Neck rest and shoulder support structure for physically handicapped patients

Claim 1

A neck rest and shoulder support structure for physically handicapped patients including, in combination: a. a frame positionable adjacent to the upper back and neck of a patient to be supported, said frame including a horizontal handle bar having downturned end Portions defining generally vertical and parallel guide rods; b. a U-shaped pad coupled to the frame for cradling the rear and sides of the patient''s neck; c. a neck rest adjusting means enabling said U-shaped pad to be vertically, horizontally, and tiltably adjusted, said neck rest adjusting means including a cross rod extending between the guide rods and terminating in clamping blocks vertically slideable on said guide rods and including means for clamping the blocks in selective vertical positions on the guide rods to thereby adjust the vertical distance of the cross rod; and right and left tilt blocks journaled on said cross rod and supporting said U-shaped neck pad therebetween; means for locking the tilt blocks to the cross rod in a given tilted position relative to the rod as an axis, and in given horizontal positions along the rod; d. right and left shoulder pad means coupled to the frame and extending on the right and left sides of the patient''s lower neck portion over the shoulders, respectively, and thence downwardly and inwardly to gently engage the upper right and left chest areas of the patient to restrain him from pitching forward, e. shoulder support adjusting means enabling said right and left shoulder pad means to be moved from in front of the patient to an open position to permit a patient to be easily removed from his supported position, said shoulder support adjusting means including right and left bent rods having inner ends journaled in said right and left tilt blocks, respectively, the outer ends of the rods supporting said shoulder pad means in the form of enlarged, elongated right and left cylindrically shaped padded rolls for engaging the said right and left chest areas, rotation of the bent rods about their inner ends journaled in the tilt blocks swinging said padded rolls upwardly and outwardly to said open position.