US5033459A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Gravity traction device with a base support and method
Assignee: SHEFFIELD GROUP Ltd
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Filing: 1990-10-29
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Granted: 1991-07-23
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Expires: 2010-10-29
Abstract
Abstract A device (10) for transferring stress from the lumbar spine to a rib cage of a person is disclosed. The device (10) includes support members (60 and 61) for engaging and support the person below a rib cage. The supports bars (40 and 41) support the support members (60 and 61). The support bars are positioned substantially below the support members. A seat member (30) is positioned below the support members (60 and 61). The person assumes a seating position on the seat member (30) and is also supported thereby. The amount of support provided the person by the seat member and the support member may be varied. In addition, the invention includes a method of transferring stress utilizing the device (10). The device (10) may also provide the additional feature to gain physically beneficial exercise in conjunction with gravity traction.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles V. Burton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-10 01:46
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61H; A61H1/00; A61H1/02; A61H1/0292; A61H1/0218; A61H1/0229; A61H2201/00; A61H2201/16; A61H2201/1602; A61H2201/1614; A61H2201/1619; A61H2201/1621; A61H2203/00; A61H2203/04; A61H2203/0425; A61H2203/0431
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
166 words
A device for transferring stress, starting from a seated position, from a lumbar spine to a rib cage of a person, the device comprising: (a) a support member for engaging and supporting the person below the rib cage; (b) means for supporting the support member, said support means including means for progressively moving the support member inward toward the person from a disengaged position to an engaged position, said supporting means being capable of maintaining the support member in the engaged position without use of a person encircling cinch strap connected to the support member; (c) a seat member positioned below the support member, on which the person assumes a sitting position with the person being temporarily supported thereby; and (d) means for varying the amount of support provided to the person by the seat member and the amount of support provided to the person by the support member, said varying means including means to vary a distance between the seat member and the support member.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
166 words
A device for transferring stress, starting from a seated position, from a lumbar spine to a rib cage of a person, the device comprising: (a) a support member for engaging and supporting the person below the rib cage; (b) means for supporting the support member, said support means including means for progressively moving the support member inward toward the person from a disengaged position to an engaged position, said supporting means being capable of maintaining the support member in the engaged position without use of a person encircling cinch strap connected to the support member; (c) a seat member positioned below the support member, on which the person assumes a sitting position with the person being temporarily supported thereby; and (d) means for varying the amount of support provided to the person by the seat member and the amount of support provided to the person by the support member, said varying means including means to vary a distance between the seat member and the support member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The device of claim 1, wherein the support member comprises first and second support members for engaging the person on opposite sides.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The device of claim 2, wherein said support members have a protrusion for being positioned under the rib cage.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
The device of claim 2, wherein the supporting means comprises a first support bar cooperatively connected to the first support member and a second support bar cooperatively connected to the second support member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The device of claim 1, further comprising means for moving the support member between disengaged and engaged positions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The device of claim 1, wherein said supporting means being positioned substantially below the support member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The device of claim 4, further comprising means for permitting controlled rotational movement of said support bars, wherein the person may exercise while also transferring stress.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The device of claim 1, further comprising means for allowing controlled vertical movement of the person while being supported, wherein the person may exercise while also transferring stress.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
231 words
A support member for engaging and supporting the patient below the rib cage comprising: (a) first and second support members for engaging and supporting the person on opposite sides, below the rib cage, the support members having a protrusion being positioned under the rib cage; (b) a first support bar cooperatively connected to the first support member and a second support bar cooperatively connected to the second support members, said bars for supporting the support member, said support bars being positioned substantially below the support members; (c) means for moving the support member, said support means including means for progressively moving the support member inward toward the person from a disengaged position to an engaged position, said supporting means being capable of maintaining the support member in the engaged position without use of a person encircling cinch strap connected to the support member; (d) a seat member positioned below the support members, on which the patient assumes a sitting position with the patient being temporarily supported thereby; and (e) means for varying the amount of support provided to the patient by the seat member and the amount of support provided to the person by the support members said means for varying operatively connected to the seat member, wherein the seat member is gradually lowered, by the means for varying, to transfer the stress from the lumbar area to the support members.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
231 words
A support member for engaging and supporting the patient below the rib cage comprising: (a) first and second support members for engaging and supporting the person on opposite sides, below the rib cage, the support members having a protrusion being positioned under the rib cage; (b) a first support bar cooperatively connected to the first support member and a second support bar cooperatively connected to the second support members, said bars for supporting the support member, said support bars being positioned substantially below the support members; (c) means for moving the support member, said support means including means for progressively moving the support member inward toward the person from a disengaged position to an engaged position, said supporting means being capable of maintaining the support member in the engaged position without use of a person encircling cinch strap connected to the support member; (d) a seat member positioned below the support members, on which the patient assumes a sitting position with the patient being temporarily supported thereby; and (e) means for varying the amount of support provided to the patient by the seat member and the amount of support provided to the person by the support members said means for varying operatively connected to the seat member, wherein the seat member is gradually lowered, by the means for varying, to transfer the stress from the lumbar area to the support members.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
149 words
A device for transferring stress from a lumbar spine to a rib cage of a person, and also allowing exercising, the device comprising: (a) a support means for engaging and supporting the person below the lower rim of the person's rib cage, the support means including generally upright members operatively connected to a support member; (b) means for progressively moving the support member inward toward the person to an engaged position and maintaining the support member in the engaged position without use of a person encircling means connected to the support member, wherein there is a transfer of stress from the person's lumbar spine to the support member; and (c) means for allowing movement of the device, and thereby the person also, wherein the person may exercise the lumbar spine as well as transfer stress simultaneously said movement means permits generally vertical movement by cyclically shortening said upright members.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
149 words
A device for transferring stress from a lumbar spine to a rib cage of a person, and also allowing exercising, the device comprising: (a) a support means for engaging and supporting the person below the lower rim of the person's rib cage, the support means including generally upright members operatively connected to a support member; (b) means for progressively moving the support member inward toward the person to an engaged position and maintaining the support member in the engaged position without use of a person encircling means connected to the support member, wherein there is a transfer of stress from the person's lumbar spine to the support member; and (c) means for allowing movement of the device, and thereby the person also, wherein the person may exercise the lumbar spine as well as transfer stress simultaneously said movement means permits generally vertical movement by cyclically shortening said upright members.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The device of claim 10, wherein the movement means permits rotational movement of the person.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The device of claim 10, wherein the movement means permits generally vertical movement of the person.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The device of claim 10, wherein the movement means permits both rotational and vertical movement of the person.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
238 words
A method of transferring stress, starting from a seated position, from a lumbar spine to a rib cage of a patient comprising: (a) providing a device for seating a person on a seat member of said device comprising: (i) a support member; (ii) means for suspending the support member, the suspending means being positioned substantially below the person, said suspending means including means for progressively moving the support member inward toward the person from a disengaged position to an engaged position, said supporting means being capable of maintaining the support member in the engaged position without use of a person encircling cinch strap connected to the support member; (iii) the seat member positioned below the support member; and (iv) means for varying the amount of support provided to the person by the seat member and the support member, said varying means including means to vary a distance between the seat member and the support member; (b) moving progressively the support member to an engaging position, whereby the support member is positioned below the rib cage and at a first distance from the seat member said supporting member maintained in an engaged position without the use of a person encircling cinch connected to the support member; and (c) increasing to a second distance the seat member from the support member, whereby support of the person is shifted, in a controlled manner, from the seat member to the support member.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
238 words
A method of transferring stress, starting from a seated position, from a lumbar spine to a rib cage of a patient comprising: (a) providing a device for seating a person on a seat member of said device comprising: (i) a support member; (ii) means for suspending the support member, the suspending means being positioned substantially below the person, said suspending means including means for progressively moving the support member inward toward the person from a disengaged position to an engaged position, said supporting means being capable of maintaining the support member in the engaged position without use of a person encircling cinch strap connected to the support member; (iii) the seat member positioned below the support member; and (iv) means for varying the amount of support provided to the person by the seat member and the support member, said varying means including means to vary a distance between the seat member and the support member; (b) moving progressively the support member to an engaging position, whereby the support member is positioned below the rib cage and at a first distance from the seat member said supporting member maintained in an engaged position without the use of a person encircling cinch connected to the support member; and (c) increasing to a second distance the seat member from the support member, whereby support of the person is shifted, in a controlled manner, from the seat member to the support member.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 14, wherein the seat is lowered to shift support from the seat member to the support member.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 14, further comprising moving the person in a generally vertical plane by cyclically shortening upright members which are a portion of the suspending means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 14, further comprising moving the person rotationally.
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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) | 1994-07-22 | 1995-01-21 | 1995-07-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-07-22 | 1999-01-21 | 1999-07-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-07-22 | 2003-01-21 | 2003-07-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |