| JP2021106844 | EXERCISE AID FOR RIGHT AND LEFT SIDES |
| JP6551279 | Walking training device |
| JPH1043327 | EXERCISING TRAINING APPARATUS |
| US6030352A | 2000-02-29 | |||
| US6273865B1 | 2001-08-14 | |||
| US4545572A | 1985-10-08 |
| 1. | An apparatus that provides movement to the head and neck muscles of a patient user, comprising: a) an upright standing support stanchion having a first end and a second end, said stanchion having a plurality of legs disposed on said second end ; b) a spherical gudgeon disposed on said first end of said stanchion for insertion into a spherical socket; c) a spherical socket disposed on said gudgeon to permit movement of the socket about the gudgeon; d) a circular head cushion disposed on said spherical socket, said head cushion for receiving the back portion of the head of a patient; e) a neck pad disposed in said head cushion for being adjacent to the neck of a patient ; f) a plurality of elongated connection members to permit the head cushion and neck pad to be connected to the spherical socket; g) means for rotating the support stanchion, whereby the head cushion is rotated clockwise or counterclockwise; h) means for turning the spherical socket whereby the head cushion is turned in a sidetoside direction; i) means for tilting the spherical socket whereby the head cushion is moved in a forward to backward direction; and, j) means for controlling said means for rotating the support stanchion, said means for turning the spherical socket, and said means for tilting the spherical socket. |
| 2. | The apparatus of Claim 1, wherein said second end of said support stanchion further comprises a tripod bracket disposed thereon, said tripod bracket having said plurality of legs attached thereto, said tripod bracket having a rotation control motor housing disposed thereon to permit rotation of the support stanchion. |
| 3. | The apparatus of Claim 2, wherein said support stanchion further comprises at least a pair of telescoping members to permit adjustment of the height of the support stanchion. |
| 4. | The apparatus of Claim 3, wherein said circular head cushion further comprises a plurality of head pads disposed thereon to permit the head of the patient to be held therein said plurality of head pads. |
| 5. | The apparatus of Claim 4, wherein said head pads further comprise an elongated support member, said support member having a springloaded hinge on one end for connection of said support member to said head cushion to permit lateral movement of said head pad. |
| 6. | The apparatus of Claim 5, wherein said head pad further comprises height adjustment control buttons disposed on said support member to permit the height of said head pad to be varied. |
| 7. | The apparatus of Claim 6, wherein said head cushion further comprises an interior head cushion housing disposed therein to provide support for the head cushion. |
| 8. | The apparatus of Claim 7, wherein said interior head cushion housing further comprises a vibration/heating element disposed adjacent said neck pad to permit the neck of the patient to be heated and vibrated. |
| 9. | The apparatus of Claim 8, wherein said vibration/heating element is insulated from said head cushion to permit the head cushion to be substantially free of vibration and heat. |
| 10. | The apparatus of Claim 9, wherein said vibration/heating element has its ends spaced away from said head cushion to permit an air gap to exist between said vibration/heating element and said head cushion, further said vibration/heating element comprises a ceramic element on its ends to permit heat to be insulated from said head cushion. |
| 11. | The apparatus of Claim 10, wherein said means for rotating the support stanchion comprises: a) a rotation control motor housing disposed on said tripod bracket; b) a rotation control motor disposed internal said rotation control motor housing to permit the support stanchion to turn, said motor having a drive shaft thereon; c) a rotation control belt connecting said drive shaft of said rotation control motor and said support stanchion to permit the rotation control motor to turn the support stanchion; and, d) a rotation control motor controller for electronic communication with a handheld controller. |
| 12. | The apparatus of Claim 11, wherein said means for turning the spherical socket comprises: a) a turning control motor housing disposed on said spherical socket; b) a turning control motor disposed internal said turning control motor housing to permit the spherical socket to turn, said motor having a drive shaft thereon; c) a turning control drive wheel disposed internal said turning control motor housing, said drive wheel contacting said spherical gudgeon to permit the spherical socket to turn about the spherical gudgeon; d) a turning control belt connecting said drive shaft of said turning control motor and said turning control drive wheel to permit the turning control motor to turn the spherical socket; and, e) a turning control motor controller for electronic communication with a handheld controller. |
| 13. | The apparatus of Claim 12, wherein said means for tilting the spherical socket comprises: a) a tilting control motor housing disposed on said spherical socket; b) a tilting control motor disposed internal said tilting control motor housing to permit the spherical socket to turn, said motor having a drive shaft thereon; c) a tilting control drive wheel disposed internal said tilting control motor housing, said drive wheel contacting said spherical gudgeon to permit the spherical socket to turn about the spherical gudgeon; d) a tilting control belt connecting said drive shaft of said tilting control motor and said tilting control drive wheel; and, e) a tilting control motor controller for electronic communication wit a handheld controller. |
| 14. | The apparatus of Claim 13, wherein said means for controlling said means for rotating the support stanchion, said means for turning the spherical socket, and said means for tilting the spherical socket further comprises a handheld controller, said handheld controller further comprising a housing, said handheld controller further comprising a toggle stick to permit control of the apparatus, and a handle disposed on said toggle stick for use by a user. |
| 15. | The apparatus of Claim 14, further comprising a carrying case for the apparatus, said carrying case having a support strap thereon for use by a user. |
| 16. | The apparatus of Claim 15, wherein said carrying case further comprises a support brace disposed internal therein, said support brace for receiving said head cushion, said support brace having multiple openings therein, said openings for allowing said head pads to pass therethrough to permit said head cushion to rest on said support brace. |
Disclosure of the Invention A primary object of the present invention is to provide therapeutic massage to the upper extremities and can be performed by one's self.
An additional object of the present invention is to provide safe physical therapy to injured or stressed upper extremities A further object of the present invention is to provide means to tone and strengthen the muscles of the neck and immediate area of which.
A yet further object of the present invention is to provide means to relieve the nerves of the neck and immediate area One more object of the present invention is to provide a massager that is simple and easy to use.
A further object of the present invention is to provide means to adjust to various head and body shapes to comfortably utilize the present invention.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide for hand held control of the movements of the apparatus by the doctor or patient during treatment One more object of the present invention is to provide a massager that is easy to store and transport.
Further objects of the present invention will appear as the description proceeds.
To the accomplishments of the above and related objects, this invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that changes may be made in the specific construction illustrated and described in the appended claims.
Brief Description of the Drawing Figures Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of the present invention will become more fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views.
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the present invention in use.
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the present invention.
Figure 3 is a side view of the present invention.
Figure 4 is a cross sectional view of the present invention.
Figure 5 is a cross sectional top view of the present invention.
Figure 6 is a perspective view of the controller.
Figure 7 is a front view of the present invention.
Figure 8 is an enlarged view of a hinged head pad.
Figure 9 is a perspective view of the present invention.
Figure 10 is a side view of the present invention.
Figure 11 is a front view of the present invention.
Figure 12 is a front view of the present invention.
Figure 13 is a side view of the present invention.
The reference numerals utilized in the drawing figures are defined as follows.
10 present invention 12 patient 14 head of patient 16 head cushion 18 head pad 19 head pad support 20 height adjustment means 22 spring loaded hinge 24 height adjustment control button 26 neck pad 28 tripod bracket 30 tripod legs 32 adjustable stanchion 34 spherical gudgeon 36 spherical socket 38 head cushion connection member 39 neck rest connection member 40 tilt control motor housing 42 turn control motor housing 44 rotation control motor housing 46 rotation control motor 48 rotation control belt 50 tilt control motor 52 tilt control drive wheel 54 tilt control belt 56 interior head cushion housing 58 vibration/heating element 60 air gap 62 ceramic 64 toggle switch 66 handle 68 controller housing 70 arrow 72 turn control motor 74 turn control drive wheel 76 turn control belt 78 carrying case 80 carrying case strap 82 support brace Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment The following discussion describes in detail one embodiment of the invention and several variations of that embodiment. This discussion should not be construed, however, as limiting the invention to those particular embodiments since practitioners skilled in the art will recognize numerous other embodiments as well. For a definition of the complete scope of the invention, the reader is directed to the appended claims.
Turning to Figure 1, shown therein is a perspective view of the present invention 10 in use by a patient 12. The user's head 14 is held against the head cushion 16 by the head pads 18 emanating therefrom.
Turning to Figure 2, shown therein is a perspective view of the present invention 10 having a head cushion 16 to hold the back of the head 14 of a patient with the addition of multiple head pads 18 to hold the sides and top of the user's head 14.
The head pads 18 have height adjustment means 20 to ensure for proper fitting and comfort of the user's head 14. The head pads 18 have a spring loaded hinge 22 disposed on its base wherein the hinge 22 is attached to the head cushion 16. Also, the head pads 18 have a height adjustment control button 24 which allows the head pads 18 to be adjusted. A neck pad 26 is disposed on the head cushion 16 in the area to be adjacent to the neck of the patient. The head cushion has a tripod bracket 28 disposed on tripod legs being attached by stanchion 32 to a spherical gudgeon 34 which fits into spherical socket 36 which has means for attachment through connection members 38 to the underside of head cushion 16. Also shown are a tilt control motor housing 40, a turn control motor housing 42, and a rotation control motor housing 44.
Turning to Figure 3, shown therein is a side view of the present invention having a tripod bracket 28 disposed on the outer portion of the rotation control motor housing 44. Also shown is the head pad 18, the neck pad 26, the spring-loaded hinge 22, the head cushion 16, the spherical socket 36, spherical gudgeon 34, adjustable stanchion 32, tripod legs 30, the tilt control motor housing 40 and the turn control motor housing 42.
Turning to Figure 4, shown therein is a cross sectional view of the present invention showing a spherical socket 36 wherein a spherical gudgeon 34 is inserted therein to form a connection that is capable of movement similar to a neck. Also shown are a plurality of motors and drive wheels to move the spherical socket 36 upon the spherical gudgeon 34 in multiple directions. Also shown is the neck pad connection member 39 which runs from the spherical socket 36 to the neck pad along with the adjustable stanchion 32, the tripod legs 30, and the rotation control motor housing 44, the rotation control motor 46, a belt 48 which runs from the rotation control motor drive gear to the base of the spherical gudgeon 34. Also shown is the tilt control motor housing 40 containing therein a tilt control motor 50 and a drive wheel 52 which contacts the spherical gudgeon 34 along with a belt drive unit 54.
Turning to Figure 5, shown therein is a cross sectional top view of the present invention. The head cushion 16 of the present invention has a circular shape to better cradle the head of a user and an interior housing 56 with a heating and vibration element 58 only in the neck pad 26 with an air gap 60 on either end to eliminate vibration of the rest of the head cushion. Also shown is a ceramic portion 62 to help eliminate the transfer of heat to head cushion 16.
Turning to Figure 6, shown therein is a perspective view of the hand held controller of the present invention which controls the functions of the device utilizing a toggle stick 64 with handle 66. Single directional movement of the toggle stick for frontward, backward, side to side control and clockwise or counter clockwise circular movement for continuous rotational turning and tilting of the user's head. Also shown is the hand held controller housing 68.
Turning to Figure 7, shown therein is a front view of the present invention showing the present invention having an adjustable stanchion 32 to raise and lower the head cushion to a desired height. Also shown are the head pad 18, spring-loaded hinge 22, head cushion 16, head cushion connection member 38, neck rest connection member 39, spherical gudgeon 34, tripod legs 30, tripod bracket 28, spherical socket 36, and turn control motor housing 42.
Turning to Figure 8, shown therein is an enlarged view of a hinged head pad 18.
Shown are the head pads 18 with spring loaded hinges 22 where the head pads 18 support 19 meets the head cushion 16. Also shown is an arrow 70 to indicate how the spring loaded hinges 22 help the head pads 18 to grip the user's head. As mentioned in Figure 2, there is an additional vertical adjustment 24 for proper fitting of the user's head. In operation one depresses the button 24 and slides the support 19 to the desired height where it is released and locked in a slot.
Turning to Figure 9, shown therein is a perspective view of the present invention 10 showing the present invention having a plurality of motors attached to drive wheels by belts that control the tilting and turning functions of the device by producing radial movement of the spherical socket 36 about the spherical gudgeon 34.
Also shown is a rotation control motor 46 to turn the adjustable stanchion 32 to produce the devices rotational function. Also shown are the rotation control motor housing 44 and belt 48 along with the neck pad connection member 39. Additionally, there is shown the tilt control motor 50 and the tilt control drive wheel 52, along with its corresponding belt 54. Also shown are the turn control motor 72, the turn control drive wheel 74 with its associated drive belt 76.
Turning to Figure 10, shown therein is a side view of the present invention 10 showing the present invention performing the tilting function by moving the spherical socket 36 forward and backward on the spherical gudgeon 34 via usage of the tilt control motor housing 40 and motor and its associated components. This function produces backward and forward movement of the user's head. Other elements previously disclosed are also shown.
Turning to Figure 11, shown therein is a front view of the present invention 10 showing the present invention performing the rotation function of the device via usage of the rotation control motor housing 44 and motor to rotate the adjustable stanchion 32 side to side. This function causes the user's head to rotate in small to large circles in both directions. Other elements previously disclosed are also shown.
Turning to Figure 12, shown therein is a front view of the present invention 10 showing the present invention performing the turning function of the device via usage of the turn control motor housing 42 and motor acting upon the spherical gudgeon 34 to move the spherical socket 36 about the spherical gudgeon 34 in a side to side motion.
This function causes the user's head to turn side to side. Other elements previously disclosed are also shown.
Turning to Figure 13, shown therein is a side view of the present invention 10.
The present invention 10 includes a protective carrying case 78 for portability. The chiropractic device is prepared for transport by retracting the tripod legs 30 and adjusting the head pad 18 height settings to the lowest position. The chiropractic device is inserted into the carrying case 78 head pad first. The protective carrying case 78 includes an internal support brace 82 that allows the head pads 18 to pass through the brace and rest without encumbrance in the lower end of the case, thus allowing the weight of the chiropractic device to rest on the head cushion 16. An external shoulder strap 80 is provided for lifting and carrying the case 78.