Cervical Collar Synchronized Chin Support Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cervical collars lack adjustable mechanisms that allow for synchronized and easy adjustment of the chin support and collar member positions, leading to potential secondary injuries due to misalignment.
Innovation Solution
A cervical collar with a movable chin support and connection member, featuring an adjustment assembly with an inner thread portion, thread shaft, and knob, allowing for smooth and stable adjustment of the chin support relative to the collar member by rotating the knob to drive axial movement of the thread shaft and inner thread portion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional cervical collars use opposing side adjustment mechanisms, then the collar can provide structural support, but the adjustment becomes complex and difficult to synchronize
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the adjustment mechanisms from both sides into a single centralized adjustment assembly. This single assembly includes a thread shaft with threaded portions that engage with both collar members simultaneously, allowing one operator to adjust both sides synchronously through a single knob, thereby simplifying the adjustment operation while maintaining structural support.
Solution Approach 2:
The thread shaft acts as an intermediary mechanism that translates rotational motion from a single knob into synchronized linear displacement of both collar members. The threaded portions on the thread shaft engage with corresponding threaded holes in both collar members, ensuring they move equally and simultaneously, thus mediating between the operator's single input and the dual-sided adjustment requirement.
2Reliability
If conventional cervical collars have non-synchronized adjustment mechanisms, then manufacturing is simpler, but misalignment causes secondary injuries
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the adjustment control into a single centralized assembly that simultaneously controls both collar members. The thread shaft with its threaded portions engages both sides at once, ensuring they move in unison and maintain identical positions, thereby guaranteeing alignment accuracy while remaining easy to operate through a single knob.
Solution Approach 2:
The threaded connection mechanism provides inherent mechanical feedback that ensures synchronized movement. As the knob is rotated, the thread shaft translates this rotation into equal linear displacement of both collar members through the threaded portions, automatically maintaining alignment without requiring operator judgment or coordination between hands.
3Ease of operation
If a single adjustment assembly is used, then adjustment becomes easy and synchronized, but the mechanism structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The thread shaft serves as a compact intermediary mechanism that achieves synchronized dual-sided adjustment through a single knob. Its threaded portions engage with both collar members, translating one rotational input into two synchronized linear outputs. This intermediary approach maintains operational simplicity while containing the structural complexity within a compact, integrated assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The single adjustment assembly performs multiple functions simultaneously: it adjusts both collar members, ensures synchronized movement, maintains alignment accuracy, and provides mechanical feedback. The thread shaft with its threaded portions acts as a universal mechanism that handles all adjustment requirements for both sides of the collar through one integrated structure.
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
Facilitates easy and precise adjustment of the chin support's position, reducing the risk of secondary injuries by ensuring proper alignment and ease of use, as the adjustment mechanism is accessible and intuitive for hand operation.
Implementation Method 1
the inner thread portion and the thread shaft being screwed with each other, the knob being connected with the thread shaft on the axial direction and located outside an end of the collar member in the axial direction, wherein the thread shaft rotates to drive the inner thread portion to move in the axial direction
Data Source
AI summary
A cervical collar is provided, including: a collar member; a chin support, movably disposed on the collar member; a connection member, movably disposed on the collar member, connected with the chin support; and an adjustment assembly, including an inner thread portion, a thread shaft and a knob, the inner thread portion being disposed on the connection member, the thread shaft being disposed on the collar member and rotatable about an axial direction, the inner thread portion and the thread shaft being screwed with each other, the knob being connected with the thread shaft on the axial direction and located outside an end of the collar member in the axial direction, wherein the thread shaft rotates to drive the inner thread portion to move in the axial direction.