Claims
- 1. A floor supported, non-overhead device for transferring stress from a lumbar spine to a rib cage of a person, the device comprising:
- (a) an abdomen surrounding member for substantially surrounding the abdomen of the person, the abdomen surrounding member having a top edge, a first side and a second side, each of said sides of said abdomen surrounding member having a section for engaging and supporting the person below the rib cage, said first side operatively connected to said second side at the sides' rear portion and in a spaced relationship at the sides' front portion;
- (b) a first support bar cooperatively connected to and extending outward from said first side;
- (c) a second support bar cooperatively connected to and extending outward from said second side;
- (d) means for securing said abdomen surrounding member in an engaging position, said securing means overlying the spaced relationship at the sides' front portion; and
- (e) a floor supported base configured to receive said first and second support bars.
- 2. The device of claim 1, wherein said base support is positioned substantially below the top edge of the abdomen surrounding member.
- 3. The device of claim 1, wherein said base support comprises a cradle cooperatively connected to an upright post.
- 4. The device of claim 3, wherein said cradle further comprises a first cradle and first post and a second cradle and second post, said first post cooperatively connected to said second post by a spacer bar assembly.
- 5. The device of claim 1 wherein said securing means comprises:
- (a) a member surrounding said abdomen surrounding member;
- (b) a flexible strap positioned around said member;
- (c) a resilient support strap; and
- (d) means for cooperatively connecting said member, flexible strap and resilient support strap.
- 6. The device of claim 5, further comprising a foam cushion cooperatively connected to said member and positioned between said member and said abdomen surrounding member.
- 7. The device of claim 4, wherein said support bars are octagonal in cross-section.
- 8. The device of claim 7, wherein said first and second cradles each have an opening configured to receive and secure said support bars at an angle orientation desired by the person using the device.
- 9. The device of claim 1, further comprising means for permitting controlled rotational movement of said support bars, wherein the person may exercise while also transferring stress.
- 10. The device of claim 1, further comprising means for allowing controlled vertical movement of the person, wherein the person may exercise while also transferring stress.
- 11. A floor supported, non-overhead device for supporting a person proximate a rib cage, for transferring stress from a lumbar spine to the rib cage, the device for use with a base support, the device comprising:
- (a) an abdomen surrounding member for substantially surrounding the abdomen of the person, the abdomen surrounding member having a top edge, a first side and a second side, each of said sides of said abdomen surrounding member having a section for engaging and supporting the person below the rib cage, said first side operatively connected to said second side at the sides' rear portion and in a spaced relationship at the sides' front portion;
- (b) a first support bar cooperatively connected to nd extending outward from said first side;
- (c) a second support bar cooperatively connected to nd extending outward from said second side;
- (d) means for securing said abdomen surrounding member in an engaging position; and
- (e) the support bars configured to be supported by a base support which is positioned below the top edge of the abdomen surrounding member.
- 12. A floor support, non-overhead device for providing gravity traction to the lumbar spine of a patient starting from a standing position which comprises:
- (a) an abdomen surrounding member for substantially surrounding the abdomen of the person, the abdomen surrounding member having a top edge, a first side and a second side, each of said sides of said abdomen surrounding member having a section for engaging and support the person below the rib cage, said first side operatively connected to said second side at the sides' rear portion and in a spaced relationship at the sides' front portion;
- (b) a first support bar cooperatively connected to and extending outward from said first side;
- (c) a second support bar cooperatively connected to and extending outward from said second side;
- (d) means for securing said abdomen surrounding member is an engaging position, said securing means overlying the spaced relationship at the sides' front portion; and
- (e) a base support configured to receive said first and second support bars said base supports configured to operatively support said support bars underneath the person and not above the person.
- 13. A method of providing gravity traction to the lumbar spine of a person without use of an overhead harness or support which method comprises the steps of:
- (a) embracing the abdomen of a person with support means for engaging and supporting the person below the lower rim of the person's rib cage and securing the support means such that the support means and securing means completely encircle the person's abdomen;
- (b) engaging the support means into a floor mounted base; and
- (c) transferring a portion of the person's weight from the person's feet to the base through the support means.
- 14. The method of claim 13 in which the weight transfer is achieved by having the person move his or her feet away from an underbody support position.
- 15. The method of claim 13, wherein the weight transfer is achieved by the person lifting his or her feet.
- 16. The method of claim 13, wherein the weight transfer is achieved by moving the person's feet away from a vertical axis.
- 17. A method of providing gravity traction to the lumbar spine of a person and also exercise of the spine which method comprises the steps of:
- (a) embracing the abdomen of a person with a support means for engaging and supporting the person below the lower rim of the person's rib cage said base supports configured to operatively support said support bars underneath the person and not above the person;
- (b) the person engaging a support means to transfer a portion of the person's weight from the lumbar spine to the support member the support means including generally upright members; and
- (c) moving the person by varying the length of the upright support members, while also transferring stress, to allow for exercise of the lumbar spine.
- 18. The method of claim 17, further comprising moving the person rotationally.
- 19. A floor mounted non-overhead device for transferring stress from a lumbar spine to a rib cage of a person, and also allowing exercising, the device comprising:
- (a) a support means for engaging and supporting the person below the lower rim of the person's rib cage;
- (b) means for engaging, by a person, the support means, wherein there is a transfer of stress from the person's lumbar spine to the support member the support means including generally upright members; and
- (c) means for allowing movement of the device, and thereby the person also, by varying the length of the upright support members wherein the person may exercise the lumbar spine as well as transfer stress simultaneously.
- 20. The device of claim 19, wherein the movement means permits rotational movement of the person.
Parent Case Info
This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 07/489,712, filed Feb. 28, 1990, which is a continuation of Ser. No. 07/301,176, filed Jan. 24, 1989, which was abandoned upon the filing hereof.
US Referenced Citations (12)
Foreign Referenced Citations (5)
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Jun 1967 |
DEX |
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Continuations (2)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
489712 |
Feb 1990 |
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Parent |
301176 |
Jan 1989 |
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