WO2007117071A1

WO2007117071A1 - Apparatus for treating neck disorders

Info

Publication number: WO2007117071A1
Application number: PCT/KR2006/005614
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jung-Min Han
Original assignee: Jung-Min Han
Priority date: 2006-04-07
Filing date: 2006-12-21
Publication date: 2007-10-18
Also published as: KR200419284Y1

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus for treating neck disorders, which includes guiding sections that each have a guide path corresponding to the curve of the cervical spine, pressing parts that move along the guiding paths, a driving mechanism that applies linear force for pushing/pulling the pressing parts, and a link part that converts the linear force of the driving mechanism into force for moving the pressing parts along the indefinite- shaped curved path by connecting the driving mechanism with the pressing parts so that they freely move up and down. The apparatus of the invention can massage the neck with uniform force throughout the neck by moving the pressing parts along the indefinite shape of curved guiding path corresponding to the curve of the cervical spine.

Description

APPARATUS FOR TREATING NECK DISORDERS

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to an apparatus for treating neck disorders, and particularly, to an apparatus for treating neck disorders that is operable to effectively massage the cervical region in consideration of the curve of the cervical spine. Background Art

[2] In general, the cervical spine of a human body means the vertebrae at the upper portion of the spine, that is, the cervical region. The cervical spine are composed of seven vertebrae and can twist, bend and expand unlike the lumbar spine and the thoracic spine.

[3] Because the region where the cervical spine are positioned, that is, the cervical region moves in a wider ranger and frequently compared to other parts of the human body, the neck muscle may easily suffer from excessive tetany or atony and a variety of associated diseases (for example, cervical spinal portion sprain) (for reference, muscle exists only at the cervical region in the neck).

[4] Applying consistent or repetitive physical stimulation to the cervical region, such as a massage, has an effect on the tetany or atony in the neck muscle. However, because it is difficult to massage the cervical region over a long period of time with only human power, massage devices for a cervical region that massage the cervical region by mechanical force have been developed and have come into wide use.

[5] Such a massage device is configured such that it applies stimulation to the spinous processes of the cervical vertebrae by pressing them through reciprocation of rollers or balls in a plane in the longitudinal direction of the cervical region, or their pendulum movement or circulation. Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[6] However, such massage devices in the related art are inadequate to treat the neck because it preferentially considers the mechanical characteristics (facilitation in design and manufacturing, and simplicity in configuration) rather than the shape of the cervical spine.

[7] The cervical region that is, not a plane, semicircular, and circular shape, constructs a downward-open C-shaped smooth curve in the general shape, of which the part closer to the body, lying face up, from the spinous process of the highest vertebra (though different by person to person, generally the spinous process of the second vertebra) bends with relative smooth inclination and the part closer to the head bends with relative steep inclination.

[8] However, in the massage devices for a cervical region in the related art, rollers or balls simply move in a plan or semicircularly or circularly, without considering the shape of the cervical spine. Therefore, excessive force is applied to a part of the neck, whereas weak force is applied to the other parts, so that it is difficult to effectively give a massage throughout the neck muscle with uniform force.

[9] It is required to move rollers or balls along a path corresponding to the curve of the cervical spine in order to apply uniform force throughout the neck muscle. However, because the mechanism of moving roller or balls in the device according to the related art converts rotational motion of a motor into linear motion and transmits it to the rollers or balls, or rotates rollers or balls about a hinge point, whereby it had a structural limit to move rollers or balls along another path other than a fixed-shaped linear or circular path.

[10] The present invention has been made to overcome the above problems, and it is an object of the invention to provide an apparatus for treating neck disorders that moves pressing parts along an indefinite curved path corresponding to the shape of a cervical region to effectively massage the cervical spine by applying uniform force throughout the neck muscle. Technical Solution

[11] An apparatus for treating neck disorders includes guiding bodies that each include a guiding section having a guide path curved corresponding to the curve formed by cervical vertebrae of a human body, pressing parts that contact with the cervical vertebrae, a mounting part that allows the pressing parts to be movably mounted into the guide sections, a driving mechanism that repeatedly pushes and pulls the pressing parts along the guide paths of the guiding parts by operation of a user, a link part that connects the pressing parts with the driving mechanism to freely move the pressing parts up and down, and a main body that supports the guiding bodies and the reciprocating unit.

[12] Further, the mounting part includes a support shaft that is fixed in the pressing parts and whose ends are movably fitted in the guiding sections. Bearing is additionally provided between the ends of the support shaft of the mounting part and the guiding sections for smooth movement with rolling.

[13] Further, the link part includes link bars with ends connected to the pressing parts and a hinge member that connects the other ends of the link bars to the driving mechanism to pivot up and down.

Advantageous Effects

[14] An apparatus for treating neck disorders according to the invention includes guiding sections that each include a guide path corresponding to the curve of the cervical spine, pressing parts that move along the guiding paths, a driving mechanism that applies linear force for pushing/pulling the pressing parts, and a link part that converts the linear force of the driving mechanism into force for moving the pressing parts along the indefinite shapes of the curved path by connecting the driving mechanism with the pressing parts so that they can freely move up and down. The apparatus can massage the neck with uniform force throughout the neck by moving the pressing parts along the indefinite- shaped curved guiding path corresponding to the curve of the cervical spine. Brief Description of the Drawings

[15] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus for treating neck disorders according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

[16] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

[17] FIG. 3 is a side view of a pressing part of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

[18] FIG. 4 is a view illustrating the apparatus that is being used.

[19] FIG. 5 is a view illustrating movement of the pressing part in normal rotation of a motor in FIG. 4.

[20] FIG. 6 is a view illustrating movement of the pressing part during reverse rotation of a motor in FIG. 4. Mode for the Invention

[21] Hereinafter, a detailed description will be given of the present invention.

[22] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus for treating the neck disorders according to a preferred embodiment of the invention and FIG. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus of FIG. 1. As seen from FIGS. 1 and 2, an apparatus for treating neck disorders according to a preferred embodiment of the invention includes a main body 10, a pair of guide bodies 20 and 30, a pair of pressing parts 40, a mounting part 50, a neck supporting part 60, a driving mechanism 70, a link part 80, and a cover 90.

[23] The main body 10 is in a pillow shape as a whole so as to comfortably position the rear of the neck where the cervical spine is located, and consists of a bottom 12 and sides 14 and 16 that vertically extend from both side ends of the bottom 12.

[24] The pair of guide bodies 20 and 30 stand on the bottom 12 of the main body 10, and face each other at a predetermined space and fixed thereto. The guiding bodies 20 and 30 respectively have groove-shaped guiding sections 22 and 32 that each have a guiding path curved corresponding to the curve of the cervical region of a human body.

[25] For example, the curve constructed by the guiding path of the guiding sections 22 and 32 may be smooth such that it connects the highest point that corresponds to the highest vertebra in the cervical spine of a human body lying face up (e.g. second vertebra) and the lowest point that corresponds to the vertebra adjacent to the body (e.g. seventh vertebra).

[26] It is preferable to form the guiding bodies 20 and 30 such that the upper sides are smoothly curved along the curved guiding path of the guiding sections 22 and 32, without any obstructions to the neck located on the main body 10.

[27] A groove shape is exemplified for the guiding sections 22 and 32 herein, but it is just an applicable example and any shapes that are known up to now may be applied to the invention as long as they can guide the pressing part 40. For example, the guiding section may be formed into a protruding rail and guide the pressing part 40 by male- female fitting.

[28] The pair of pressing parts 40, formed in a roller shape consisting of a rim 42 and a hub 44 as shown in FIG. 3, have a plurality of protuberances for fingerpressure therapy around the outside of the rim 42.

[29] Only the roller shaped pressing part 40 is shown herein, but it is just an applied example and any shapes that are known up to now may be applied to the invention as long as they can press the cervical spine. For example, the pressing part may be formed into a ball, a smooth-bent plate, etc.

[30] The mounting part 50 is provided to movably mount the pressing parts 40 into each of the guiding sections 22 and 32 and includes a supporting shaft 52 that passes through the hubs 44 of the pressing parts 40 and of which both ends are respectively inserted into the guiding sections 22 and 32 and a bearing 54 mounted to both ends of the supporting shaft 52. The bearings 54 are not essential components for operation of the apparatus of the invention, because the pressing parts 40 are slidable along the groove lines of the guiding parts 22 and 32 with only the ends of the supporting shaft 52. However, because the bearings 54 can minimize noise, vibration, and wear, and reduce the load applied to the driving mechanism 70 due to friction by allowing the ends of the supporting shaft 52 to roll smoothly, it is preferable to install them.

[31] The neck supporting part 60 is vertically disposed between the guiding bodies 20 and 30 and fixed thereto. The neck supporting part 60 consists of a plate-shaped support 62 that has a through hole taking the shape of the guiding parts 22 and 32 to allow the supporting shaft 52 of the mounting part 50 to pass through and a neck supporting plate 64 that is formed on the support 62 in a smooth curved shape corresponding to the cervical spine. The neck supporting part 60 may not be practically essential because the neck is supported by the pressing parts 40. However, when the neck supporting part 60 is provided, the load applied to the pressing parts 40 by the neck is distributed and the load applied to the driving mechanism 70 is correspondingly reduced. Further, a patient is provided with convenience by supporting the entire cervical region. Therefore, it is preferable to mount the neck supporting part 60. [32] The driving mechanism 70 repeatedly pushes and pulls the pressing parts 40 along the guide path of the guiding parts 22 and 32 by operation of a user. The driving mechanism 70 includes a rack 71 that is operable to reciprocate in the guide path direction of the guiding parts 22 and 32, a rack support 72 that supports the rack 71 to allow it to reciprocate, a pinion 73 that engages the rack 72 in a rack and pinion type, a motor 74 with a rotary shaft connected with the pinion 73, a controller 75 that controls the motor 74, a power plug 76 and power cable 77 for supplying driving power to the controller 75 and motor 74, and a key panel 78 that enables a user to input signals to the controller 75 through buttons.

[33] Although, by way of example, the driving mechanism 70 has the above configuration that force out of the motor is transferred in a rack and pinion type, it is just an applicable example and any other types of mechanism known up to now in the art is applicable to the invention as long as they can transfer pushing/pulling force to the pressing parts. For example, a hydraulic or pneumatic actuator or an electric solenoid actuator may be used for the driving mechanism.

[34] The link part 80, connecting the pressing parts 40 with the driving mechanism 70 to move the pressing parts 40 up and down, is composed of a pair of link bars 84 and 86 with ends connected to the pressing parts 40 and a hinge member 82 that connects the other ends of the link bars 84 and 86 to the rack 71 of the driving mechanism 70 to pivotally reciprocate the link bars 84 and 86 with the movement of the rack 71.

[35] Since the guide path of the pressing part 40 is curved down to the left, it may be preferable to bend the left ends of the link bars 84 and 86, which are connected to the pressing parts, downward.

[36] The cover 90 is made of a relatively smooth and flexible material having durability, such as fabric, leather, or synthetic resin, and envelops the components inside the main body 10 by fixing the corners to the bottom 12 and sides 14 and 16 of the main body 10. The cover 90 is not essential for operating the apparatus of the invention. However, the cover 90 has an advantage of previously preventing hairs from being stuck between the pressing parts 40 and guiding parts 22 and 32 or between the components of the driving mechanism 70, and reducing friction between the skin of neck and the pressing parts 40 with attractive appearance. Therefore, it is preferable to provide the cover 90 to the apparatus.

[37] Operational effects of the invention having the above configuration is now described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[38] As shown in FIG. 4, a user lies face up with the cervical region C located between the sides 12 and 14 of the main body 10 and then presses an operation button of the key panel 78. When the operation button is pressed, the controller 75 applies a driving current to the motor 74 and controls it to correspondingly repeat normal/reverse rotation at predetermined rotational numbers.

[39] In the region of normal rotation of the motor 74 by the controller 75, as shown in

FIG. 5, the pinion 73 normally rotates and the rack 71 linearly moves to the left side accordingly. As the rack 71 linearly moves to the left side, the pressing parts 40 are pushed left by the rack 71 through the link part 80 and consequently move down to the left side along the guide paths of the guiding parts 22 and 32.

[40] The link part 80 delivers the force of the rack 71 to the pressing parts 40, that is, converts the linear force applied from the rack 71 into force for moving the pressing parts 40 along the indefinite-shaped curved paths of the guiding parts 22 and 32, regardless of the positional changes of the pressing parts 40 according to the movement to the lower left along the guide paths. This is because the link bars 84 and 86 of the link part 80 connected to the rack 71 are operable to pivot up and down by the hinge member 82, so that they can deliver the force of the rack 71 to the pressing parts 40 while supporting them to freely move up and down.

[41] On the other hand, in the region of reverse rotation of the motor 74 by the controller

75, as shown in FIG. 6, the pinion 73 reversely rotates and the rack 71 linearly moves to the right side accordingly. As the rack 71 linearly moves, the pressing parts 40 are pulled by the link part 80 and consequently move up to the right side along the guide paths of the guiding parts 22 and 32.

[42] As the motor 74 alternately rotates normally/reversely by the controller 75, the pressing parts 40 repetitively move up and down along the guide paths of the guiding parts 22 and 32 and massage the entire cervical region C by pressing them.

[43] Since the guide paths of the guiding parts 22 and 32 are curved corresponding to the curve formed by the cervical spine of a human body, the pressing parts 40 apply uniform force and give a massage throughout the cervical region C.

[44] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purpose, 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

[1] An apparatus for treating neck disorders, the apparatus comprising: guiding bodies that each include a guiding section having a guide path curved corresponding to the curve formed by cervical spine of a human body; pressing parts that contact with the cervical spine; a mounting part that allows the pressing parts to be movably mounted into the guide sections; a driving mechanism that repeatedly pushes and pulls the pressing parts along the guide paths of the guiding parts by operation of a user; a link part that connects the pressing parts with the driving mechanism to freely move the pressing parts up and down; and a main body that supports the guiding bodies and the reciprocating unit.

[2] The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the mounting part includes a support shaft that is fixed to the pressing parts and whose ends are movably fitted in a male-female fitting form in the guiding sections.

[3] The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising: a neck supporting part that includes a support disposed on the main body, and a neck supporting plate that is provided on the support and is smoothly bent to correspond to the shape of the cervical spine.

[4] The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the guiding path of the guiding section forms a smooth curve that connects the highest point corresponding to the highest vertebra in the cervical spine of a human body lying face up with the lowest point corresponding to the vertebra adjacent to the body.

[5] The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the link part includes link bars with ends connected to the pressing parts and a hinge member that connects the other ends of the link bars to the driving mechanism so that it pivots up and down freely.

[6] The apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein the ends connected to the pressing part of the link bars are bent down.

[7] The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the pressing part is a roller shape.

[8] The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the driving mechanism includes: a rack that is connected with the link part; a rack support that movably supports the rack; a pinion that engages the rack; a motor with a rotary shaft connected to the pinion; and a controller that controls the motor according to switch operation by a user.