CA1204034A - Stabilizer for cervical collar - Google Patents
Stabilizer for cervical collarInfo
- Publication number
- CA1204034A CA1204034A CA000436698A CA436698A CA1204034A CA 1204034 A CA1204034 A CA 1204034A CA 000436698 A CA000436698 A CA 000436698A CA 436698 A CA436698 A CA 436698A CA 1204034 A CA1204034 A CA 1204034A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- collar
- piece
- stabilizer
- connecting member
- halves
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
- 239000003381 stabilizer Substances 0.000 title claims abstract description 23
- 229920003023 plastic Polymers 0.000 claims abstract description 17
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 17
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims description 10
- 230000002787 reinforcement Effects 0.000 claims 1
- 239000000758 substrate Substances 0.000 description 24
- 230000003014 reinforcing effect Effects 0.000 description 5
- 239000004698 Polyethylene Substances 0.000 description 4
- 208000027418 Wounds and injury Diseases 0.000 description 4
- 230000006378 damage Effects 0.000 description 4
- 208000014674 injury Diseases 0.000 description 4
- -1 polyethylene Polymers 0.000 description 4
- 229920000573 polyethylene Polymers 0.000 description 4
- 238000000926 separation method Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000006641 stabilisation Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000011105 stabilization Methods 0.000 description 3
- 229920002457 flexible plastic Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 239000006260 foam Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000005484 gravity Effects 0.000 description 2
- 231100000252 nontoxic Toxicity 0.000 description 2
- 230000003000 nontoxic effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000000306 component Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000011156 evaluation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000013011 mating Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000009972 noncorrosive effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229920000642 polymer Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 208000037974 severe injury Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 230000009528 severe injury Effects 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
- A61F5/00—Orthopaedic methods or devices for non-surgical treatment of bones or joints; Nursing devices ; Anti-rape devices
- A61F5/01—Orthopaedic devices, e.g. long-term immobilising or pressure directing devices for treating broken or deformed bones such as splints, casts or braces
- A61F5/04—Devices for stretching or reducing fractured limbs; Devices for distractions; Splints
- A61F5/05—Devices for stretching or reducing fractured limbs; Devices for distractions; Splints for immobilising
- A61F5/055—Cervical collars
Landscapes
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Nursing (AREA)
- Orthopedic Medicine & Surgery (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Biomedical Technology (AREA)
- Heart & Thoracic Surgery (AREA)
- Vascular Medicine (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Public Health (AREA)
- Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
- Orthopedics, Nursing, And Contraception (AREA)
Abstract
STABILIZER FOR CERVICAL COLLAR
Abstract Of The Disclosure A front piece adapted to overlie part of a per-son's chest is rigidly and removably connected to a front half of a cervical collar. A rear piece adapted to overlie part of a person's back is rigidly and removably connected to a rear half of a cervical collar. The front and rear pieces are connected to their half of the cervical collar by a plastic rivet. An adjustable strap innerconnects the front and rear pieces.
Abstract Of The Disclosure A front piece adapted to overlie part of a per-son's chest is rigidly and removably connected to a front half of a cervical collar. A rear piece adapted to overlie part of a person's back is rigidly and removably connected to a rear half of a cervical collar. The front and rear pieces are connected to their half of the cervical collar by a plastic rivet. An adjustable strap innerconnects the front and rear pieces.
Description
~2~3~
STABILIZE:~ FOR CERVICAL COLLAR -._ Back~round Of The Invention Cervical collars are well-known. See U.S. Patent 3,756,226 issued on September 4, 1973 and entitled Cervical Collar. The collar disclosed in said patent is comprised of body halves coupled together. Some injuries require more collar stability than others. Those injuries which require ~reater collar stability frequently alleviate over a short period of time. The amount of stability provided by the collar in said patent is insufficient for severe injuries.
The present invention is directeA to a solution of the problem of how to provide temporary stabilization for a c~rvical collar with a`structural interrelationship which minimizes access by the patient for separatin9 the compo-nents.
Summary Of The Invention The present invention is directed to a stabilizer for a certical collar. The stabilizer includes a front piece adapted to overlie part of a person's chest and a rear piece adapted to overlie part of a person's back. An ad-justable strap means is provided for encircling a person's body and it removably innerconnects the front and rear pieces. A means is provided on the upper end of each piece for rigidly and removably connecting each piece to a dis-crete separate half of a cervical collar comprised of mating ~2~
halves. The stabilizer is adapted to be interrelated with the collar or that period of time where greater stability is needed. Thereafter, the stabilizer may be removed from the collar so that the collar may be worn in a normal manner.
The pieces and the collar halves are removably interconnected in a manner which precludes or minimizes separation b~ the patient.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel stabilizer which may be removably attached to a cervical collar and which is difficult to remove by the patient.
Other objects and advantages 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 ~hown.
Figure 1 is an elevation view of a person wearing a cervical collar with the extension of the present invention attached thereto.
E'igure 2 is a perspective view of a cervical collar with the extension of the present invention attached thereto.
Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 ln Figure 2.
Figure ~ is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 in Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5-5 in Figure 3.
Figure 6 is an exploded view showing -the connection between the cervical collar and the front piece of the stabilizer.
Figure 7 is an exploded view of the front piece of a stabilizer and a portion of the collar in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 8 is a perspective view of a cer~ical collar with the stabilizer of the pres~nt invention attached thereto.
Figure 9 is an exploded view of the extension and the front collar half.
Figure 10 is a sectional view taken along the line 10-10 in Figure 1.
Figure 11 is a perspective view of the split rivet.
Figure 12 is a sectional view taken along the line 12-12 in Figure 10.
Figure 13 is a sectional view taken along the line 13-1 in Figure 10.
Figure 14 is a sectional view taken along the line 14-14 in Figure 10.
Detailed Description Referring to the drawiny in detail, wherein like numerals indicate like elements~ there is shown in Figure 1 a cervical collar designated generally as 10 and provided with a stabilizer designated generally as 12. The stabilizer 12 may be utilized with a wide variety of collars. For purposes of illustration, the collar 10 is of the type disclosed in patent 3,756,226. Thus, the collar 10 includes a rigid reinforcing memher 14 on a front half 18 and a rigid reinforcing member 16 on a rear half 20. The body halves 18 and 20 are coupled together by a strap means 22.
The stabilizer 12 includes a front piece 26 adapted to overlie part of a person's chest and a rear piece 28 adapted overlie part of a person's back. The front piece 26 and the rear piece 28 are identical except as will be made clear hereinafter. Hence, only the front piece 26 will be described in detail.
The front piece 26 includes a substrate 30 of rigid material having a generally T-shape. The substrate 30 is preferably made from a polymer plastic material such as ABS.
liner 32 is adhesively or otherwise secured to the curved inner surface of substxate 30. The liner 32 is preferably made from closed-cell foam polyethylene so as to have tne following . .
attributes: uniform thickness, non-toxic, low specific gravity of about .04, non-CorrosiYe, and will not burn but will melt. The shape of liner 32 corresponds to the shape of substrate 30.
A connecting member 34 is fixedly connected to the center leg of substrate 30 in any convenient manner such as by rivets 36. The connecting member 34 is preferably made from a softer or more flexible plastic material than the substrate 30. Member 34 may be made from polyethylene.
As shown more clearly in Figures 5 and 6, member 34 is channel-shaped at its upper end and has a pair of oppositely disposed projections 38 which extend toward one another. Each projection 38 is adapted to be received within a notch 40 on the reinforcing member 14~ Member 34 is telescoped over member 14 until the projections 33 extend into the notches 40.
Member 34 has a slot 42 to facilitate separation of members 14 and 34.
The stabilizer 12 is rigidly and removably attached to the collar 10 without the use of fasteners such as screws, rivets, snaps, etc. and at the same time facilitates separation ln a manner which does not require any special tools. Thus, in order to separate member 34 from member 14, a screw driver, a k~y, or the like is inserted into the slot 42 and twisted so as to move the projections 38 away from one another to the phantom position shown in Figure 5. Thereafter, forces applied in a downward direction to slide the member 34 off the end of member 14.
A strap 44 has one end fixedly secured to the substrate 30'on the rear piece 28. The strap 44 extends through a loop 46 on the front piece 26 and then overlies itself. Juxtaposed surfaces of the strap 44 are provided with adjustable fasteners which are preferably of the VELCRO type. The loop 46 is preferably supported by bracket 48 which in turn is secured to the substrate 30 in any convenient manner such as by rivet 50.
A strap 52 is similarly provided to interconnect the ~,, *
TR~DEMARK
--5~
front and rear pieces 26, 28 respectively on the opposite side from the strap 44~ One end of strap 52 is fixedly secured to the substrate 30 I d An intermediate portion of strap 52 extends through loop 54 and then overlies itself with adjustable fasteners as described above. Loop 54 is supported by bracket 56 which in turn is secured to the substrate 30 b~ rivet 58.
In Figure 7 there is illustrated another embodiment of the present invention wherein ront piece 60 is removably and rigidly connected to member 14. Front piece 60 differs from front piece 26 in the following manner. The substrate 62 is integral in one piece with the connecting member 64.
A -Eoam liner 66, like liner 32, is applied to the inner surface of substrate 62. The front piece 60 is otherwise identical with front piece 26. A rear piece not shown and adapted to be used with front piece 60 is likewise provided with a connecting member integral in one piece with the substrate.
The collar 10 may be worn in a conventional manner. In connection with a particular injury, the collar 10 may need added stabilization. The front and rear pieces are attached to the collar 10 as described above. Thereafter, the front and rear pieces are coupled together by the straps 44, 52.
If desired, one single strap may be utilized by interconnecting the ends of the straps attached to the substrate 30'. When no longer needed, the front and rear pieces are disconnected while the collar 10 remains on the person for as long as required in accordance with medical advice.
Referring to Figures 8-14 there is shown in Figure 8 a cervical collar designated generally as 70 and provided with a stabilizer designated generally as 72. The stabilizer 72 is particularly designed for use with a cervical collar as disclosed in U.S. patent 3,756,226 and may be of different sizes such as small, medium and large. The collar 70 includes a rigid reinforcing member 74 on a front half 78 and a rigid reinforcing member 76 in a rear half 80u The body halves 78 ~2~4~
~6--and 80 of the ~ervical collar are coupled together by a strap means 82 when in use. As disclosed in said patent, each body half 78, 80 is preformed from a soft,-flexible closed cell polymeric material. The body halves 78~ 80 are preferably provided with air holes 79.
The stabilizer 72 includes a ~ront piece B6 adapted to overlie part of a person's chest and a rear piece 88 adapted to overlie a person's back. The front piece and rear piece are identical except as will be made clear here-inafter. Hence, only the front piece 86 will be described in detail. Corresponding primed numerals are provided on the rear piece.
The front piece 86 includes a substrate 90 of rigid material having a generally T-shape. The substrate 90 is preferably made from a polymeric plastic material such as ABS.
A liner 92 i5 adhesively or otherwise secured to the curved inner surface of substrate 90. The liner 92 is preferably made from a closed-cell foam polyethylene 50 as to have the following attributes: uniform thickness, non-toxic, low specific gravity of about .04, non-corrosive, and will not
STABILIZE:~ FOR CERVICAL COLLAR -._ Back~round Of The Invention Cervical collars are well-known. See U.S. Patent 3,756,226 issued on September 4, 1973 and entitled Cervical Collar. The collar disclosed in said patent is comprised of body halves coupled together. Some injuries require more collar stability than others. Those injuries which require ~reater collar stability frequently alleviate over a short period of time. The amount of stability provided by the collar in said patent is insufficient for severe injuries.
The present invention is directeA to a solution of the problem of how to provide temporary stabilization for a c~rvical collar with a`structural interrelationship which minimizes access by the patient for separatin9 the compo-nents.
Summary Of The Invention The present invention is directed to a stabilizer for a certical collar. The stabilizer includes a front piece adapted to overlie part of a person's chest and a rear piece adapted to overlie part of a person's back. An ad-justable strap means is provided for encircling a person's body and it removably innerconnects the front and rear pieces. A means is provided on the upper end of each piece for rigidly and removably connecting each piece to a dis-crete separate half of a cervical collar comprised of mating ~2~
halves. The stabilizer is adapted to be interrelated with the collar or that period of time where greater stability is needed. Thereafter, the stabilizer may be removed from the collar so that the collar may be worn in a normal manner.
The pieces and the collar halves are removably interconnected in a manner which precludes or minimizes separation b~ the patient.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel stabilizer which may be removably attached to a cervical collar and which is difficult to remove by the patient.
Other objects and advantages 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 ~hown.
Figure 1 is an elevation view of a person wearing a cervical collar with the extension of the present invention attached thereto.
E'igure 2 is a perspective view of a cervical collar with the extension of the present invention attached thereto.
Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 ln Figure 2.
Figure ~ is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 in Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5-5 in Figure 3.
Figure 6 is an exploded view showing -the connection between the cervical collar and the front piece of the stabilizer.
Figure 7 is an exploded view of the front piece of a stabilizer and a portion of the collar in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 8 is a perspective view of a cer~ical collar with the stabilizer of the pres~nt invention attached thereto.
Figure 9 is an exploded view of the extension and the front collar half.
Figure 10 is a sectional view taken along the line 10-10 in Figure 1.
Figure 11 is a perspective view of the split rivet.
Figure 12 is a sectional view taken along the line 12-12 in Figure 10.
Figure 13 is a sectional view taken along the line 13-1 in Figure 10.
Figure 14 is a sectional view taken along the line 14-14 in Figure 10.
Detailed Description Referring to the drawiny in detail, wherein like numerals indicate like elements~ there is shown in Figure 1 a cervical collar designated generally as 10 and provided with a stabilizer designated generally as 12. The stabilizer 12 may be utilized with a wide variety of collars. For purposes of illustration, the collar 10 is of the type disclosed in patent 3,756,226. Thus, the collar 10 includes a rigid reinforcing memher 14 on a front half 18 and a rigid reinforcing member 16 on a rear half 20. The body halves 18 and 20 are coupled together by a strap means 22.
The stabilizer 12 includes a front piece 26 adapted to overlie part of a person's chest and a rear piece 28 adapted overlie part of a person's back. The front piece 26 and the rear piece 28 are identical except as will be made clear hereinafter. Hence, only the front piece 26 will be described in detail.
The front piece 26 includes a substrate 30 of rigid material having a generally T-shape. The substrate 30 is preferably made from a polymer plastic material such as ABS.
liner 32 is adhesively or otherwise secured to the curved inner surface of substxate 30. The liner 32 is preferably made from closed-cell foam polyethylene so as to have tne following . .
attributes: uniform thickness, non-toxic, low specific gravity of about .04, non-CorrosiYe, and will not burn but will melt. The shape of liner 32 corresponds to the shape of substrate 30.
A connecting member 34 is fixedly connected to the center leg of substrate 30 in any convenient manner such as by rivets 36. The connecting member 34 is preferably made from a softer or more flexible plastic material than the substrate 30. Member 34 may be made from polyethylene.
As shown more clearly in Figures 5 and 6, member 34 is channel-shaped at its upper end and has a pair of oppositely disposed projections 38 which extend toward one another. Each projection 38 is adapted to be received within a notch 40 on the reinforcing member 14~ Member 34 is telescoped over member 14 until the projections 33 extend into the notches 40.
Member 34 has a slot 42 to facilitate separation of members 14 and 34.
The stabilizer 12 is rigidly and removably attached to the collar 10 without the use of fasteners such as screws, rivets, snaps, etc. and at the same time facilitates separation ln a manner which does not require any special tools. Thus, in order to separate member 34 from member 14, a screw driver, a k~y, or the like is inserted into the slot 42 and twisted so as to move the projections 38 away from one another to the phantom position shown in Figure 5. Thereafter, forces applied in a downward direction to slide the member 34 off the end of member 14.
A strap 44 has one end fixedly secured to the substrate 30'on the rear piece 28. The strap 44 extends through a loop 46 on the front piece 26 and then overlies itself. Juxtaposed surfaces of the strap 44 are provided with adjustable fasteners which are preferably of the VELCRO type. The loop 46 is preferably supported by bracket 48 which in turn is secured to the substrate 30 in any convenient manner such as by rivet 50.
A strap 52 is similarly provided to interconnect the ~,, *
TR~DEMARK
--5~
front and rear pieces 26, 28 respectively on the opposite side from the strap 44~ One end of strap 52 is fixedly secured to the substrate 30 I d An intermediate portion of strap 52 extends through loop 54 and then overlies itself with adjustable fasteners as described above. Loop 54 is supported by bracket 56 which in turn is secured to the substrate 30 b~ rivet 58.
In Figure 7 there is illustrated another embodiment of the present invention wherein ront piece 60 is removably and rigidly connected to member 14. Front piece 60 differs from front piece 26 in the following manner. The substrate 62 is integral in one piece with the connecting member 64.
A -Eoam liner 66, like liner 32, is applied to the inner surface of substrate 62. The front piece 60 is otherwise identical with front piece 26. A rear piece not shown and adapted to be used with front piece 60 is likewise provided with a connecting member integral in one piece with the substrate.
The collar 10 may be worn in a conventional manner. In connection with a particular injury, the collar 10 may need added stabilization. The front and rear pieces are attached to the collar 10 as described above. Thereafter, the front and rear pieces are coupled together by the straps 44, 52.
If desired, one single strap may be utilized by interconnecting the ends of the straps attached to the substrate 30'. When no longer needed, the front and rear pieces are disconnected while the collar 10 remains on the person for as long as required in accordance with medical advice.
Referring to Figures 8-14 there is shown in Figure 8 a cervical collar designated generally as 70 and provided with a stabilizer designated generally as 72. The stabilizer 72 is particularly designed for use with a cervical collar as disclosed in U.S. patent 3,756,226 and may be of different sizes such as small, medium and large. The collar 70 includes a rigid reinforcing member 74 on a front half 78 and a rigid reinforcing member 76 in a rear half 80u The body halves 78 ~2~4~
~6--and 80 of the ~ervical collar are coupled together by a strap means 82 when in use. As disclosed in said patent, each body half 78, 80 is preformed from a soft,-flexible closed cell polymeric material. The body halves 78~ 80 are preferably provided with air holes 79.
The stabilizer 72 includes a ~ront piece B6 adapted to overlie part of a person's chest and a rear piece 88 adapted to overlie a person's back. The front piece and rear piece are identical except as will be made clear here-inafter. Hence, only the front piece 86 will be described in detail. Corresponding primed numerals are provided on the rear piece.
The front piece 86 includes a substrate 90 of rigid material having a generally T-shape. The substrate 90 is preferably made from a polymeric plastic material such as ABS.
A liner 92 i5 adhesively or otherwise secured to the curved inner surface of substrate 90. The liner 92 is preferably made from a closed-cell foam polyethylene 50 as to have the following attributes: uniform thickness, non-toxic, low specific gravity of about .04, non-corrosive, and will not
2~ burn but will melt. The shape of liner 92 corresponds to the shape of substrate 90.
A connecting member 94 is fixedly connected to the center ~eg of substrate 90 in any convenient manner such as by plastic rivets 96. The connecting member 94 is preferably made from a softer or more flexible plastic material than the substrate 90 and may be made from material such as polyethylene.
As shown more clearly in Figures 13 and 14, member ~4 is arcuate at its lower end and channel-shaped at its upper end.
Member 94 is telescoped over member 74 until a tongue on member 98 snaps into slot 100 on member 74. Member 98 acts like a hinge and is integral at one end only with the member 94.
It is desirable to removably interconnect the ~ront and rear pieces to the collar 10 in a manner so that it is not readily removable by the patient. In this regard, at least one and preferably two plastic rivets 102 are carried by member 94 by way of a flexible string 101. The rivets are easily pushed and snapped into a hole 104 on member 74.
As shown more clearly in Figure 11, each rivet has a head provided with flats on opposite sides together with a hole therethrough to facilitate connection to the string 101.
The shanks of the rivets 102 are split. The rivets are easily force-fit into the holes 102 by application of finger-pressure. However, a tool such as a pair of pliers is needed to pull out the rivets 102. When the rivets 102 are removed, members 74 and 94 are easily separated by pulling on the tab 106 so as to cause member 98 to withdraw from the slot 100. The channel-shape at the upper end of member 94 assures that the tongue on member 98 will be aligned with slot 100 when member 94 is telescoped onto member 74.
The rear piece 88 is identical with the ront piece 86 except as follows. Corresponding e~ements are provided with corresponding primed numerals. ~r 94' is thinner and th~refore more flexible than member 94. Greater rigidity is needed on the front piece 86 as compared with the rear pi~c~ 88.
~ strap 108 has one end fixedly secured to the substrate 90' on rear piece 88. The strap 108 extends through a loop llu on the front piece 86 and then overlies itself. The loop 110 is preferably supported by a bracket 112 which in turn is secured to the substrate 90 in any convenient manner such as by plastic rivet 114. ~uxtaposed surfaces of the strap 108 are provided with adjustable fasteners which preferably are of the VELCRO type.
A strap 116 is similarly provided to interconnect the ~ront and rear pieces 86 and 88 on the opposite side rom ~2~
the strap 108. One end of strap 116 is fixedly secured to the substrate 90i. An intermediate portion of strap 116 extends through a loop 118 and then overlies i~self with adjustable fasteners as described above. Loop 118 is supported by a bracket 120 which in turn is secured to the substrate 90 by plastic rivet 122~
The collar 70 may be worn in a conventional manner.
In connection with a particular injury, the collar 70 may need added stabilization. The front and rear pieces are attached to the collar 70 as described above. Thereafter, the front and rear pieces are coupled together by straps 108 and 116. If desired, one single strap may be utilized by interconnecting the ends of the straps attached to the substrate 90'. When no longer needed, the front and ~ear pieces 86, 88 are disconnected while the collar 10 remains on the person for so long as required in accordance with medical advice.
The rivets 102 can only be removed by hand tools such as a pair of pliers. A pe~son wearing the collar cannot see or manipulate the rivets 102 without great difficulty. The strings 101 prevent the rivet 102 from becoming lost when removed. The heads of the rivets 102 may have a plurality of flats such as flats produced when the head is hexagon or octagon shaped.
All of the rivets such as rivets 96 and the loops such as loop 110 are preferably made from plastic. Elence~
the patient may be X-rayed with the present invention mounted on the patient. There are no metal parts which will show up on X-rays and interfere with evaluation of the X-rays.
The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential at-tributes thereof and accordingly, reference should be made to *he appended claims, rather than to the foregoing specification, as indicating the scope of the invention.
A connecting member 94 is fixedly connected to the center ~eg of substrate 90 in any convenient manner such as by plastic rivets 96. The connecting member 94 is preferably made from a softer or more flexible plastic material than the substrate 90 and may be made from material such as polyethylene.
As shown more clearly in Figures 13 and 14, member ~4 is arcuate at its lower end and channel-shaped at its upper end.
Member 94 is telescoped over member 74 until a tongue on member 98 snaps into slot 100 on member 74. Member 98 acts like a hinge and is integral at one end only with the member 94.
It is desirable to removably interconnect the ~ront and rear pieces to the collar 10 in a manner so that it is not readily removable by the patient. In this regard, at least one and preferably two plastic rivets 102 are carried by member 94 by way of a flexible string 101. The rivets are easily pushed and snapped into a hole 104 on member 74.
As shown more clearly in Figure 11, each rivet has a head provided with flats on opposite sides together with a hole therethrough to facilitate connection to the string 101.
The shanks of the rivets 102 are split. The rivets are easily force-fit into the holes 102 by application of finger-pressure. However, a tool such as a pair of pliers is needed to pull out the rivets 102. When the rivets 102 are removed, members 74 and 94 are easily separated by pulling on the tab 106 so as to cause member 98 to withdraw from the slot 100. The channel-shape at the upper end of member 94 assures that the tongue on member 98 will be aligned with slot 100 when member 94 is telescoped onto member 74.
The rear piece 88 is identical with the ront piece 86 except as follows. Corresponding e~ements are provided with corresponding primed numerals. ~r 94' is thinner and th~refore more flexible than member 94. Greater rigidity is needed on the front piece 86 as compared with the rear pi~c~ 88.
~ strap 108 has one end fixedly secured to the substrate 90' on rear piece 88. The strap 108 extends through a loop llu on the front piece 86 and then overlies itself. The loop 110 is preferably supported by a bracket 112 which in turn is secured to the substrate 90 in any convenient manner such as by plastic rivet 114. ~uxtaposed surfaces of the strap 108 are provided with adjustable fasteners which preferably are of the VELCRO type.
A strap 116 is similarly provided to interconnect the ~ront and rear pieces 86 and 88 on the opposite side rom ~2~
the strap 108. One end of strap 116 is fixedly secured to the substrate 90i. An intermediate portion of strap 116 extends through a loop 118 and then overlies i~self with adjustable fasteners as described above. Loop 118 is supported by a bracket 120 which in turn is secured to the substrate 90 by plastic rivet 122~
The collar 70 may be worn in a conventional manner.
In connection with a particular injury, the collar 70 may need added stabilization. The front and rear pieces are attached to the collar 70 as described above. Thereafter, the front and rear pieces are coupled together by straps 108 and 116. If desired, one single strap may be utilized by interconnecting the ends of the straps attached to the substrate 90'. When no longer needed, the front and ~ear pieces 86, 88 are disconnected while the collar 10 remains on the person for so long as required in accordance with medical advice.
The rivets 102 can only be removed by hand tools such as a pair of pliers. A pe~son wearing the collar cannot see or manipulate the rivets 102 without great difficulty. The strings 101 prevent the rivet 102 from becoming lost when removed. The heads of the rivets 102 may have a plurality of flats such as flats produced when the head is hexagon or octagon shaped.
All of the rivets such as rivets 96 and the loops such as loop 110 are preferably made from plastic. Elence~
the patient may be X-rayed with the present invention mounted on the patient. There are no metal parts which will show up on X-rays and interfere with evaluation of the X-rays.
The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential at-tributes thereof and accordingly, reference should be made to *he appended claims, rather than to the foregoing specification, as indicating the scope of the invention.
Claims (7)
1. A cervical collar comprising discrete front and back halves adapted to partially overlap one another, said halves being made from a soft, flexible polymeric plastic material, strap means for securing the halves in overlap-ping relation, a stabilizer for said collar including a front piece adapted to overlie part of a person's chest and a rear piece adapted to overlie part of a person's back, adjustable strap means for encircling a portion of a person's body and removably interconnecting said front piece and said rear pieces for removably connecting the front and rear pieces to their associated collar half, said last-mentioned means including at least one plastic rivet having a non-circular head and being removable by a hand tool.
2. A collar in accordance with claim 1 wherein each plastic rivet is connected to its associated front and rear piece by a string.
3. A collar in accordance with claim 1 wherein each collar half having a horizontal slot, said last mentioned means including a hinged projection on each of said front and rear pieces, each projection having a portion adapted to enter one of said slots.
4. A stabilizer for a cervical collar comprising a plastic frontpiece in the shape of an inverted T and adapted to overlie part of a person's chest, a plastic rear piece in the shape of an inverted T and adapted to overlie part of a person's back, adjustable strap means for encircling a portion of a body and for removably interconnecting said front piece and rear piece, a connecting member fixedly attached to the upper end of said front piece for rigidly and removably connecting said front piece to the front half of a cervical collar without tools, a connecting member attached to the upper end of the rear piece for rigidly and removably connecting said rear piece to a cervical collar without tools, each connecting member having a portion adapted to enter into a slot on a cervical collar and a lip to facilitate withdrawal of said portion from its associated slot by finger manipulation, each of said portions being integral in one piece at one end with its associated connecting member.
5. A stabilizer in accordance with claim 4, wherein the connecting member on said front piece is more rigid than the connecting member on said rear piece, and the components of the front and rear pieces being coupled together by plastic rivets.
6. A stabilizer in accordance with claim 4 wherein said connecting member on said front piece has a plastic rivet for removably connecting the front piece to a cervical collar by finger manipulation, said plastic rivet being constructed so as to require a hand tool for removal.
7. A stabilizer in accordance with claim 4 including a cervical collar, said cervical collar including discrete front and back halves adapted to partially overlap one another, said halves being made from a soft, flexible polymeric plastic material, strap means for securing the halves in overlapping relation, each of said collar halves having a rigid downwardly extending reinforcement member adjacent the bight of its associated collar half and telescopically coupled to an associated connecting member of said stabilizer.
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US06/418,505 US4502471A (en) | 1982-09-15 | 1982-09-15 | Stabilizer for cervical collar |
| US418,505 | 1982-09-15 | ||
| US06/520,083 US4515153A (en) | 1983-08-04 | 1983-08-04 | Stabilizer for cervical collar |
| US520,083 | 1983-08-05 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1204034A true CA1204034A (en) | 1986-05-06 |
Family
ID=27024160
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000436698A Expired CA1204034A (en) | 1982-09-15 | 1983-09-14 | Stabilizer for cervical collar |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1204034A (en) |
| GB (1) | GB2126485B (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US7993293B2 (en) | 2003-11-26 | 2011-08-09 | Xceed Holdings Cc | Neck brace |
Families Citing this family (9)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4562833A (en) * | 1983-12-19 | 1986-01-07 | Pujals Jr Charles | Device for cervical/occipital support |
| CA1237352A (en) * | 1984-09-28 | 1988-05-31 | Griener (Charles) And Company, Inc. | Cervical collar permitting tracheotomy |
| US5531669A (en) * | 1994-11-18 | 1996-07-02 | Center For Prosthetics Orthotics, Inc. | Cervical brace with interlock assembly |
| PL2117481T3 (en) | 2007-03-01 | 2012-04-30 | Alpinestars Res Srl | Neck brace |
| WO2008105009A1 (en) | 2007-03-01 | 2008-09-04 | Alpinestars Research Srl | Neck brace |
| ITTV20080039A1 (en) | 2008-03-06 | 2009-09-07 | Alpinestars Research Srl | PROTECTIVE COLLAR IN PARTICULAR FOR MOTORCYCLE DRIVERS |
| AU2008355542B2 (en) | 2008-05-02 | 2014-01-23 | Alpinestars Research S.p.A. | Protecting device for the neck |
| US8281419B2 (en) | 2008-10-13 | 2012-10-09 | Guido Rietdyk | Adjustable neck, back and shoulder protective apparatus |
| GB2473003A (en) * | 2009-08-26 | 2011-03-02 | Matrix Seating Ltd | Orthotic head and neck support |
Family Cites Families (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB736268A (en) * | 1953-04-13 | 1955-09-07 | Randall Henry Hale | Improvements in cervical appliances |
| DE1048671B (en) * | 1954-04-15 | |||
| FR2451739A2 (en) * | 1979-03-23 | 1980-10-17 | Mignard Jean | ORTHOPEDIC AND MEDICAL APPARATUS IN ADDITION TO THE NIGHT EXTENSION DIURNE |
-
1983
- 1983-09-09 GB GB08324171A patent/GB2126485B/en not_active Expired
- 1983-09-14 CA CA000436698A patent/CA1204034A/en not_active Expired
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US7993293B2 (en) | 2003-11-26 | 2011-08-09 | Xceed Holdings Cc | Neck brace |
| US8002723B2 (en) | 2003-11-26 | 2011-08-23 | Xceed Holdings Cc | Neck brace |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB2126485B (en) | 1986-04-03 |
| GB8324171D0 (en) | 1983-10-12 |
| GB2126485A (en) | 1984-03-28 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |