Brace device and method

Abstract

A brace device comprising a rest surface for resting a chin, limb, neck or head of a body, a stand surface positioned to abut a surface of the body, a connecting structure coupling the rest surface to the stand surface, a band, and an attachment means provided on the stand surface for securing the band to the stand surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A brace device, comprising:
 a rest surface for resting at least one of a chin, limb, neck and head of a body;   a stand surface positioned to abut a surface of the body;   a connecting structure, the connecting structure configured as a single piece coupling the rest surface to the stand surface and comprising a bend positioned away from the distal ends of the connecting structure;   a distal end of the connecting structure coupled to the rest surface and an other distal end of the connecting structure coupled to the stand surface; and   an attachment means provided on the connecting structure for securing a connecting material to the connecting structure.   
     
     
         2 . The brace device of  claim 1 , wherein the rest surface includes a non-planar portion for supporting at least one of the chin, limb, neck and head. 
     
     
         3 . The brace device of  claim 2 , wherein the non-planar portion is concave. 
     
     
         4 . The brace device of  claim 1 , wherein the connecting structure comprises one or more openings, clips, screws, belts, buckles, hooks, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The brace device of  claim 1 , wherein the connecting structure extends at an angle from the stand surface. 
     
     
         6 . The brace device of  claim 1 , further comprising a band, wherein the band includes a collar or a padding to support the chin, limb, neck or head. 
     
     
         7 . The brace device of  claim 1 , further comprising a band, wherein the band extends between the connecting structure and a first portion of the body and goes around a second portion of the body. 
     
     
         8 . The brace device of  claim 1 , further comprising a band, wherein the band is detachable from the attachment means to facilitate repositioning of the rest surface. 
     
     
         9 . The brace device of  claim 1 , wherein the rest surface further comprises one or more flaps mounted adjacent to an outer edge of the rest surface. 
     
     
         10 . The brace device of  claim 9 , wherein at least one of the one or more flaps is pivotably connected to the rest surface to vertically position at least one of the chin, limb, neck and head above the rest surface. 
     
     
         11 . The brace device of  claim 1 , wherein the rest surface, the connecting structure, and the stand surface together form one or more parts of a toy, a doll, or a stuffed animal. 
     
     
         12 . A method of supporting at least one of a chin, limb, neck and head of a body, comprising:
 providing a rest surface for resting the chin, limb, neck or head of the body;   providing a stand surface positioned to abut a surface of the body;   coupling, by a connecting structure, the rest surface to the stand surface, the connecting structure configured as a single piece coupling the rest surface to the stand surface and comprising a bend positioned away from the distal ends of the connecting structure;   configuring a distal end of the connecting structure coupled to the rest surface and an other distal end of the connecting structure coupled to the stand surface; and   securing one or more portions of a connecting material to the connecting structure.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the rest surface includes a non-planar portion, and supporting at least one of the chin, limb, neck and head, further comprises placing the chin, limb, neck or head on the non-planar portion of the rest surface. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the non-planar portion is concave for receiving the chin, limb, neck or head. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the non-planar portion is convex for supporting the chin, limb, neck or head. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising placing the connecting material around the body, wherein the connecting material extends between the connecting structure and a first portion of the body and goes around a second portion of the body. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising repositioning the stand surface on the body by detaching at least one portion of the one or more portions of the connecting material from the connecting structure. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the rest surface includes one or more flaps mounted adjacent to an outer edge of the rest surface, and placing at least one of the chin, limb, neck and head on the rest surface comprises positioning the chin, limb, neck or head between the rest surface and the one or more flaps. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein at least one of the one or more flaps is pivotably attached to the rest surface, and placing at least one of the chin, limb, neck, and head on the rest surface further comprises adjusting the at least one pivotable flap to vertically position the chin, limb, neck or head at a desired angle from the rest surface. 
     
     
         20 . A neck brace device for maintaining a neck tilt for the wearer, comprising:
 a rest surface for resting at least one of a chin, limb, neck and head of a body;   a stand surface positioned to abut a surface of the body;   a connecting structure, the connecting structure configured as a single piece coupling the rest surface to the stand surface and comprising a bend positioned away from the distal ends of the connecting structure;   a distal end of the connecting structure coupled to the rest surface and an other distal end of the connecting structure coupled to the stand surface; and   an attachment means provided on at least one of the stand surface and the connecting structure for securing a connecting material therefrom;   wherein the attachment means, when secured by the connecting material, maintains a neck tilt of between 0 degrees to 5 degrees for the wearer.