US3364923A - Spine adjuster - Google Patents

Description

J. J. JONES SPINE ADJUSTER Jan. 23, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Feb. 19. 1965 Jimmie J. Jones INVENTOR.

Jan. 23, 1968 J. J. JONES 3,364,923

' SPINE ADJUSTER Filed Feb. 19, 1965 2 he s-Sheet 2 Jimmie J. Johes JNVENTOR.

Fig. 3. 76

United States Patent O 3,364,923 SPINE ADJUSTER Jimmie J. Jones, 2546 Autumn Ave., Memphis, Tenn. 38112 Substituted for abandoned application Ser. No. 112,995, Aug. 29, 1949. This application Feb. 19, 1965, Ser. No.

8 Claims. (Cl. 12848) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to new and useful improvements and structural refinements in mechanical devices for exercising or orthopedic treatment of the human body, and the principal object of the invention is to facilitate application of pressure to the back, more particularly, the spinal region, so that the muscles of the back and adjacent internal organs may be assisted in the proper performance of their function.

Specifically, the instant invention is intended to be operated by the person under treatment, and some of the advantages of the invention reside in its simplicity of construction, in its convenient and efficient operation, and in its adaptablity to economical manufacture.

With the above more important objects and features in view and such other objects and features as may become apparent as this specification proceeds, the invention consists essentially of the arrangement and construction of parts as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical sectional view thereof, this view being taken substantially in the plane of the line 22 in FIGURE 1; and,

FIGURE 3 is a cross sectional view, taken substantially in the plane of the line 33 in FIGURE 2.

Like characters of reference are employed to designate like parts in the specification and throughout the several views.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, the invention consists of what may be referred to as a spine adjuster, this being designated generally by the reference character and embodying in its construction a frame 12 including what may be generally called a horizontally elongated base poriton 14 having a front end 16 and a rear end 18, and an upwardly extending superstructure 20 which is provided at the rear end of the base portion 14, as will be clearly apparent.

The base portion 14 includes in its construction a set of longitudinal members 22 supported by pairs of upstanding legs 24, 26, 28, it being noted that upward continuation of the legs 26, 28 constitutes, in effect, components of the superstructure 20.

The longitudinal members 22 are provided with a set of cross members 30, 32, 34; and a seat 36, consisting of a plurality of boards, is provided on the cross members 32, substantially as shown.

The seat 36 is disposed at the bottom of the superstructure 20 of the frame 12, while a foot rest 38, also composed of a plurality of boards, is provided in the forward end region of the base portion 14, that is, forwardly of the superstructure 20.

Longitudinally extending side bars 40 are used for reinforcing the cross members 34, while the superstructure 20 of the frame is equipped at the upper end thereof with a substantially rectangular frame member 42 which is reinforced by diagonal braces 44 extending downwardly and rearwardly toward the upper set of longitudinal members 22 of the base portion 14. In addition, the rectangular member 42 is provided with a pair of spaced centralized parallel bars 46, while additional, longitudinally extending members 48, 50 and a transverse member 52 complete the superstructure 20 of the frame.

The front of the superstructure 20 is provided with a combined door-forming and chest-supporting panel 54 which is pivoted at 56 to the suspension members 48 and is swingable forwardly and upwardly, as indicated at 58 in FIGURE 2. However, the aforementioned transverse member 52 is pivotally mounted at one end thereof at 60 to one of the legs 26, this being so arranged that as long as the member 52 is disposed in its horizontal position, the door panel 52 cannot be swung forwardly, but when the member 54 is swung upwardly and outwardly, as indicated at 62 in FIGURE 1, opening of the door panel 54 is facilitated.

It is to be also noted that a substantially annular centrally localized padded head rest 64 of resilent material is provided on the superstructure 20 above the door panel 54, and a pendulous back engaging bar 66 is pivotally attached at its upper end at 68 to the aforementioned pair of bars 46 and extends downwardly within the confines of the superstructure 20, as is best illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2.

The lower end of the bar 66 is connected by a chain, cable or the like 68 to a transverse bar 70 extending between the lower ends of a pair of levers 72 which are attached by suitable pivot pins 76 to the lower pair of the longitudinal members 22, it being noted that the levers 72 are disposed at the sides of the foot rest 38, as illustrated in FIGURE 1.

The pivot pins 76 are receivable selectively in apertures 78, 80 provided in the lower pair of the longitudinal members 22 and in the levers 72, respectively, so that the position of the levers relative to the frame may be adjusted as desired.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the back engaging member 66 is swingable forwardly and rearwardly in the superstructure 20, the forward swinging thereof being effected by simply pulling the levers 72 rearwardly as indicated at 82, while a pair of tension springs 84, connected to the lower end of the bar 66 at 86 and anchored to the cross member 34 at the rear end of the frame at 88, are used for returning the bar 66 to its rearwardly swung position, as will be clearly understood.

When the invention is placed in use, the person to be treated simply lifts the member 52 upwardly and outwardly as at 62 and thereupon swings the door panel 54 forwardly and upwardly as at 58, so that he may seat himself on the seat 36 and place his feet on the foot rest 38. Thereupon, the panel 54 is permitted to be closed and is locked in the closed position by swinging the member 52 to its horizontal position, and the user may then pull the levers 72 rearwardly as at 82, so that the member or bar 66 is brought in contact with the users back.

A back engaging pressure pad 90 is adjustably positioned on the bar 66 so that pressure may be exerted on appropriate regions of the spine or back, while forward shifting movement of the person under treatment is prevented by the closed door panel 54 and by the head rest 64.

, bolts 94 which, in turn, are receivable selectively in a vertical row of apertures 96 with which the bar 66 is provided, so that longitudinal adjustment of the pressure pad 90 on the bar 66 is facilitated.

It is believed that the advantages and use of the invention will be clearly apparent from the foregoing disclosure and accordingly, further description thereof at this point is deemed unnecessary.

While in the foregoing there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of this invention, it is to be understood that minor changes in the details of construction, combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In a spine adjuster, the combination'of a frame structure embodying a seat and a torso enclosure aligned with and perpendicularly above said seat, a back-engaging member pivoted at an upper end in an upper part of said enclosure and extending downwardly within the confines of the enclosure, said member being swingable forwardly toward the front of the enclosure, a pair of levers pivotally mounted at the sides of the frame structure and operatively connected to said back-engaging member, a combined door-forming and chest-engaging panel provided at the front of said enclosure, and means for positioning and retaining said panel in a normally closed position.

2. The device as defined in claim 1 together with a cushioned head rest fixed at the front of said enclosure in a position above and in a plane common with the normal plane of said panel.

3. In a spine adjuster, the combination of a frame including a horizontally elongated base portion having front and rear ends and an upwardly extending superstructure at the rear end of said base portion, said superstructure affording a torso enclosure, a seat provided on said base portion at the bottom of said enclosure, a foot rest in said base portion forwardly and downwardly from said seat, a forwardly swingable door panel provided at the front of said enclosure and affording a chest support, means for retaining said panel in a normally closed position, a back-engaging member pivotally attached at an upper end thereof to an upper component of said enclosure and depending downwardly therein, said back engaging member being swingable forwardly toward said panel, a pair of levers pivoted to said base portion at the sides of said foot rest, and a flexible element operatively connecting said levers to the lower end of said back engaging member.

4. The device as defined in claim 3 together with a back engaging pressure pad adjustably mounted on'said member.

5. A spine adjuster of'the class described comprising a frame structure characterized by a horizontally elongated base portion having front and rear end portions and a vertically elongated upstanding superstructure fixed to and rising perpendicularly above and fixed to said rear end portion and constituting a torso and head confining enclosurefor an occupant, a horizontal seat fixed within a bottom part of and aligned with said superstructure,

a horizontal platfrom in said base portion in a plane below said seat and in front of said seat and providing a footrest for the occupant of said seat, avertically for-.

pivotally mounted on said base portion within convenient gripping and operating use of the user, and linking and operating means connecting said arm and lever-means.

6. The combination defined in and according to claim 5, and wherein said superstructure is provided at its top with a fixed horizontal frame, said'frarne embodying centralized members from which the upper end of said arm is pivotally hung for pendulous movement toward and from the occupant of said seat, said pressure apply ing panel being adjustably mounted on said arm. 7

7. The combination defined in and according to claim 6, and wherein said lever means comprises a pair of spaced parallel levers disposed in opposed relationship, said levers being adjustable vertically and also adjustably shiftable toward and from said superstructure.

'8. The combination defined in and according to claim 7,and wherein the lower end portion of said arm is provided with an anchored coil spring which is appropriately located and tensioned to maintain the arm in a given out-of use position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 786,672 4/1905 Pfund 128'-'25 1,537,464 5/ 1925 Hummel 12869 X 1,618,609 2/1927 Taplin 12869 L. W. TRAPP, Primary Examiner.

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