US3896787A - Therapeutic apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus for therapeutically assisting the conjugal relationship wherein shoulder supports and stirrups are effectively combined to produce a device which substantially reduces the amount of physical exertion and strain normally associated with acts of intimacy. The present apparatus is capable of reducing the amount of physical exertion by 50% or more because it is capable of transferring strain from other areas of the body to the legs.

Description

United States Patent [191 Withers [111 3,896,787 July 29, 1975 1 1 THERAPEUTIC APPARATUS [76] Inventor: Ronald L. Withers. 6710 Harwood Pl., Springfield, Va. 22152 [22] Filed: Dec. 18, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 425,929

[52] U.S. Cl 128/1 R; 5/327 R;"128/31; 269/328; 272/57 R ;"2'72/79 [51] Int. Cl A6lb 19/00 [58] Field of Search 128/1 R, 31, 134, 303 R, 128/361; 5/327 R; 269/322, 328; 272/57 R, 58, 79-83 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1.622313 3/1927 Gellhorn 269/328 2,594,097 4/1952 Twyman 128/1 R 3,524,643 8/1970 Hazelitt 272/83 R 3,668,722 6/1972 Gallant..... 3,813,091 5/1974 Metzger 5/327 R X Primary Examiner-Dalton L. Truluck Attorney, Agent, or FirmStewart and Kolasch, Ltd.

[57] ABSTRACT An apparatus for therapeutically assisting the conjugal relationship wherein shoulder supports and stirrups are effectively combined to produce a device which substantially reduces the amount of physical exertion and strain normally associated with acts of intimacy. The present apparatus is capable of reducing the amount of physical exertion by 50% or more because it is capable of transferring strain from other areas of the body to the legs.

9 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures PATENTED JUL 2 9 975 THERAPEUTIC APPARATUS BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an apparatus for therapeutically assisting the conjugal relationship and more particularly to an apparatus for promoting and maintaining the desired compatibility in married life between husband and wife where at least one of the parties is suffering from a physical impairment.

Normal sexual activity between husband and wife in a marital union is a very important ingredient for the promotion of marital accord and the maintaining of the desired compatibility between the parties. This ingredient in the marital relationship is no less important in a marriage where one of the parties is suffering from a disease or a physical impairment, such as for example, heart disease. Accordingly, in order to maintain this desired compatibility between a husband and wife, even in situations where physical exertion or stress would endanger the health of one of the parties, it is important to be able to assist said parties in their sexual relationship by reducing the amount of strain and exertion normally associated therewith.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus which is used in the promotion of marital accord where one of the parties possesses a physical impairment which would normally greatly restrict normal sexual activity.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for therapeutically assisting the conjugal relationship between a husband and Wife while making said relationship more pleasurable and helpful for the participants.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus which enables a person suffering from a disease, such as for example, heart disease, to engage in normal sexual activity while substantially reducing the stress and strain normally associated therewith.

Other objects and further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter; it should be understood, however, that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

Pursuant to the present invention, an apparatus has been developed which enables an individual suffering from some type of physical impairment to carry on normal sexual activities by minimizing certain stresses and strains which tend to aggrevate his or her physical condition. According to the present invention, shoulder stops are extended a distance from a supporting framework, said framework being adapted to abut against or attached to the headboard of a bed. Foot-engageable stirrups are attached to straps which also extend from the supporting framework or other associated structural elements. Where the straps are attached to the supporting framework, means are provided for adjusting the length of the straps. This enables the apparatus of the present invention to accommodate an individual of any size.

In operation, the female, for example, positions her head between the shoulder stops with her shoulders engaging the contoured padded portion of said stops. The stops are extended a distance from the supporting framework to provide adequate space and comfort for the female. The male then puts his feet into the stirrups, which can also be padded, said stirrups being attached to a very light-weight, strong straps. The length of the nylon straps can be adjusted by rotating a knob attached to a spool mechanism located on both sides of the structural means disposed between the shoulder stops and the supporting framework. Because of the location of the length-adjusting means, the length of the straps can be adjusted not only preliminary to but also during the consummation of the sexual relationship. The strap material can be made out of any natural or synthetic material which can be either elastic or nonelastic in nature. Typical materials might include straps made of cotton, nylon or polyester materials.

Because of the apparatus of the present invention, the use of the back, chest, shoulder and arm muscles, normally associated with sexual activity and which could be injurious to the overall health of a cardiac patient, is substantially reduced by transferring at least about 50% or more of the physical exertion associated with the use of these muscles to the legs of the individual. Thus, the normal strain of the sexual act on the patient is greatly reduced. Furthermore, the pleasure of both parties is also increased by the pushing action which is facilitated by the foot-engageable stirrups and the resistance provided by the shoulder stops.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention and wherein FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus of the present invention, and

FIG. 2 shows how the apparatus of FIG. 1 can be folded along a hinge means provided in the supporting framework; it is taken along line 22 of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings where identical reference numerals are used throughout the various views to indicate identical parts, the apparatus of the present invention comprises a supporting framework 1 and shoulder stops 2, said shoulder stops being extended a distance from the supporting framework by structural means 3. Straps 4 are extended from each side of the structural means 3 and are provided at their lower end with foot-engageable stirrups 5. The structural means 3 contain adjusting means 7 composed of a spool means 8 which is adapted to receive or discharge the straps and hand-operated knob means 9 associated with the spool means for winding the straps thereon or unwinding the straps therefrom. Thus, the length of the straps 4 can be adjusted from a readily accessible location on either side of the shoulder stops. The fabric strap 4 can also be tied together at an area near the foot-engageable stirrups by a transverse fabric strap 10. Furthermore, the shoulder stops can be provided with a padded surface 11 as shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 2 also shows how the apparatus of the present invention can be folded together along a hinge 6 when it is not in use. FIG. I shows one strap having only one footengageable support 5 and one strap having a plurality of spaced-apart foot-engageable supports 5, 5 so that the individual can adjust his overall position accordingly. Thus the present invention contemplates a device with either single stirrups or multiple stirrups.

The apparatus of the present invention can be made out of any of the well known materials which are not only strong in nature but provide some esthetic value. For example, the supporting framework, structural means, shoulder stops and foot-engageable stirrups can be made of any of the well known plastic materials, for example various polyolefins or polyesters, or various lightweight metallic materials, such as for example aluminum. Also, the straps to which the stirrups are attached can also be made of a variety of materials, with the preferred material being nylon. Although the adjusting means are shown in FIG. 1 as being attached to the structural means 3, it is readily apparent that said adjusting means could be relocated and thus associated with either the shoulder stops or the supporting framework with the only consideration being that the adjusting means will be readily accessible to the individual while he is using the apparatus.

The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.

It is claimed:

, 1. An apparatus for therapeutically assisting the conjugal.relationship between a man and woman which comprises a supporting framework and shoulder stops, structural means connected to said supporting framework and said shoulder stops for extending the shoulder stops a distance from the supporting framework, straps extending from said structural means, said straps being provided with foot-engageable stirrups, adjusting means associated with said structural means for changing the length of the straps, said adjusting means comprising spool means which are adapted to receive or discharge the straps and hand-operated knob means operatively associated with the spool means for winding the straps thereon or unwinding the straps therefrom.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the framework is a flat structural element which is adapted to engage the headboard of a bed.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein hinge means are provided in the middle portion of the framework for folding said framework.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the shoulder stops are contoured to conform to the shoulders of the individual using the device.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the shoulder stops are padded.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the straps are made of a non-stretchable material.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the straps are made of an elastic material.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein connecting means are attached to the respective strap means above the stirrups.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the stirrups comprise a plurality of spaced-apart foot-engageable supports.

Claims (9)

1. An apparatus for therapeutically assisting the conjugal relationship between a man and woman which comprises a supporting framework and shoulder stops, structural means connected to said supporting framework and said shoulder stops for extending the shoulder stops a distance from the supporting framework, straps extending from said structural means, said straps being provided with foot-engageable stirrups, adjusting means associated with said structural means for changing the length of the straps, said adjusting means comprising spool means which are adapted to receive or discharge the straps and hand-operated knob means operatively associated with the spool means for winding the straps thereon or unwinding the straps therefrom.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the framework is a flat structural element which is adapted to engage the headboard of a bed.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein hinge means are provided in the middle portion of the framework for folding said framework.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the shoulder stops are contoured to conform to the shoulders of the individual using the device.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the shoulder stops are padded.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the straps are made of a non-stretchable material.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the straps are made of an elastic material.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein connecting means are attached to the respective strap means above the stirrups.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the stirrups comprise a plurality of spaced-apart foot-engageable supports.

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