EP1809228A2

EP1809228A2 - Couch

Info

Publication number: EP1809228A2
Application number: EP05744743A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jörg Janzer; Markus Müller
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-05-27
Filing date: 2005-05-24
Publication date: 2007-07-25
Also published as: WO2005117798A2; WO2005117798A3; DE202004008879U1

Abstract

The invention relates to a couch (1, 1') for the remedial therapeutic treatment of vertebral complaints of individuals. Said couch is configured to be pivoted from a horizontal position into an oblique position. The couch comprises a frame (2) with attached support elements (7, 8), which are used to determine the distance of the couch surface from the installation plane. The support elements (7, 8) are in point-type contact (11, 12) with the installation plane (9). The length of the first support element (7), which is situated on the first narrow side (3), can be varied and the support element (8) that is situated on the second narrow side (4) essentially forms a fulcrum or an axis (11) for the pivoting motion of the couch (1, 1').

Description

lounger

description

The invention relates to a couch for therapeutic gymnastics-therapeutic treatment of spinal complaints of a person according to the preamble of the first claim for protection. Representation of the state of the art

A number of therapeutic and therapeutic facilities for the treatment of spinal complaints are known.

In order to relieve the spine, a lying surface is provided which can be moved at an angle of inclination which is variable with respect to the horizontal and is equipped at the foot end with a holding device for fixing the feet of the person to be treated.

Such couches can be used in the therapy of intervertebral disc defects, in particular for the treatment of intervertebral discs and / or nerve strands jammed in intervertebral spaces. In addition, couches with a swiveling lying surface can be used both for regeneration of the spine and for strengthening certain muscle areas. The intended use of the couches described above also promotes blood flow to the entire body and also contributes significantly to the harmonization of metabolic functions.

For the treatment of spinal defects, the lying surface on which the person to be treated is in a substantially stretched posture is inclined to the horizontal in such a way that when the patient is down, i.e. downward, head position the desired relief of the spine and intervertebral discs takes place.

Due to your own body weight, in this position, which can be called the hanging position, the spine is stretched and the joints of the knees and hips are stretched, depending on the angle of inclination. In particular, even with healthy people, stretching the body can contribute to increasing well-being and promoting relaxation. This is especially suitable for people who are exposed to particularly strong physical and / or psychological stresses in their daily professional life and who want to achieve the fitness necessary to perform other daily tasks through a relatively short-term relaxation treatment, for example with a duration of 10 to 15 minutes.

For this purpose, it is extremely useful if the couch to be used for such a therapeutic gymnastics-therapeutic application is kept available in the immediate working area, for example the office of a manager on the executive floor of a larger company. However, this not only sets standards for ensuring the medical-therapeutic parameters of the bed, but also for the shape that is adapted to the surrounding environment in order to give the bed an appealing appearance that is necessary for home furniture.

In German published patent application DE 41 13 038 A1, a gymnastics and therapy device is described which is vertically displaceably arranged on one side on the wall of a treatment room. The lying surface can be held at a certain angle to the horizontal by a special locking element. The holding device for the feet of the person to be treated are designed such that steep slopes with an inclination angle of up to 85 ° should be possible.

In the German utility model DE 82 23 820 U1, a suspension device for relieving the spine in combination with a couch is proposed. The lying surface is divided into three parts and in the seating area has a connection to a tripod-shaped support frame. This creates a so-called Lying rocker, the angled lying surface of which can be pivoted by up to 180 ° using a circular handle. Rigid foot brackets are provided in the foot area of the lying surface.

A similarly designed suspension device with a one-piece lying surface is shown in the description according to DE 83 13 709 U1. The invention consists in the special assembly mechanism of a couch rocker and a safety quick-release fastener on the foot mounts of the device.

The hanging apparatus for therapeutic purposes proposed in German patent DE 32 01 334 C2 has a bed which is rotatably held in the bearing blocks of a frame by means of two stub shafts as pivot axes. The pedestals have a base plate on which an electric drive for a cable is mounted at the same time, the free end of which is connected to the head part of the bed. This construction is intended to enable the couch in positions with an inclination to the horizontal of -15 ° to + 90 °.

European patent specification EP 0 129 885 B1 also proposes a reclining recliner for body stretching, in which the reclining surface is pivotally connected to a frame in sections. The frame has two fixed feet, the partial sections of the lying surface with their end regions being guided in rails on the top of the frame. Four feet are provided for the frame, with which the bed is supported against the support level on the floor of the installation room.

Furthermore, in the American patent US Pat. No. 4,624,458 and in the German patent DE 28 03 404 C2, special foot mounts for therapeutic gymnastic couches are proposed, in which the fastening pressure is applied the limbs can be adapted to the respective patient using special adjustment mechanisms.

The above-described design variants for therapeutic gymnastics couches for treating spinal complaints and for improving the well-being of a person more or less meet the medical requirements for successfully carrying out the therapeutic gymnastics measures, but they have the essential disadvantage that they are not in the atmosphere of the office of a manager of a company characterized by modern home furniture can be inserted. Such therapeutic gymnastics couches can be set up at any time in a physiotherapy treatment room or in a fitness studio. In a modern office, this is not possible without the overall impression of the room being adversely affected.

The holding mechanisms used in known therapeutic gymnastics couches for fastening the patient's feet have the particular disadvantage that they have to be adapted in a more or less complex manner to the anatomical characteristics of the person concerned and to the tensile load dependent on the inclination of the couch.

Presentation of the nature of the invention

Based on the shortcomings of the prior art, the object of the invention is to create a couch for therapeutic gymnastics-therapeutic treatment of spinal complaints and for implementing measures to reduce stress and to increase the physical well-being of a person, which is not only simple in a simple manner the therapist, but can also be operated by the person to be treated, whereby the operating effort can be reduced to a minimum.

Furthermore, it is an object of the invention to design the couch for therapeutic-therapeutic treatment of spinal complaints and for carrying out measures to relieve stress and to increase the physical well-being of a person in such a way that it essentially has the character of a piece of household furniture and thus advantageously prevents it is that the correspondingly placed couch gives the impression that it is a device belonging to a medical facility or a fitness center.

This object is achieved in an advantageous and at the same time simple manner with a couch corresponding to the features of the protection claims 1 and 14.

The invention includes the knowledge that a couch for therapeutic-therapeutic treatment of spinal complaints can advantageously retain the character of a piece of furniture while maintaining its therapeutic-therapeutic properties if the technical means required for this purpose not only take the medical aspect into account, but also in their shape be designed to meet the requirements of home furniture essentially.

According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, the couch, which can be swiveled into an inclined position with respect to the erection level, has a substantially square frame with first and second narrow sides and first and second long sides for the therapeutic and therapeutic treatment of spinal complaints , a support adapted to the shape of the frame, forming a lying surface, first and second support means fastened to the frame, by means of which the distance of the lying surface to the installation level of the bed is determined, and holding means provided on the first narrow side of the frame for locking the feet of those on the bed person to be treated.

It is essential to the invention that the support means have an essentially punctiform contact with the installation level in the respective space, the first support means arranged on the first narrow side being variable in length and the second support means arranged on the second narrow side essentially being the fulcrum / axis of rotation for the Swiveling movement of the bed forms.

The variable-length support means according to the preferred embodiment of the invention is arranged at a distance from the first narrow side of the frame in the direction of the center of the support. The second support means preferably has two arcuate struts articulated on the frame, which are essentially parallel to the narrow sides of the strut Frame extending cross member are connected, wherein an expansion element is provided between the cross member and the frame.

According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, this expansion element is designed as a toothed rack system driven by an electric motor. According to a favorable development of the invention, the expansion element is designed as a hydraulic pressure cylinder in order to be able to change the length of the first support element for pivoting the couch into an inclined position for the purpose of therapeutic gymnastics treatment of spinal complaints.

For the design of the bed according to the invention, it is advantageous if the arch of the struts is convex in the direction of the bed surface. The rolling means provided in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention on the free ends of the struts ensure an essentially frictionless movement of the first support means with respect to the installation level when the bed is pivoted into the therapy position.

In order to be able to form a secure pivot axis with the second support means in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention, this second support means has at least one convex section which is in contact with the installation plane and is designed, for example, as a cylinder which extends essentially parallel to the second narrow side ,

According to a favorable development of the invention, the second support means consists of two disks, each attached to the ends of the second narrow side and extending essentially parallel to one another, the disks in the are essentially circular or at least have a circular arc in the area of contact with the installation plane.

According to a further variant of the invention, it is advantageous if the second support means has a non-slip covering, preferably made of profiled rubber or a rubber-like material, in the contact area with the installation level.

According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, the holding means for locking the feet is designed as a self-locking system which increases its holding force with increasing inclination of the bed. This is achieved in an advantageous manner in that the holding means on the first narrow side is designed as an articulated curved piece which has an essentially hyperbolic shape.

At the free end of the curved piece, which is preferably made of metallic round material, there is provided a crossbar which extends essentially parallel to the first narrow side and which advantageously consists of wood.

According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, a side covering is provided for the configuration of the couch for the therapeutic-therapeutic treatment of spinal complaints of persons, which extends in the horizontal position of the couch from the upper edge of the frame of the couch to the installation level. The cladding covers at least the first support means and, together with the second support means, forms a structural / physical unit. The cladding is advantageously molded directly onto the support means, for example, and is fastened to the long sides of the frame of the bed by screw means. According to an advantageous variant of the invention, the side covering covers the long sides and at least one of the narrow sides of the bed. The covering is attached to the frame of the bed and is made of a metallic material or is made using a textile material.

In order to increase the comfort for the patient during the physiotherapy-therapeutic treatment, a headrest is provided on the second narrow side of the frame in accordance with an additional, favorable variant of the invention. The headrest has padding for which an ergometric shape is provided. This relieves the neck, vertebrae area in particular during the stretching treatment.

For the purpose of adapting the couch to the different body sizes of the patients, the headrest is arranged displaceably in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the couch.

For effective control of the bed, operating elements which are manually operable are provided for the expansion means for varying the length of the first support means and for the headrest. These control elements are preferably arranged on one of the long sides of the frame of the bed, where they can be comfortably reached with the hands of the person to be treated.

For practical work it has proven to be particularly advantageous if the frame of the bed is essentially trapezoidal. According to this variant of the invention, the trapezoid is of isosceles, the headrest being on the side with the longer base edge of the trapezoid.

Other advantageous developments of the invention are characterized in the subclaims or are shown below together with the description of the preferred embodiment of the invention with reference to the figures. Show it:

Figures 1 shows the preferred embodiment of the invention in side view, and 1a

FIG. 2 shows the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1 in a view from below,

FIG. 3 shows a further advantageous variant of the invention in side view,

Figure 4 shows another cheap embodiment of the invention in side view

such as

Figure 5 shows the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 4 in partial view from above.

The couch 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in a side view and in a view from below, which can be swiveled into an inclined position, for the therapeutic-therapeutic treatment of spinal complaints of persons has an essentially square frame 2 with a first and a second narrow side 3, 4 and a first and second long side 5, 6. Two support means 7, 8 are attached to the frame 2.

The first support means 7 consists of two similar arcuate elements 7a and 7b, which on the first narrow side 3 in the direction of the central axis of the bed 1 are articulated at a distance from the frame 2 in the foot region of the bed 1. The arcuate elements 7a, 7b are mechanically connected to one another by a crossmember 7c. An electric motor 14 is attached to the crossmember 7c, which in turn enables a length variation of the first support means 7 by means of a toothed rack 15.

In order to enable the necessary transmission of force to the lying surface for the pivoting process, the rack is mechanically connected to a second cross member 2a, which is supported on the side parts 5 and 6 of the frame 2 and thereby stabilizes the frame at the same time.

The free ends of the arcuate elements 7a, 7b of the support means 7 each carry a small roller 16, which is supported essentially in a punctiform manner on the installation level 9. This point is designated by 12.

The second support means 8 is formed on the second, narrow narrow side 4 of the bed 1 and consists of a cylindrical body, which is supported on the installation level 9 of the room 10 and forms a pivot axis in the support point 11 when the bed 1 in one opposite Setting level 9 inclined therapy position 1 'is moved. This position is shown in Figure 1a.

In order to influence the pivoting process advantageously, the area of the cylindrical body 8 tangent to the installation plane 9 has the surface of a straight circular cylinder. As a result, the support means 8 can be reshaped in terms of shape if a circular arc shape is retained only for the region of the support means 8 which affects the installation plane 9.

In order to securely position the bed 1 during the swiveling process, this carries second support means 8 on its side facing the installation level 9 has a non-slip covering 8a made of, for example, profiled rubber.

The running time of the motor 14 and its direction of rotation for the purpose of setting the therapy position V of the couch 1 is controlled via a small control panel (not shown in FIGS. 1 and 2). This control panel is advantageously located on one of the long sides 5, 6 in the hand area of the person placed on the couch 1 and to be treated (not shown) and is therefore easily accessible. As a result, the patient can adjust the inclination of the couch and the position of the headrest (compare the explanations for FIGS. 4 and 5) according to his individual feeling of well-being.

In the foot area of the bed 1, a holder 17 designed as a self-locking system is provided for the patient's feet. This consists of an arc piece 18 which is pivotally articulated on the narrow side 3 of the frame 2 at point 18a and which is essentially hyperbolic in shape. At the free end of the arch piece 18, a cross member 19 is attached, which is in contact with the upper part of a patient's foot. As a result, the holding force of the system 17 remains essentially constant when the bed 1 is moved from the horizontal into an inclined position.

Figure 3 shows the head area of a bed 1 in side view. A cladding 20 is molded onto the second support means 8, which extends in the vertical direction from the upper edge of the frame (see reference number 2 in FIG. 4) to just above the installation level 9 and extends in the horizontal direction to the foot area of the bed. The cladding 20 is detachably attached to the frame by a screw connection 21 or by another conventional holding device, for example by several individual Velcro fasteners. In FIGS. 4 and 5, the head region of the bed 1 is shown in a view from the side or in a top view and shows the arrangement of a headrest 30. The headrest 30 is guided along the frame 2 so as to be displaceable in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the bed 1. The groove-shaped (not shown) guide elements are located in the long sides (see reference numerals 5 and 6 in FIG. 2) of the frame 2.

The headrest 30 overlaps the support 22 of the bed 1, which preferably consists of a textile-covered foam mat, and additionally has a padding 31 for which an ergometric configuration is provided. For this purpose, a special shaping 32 takes place, which in particular enables the neck-vertebra area to be relieved during the stretching treatment on the bed 1.

For the bed 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 for the home-therapeutic treatment of spinal complaints of a person, a height H of the bed lying in a horizontal position (measured from the installation level 9 to the upper edge of the support 22) is a value in the range of 35 cm <H <60 cm provided. A height H = 45 cm has proven to be special.

The embodiment of the invention is not limited to the preferred exemplary embodiments specified above. Rather, a number of variants are conceivable which make use of the solution shown even in the case of fundamentally different types.

Claims

claims

1. couch (1, 1 ') for the therapeutic and therapeutic treatment of spinal complaints of persons, which is designed to be pivotable from the horizontal into an inclined position, comprising an essentially square frame (2) with a first and a second narrow side (3, 4 ) and a first and second longitudinal side (5, 6), a support (22) adapted to the shape of the frame and forming a lying surface, first and second support means (7, 8) attached to the frame (2), by means of which the distance of the lying surface to the installation level (9) of the bed (1, 1 ') is intended, on the first narrow side (3) of the frame (2) provided holding means (17, 18, 19) for locking the feet of the on the bed (1, 1' ) person to be treated,

characterized in that

the support means (7, 8) have an essentially punctiform contact (11, 12) with the installation plane (9), the first support means (7) arranged on the first narrow side (3) being variable in length and that on the second narrow side ( 4) arranged support means (8) essentially forms a fulcrum or an axis (11) for the pivoting movement of the bed (1, 1 ').

2. Lounger according to claim 1, characterized in that the variable-length support means (7) from the first narrow side of the frame (2) in the direction of the center of the support (22) is spaced.

3. Lounger according to claim 1 and 2, characterized in that the first support means (7) has two arcuate, hinged to the frame struts (7a, 7b), which by a substantially parallel to the narrow sides (3, 4) of the Frame (2) extending cross member (2a) are connected, an expansion means being provided between the cross member and the frame.

4. Lounger according to claim 3, characterized in that the expansion means is designed as a hydraulic unit

5. Lounger according to claim 3, characterized in that motor-driven rack and pinion system (14, 15) is provided as the expansion means.

6. Lounger according to one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the arc of the struts (7a, 7b) is convex in the direction of the lying surface (22).

7. Lounger according to claim 6, characterized in that a rolling means (16) is provided on the ends of the struts (7a, 7b) which are supported on the erection level (9) of the lounger.

8. Lounger according to claim 1, characterized in that the second support means (8) has at least one convex section (8a) which is in contact with the installation plane (9).

9. Lounger according to claim 8, characterized in that the second support means (8) is designed as a cylinder extending essentially parallel to the second narrow side (4).

10. Lounger according to claim 8, characterized in that the second support means (8) from two, each attached to the ends of the second narrow side (4) and extending substantially parallel to each other is formed.

11. Lounger according to claim 10, characterized in that the disks are substantially circular or at least have a circular arc in the area of contact with the installation plane (9).

12. Lounger according to one of claims 8 to 11, characterized in that the second support means (8) in the contact area with the installation level (9) has a non-slip covering (8a).

13. Lounger according to claim 12, characterized in that the covering (8a) consists of a profile rubber.

14. Lounger (1, 1 ') for the therapeutic and therapeutic treatment of spinal complaints of people, which is designed to be pivotable from the horizontal into an inclined position, having an essentially square frame (2) with a first and a second narrow side (3, 4 ) and a first and second longitudinal side (5, 6), a support (22) which is adapted to the shape of the frame and forms a lying surface, first and second support means (7, 8) fastened to the frame (2), by means of which the distance of the lying surface to the installation level (9) of the couch (1, 1 ') is intended, holding means (17, 18, 19) provided on the first narrow side (3) of the frame (2) for locking the feet of the person to be treated on the couch (1, 1 '),

characterized in that

the holding means (18, 19) for locking the feet are designed as a self-locking system (17) which increases its holding force with increasing inclination of the bed.

15. Lounger according to claim 14, characterized in that the holding means on the first narrow side of the frame (2) articulated, preferably having a hyperbolic shape arch piece (18) is formed, which is at its free end a substantially parallel to the first narrow side extending crossbar (19) carries.

16. Lounger according to claim 15, characterized in that the crossbar (19) is attached centrally to the arch piece and has a contact surface adapted to the shape of the foot.

17. Lounger according to claim 16, characterized in that the crossbar (19) consists of wood or a plastic.

18. Lounger according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a side covering (20) is provided which covers at least the first support means (7, 7a, 7b) and which is molded onto the second support means (8) or is physically integrated with it ,

19. Lounger according to claim 18, characterized in that the side covering (20) detects the long sides (5, 6) and at least one of the narrow sides (3, 4) of the lounger.

20. Lounger according to claim 18 and 19, characterized in that the covering (20) is fixed to the frame (2) of the lounger and consists of a metallic material.

21. Lounger according to claim 20, characterized in that the covering (20) is made using a textile material.

22. Lounger according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a headrest (30) is provided on the second narrow side (4) of the frame.

23. Lounger according to claim 22, characterized in that the headrest (30) has an ergometric shape 31, 32) and is arranged displaceably in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the lounger.

24. Lounger according to one of claims 3, 4, 5 and 22, characterized in that for the the expansion means (14, 15) and the headrest (30) manually operable controls are provided.

25. A bed according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a value in the range 35 cm <H <60 cm, preferably H = 45 cm, is provided for the height H of the bed located in the horizontal position.

26. Lounger according to claim 25, characterized in that the frame is substantially trapezoidal.

27. Lounger according to claim 26, characterized in that the trapezoid is formed isosceles and the headrest is on the side with the longer base edge of the trapezoid.