AU2002100374B4

AU2002100374B4 - Thoracic stretching chair

Info

Publication number: AU2002100374B4
Application number: AU2002100374A
Authority: AU
Inventors: K. A. Mitchell
Original assignee: KATHY MITCHELL
Current assignee: Mitchell Kathy
Priority date: 2002-05-09
Filing date: 2002-05-09
Publication date: 2002-06-13
Also published as: AU2002100374A4

Description

15/12/2003 14:49 GRIFFITH HACK 4 IP AUSTRALIA PT N0.994 0009

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT Applicant: KATHY MITCHELL Invention Title: THORACIC STRETCHING CHAIR The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: COMS ID No: SMBI-00535523 Received by IP Australia: Time 15:47 Date 2003-12-15 15/12/2003 14:49 GRIFFITH FCK 4 IP AUSTRALIA PT NO.994 D010 -2 THOfACIC STRETCHING CHAIR FIELD OF THE IVENTION The present invention relates to a stretching chair, and especially a thoracic stretching chair.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a stretching chair copriding: a curved support portion for supporting a user's back, the curved support portion comprising two adjacent, substantially rigid, generally parallel support portion members which are curved and the curved support portion being made of coated Steel, and being provided so as to allow reversal of the spine of a user when the user reclines along the support portion; a seat located at or adjacent a first, front, end of the support portion; a head rest located at or adjacent a second, rear, end of the support portion; a pair of front legs attached at or adjacent the seat in a fixed position with respect to the seat; a pair of rear legs, each of fixed length, the rear legs being attached at or adjacent the head rest.

Preferably, each front leg is approximately long, each rear leg is approximately 70cm long and each rear leg is formed as a substantially rigid rod.

Preferably, the Support portion is made of galvanised powder coated steel.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of stretching and mobilization of the spinal column comprising use of the chair in accordance with the first aspect of the present invention.

N\)b0LsOlhW,4\Za*t*meHa\kR*tkspeci',PSI$52.4oC k5/13/fl COMS ID No: SMBI-00535523 Received by IP Australia: Time 15:47 Date 2003-12-15 15/12/2003 I5/i22093 4:49 GRIFFITH HAICK 4 IP AUSTRALIA PTN.94 W± NO. 994 0011 -3 BRIEF DBSCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINIG A preferred embodiment of the present invent ion will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to Fig. which shows a schematic perspective view of a stretching chxair.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Referring to Fig- 1, a stretching chair generally designated 1 comprises a curved support portion 2 which is formed from first and second adjacent parallel curved steel pipes 4, 6. The steel pipes 4, 6 are 2.3cm, in radius and 60.3cm in length. In the preferred smbodiment, the pipes 4, 6 are galvanised steel and are powder coated.

At a first, front, end 10 of the support portion 2 is provided a seat 12 comlprising a steel plate covered with vinyl upholstery. First and second front legs 11, 16 extend downwardly from the Seat 12 Cor from a part of the first end of the support portion 2 which in adjacent the seat 12). The front legs extend outwardly and slightly forward as they descend, and are each approximately long.

At a second, rear, end 20 of the support portion 2 is provided a head rest 22 comprising a steel plate covered with vinyl upholstery.

First and second rear legs 24, 26 extend downwardly from the head rest (or from a part of the first end of the support portion 2 which is adjacent the head rest 12). The rear legs extend outward and slightly reward as they' descend, and are each approximately long. The legs may be fixed to the rest of the chair by means of nuts, bolts and washers (not shown).

The pipes 2, 4 are arranged so that a recess is formed between them. In use, spinous processes are accommodated in the recess so that they sit between the pipes 2, 4, when a user sits upon the seat 12 and reclines COMS ID No: SMBI-00535523 Received by IP Australia: Time 15:47 Date 2003-12-15 15/12/2003 14:49 GRIFFITH HACK 4 IP AUSTRALIA PT NO .994 9012 4 along the support portion 2.

T

he chair, designed by a physiotherapist, allows controlled stretching and mobilization of the spinal column and particularly the thoracic spine.

In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express imguage or necessary implication, the word "comprise" or variations such as "cowprises" or 'comprising" is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.

It is to be understood that, if any prior art publication is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or in any other country.

Modifications and introvements may be incorporated without departing from the scope of the present invention.

\bt.hcm\ane/u kc\ee \P5SI 2 5c COMS ID No: SMBI-00535523 Received by IP Australia: Time 15:47 Date 2003-12-15

Claims

1. A stretching chair comprisingi a curved support portion for supporting a user's back, the curved support portion coprifsing two adjacent, substantially rigid, generally parallel support portion members which are curved and the curved support portion being made of coated steel, and being provided so as to allow reversal of the spine of a user when the user reclines along the support portion; a seat located at or adjacent a first, front, end of the Support portion; a head rest located at or adjacent a second, rear, end of the support portion; a pair of front legs attached at or adjacent the seat in a fixed position with respect to the seat; a pair of rear legs, each of fixed length, the rear legs being attached at or adjacent the head rest.

2. A stretching chair as claimed in claim 1, wherein each front leg is approximately 30cm long, each rear leg is approximately 70cm long and each rear leg is formed as a substantially rigid rod.

3. A stretching chair as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the support portion is made of galvanised powder coated steel.

4. A method of stretching and mobilization of the spinal column comprising use of the chair a claimed in any preceding claim. A stretching chair substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as schematically illustrated by, the accompanying drawing. \\bre~lbci$%LSOS~kn~\S~ci.1fl52 doe 15/12/03 COMS ID No: SMBI-00535523 Received by IP Australia: Time 15:47 Date 2003-12-15 15/12/2003 14:49 GRIFFITH HACK 4 IP AUSTRALIA PT NO.994 D014 -6- Dated this 156t day of December 2003 KATHY MITCHELL By her Patent Attorneys RrriFFT HACK S Follows Institute of Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys of Australia ;\bri5Oi±hoamQ)\1 #H \temcep\.wPSiri 1s62.de 15/1109 COMS ID No: SMBI-00535523 Received by IP Australia: Time 15:47 Date 2003-12-15