CA2998205C - Manual back traction device - Google Patents

Abstract

This invention is to be used in physiotherapy or home therapy to help stretch low, middle, and upper back muscles, tendons, ligaments, and disc space decreasing back pain and increasing mobility. This device is lightweight and compact made with a hand welded steel frame for structural strength, and non-elastic polypropylene webbing belt for comfort. It is best used on any floor surface wirth hips and knees at 90 degrees, and feet elevated. This device sits on the user's torso,handles at their side and Nylon Belt against their upper thigh. Once in place, and relaxing all core muscles, the user applies pressure using of he's/her shoulders and/or arm. By using the upper body for traction, it allows the user's back muscles and spine to stretch creating an upward and a downward stretch, dual traction.

Description

DESCRIPTION
Application #2998205 1...TITLE;
The title of this current invention is," Manual Back Traction Device".

2...The Field of the embodied device;
The field that a Manual Back Traction Device best fit is Physiotherapy, Chiropractor, and personal home therapy.

3... Background of the current invention including prior art;
I believe I am the first to build a Manual Back Traction Device. In my searches for prior art, like or similar to the design of the current invention in this current application, I could not find any art or design similar to the one in this application. I am first to file.
This current invention came to life after I suffered a low back injury (bulge disc at L4/L5) and spent 3 years in physiotherapy after surgery failed. After 3 years of Physiotherapy, Massage therapy, and Chiropractor I was told that I plateaued and would need to use a cane for the rest of my life, then doctors told me I would have to retire from a career which I truly loved. I was 30 years old. I could not accept that because I was young, I loved what I did for a career, and I also had a young family depending on me.
During my 3 years in therapy I learned how the body responds to an injury, how to listen to my body, and how to pay attention to my body and what it was telling me with relations to pain. One of the biggest learnings I received while in therapy after my injury was that after suffering an injury the muscles around that injury tend to tighten to help protect the injured body part until it is healed. If this injured part of the body takes a long time to heal then those muscles that have tightened to protect the injury will tend to stay tight and over time will tend to shrink unless stretched over and over, again and again until they become relaxed and Date Recue/Date Received 2022-05-24 Description Sub-section #3 continued:
return back to their normal length or longer. This tightening and shrinking of the muscles can cause a secondary injury causing secondary pain.
This tightening of the muscles can also cause other parts of the body to become pinched, shrink, and muscle tightening, such as Nerves, Tendons, and Discs in the case of a back injury. It is this tightening that this current invention targets.
After 3 years in different therapies ( Massage, Physio, Chiropractic, and Acupuncture) I remembered that the best relief that I had received was while in physiotherapy. It was through the process of Traction, or stretching the back muscles. It is this relief that I was in search of. It was this relief that sent my brain searching for a way to get the same relief at home whenever I wanted and needed it. This is when I came up with Dual-Tracx, a Personal Manual Back Traction Device.
The relief from pain which I received through the process of traction was having the Physiotherapist using a long piece of material, which looked like seatbelt material, which he would wrap around my upper thighs and his own body. The process would begin with me laying on a treatment table, which was raised to proper height for the therapist, with a heating pad under my back for 15 minutes. After the heating period the therapist would stand at my feet and then place my feet up against the front of his shoulders, with my hips at a 90* angle in relation to my torso, and my knees also at a 90* angle but in relation to my thighs. Then he would place the seat belt across my torso, around my upper thighs and hip area (into the corner that is made by the 90* angle at the hips), and around his waist. After he adjusted the belt to the proper length in tension he would lean back pulling away from my feet. This backward lean is what created the traction that I felt. He would hold it for 30 seconds and take a 60 second brake in between reps. He did this 3 times. After treating me with traction I was then required to reheat my back for another 15 minutes. He informed me that heating is very important during this exercise. He explained that heating in the beginning allows the muscles to stretch during traction, and reheating afterwards allows the muscles stay stretched after traction.
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-05-24 Description Sub-section #3 continued:
In my patent application I would like to secure the process of using a sturdy support frame, a Nylon Belt (for comfort to the user), and the ability for the user to control the amount of force they receive during traction. These 3 items together are what makes my design unique.

4.. Summary of the current invention:
This current invention came to life as a necessity. It is a "u" shaped structure built with 3 pieces (figures 3 and 4) of Rectangle Hallow Steel Structure (HSS) welded together to form the "U" shape structure, making Dual-Tracx very light weight. Then welded at each end of (figure 4) the "U" shaped structure is a piece of (figure 5) Round Hallow Steel Structure (HSS) that holds the piece of Webbing Belt material (figure 6) that sits across the user's upper thigh area and lower torso. The Belt Material is fitted tightly, over the Round HSS which also serves as the handles for the user. It is this Belt that the actual pressure that gives the user traction, thru the user pushing on the handles towards their feet.
The use of a belt distributes the pressure evenly and wide on the user's body so not to cause any discomfort.

5... Brief Description of Drawings:
Figure 1........3D View Figure 2........Front View Figure 3........Item #1 (1"x 0.5"x 0.0625" rectangle HSS) Figure 4........Item #2 (1"x 0.5"x 0.0625" rectangle HSS) Figure 5........Item #3 (1" diameter by 0.0625" round HSS) Figure 6........Item #4 (1.5" Belt/Webbing) Figure 7........item #1 and item #2 attachment point Date Recue/Date Received 2022-05-24 Description Sub-section #5 Continued:
Figure 8........item #2 and item #3 attachment point Figure 9........item #3 and item #4 attachment point.

6... Detailed description or the preferred mode of operation of the current invention as follows:
A Manual Back Traction Device is designed to help relieve back pain caused by many reasons, such as Disc Compression, Bulge Disc, Degenerative Disc Disease, etc. All these injuries/disease, like any injury, will cause the muscles around the affected area to tighten and try and protect that area. This tightening, if of the back muscles, can cause compression of the discs. This compression can cause a secondary pain, such as Sciatic nerve pain. If the compression is not decompressed for a long time it can lead to permanent compression leading to a life time of Sciatic Nerve related pain, not only in the lower back but also into the legs. Using a Manual Back Traction Device the user uses he's/her's own strength to create a stretch of these tightened muscles, also known as Traction. It not only will stretch the tightened muscles, but also the tendons and ligaments. Once these have been able to stretch, with continued use with this device, the user will then start to stretch the space between the discs, decompressing the discs will decrease the pressure on the nerves that run through the nerve canals decreasing back pain, and also leg pain if the Sciatic nerve is compressed. This traction/stretch will help decompress the spine, discs, and nerves, increasing blood flow which will help to speed recovery, increase mobility and decrease the chances of a life time of pain if used as directed.
A Manual Back Traction Device is designed to be used a minimum twice a day for approximately 10 minutes each time when starting out, however the user is to go slow, when first starting to use this device, for the first few days. Before any usage the user should teach themselves Date Recue/Date Received 2022-05-24 Description Sub-section #6 continued:
how to push with their arms and/or shoulders while keeping their core muscles relaxed. If all core muscles are not relaxed, then those tight muscles will not allow the stretch/traction to occur. It is recommended that the user also heat their back for approximately 15 minutes before and after using a Manual Back Traction Device. For the first few days, until the back muscles, Ligaments, Tendons, and Discs get use to being stretched, I would like the user to stretch/traction 5 times for 30 seconds with 30-60 second break in between stretches. Do 3 reps. On the third day start to increase the time length by 10 seconds each day until they reach 5 stretches/tractions 90-120 seconds long, while maintaining the 30-60 second break between stretches/tractions. In the instructions/directions I will include a WARNING which will inform the user to, at first, apply just enough force to feel a very slight stretch.
After the third or fourth day, and every couple days thereafter, they can increase the applied force slightly so not to create too much stretch/traction to create more pain. Also I will include in the warning that for the first week the user will feel some pain because they are using muscles that they usually do not use, and they are also stretching muscles that do not want to be stretched. It will feel like someone who has started going to the Gym for the first time. I recommend continuing to use this Manual Back Traction Device each day in the A.M. and P.M.
Once their body gets use to the new exercise it will not fight the stretch.
When it stops fighting, it will start feeling better. This is when pain starts to decrease.
A Manual Back Traction Device is comprised of 4 items, 6 pieces.
Items #1 and #2, rectangle hallow steel structure, are assembled to resemble the letter "U" by welding both items together (Fig.7). At the end of each item #2, a piece of round hallow steel structure is attached, also by welding (Fig.8), flush at the top of item #2 and descending past the bottom of item #2, allowing enough space for item #4 and the user's hands as item #3 is also the handles, from where the user applies a pushing motion to create traction of the back. With these 3 items, 5 Date Recue/Date Received 2022-05-24 Description Sub-section #6 continued:
pieces, welded together it creates what I call the Support Structure. The final piece to be added to the Support Structure is the Webbing Belt material, item #4. Each end of item #4 is sewn with enough space to fit around item #3, as seen in Fig. #6, and Fig. #9.
This Manual Back Traction Device is designed to be used with the user laying on the floor, or bed, with their feet elevated preferably on a chair or couch, NOT on an exercise ball (If using an exercise ball then the user cannot relax their core muscles). The floor seems to allow the user's torso to move, with the user's pressure to create traction, better then the bed.The user's hips and knees should be in, or as close to, a 90 degree angle position as possible. This will allow for the best traction of the back muscles because the spine will be in a neutral position.
This Manual Back Traction Device is designed to fit across the user's torso with item #1 (Fig.#3) sitting on the user's torso, with item #4 (webbing belt material) sitting in the corner created at the hip and torso.
The user then with their hands on both handles (item #3) applies pressure and pushes the Manual Back Traction Device towards their feet, while relaxing ALL core muscles. This Manual Back Traction Device is made of lightweight steel, hand welded at all metal junction points, and very sturdy.
Applicant/Patentee:
Michael Sweeney Date Recue/Date Received 2022-05-24

Claims

Application# 2998205 Claims #1 A manual back traction device comprising of a U-shaped metal Support Frame made up of one (1)Support Bar and two (2) nylon belt Support Brackets coupled to the Support Bar to form the Support Frame; two (2) handles/belt holders attached to the Support Brackets; and one (1) length of Nylon Belt material spanding tightly between the Handles; this traction device being designed is to allow a user to rest in a horizontal position on a flat surface with their legs raised so their knees and hips create 90 degree angles,and the ability to apply pressure to the tops of their thighs in such a manner as to stretch the lower back muscles and create traction.
#2 The device of claim #1 in which the Support Frame is made up of a 3 piece metal U-shaped metal frame incorporating the Support Bar and the Support Brackets into a single unit.
Patent Applicant;
Michael J Sweeney Date Recue/Date Received 2022-05-24