The present invention relates to body stretching devices and, more particularly, to a self-operating device for stretching a user's back.
Current methods for stretching a person's back use traction devices, such as those used at a chiropractor's office, to relieve compressive forces. These devices require the user to lie on a relatively flat surface in which a hip harness applies non-dynamic longitudinal forces without the use of torsion forces. This can be quite painful and difficult to tolerate. Since the spine is curved, pulling on a curved weight bearing structure requires extra longitudinal tension force to accomplish the same result as a combined longitudinal and torsion force application using simple leverage and the body's own weight.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,443,916 uses elliptical vertical motion to raise the hip and tilt it forward. The motion's amplitude and frequency cannot be controlled by the user. In addition, the device of the '916 patent requires electricity for operation.
As can be seen, there is a need for a device, for which the user may have control that may stretch a user's back.
In one aspect of the present invention, a device comprises a platform attached to a first end of first and second extension arms; first and second fulcrum legs extending from the first end of the first and second extension arms, respectively; a first end of first and second adjustable legs pivotably attached to a second end of the first and second extension arms; and wheels attached to a second end of the first and second adjustable legs.
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.
The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.
Various inventive features are described below that can each be used independently of one another or in combination with other features.
Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a manually operated back stretching device that may relieve compressive forces of the lower lumbar vertebrae and may safely stretch lower back muscles. The device may include a platform to support a user's lower legs. As the user moves a portion of the device with their arms towards their legs, the platform may rise up and away from the user's torso, causing the user's hips to lift off the floor and stretching the user's back at the same time. As the user moves their arms back over their head, the user's back and legs may relax while the arms are pulled above the user's head. The result may be a back-and-forth dynamic rotational arching motion to repetitively raise the completely relaxed hips and tilt them forward to decompress the spine using appropriate longitudinal and torsion forces at the most pain causing compression points of the lower lumbar vertebrae. The device may safely stretch lower back muscles by incrementally stretching and releasing totally relaxed muscles a relative amount to squeeze out and remove toxic biochemicals from damaged muscle areas unreachable by direct massage.
The device of the present invention may use gravity forces in combination with light forces by the arms to execute a series of slow, levered-action forward pelvic tilt movements in a completely relaxed state while laying supine on a flat underlying surface with the legs and back in a sitting position and the hips slightly suspended above the underlying surface. The user may adjust their required levered-action forward and backward motion to tilt the pelvis forward and backward to prohibit any potential pain encountered through their own pain feedback mechanism.
Referring to
At a second end of the first and second extension arms 38 may be hingedly attached at a pivot point 42 to the first and second adjustable legs 49. The length of the extension arms 38 may be adjustable by known means, such as by the use of an inner arm 40 fitting inside an outer arm 40-1. Adjustments may be made by conventional means, such as a twist-lock, pins and holes, or the like. The adjustable legs 49 may be adjustable in a similar or different manner from the extension arms 38. In one embodiment, as shown in
As shown in
Referring to
Referring to
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As discussed above, various components of the device may be adjustable by conventional means. For example, the user may adjust the height of the platform 24 to be about one-third of the user's height. The user may also adjust the position of the platform 24 relative to the fulcrum legs 16. For example, the fulcrum legs 16 may be positioned at a particular distance from the forward edge of the platform 12.
The device may be made from conventional materials and methods. For example, the frame members (fulcrum legs 16, adjustable legs 49, extension arms 38 and the like) may be made of tubular metal, while the platform 24 may be made from metal, wood, plastic or the like. Other materials may be contemplated within the scope of the present invention.
It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.
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