WO2001017417A2

WO2001017417A2 - Device for spinal therapy

Info

Publication number: WO2001017417A2
Application number: PCT/KR2000/000021
Authority: WO
Inventors: Heon Kyoung Han
Original assignee: Heon Kyoung Han
Priority date: 1999-09-06
Filing date: 2000-01-14
Publication date: 2001-03-15
Also published as: WO2001017417A3

Abstract

A device for spinal therapy includes a flat chest supporter (10), with a head supporter (11) aand two parallel guide channels (14) provided at the upper and lower ends of the supporter (10). An U-shaped lumbar supporter (20) is movably inserted into the guide channels (14). A boss (21) is provided at the central portion of a web of the lumbar supporter (20). A linear support (30) is rotatably mounted to the boss (21) at its rotating shaft (31) and accomplishes a desired angular position relative to the boss (31). Two pelvis supporters (40) are detachably mounted to the linear support (30).

Description

DEVICE FOR SPINAL THERAPY

Technical Field

The present invention relates, in general, to a device for spinal therapy and, more particularly, to an improvement in such a device to give a simple structure to the device and to allow a user to easily and simply use the device in a hospital or at home, the device effectively rehabilitating a disordered pelvis so as to eliminate the source of spinal pain and to cure chronic lumbago, sciatica caused by a prolapsed intervertebral disk, and the other spinal disorders.

Background Art

Man, standing and walking in an erect posture, is inevitably burdened and stressed at the spine and may experience rachioscoliosis due to a bad posture while seating or standing, thus suffering from lumbago.

The pelvis of a person may be undesirably distorted due to a bad posture and/or a bad habit, thus causing both legs to be slightly different from each other in length. In such a case, the person suffers from lumbago and/or sciatica caused by a prolapsed intervertebral disk. It is necessary for such a person to be treated and cured by a spinal therapy.

In the prior art, an effective and inexpensive device for spinal therapy has not been proposed, and so the patients suffering from such spinal disorders depend chiefly on a medicinal treatment while neglecting more effective and radical remedies. This finally allows the patients to regrettably miss the opportunity of utilizing such remedies and renders the spinal prolapse and the pain to become worse.

Disclosure of the Invention

Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a device for spinal therapy, which has a simple structure and is designed to be easily and simply used by a user in a hospital or at home, and which effectively rehabilitates a disordered pelvis so as to eliminate the source of spinal pain and to cure chronic lumbago, sciatica caused by a prolapsed intervertebral disk, and the other spinal disorders.

In order to accomplish the above object, the primary embodiment of the present invention provides a device for spinal therapy, comprising: a chest supporter having a flat panel shape, with a head supporter being provided at an upper end of the chest supporter and two parallel guide channels being axially formed at a lower end of the chest supporter; a U-shaped lumbar supporter movably inserted into the guide channels at both arms thereof so as to be rectilinearly movable relative to the chest supporter in an axial direction, with a plurality of holes regularly formed on each of the arms of the lumbar supporter along an axial direction and a boss being provided at a central portion of a web of the lumbar supporter; a linear support rotatably mounted to the boss of the lumbar supporter at its rotating shaft so as to accomplish a desired angular position relative to the boss of the lumbar supporter, with a plurality of mounting holes being regularly formed on the linear support along an axial direction of the linear support; and two pelvis supporters used for supporting both sides of a pelvis, the pelvis supporters being detachably mounted to the mounting holes of the linear support, with an interval between the two pelvis supporters being adjustable as desired.

The second embodiment of this invention provides a device for spinal therapy, comprising: a chest supporter having a flat panel shape, with a head supporter being provided at an upper end of the chest supporter and a guide channel being axially formed at a lower end of the chest supporter; a lumbar supporter having a flat panel shape, with two guide channels being axially formed on both ends of the lumbar supporter at corresponding positions and a boss being provided at a center of the lumbar supporter; a leg supporter having an axial guide channel at its upper end; a plurality of connecting rods inserted into the guide channels of the chest supporter, the lumbar supporter and the leg supporter so as to connect the supporters to each other in a line, the connecting rods individually having a plurality of holes so as to adjust a gap between the supporters; a linear support provided with both a rotating shaft and a locking pin on its lower surface and rotatably mounted to the boss of the lumbar supporter at the rotating shaft so as to accomplish a desired angular position relative to the boss of the lumbar supporter, with an axial groove and a plurality of axially-arranged mounting holes being formed on an upper surface of the linear support; and two pelvis supporters used for supporting both sides of a pelvis, the pelvis supporters being detachably mounted to the mounting holes of the linear support, with an interval between the two pelvis supporters being adjustable.

The third embodiment of this invention provides a device for spinal therapy, comprising: a main body consisting of a head supporter, a chest supporter, a lumbar supporter and a leg supporter, with a connecting rod connecting the head supporter, the chest supporter, the lumbar supporter and the leg supporter to each other in a line while allowing a gap between the supporters to be adjustable; and a movable means detachably mounted to one of predetermined positions on the lumbar supporter and having two pelvis supporters used for supporting both sides of a pelvis, with an interval between the two pelvis supporters being adjustable.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view, showing the construction of the compartments of a device for spinal therapy in accordance with the primary embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view, showing a position adjusting structure used for allowing a user to adjust the position of the linear support on the boss of the lumbar supporter included in the device of Fig. 1; Fig 3 is a side view, showing the device of Fig. 1 when the device is practically used for spinal therapy,

Fig 4 is a perspective view of a position adjusting structure in accordance with a modification of the primary embodiment of this invention and used for allowing a user to adjust the position of the linear support on the boss of the lumbar supporter,

Fig 5 is an exploded perspective view, showing the construction of the compartments of a device for spinal therapy in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention, Fig 6 is an exploded perspective view, showing the construction of the compartments of a device for spinal therapy in accordance with the third embodiment of the present invention,

Fig 7 is an exploded perspective view, showing a position adjusting structure used for allowing a user to adjust the position of the linear support on the lumbar supporter included in the device of Fig 6, and

Fig 8 is a view, showing the structure and positional adjustment of the pelvis supporters included in the device of Fig 6

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

Fig 1 is an exploded perspective view, showing the construction of the compartments of a device for spinal therapy in accordance with the primary embodiment of the present invention

As shown in the drawing, the device according to the primary embodiment of this invention comprises a chest supporter 10, which has a flat panel shape and is used for supporting the upper body of a user A head supporter 11 is provided at the upper end of the chest supporter 10 for supporting the head of the user The chest supporter 10 and the head supporter 11 are individually made of wood covered with leather The head supporter 11 is provided with an axial channel 11a for allowing the user to easily breathe Two parallel guide channels 14 are axially formed at the lower end of the chest supporter 10. Each of the two guide channels 14 is formed by a hollow steel or plastic pipe, which has a rectangular cross-section and is axially set within the chest supporter 10.

In the present invention, it is preferable to connect the head supporter 11 to the chest supporter 10 using a hinge, and so it is possible to fold the two supporters 10 and 11 and to reduce the size of the device while moving the device.

A U-shaped lumbar supporter 20 is movably inserted into the guide channels 14 of the chest supporter 10 at both arms thereof so as to be rectiUnearly movable relative to the chest supporter 10 in an axial direction. A plurality of holes 20a are regularly formed on each of the arms of the lumbar supporter 20 along an axial direction, while a hollow cylindrical boss 21 is provided at the central portion of a web of the lumbar supporter 20. The above holes 20a are formed at corresponding positions of the two arms of the lumbar supporter 20 while being spaced out at regular intervals throughout the length of about 20 cm. The lower end of the boss 21 is leveled with the lower surface of the chest supporter 10, and so the lumbar supporter 20 is free from bending stress.

A locking piece 12 is mounted to the lower end surface of the chest supporter 10 at a position just around the opening 14a of each of the two guide channels 14, with an associated arm of the lumbar supporter 20 being removably held to the locking piece 12 using a locking pin 13. The locking piece 12 has an

L-shaped cross-section, with a hole 12a being formed at the center of the horizontal part of the locking piece 12. The size of the above hole 12a is equal to that of each hole 20a of the lumbar supporter 20, thus stably and firmly holding the lumbar supporter 20 on the chest supporter 10 when the locking pin 13 passes through the holes 12a and 20a.

A linear support 30 is rotatably mounted to the boss 21 of the lumbar supporter 20 at its rotating shaft 31 so as to accomplish a desired angular position relative to the boss 21 of the lumbar supporter 20. In the present invention, it is necessary for both the lumbar supporter 20 and the linear support 30 to have a thickness of about 3 mm when they are made of steel plates. On the other hand, when the lumbar supporter 20 and the linear support 30 are made of a plastic material, they must have an appropriate thickness capable of providing a desired strength expected from the steel plate having the thickness of about 3 mm. A plurality of mounting holes 30a are regularly formed on the linear support 30 along an axial direction of the support 30. It is necessary for the mounting holes 30a to have the same size and the same interval.

Two pelvis supporters 40, used for supporting both sides of a pelvis, are detachably mounted to the mounting holes 30a of the linear support 30, with an interval between the two pelvis supporters 40 being adjustable as desired. The above pelvis supporters 40 are produced through the same manner as that described for the chest supporter 10 and the head supporter 11. However, each of the pelvis supporters 40 is not flattened at its top surface, but is inclined at the top surface different from the two supporters 10 and 11. Two locking pins 41 are provided on the lower surface of each of the two pelvis supporters 40 and are removably inserted into two selected mounting holes 30a of the linear support 30. It is thus possible to adjust the interval between the two pelvis supporters 40 as desired and to firmly hold the pelvis supporters 40 on the linear support 30 without allowing the pelvis supporters 40 to be undesirably rotatable on the support 30.

Fig. 2 is a plan view, showing a position adjusting structure used for allowing a user to adjust the position of the linear support on the boss of the lumbar supporter included in the device of Fig. 1.

As shown in Fig. 2, the boss 21 of the lumbar supporter 20 is a cylindrical body with a plurality of holes 21a regularly formed on the top surface of the boss 21 along a circle. In the above boss 21, the holes 21a are arranged along a pitch circle diameter (PCD), which is larger than the width of the linear support 30 in a way such that two or more holes 21a are exposed to the outside of each side of the support 30. Two locking pins 32 are formed on both sides of the linear support 30 at opposite positions and are removably inserted into the holes 21a of the boss 21, thus allowing the position of the linear support 30 on the boss 21 to be adjustable. Since two or more holes 21a of the boss 21 are exposed to the outside of each side of the support 30 as described above, it is possible to easily insert the locking pins 32 of the support 30 into selected holes 21a of the boss 21. Fig. 3 is a side view, showing the device of Fig. 1 when the device is practically used for spinal therapy.

In order to use the device for spinal therapy, a patient lies face-down on the device, with the face being positioned on the head supporter 11 and the chest being positioned on the chest supporter 10. A medical practitioner or a person around the patient grips both ankles of the patient at such a position and moves his legs through a full range of motion so as to straightly arrange the spine prior to straightening the ankles and determining which leg is shorter. After determining which leg of the patient is shorter, the first pelvis supporter 40 is moved at an angle of about 45 ° from the greater trochanter of the thighbone of the shorter leg to the spina iliaca anterior superior of the longer leg. The second pelvis supporter 40 is oppositely moved at an opposite position rotated from the first pelvis supporter 40 at an angle of 180°. Thereafter, both the interval between the two pelvis supporters 40 and the angular position of the linear support 30 on the boss 21 are appropriately adjusted in accordance with the physical condition of the patient.

The patient at the above position is, thereafter, allowed to breathe normally for about three minutes without moving. After the three-minute breathing period, the lengths of both legs are compared to each other. When the two legs are not equalized to each other in length or the symptom of lumbago and sciatica, including pseudosciatica, caused by a prolapsed intervertebral disk is not relieved, the patient is released from the device and takes a rest for about twenty seconds, and is retreated through the above-mentioned treatment process. Such a treatment process is repeated several times until the two legs are equalized to each other in length or the symptom of lumbago and sciatica caused by a prolapsed intervertebral disk is relieved.

Due to the spinal therapy treatment using the device of this invention, it is possible to equalize the lengths of both legs to each other and to relieve the symptom of lumbago and sciatica caused by a prolapsed intervertebral disk, and to allow the prolapsed cervical vertebra to be restored to its normal position. This finally allows the patient to be restored to a desired physical condition and to restore a desired organic biorhythm. Of course, the positional adjustment of the pelvis supporters 40 has to be performed as prescribed by a surgeon. However, once a therapeutic prescription is made, it is possible for a patient or a person around the patient to effectively adjust the position of the pelvis supporters 40 according to the therapeutic prescription at home.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a position adjusting structure in accordance with a modification of the primary embodiment of this invention, the structure being used for adjusting the position of the linear support on the boss of the lumbar supporter. In the modification of Fig. 4, the boss 121 of the lumbar supporter 20 is a hollow cylindrical body having a serrated interior surface 121a in place of the mounting holes 21a, while the rotating shaft 131 of the linear support 30 is provided with two or more balls 132 individually biased by a spring 133 and is rotatably fitted into the interior of the boss 121. In such a case, each serrated groove of the serrated interior surface 121a is preferably sized to be similar to or slightly smaller than the size of each ball 132, with the radius of curvature of each serrated groove being equal to the radius of the ball 132. Each ball 132 is thus movably seated in a serrated groove of the boss 121 and is moved to a neighboring serrated groove when the linear support 30 is rotated in a desired direction by one interval, and so it is possible to adjust the angular position of the linear support 30 relative to the boss 121 as desired.

In the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 3, it is necessary to raise the linear support 30 upwardly from the boss 21 so as to align each locking pin 32 of the linear support 30 to a desired mounting hole 21a of the boss 21 when the angular position of the support 30 having the pelvis supporters 40 relative to the boss 21 is adjusted. However in the modification of Fig. 4, the adjustment of the angular position of the linear support 30 having the pelvis supporters 40 relative to the boss 121 is more easily accomplished by simply rotating the support 30 in a desired direction. The spring-biased ball structure of Fig. 4 may be effectively used in the connecting structure between the lumbar supporter 20 and the two guide channels 14 of the chest supporter 10. That is, a spring-biased ball 132 of Fig. 4 may be set in each of the guide channels 14 and removably engages with the holes 20a of the lumbar supporter 20. In such a case, it is possible to adjust the position of the lumbar supporter 20 relative to the chest supporter 10 by simply extending or retracting the lumbar supporter 20 from or into the guide channels 14 of the chest supporter 10. However, it should be understood that the spring-biased ball structure of Fig. 4 may cause an undesirable movement of the connected elements by an external impact even though it is convenient to a user during a positional adjustment. Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view, showing the construction of the compartments of a device for spinal therapy in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in the drawing, the device according to the second embodiment of this invention comprises a chest supporter 210, which has a flat panel shape and is used for supporting the upper body of a user, with a head supporter 211 being provided at the upper end of the chest supporter 110 for supporting the head of a user and a guide channel 214 being formed at the lower end of the chest supporter 210. In a brief description, the general shape of the chest supporter 210 according to the second embodiment remains the same as that described for the primary embodiment of Figs. 1 to 4, but only one guide channel 214 is formed in the supporter 210 different from the primary embodiment.

The device of the second embodiment also has a lumbar supporter 220 and a leg supporter 220 in addition to the chest supporter 210. The lumbar supporter 220 has a flat panel shape, with two guide channels 214 being axially formed on both ends of the lumbar supporter 220 at corresponding positions and a boss 221 being provided at the center of the lumbar supporter 220. On the other hand, the leg supporter 250 has a flat panel shaft, with an axial guide channel 214 formed at the upper end of the supporter 250. The above boss 221 is tightly set at the center of the lumbar supporter 220 and has a plurality of mounting holes 221a, which are regularly formed on the top surface of the boss 220 along a circle in the same manner as that described for the primary embodiment of Fig. 1. In the second embodiment, the construction of the guide channels 214 and the locking pieces 212 remains the same as that described for the primary embodiment

A plurality of connecting rods 215 are inserted into the guide channels 214 of the chest supporter 210, the lumbar supporter 220 and the leg supporter 250 so as to connect the three supporters 210, 220 and 250 to each other in a line

The above connecting rods 215 individually have a plurality of holes 215a so as to adjust a gap between the three supporters 210, 220 and 250 in accordance with the body size of a patient In the same manner as that described for the primary embodiment of Fig 1, a selected hole 215a of each connecting rod 215 is locked to the hole of an associated locking piece 212 using a locking pin 213

A linear support 230, provided with both a rotating shaft 231 and two locking pins 232 on its lower surface, is rotatably mounted to the boss 221 of the lumbar supporter 220 at the rotating shaft 231 so as to accomplish a desired angular position relative to the boss 221 of the lumbar supporter 220 The construction of both the rotating shaft 231 and the locking pins 232 remains the same as that described for the primary embodiment of Fig 1 An axial groove 230b and a plurality of axially-arranged mounting holes 230a are formed on the upper surface of the linear support 230 The above axial groove 230b thoroughly and centrally extends from one end to the other end of the linear support 230, while the mounting holes 230a are axially arranged along two lines on both sides of the groove 230b The above mounting holes 230a have the same size and are spaced out at regular intervals.

Two pelvis supporters 240, used for supporting both sides of a pelvis, are detachably mounted to the mounting holes 230a of the linear support 230, with an interval between the two pelvis supporters 240 being adjustable An axial rail

240a and two locking pins 241 are formed on the lower surface of each pelvis supporter 240, with the two locking pins 241 being formed at both sides of the axial rail 240a The above axial rail 240a movably engages with the groove 230b of the linear support 230, thus allowing each pelvis supporter 240 to be slidable along the linear support 230 The two locking pins 241 of each pelvis supporter

240 are spaced apart from each other at the same interval as that of two corresponding mounting holes 230a on the two lines.

In order to use the device for spinal therapy according to the second embodiment, the three supporters, or the chest supporter 210, the lumbar supporter 220 and the leg supporter 250, are primarily connected together while being spaced apart from each other at appropriate intervals. Thereafter, the linear support 230 is set on the lumbar supporter 220 at a desired angular position by fitting the rotating shaft 231 of the linear support 230 into the boss 221 of the lumbar supporter 220 and by locking the linear support 230 to the boss 221 using the locking pins 232 at the desired angular position. In such a case, it is possible for a user to somewhat freely select one of several angular positions of the linear support 230 on the boss 221. However, it is preferable to position the linear support 230 on the boss 221 at an angular position inclined from the line A- A of Fig. 5 at an angle of ±27° . After setting the angular position of the linear support

230 on the boss 221, the position of the pelvis supporters 240 on the linear support 230 is set with an appropriate interval between the two pelvis supporters 240. In such a case, the two pelvis supporters 240 are spaced apart from the rotating shaft

231 of the linear support 230 by the same distance. After setting the position of the two pelvis supporters 240 on the linear support 230, a patient lies face-down on the device prior to performing the same spinal therapy treatment process as that described for the primary embodiment of Fig. 3.

In the device of the second embodiment, it is possible to almost completely prevent an undesirable movement of the pelvis supporters 240 during a spinal therapy treatment process different from the primary embodiment of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is an exploded perspective view, showing the construction of the compartments of a device for spinal therapy in accordance with the third embodiment of this invention.

The device for spinal therapy according to the third embodiment comprises a main body consisting of a head supporter 311, a chest supporter 310, a lumbar supporter 320 and a leg supporter 350, with a connecting rod 315 connecting the above-mentioned supporters 31 1, 310, 320 and 250 to each other in a line while allowing a gap between the supporters to be adjustable. The head supporter 311 is used for supporting the face of a patient thereon and is provided with a rounded axial channel 311b on its top surface for allowing the patient to easily breathe. On the other hand, the chest supporter 310 and the leg supporter 350 are respectively used for supporting the chest and leg of the patient, thus being free from necessarily forming a channel on their top surfaces.

Each of the head supporter 311, the chest supporter 310, the lumbar supporter 320 and the leg supporter 350 is provided with an axial guide channel 314 at its lower portion and receives the connecting rod 315.

The above main body of the device according to the third embodiment may be freely made of a variety of materials. However, it is preferable to make the main body using light and strong wood or plastic. In the case of making the main body using plastic, it is possible to preferably simplify the process of producing the device by forming each supporter having an axial hole in place of the separately produced guide channel 314 through an injection molding process. In the device of this embodiment, the connecting rod 315 is brought into factional contact with the interior surfaces of the channels 314 under an appropriate pressure, thus being free from allowing the supporters 311, 310, 320 and 350 to undesirably move on the rod 315. Of course, it should be understood that each of the supporters 311, 310, 320 and 350 may be locked to the connecting rod 315 using a locking means, such as a setscrew, after setting the desired intervals between the supporters and may be prevented from undesirably moving on the rod 315.

When it is necessary to store or move the device, the head supporter 311, the chest supporter 310, the lumbar supporter 320 and the leg supporter 350 are separated from each other by removing the connecting rod 315 from the channels

314. It is thus possible to reduce the size of the device while storing or moving the device, and so the device is convenient to a user.

The device of this embodiment also has a movable means 360, which is detachably mounted to one of predetermined positions on the lumbar supporter 320 and having two pelvis supporters 340 used for supporting both sides of a pelvis, with an interval between the two pelvis supporters 340 being adjustable. In the same manner as that described for the second embodiment of Fig. 5, an axial rail 340a is formed on the lower surface of each pelvis supporter 340. In the above movable means 360, the pelvis supporters 340 are moved by an electric motor 364.

In the device of the third embodiment, the lumbar supporter 320 has first, second and third mounting holes 320a, 320b and 320c capable of allowing the movable means 360 to be detachably mounted to one of two predetermined positions on the lumbar supporter 320, with the two predetermined positions being angularly spaced apart from each other at a crossing angle (θ = 54°).

In such a case, the crossing angle (θ) determines two predetermined positions which are rotated from a transverse line, crossing an axial line parallel to the connecting rod 315 at a right angle, at an angle of ±27° . A clinical demonstration shows that the pelvis supporters 340, arranged on one of such two predetermined positions, are particularly effective in spinal therapy. The construction of the first to third mounting holes 320a, 320b and 320c will be described hereinbelow with reference to Fig. 7.

Fig. 7 is an exploded perspective view, showing a position adjusting structure used for allowing a user to adjust the position of the linear support on the lumbar supporter included in the device of Fig. 6.

As shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the movable means 360 comprises a linear support 330 movably supporting the two pelvis supporters 340 thereon while allowing the pelvis supporters 340 to be rectiUnearly reciprocable. A reversible motor 364 is mounted to the center of the lower surface of the linear support 330. A screw 365 is connected to the rotating shaft of the reversible motor 364. A slider 366 engages with the screw 365 while being vertically movable along the screw 365 in opposite directions. A link 367 connects each of the pelvis supporters 340 to the slider 366. The movable means 360 also includes a switch 368 used for operating the motor 364.

An axial narrow groove 330a is formed on the linear support 330, while an axial rail 340a is formed on the lower surface of each pelvis supporter 340. The above axial rail 340a movably engages with the groove 330a of the linear support 330, thus allowing each pelvis supporter 340 to be stably slidable along the linear support 330 without undesirably moving on the support 330. In order to allow the slider 366 to be smoothly movable along the screw 365, it is preferable to make the screw 365 and the slider 366 having threads of a small pitch. The link 367 is connected to each pelvis supporter 340 and the slider 366 at both ends thereof using bolts, with joints of the link 367 having an appropriate tolerance allowing the link 367 to accomplish a smooth joint mechanism. An AC servo motor, designed to be operable at a low speed with a high torque, is used as the motor 364. The above motor 364 is mounted to the linear support 330 using a plurality of brackets 363. In order to allow the motor 364 to be reversibly rotatable, an electric circuit is connected to the motor 364. Both the switch 368 and plug 369, used for operating the motor 364, extend to a sufficient outside the lumbar supporter 320. The switch 368 is provided with two push buttons, integrated into a single body and respectively operating the motor in forward and reverse directions. When the movable means 360 is completely seated on the lumbar supporter 320, only the linear support 330 and the pelvis supporters 340 are exposed outside the top surface of the lumbar supporter 320, with the remaining parts of the movable means 360 being received within the first to third holes 320a, 320b and 320c without being interfered with the holes. That is, both the brackets 363 and the motor 364 are received within the single first hole 320a, while the links 367 are received within the opposite second holes 320b. On the other hand, the third holes 320c closely receive the two locking pins 330b extending downwardly at both ends of the linear support 330, thus stably holding the linear support 330 and the pelvis supporters 340 on the lumbar supporter 320. Due to the above-mentioned structure, it is possible to change the position of the movable means 360 between the two positions by raising the means 360 upwardly from an existing position and setting the means 360 at a desired position. Of course, the two positions, at which the movable means 360 is selectively set on the lumbar supporter 320, are angularly spaced apart from each other at the above- mentioned crossing angle (θ).

Fig. 8 is a view, showing the structure and positional adjustment of the pelvis supporters 340 included in the device of Fig 6

In order to adjust the interval between the two pelvis supporters 340 of the movable means 360, the plug 369 is connected to an electric source prior to operating the switch 368 When the switch 368 is operated to move the slider 366 downwardly on the screw 365, the two links 367 are closed while reducing the angle between them, thus moving the two pelvis supporters 340 to each other However when the switch 368 is operated to move the slider 366 upwardly on the screw 365, the two links 367 are opened while enlarging the angle between them, thus moving the two pelvis supporters 340 away from each other When a user makes a mark on the linear support 330 at an effective spinal therapy position, it is possible for the user to easily set the effective therapy position of the two pelvis supporters 340 on the linear support 330 without failure

In a modification of the third embodiment of Fig 6, the movable means 360 may further comprise a plurality of adjusting screws 372, which are mounted to the lower surfaces of the two pelvis supporters 340 and are used for allowing a user to manually adjust the interval between the two pelvis supporters 340 In such a case, a plurality of fourth mounting holes 320d are formed on the top surface of the lumbar supporter 320 so as to receive the adjusting screws 372

The object of the above modification is to allow a user to manually adjust the interval between the two pelvis supporters 340 when necessary, for example, in the case of the motor 364 being broken In order to manually adjust the interval between the two pelvis supporters 340, the links 367 are separated from the joints 371 of the two pelvis supporters 340 prior to loosening the adjusting screws 372 of each pelvis supporter 340 so as to allow the screws 372 to be projected from the lower surface of each pelvis supporter 340 to a length of about 1 cm Each pelvis supporter 340 is, thereafter, set on the lumbar supporter 320 at a desired position by inserting the projected screws 372 of each pelvis supporter 340 into desired fourth mounting holes 320d of the lumbar supporter 320 In this modification, two or more screws free from a head are used as the adjusting screws 372 of each pelvis supporter 340 Of course, when the motor 364 normally operates the movable means 360, the adjusting screws 372 must be fully threaded into the pelvis supporters 340, thus being free from disturbing a movement of the pelvis supporters 340 on the linear support 330. The fourth mounting holes 320d are regularly formed along two lines on both sides of the linear second holes 320b. In case the user wants to adjust the interval between the two pelvis supporters 340 using the rotating force of the motor 364 again, the screws 372 are fully threaded into the pelvis supporters 340 prior to connecting the links 367 to the joints 371 of the pelvis supporters 340.

The devices of Figs. 6 to 8 are used for spinal therapy in a manner similar to that described for the devices of Figs. 3 and 5, but the pelvis supporters 340 of the devices of Figs. 6 to 8 are electrically operated different from the devices of

Figs. 3 and 5. In addition, the manual positional adjustment of the pelvis supporters 340 is performed in a manner similar to that described for the devices of Figs. 3 and 5.

Industrial Applicability

As described above, the present invention provides a device for spinal therapy. The device of this invention is designed to have a simple structure and to allow a user to easily and simply use the device in a hospital or at home. The device also effectively rehabilitates a disordered pelvis, thus eliminating the source of spinal pain and curing chronic lumbago, sciatica caused by a prolapsed intervertebral disk, and the other spinal disorders.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.

Claims

Claims:

1. A device for spinal therapy, comprising: a chest supporter having a flat panel shape, with a head supporter being provided at an upper end of said chest supporter and two parallel guide channels being axially formed at a lower end of the chest supporter; a U-shaped lumbar supporter movably inserted into said guide channels at both arms thereof so as to be rectiUnearly movable relative to the chest supporter in an axial direction, with a plurality of holes regularly formed on each of the arms of said lumbar supporter along an axial direction and a boss being provided at a central portion of a web of said lumbar supporter; a linear support rotatably mounted to the boss of said lumbar supporter at its rotating shaft so as to accomplish a desired angular position relative to the boss of the lumbar supporter, with a plurality of mounting holes being regularly formed on said linear support along an axial direction of the linear support; and two pelvis supporters used for supporting both sides of a pelvis, said pelvis supporters being detachably mounted to the mounting holes of said linear support, with an interval between the two pelvis supporters being adjustable as desired.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein a locking piece is mounted to a lower end surface of the chest supporter at a position just around an opening of each of said two guide channels, with an associated arm of said lumbar supporter being removably held to said locking piece using a locking pin.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein said boss of the lumbar supporter is a cylindrical body with a plurality of holes regularly formed on a top surface of the boss along a circle, and holds said linear support thereon using a locking pin while allowing the linear support to be adjustable in its angular position relative to the boss of the lumbar supporter.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein said boss of the lumbar supporter is a hollow cylindrical body having a serrated interior surface, while the rotating shaft of the linear support is provided with a spring-biased ball on its sidewall and is rotatably fitted into the interior of the boss while being adjustable in its angular position relative to the boss.

5. A device for spinal therapy, comprising: a chest supporter having a flat panel shape, with a head supporter being provided at an upper end of said chest supporter and a guide channel being axially formed at a lower end of the chest supporter; a lumbar supporter having a flat panel shape, with two guide channels being axially formed on both ends of the lumbar supporter at corresponding positions and a boss being provided at a center of the lumbar supporter; a leg supporter having an axial guide channel at its upper end; a plurality of connecting rods inserted into the guide channels of the chest supporter, the lumbar supporter and the leg supporter so as to connect said supporters to each other in a line, said connecting rods individually having a plurality of holes so as to adjust a gap between the supporters; a linear support provided with both a rotating shaft and a locking pin on its lower surface and rotatably mounted to the boss of said lumbar supporter at said rotating shaft so as to accomplish a desired angular position relative to the boss of the lumbar supporter, with an axial groove and a plurality of axially-arranged mounting holes being formed on an upper surface of said linear support; and two pelvis supporters used for supporting both sides of a pelvis, said pelvis supporters being detachably mounted to the mounting holes of said linear support, with an interval between the two pelvis supporters being adjustable.

6. A device for spinal therapy, comprising: a main body consisting of a head supporter, a chest supporter, a lumbar supporter and a leg supporter, with a connecting rod connecting the head supporter, the chest supporter, the lumbar supporter and the leg supporter to each other in a line while allowing a gap between the supporters to be adjustable; and movable means detachably mounted to one of predetermined positions on the lumbar supporter and having two pelvis supporters used for supporting both sides of a pelvis, with an interval between the two pelvis supporters being adjustable.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein said lumbar supporter has first, second and third mounting holes capable of allowing the movable means to be detachably mounted to one of two predetermined positions on the lumbar supporter, with the two predetermined positions being angularly spaced apart from each other at a crossing angle of 54 ° .

8. The device according to claim 6, wherein said movable means comprises: a linear support movably supporting the two pelvis supporters thereon while allowing the pelvis supporters to be rectiUnearly reciprocable; a reversible motor mounted to a center of a lower surface of said linear support; a screw connected to a rotating shaft of said reversible motor; a slider engaging with the screw while being vertically movable along the screw in opposite directions; a link connecting each of said pelvis supporters to said sUder; and a switch used for operating said motor.

9. The device according to claim 6, wherein said movable means comprises: a plurality of adjusting screws mounted to lower surfaces of said two pelvis supporters and used for allowing a user to manually adjust both the positions of the pelvis supporters and the interval between the pelvis supporters; and a plurality of fourth mounting holes formed on said lumbar supporter and used for receiving the adjusting screws of the pelvis supporters.