Machine and method for head, neck and, shoulder stretching

A machine and method of stretching and exercising the human body, specifically the head, neck, and upper shoulder region. The machine employs three separate user-controlled actuators to allow the user to move and adjust her head, neck, and upper shoulders to almost limitless positions and with utmost precision, thereby effectively stretching and exercising the user's occipital region to achieve the desired comfort level. Because the user is in control of the precise actuator movements, and hence the exact positioning of her occipital region, the machine is much easier and safer to operate and more effective than other exercise and/or physical strengthening devices.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a device or machine for stretching and exercising the human body. Specifically, the invention relates to a device or machine which incrementally moves, positions, and stretches the head, neck and upper shoulder region (i.e., the occipital region) of the human body.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Prior art devices for stretching the head, neck, and upper shoulder region of the human body have included both medical and non-medical devices. Purely medical devices typically include over-the-door and power-controlled traction devices. Non-medical devices have typically included gym-type stretching equipment including, but not limited to, gravity balls and Pilates machines. However, Pilates equipment, MedX exercise equipment, and other fitness-oriented exercise and stretching units are often uncomfortable, cumbersome, and/or difficult to operate.

The complexity in applying any of the aforementioned devices for stretching and unloading the head, neck and shoulders is that, while the user's position of comfort may be obtained by movement of the occipital region by only a few degrees, these prior art devices provide movement of the occipital region which cannot be precisely controlled. Thus, the movement is either less than the movement that provides the maximum benefit or greater than the movement required. The latter may actually exacerbate the discomfort of or even cause injury to the user. Furthermore, conventional physical therapy devices, which often require prescription, are also not arranged and designed for intricate movements. Instead, these conventional physical therapy devices typically incorporate an arbitrarily selected de-compressive force at a “one position-fits-all” angle.

The foregoing illustrates a few of the shortcomings of the prior art. As previously described, prior art stretching devices for physical therapy and/or conditioning have not provided multiple positional options for the user prior to application of stretching movement. Thus, a machine for stretching the head, neck and upper shoulders region of the human body is desired which provides precise and comprehensive control of occipital positioning to the user during use and application thereof.

3. Identification of Objects of the Invention

An object of the invention is to accomplish one or more of the following:

Provide a machine for stretching the head, neck, and upper shoulders region of the human body which moves and adjusts the user's head, neck, and upper shoulders in multiple directions relative to the user's torso;

Provide a machine for stretching the head, neck, and upper shoulders region of the human body which permits the user to precisely control the movement and adjustment of the user's head, neck, and upper shoulders while the user is using the machine; and

Provide a machine for stretching the head, neck, and upper shoulders region of the human body which permits the user to precisely control the movement and adjustment of the user's head, neck, and upper shoulders relative to each other using three actuators that operate independently of each other.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent to one skilled in the art from the following specifications and drawings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An exercise machine and method are disclosed for stretching and unloading compressed components of the human frame, particularly compressed components of the head, neck, and upper shoulders region, for the purpose of relaxation and stress reduction. The machine of a preferred implementation has three separate user-controlled actuators that allow the user to move and adjust the user's head, neck, and upper shoulders in multiple directions and with utmost precision, thereby effectively exercising and stretching the user's occipital region to achieve the desired comfort level. Because the user is in control of the machine's precise actuator movements, and hence the exact positioning of her occipital region, the machine is much easier and safer to operate and more effective than other exercise and physical strengthening devices.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

As generally shown inFIG. 1, a preferred implementation of the invention is a machine10which has three separate user-controlled actuators that allow the user to move and adjust the user's head, neck, and upper shoulders in multiple directions relative to her torso and with utmost precision, thereby effectively exercising and stretching the user's occipital region to achieve the desired comfort level. By moving and adjusting the user's head, neck, and upper shoulders relative to the user's torso and at a position angle that is most comfortable to the user, the machine10relaxes the user thereby reducing stress and providing a sense of well being. The machine10is much safer to operate than prior art devices, because the machine10is user-controlled and self-actuated and does not rely upon complicated computer controls, sophisticated motorization, and/or control by someone other than the user.

In a preferred implementation of the invention, as shown inFIG. 1, the machine10comprises a table25, chair, bed, platform, or other rigid apparatus for supporting the human body in a supine position. The table25or other rigid apparatus is supported by two main frame sections, an upper frame section20and a lower frame section22. The table25or other rigid apparatus has upper24and lower26table sections which are positioned above the upper20and lower22frame sections of the machine, respectively. Preferably, the upper24and lower26table section have cushions placed thereon or have cushioning to provide comfort to the user while the user is being supported by the machine in the supine position. The upper20and lower22frame sections of the machine provide structural support for the upper24and lower26table cushions/sections. An optional knee wedge28or similar device is positionally adjusted atop the lower table cushion/section26for supporting the lower half of the human body and to provide additional relaxation to the user while operating the machine10. The user orients her body on top of the machine10with the upper half of her body atop the upper table cushion/section24of the machine and with the lower half of her body (i.e., her legs) draped over the optional knee wedge28positioned atop the lower table cushion/section26of the machine10. The upper table cushion/section24has a head rest30or head cushion mounted thereon and provides the user with a place to rest her head while lying atop the machine10. The head rest30or head cushion is positioned atop a head/occipital repositioning palate34, which is an independently moveable portion of the upper table cushion/section24. The user also wears a head harness, chin strap, or similar restraining device32about the head, as shown inFIG. 2C, which is capable of restraining the user's head without slippage. The head harness32is arranged and designed with an attachment device38, such as a hook, eyelet, or grommet, disposed thereon so as to permit the user to operate the machine10in a supine position. While in operation, a strap, climbing clip, rope, chain or similar device12extends and connects between the head harness attachment device38and an upright projection40perpendicularly disposed above the upper end of the upper table cushion/section24. The upright projection40is similar in shape to the tail of scorpion and has several hooks, eyelets, or similar devices42disposed at select intervals thereon for receiving and attaching the strap, climbing clip, rope, chain or similar device12. The upright projection40is independently moveable from the upper table cushion/section24and is user-actuated to extend longitudinally outward and inward relative to the upper cushion/section24. After the user's occipital region is fully restrained, the user may then adjust the upright projection40and/or the head/occipital repositioning palate34(and hence her occipital region relative to her torso) using a user-manipulated control, such as a joystick control or push button control (not shown). The user-manipulated control is preferably connected to three separate actuators50,52,54(FIGS. 2A-2C) which move and adjust the upper table cushion/section24, head/occipital repositioning palate34, and upright projection40.

As shown inFIG. 2B, a palate actuator52controls the tilt, pivot, or elevation of the head/occipital repositioning palate34(i.e., the head rest32or head cushion) to relieve positional stress and gravity on the pressure points in the head, neck, and upper shoulders. As previously described, the head/occipital repositioning palate34, upon which the head rest32or head cushion is disposed, is an independently moveable portion of the upper table cushion/section24that has an interior edge which attaches to and allows the head/occipital repositioning palate34to pivot about the upper table cushion/section24. The palate actuator52controls the pivot angle or tilt of the head/occipital repositioning palate34(i.e., head rest32or head cushion). The palate actuator52is arranged and designed to elevate the head/occipital repositioning palate34above the surrounding upper table cushion/section24thereby elevating the user's head, neck, and upper shoulders within a range of between 0-90 degrees above the surrounding upper table cushion/section24. The precise positioning of the head/occipital repositioning palate34(i.e., head rest32or head control) relative to the upper table cushion/section24is completely controlled by the user.

As shown inFIG. 2C, an upright projection actuator54controls the longitudinal outward or inward extension of the upright projection40beyond the upper table cushion/section24. If the user's head is securely restrained to the upright projection40using the head harness32and strap12, the user's head, neck, and upper shoulders are pulled away from the user's torso when the upright projection40is extended. As the upright projection40continues to be extended beyond the upper cushion24, the user's head, neck, and upper shoulders are thus comfortably stretched and exercised. The precise extension and positioning of the upright projection40relative to the upper table cushion/section24is completely controlled by the user.

Thus, in a preferred implementation of the invention, the user is able to easily control the machine using three actuators50,52,54such that: (1) the user's upper body is moved and adjusted relative to the user's lower body, (2) the user's neck is moved and adjusted relative to the user's shoulders, and (3) the user's neck and upper shoulders are pulled and stretched away from the user's torso. The three actuators50,52,54are arranged and designed to each move and adjust the different components24,34,40of the machine10independently of each other and with minute precision. Therefore, the machine may be used to manipulate the head, neck, and upper shoulders to an extremely large number of positions for user-controlled unloading/stretching. In fact, the number of differing occipital positions that may be achieved using a preferred embodiment of the invention has been estimated to exceed 4,000 possible position combinations. Furthermore, self-actuation of the occipital stretching machine permits the user to self position her head, neck, and upper shoulders in such a way as to provide the greatest comfort and relaxation to the occipital region and to conduct the appropriate level of unloading/stretching thereof.

The Abstract of the disclosure is written solely for providing the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the public at large with a means by which to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure, and it represents one implementation of the invention and is not indicative of the nature of the invention as a whole.

While some embodiments of the invention have been illustrated in detail, the invention is not limited to the embodiments shown; modifications and adaptations of the above embodiments may occur to those skilled in the art. Such modifications and adaptations are in the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth herein: