referring to fig1 through 7 , wherein like reference numerals refer to like components in the various views , there is illustrated therein a new and improved cervical restraint and padding system generally denominated 100 herein . in accordance with the present invention the cervical restraint system 100 deploys a front brace 10 having at least a semi - rigid brace plate for fixing the angulation of the chin with respect to the chest and precluding neck rotation and a rear brace 20 of at least a semi - rigid plate attached at opposing sides to the front brace for limiting a patients neck movement , and at least one fabric cover 110 or slip cover for covering the front or rear brace , but more preferably both the front and rear brace on the inside and outside thereof at least one padding member or pillow 120 has a means 125 for attachment to the interior side of the fabric cover 110 , the padding member 120 preferably being a flexible fabric bag 114 partially filled with a conformable supporting material 140 , of which various alternative and preferred embodiments are described in further details below with respect to fig6 . in alternative embodiment of the invention the padding member 120 / 130 deploys as an attachment means 125 hook and loop ( velcro ™) fasteners attached to the rear of the fabric cover 100 . fabric cover 110 is preferably securely fastening to the front 10 or rear brace 20 by an attachment means 115 that includes extending over the brace and the holes therein to attach to itself . as shown in fig4 b and 4c , such a fabric cover 110 is formed of a front 111 and a rear fabric panel 112 which are sewn together at the common edges 111 a , each panel having an aperture 113 or aperture forming portion 113 for inserting a rigid brace member to be covered and / or to coincide with the holes 30 in the braces members . hence , the brace member 10 or 20 essentially fills the pocket formed between the front and rear fabric member or panel , with such access optionally provided by at least one side slot or opening in which common edges 111 a are not sewn together , such that this opening at the adjacent edges penetrates into the interior of the fabric cover 110 . more preferably , the fabric cover 110 has an aperture 113 forming portion that folds to connect to itself at aperture 30 in the brace members to provide such an attachment means 115 , as shown in fig5 . the edges 111 a can be completely sewn together provided aperture 113 is large enough for inserting the front or rear brace . in the embodiment of fig4 such an aperture forming portion 113 comprises a star like slit pattern 117 capable of being opened to form an aperture . at least one of the front 111 and rear panel 112 , and optionally both , have this star slit pattern 117 formed at the intended position of aperture 30 in the brace member 10 or 20 . opening the slits to form an aperture in the cover provides triangular portions of the extra fabric 119 between each adjacent slit pairs . hence , after insertion of a brace member 10 or 20 attachment of this extra fabric 119 from one of the front 111 and rear panel 112 to the other panel securely positions the cover 110 on the brace after insertion , yet avoids closing the brace apertures 30 . it also provides a provides a secure attachment of the cover 110 to the brace member 10 or 20 for proper placement of cushions 120 or 130 . thus , the margin 17 of the aperture 30 in the brace 10 or 20 is covered by extra fabric 119 from the aperture 113 that was formed in the front or rear fabric panel . the extra fabric 119 at the aperture 113 in the outer fabric cover panel 111 preferably extends inward to attach to the inner panel 112 , and is preferably attached by hook and loop ( velcro ™) fasteners 118 . as shown in fig4 c and fig5 , hook and loop ( velcro ™) fasteners 125 are also attached to the inner panel face or mated attachment to corresponding hook or loop members 725 attached to the outside of pads 120 / 130 ( fig7 ) for secure attachment to the portion of the fabric cover 110 that will face the patient when it is inserted on the brace 10 or 20 . it has been discovered that the most comfortable solution for padding a neck brace is to deploy fabric bags that are only partially filled with a least one of a compressive or flowing medium , which are soft and compliant . by a partially filled fabric bag we mean a compliant fabric bag or pillow 114 that is under filled to the extent that it is not extended to the full external volume permitted by the pliable fabric , or that if it is filled to this shape , it has an unfilled volume . further , the filling medium 140 should be compliant to reshape the filled volume in response to the user &# 39 ; s limited movement . fig6 a , shows an unfilled bag formed of 2 fabric panels , whereas fig6 b shows the same bag filled . padding member 120 or 130 is preferably a flexible fabric member partially filled with a conforming material 140 , the flexible fabric being breathable and preferably a cotton fiber fabric or a cotton fiber blend , but is optionally flannel , fleece , microfiber synthetic fabrics . in a preferred embodiments , the padding member 120 is a fabric bag 114 that is filled with flowable beads 141 and another portion 126 filled with foam strips 142 . portion of the padding member with flowable beads 141 is positioned at the brace margins 10 a or 20 a where the edges thereof are capable of contacting the skin . the shape of the pads are generally , but not exclusively dictated by the shape of the rigid or semi rigid brace itself because the pads must fit in the brace components without sticking too far out under or over the rim of the brace and the pads need to be shaped in such a way that they do not interfere with the air hole . thus , when the front brace 10 has a y - shape the attached padding members 120 together generally form a y - shape . it has been discovered that this requirement can be met by 2 alternative constructions , as well as combination of the same . in a first construction the filler is foam beads 141 that are free flowing within the bag 114 . as the fabric bag 114 is under filled , the beads 141 can flow as well as deform when they are disposed between the brace device and the patient &# 39 ; s body , as is illustrated in fig6 d alternatively , the requirement for an under filled compliant pillow can be met by under filling the fabric bag with a convoluted shape memory foam 142 , as shown in fig6 c . such convoluted foam 142 is typically used in packing crates . as shown in fig6 c , the convolutions present peaks that hold up the fabric , possibly to an outer profile that may approach the filled shape . however , as there are air gaps between the peaks , the foam can flow into these gaps , as well as compress in response to the patient &# 39 ; s limited movement . in a more preferred embodiment of the padding members 120 / 130 illustrated in fig6 f , the shape memory foam strips 142 is in a lateral center pockets 127 with soft free flowing bead in a pocket above 128 and a pocket below 129 the lateral center pocket 127 . generally , the shape memory foam 142 is compressed before insertion into the fabric bag 114 that forms the padding member 110 or 120 . in a more preferred embodiment illustrated in fig6 g , the padding members 120 or 130 can be filled in a single pocket with a combination of shape memory foam 142 , in the form of strips or the shape of the pocket , along with a plurality of soft free slowing beads 141 . the beads are preferably adding both before and after inserting the shape memory foam 142 . this configuration gives a foam neck support having intermediate stiffness between the harder fill of only beads ( fig6 d ), and the softer filler of only shape memory foam ( fig6 c ). these various combinations provide users with the opportunity to switch between padding members having three levels of contact force as needed to improve skin comfort . however , this characterization of stiffness is relative to the foam and bead materials actually used for the filler , as the relative firmness of the three types of filling will depend on the stiffness and compressibility of the bead forming material , the relative degree of stuffing of beads in the pocket , and the firmness and compression of the shape memory foam . it should also be appreciated that another alternative embodiment is the similar combination of the shape memory foam strips 142 with soft free flowing beads 141 in one of the pockets 127 and 128 in the padding members 120 / 130 illustrated in fig6 f . hence , the fabric bag 114 when partially filed conforms to shape of at least a portion of the brace members 10 and 20 and when attached to the cover 110 extends over the relatively rigid edges of the brace 10 / 20 that would otherwise be directly exposed to the patient &# 39 ; s skin it should be understood that the padding members are not limited to just the preferred embodiment s described above , as the padding can deploy in whole or part different external and internal materials , such as soft materials and fabrics , such as fleece , microfiber fabrics as an outer cover , as well as the more preferred embodiment of breathable cotton . it has also been discovered that any type of pad filled with one type of material used the entire time the patient wears the brace will not continue to be as comfortable as it initially was or continue to reduce the pressure points because the weight of the head and the pressure of the rim eventually starts to be felt through any pad . the skin adjusts to the feel and texture of the pad and with pressure from the weight of the head , movement , laying down , riding in a car , or leaning head against the back of the chair these pressure points on the tissue become increasingly aggravated . in accordance with another aspect of the invention , a kit 100 as shown in fig7 comprises , at least one but preferably 2 or more fabric covers 110 , a first padding member 120 and a second padding member 130 , that is exchangeable with the first member for attachment to the fabric cover . each of the first and second padding members are partially filled with a different conformable supporting material 140 . the kit provides for the patient to select from 2 and preferably 3 sets of pads that are interchangeable to be mixed and matched to adjust for comfort and reduce pressure points that may occur over time . more preferably , such a kit 100 includes at least one set of three padding members 120 / 130 of the same shape with each member of the set having a different level of stiffness to enable the users to vary the contact force exerted by the cushioning member against the skin , when compressed by the brace 10 / 20 , as needed to improve skin comfort . hence , the invention described herein in the different embodiments results in greater patient comfort , aesthetic improvement by choosing the outer fabric cover 110 to be decorative and match other clothing , as well as improved skin care and condition due to the non chafing nature of the padding member 120 / 130 , and their ability to deform partially . these improvements in comfort and aesthetics also lead to better patient compliance in using the neck brace . while the invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment , it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular form set forth , but on the contrary , it is intended to cover such alternatives , modifications , and equivalents as may be within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims .
a neck restraint system for surgical candidates and recovering patients has at least one or more rigid or semi - rigid members including a fabric cover for supporting a plurality of cushioning or padding elements . the cushions elements are preferably conformable fabric bags partially filled with either memory elastic foam and / or foam beads to provide conformability . the fabric cover provides for exterior cosmetic customization and secure juxtaposition of replaceable and / or exchangeable cushioning elements . the cushioning elements are disposed over and around the edges portions of the rigid or semi - rigid restraint members that would otherwise rub , chafe or abrade the skin even if padded . periodic changes of the type of cushioning elements prevent and alleviate such skin irritation and provide greater patient comfort .