rod and of a nature to be contoured into a variety of shapes by bending during fitting of the brace on a patient.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7, comprising means for adjustment of the height of said occipital support on said back plate, and means for adjustment of the height of said chin support on said chest plate, and also comprising means for independently adjusting the length and configuration of the legs of said support bar means relative to the connections thereof with said chin support.

9. A cervical brace comprising:

a back plate,

an occipital support adjustably mounted in fixed position on said back plate,

a chest plate,

a chin support adjustably mounted in fixed position on said chest plate,

support bar means directly and adjustably interconnecting said occipital support and said chin support including pivot connection means directly connecting and securing said support bar means to said occipital support and interlock means directly and rigidly interconnecting said support bar means with said chin support, each of the occipital support mounting means, chin support mounting means, and support bar means interconnecting the occipital support and chin support being independently adjustable in the coronal and sagittal planes and fixedly securable in the desired position during the course of fitting the cervical brace to a patient.