Cervical collar

A cervical collar having an anterior component and a posterior component securable to the anterior component with at least one strap, the anterior component defining a central axis, the anterior component forming a frontal opening, and the anterior component comprising:

• a main support defining first and second frontal projections extending over a top segment of the frontal opening, the first and second frontal projections extend laterally and anteriorly toward the central axis such that the first and second frontal projections are arranged to jut horizontally and parallel to a user's mandible, the first and second frontal projections being arranged to receive the at least one strap and having a rigid construction so the first and second frontal projections do not yield or bend when the at least one strap is secured thereto, the main support defining a lower portion extending continuously and obliquely downwardly from and between the first and second frontal projections relative to and along the central axis, the lower portion having an inner periphery forming an entirety of a segment of the frontal opening below the first and second frontal projections and commencing at first and second recessed portions along the inner periphery and extending posteriorly by being formed by the first and second frontal projections, the main support further forming first and second flanks extending from the first and second frontal projections perpendicularly relative to and laterally away from the central axis toward the posterior component;
• an intermediate support defining a front portion centered about and having opposed sides extending perpendicularly from the central axis toward the posterior component, the front portion having an inner periphery joining with an inner periphery of the first and second frontal projections to enclose the frontal opening with the lower portion of the main support by extending between the first and second frontal projections over the frontal opening, the intermediate support forming first and second flanks extending perpendicularly to and away from the central axis from the opposed sides of the front portion along an inner surface of the first and second flanks of the main support, each of the first and second flanks of the intermediate support having first end portions at locations remote from the central axis and pivotally attached to first end portions of the first and second flanks of the main support at first and second pivot points, respectively, remote from the central axis;
• wherein the intermediate support defines first and second slots proximate the first and second frontal projections of the main support on the opposed sides of the front portion of the intermediate support, the main support defines first and second slots at second end portions of the first and second flanks adjacent the first and second frontal projections and proximate to the central axis, the first and second slots of the intermediate support extending in a first direction relative to the central axis, and the first and second slots of the main support extending in a second direction relative to the central axis different from the first direction;
• an upper support carried by the intermediate support and abutting an outer periphery of the intermediate support opposite an inner periphery of the intermediate support so as to adjust therewith relative to the main support, the upper support being located above the inner periphery of the intermediate support and connected centrally to the intermediate support along the central axis of the anterior component;
• wherein the intermediate support defines a central tab extending outwardly away from the outer periphery of the intermediate support along the central axis upon which a center portion of the upper support is suspended relative to the intermediate support at said central tab;
• a connector defining an opening for receiving an actuator, and curved channels for receiving first and second arms and through which first and second traction elements are guided and slidingly engage upper and lower portions of a lock element, respectively, the connector also defining peripheral surfaces to the curved channels to direct the first and second traction elements upwardly toward the first and second slots, the connector being monolithic and located within the main support and forming a cavity into which the lock element is located;
• wherein each of the upper and lower portions of the lock element forms a series of teeth;
• wherein the first traction element forms a series of teeth along a lower end portion to slidingly engage the upper portion of the lock element and the second traction element forms a series of teeth along an upper end portion to slidingly engage the lower portion of the lock element;
• wherein the lock element is monolithic and forms the first and second arms having first and second end portions and extending curvingly away from opposed first and second sides from a center section of the lock element toward a rear portion of the connector such that the first and second end portions of the first and second arms, respectively, bias against the rear portion of the connector and the center section of the lock element biasing a front portion of the connector;
• wherein the lock element is movable in a first direction toward the rear portion of the connector under a spring bias to disengage the series of teeth of the upper and lower portions of the lock element from the series of teeth of the first and second traction elements, respectively, thereby enabling the intermediate portion to pivot at the first and second pivot points relative to the main support;
• wherein upon release of the actuator, the lock element engages the first and second traction elements and the actuator is urged to the second direction toward the front portion of the connector opposite the first direction thereby preventing pivoting of the intermediate support relative to the main support.