Perforated Foam Insert for Cervical Collar Breathability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cervical collars often cause discomfort due to sweating and inadequate breathability, while maintaining insufficient support and rigidity for cervical vertebrae alignment.
Innovation Solution
A cervical collar design featuring a foam body with a through opening and a perforated foam insert that enhances breathability and perspiration evacuation, maintaining rigidity through the insert's density and placement, and a lining for improved comfort and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a foam body is used to surround the neck, then the cervical vertebrae are maintained in position, but the patient experiences sweating and inadequate breathability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies porous foam materials with open-cell structure to enable air circulation and perspiration evacuation while maintaining the supportive function. The foam body and insert are designed with controlled porosity to allow breathability without compromising structural integrity for cervical vertebrae alignment.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If perforations are added to improve breathability, then perspiration evacuation is enhanced, but the rigidity of the collar may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The collar is segmented into a foam body and a separate foam insert with perforations. This segmentation allows the insert to provide breathability and perspiration management while the foam body maintains overall structural rigidity. The insert can be removed or adjusted independently.
Solution Approach 2:
Perforations are strategically located in specific regions of the foam insert rather than uniformly distributed, creating local quality variations. This allows breathability in areas where it is needed while preserving rigidity in load-bearing regions of the collar structure.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If an opening is made in the foam body to accommodate the insert, then breathability is improved, but the smooth appearance and structural integrity may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The foam insert is nested within the foam body through an opening, creating a layered structure. The insert fits into the opening like a doll within a doll, allowing the opening to serve both functional (breathability) and aesthetic purposes when properly designed and finished.
Solution Approach 2:
The foam insert replicates the contours and shape of the foam body's opening, creating a seamless appearance from the exterior. The insert is shaped to match the opening geometry, so the transition between body and insert is smooth and maintains the collar's aesthetic appearance.
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 design improves breathability and comfort without compromising the collar's rigidity or aesthetic appearance, ensuring effective support and perspiration management.
Implementation Method 1
said insert comprising a plurality of perforations, each perforation of the insert emerging on either side of the insert, on one side on the internal face and on the other side on the external face, in order to promote evacuation of the patient's perspiration and improve the breathability of the cervical collar
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The cervical collar (1) comprises a foam body (2) intended to surround the patient's neck, a through-opening (4) being provided in said body (2). In addition, the cervical collar (1) includes a foam insert (5) placed in the opening (4) in the body (2), said insert (5) having an internal face (5a) intended to face the patient's neck and an external face (5b). The insert (5) comprises a plurality of perforations (10), each perforation opening on each side of the insert (5), i.e. on the internal face (5a) on one side and on the external face (5b) on the other side, in order to facilitate the release of perspiration from the patient and to improve the breathability of the cervical collar (1).