HANG STAND FOR UNLOADING OF BACKBONE DISCS

Abstract: Hang stand for persons with injuries to their backs and especially for such persons who wish to unload their backs. Especially a facility for opening the spaces for the discs of the backbone. The invention is characterized in the first place by the fact that the hang stands constitutes an easily movable unit which requires small space but nevertheless allows an effective widening of the spaces for the discs of the backbone. The invention is especially characterized by the fact that, while retaining an old well known method for trying to eliminate back disc injuries, viz. to hang oneself by the hands, simple means - in the shape of an adjustable, vertically accompanying but horizontally immovable back support (11) which is combined with a suitable placing of foot supports (9, 10) in relation to an upper bar (5), in which bar the person is to hang himself by his hands - are used in order to bring about effective opening of the spaces between the vertebrae of the backbone and thereby to widen the spaces for the discs of the backbone.

Description: Hang stand for unloading of backbone discs The present invention relates to a hang stand arranged to be used by a person who wishes to unload his back and open the spaces for the discs of the backbone, which hang stand includes an upper bar, which bar is placed at such a vertical level that, when the person grasps the bar with both of his hands, he/she can hang freely, and which bar is carried by essentially vertical tubes or similar details, which details at their lower ends are fixed relatively to an underframe and which details are placed essentially parallel to the position which the said person is intended to take. Injuries to the back are frequently occuring among people in the whole world. At so-called lumbago with sharp pains in the loin back and spasmodic contraction of the back-musculature the causes thereof may be of several kinds, for instance alterations in the joints of the vertebral column or backbone and overstrain of the back-mus¬ culature. The measures for restoring the backbone to the right position, and for bringing the musculature to work again in the right manner, may vary, as for instance physiotherapy, massage, stretch bench, etc. and direct manipulation, which is often carried out by chiropractors or the like. It has, however, appeared that in many cases of injuries to the back the so-called discs which are placed between the vertebra members, have a determining influence regarding the pain incurred as well as the best manner in which the healing can be done. In most cases, thus, back pains, with subsequent lumbago, as described above, are due to the discs having been exposed to wrong and/or too great load, in which cases they - in spite of the fact that they consist of cartilage and admit of a certain mobility - also can be compressed, so that the liquid mass existing in the core of the disc can be pressed out, with diminished ability of moderation as a result. In order to make the discs return as far as possible to the righ position and thereby resume their ability of moderation, so that th adjacent nerves are not influenced, a separating effect must b obtained with respect to the spaces for the discs. Known hang stands are shown for instance in the French paten specifications 690 032 and 862 797. The general purpose of the hang stand according to the presen invention is to rapidly help in trying to restore the co-operatio between muscles, discs and vertebrae, so that the back pains ar reduced or eliminated. More specifically, the problem which is the basis of the inventio refers to the insight - at the type of hang stand mentioned in th introduction to the specification - that it is important that th support for the back is placed in right position relatively to th backbone and that this correct position is retained during the han ging. At a hang stand of the type in question it is important that th legs can hang freely. One reason therefore is that it involves a essential complication to have several points of support against th body when hanging. If several points of support against the body ar used, then several widening points for the discs of the backbone ar obtained. Several such widening points do not give an even -and wel defined widening of the spaces for the discs of the backbone bu result in several and unevenly distributed widening alterations i the backbone, which widening alterations also can have a negativ influence on the person hanging in the hang stand. To be absolutel sure always to obtain essentially even and, above all, over th greater part of the backbone spread widenings of the spaces for th discs, it is first of all necessary that the back support is place in. a certain, for every person fixed position, and that this lin support against the backbone is retained in the same position eve during the hanging, i.e. that the back-support always rests agains the same point of the backbone. Another reason for hanging the legs freely is that the perso often wishes to amplify the widening action on the backbone thereb OMPI /.. IPO that he in hanging position lets the legs swing to and fro. The hang stand according to the introduction of the specification is characterized - in order to solve the above problem - according to the invention by the combination of a support for the back, which is immovable in horizontal direction hut is movably guided in vertical direction by means of the said tubes and which support is arranged accompanying in vertical direction, to function as a horizontally immovable support for the intended part of the back, and by foot supports which are arranged near the lower ends of the said tubes and are placed at such vertical level above the underframe on which the hang stand rests that the person with his feet placed on the foot supports reaches the bar, and are so localized that when the person grasps the bar and removes his feet from the foot supports he hangs freely. Thereby is obtained when using the present invention that the body of the person always will be hanging in such a manner that the loading on the backbone is reduced so that its discs are separated and can take, right position, so that the correct co-operation can be obtained between muscles, discs and vertebrae. Thus the hang stand according to the invention is intended for serving as a hang stand with controlling or guiding ability, and also when required serves as a muscle training or strengthening device, as is described more closely below. The invention is more closely described below with reference to the attached drawings, of which Fig. 1 as a perspective view shows a hang stand according to the invention, which stand is shaped as a tube construction with an underframe, and Fig. 2 shows the stand according to Fig. 1, as a sideview, with a person hanging in the stand. Tubes 1 and 2 are placed vertically and serve as a carrying part for a vertically adjustable part, consisting of tubes 3 and 4 and an upper bar 5. The tubes 3 and 4 enclose and are movable, in a telescopic manner, in relation to the tubes I and 2. This adjustable part 3, 4, 5 may suitably be adjusted vertically with the aid of holes in the tubes 1 and 2 and movable pins 6 or in some other suitable manner for vertically adjusting the upper bar 5. An underframe may for instance consist of two vertically placed, relatively high sides for staying the tubes 1 and 2, which sides are mutually fixed by suitable stays, which have no reference notations on the drawing. The tubes 1 and 2 are thus fixed at the sides 7, 8. c In order that._the person who wishes to hang in the stand shall be able to reach "the upper bar 5, the sides 7, 8 are provided with unfolded or otherwise arranged foot supports 9, 10 placed at the outside, the placing of which admits of a free space between the sides 7, 8 for the legs and feet, when the person is hanging in 10 accordance with Fig. 2. In order that the body shall hang right and the best effect shall be obtained the device is combined with a support II for the back which support is vertically adjustable and arranged accompanying, or possibly with a plurality of fixed and in relation to the body ,,- adjustable and accompanying back supports. This back support 11 can suitably be arranged movable along the tubes 1 and 2 and be adjustable upwards and downwards and be shaped in such a manner that compression springs 12, 13, which springs enclose the tubes 1 and 2 and are adjustable upwards and downwards, 2 Q and the vertical position of which springs are determined by lock members 17, 18, determine the initial position of the back support 11, see the Figures. The back support 11 may in certain cases also be provided with a lifebelt 14 with holes 16 therein for a fastening pin 15 or other suitable arrangement for the purpose of holding the body and the back support 11 in the right mutual position. When hanging is to be done the person climbs up on the foot sup¬ ports 9, 10 and places the back support 12 in correct position again¬ st the back, and when appropriate fastens himself by means of the 30 lifebelt 14, if desired or necessary. Thereafter the hands of the person can grasp the upper bar 5, wherafter he gets off the foot supports 9, 10, so that the body hangs freely without support from the underframe or - if possibly necessary - with suitable, well fitted support for the feet. Thereby the backbone part is drawn and weakly prized apart, so that the load on the discs lyinr--in the backbone is reduced, and so that the space for these increases a " little. Important to note in this connection is that the support for the back acts in accompanying manner at the lengthening of the body when hanging, so that the back support always rests against the same point in the backbone. Possibly bending the knees combined with quickly letting down the legs may be done in order to further strengthen this separation. At the hanging the hands of the person grasp the upper bar 5 with the flats of the hands directed from the person, as shown in Fig. 2. The turning of the arms occuring at the hanging helps to lock the back in right hang position. The hang stand according to the invention can be used for preven¬ tive purpose, with hanging for instance for some minutes, some day per week, in order that the body shall have a good carriage. An effect-increasing action can be obtained, if the legs are brought to oscillate about the position of equilibrium to a certain degree. The hang stand according to the invention can for instance serve as a preventive means against possible vertebra-displacements - for instance of the respiration vertebra - which can cause troubles which are difficult to diagnose because of the similar symptoms, which another pathological picture.also causes. The hang stand may very well be made mountable and dis ountable, so that it takes up little space for instance in transit. The underframe may be provided with rubber heels or the like in order to protect the floor, on which it is to be put, against wear. The described back support 11 may also serve as a muscle developer for arm muscles and/or other muscles, in which case the described springs 12 and 13 may serve as back-pressure springs. For this pur¬ pose the back support 11 may be provided with manipulation members or the like, not shown, and with springs with for this use suitable pressure strain, when necessary. Since the device takes up so little space, so that a floor area of 2 only about 80X60 cm is required for the underframe, it should be possible to place it anywhere, so that it gets a great field of application, for instance in dwellings, sport fields, work shops etc, where people simply and quickly can reach and use the device. The invention is not limited to the design here described, but can OMPI /.. WIPO . of course be varied within the limits of the idea which is the basi of the invention, as concretized in the appended claims. OMPI

Claims: CLAIMS 1. Hang stand, arranged to be used by a person, who wishes to unload his back and open the spaces for the discs of the backbone, which hang stand includes an upper bar (5), which bar is placed at such a vertical ^ level that, when the person grasps the bar (5) with both of his hands, he/she can hang freely, and which bar is carried by essentially vertical tubes (1, 3 or 2, 4, respectively) or similar details, which details at their lower ends are fixed relatively to an underframe (7, 8, 9, 10) and which details are placed essentially parallel to the position which the said person is intended to take, c h a r a c t e r i z e d by the combination of a support (II) for the back, which support is immovable in horizontal direction but is movably guided in vertical direction by means of the said tubes (i, 3 and 2, 4, respectively), and which support (11) is arranged accompanying in vertical direction to function as a horizontally immovable support for the intended part of the back, and by foot supports (9, " 10) which are arranged near to the lower ends of the said tubes (1, 3 and 2, 4) and are placed at such vertical level above the underframe on which the hang stand rests that the person with his feet placed on the foot supports (9, 10) reaches the bar (5), and are so localized that when the person grasps the bar (5) and removes his feet from the foot supports he hangs freely. 2. Hang stand according to Claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the vertical position of the said bar (11) in relation to the said tubes (1, 3 and 2, 4, respectively) is adjustable by means of movable stop means (17, 18) and that the back support (11) is arranged accompanying with the aid of relatively weak springs (12, 13). 3. Hang stand according to Claim 1 or 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the back support (II) is arranged to-be fixed, by means fo a suitable belt (15, 16), in relation to the person who intends to use the stand, before the said person hangs himself in the same.

Inventors: CARLMARK R
Applicants: CARLMARK R
Application year: 1980
Main classification: A63B23
IPC codes: A61F5, A61H1, A63B1