Patent ID: 6500136
Filing Date: 2002-12-31
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
A collar positionable over a user's head and neck and upon the user's shoulder and chest for reducing forward posture of the user's head by restoring normal forward curvature to the user's cervical vertebrae as the user assumes an upright position, the collar comprising:a main frame comprising: a lower portion defining a bottom section of the main frame which is positionable upon the user's chest and shoulders, the bottom section being operative to counteract a positive anteriorly directed force directed about a z-axis relative the user's neck; a pair of approximately vertically disposed side bars wherein each side bar defines an upper portion, such that the upper portions extend in spaced, generally parallel relation to each other, and wherein each side bar defines a lower portion attached to the respective upper portions such that the lower portions can be positioned upon the user's shoulder and chest; a top bar attached to and extending between the upper portions of the side bars, the top bar being configured to extend behind the user's head when the collar is worn by the user; the upper portions and the top bar collectively defining a top section of the main frame which is positionable over the user's head and neck and has the posterior and anterior traction members attached thereto; a posterior traction member attached to the upper portions of the main frame and operating in concert with the bottom section to apply a negative posteriorly directed force about the z-axis relative the user's head which draws the head into a posterior translation; an anterior traction member attached to the upper portions of the main frame and operative to apply a positive anteriorly directed force about the z-axis into the user's cervical vertebrae in simultaneously opposing the posteriorly directed force to cause certain cervical vertebrae to be stretched into extension while remaining cervical vertebrae are simultaneously stretched into flexion; and the posterior and the anterior traction members are selectively adjustable to engage the user's head and neck respectively so as to allow the posteriorly and anteriorly directed forces applied to the user thereby to be selectively set to a desired level for traction and reestablishing normal postural relationship of the skull and the body from lateral view.