Abstract:
A cervical collar having a vertically adjustable chin support, the collar including a chin support adjustably connected to a collar body, the collar body defining an elongate slot; a cable located on the collar body; a cable stop connected to a distal portion of the cable and connecting between the collar body and the chin support, the cable stop being slidingly positionable along the slot on the collar body; and a pulley located on the collar body adjacent to the elongate slot. The cable cooperates with the pulley so that the direction of the cable is changed between the cable stop and a proximal portion of the cable, and movement of the distal portion of the cable adjusts the position of the cable stop along the slot and adjusts the vertical position of the chin support relative to the collar body.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE To RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of co-pending (Allowed) U.S. application Ser. No. 13/780,165, filed Feb. 28, 2013, and entitled Cervical Collar With Cable Reel Adjustment System, which is a divisional application of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/226,151, filed Sep. 6, 2011, and entitled Cervical Collar With Cable Reel Adjustment System (now U.S. Pat. No. 8,449,485), each incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    This disclosure relates to the field of size adjustable cervical collars. More particularly, the disclosure relates to cervical collars that enable improved adjustment of the height of the chin support. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Cervical collars are used to maintain the spine of a patient in a desired orientation by immobilizing the neck of the patient and supporting the chin at a desired, generally level or neutral position. The position of the chin is maintained by locating a chin support to contact and support the underside of the chin at a desired angle. 
         [0004]    The expense of cervical collars has resulted in various forms of adjustable collars that enable a single collar model to be used for a variety of patient sizes. However, a desire for improvement in the construction of adjustable collars remains. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    The disclosure relates to a cervical collar having a vertically adjustable chin support. In one aspect, the collar includes a chin support adjustably connected to a collar body configured to be positioned adjacent a neck of a patient, the collar body defining an elongate slot; a cable connected to a rotatable cable reel located on the collar body; a cable stop connected to the cable and connecting between the collar body and the chin support, the cable stop being slidingly positionable along the slot on the collar body; and a pulley located on the collar body adjacent to the elongate slot. The cable cooperates with the pulley so that the direction of the cable is changed between the cable stop and the cable reel, and rotation of the cable reel adjusts the cable to adjust the position of the cable stop along the slot and adjusts the vertical position of the chin support relative to the collar body. 
         [0006]    In another aspect, a cervical collar having a vertically adjustable chin support includes a chin support adjustably connected to a collar body, the collar body defining an elongate slot; a cable located on the collar body; a cable stop connected to a distal portion of the cable and connecting between the collar body and the chin support, the cable stop being slidingly positionable along the slot on the collar body; and a pulley located on the collar body adjacent to the elongate slot. The cable cooperates with the pulley so that the direction of the cable is changed between the cable stop and a proximal portion of the cable, and movement of the distal portion of the cable adjusts the position of the cable stop along the slot and adjusts the vertical position of the chin support relative to the collar body. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    Further advantages of the disclosure are apparent by reference to the detailed description when considered in conjunction with the figures, which are not to scale so as to more clearly show the details, wherein like reference numbers indicate like elements throughout the several views, and wherein: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1A  is a front plan view of a front assembly for a cervical collar according to the disclosure adjusted to locate a chin support thereof to a first position; and  FIG. 1B  shows the front assembly of  FIG. 1A  adjusted to locate the chin support to a second and higher position. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  shows a back assembly of a cervical collar according to the disclosure. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  shows a front exploded perspective view of the front assembly of  FIG. 1A , and  FIG. 4  is a rear exploded perspective view thereof. 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a cable reel component of the front assembly of  FIGS. 3 and 4 , and  FIG. 6  is an exploded view thereof. 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  is a detailed front view showing components for maintaining cable tension; and  FIG. 8  is an exploded view thereof. 
           [0013]      FIG. 9A  shows positioning of the cable tension components when the chin support is at the low position of  FIG. 1A ; and  FIG. 9B  shows positioning of the cable tension components when the chin support is at the high position of  FIG. 1B . 
           [0014]      FIG. 10  shows a cable stop component of the cervical collar according to the disclosure. 
           [0015]      FIG. 11  is a rear assembled view of the front assembly of  FIG. 1A . 
           [0016]      FIGS. 12A and 12B  illustrate vertical adjustment of the chin support in a manner such that the orientation of the chin support remains substantially constant in all vertical positions of the chin support. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0017]    With reference to the drawings, the disclosure relates to an adjustable body support. The body support may be configured to adjustably support the chin of a user, or other anatomical portions of a patient. 
         [0018]    In a preferred embodiment, the body support is a cervical collar  10  configured to enable adjustment of the height of a chin support  12  of the collar  10 . The collar  10  also includes an adjustable front assembly having a front main body  14 , front adjustable body portions  16   a  and  16   b , cable tensioning systems  18   a  and  18   b,  and a cable reel  20 . The front assembly may also include a sternal pad  22 . The collar  10  also includes a rear assembly  24  having an occipital support  26  and a posterior support  28 . 
         [0019]    The cervical collar  10  is positioned about the neck of a user with the front assembly  14  situated at the front of the user with the chin of the user resting in the chin support  12 , and the rear assembly  24  at the back of the user. The front assembly  14  and the rear assembly  24  are adjustably secured together as by straps to comfortably but snugly fit the neck of the user to restrain movement of the neck. The front assembly  14  is adjusted to situate the chin support  12  to maintain the chin of the user at a desired orientation, typically level. 
         [0020]    The chin support  12  is of one-piece molded plastic construction, such as low density polyethylene) and is characterized as having a central located u-shaped portion  12   a , with adjacent side wings  12   b  and  12   c  on either side of the u-shaped portion  12   a . The u-shaped portion  12   a  is suitably shaped to receive the chin of a user for supporting the chin and may include padding or the like for additional comfort of the user if desired. The chin support  12  is mounted to front main body  14  as by plastic rivets. 
         [0021]    The front main body  14  is of one-piece molded plastic construction and is characterized as having a central connector  14   a  bridging between adjacent side wings  14   b  and  14   c.  The connector  14   a  spans between upper portions of the side wings  14   b  and  14   c,  to define a cut-out for providing clearance for a tracheal tube of the like. The wings  14   b  and  14   c  include elongate, and preferably curved, slots  30   a  and  30   b,  respectively. The slots  30   a  and  30   b  receive fasteners F or the like inserted through aligned apertures  31   a  and  31   b,  respectively, of the adjustable body portions  16   a  and  16   b.  The fasteners F are preferably plastic, but may be other materials suitable for use in a cervical collar. The chin support  12  and the main body  14  may be provided as a unitary piece; however, having them as separate portions enables better conformity to the anatomy of the patient. Also, the adjustable body portions  16   a  and  16   b  may be provided as a single body portion, but, are preferably provided as two pieces that pivotally connect as described herein for improved conformity to the patient throughout the range of the height adjustment of the chin support  12 . 
         [0022]    The adjustable body portion  16   a  is of one-piece molded plastic construction and is configured to overlie about one-half of the sterna or upper chest region of the patient. The adjustable body portion  16   b  is substantially a mirror image of the body portion  16   b  for overlying the other about one-half of the sterna or upper chest region of the patient. The body portions  16   a  and  16   b  overlap at their lowermost portions and pivotally attach to one another as by a rivet, fastener, or the like extending through aligned apertures  37   a  and  37   b  thereof. The body portion  16   a  includes a slot  33   a  adjacent a distal or raised end thereof, and the body portion  16   b  includes a slot  33   b  adjacent a distal or raised end thereof. The sternal pad  22  includes an aperture  22   a  that is aligned with the apertures  37   a  and  37   b,  so that the fastener used to pivotally attach the body portions  16   a  and  16   b  also attaches the sterna pad  22 . The slots  33   a  and  33   b  align with apertures  35   a  and  35   b  located on the side wings  14   b  and  14   c  of the main body  14 , respectively, and receive fasteners or the like, such as the fasteners F. 
         [0023]    The cable tensioning system  18   a  is located on the exterior of the body portion  16   a  and includes a cable guide  32 , a pulley  34 , a spring  36  located within a spring housing  38 , and a cable stop  40 . The pulley  34  may be a roller pulley or a simple knob or projection for changing the direction of the cable trained over it. Thus, the term “pulley” will be understood to mean a structure that changes the direction of a cable trained over it. 
         [0024]    The spring  36  is a compression spring that gets shorter as a load is applied to it, as explained more fully below. The spring housing  38  is an enclosure for enclosing the spring so that as a load is applied to the distal or lower end of the spring, the proximal or upper end of the spring bears against spring housing  38 . The spring housing  38  overlies a slot  42   a  defined on the adjustable body portion  16   a  ( FIG. 4 ) and located to align with a corresponding aperture of the body portion  14 . The cable stop  40  is a plastic knob or the like that is located adjacent to and in engagement with the distal end of the spring  36  within the spring housing  38 . 
         [0025]    The cable stop  40  includes a projection  44  ( FIG. 10 ) that extends through the slot  42   a  and a corresponding aperture  45   a  of the body portion  14  and is captured by a plastic washer or the like to connect the main body portion  14  and the adjustable body portion  16   a,  with the main body portion  14  being able to move relative to the adjustable body portion  16   a  commensurate with the slot  42   a.  A cylindrical shaft  46  perpendicular to the projection  44  may be provided for receiving the end of the spring  36 . In this regard, the cable  52   a  may be passed through the spring  36 , through the shaft  46 , and out of an aperture  48  of the cable stop  40 , and secured as by a fastener or knot or the like to secure the cable  52   a  to the cable stop  40 . 
         [0026]    The cable tensioning system  18   b  is substantially identical to the cable tensioning system  18   a  and is located on the exterior of the body portion  16   b,  with the spring housing  38  thereof overlying a slot  42   b  defined the adjustable body portion  16   b,  with the projection  44  of the cable stop  40  extending into an aperture  45   b  of the body portion  14 . 
         [0027]    The cable reel  20  is a rotating spool that winds or unwinds cable and, preferably includes a toothed housing  50  mounted onto the front body portion  16   a.  The housing  50  is configured for receiving a pair of cables  52   a  and  52   b , each having a proximal end rotationally linked to a spool  54  contained within the housing  50 . The opposite distal ends of the cables  52   a  and  52   b  are connected to the cable stop  40  of the cable tensioning systems  18   a  and  18   b,  respectively. A knob  56  having a spring-loaded assembly  58  cooperates with the housing  50  and the spool  54  for manually winding the cables  52   a  and  52   b  around the spool  54 . The knob  54  includes a pawl integrally formed on an inner surface of the knob  54  to selectively engage the teeth of the housing  50  to provide a ratchet feature for winding the spool  54  when the knob  56  is turned in one direction to tension the cables  52   a  and  52   b.  The spring-loaded assembly  58  is depressed to release the teeth of the knob  54  from engagement with the housing  50  to allow the spool to be released to untension the cables  52   a  and  52   b.  Suitable devices to use for the cable reel  20  are cable reel devices available under the name BOA from Boa Technology, Inc. of Denver, Colo., and described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,954,204 and 7,992,261, incorporated by reference in their entireties. 
         [0028]    By utilizing the cable reel  20  to adjust the lengths of the cables  52   a  and  52   b,  the cable tensioning systems  18   a  and  18   b  are utilized to vertically adjust the position of the chin support  12  relative to the body portions  16   a  and  16   b  which remain substantially statically positioned around the neck of the user. In this regard, and with reference to  FIG. 9A , it will be seen that the cable  52   a  is of a length as provided by manipulation of the reel  20 , so that the cable stop  40  of the tensioning system  18   a  is at a lowermost position of the housing  38 . This position of the cable stop  40  corresponds to the chin support  12  being at its lowermost vertical height. Next, with reference to  FIG. 9B , it will be seen that the cable  52   a  has been retracted by use of the reel  20  to position the cable stop  40  at an uppermost position of the housing  38 . This position of the cable stop  40  corresponds to the chin support  12  being at its uppermost vertical height. As will be appreciated, by adjusting the lengths of the cables  52   a  and  52   b  using the reel  20 , the chin support  12  may be positioned at any vertical height within the range of the uppermost and lowermost positions of the cable stop  40 . Also, as the reel  20  uniformly winds and unwinds the cables  52   a  and  52   b,  the tensioning systems  18   a  and  18   b  are substantially uniform in their adjustment so that the chin support remains substantially level. However, if it were desired to have an adjustment system that enabled canted or non-level adjustment, the same may be accomplished by adjusting the positions of the tensioning systems  18   a  and  18   b  relative to one another or otherwise enabling different cable length adjustments. 
         [0029]    Provision of the compression spring  36  for the tensioning systems  18   a  and  18   b  is advantageous so as to maintain a downward bias on the cable stops  40  to minimize free play of the cable stops  40 . In this regard, it will be observed that in  FIG. 9B , the spring  36  is substantially extended and bearing against the stop  40 , and in  FIG. 9B  the spring  36  is substantially compressed and bearing against the cable stop  40 . It will be appreciated that other bias members may be used to maintain a downward bias on the cables tops  40 . For example, a rubber band  60  or the like may be attached to the cable stop  40  and to a fixed point below the stop  40 , such as anchor  62 , to maintain a downward bias on the cable stop  40 . 
         [0030]    The adjustable front assembly is assembled so that the front adjustable body portions  16   a  and  16   b  overlap at their lowermost portions and attach to one another as by plastic rivets extending through aligned apertures thereof, with the cable reel  20  mounted to the body portion  16   a.  The adjustable body portions  16   a  and  16   b  do not move, but are adjusted by use of the cable tensioning systems  18   a  and  18   b  to adjust the vertical position of the front assembly  14  relative to the adjustable body portions  16   a  and  16   b  to desirably situate the chin support  12  mounted to the front assembly. 
         [0031]    The front assembly  14  is movably mounted to the adjustable body portions  16   a  and  16   b  by the projections  44  of the cable stops  40  that extend through the slots  42   a  and  42   b,  respectively, and the corresponding apertures  45   a  and  45   b  of the body portion  14  and captured by plastic washers or the like to connect the main body portion  14  and the adjustable body portions  16   a  and  16   b . Thus, by utilizing the cables  52   a  and  52   b  to move the cable stops  40  vertically within the slots  42   a  and  42   b  by operation of the cable reel  20 , the main body portion  14  is vertically adjusted relative to the adjustable body portions  16   a  and  16   b  commensurate with the limits of the slots  42   a  and  42   b.    
         [0032]    In addition, as other portions of the main body portion  14  and the adjustable body portions  16   a  and  16   b  are attached to one another as by fasteners, the slots  30   a  and  30   b  of the adjustable body portions  16   a  and  16   b  accommodate additional relative positioning commensurate with the vertical adjustment resulting from adjustment of the positions of the cable stops  40  of the cable tensioning systems  18   a  and  18   b  using the cable reel  20 . Also, the provision of the adjustable body portions  16   a  and  16   b  as separate pieces and the ability of the adjustable body portions  16   a  and  16   b  to pivot relative to one another enables improved conformity of the collar  10 . 
         [0033]    The chin support  12  is fixedly mounted to the main body portion  14  as by mutually aligned apertures and plastic fasteners. Thus, as the main body portion  14  is vertically adjusted using the tensioning systems  18   a  and  18   b,  the chin support  12  is likewise vertically adjusted relative to the relative to the positions of the body portions  16   a  and  16   b.  For example, with reference to  FIGS. 1A and 1B , it will be seen that the chin support  12  is vertically higher in  FIG. 1A  than in  FIG. 1B , it being understood that the adjustment of the position of the chin support  12  is accomplished by use of the cable tensioning systems  18   a  and  18   b  as previously described. 
         [0034]    The structure of the collar  10  also advantageously enables vertical adjustment of the chin support  12  in a manner such that the orientation of the chin support  12  remains substantially constant in all vertical positions of the chin support  12 . For example, with reference to  FIGS. 12A and 12B , there is shown the collar  10  with the chin support  12  positioned (from right to left) in the lowest, middle, and highest positions. However, despite the vertical height of the chin support  12 , an angle A between the chin support  12  and the adjustable body portions  16   a  and  16   b  remains substantially constant, preferably about 90 degrees. Also, the structure of the collar  10  also advantageously enables the sternal pad  22  to remain in substantial conformity with the anatomy of the patient despite adjustments of the vertical height of the chin support  12 , as indicated by arrow B. The vertical adjustability of the chin support  12  in this manner is accomplished by the provision of the cable stops  40  in combination with the slots  42   a  and  42   b.  In addition, the slots  30   a  and  30   b  on the main body  14  and the slots  33   a  and  33   b  on the adjustable body portions  16   a  and  16   b,  enable the described adjustments, while maintaining conformity with the anatomy of the patient. 
         [0035]    The foregoing description of preferred embodiments for this disclosure has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiments are chosen and described in an effort to provide the best illustrations of the principles of the disclosure and its practical application, and to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the disclosure in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the disclosure as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally, and equitably entitled.