Therapeutic neck tractioning device

Claim 2

In apparatus for allowing controlled therapeutic exercising including a neck tractioning device having a shoulder mount, an assembly pivotally securable to a wearer's head and a support framework interconnecting the shoulder mount and head securing assembly having extendable means for selectably separating the shoulder mount and head assembly the improvement comprising: means having a face for engaging the rear neck surface of the wearer with said face having a first dimension in a direction parallel to the line of vertebrae and a second dimension generally configured to conform to the rear surface of the neck transverse to the line of vertebrae, the length of said face along said first dimension being less than its length along said second dimension, and attaching means rigidly attaching said neck engaging means to said framework for establishing said engaging means face first dimension in a head-to-head shoulders fulcrum relative to said neck vertebrae for the wearer whereby therapeutic pivotal exercises are performable around said fulcrum by the wearer while the neck tractioning device is applying tensile force to the neck of the wearer, said attaching means including a pair of collars slideably mounted on said framework such that said collars are adjustable in a direction substantially parallel to the direction of separation between the shoulder mount and head assembly and securing means associated with said collars for releasably securing said collars in fixed relation to said framework and a rigid U-shaped bar having its opposite ends each secured to a respective one of said collars and adapted for surrounding the rear of the neck in spaced apart relation thereto, said neck engaging means being mounted on said bar such that when said apparatus is worn said neck engaging means is positioned between said bar and the rear surface of the neck.

Claim 3

In apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said attaching means further includes means for adjusting the positioning of said neck surface engaging means in a direction generally perpendicular to the neck of the wearer.

Claim 4

In apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said attaching means includes an extender rod attached to one end to said bar and a pivotally movable connection at the other end for joining said neck surface engaging means to said rod.

Claim 5

In apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said U-shaped bar includes a portion extending at an oblique angle to the plane of said post members.

Claim 6

In apparatus for allowing therapeutic exercising including a neck tractioning device having a yoke adapted to fit on the shoulders of a wearer, a support framework having interconnecting extendable elements attached to the yoke and a suspension assembly attached to the support framework with the suspension assembly being adapted to accommodate a sling for the head of the wearer and the extendable elements of the support framework being adapted to adjustably separate the yoke from the suspension assembly, the improvement comprising: an elongated bar having adjustable mounting means at each end thereof for mounting each said end to said support framework, said elongated bar including a portion configured to generally encircle the rear region of the neck of the wearer in spaced apart relation thereto, said elongated bar including adjustable positioning means associated with each said end for adjustably positioning said elongated bar at selectable positions along the support framework in a manner such that said bar is adjustable in relation to said support framework in a direction substantially parallel to the direction of separation between said yoke and said suspension assembly, means for engaging the rear neck surface of the wearer positioned between said bar and the rear surface of the wearer's neck when the apparatus is worn, said neck surface engaging means having a face for engaging the surface of the back of the neck of the wearer with said face having a first dimension parallel to the line of vertebrae of the wearer, said face being dimensioned and configured in a direction transverse to the vertebrae line for generally conforming to the contour of the neck, the length of said face in said direction transverse to the vertebrae line being larger than the length of said face in said first dimension, and means attaching said neck engaging means to said elongated bar in extended relation toward the neck of the wearer for establishing a fulcrum around a preselected number of vertebrae for accommodating therapeutic exercising by the wearer around said fulcrum.

Claim 7

In apparatus for allowing therapeutic exercising including a neck tractioning device having a yoke adapted to fit on the shoulders of a wearer, a support framework having interconnecting extendable elements attached to the yoke and a suspension assembly attached to the support framework with the suspension assembly being adapted to accommodate a sling for the head of the wearer and the extendable elements of the support framework being adapted to adjustably separate the yoke from the suspension assembly, the improvement comprising: an elongated bar having adjustable mounting means at each end thereof for mounting each said end to said support framework, said elongated bar including a portion configured to generally encircle the rear region of the neck of the wearer in spaced apart relation thereto, said elongated bar including adjustable positioning means associated with each said end for adjustably positioning said elongated bar at selectable positions along the support framework in a manner such that said bar is adjustable in relation to said support framework in a direction substantially parallel to the direction of separation between said yoke and said suspension assembly, means for engaging the rear neck surface of the wearer positioned between said bar and the rear surface of the wearer's neck when the apparatus is worn, said neck surface engaging means having a face for engaging the surface of the back of the neck of the wearer with said face having a first dimension parallel to the line of vertebrae of the wearer, said face being dimensioned and configured in a direction transverse to the vertebrae line for generally conforming to the contour of the neck, the length of said face in said direction transverse to the vertebrae line being larger than the length of said face in said first dimension, and means attaching said neck engaging means to said elongated bar in extended relation toward the neck of the wearer for establishing a fulcrum around a preselected number of vertebrae for accommodating therapeutic exercising by the wearer around said fulcrum.

Claim 8

In apparatus in accordance with claim 5 wherein said attaching means includes a rod attached at one end to said bar and a ball joint at the other end connected to said neck surface engaging means.

Claim 9

In apparatus in accordance with claim 6 wherein said rod is attached to said bar by means for adjusting the position of said neck surface engaging means in a direction generally perpendicular to the line of the neck vertebrae of the wearer.

Claim 10

In apparatus in accordance with claim 5 wherein said elongated bar includes a portion extending outwardly from the plane of said parallel elements at an oblique angle thereto in a downward direction for permitting the positioning of said neck surface engaging means at a point below the yoke when positioned along the general shoulder line of the wearer.

Claim 11

In apparatus in accordance with claim 5, wherein said elongated bar is formed as a U-shaped rigid strap having outwardly projecting reverse-curved ends, each configured to receive a portion of a respective interconnecting element and frictionally secured thereto when said neck surface engaging means is positioned against the back of the neck.

Claim 14

The method according to claim 10, wherein said lateral pressure is applied symmetrically about the line of the vertebrae.

Claim 15

In apparatus for allowing therapeutic exercising the human neck comprising in combination: a yoke adapted to fit on the shoulders of a wearer; an adjustable support framework attached to and extending upwardly of said yoke; neck tractioning means supported by said framework for adjustably applying upwardly directed traction to said neck tending to pull the wearer's head away from the shoulders, said adjustable support framework being adapted to apply said traction by adjustably extending the distance between said yoke and said neck tractioning means; a rigid bar having its ends adjustably mounted on said framework in a manner such that said collars are adjustable in a direction substantially parallel to the direction of separation between said yoke and said neck tractioning means, said rigid bar encircling the back of the neck when the yoke is positioned on the wearer's shoulders; a neck engaging means mounted on said bar and positioned between said bar and a wearer's neck when the apparatus is worn for engaging the rear neck surface of the wearer; first position adjustment means associated with said neck engaging means for selectively adjusting the position of said neck engaging means in a direction generally perpendicular to the direction of separation between said yoke and said neck tractioning means; and second position adjustment means associated with said neck engaging means for selectively adjusting the position of said neck engaging means in a direction generally parallel to the direction of separation between said yoke and said neck tractioning means.

Claim 16

In apparatus for allowing therapeutic exercising the human neck comprising in combination: a yoke adapted to fit on the shoulders of a wearer; an adjustable support framework attached to and extending upwardly of said yoke; neck tractioning means supported by said framework for adjustably applying upwardly directed traction to said neck tending to pull the wearer's head away from the shoulders, said adjustable support framework being adapted to apply said traction by adjustably extending the distance between said yoke and said neck tractioning means; a rigid bar having its ends adjustably mounted on said framework in a manner such that said collars are adjustable in a direction substantially parallel to the direction of separation between said yoke and said neck tractioning means, said rigid bar encircling the back of the neck when the yoke is positioned on the wearer's shoulders; a neck engaging means mounted on said bar and positioned between said bar and a wearer's neck when the apparatus is worn for engaging the rear neck surface of the wearer; first position adjustment means associated with said neck engaging means for selectively adjusting the position of said neck engaging means in a direction generally perpendicular to the direction of separation between said yoke and said neck tractioning means; and second position adjustment means associated with said neck engaging means for selectively adjusting the position of said neck engaging means in a direction generally parallel to the direction of separation between said yoke and said neck tractioning means.