Abstract:
An improved ventilated body or neck brace for effective removal of body heat and moisture from inside the brace utilizing a plurality of vent holes in combination with a network of air distributing channels on the inside surface of the brace.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to adjustable body and neck braces for encircling a portion of the body and immobilizing that portion and, more particularly, to a brace having improved interior air circulation and ventilation. 
     For example, neck braces or cervical collars are commonly employed for treating neck injuries such as whiplash and other dislocations which result in muscular strain or nerve pressure in the cervical region. These braces substantially immobilize the wearer&#39;s head while, at the same time, providing a means for supporting the wearer&#39;s head upon his or her chest so as to relieve the strain upon the neck muscles. 
     For the most part, neck braces heretofore developed are custom-made to fit the neck of the wearer. Such braces are frequently heavy, expensive and uncomfortable. Furthermore, they are often difficult to ventilate so that after a period of extended use, the neck of the wearer can become wet and irritated from accumulated perspiration. In an attempt to reduce or prevent this irritation, many braces have been provided with vent holes to permit some degree of air circulation about the neck area. However, it has been found that vent holes alone frequently do not provide enough air circulation to ventilate the entire neck area and keep it dry and free from accumulated perspiration. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a new ventilated brace which can be adjustably formed into a body section encircling structure. The brace comprises one or more panels which have a plurality of vent holes to admit air into the interior of the assembled brace. These vent holes, in turn, communicate with and are connected to a network of open intersecting ventilation channels on the inside surface of the panels to conduct air throughout the interior of the brace. 
     OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the current invention to provide a new and improved adjustable body section brace having superior interior air circulation and ventilation. 
     Another object of the current invention is to provide a new and improved body section brace which effectively removes heat and moisture from the interior of the brace. 
     Still other objects and advantages of the current invention will, in part, be obvious and will, in part, be apparent from the specification. 
     The invention accordingly comprises an article of manufacture possessing the features, properties and the relation of elements which will be exemplified in the article hereinafter described, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a new and improved neck brace according to my invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a side plan view of the panels of the neck brace of FIG. 1; and 
     FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken along line 3--3 of FIG. 2. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to FIG. 1 of the drawing, an exemplary neck brace is generally indicated at 10. The brace 10 is preferably made of a plurality of panels, i.e., a front panel 12 and a rear panel 14. Both panels are formed from sheets of flexible material such as plastic, leather and the like. 
     As shown in FIG. 2, both panels also have upper and lower edges, 16 and 18, respectively, which are preferably curved in shape to help fit comfortably about the wearer&#39;s neck and shoulders. When the brace is assembled, these edges generally conform to the configuration of the chin, neck, shoulders and upper chest of the wearer and substantially immobilize the wearer&#39;s head. For greater comfort, these edges may be optionally fitted with some amount of flexible padding (not shown). In a preferred embodiment, front panel upper edge, 16 is provided with a small cutout, 20 which can be located immediately under the wearer&#39;s chin to allow sufficient jaw motion for talking and eating. The panels can be of any suitable thickness but typically are about 1/2&#34; thick to provide sufficient rigidity for adequate head support. 
     The two panels can be secured to form a neck brace by any suitable means. It has been found to be particularly advantageous to use at least one pair of cooperating straps, 22 having mutually engaging hook and loop portions as commonly sold under the trademark Velcro, 24 and 26, respectively, attached at the ends of the straps so that the hooks of portion, 24 on one strap lock onto the loops of portion, 26 on the other strap when the two portions are pressed together. This locking action, while effectively holding the two panels together against either a direct pulling or sliding movement, permits the straps and, therefore, the panels, to be readily separated by a peeling action. By placing a plurality of hook portions on one of the straps, the placement of the mating loop portion bearing strap may be varied so that the relative amount of front panel overlap can be readily adjusted to form a neck brace which closely fits the particular wearer. The straps, 22 are held in place on both the front and rear panels by clamps, 28. These, in turn, are attached to the panels by a plurality of screws or rivets, 30. Other suitable straps and fasteners may be employed without deviating from the scope of the invention. 
     Air circulation within the brace is accomplished by having the panels contain a plurality of vent holes, 32 as shown. To facilitate and improve the circulation of air to all parts of the neck, the present invention further includes a network of relatively shallow, interconnected ventilation channels, 34 which are inscribed, molded or machined into the inside surfaces of both panels. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the vent holes, 32 preferably intersect one or more of channels, 34. This arrangement conveys a greater quantity of ventilating air over the entire neck region of the wearer as compared to a brace having only vent holes. As such, moisture and body heat are more readily absorbed and quickly conducted outside the neck brace. As a result, the wearer&#39;s neck is kept both cooler and dryer as compared to neck braces containing only vent holes. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the vent holes are about 1/2&#34; in diameter and the channels about 1/8&#34; deep on about a 1&#34; square horizontally and vertically oriented grid. However, these dimensions and orientations are not critical and other hole, channel and grid dimensions, orientations and configurations may be used to accomplish such ventilation. For example, the orientation of channels, 34 can be diagonal and the grid of channels, 34 can be diamond in shape. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the channels 34 continue to the upper and lower edges of both panels, 16 and 18. 
     It should be understood that neck braces within the scope of the present invention may also have additional features, such as edge padding or means for adjusting the vertical height and orientation of the individual panels. Further, the ventilation system of the current invention can be readily applied to other body section encircling, supporting and/or immobilizing structures such as back braces and leg or body casts, such applications being included within the ambit of the present disclosure. 
     It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above among those made apparent from the proceeding description are effectively obtained and, since certain changes may be made in the above structure without deviating from the spirit and scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings, shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. 
     It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention, which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall there between.