Expandable and automatically retractable collar and method of use thereof

(canceled)

A flexible collar comprising:

• a rigid body comprising a cylindrical outer surface and a cylindrical inner surface concentrically aligned with respect to a common longitudinal axis, a continuous annular top surface, and a continuous annular bottom surface, the inner surface defining a bore from the top surface to the bottom surface,
• at least one radially expandable and automatically compressible accordion region having a plurality of inner pivot lines in parallel alignment with respect to the longitudinal axis and located at a first radial distance away from the longitudinal axis, and a plurality of outer pivot lines in parallel alignment to the longitudinal axis and located at a second radial distance away from the longitudinal axis greater than the first radial distance and
• at least one guide pin extending radially outwardly from the outer surface.

(canceled)