Surgery: splint – brace – or bandage – Orthopedic bandage – Skeletal traction applicator
Reexamination Certificate
2000-09-05
2001-11-06
Brown, Michael A. (Department: 3764)
Surgery: splint, brace, or bandage
Orthopedic bandage
Skeletal traction applicator
C482S142000, C601S122000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06312401
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to physical therapy devices and more specifically a physical therapy device that can be safely used by an individual to place their neck in traction for short periods of time.
A significant portion of the population suffer from back and neck pain. Sometimes this is caused by accidents and at other times it occurs due to the natural ageing process of the body and its loss of flexibility. Also stress plays a major role in producing tension that is stored in the muscles of the back and neck.
There are several back therapy machines presently on the market and some of these provide minor relief for a person having neck pain. None of the existing physical therapy devices adequately function to allow a person to stretch the neck vertebrae further apart from each other in a temporary traction state when using the device alone.
It is an object of the invention to provide a novel cervical traction device that allows an individual to lengthen the spacing between the neck vertebrae and place their neck in a temporary state of traction.
It is another object of the invention to provide a novel cervical traction device that also provides some relief and extension of the spacing between the vertebrae of the back to counteract the normal daily nature of having ones back in a total state of compression when one is walking or sitting.
It is also an object of the invention to provide a novel cervical traction device that is collapsible and easily stored out of sight when not in use.
It is an additional object of the invention to provide a novel cervical traction device that is economical to manufacture and market.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a novel cervical traction device that will aid in relieving tension stored in a person's back and neck areas.
It is also an object of the invention to provide a novel cervical traction device that allows a person to increase flexibility of their back and neck by stretching it in the opposite direction in which it is normally positioned while walking and sitting.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The novel cervical traction device has a primary support leg to which a secondary support leg is pivotally attached so that they are collapsible towards each other. Each of the leg members has a transversely extending foot member connected to their rear end. An elongated body support beam has its front end pivotally connected to bifurcated bracket arms extending upwardly from the top surface of the primary support leg. Foam roller assemblies are mounted on opposite sides of the body support beam at spaced intervals along its length.
A person using the cervical traction device normally lays with their buttocks and upper leg portions on top of the respective foam roller assemblies. The body support beam normally has its rear end supported in a substantially horizontal position by a support arm that is pivotally connected to the primary support leg. The rear end of the body support beam can be moved to a tilted up position by pivoting the support arm to a secondary position. When it is desired to support the bottom of the person's legs, an extension leg support beam can be telescopically attached to the rear end of the body support beam.
There may be one or more laterally spaced foam roller assemblies mounted adjacent the front end of the primary support leg. The upper portion of the back would normally rest upon these foam roller assemblies. Pivotally connected to the front end of the primary support leg is a bifurcated bracket arm whose bottom ends are secured to a tubular sleeve. This entire structure pivots freely around its pivot pin. A neck support assembly has a Y-shaped member having a post extending from its bottom end. The post is telescopically received in the tubular sleeve. The arms of the Y-shaped member extend upwardly and outwardly in a V-shaped formation. Each has a tubular foam cushion member frictionally held thereon. The spacing between the respective tubular foam cushion members is sufficient to allow a person's neck to seat therebetween and the width between the tubular foam cushion members is such that a person's head is restricted from traveling longitudinal therethrough.
As a person lies on the cervical traction device, their head is placed into position between the tubular foam cushion members of the neck support assembly. The weight of this structure and the additional weight of the person causes a forward and downward pivotal motion that extends the space between the neck vertebrae and places the neck in temporary traction. The process of extending the vertebrae longitudinally from each other and stretching takes place slowly and noninjuriously. It allows for relief from tension and also the normal compression that is produced upon the body during walking and sitting during the day.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1322720 (1919-11-01), Noble
patent: 4193394 (1980-03-01), Everett
patent: 5573485 (1996-11-01), Geschwender
patent: 5634887 (1997-06-01), Fortier
patent: 5913758 (1999-06-01), Nunez
Brown Michael A.
Logan II Charles C.
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