It is an object of the invention to provide a novel clTopractic table having a baek engaging upper spinal treatment mechanism and a seeond lower posterior engaging mechanism mounted in slots in the top of the table for engaging the back and posterior of a patient. respectively, while treatin_a a patient for spinal and sacral iliac problems of the patient while the patient is on his back supine upon the table.

It is a further object of'the invention to protide a novel back engaina mechanism mounted on a table for engaging the back of a patient laying supine on the table which has a pair of separable ridge members to engage the back on each side of the spine and under downward pressure by a treatinent operator will react and separate apart in a manner to facilitate the realignment of dislocated portions of the spine, and which has a spring return to brins the 1idge members back toward one another upon release of the downward pressure by the treatment operator.

It is another objet of the invention to provide a novel chiropractic treatment table having a separable pair of back ridge like mounds which prqiect slightly above the adjacent top surface of the table and act to engage the back of patient when lying supine on the table, on opposite sicles of the spine of the patient and with downward pressure upon the patient's chest acting to cause the mounds to separate in bilateral parallel action awar from one another undw a spring return action facilitating the realignment of displaced portions of the spine of the patient.

It is another objet of the invention to'provide novel parallel projecting ridges mechanism on a treatment table which ridges may move apart and downward and terminate in abrupt stop, due to downward impact pressure upon the front of a patient resting his back or lower posterior upon the ridges, and while under spring resistance; and which movement apart tends to trigger slight momentary separation to articulation of joint components of the bodv when out of alignment so as to be allowed them to move back into component alignment, and with the ridae movement terminating in an abrupt drop or stop to force the components back into aliment upon their sparation clue the initial ridge movement.

It is another objet of the invention to protide a novel spinal treatment table which provides a lateral opposing separation movement or action and an abrupt clrop or stop at the end of the separation movement to separate and then force joint components of a patient into proper alignment.

It is another objet of the invention to provide a novel chiropractic treatment table having mechanisms for treating upper spinal ans lower sacral-ffiac problems of a patient.

It is another objet of the invention to protide a novel chiropractic treatment table shaving mechanism for treating patients with chiropractic mechanical problems.

Further objects and aclvantages of the invention will become apparent as the ciescription ln-oceeds and when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein: Brief Descliption of the Drawings : Figure I is a top plan view of the preferred form of treatment table showing a back posteior engaging mechanism or upper unit in an upper slot along the top surface of the table and a lower posterior engaging mechanism or lower unit in a lower slot along the top surface with each mechanism havino, a pairof elongated ridge members mounted in their respective slot in the table and projecting upward projecting in spaced relation with one pair of ridage members for engaging the upper back on each parallel side of the spine of a patient and the other pair of ridge members for engaging the lower posterior sacrum of the patient, respectively, and each pivotally movable apart for moving the spinal components and sacral iliac joints, respectively, in a scissor like separation action.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the preferred form of treatment table illustrating the upper and lower units of the preferred form of the invention, with portions of the pair of slots cutaway to reveal the dual pair of the ridge members mounted pivotally connected together and movable apart in a scissor like action for the spinal and sacral iliac joint treatment, respectively.

Figure 3 is a front elevational view of the preferred from of treatment table with a patient Iying on his back on the table.

Figure 4 is a similar view to Figure 3 with a side cutaway of table and an a illustration of the chest and spine of a patient when Iying on the table in relation to the pair of pivotally movable ridge members taken along line 4-4 of Fipre 9.

Figure 5 is an enlarged front cutaway view of the first pair of pivotal acting ridge members shown in solid lines before the downward treatment action of a patient shown in solid lines and with the ridge member shown in phantom lines after their separation pivota movement Figure 6 is an erdaraed side elevational-%, iew of the first iidge members with portions of the table cutawav to reveal the scissor construction.

Figure 7 is a cross sectional end view taken along line 7-7 of Figure 2.

Figure 8 is a cross sectional inferior or underneath view taken along line 8-8 of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the second form of the invention illustrating the table, vith a pair of slots in the table and a pair of movably mounted mound members mounted in each slot for engaina the back and lower posterior in the spinal column chest portion of a patient and the sacral-iliac joint portiont respective6* of the patient.

Figure 10 is a front elevational end view of the second form of the invention.

Figure 11 is a side elevational view of the second alternate form of the treatment table a cutaway of the table showing the dual slots with the dual pair of movable ridge members in each slot movable in a straight line action.

Figure 12 is a top plan view of the second altematc folm of chiropractic treatment tablc Figure 13 is a end view taken along line 13-13 of Figure 12. figure 14 is a end aew taken along line 14-14 of Figure 12.

Figure 15 is a top view of the second form of spinal bridge mechanism.

Brief Description of Preferred Embodiment: Briefly stated, the invention comprises a chiropractic table having a main table member svith a pair of slots in the upper surface of the table. A pair of back engaging spinal treatment bridge members are positioned in one of the slots of the table and are movabl+t mounted in the slot to move in bilateral parallel trasel awaw and downward from one another in said slot, with the upper surface of the pair of lidge members projecting slLhtlV'above the upper surface of the table member for engagement with the back of a patient lying supine on the table on opposite sides of the patient's spinc wherebs downward pressure upon the chest of the patient reactiveh tliggers the ridge members to move bilaterally apart while engaging the back for spinal articulation treatment, with spring return means mounted between the ii (lge members to urge them toward one another upon completion of the bilatéral parallel travel. A second pair of sacral iliac treatment bridges members similar to the first in the table for the patient's sacrum to rest upon are movabh mounted in the second slot for bilateral separation and downward movement from one another in <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> rection to downward prcssure upon the lower fi ont of the patient supine upon the table while his lower back unit is supporte on the iidge members for treating sacral-iliac problems of a patient.

Preferred Form of the Invention: Referring more particularly to the drawings, in Figures 1, the preferred embodiment of the chiroln-actic table invention 20 is illustrated in Figures 1 -8, inclusive, having a treatment table 21 and a movable back engaging spinal treatment bridge apparats 21'having a pair of back engaging ridges 23 and 24 for engaging the bacl of a patient 36' on opposite sides of the patient's spine A. r for spinal treatment is mounted in the slot 22 of the table 21 of the invention. A second sacral iliac treatment mechanism 45 mounted in a second slot 46 in the table has a pair of ridages 47 and 48 for resting upon and engaging the sacrum 50 of the patient at the lower posterior of a patient for treatment of sacral iliac joints. The movable back bridge apparats 21'or upper unit has a pair of elongated movable ridges 23 and 24 which are mountecl on three pair of scissor like supports 25.

25', 26.26'and 27.27'. Each pair of bridges moves bilaterally apart from one another to engage the <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> iliac spine of the patient in a pivoting scissor like movement by means of the three pair of scissoi-<BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> like supports 25,25',26, 26', 27,27'. Each pair of scissors are pivotally connecte together intermediate their length by a common rod 28 which extends through all three pair of scissors.

One pair of scissors 25'5'are mounted at their one ends to one of the ends of the parallel ridés. one pair of scissors 27.9 7'are mounted at their one enclos to the other enclos of the parallel liclges. and the third pair of parallel ridges are mounted at their one ends to the middle of the parallel bridges 23 and 24. The other ends 29 of the scissors have rollers 30 rotatably mounted thereon with the rollers adapte to roll on the horizontal surface portion 31 of the bottom panel 32 in the slot 22 of the treatment table.

The bottom panel 32 in the slot 22 has abrupt drop or step down horizontal surface portions 33 and 33'on opposite side edges 34 and 34' of the bottom panel, which are stepped down from the horizontal surface portion 31, so that the rollers 30 and thereby the scissors and parallel bars or ridges 23 and 24 will drop down suddenly, when the ridges 23 and 24 are pressed down <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> suff1cientlx causing the ridges 23 and 24 to separate suff1ciently to cause the scissors to pivot apar ( from one another on their common pivot rod 28 from their position shown in solid lines in Figs. 1- <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> 6 to enable their rollers 30 to r each the edges of the upper panel 31, after the parallel liclges 23 and 24 and therebv the scissors have separately or pivoted apart a short distance from one another causing the rollers to rot tocard the edges 34 and 34'and drop off the edges onto the lower horizontal surfaces portions 33 and 33', as shown in phantom lines 36 in Figure 5 due to the pressing down pressure bv the treabment operator upon the arms and chest of the patient 36'shown in phantom fines in the drawings. This sudden drop produces a jarring action upon the spinal colurnn of the patient, when lving supine on the table causing realinent of the components of the spinal column, as a beneficial effet.

The spinal treatment apparats 21'of the upper unit has a 1) air of bottom common rods 3 and 35', with common rod 35 running through the lower ends of the scissor arms on their one side and the common rod 35' running through the lower ends of the scissor arms on their other sicle encls with sleeves 37 on the rocks between the scissor arms keeping the scissor armes in spaced uniform alignment with one another as they are pivoted apart and together. Also, the common pivot rod 28 of the scissor arms has spacer sleeves 37 mounted on the rod 28 between each of the three pair of scissors to also keep the scissors in uniform spaced alignment with one another.

A vertical narrow slot 38 is provided in the front wall 39 of the broad slot 22 in the table and a sirnilar vertical slot 38'is provided in the rear wall 4 () of the slot 22 in the table, and the common rod 28 has projecting front and rear ends 28'and 28", respectivelvt which slide in the front and rear slots 38 and 38', respectively, and act to keep the apparats in alignment in the slot 22 in the table to prevent side to side movement of the rod and apparats in the slot in the table, while allowing uniform upward and downward pivota movement of the scissors in the slot 22, guided ;by the rod in the slots 38 and 38'in the broad slot 22 in the upper surface of the table.

In tlus fi1st folm of the invention.. the upoer treatment unit 21'is for primarily treating the thoracic region of the spine by the movement of the parallel bars or ridges 23 and 24, while the lower treatment unit 45 is plimaliht for treatment of the where the saclum 50 ancl ilium 51 joint together to form the sacral iliac joint at the lower end of the spine also referred to as the iliac spine by the movement of the parallel ridges 47 and 48.

In this first form of the invention, the ridges or parallel bars 23 and 24 of the upper unit have cusluoning 44 covering along their length. The three pair of scissor members 25.25',26,26',27,27' each have a spring 43 connecte between each pair of scissor members at their lower ends to draw each pair of scissors at their upper and lower ends pivotally toward one another about the pivot ro (l 28 to thereby draw the pair of bridge members pivotally toward one another in parallel relat In the first form of the invention, the upper unit for spinal treatment 21', the iido-e members 23 and 24 will have their top inner edges 23'and 24'of each of the rectangular elongated bridges made of resilient cushion material 44, as well as theiT top outer edges 23"and 24". Tlle outer eclges 23"and 24"will be spaced approximately 1½ inches apart from one another to allow sufficient space for the spinal column 43 ouf té patient 36'to be dispose freely between the inner edges of the pair of ridges 23 and 24 without the scissors or ridages 23 and 24 being in direct contact with the spinal column, when the patient is lying supine upon his back upon the table. The front wall 39 of the slot 22 will be adjacent the neck 46 of the patient, while the rear wall 40 of the slot 22 and the third pair of scissors 25 and 25'wifl temiinate approximately adjacent the bottom of the rib cage of the patient The second scissor treatment mechanism or lower unit 45 is mounted in a second slot 4ci in the table for treatment of sacral iliac problems. It also has a pair of scissor members 47'and 48' mounted at their one ends to the bridge members 47 and 48 and a second pair of scissor members 47"'rand 48"'mounted at their one ends to the ridge members 47 and 48 at the other ends of the ridge members, with rollers 30 mounted at the hottom of the scissor members 47',48', 47"',48" A common rod 28 also extends through the pair of scissor members to provide the pivotal connections for the scissor members 47'and 48'relative to one another and the scissor members 47"'and 48"'relative to one another. The ridge members and scissor members are prvotallv mounted on the rod for pivota movement apart for treatment of the sacral-iliac repositioning and <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> problems associate with it. The common rod 28 of the second unit 45 ils also mounted in vertical front and rear slots 51 and 52 which function similar to slots 38 and 38' of the upper unit to keep the ridge members 47 and 48 is vertical alignment in the slot 46 when the ridge members are pivoted apalt and toward one another in the slots.

The structure of the second scissor treatment mechanism or lower unit 45 is similar to the <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> structure of the first spinal treatment mechanism or upper unit 21', anlv that the second treatment mechanism is intended to be shorter than the first mechanism 21', with the first mechanism 21' intended to be approximately 18 inches long while the second scissor mechatu'sm 45 is intended to be appro. ximately 12 inches long.

The second sacral-iliac treatment mechanism or lover unit 45 is mounted in the table 21 belon or spaced along the table from the spinal treatment mechanism or upper unit 21'. The second treatment mechanism is for tI'eatllla sacral-iliac problems at the lower end of the spine and has the pair ouf ridages 47'and 48'for contact with the bottom of the patient's body directly beneath the sacrum 50 of the patient when the patient is laina supine upon the table upon his back and serve to support the sacrum and are adjas ent the left and right sides medial surfaces 50'and 50"of the posterior superior iliac spine wllicl form the sacral-iliac joints of the lup bones of the bock-.

The dual pair of scissor arms 47'and 48'and 47"rand 48"are pivotally mounted together at the common rocl 28 to pivot apart from one another in a manner similar to the upper spinal treatment mechanism 21'with a similar springs 43 connecting each pair of scissor arms together a. nd urging them toward one another similar to the upper unit.

The bridge members 47 and 48 pivot apart ilA a manner similar to the upper spinal treatment <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> mechanism so that frontal pressure when applied upon the lower portion of the patient while lying supine upon the table with his lower posterior upon the riclges 47 and 48, as described, the reactive force upon the ridges will cause them to separate in a pivotal action and the bridges 47 and 48, when pivoted apart, provide bilateral parallel le-enrage contact in separate opposite directions against the confronting portions 50' and 50" of the sacral medial posterior superior iliac spine 50"' to force the iliac apart outward laterally of the pehZic ui its or sacrum. In the sacral iliac mechanisms, ridae members 47 and 48 will be spaced approximately 3inches apart from one another so the spacing is slightly larger than the spinal mechanism spacing of the upper unit. The sacrum 50 rests primarily upon the top fåces of'the ridges 47 and 48 with the outer edges 47" and 48"in significant contact with the posterior superior iliac spine. At their opposing portions 5 7 tnd 58 so that the downward force ouf té operator upon the top of tr : lawer portion of the body causes a downward impact upon the bridges 47 and 48 triggerinp-them apa I and thereby producing an outwarcl compouncied bilateral directional force upon the spine portions 50' and 50" of the spire at the iliac joints, forcing or jarring the posterior iliac superior spine apart.

Operation of the Upper unit Spinal Treatment AMechanism of the First Fonn the Invention: In the first form of the invention, for treatment of the upper spire with the spinal treatment mechanism 21', the patient will be placed on the table on his back with his bacl ; resting on the ridges 23 and 24 and his arrns 36"and 36"'crossed in a position as generally approximately shown in Fig res 1-5, inclusive, so that the front or top wall 38 of the slot 22 , viU be adjacent the neck of the patient as shown in phantom lines in the Figures. The space between the top inner edges 23' and 2A'of'the ridges 23 and 24, as shown in solid lines before the ridges are separated from one another bv the pressing action, will be approximately 1½ inches apart as previously indicatecl to allow space for the spinal column 43 there between and is slightly larger than the spinal column width to allow the spinal column to be between the ridges 23 and 24 with the rib transverse area of the spinal column restíng on the lidges. ALso, the rear wall 38' of the slot 22 anal the rear eciges or ends of the bridges will terminate approximately at the back of the patient at the bottom of the iib cage of the patient upon the table, since in both forms of the invention, as well as té mounds 49 and 49'of the upper unit t3'in the second form of the invention will rest upon the back of the rib cage of the patient, as sliown in Figures 1-7 and 9-13, respectively.

The spinal treatment operator will, when the patient is in the position as just described in connection with the upper unit of the first fòlm press down upon the crossed arms 36"and 36"'of the patient : which will cause the ridge members to press against the back of the patient on each side of the spinal column; and with continuing downwards pressure in opposition to the springs acting as a spring return, will cause the ridage members to pivot apart on the pivot rod 28 with the rollers 30 rolling from their position shown in solid lines to thc edges of the upper horizontal portion 31 and then drop suddenly off the edges onto the lower horizontal surfaces 33 and 33'. This separation movement of the ridges upon the back, ending in a sudden downward impact action upon the back when the rollers drop off the eclges onto the lower horizontal surfaces tends to act or <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> cause a compound bilateral directional force to the spine 4 3 to bye jarre back into alignmnet with the curvature of the rib heads 44', while the rib heads on the one side are tending toseparate momentarilfi-om the iib heads on the other side under the separation movement of the bridge members 23 and 24 from one another during the initial downward pressure of the treatment operator upon the patient as just described.

Sprin_s 43 connecte between the scissor arms 25,26, and 27. and arms 25', 26'. and 27' respectively act to draw the respective arms and thereby the ridge members 23 and 24 toward one another and thereby return the scissor amis close together and the ridge member 23 and 24 close together jupon the operator s remo/al of the downward pressure upon the arms and chest of the Operation of the sacral-iliac scissor mechanism 45 is similar to the upper spinal treatment mechanism ? 1'. The patient is placed supine on the table with thz sacrum0 of the patient's body resting upon the parallel bridges 47 and 48, between confìonting portions of the sacral posterior iliac spins. The treatment operator has the patient's knees crossed and places his right hand one the patient's right knee and left hand upon the patient's left knee and trusts downward toward the patient's dorsal posterior of his bodw while the patient is on his bach on the table. Applvino, this downward mechanical force upon the patient's knees causes the bridges 47 and 48 to separate in their bilateral scissor like action with their rollers 30 droppino off the ledges in the slot. similar to the ledge and operation of the upper spinal treatment mechanism. This lateral scissors action for each sacral-iliac joint with the separation travel ending in the rollers dropping off their ledges produces a disposition articulation action upon the sacral iliac articulation joint structure separating the 1-dp joint from the sacral iliac momentarily to free the structures from one another.

The separation of the ridage members 47 and 48 will be approximateh 3 inches in contrast to the separation of the ridge members 23 and 24 in the upper spinal treatment mechanism of approximately 1 ½ inches.

Second Form of the Invention: A second fonn 53 of the invention is illustrated in Figures 9-15 an it has an upper spinal treatment mechanism 53'and a lower sacral iliac treatment mechanism 53". In the second form of the invention, the upper spinal treatment mechanism 53'has a pair of'ridge or mound members 54 and 55 in the slot 57'and the mound members are movably mounted on opposing incline surfaces 56 and 56'in the upper slot 57'of the table. The opposing incline surfaces incline laterall ! downward and away from one another in a the slot in a straight line laterally opposed travel path in relation to one another and in relation to the length ouf té table. Each mound member has rollers 58 mounted in each of their four corner to rotatably support the ridge or mound members on the inclined sunaces. with the inclination causina the ridage member under to move downward and away from one another in a straight line action as show bu the arrows in Figure 10. The mounds are spring urged together by a pair of springs 59 ancl 59'connecting the mounds 54 and 55 together at each end and are of sufficient strength to overcome the gravitation weight of the mounds or ridges 54 and 55 and urge the ridge members upward toward and against one another as shown in Figure 10. The patient, shown in phantom lines. is hring supine on the table 21 on his bacs 29 with the ridge members 54 and 55 of ithe upper unit 53'engagina his back on each side of his spinal column 43 as shown in Figures 6-10, with the patient's cross sectional configuration at his chest shown in phantom lines 57 in Figure 7. The sprint members 59 and 59' have their outer ends connecte to the ridage members 54 ancl 55 at opposite ends on posts 59" fixed to respective ridge members s4 and 55.

In the second form of the invention, the lower sacral-iliac parallel ridge mechanism 53"has a structure and operation similar to the parallel bridge mechanism 53' of the upper spinal treatment, shaving a second pair of mouncls 61 and 62 mounted on rollers 63 in the second slot 67 of the table.

The mounds 61 and 62 are also spring urged together bv sprinQs G4 cormected the mounds together at their ends with the mounds also positioned on opposed downwards inclined surfaces 66 and 66' to allow the mounds to travel apart and downward on the incline while the sprints urge the mounds back upward toward one another. This is essentially the same operation as the upper mechanism 53' for the upper spinal treatment and the main difference benveen the two is that the upper spinal treatment mechanism 53'is longer, approximately 18 inches, than the lower sacral- iliac mechanism 53". The lower sacral-iliac treatment mechanism 53"is mounted in a second slot 67'in the table 21, below the first slot 67.

Operation of Second Form of the Invention: The operation of the second form of upper and lower spinal treatment mechanism is similar to the first fonn. onlv that the separation movement is in a straight line action rather than a pivotal action.

The treatment table 20, in both tbn-ns. will be used to correct misaligmnent of'uppcr spinal and lover sacral-iliac components. The patient mat ho upon the table on his bael : with his back upon the upper movable mounds 54 and 55 for treatment of the upper spine, for example, with the <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> spinous 44 ouf té spine 43 has move out of alignent with the curved portion AA"of'the head 44' of the iib,, such as generally shown in Figures 9-13, inclusive.

The upper movable ridges 54 and 55 of the treatment table, by moving bilaterally away from one another, will cause the rib heads on each side of the iib cage 68 to move away from the spinous 44, for example, so that the iib head can slip back into position with the cup portion 44'of the lib head about the spinous on the transverse side of the spine, so a correct aligned position is attained similar in mirror imaae to the spinous position on the left side of the spine as shown generallo in Figure 13. In both forms of the invention it is intended that the liclges 23 and 24 and 54 and 55 mll rest on the yack ouf the rib cage of the patient, when the treatment operator presses down on the crossed arrns and chest of the patient for the treatment as already desclibed.

In the second fòrm of'the invention the upper and lower mechanism 53'and 53"have side walls n6 and 56' in their respective slots 67 and 67'protide an abrupt stop to the mounds or ridges of the upper and lover mechanisms when the treatment operator presses down on the anus and chest of the patient in the upper mechanism or lower frontal portions of the patient triggermg the bars in the upper or lower unit to separate, when the rollers s8 engaae the side halls. In contrast. in the first form of the invention. the step down ledges on each side exige of the horizontal surface in the slots, the supporting rollers of the scissors provide an abrupt drop and then the side walls 60 and 60' of the slots provide an abrupt stop to the rollers of the scissors of the apparats. This abrupt drop in effect transmits in a compounded bilateral directional impact action to the spinal column ouf té patient to cause components of the spins. out of alignement, be forced back into aharu-nent The abrupt stop of both forms of the invention upper and lower urus, the ridge members 23.24.

47,48. 54, 55, 61 and 69 wiX project at least approximately 1 inch above the adjacent top surface 31 of the table surrounding the slots in the tablet when the ridage members are at their closest position to one another, as shown in the drawinas. Vhen the ridage members have separated in their path downward and away from one another. the ridge members will still project s'liahtl above the top surface of the table, when the ridae members reach the end of'their downward and outward movement and have engaged the sudden stops in the slots. The ridge members of the upper units in both finns of the invention project above the top surface of the table at all times, so that they can adequately engage the back of the patient on each side of the spine at all times to enable the downward pressure on the chest to cause a reactive upward pressure on the back sufficient to cause a sufficient séparation and realignment effect upon the spinal components.

The springs in both foimis of the invention will have sufficient strength to urge the ridge members back toward one another into engagement with one another as illustrated in the drawings, after ans lateral travel is completed by frontal downwarcl pressure upon frontal portions of the patient's body and the pressure force has been removed or stoppe, with the springs causing the ridge member to roll or pivot back upvvarcl to one another for the next spinal treatment usagc. The weight of the patient's body alone resting upon the ridge members will not be sufficient to overcotne the force of the sp1ings and cause the jidee members to separate. as adclitional frontal pressure upon the patient's bodv. hy the treatment operator applying pressure to the frontal portion of the patient's body bu some means. is necessala to overcome the strenath of the sprints and cause the bridge members to separate from one another from their position shown in the drawings