CH616331A5 - Apparatus for treatment of the human body, in particular of the vertebral column - Google Patents

Abstract

The apparatus comprises a base (1), a seat (4), a concave backrest (7), for at least the vertebral column, a footrest (11) which can be adjusted in height, an armrest and shoulder rest (12) which can be adjusted in height and in span, and an adjustable chin piece (19). The seat (4) and the backrest (7) are mounted so as to be orientable with respect to the base (1) and are fixed between flanges (3) which are coupled by a shaft (2) on which the footrest (11) is articulated, and are rigidly attached to a vertical bar (50) whose upper part supports the backrest (7) and carries the armrest and shoulder rest assembly (12) and the chin piece (19), whereas the lower part is connected to the base (1). <IMAGE>

Description

616,331

1. Apparatus for treating the human body, in particular the spine, comprising a base (1), a seat (4), a concave dorsal support (7) at least for the spine, an adjustable footrest (11) in height, an armrest / shoulder support (12) adjustable in height and in spacing, and an adjustable chinrest (19), characterized in that the seat (4) and the back support (7) are mounted orientable by relative to the base (1) and are fixed between flanges (3) which are coupled by an axis (2) on which the footrest (11) is articulated and integral with a vertical bar (5-50) whose upper part supports the back support (7) and carries the arm rest / shoulder support assembly (12) and the chin rest (19), while the lower part is connected to the base (1).

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the lower part of the vertical bar (5-50) is extended by a part in an arc (50a) having for center the axis of rotation (2) of the pose- feet (11) and able to slide relative to a guide member (51) integral with the base (1).

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the back support (7) is constituted by a rigid concave section, in which are engaged, in a removable manner, several rigid or semi-rigid blocks (10) extending at less from the seat plane (4) to a point determined to correspond to the top of the patient's spine.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the support of the arm rest / shoulder support (12) and chin rest (19) consists of two parallel tubes (20) acting as slides for a device with adjustable positioning in height, comprising two sleeves (13a) sliding in the slide tubes (20) and between which is established a transmission mechanism comprising two bevel gears (26-27) one of which (27) is connected to a drive means (29) and the other (26) wedged around a nut (25) cooperating with a threaded rod (30) suspended from an upper lug (22) for fixing the slide tubes (20), without possibility of turning.

5. Apparatus according to claims 1 and 4, characterized in that the arms (36) are manually adjustable in spacing by a device comprising a central pinion (39) meshing with two racks (40-41) diametrically opposed, each rack, guided sliding, being integral with a sleeve (13e) of the arm rests (13g), the adjustment being effected by manual action on one of the arms in the direction of the racks.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the height adjustment of the footrest (11) is obtained by a device comprising a strap (16) attached to the articulated tube (1 la) and wound on a drum ( 15) fixed between the flanges (3) seat carrier (4) and driven by means of a transmission mechanism by conical couples (17).

7. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the height adjustment of the footrest (11) is obtained by a cylinder device or gas spring with shut-off valve.

8. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the footrest (11) consists of a pedal type cyclist.

9. Apparatus according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the orientation of the apparatus relative to its base (1) is effected by a device comprising a chain of the type

Galle (52) guided in the circular arc part (50a) and attached to a pinion (54) driven in rotation by a bevel gear transmission mechanism (55) carried by the seat carrier flanges (3).

10. Apparatus according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the adjustment of the orientation of the apparatus relative to its base (1) is effected by a device comprising a rack integral with the part in an arc of a circle ( 50a) of the support bar (50) and meshing with a pinion (54) driven by a transmission mechanism (55) integral with the base (1).

A known device for treating the human body, in particular the spine, includes a seat plane on which the patient sits, a concave back support of width allowing only the support of the spine of the subject, an arm rest / shoulder holder, chin strap and footrest.

Such an apparatus is described in French patent No. 72.31646. The invention aims to provide an apparatus of this type, the various elements of which are made more mobile with respect to one another, to give greater convenience of use and allow a greater variety of treatments to be carried out with perfect adaptation. of the device to the subjects treated.

The apparatus according to the invention is defined in claim 1. The appended drawing represents, by way of example, two embodiments of the apparatus of the invention:

fig. 1 is a side view of a first embodiment;

fig. 2 is a perspective view, on a larger scale, of a base of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

fig. 3 and 4 are rear and front views of the apparatus of FIG. l;

fig. 5 is a plan view corresponding to FIG. 1;

fig. 6 is a partial sectional view, on a larger scale, illustrating a device for adjusting the height of the arm rest / shoulder support and a device for adjusting the height of the chin rest of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

fig. 7 is a section along line 7-7 of FIG. 6;

fig. 8 is a section along line 8-8 of FIG. 6, on a smaller scale;

fig. 9 is a view from below of a device for adjusting the width of the arm rests;

fig. 10 is a section along line 10-10 of FIG. 9;

fig. 11 is a perspective view, on a larger scale, showing a support block during engagement;

fig. 12 is a side view of a second embodiment, of the tilting type;

fig. 13 and 14 are detailed views on a larger scale.

The apparatus according to the invention firstly comprises a base 1 consisting for example of ovoid tubes forming arches la, crossbars 1b of which one carries uprights terminated by horizontal elements facing each other ld, on which are welded plates pierced in alignment with holes lf (fig. 2).

An axis 2 passes through the holes lf and supports flanges 3 on which is fixed a seat 4 in the form of a wide saddle and which is inclined towards the rear. The flanges 3 are fixed at 3a at the rear on a vertical bar 5 fixed at 6 on a crossbeam lb of the base and against which rests, at the top, another bar 7, which is curved and fixed between the flanges in 8, constituting a back support.

This bar 7 is made up, as well as the bar 5, as can be seen in FIGS. 7 and 11, of a light alloy profile for example, comprising lateral T-grooves 7a-5a for the engagement of the fixing means 3a-8 on the flanges, followed by boxes 7b-5b and a central part forming two opposite T-shaped grooves 7c-5c, perpendicular to the other grooves.

The groove 7c located at the front receives by T-shaped cleats 9, blocks 10 which are formed for example of a rigid mass 10a (hard foam, plastic, etc.) covered with a semi-rigid or rigid envelope 10b . These blocks can be in any number and of different dimensions.

The main application of this device is the treatment of the spine, the blocks have a width allowing the support of the patient only according to the area of the spine and extend at least from the seat (or even below) to the top of the spine. For this purpose, to adapt the device to the size of the patient, simply remove one or more blocks at the top.

2

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

55

60

65

3

616,331

Of course, for other uses, it is possible to provide blocks of different dimensions (larger) or of different shapes.

The patient being seated and leaning against the blocks, his feet rest on a footrest 11, his arms are supported by an armrest / shoulder support 12 and his head is propped up by a chin rest 19. These three organs must be adjustable to adapt to the size of the subject and the treatment applied.

The footrest 11 is constituted by a central tube 1 articulated on the axis 2 and in which can slide a bar 1 lb bent and carrying free rotation on each side, steps 1 le. The length of these steps is adjusted by positioning the bar in the tube 1a using a pin 14 cooperating with holes in the bar, or by any other equivalent means.

The height adjustment of the steps is obtained by an assembly comprising a drum 15 fixed between the flanges 3, on which is wound a strap 16 attached to the central tube 11a; the drum being connected by gears 17 to a crank 18.

The armrest / shoulder support 12 is constituted by a support 13 comprising two sheaths 13a of ovoid section (fig. 8) which are interconnected by a squared spacer 13b and under which is welded a cross member 13c of ovoid section carrying laterally hoops 13d (fig. 1, 3 and 4), one branch of which is linked to oval sleeves 13e sliding on a cross member 13f of corresponding section, while the other branch is linked to the actual armrests 13g, the elbow of these arches pressing against the cross member 13c (fig. 1).

The sleeves 13a are offset from the crosspieces 13c and 13f, as shown in FIGS. 6, 8 and 9, so as to let parallel tubes 20 pass which are fixed to the vertical profile 5 by lower tabs 21 and upper 22.

On the horizontal part of the spacer 13b, a ring 23 is forcibly mounted in an orifice and carries an element of a ball bearing 24, the other element of which is adjusted on a nut 25 surrounded by a bevel gear 26 which meshes with another bevel gear 27 carried in free rotation by an axis 28 crossing the horizontal part of the spacer 13b and whose free end receives a crank 29 (fig. 1, 3 and 6).

The nut 25 cooperates with a threaded rod 30 passing through the ring 23 and the upper end 30a of which is suspended from the upper tab 22 by a nut 31, an upper washer 32 and a lower washer 33, between which a square nut is tightened 34 passing through an orifice of corresponding section 22a of the tab, thus preventing the threaded rod 30 from turning (FIGS. 6 and 7).

We understand that when we act on the crank, it is the nut 25 which moves on the threaded rod, therefore the whole arm-holder assembly which slides by the sleeves 13a on the tubes 20.

The arm supports 13g welded to the sleeves 13e are surrounded by a sheath 35 for supporting the forearms and are extended by parallel tubes 36 adjustable in length by a locking nut 37 and the free ends of which carry plates 38 for hand support. Note that these plates can be oriented towards the outside or the inside by a reversible mounting (broken lines, fig. 3).

The arms 13g can be adjusted in spacing by a device which comprises a central pinion 39 carried with free rotation on the cross-member 13f and simultaneously meshing with two diametrically opposed racks 40-41. The rack 40 is secured at one end to one of the sleeves 13e, while the rack 41 is secured at one end to the other sleeve 13e (fig. 9); a bracket 42 being welded under the cross member 13f to guide the rack 40, while the rack 41 is guided by its passage through the openings 13h of the sleeves 13a (FIGS. 9 and 10).

To adjust the spacing, it suffices to act manually on one or the other of the sleeves 13e, which produces the displacement of a rack, of the pinion and therefore of the opposite rack.

A chinrest 19 consists of a support 43 comprising two tubes 43a which fit into the tubes 20 attached to the upper tab 22 and which are locked in adjustable position by a jumper 44 pulled by a button 45 and a nut 46 against the raised part 22b of the tab (fig. 6 and 7). At the top of the two tubes 43a, a squared bracket 43b carries at the end, by a locking nut 47, an arm 48 at the end of which the chin-holder 49 with a flexible and profiled bearing surface 49a ( fig. 5).

As can be seen in particular in FIG. 1, the various components of the device are adjustable to adapt to the size of the subject and the treatment that suits him.

Many alternative embodiments are provided without departing from the scope of the invention, in particular;

- the shape, number and composition of the back support blocks may be different,

The profiled elements 5 and 7 may be of different or identical sections,

- the base can be designed differently, and it can be connected differently to the seat support flanges. This base can be adjustable in height by all known means, with screws and nuts for example,

- The symmetrical spacing adjustment of the arm / shoulder carriers can be effected by an upper crosspiece having threads with opposite pitches each cooperating with a nut formed in the sleeves; the adjustment being effected either by the application of a torque to the cross-member, or by the application to the nuts of a force parallel to the axis of the cross-member,

- the angular adjustment of the footrest can be effected by a spring or gas spring of the type of those used in office chairs, that is to say with a stroke stop valve making it possible to move the pose- feet when actuated and immobilized when the valve is released,

- the footrest can have elastic sliding steps or be replaced by a bicycle-type crankset.

There is also provided, in the context of the invention, a device that can be oriented relative to its base, as illustrated in an exemplary embodiment in FIGS. 12, 13 and 14.

For this purpose, the vertical profile 50 on which the profile 7 bearing the blocks 10 is supported is extended by a part 50a in an arc having the center of the pivot axis 2 of the footrest which is carried at the end of the uprights. the base, which are associated with flying buttresses lg connected to the rear crossmember lb (fig. 12).

The part 50a of the profile is guided during its rotation by a sheath 51 secured to the front crossmember lb or any other equivalent means of support (fig. 13).

The angular movement of the device relative to the base (broken lines, fig. 12) is achieved by a control member which consists of a Galle chain 52 attached at one end to a lh latch integral with the front crossbeam lb ( Fig. 13) and held inside the central T-shaped groove 50b of the profile by its projecting axes 52a, while the flanges of the links 52b are guided transversely in notches 50c of the groove (Fig. 13).

At the other end, the chain is free or attached at 53 to a pinion 54 connected to a transmission 55 carried by the flanges 3 of the seat and maneuverable by crank 56 (fig. 14). The pitch diameter of the sprocket is calculated so that the chain is wound up over 360 ° for maximum tilting of the device (broken lines, fig. 12).

Of course, variants can also be made here, without departing from the scope of the invention, for example: the pinion and its transmission can be fixed to the base, the chain being integral with the section 50a or replaced by a rack; the inclination adjustment of the device can be simply obtained by unlocking the profile 50a with respect to its guidance on the crossbeam lb then manual tilting.

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

55

60

65

616,331

4

Note that the cranks 18, 29, 56 respectively controlling the adjustment of the footrest, the height adjustment of the armrests and the orientation of the device can also be replaced by other equivalent members such as: electric motors ,

ruffles, etc. s

The advantages are apparent from the description, in particular it is emphasized:

- the numerous possibilities for adjusting the various elements allowing precise adaptation to the size of the subject and the treatment applied,

- the great variety of possible applications such as: desubluxation of the vertebral unit, physical culture, relaxation, etc.,

- the positioning in firm support of the subject by the play of the back tilt of the seat, the concavity of the back support and the adjustment of the armrest and chin rest.

R

3 sheets of drawings