Cervical Brace Height Adjuster Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cervical braces are difficult to adjust to fit individual body shapes, leading to discomfort and can suffer from gear wear and breakage due to load adjustments.
Innovation Solution
A cervical brace with a height adjuster mechanism featuring a rotating member and connecting member that allows upward and downward movement, along with an angle adjusting member, to customize the fit of the upper support to the wearer's jaw and neck, reducing part count and preventing abrasion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a conventional gear drive type height adjustment mechanism is used, then height adjustment functionality is achieved, but gears are abraded and broken due to load generated during adjustment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the conventional gear drive mechanism with a rack and pinion mechanism. The connecting member functions as a rack with gear teeth, while the rotating member acts as a pinion gear. This substitution eliminates the wear and breakage issues of conventional gears by distributing loads more effectively across the rack structure, which is inherently more durable under axial and radial loads.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables dynamic adjustment of the upper support height through rotation of the rotating member. The rack and pinion mechanism allows smooth, continuous adjustment while maintaining structural stability. The dynamic nature of the adjustment mechanism ensures it can adapt to different wearing conditions without compromising gear durability.
2Ease of manufacture
If cervical braces are designed with fixed dimensions, then manufacturing is simplified, but they cannot be easily adjusted to fit individual body shapes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a height adjustment mechanism that allows the upper support to be dynamically adjusted to different heights. The rack and pinion system enables users to customize the fit according to their individual body shapes while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through standardized components.
Solution Approach 2:
The cervical brace is divided into separable components including the upper support, lower support, and height adjuster assembly. This segmentation allows the height adjustment function to be independently modified without redesigning the entire brace, maintaining ease of manufacture while improving adaptability.
3Strength
If the upper support is made rigid for structural integrity, then strength is improved, but comfort and fit are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a height adjustment mechanism that allows the upper support to be positioned at different heights to match individual jaw and neck positions. This dynamic adjustment capability maintains structural integrity through the rigid upper support while improving wearing comfort through customization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables change in the vertical position parameter of the upper support through the rack and pinion mechanism. By adjusting this parameter, the brace can accommodate different body shapes and comfort requirements while the upper support itself maintains its rigid structural properties.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The cervical brace provides improved comfort and fit by allowing easy height and angle adjustments, reducing manufacturing costs and preventing gear wear, while maintaining structural integrity.
Implementation Method 1
a rotating member that is installed at one side of the body such that the connecting member penetrates and rotates about the connecting member in both directions, wherein the body of the height adjuster moves upward and downward along the connecting member according to a rotating direction of the rotating member
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a cervical brace. The cervical brace according to the present invention may include an upper support that supports and covers a jaw of a wearer, a lower support supported by being pressed against shoulders around the neck of the wearer, a rear support that is positioned behind the upper support and the lower support and supports the rear of the wearer's neck, and a height adjuster including a body installed at one side surface of the upper support, a connecting member formed to extend from one surface of the lower support toward the body, and a rotating member that is installed at one side of the body such that the connecting member penetrates and rotates about the connecting member in both directions, wherein the body of the height adjuster moves upward and downward along the connecting member according to a rotating direction of the rotating member and thus the upper support moves upward and downward with respect to the lower support.