US2560404A

US2560404A - Hiccup treating apparatus

Info

Publication number: US2560404A
Application number: US73733A
Authority: US
Inventors: Thomas D Assmar
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1949-01-31
Filing date: 1949-01-31
Publication date: 1951-07-10
Anticipated expiration: 1968-07-10

Description

T. D. ASSMAR HICCOUGH TREATING APPARATUS July 10, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 31, 1949 Thomas D. Assmar INVENTOR.

. Q I BY (puny 19% July 10, 1951 Filed Jan 31, 1949 7111/. Illn T. D. ASSMAR 2,560,404

HICCOUGH TREATING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 30 Fig. 2 28 32 Thomas D. Assmar INVENTOR.

06251. aadymy 3 M Patented July 10, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,560,404 HICCUPTREATING APPARATUS Thomas D. Assmar, Jewett City, Conn. Application January 31, 1949, Serial No. 73,733

This invention relates to new and useful immovements and structural refinements in thera-' peutic machines, and the principal object of the invention is to facilitate treatment of chronic hiccough conditions.

This object is achieved by the provision of the instant apparatus, intended primarily for use in hospitals and similar institutions, wherein the patient is seated upon a re'ciprocatively vibratile platform with his hands grasping a vibratile hand bar, while his arms are restrained against vibration by relatively stationary arm straps.

The invention also contemplates the provision of what may be referred to as a mask for the face of the patient, these various arrangements cooperating in producing mild muscular and neurotic reflexes or shock which, in turn, are believed to counteract spasmodic contractions of the diaphragm to which the cause of hiccoughs is generally attributed.

An important feature of the invention lies in its simplicity of construction, ease of manipulation, and in its adaptability to repeated use" in a series of treatments of any one particular patient, without causing any apparent discomfort.

With the above more important objects and features in View and such other objects and features as may become apparent as this specification proceeds, the invention consists essentially in the arrangement and construction of parts as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1" is a perspective view of the invention, showing a patient in situ therein, illustrated in phantom lines;

Figure 2 is a crosssectional view, taken substantially in the plane of the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

, Figure 3 is a perspective view of a fulcrum joint used in the invention;

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view, taken substantially in the plane of line 4:4" in Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary plan view, taken substantially in the Figure 1; and

Figure 6 is a cross sectionalview, taken substantially in the plane of line 6-6 in Figure 1.

Like" characters of reference are employed to designate like parts in the specification and throughout the several views.

Referring'now to the accompanying drawings in detail, the invention consists of a hiccough treating apparatus designated generally plane of the line 5 5 in relatively opposite by the reference character Ill, the same embodying in its construction a substantially rectangular framework or base [2 provided with a plurality of support blocks I4 on which is reciprocably positioned a vibratile platform 5.

Apair of spaced parallel angles 18 are secured to the under surface of the platform It and being engageable with the blocks M, the angles l8 constitute what may be referred to as guides, which permit the platform l6 to reciprocate in the direction of the arrows 20 (see Fig. 1).

A bracket 22 projectslaterally from the framework or base l2 and carries an upright support 24, the upper end of which, in turn, is provided with a further bracket 26, notched as at 28.

A fulcrum joint 30, best shown in the accompanying Figure 3, is pivotally mounted in the notch 28 of the bracket 26 by means of a fulcrum pin 32, this" pin extending through an aperture 34 formed in a flat mid-portion 36 of the joint 30, as will be clearly apparent. It is to be noted that the joint 36 alsoincludes a pair of internally' screw-threaded sockets 38, whereby the joint is effectively employed for rigidly connecting to gethfer upper and

lower portions

40, 42, respectively, of what may be referred to as a lever.

It is to be noted that by virtue of this structural arrangement, the lever is fulcrumed intermediately of its length, the upper portion 40 thereof being provided with a T coupling' 44 car rying a hand bar 45', while the lower portion 42 of the latter is equipped with a fork 48 provided with opposed slots 50 to accommodate a pivot pin 52 whereby the fork 48 is connected to a bracket 54" rigidly secured to the aforementioned platform l6.

Accordingly, when the platform dates in the direction of the arrows 20, an oscillatory or' reciprocating movement will be imparted to' the hand bar 46' by the

lever

40, 42, and it should be particularly noted that inasmuch as the lever has the fulcrum thereof disposed intermediately of its length, the platform Hi1 and the hand bar 46' will be reciproc'ated in directions. k The reciprocation of the platform I6 is ef-' fected by means of an electric motor 56 mounted upon the framework I2 and operatively con-' nected through the medium of a gear box 58 to a counter-shaft 6!] which, in turn, is connected by a flexible coupling 62 to a crankshaft 64' rotatably journaled in suitable bearings 66. These bearings are mounted on suitable brackets 68 carried by the framework I2, as will be clearly apparent.

i6 recipro- The crankshaft 64 carries a pitman arm I which is operatively connected by a pivot pin I2 to a U-shaped bracket I4 secured to the platform I6. Accordingly, upon actuation of the motor 56, rotation of the crankshaft 64 will impart a reciprocating, vibratile movement to the platform as indicated by the arrow 20, while at the same time the hand bar 46 is vibrated in the direction of the arrow I6, as has been already explained.

If desired, the hand bar 46 may be provided at one end thereof with a hand grip I8, while its remaining end is equipped with a cup holder 80, the purpose of which will be hereinafter explained.

A tubular, upright standard 82 is secured at the lower end thereof to the framework I2, and one arm of an L-shaped extension 84 is slidably telescoped in the standard 82, being adjustable vertically as to height by means of suitable wing screws 88 with which the standard 92 is provided. The remaining arm of the extension 84 extends horizontally over the platform I6 and a clamp 90 frictionally engages and is slidably adjustable on this horizontal arm, as is best shown in Figure 1.

The clamp 90 carries a skull cap 92 which is receivable on the head of the patient, being retained in position thereon by means of la, strap assembly 94, and the skull cap 92 is also equipped with a downwardly extendin face mask 96 formed with a pair of eye openings or apertures 98. Needless to say, by loosening the screws 68, the extension 84 may be adjusted vertically as to height, so that the skull cap 92 is properly seated on the head of the patient and the mask 96 covers the patients face, leaving only the patients mouth and chin exposed.

The patient, indicated at I00, is seated upon a suitable stool or chair I02 positioned on the platform IS, with his hands gripping the bar 46, and it is to be noted that the invention also includes vibration restraining straps I04, provided with suitable metallic loops I06, so that they may be firmly secured to the arms of the patient. The straps I04 constitute continuations of a connecting strap I08 which passes around the standard 02 and is secured thereto by a suitable screw H0. A reinforcing bracket I I2, configurated as is best shown in Figure 4, may be secured to the standard 82, as at H4, and to the strap I08, as at II6, so as to prevent the possibility of the strap I08 sustaining damage by engagement with the standard.

When the invention is placed in use, the patient I00 is seated upon a stool I02 positioned on the platform I6, as has already been described, and the skull cap 92 is placed and secured upon the head of the patient with the mask 96 covering the patients face, as will be clearly apparent. Moreover, the restraining straps I04 are secured to the patients arms, substantially as shown.

Thereupon, the motor 56 may be energized, so as to produce reciprocative vibration of the platform I6 and of the hand bar 46, thus violently vibrating or shaking the entire body, including the hands of the patient, while the patients arms and head remain relatively stationary by virtue of the restraining straps I04, 94, respectively.

Some suitable medicinal preparation should be administered to the patient while the treatment is being given, to which end the holder 80 is provided, so as to receive the cup or glass in which the medicinal preparation is served.

The effect of vibration while certain portions of the patients body are being held stationary is intended to produce mild muscular or neurotic reflexes or shocks so as to counteract spasmodic contraction of the diaphragm, to which the cause of hiccoughs is attributed. Needless to say, the treatment may be repeated at periodic intervals, if necessary.

It is believed that the advantages and use of the invention will be clearly apparent from the foregoing disclosure, and accordingly further description thereof at this point is deemed unnecessary.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. Hiccough treating apparatus comprising, in combination, a stationary base, a vibratile platform mounted on said base, a vibratile hand bar mounted on said base above said platform, means for reciprocatively vibrating said platform and said hand bar, and vibration restraining arm straps provided above said platform adjacent said bar.

2. Hiccough treating apparatus comprising, in

combination, a base including an upright support,

a vibratile platform mounted on said base, a vibratile hand bar carried by said support and operatively connected to said platform, and means for reciprocatively vibrating said platform and said bar in relatively opposite directions.

3. The device as defined in claim 2 wherein said base includes an upright standard, together with a free mask suspended from said standard, and a pair of vibration restraining straps provided on said standard, said straps being attachable to the arms of a patient under treatment.

4. Hiccough treating apparatus comprising, in combination, a base including an upright support and an upright standard, a reciprocatively vibratile seat supporting platform mounted on said platform, a lever having upper and lower end portions and fulcrumed intermediately of its length to said support, a hand bar provided at the upper end of said lever, the lower end of said lever being in operative engagement with said platform, a face mask suspended from said standard, a pair of vibration restraining arm straps provided on said standard, and means on said base for reciprocating said platform.

5. The device as defined in claim 4 wherein said means includes a crankshaft, an electric motor coupled to said crankshaft, and a pitman arm operatively connecting said crankshaft to said platform.

6. The device as defined in claim 4 together with means for adjusting the height of said standard.

THOMAS D. ASSMAR.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 22,105 Marlowe June 2, 1942 1,175,360 Johansen Mar. 14, 1916 1,671,162 Peters May 29, 1928 1,709,410 Simmons Apr. 16, 1929 2,497,751 Wettlaufer Feb. 14, 1950