Apparatus for applying theraputic traction in progressive intermittent increase of magnitude

Claim 2

Apparatus for applying automatically therapeutic traction in progressive increases comprising: a. a harness for attachment to the body of a patient; b. a cable connected at its free end to said harness; c. tension applying means tensioning said cable for the transmission of traction force through said harness; d. drive means operating said tension applying means for the application of tension on said cable; e. tension sensing means responsive to the magnitude of tension on said cable and connected to said drive means for stopping the operation of said drive means in response to the tension on said cable reaching a predetermined magnitude; and f. control means activated intermittently and connected to said tension sensing means for controlling the operation of said tension sensing means to stop the operation of said drive means in response to the tension on said cable reaching a predetermined increase in magnitude for progressively increasing the tension on said cable through said drive means and through said tension applying means.

Claim 3

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said drive means operates intermittently in response to the operation of said tension sensing means and wherein said control means is activated intermittently in response to the operation of said drive means and said control means controls intermittently the operation of said tension sensing means to stop the operation of said drive means in response to the tension on said cable reaching predetermined increases in magnitude for increasing the tension on said cable through said drive means and through said tension applying means dUring each intermittent operation.

Claim 4

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said drive means operates cyclically in response to the operation of said tension sensing means and wherein said control means is activated cyclically in response to the operation of said drive means and said control means controls cyclically the operation of said tension sensing means to stop the operation of said drive means in response to the tension on said cable reaching predetermined increases in magnitude for increasing the tension on said cable through said drive means and through said tension applying means during each cycle of operation.

Claim 5

Apparatus for applying automatically therapeutic traction in progressive increases comprising: a. a harness for attachment to the body of a patient; b. a cable connected at its free end to said harness; c. tension applying means tensioning said cable for the transmission of traction force through said harness; d. drive means operating said tension applying means for the application of tension on said cable, said drive means including a traction drive motor; e. tension sensing means responsive to the magnitude of tension on said cable and connected to said drive means for stopping the operation of said drive means in response to the tension on said cable reaching a predetermined magnitude, said tension sensing means including a shaft, an eccentric disc fixed to said shaft for rotation therewith, switch means actuated by engagement with said eccentric disc and operative for controlling the energization of said traction drive motor, and means responsive to the tension on said cable for moving said switch means relative to said eccentric disc; and f. control means connected to said tension sensing means for controlling the operation of said tension sensing means for progressively increasing the tension applying means, said control means including a ratchet wheel fixed to said shaft for imparting rotation thereto, a solenoid, circuit means for energizing said solenoid in response to the energization of said traction drive motor, and stopping means for advancing said ratchet wheel in response to the energization of said solenoid.

Claim 6

Apparatus for applying automatically therapeutic traction in progressive increases comprising: a. a harness for attachment to the body of a patient; b. a cable connected at its free end to said harness; c. tension applying means tensioning said cable for the transmission of traction force through said harness; d. drive means operating said tension applying means for the application of tension on said cable, said drive means including a traction drive motor; e. tension sensing means responsive to the magnitude of tension on said cable and connected to said drive means for stopping the operation of said drive means in response to the tension on said cable reaching a predetermined magnitude, said tension sensing means including a shaft, an eccentric disc fixed to said shaft for rotation therewith, switch means actuated by engagement with said eccentric disc and operative for controlling the energization of said traction drive motor, and means responsive to the tension on said cable for moving said switch means relative to said eccentric disc; and f. control means connected to said tension sensing means for controlling the operation of said tension sensing means for progressively increasing the tension applying means, said control means including a ratchet wheel fixed to said shaft for imparting rotation thereto, a solenoid, circuit means for energizing said solenoid in response to the energization of said traction drive motor, and stopping means for advancing said ratchet wheel in response to the energization of said solenoid.

Claim 7

Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said traction drive motor operates intermittently in response to the actuation of said switch means and wherein said ratchet wheel rotates said shaft during each intermittent operation of said traction drive motor to rotate said eccentric disc for requiring an increase in tension on said cable in order for said switch means to be actuated.

Claim 8

Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said traction drive motor operates cyclically in response to the actuation of said switch means and wherein said ratchet wheel rotates said shaft during each cycle of operation of said traction drive motor to rotate said shaft to rotate said eccentric disc for requiring an increase in tension on said cable in order for said switch means to be activated.

Claim 9

Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 and comprising a ratchet wheel blocking member carried by said ratchet wheel to inhibit the rotation of said ratchet wheel when the desired maximum magnitude of traction has been reached.

Claim 10

Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 and comprising a ratchet wheel blocking member carried by said ratchet wheel to inhibit the rotation of said ratchet wheel when the desired maximum magnitude of traction has been reached.

Claim 11

Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein said blocking member selectively covers preselected teeth of said ratchet wheel to inhibit said stepping means from rotating said ratchet wheel when the desired maximum magnitude of traction has been reached.

Claim 12

Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein said blocking member selectively covers preselected teeth of said ratchet wheel to inhibit said stepping means from rotating said ratchet wheel when the desired maximum magnitude of traction has been reached.