US2451607A - Chiropractic machine - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 19, 1948- I I A. H. BINASH EI'AL' 2,451,507

CHIROPRACTIC MACHINE Filed Sept. 14, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IINVENTORS= ALBERT H. BINASH WILLIAM A.-TULL ROY T GAUTNEY BY%QQMV,

ATTORNEY Oct. 19, 1948. A. H. BINASH EIAL CHIROPRACTIC MACHINE Filed Sept. 14, 1944 2 Sheets$heet 2 H SLE U ALN N WU R 4 U m T G A H c A RA Y l BU Y LIO AWDH$ H wrm m l\ 2 w 7 {a 3 m F UT f Patented Get. 19, 1948 FUFNZEEEZED :S'EET res CHIROPRACTIC 'MACHIN'E .tAlbert HirBinash; Oak Park, William-A. Tull, Midlothian,: and- Roy TflGautney, Chicago, Ill.

Application september 14, 1944, Serial No. 554,034.

4' Claims. 1

The present invention *relates toa device or 'machine used in chiropractic therapy or similar treatment,*a-nd has reference-more particularly to that part of the mean s -forafiecting a'more safe, "every-and reactive stressing of the abdominal poritiOIlOf a patient.

resilientpad or cushion for protecting the ab- .domen. ofthe patient as it is; pressedagainst'the abdomenand also resilient means such'as springs and .spring .stresse'd,, parts, for' pressing the pad against the, abdomen, the .springs rbeing particularly designedto effect a.straight or. right line movement. or. motionat a normal or perpendicu- .1arly..to..the.abdomen. The means for holding .and pressing up.against.the pad.iscof.thenature of a I spantogra-phic or lazy tong stnucture andhas relatively 'long springs for. stressing thelever .or like elements ofth'e device'tooeliminate on reduce toa .minimumanyattendant reboundaction-that usually is :peculiar to stressed .spri-ng reactions, so as: to protect: the patientfrom. shock or injury or :a too quick' recovery unrestoringof the'ch-iropractically stressed parts of the patientsbody which is under treatment. Also t'here is preferably ad- "ditionarrelatively long springs acting "directly against the-abdominal padtso as' to coordinate with the springs Which-*reacfithrough: the lever arrangement "referred to above. 'Th'us safety 'againstbruising and'injury to'theribs andthorax of the patient is attained," and: ease' andcomfort of movementofi the patients body, especially the abdominal portion, .as' alsothef thorax is attained andenjoyed.

The invention also comprehends "means for holding the pad in stationary "position'wvhen a varied treatment of the patient is desired in which a movement of the abdomen is not necessary.

"Other objects, advantages, capabilities, features, and the like are comprehended by the invention'as will later'appean and assure inherently possessed by the'invention.

Referring-to thedrawings:

Fig. l-is a side view in elevation 'Withparts broken away of part ofa machine embodyin our invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view'o'f the device;

4 Fig-3 isa plan sectional view taken in a plane represented by line "3-3 Tin ,Fig, 1 of thefdraw- Fig. 4' is an end: view in elevation, on'areduced scale, of the device;

Fig. 5 isa *fragmentarytpart sectional'iview taken in a plane-represented by line -5 in Fig. 11 of the drawings;

Fig.6 is a fragmentary endview of therdevice; Fig.7 is asectional-view taken in:a p1ane=represented by line" 7 1 in FigiB' ofthe drawings and,

Fig. 8 is:a= side view showing the use:of the device.

Referring more in detail to the "drawings' the embodiment selected 'to illustrate the invention 'is shown in connected wi'th a device to be used in chiropractic treatment and having longitudinally extending supporting members ll such as bars or itubes on which are suitably supported pads of the 'l'i'kel Hand [3, and between said pads is supported a pad or the like [4, on' a mechanism later described and forming part ofthepresent invention.

The latter mechanism comprises a lower base member l5 mounted upon the bars l l and held in position'against lateral movement relative to the bars H by strips I6"(see Fig.4)fixed to the base piece [5 and located adjacent to thebars: l I, and

" upperbasemember l"l,"vvhich is parallel to'the base member f5, and upon the base I! is mounted the pad I4. The-pad Hlispreferably provided with a cushion of-resilient or flexiblematerial [8, such as sponge'rubberorthe'1ike,'and a' sheet covering [9. The cushion'lil'andthe covering '[9 maybe connected or=secured to the base ll'in any suitable manner.

Onthe base I 5 at'anend thereof andnear the sides thereof "are-secured bearing brackets '20 and 20 of the strap type and having base flanges -2l and 2| suitably secured'to the-base I5,'as by suitable securing elementssuch as screws or bolts 22. "Likewise to'the under side of the up er base I? at an end thereof and at the sides thereof are secured like bearing" brackets 23 and-23 of-the strap type and having 'base flanges 24 and-24 suitably secured-tothe base I l,"-as'by suitable-se curing elements'such-as screwsor bolts-Z5. 'The brackets -23 are vertically above corresponding brackets'ZO. In each or these brackets 22 and 23 is firmly'helda'suitable bearing unitZG; which may be of a roller or ba11= bearing type.

Extending laterally through the lower and upper bearing'units 26 and 26 are shafts '2'! and 28 which are suitably-secured to'the centralrotor part of each bearin unit. "The ends of these shafts 21' andZBare-suitably threaded to carry nuts 29 and 3fl (seeFigfi3) 'so' as" to actas'collars or abutting elementsat each side of" thebearing units'zfi' (see alsoFig."4).

To the outer projecting end parts of the shafts 21 and 28 are connected the ends of pantographic or lazy tong lever arms 31 and 32, at both sides of the device, and said ends are clamped against the nuts 29 by end nuts 33. Fixed to arms 3i and 32 and extending therewith are auxiliary lever arms 34 and 35 which act as lateral bracing arms. These arms have laterally extending foot parts 36 and 3'! and toe parts 38 and 39 which are suitably apertured to receive the shafts 26 and 21 and which are held to the shafts 26 and 2'8 by suitable nuts 40 and 4|. Where these lever arms 3l-34 and 32-35 cross they are provided with suitable fulcrum apertures for receiving a cross shaft 42 which acts as the fulcrum shaft for the lever arms. On this shaft 42 are thrust washers 43 which are located between the lever couples 3 l-34 and 32-35, and on the outer sides of these lever couples are secured on the shaft 62 thrust nuts 44 and 45, of which the nuts 45 are on the ends of the shaft 42 (see Fig. 3 in particular).

The lower ends of lever arm-s 32 and the upper ends of lever arms 3! are apertured to receive the end portions of cross shafts 46 and 41 the latter having thrust nuts 48 and 49 on the ends of the shafts 46 and 41, and the lower end parts of the arms 35 and the upper end portions of the arms 36 have foot parts 56 and and toe parts 52 and 53, and these toe parts have suitable apertures for receiving the cross shafts 46 and 41 (see Fig. 2). On the shafts 46 and M are abutment nuts 54 and 55 adjacent the toe parts 5?. and 53. On the parts of the shaft 46 between the toes 52 and the lower end portions of the arms 32, and on the parts of the shaft ll between the toes 53 and the upper end portions of the arms 3|, are rollers 56 and 5'! which rotate freely on their respective shaft portions. These rollers 56 and 5'! roll or run on race plates 58 and 59 suitably attached to the bases !5 and H. The lever arm parts 3! and 33 and the lever arm parts 32 and 35 may be fixed together by any suitable means, such as by spot welding.

To the lower end portion of the lever arm couples 32--35 are suitably fixed studs 56 and to these studs are connected hooked ends of coil springs 6 i, the other ends of these springs having hooked ends hooked in suitable apertures provided in the foot portions 36 of the lever arm couples 3l34. (See Figs. 1 and 2.) These springs 6| normally act to pull the lower parts of the lever arms together so as to raise the pad M to the position as shown in Fig. 1. To control the upper limit of movement of the pad is an anchor element 62, which may be in the'form of a rope or chain or the like, may be used as desired. This element 62 is connected at its lower end to a hook 63 suitably fixed to the lower base l5 and at its upper end to a hook 64 suitably fixed to the upper base ll, as shown in Fig. 2.

For the purpose of cushioning and regulating the downward movement or extent of movement of the pad ['6 on which a patient is treated certain cushioning members are preferably used, such as helical springs 65 and 66, there being two springs 65 at one end of the device and one spring 66 at the other end of the device. See Fig. 3. The lower ends of these springs may be suitably anchored to the lower base l5, as by way of straps 6'! and 63 which loop over the lower coil end-s of these springs 65 and 66 and which are suitably secured or fastened to the top of the lOWer base I5, as by screws or bolts 69, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The upper ends of the springs 65 and 66 press up against the lower face of the upper base ll and anchor straps though not necessary may be likewise used if desired.

At times when it is desired to treat a patient without depressing the pad M the latter may be locked up in the position shown in Fig. 1 by the use of a strut link or post 10 pivotally connected at its lower end to a foot piece H by way of a suitable pivot pin 12, the foot piece having a sole l3 suitably fixed to the top of the lower base l5 at an end thereof as shown in Fig. 1. At the upper end of the post 76 is provided a laterally extending hook M adapted to fit about a depending stud l5 suitably fixed to an end part of the upper base ll (see Figs. 1, 4 and 6). The hook part M abuts up against the under side of the upper base I1 and may be held clamped to it by a thumb nut 16 screwed on the stud 75. When it is desired to use the device to depress the pad M, as shown in Fig. 8', the upper end of the strut 73 is unhooked by loosening the thumb nut 16.

In Fig. 8 is shown a patient in prone position on a chiropractic machine with the abdominal part ll of the patient on the pad Hi. When the doctor presses down on the patients back 18 to give a desired effect to the back, there is also a pressure effect against the abdomen H as the pad E6 is moved down. This downward movement is straight down so that the reactive stress is conversely upward over the extent'of the abdomen. In structures where the pad M is hinged about an axis proximate to the lower part of the abdomen, as about where the hips are located, the upper part of the abdomen would not receive any reactive stress and in most cases would be suspended above and spaced from the forward part of the pad. By use of a straight down movement of the pad i5 desired treatment of the upper part of the abdomen may be effectively utilized.

In operation the patient lies in a horizontal and procumbent position upon the machine with his abdomen upon the pad Hi. When the doctor presses down on the patients back, as at the portion '18, the abdomen portion 1! forces down the pad M as to a position shown in Fig. 8. The downward movement of the pad I4 is a right line movement so that the reactive stress against the abdomen is evenly distributed over the extent of the abdomen.

The downward movement of the pad l4 causes the lever arms 3!34 and 32-35 tofconsonantly pivot about the axes of the shafts 2! and 28 and the bearing units 26, against the restraining force of the springs 6i. Coordinately the rollers 56 and 51 at the other ends of the lever means roll or translate along the roller plates or races 58 and 59 so that the movement of the pad M will be a straight or straight line movement. The shoe and toe features 36-33, 3l39, 5952, and 5i53 afford lateral staying against any side play or swing so that the straight or right line movement of the pad M will be constant and unvarying.

As the pad 54 moves down the counter stress of the springs 6| varies and to avoid a too rapid change in rate of downward movement of the pad l4, upright and directly acting springs 65 and 66 react against the pad I l so as to even up the downward strain or movement of the pad it. As for example, as the leverage of the lever means changes whereby the reactive stress of the springs 6| reduces the com-pressing of the helical springs 65 and 66 consonantly increases resulting in a more or less uniform straining and stressing. Conversely, the restoration of the pad I4,'that is, its return or upward movement will likewise be regular and uniform, and will not jump or rebound.

The chain 62 limits the upper position of the pad l4 so that it will be normally even with the other pads I2 and 13 of the machine.

When effecting a treatment wherein the pad 14 is not to be depressed the hooking of the post in upright position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 6, will firmly hold the pad I 3 even with the pads 12 and I3.

While we have herein described and upon the drawing shown an illustrative embodiment of the invention it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto but comprehends other constructions, arrangements of parts, details, features, and the like without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus disclosed the invention,

We claim:

1. In a chiropractic devicecomprising supporting means for pads upon which a patient lies in a procumbent position, the combination therewith of a stationary base, a movable base carrying an abdominal pad, a pantographic type of lever arrangement connected to said bases for controlling relative movement of said bases in a right line direction, and resilient means connected to parts 0f said lever arrangement for offering a yieldable reactive stress against relative approach of said bases, said lever arrangement having mutually fulcrumed levers with an end of said levers pivotally connected to said bases and the other ends of said levers being movable along faces of said bases, said ends of said levers having laterally extending bracing portions for acting against said bases to give lateral support to said levers against side movement.

2. In a chiropractic device comprising supporting means for pads upon which a patient lies in a procumbent position, the combination therewith of a stationary base, a movable base carrying an abdominal pad, a pantographic type of lever arrangement connected to said bases for controlling relative movement of said bases in a right line direction, and resilient means connected to parts of said lever arrangement for offering a yieldable reactive stress against rel ative approach of said bases, said lever arrangement having mutually fulcrumed levers with an end of said levers connected to bearing means, said bearings being connected to said bases, said bearing means having shafts, said ends of said levers having laterally extending bracing portions connected to said shaft to give lateral support to said levers against side movement, and the other ends of said levers being movable along faces of said bases.

3. In a chiropractic device comprising supporting means for pads upon which a patient lies in a procumbent position the combination therewith of a stationary base, a movable base carrying an abdominal pad, a pantographic type of lever arrangement connected to said bases for controlling relative movement of said bases in a right line direction, and resilient means connected to parts of said lever arrangement for offering a yieldable reactive stress against relative approach of said bases, said lever arrangement having mutually fulcrumed levers with an end of said levers connected to bearing means, said bearings being connected to said bases, said bearing means having shafts, said ends of said levers having laterally extending bracing portions connected to said shaft to give lateral support to said levers against side movement, and said other ends of said levers connected to hear-- ing means, rollers connected to said later bearing means and located to roll along the faces of said bases.

4. In a chiropractic device comprising supporting means for pads upon which a patient lies in a procumbent position, the combination therewith Of a stationary base, a movable base carrying an abdominal pad, a pantographic type of lever arrangement connected to said bases for controlling relative movement of said bases in a right line direction, and resilient means connected to parts of said lever arrangement for offering a yieldable reactive stress against relative approach of said bases, said lever arrangement having mutually fulcrumed levers with an end of said levers connected to bearing means, said bearings being connected to said bases, said bearing means having shafts, said ends of said levers having laterally extending bracing portions connected to said. shaft to give lateral support to said levers against side movement, and said other ends of said levers connected to bearing means, rollers connected to said later bearing means and located to roll along the faces of said bases, said later bearing means having shafts, the other ends of said levers having laterally extending bracing portions connected to said later shaft to give lateral support to said levers against side movement.

ALBERT H. BINASH. WILLIAM A. TULJ... ROY T. GAUTNEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the fileof this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Galbraith May 19, 1942

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