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US3589358A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for treating back and neck syndromes in humans
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1968-05-24
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Granted: 1971-06-29
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Expires: 1988-05-24
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for treating back and neck ailments including a frame having a body support member or table pivotally mounted thereon. The table member has a foot-anchoring mechanism mounted thereon and a drive means for pivoting the table on the frame. The patient is placed on the table in either a horizontal or vertical position and his feet are anchored to the table. The table is then pivoted by the drive means to gradually place the spinal column in traction by gravitational force as the patient''s body is tilted to a position wherein the head is moved below and the feet are moved above the horizontal. Relief is usually obtained by tilting the patient to about 30*-45* below the horizontal. The patient is held in the tilted position for about 6 minutes and then returned to an upright or horizontal position for about 1 minute. This procedure is repeated approximately 4 times per individual treatment.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph J Megal
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 09:59
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61H; A61H1/00; A61H1/02; A61H1/0218; A61H2203/00; A61H2203/04; A61H2203/0481; A61H2203/0493
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
85 words
A therapeutic apparatus comprising: a frame; a body support member pivotally mounted on said frame; foot-anchoring mechanism mounted on said body support member adapted to hold and anchor the user''s feet when said member is pivoted on said frame; and drive means for pivoting said body support member on said frame, said drive means including a stationary gear member mounted on said frame, a drive gear mounted on said body support member, and a drive member mounted between said drive gear and said stationary gear.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
85 words
A therapeutic apparatus comprising: a frame; a body support member pivotally mounted on said frame; foot-anchoring mechanism mounted on said body support member adapted to hold and anchor the user''s feet when said member is pivoted on said frame; and drive means for pivoting said body support member on said frame, said drive means including a stationary gear member mounted on said frame, a drive gear mounted on said body support member, and a drive member mounted between said drive gear and said stationary gear.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
A therapeutic apparatus according to claim 1 in which said drive means further includes a reversible motor mounted on said body support member and operatively connected to said drive gear.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
A therapeutic apparatus according to claim 2 in which said reversible motor is controlled by a control switch mounted on said body support member to facilitate control of the apparatus by the user.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
A therapeutic apparatus according to claim 1 in which said drive gear is driven manually by the user by means of a gear box mechanism mounted on said body support member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
94 words
A therapeutic apparatus according to claim 1 in which said foot-anchoring mechanism includes a foot support member on which the feet of the user rest when in upright position, a pair of heel cups one for each foot, a strap member one for each foot positioned to be tightened across the tops of the user''s feet, and a tightening mechanism for each strap, said tightening mechanism including a tightening drum mounted on opposite sides of said body support member, and a drum locking mechanism for each drum to lock said drum in tightened position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
64 words
A therapeutic apparatus according to claim 5 in which each of said drum locking mechanisms includes a shaft on which a tightening drum is rotatably mounted, a stationary braking member mounted adjacent one face of each tightenIng drum, and a locking cam pivotally mounted on one end of each shaft which when actuated will force said drum into locking engagement with said braking member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
A therapeutic apparatus according to claim 1 in which said frame includes a pair of A-frame members, the legs of which can be pivoted together for ease of portability.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
131 words
A therapeutic apparatus comprising: a frame; a body support member pivotally mounted on said frame; foot-anchoring mechanism mounted on said body support member adapted to hold and anchor the user''s feet when said member is pivoted on said frame, said foot support mechanism including a foot support member on which said user is supported when in upright position, a heel cup for each foot, a strap member for each foot positioned to be tightened over the tops of the user''s feet, and a tightening mechanism for each strap, each tightening mechanism including a tightening drum mounted on the side of said body support member, and a drum-locking mechanism for each drum adapted to lock said drum in tightened position; and drive means for pivoting said body support member on said frame.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
131 words
A therapeutic apparatus comprising: a frame; a body support member pivotally mounted on said frame; foot-anchoring mechanism mounted on said body support member adapted to hold and anchor the user''s feet when said member is pivoted on said frame, said foot support mechanism including a foot support member on which said user is supported when in upright position, a heel cup for each foot, a strap member for each foot positioned to be tightened over the tops of the user''s feet, and a tightening mechanism for each strap, each tightening mechanism including a tightening drum mounted on the side of said body support member, and a drum-locking mechanism for each drum adapted to lock said drum in tightened position; and drive means for pivoting said body support member on said frame.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
42 words
A therapeutic apparatus according to claim 8 in which said drive means includes a stationary gear mounted on said frame, a drive gear mounted on said body support member, and a drive member mounted between said drive gear and said stationary gear.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
A therapeutic apparatus according to claim 9 in which said drive means further includes a reversible motor and a control switch mounted on said body support member, said motor being operatively connected to said drive gear.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
63 words
A therapeutic apparatus according to claim 8 in which each of said drum-locking mechanism includes a shaft on which a tightening drum is rotatably mounted, a stationary braking member mounted adjacent one face of each tightening drum, and a locking cam pivotally mounted on one end of each shaft which when actuated will force said drum into locking engagement with said braking member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
156 words
A therapeutic apparatus comprising: a frame; a body support member pivotally mounted on said frame and adapted to support a user''s body thereon; a foot-anchoring mechanism mounted on said body support member, said foot-anchoring mechanism including a first foot support means for supporting the user thereon when in a first position of said body support member wherein the user''s feet are below his head and a second foot support means for supporting the user thereon when in a second position of said body support member wherein the user''s feet are above his head, said second foot support means including a strap member for each foot adapted to be tightened over each of the user''s feet and a tightening mechanism for each strap mounted on said body support member at a location within easy reach of the user''s hands; and drive means for pivoting said body support member back and forth between said first and second positions.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
156 words
A therapeutic apparatus comprising: a frame; a body support member pivotally mounted on said frame and adapted to support a user''s body thereon; a foot-anchoring mechanism mounted on said body support member, said foot-anchoring mechanism including a first foot support means for supporting the user thereon when in a first position of said body support member wherein the user''s feet are below his head and a second foot support means for supporting the user thereon when in a second position of said body support member wherein the user''s feet are above his head, said second foot support means including a strap member for each foot adapted to be tightened over each of the user''s feet and a tightening mechanism for each strap mounted on said body support member at a location within easy reach of the user''s hands; and drive means for pivoting said body support member back and forth between said first and second positions.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
70 words
A therapeutic apparatus according to claim 12 in which said second foot support means further includes a pair of heel cups one for each foot, said heel cups being curved to fit around the rear of the foot and ankle of the user and being curved inwardly at the top portion thereof to provide a heel receiving pocket to provide firm and secure engagement with the user''s feet and ankles.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
100 words
A method of treating back and neck syndromes in humans comprising the steps of: positioning a patient on a pivotally mounted body support table with his back against the member; pivoting the table to the rear until the patient''s head is tilted below his feet slightly to permit easy sliding movement of the patient on the table toward the head end of the table; sliding the body toward the head end of the table; attaching a head support member to the head; pivoting the table forwardly to gradually place the user''s spinal column in traction by the force of gravity.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
100 words
A method of treating back and neck syndromes in humans comprising the steps of: positioning a patient on a pivotally mounted body support table with his back against the member; pivoting the table to the rear until the patient''s head is tilted below his feet slightly to permit easy sliding movement of the patient on the table toward the head end of the table; sliding the body toward the head end of the table; attaching a head support member to the head; pivoting the table forwardly to gradually place the user''s spinal column in traction by the force of gravity.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
139 words
A therapeutiC apparatus comprising: a frame; a body support member pivotally mounted on said frame and adapted to support a user''s body thereon; a foot-anchoring mechanism mounted on said body support member, said foot-anchoring mechanism including a first foot support means for supporting the user thereon when in a first position of said body support member wherein the user''s feet are below his head and a second foot support means for supporting the user thereon when in a second position of said body support member wherein the user''s feet are above his head, said foot-anchoring mechanism being removably mounted on said body support member to permit reversing the position thereof to accommodate patients with either their back or abdomen facing the body support member; and drive means for pivoting said body support member between said first and second position.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
139 words
A therapeutiC apparatus comprising: a frame; a body support member pivotally mounted on said frame and adapted to support a user''s body thereon; a foot-anchoring mechanism mounted on said body support member, said foot-anchoring mechanism including a first foot support means for supporting the user thereon when in a first position of said body support member wherein the user''s feet are below his head and a second foot support means for supporting the user thereon when in a second position of said body support member wherein the user''s feet are above his head, said foot-anchoring mechanism being removably mounted on said body support member to permit reversing the position thereof to accommodate patients with either their back or abdomen facing the body support member; and drive means for pivoting said body support member between said first and second position.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
170 words
A therapeutic apparatus comprising: a frame; a body support member pivotally mounted on said frame, said body support member adapted to support a user''s body thereon and to pivot on said frame whereby the user''s feet are below his head in some positions and the user''s feet are above his head in other positions; and a foot-anchoring mechanism mounted on said body support member, said foot-anchoring mechanism including a first foot support means for supporting the user thereon when in a first position of said body support member wherein the user''s feet are below his head and a second foot support means for supporting the user thereon when in a second position of said body support member wherein the user''s feet are above his head, said second foot support means including a strap member for each foot adapted to be tightened over each of the user''s feet and a tightening mechanism for each strap mounted on said body support member at a location within easy reach of the user''s hands.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
170 words
A therapeutic apparatus comprising: a frame; a body support member pivotally mounted on said frame, said body support member adapted to support a user''s body thereon and to pivot on said frame whereby the user''s feet are below his head in some positions and the user''s feet are above his head in other positions; and a foot-anchoring mechanism mounted on said body support member, said foot-anchoring mechanism including a first foot support means for supporting the user thereon when in a first position of said body support member wherein the user''s feet are below his head and a second foot support means for supporting the user thereon when in a second position of said body support member wherein the user''s feet are above his head, said second foot support means including a strap member for each foot adapted to be tightened over each of the user''s feet and a tightening mechanism for each strap mounted on said body support member at a location within easy reach of the user''s hands.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-06-28 | 1974-12-28 | 1975-06-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-06-28 | 1978-12-28 | 1979-06-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-06-28 | 1982-12-28 | 1983-06-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |