Patent US5063514A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5076264A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Medical appliance for treating spinal conditions
Assignee: Restorative Care of America Inc
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Filing: 1991-05-28
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Granted: 1991-12-31
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Expires: 2011-05-28
Abstract
Abstract A medical appliance, having a thick foam core received within a cover made of fleece, for simultaneously treating spinal, shoulder girdle, head, neck and related conditions. The appliance includes a seat cushion surrounded on three sides by a three-sided vest having a back wall and a pair of forwardly extending side walls. Each side wall includes an inwardly projecting protuberance formed on its inner surface that bears against the patient's waistline for therapeutic purposes when a belt that circumscribes the back and side walls is tightened, and a similar protuberance is formed in each side wall at the bottom thereof to help center the patient's hips atop the cushion and to hold them against lateral displacement. The rigidity of a side wall is enhanced by selectively placing a rigid stay member in a slot formed in each side wall. A head rest is adjustably mounted in a pocket secured to the exterior side of the back wall, and the length of straps interconnecting the back wall and the head rest are adjustable to control the position of a patient's head. Armrests and armrest extensions are provided on the exterior side of each side wall, and each armrest defines an overhang that is supported by the arm of a chair that supports the entire apparatus. The core and cover construction further allows the addition of sundry bolster pads to tailor the device to the needs of a patient.
Inventors
- 👤 John S. Lonardo
- 👤 Chris Lonardo
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 21:59
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F5/00; A61F5/37; A61F5/3769; A61F5/3792; A61F5/01; A61G; A61G5/00; A61G5/10; A61G5/1091; A61G5/12; A61G5/121
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
93 words
A medical appliance, comprising: a seat cushion; a vest member detachably securable to said seat cushion; said vest member including a transversely disposed, upstanding back wall and a pair of laterally spaced apart, longitudinally disposed, upstanding side walls projecting forwardly with respect to said back wall; and side wall positioning means for converging said side walls toward one another and for holding said side walls in a converged position; whereby appropriate adjustment of said first side wall positioning means affords treatment of a spinal deformity of a patient seated on said seat cushion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
93 words
A medical appliance, comprising: a seat cushion; a vest member detachably securable to said seat cushion; said vest member including a transversely disposed, upstanding back wall and a pair of laterally spaced apart, longitudinally disposed, upstanding side walls projecting forwardly with respect to said back wall; and side wall positioning means for converging said side walls toward one another and for holding said side walls in a converged position; whereby appropriate adjustment of said first side wall positioning means affords treatment of a spinal deformity of a patient seated on said seat cushion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The appliance of claim 1, wherein said side wall positioning means is an adjustable-length belt member that circumscribes said back and side wall.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
The appliance of claim 1, wherein said side wall positioning means includes a pair of straps, each of said straps having an outer end thereof fixedly secured to a side wall of said vest and an inner end releasably and adjustably securable to the inner end of its opposing strap.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
70 words
The appliance of claim 1, wherein each of said side walls is formed of a foam material and has an outer side and an inner side, wherein a longitudinally extending armrest is integrally formed on each of said side wall outer sides at a common, preselected spacing above said seat cushion, and wherein each armrest defines an overhang area that receives the arms of a chair that supports the appliance.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
108 words
The appliance of claim 1, wherein each of said side walls has a flat bottom edge disposed in abutting relation to said seat cushion, wherein each of said side walls has a top edge that is dished to accommodate a patient's armpits, wherein an upstanding blind slot is formed in each of said side walls, and further comprising a rigid stay member adapted to slidably fit within each of said blind slots, whereby a side wall having a stay member disposed within a blind slot is made more rigid than its opposing side wall, said stay member thereby providing an additional treatment tool for use by a therapist.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
70 words
The appliance of claim 1, wherein said back wall has a flat bottom edge disposed in abutting relation to said seat cushion, and further comprising a pocket member secured to an exterior side of said back wall, substantially centrally thereof, and further comprising a head support means, said head support means having a leg member slidably disposed in said pocket member and having a base that surmounts said leg member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
67 words
The appliance of claim 6, further comprising a pair of head support-engaging strap members, each of which has a first end fixedly secured to said back wall and each of which has a second, free end releasably and adjustably securable to said base at opposite ends thereof so that the position of the base is adjustable through adjusting the respective lengths of said head support-engaging strap members.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
46 words
The appliance of claim 7, wherein said base has a trough-like shape and a forward side at least partially covered with a hook and loop-type fastening means, and further comprising a cushioned and suitably contoured head-cradling member detachably securable to said forward side of said base.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
The appliance of claim 1, further comprising a cover for said seat, back wall, and side walls, said cover being formed of a material that is soft and that breathes well so that it transfers a patient's body heat away from the patient.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
The appliance of claim 1, wherein said back and side walls are releasably secured to said seat cushion by a plurality of fasteners of the hook and loop type.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
48 words
The appliance of claim 1, further comprising an arm rest strap member for holding down a patient's forearm, each of said armrests having an armrest strap member associated therewith, and each of said armrests having a concavity formed in an upper surface thereof to accommodate a patient's forearm.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
82 words
The appliance of claim 4, further comprising a waistline positioning means for converging said side walls toward one another and for holding said side walls in said converged position, said waistline positioning means including a pair of strap members secured to said side walls, each strap member of said pair of strap members having a free end releasably securable to a free end of its opposing strap member, and said waistline positioning means being disposed downwardly of said side wall positioning means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
89 words
The appliance of claim 12, wherein each side wall has an inner side and an outer side, wherein an inwardly extending, longitudinally extending protuberance is formed on each inner side wall at a common, preselected spacing from said seat, and wherein the respective outer ends of said waistline strap members are secured to said side wall leading edges at a position substantially coincident with said inwardly extending protuberances so that a therapist may treat the patient by adjusting said waistline strap members and hence the position of said protuberances.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
56 words
The appliance of claim 1, further comprising razor lines formed adjacent top and bottom edges of said side walls and near the surface of said side walls to facilitate cutting of said side walls to accommodate patients of differing heights and other physical characteristics and to narrow the appliance as needed to fit into a chair.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
60 words
The appliance of claim 4, further comprising an extension member associated with each of said armrests to accommodate patients having forearms of differing lengths, each extension member including a housing fixedly secured within an associated armrest, a base member telescopically received within said housing, and a therapeutic hand splint means detachably secured to a free end of said base member.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
101 words
The appliance of claim 13, further comprising a cover for covering said back wall and said side walls, said cover conforming to the shape of said armrests and said inwardly extending protuberances, said cover including a top edge wall that abuttingly engages and overlies respective top edges of said back wall and said side walls, and said cover having a bottom edge wall that opens to receive said back walls and said side walls, said bottom edge wall having complemental hook and loop type fastening material attached to opposing flaps thereof to facilitate opening and closing of said bottom edge wall.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
134 words
A medical appliance, comprising: a seat cushion; a three-sided vest detachably secured to said seat cushion; a head-supporting member adjustably mounted to said vest so that the head of an individual seated on said seat cushion is supported by said head-supporting member; means for tightening said vest around the trunk of said individual; a pair of armrests integral with said vest and being disposed on opposite sides thereof; an overhang area being defined under said armrests where said armrests project from the sides of said vest, said overhang area adapted to receive arms of a chair upon which the appliance may be positioned; and said seat cushion and vest being formed of a foamed material and being covered with a layer of material that is comfortable to a patient being treated by said appliance.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
134 words
A medical appliance, comprising: a seat cushion; a three-sided vest detachably secured to said seat cushion; a head-supporting member adjustably mounted to said vest so that the head of an individual seated on said seat cushion is supported by said head-supporting member; means for tightening said vest around the trunk of said individual; a pair of armrests integral with said vest and being disposed on opposite sides thereof; an overhang area being defined under said armrests where said armrests project from the sides of said vest, said overhang area adapted to receive arms of a chair upon which the appliance may be positioned; and said seat cushion and vest being formed of a foamed material and being covered with a layer of material that is comfortable to a patient being treated by said appliance.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
31 words
The appliance of claim 17, further comprising an armrest extension member telescopically mounted within each armrest, and a hand splint means secured to a distal free end of each extension member.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
158 words
A medical appliance, comprising: a seat cushion; a three-sided vest detachably secured to said seat cushion; a head-supporting member adjustably mounted to said vest so that the head of an individual seated on said seat cushion is supported by said head-supporting member; means for tightening said vest around the trunk of said individual; a pair of armrests integral with said vest and being disposed on opposite sides thereof; an overhang area being defined under said armrests where said armrests project from the sides of said vest, said overhang area adapted to receive arms of a chair upon which the appliance may be positioned; said seat cushion and vest being formed of a foamed material and being covered with a layer of material that is comfortable to a patient being treated by said appliance; and an armrest extension member telescopically mounted within each armrest, and a hand splint means secured to a distal free end of each extension member.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
158 words
A medical appliance, comprising: a seat cushion; a three-sided vest detachably secured to said seat cushion; a head-supporting member adjustably mounted to said vest so that the head of an individual seated on said seat cushion is supported by said head-supporting member; means for tightening said vest around the trunk of said individual; a pair of armrests integral with said vest and being disposed on opposite sides thereof; an overhang area being defined under said armrests where said armrests project from the sides of said vest, said overhang area adapted to receive arms of a chair upon which the appliance may be positioned; said seat cushion and vest being formed of a foamed material and being covered with a layer of material that is comfortable to a patient being treated by said appliance; and an armrest extension member telescopically mounted within each armrest, and a hand splint means secured to a distal free end of each extension member.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
71 words
The appliance of claim 19, wherein said three-sided vest includes a pair of transversely spaced apart side walls, and further comprising inwardly projecting protuberances formed in interior faces of said side walls, said protuberances being positioned above said seat cushion at a predetermined height so that said protuberances bear against the waistline of an individual being treated by said appliance when said vest is tightened around the trunk of the individual.
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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) | 1994-12-30 | 1995-07-01 | 1995-12-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-12-30 | 1999-07-01 | 1999-12-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-12-30 | 2003-07-01 | 2003-12-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |