US3776224A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Dynamic cervical support
Assignee: MEDICAL DEV CORP
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Filing: 1972-02-24
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Granted: 1973-12-04
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Expires: 1992-02-24
Abstract
Abstract An improved dynamic cervical support supplying constantly sustained traction to a patient''s head, yet insuring essentially full normal mobility of the head. The shoulder harness of the device include rigid shoulder straps or arcuate shoulder members which, though made of rigid material, can be adjusted about points of attachment to accommodate a variety of shoulder configurements. The head frame or support itself is of hinged construction and can be easily altered as to longitudinal dimension for the comfort of the user. Compression spring means provides the needed traction, and spring guides and/or mounts maintain ball-and-socket connection to their mountings, to insure axial deflection of the compression springs used in an advantageous manner. Larger spring members journal interior support structure and provide for a degree of lateral flexibility, as well as offering a restoring force to such interior support structure. Articulative joints at selected points in the structure insure wide versatility of use and mobility even though traction is constantly maintained. A side hinge and hook construction provide for selective opening and closure of the lower jaw member of the head frame to the rear head support thereof.
Inventors
- 👤 Farland H Mc
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 10:14
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F5/00; A61F5/01; A61F5/04; A61F5/05; A61F5/055; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S128/00; Y10S128/23
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
86 words
A cervical brace including, in combination, a pair of mutually spaced, downwardly concave, arcuate shoulder members, a cross brace, means pivot-displacably securing said arcuate shoulder members to said cross brace, and means releasably fixing the selected disposition of said arcuate shoulder members relative to said cross brace, and wherein said cross brace overlaps said arcuate shoulder members and include askew slotted apertures, said releasably fixing means comprising attachment means respectively engaging said cross brace, passing through said askew apertures, and retentively engaging said arcuate shoulder straps.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
86 words
A cervical brace including, in combination, a pair of mutually spaced, downwardly concave, arcuate shoulder members, a cross brace, means pivot-displacably securing said arcuate shoulder members to said cross brace, and means releasably fixing the selected disposition of said arcuate shoulder members relative to said cross brace, and wherein said cross brace overlaps said arcuate shoulder members and include askew slotted apertures, said releasably fixing means comprising attachment means respectively engaging said cross brace, passing through said askew apertures, and retentively engaging said arcuate shoulder straps.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
98 words
A cervical brace including, in combination, a head frame, a shoulder harness, means coupled to said head frame and shoulder harness for springingly supporting said head frame above said shoulder harness, said head frame including a jaw support member, a rear head support, and means adjustably securing said jaw support member to said rear head support, whereby the length of said head frame can be adjusted to accommodate a variety of head sizes, and means hinging said jaw support member to said rear head support, said hinging means being hinged transversely outwardly relative to said jaw support member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
98 words
A cervical brace including, in combination, a head frame, a shoulder harness, means coupled to said head frame and shoulder harness for springingly supporting said head frame above said shoulder harness, said head frame including a jaw support member, a rear head support, and means adjustably securing said jaw support member to said rear head support, whereby the length of said head frame can be adjusted to accommodate a variety of head sizes, and means hinging said jaw support member to said rear head support, said hinging means being hinged transversely outwardly relative to said jaw support member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
56 words
Structure according to claim 2 wherein said adjustably securing means comprise opposite-side medial members, at least one of said rear head support and a respective one of said medial members including longitudinally spaced apertures, and attachment means securing said rear head support to said respective medial member at a selected one of said longitudinally spaced apertures.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
Structure according to claim 3 wherein one of said rear head support and a respective one of said medial members includes means enabling and providing tiltable adjustment of said rear head support relative to said respective medial member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
151 words
A Cervical brace including, in combination, a head frame, a shoulder harness, and support means operably disposed between said head frame and said shoulder harness and comprising a pair of support structures respectively disposed on opposite sides of said head frame, each of said support structures comprising a post journalling said head frame thereto for movement of the latter about a horizontal axis, first spring means secured to said shoulder harness and including an upwardly disposed journal boss, a sleeve journaled in said journal boss and supporting said post, a cylinder having apertured, lower, spherical ball-and-socket end and disposed within said sleeve such that the latter may slide thereon, a ball mount comprising a ball portion nestled in said socket and a shank protruding downwardly through said apertured end to be retained proximate said shoulder strap and a traction-producing compression spring disposed between and engaging said shoulder harness and said sleeve.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
151 words
A Cervical brace including, in combination, a head frame, a shoulder harness, and support means operably disposed between said head frame and said shoulder harness and comprising a pair of support structures respectively disposed on opposite sides of said head frame, each of said support structures comprising a post journalling said head frame thereto for movement of the latter about a horizontal axis, first spring means secured to said shoulder harness and including an upwardly disposed journal boss, a sleeve journaled in said journal boss and supporting said post, a cylinder having apertured, lower, spherical ball-and-socket end and disposed within said sleeve such that the latter may slide thereon, a ball mount comprising a ball portion nestled in said socket and a shank protruding downwardly through said apertured end to be retained proximate said shoulder strap and a traction-producing compression spring disposed between and engaging said shoulder harness and said sleeve.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
149 words
A cervical brace including, in combination, a head frame, a shoulder harness, and support means operably disposed between said head frame and said shoulder harness and comprising a pair of support structures respectively disposed on opposite sides of said head frame, each of said support structures comprising a post journalling said head frame thereto for movement of the latter about a horizontal axis, first spring means secured to said shoulder harness and including an upwardly disposed journal boss, a sleeve journaled in said journal boss and supporting said post, a cylinder having an apertured, lower, spherical ball-and-socket end and disposed within said sleeve such that the latter may slide thereon, a ball mount comprising a ball portion nestled in said socket and a shank protruding downwardly through said apertured end to be retained proximate said shoulder straps, and a traction-producing spring operatively disposed between said cylinder and said post.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
149 words
A cervical brace including, in combination, a head frame, a shoulder harness, and support means operably disposed between said head frame and said shoulder harness and comprising a pair of support structures respectively disposed on opposite sides of said head frame, each of said support structures comprising a post journalling said head frame thereto for movement of the latter about a horizontal axis, first spring means secured to said shoulder harness and including an upwardly disposed journal boss, a sleeve journaled in said journal boss and supporting said post, a cylinder having an apertured, lower, spherical ball-and-socket end and disposed within said sleeve such that the latter may slide thereon, a ball mount comprising a ball portion nestled in said socket and a shank protruding downwardly through said apertured end to be retained proximate said shoulder straps, and a traction-producing spring operatively disposed between said cylinder and said post.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
94 words
In a cervical brace construction including a shoulder harness, a head frame and mounting means springingly supporting said head frame above said shoulder harness; an improvement wherein said head frame comprises a rear head support, a lower jaw support, means hingedly connecting said lower jaw support on one side thereof to said rear head support at a corresponding side, and means releasably retaining the remaining side of said lower jaw support to the remaining side of said rear head support, said hingedly connecting means being hinged transversely outwardly relative to said lower jaw support.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
94 words
In a cervical brace construction including a shoulder harness, a head frame and mounting means springingly supporting said head frame above said shoulder harness; an improvement wherein said head frame comprises a rear head support, a lower jaw support, means hingedly connecting said lower jaw support on one side thereof to said rear head support at a corresponding side, and means releasably retaining the remaining side of said lower jaw support to the remaining side of said rear head support, said hingedly connecting means being hinged transversely outwardly relative to said lower jaw support.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
Structure according to claim 7 wherein said last mentioned means comprises hook means releasably interengagable as between said lower jaw support and said rear head support.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-12-03 | 1977-06-04 | 1977-12-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-03 | 1981-06-04 | 1981-12-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-03 | 1985-06-04 | 1985-12-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |