TRACTION DEVICE

Abstract: The invention relates to a traction device intended to be fastened on an extremity of a person with joint trouble and comprises a base material (1) on which a number of pockets (2) meant to carry weights are arranged. According to the invention the device is so designed that the base material (1) reaches essentially around the whole of the extremity, so that the device by its own force can be kept in place on the extremity without tendency to slip down. The pockets (2) are placed at regular distances from each other around essentially the whole of the device. Further, the pockets (2) are oblong and have a direction that is principally perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the device. The traction is brought about by the putting of one or more thin weights into each pocket (2), whereby the weights have a shape which corresponds to those of the pockets (2).

Description: Traction device The present invention relates to a traction device intend¬ ed to be fastened on an extremity of a person or an animal suf¬ fering from joint trouble in order to eliminate or litigate the troubles. The device comprises a base material on which a num¬ ber of pockets are arranged, which pockets are intended to carry a varying number of weights. Further, holding means, ne¬ cessary for the fastening on to the extremity, are permanently attached to the device. A weight device is previously known through the American patent publication 4 303 239. This device, which includes large and bulky weights, is intended to be fastened on the thigh of a person and to be used for the training of the musculature of -t e thigh. In order to prevent the device from slipping down on r ' r.e leg, it is equipped with a waist-belt which is coupled z z e weight device. However, the known device cannot possibly bring about any traction in the joint of the extremity of the person in question.. Through the American patent publication 2 241 833 is fur¬ ther an exercising device previously known. This device, which also comprises large, bulky weights, is intended to be applied on the forearm or the shank of a person, so that the person in question through raising and lowering of the extremities may be able to train the arm and leg musculature. his device is thus only intended to be put on the extremity (-iesi of the per¬ son in question during training. Accordingly it is not intended or suited for the traction of the joint in an extremity. More¬ over, the known device is difficult to put on and take off, in¬ asmuch as it has to- be fastened with a lace on two sides. Be¬ sides the base material of the exercising device is not made to extend around the whole of the extremity. This means that •the number of pockets must be limited and the weights in the pockets have to be made large and bulky, which in turn results in that the device becomes extraordinarily clumsy. In contrast to the known devices, the principal object of the present invention is to provide possibilities for the at¬ tainment of a continuous traction in the joint in that extre¬ mity of a person onto which the present device has eer. faεte- ned r for instance in the hip-joint of a person with hip-joint troubles. Furthermore, the present device is so designed that . it in a flexible way and without tendency of slipping down will be able to fit tight around the extremity, whereby the person in question will be able to carry his traction device inside the trousers or inside the shirt. This has been made possible through the .bringing about of a traction device of the to start with mentioned kind, which is characterized by, that the ba.se material extends around principally the whole of the ex¬ tremity, that the pockets are placed at regular distance from each other around principally the whole of the device, that the pockets have the shape of an oblong, downwards narrowing parallel-trapezium and have a direction, which is principally .perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the device. One or more thin weights having a shape, which corresponds to the shape of the pockets, are intended to be put into each pocket. In this way the device will function as a traction device for the extremity, so that a continuous traction arises in -the joint of the extremity, Moreover, through its arc-shaped long- sides σf unequal lengths the device acquires such a shape that it in a flexibel way fits tight around the extremity, whereby it does not become space-requiring but can be accomodated in¬ side the shirt, the sweater or the trousers on a person. - A preferred embodiment of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawing attached, where Fig. 1 shows a view of the outside of a traction device in accordance with the invention, Fig. 2 shows a view of the inside of the device, and Fig. 3 finally shows a view of the device standing on its edge. From Fig. 1, which shows a traction device according to the invention, it is evident that the device comprises a base mate¬ rial 1 made from cloth with certain elasticity and with such a length, that the base material can essentially surround for in¬ stance the thigh or the upper arm of a person, whereby the de- vice caf baepplied as a cuff around the extremity. On the base material 1 are a great number of pockets 2 arranged, which are placed at regular distances from each other around essen¬ tially the whole of the device, and which have a direction that is principally. perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the device. The pockets 2 have an oblong shape and narrow some¬ what towards their bottoms. One or more lead weights are inten¬ ded to be put into each pocket 2. These lead weights, which each have a weight of about 60 g and is approximately 1 mm thick, have a shape that essentially corresponds to the shape of the pocket. The thickness of the lead weights should be 0.8 to 1.2 mm so that they after a period of use shall be able to mould themselves after the extremity of the bearer. How¬ ever, the number of pockets 2 shall be so great, and the lead weights so narrow, that one at the applying of the device shall be able to make it fit tight in a flexible way around one's extremity, without having to initially bend the lead weights in their tranverse direction. Furthermore, the pockets shall be so arranged, that when the device is applied weights shall appear essentially around the whole of the extremity. In or¬ der to avoid blackening when handling the lead weights, these should suitably be covered with a thin coating of plastic lac¬ quer or the ' like. The pockets 2 may either be made in the base material it¬ self or be sewn onto it. In the latter case they suitably consist of the base material itself. The traction device in accordance with Fig. 1 is preferably intended to be applied around the thigh of a person. Thus in order to give the de¬ vice a good fit, its upper 3 and lower 4 edges have, in unfolded position, the shape of arcs, at which the lower edge 4 is somewhat shorter than the upper 3. Of course the device may alternatively have such a shape, that the upper and the lower edges are less curved or very nearly straight, for instance for the use on a person, whose upper arm is thin and of uniform thickness . Further the traction device comprises means for holding the same a- round the extremity of a person. These means comprice one or more male means 5 in the form of burdock ribbons, which are intended to co-operate with one or more female means 6 in the form of burdock ribbons. According to the shown embodiment the male means 5 consist of three separate bur¬ dock ribbons, which protrude out from one of the short sides 8 of the de¬ vice and which are intended to co-operate with female means 6 in the form of three separate burdock ribbons, all of which are permanently applied on the outside of the cloth material 1 and the pockets 2. Of course one may consider using another type of holding means, but in order to get the device to in a flexible way fit tight --round an extremity, it is particu¬ larly suitable to utilize burdock ribbons. Burdock ribbons are also suit¬ able to use, in as much as they give good adjustment possibilities for the device, also when the thickness of the extremity onto which it shall be applied varies. In Fig. 2 the inside of the device is shown. As it appears the inside is covered with a material 7 r preferably foam rubber, which actively co¬ operates in keeping the device it its position on an extremity. Thereby the material has a certain thickness in an embodiment of the device in¬ tended for instance to be used on an upper arm, and a greater thickness in an embodiment intended to be used on a thigh of a person. In order to eliminate the risk of getting pinched -when using the de¬ vice, the foam rubber part 7 preferably extends outside the cloth mate¬ rial 1, viewed in the cross-direction of the device. In order to completely eliminate the risk of getting pinched when using the invented device a piece of cloth (not shown in the figure) may be permanently fastened at the short side 8, which piece of cloth at the application of the device is intended to be placed between the skin on the extremity and those at the short side 8 existing burdock ribbons 5- The piece of cloth should suitably extend at least 10 cm out from the short side 8 where it is fastened. In Fig. 3 the device in accordance with the invention is shown pla¬ ced on end. As is plain from this view, the device is ver thin, which makes it possible to apply the device on an extremity and have a shirt, sweater or trousers on the outside of it. Furthermore the device can due to its design be kept in place without tendency of gliding down on the ex¬ tremity in question. The reason for this is first of all, that the base material is elastic and intended to stretch itself around essentially the whole of the extremity, and that burdock ribbons and foam rubber are used. The holding efficiency of the foam rubber layer can also when need¬ ed be strengthened through the placing of shreds of antislip cloth on the surface of the foam rubber layer in the region along the shorter long side 4 of the device. Particularly suitable has further proven to be to arrange one on the base material 1 on the outside of the device permanently mounted cloth lid (not shown in Fig. 1) . This cloth lid should suitably be mounted directly above the openings of- the pockets 2, so that one by the folding down of said lid over the openings of the pockets 2 and locking of the same in folded down position ' can safelyretain those into the pockets 2 put weights, also when the device is turned upside down. The locking of the lid is preferably brought about with the help of pieces of male respec¬ tively female burdock ribbons mounted on the inside of the lid and on the outside of the pockets 2. Another important advantage with the present invention is, that the traction effect on the extremity can be adjusted through putting varying numbers of weights in each pocket depending partly on the extent of joint troubles the person in question has, partly on the muscle capacity of the person. This means, that at light joint troubles the weight load becomes small, while it becomes high, when the troubles are great. The present traction device can also very well be used on animals, that suffer from joint trouble. Thus practical tests on horses have giver, very positive results. Through practical trials at a handicap institution it has been proven, that the traction device according to the invention with great adventage can be used on the disabled persons at their bath and training in order to give them balance and increased ability to move. Especially -when bathing the extremities of the body may be balanced so, that the disabled persons can float in good balance, which makes them feel safe in the water. The invention is of course not limited to the described embodiment, but may be modified within the scope of the following patent claims.

Claims: PATENT CLAIM ' S 1. Traction device, intended to be applied on an extremity, comprising a base material on which a number of pockets in¬ tended to carry weights are arranged, c h a r a c t e r i z - e d by, that the base material (1) is so modelled that its one, preferably arc-shaped, long side (3) is longer than its other, likewise preferably arc-shaped, long side (4) , and that the pockets (2) , which each has the shape of an oblong towards the bottom narrowing parallel-trapezium, are arranged essentially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the device and essentially around the whole of the device at a mutually almost equal distance from each other. 2. Traction device in accordance with claim 1, where the pockets (2) with their weights are arranged on the outside of the device, c h a r a c t e r i z e d by, that the inside of the device facing the extremity is covered with a material (7) , which actively co-operates in keeping the device in position on the extremity. 3. Traction device in accordance with claim 1, c h a r a c -. t e r i z e d by, that the pockets (2) are made in the base material (1\ itself or sewn on to it, and that the number of pockets (2) is so great and the weights in the same so narrow- that the traction device when applied can adapt itself in a flexible way and fit tight around an extremity without that the separate weights have to bend themselves. 4. Traction device in accordance with claim 1, c h a r a c ¬ t e r i z e d by, that the weights preferably consist of lead, and that they have the shape of an oblong, towards one end narrowing, isosceles parallel-trapezium, in its size corres¬ ponding to the size of the pockets (2) . 5. Traction device in accordance with claims 3 and 4, c h a ¬ r a c t e r i z e d by, that the weights are thin and easy to bend, preferably only 0.8 to 1.2 mm thick, whereby they pli- antly can adapt themselves to the play of the muscles in the extremity on to which the device is applied. 6. Traction " device in accordance with claims 1 and 2, a ¬ r a c t e r i z e d by, that the material (7) on the inside of the device- protrudes outside the base material (1) , viewed in the cross-direction of the device. 7. Traction device in accordance with claims 1 to 3 and 6, c h a r a c t e r i z e d by, that the base material (1) consists of an elastic cloth, and that the material (7) on the inside of the device consists of foam rubber, when needed strengthened with shreds of antislip cloth along the shorter long side (4) of the device. 8. Traction device in accordance with any of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d by, that the device is kept in place by male means (51 and female means (6) in the for::, of burdock ribbons, whereby the male means (5) consist cf three or more separate burdock ribbons, which are permanenetly app¬ lied on the outside ~of the device at one of its short sides (8) and protrude out from said side, and whereby the female means (6) consist σf three or more separate burdock ribbons, which are permanently applied on the outside of the device at its other short side. 9. Traction device in accordance with claim 8, c h a r a c ¬ t e r i z e d by, that a piece of cloth is permanently fasten¬ ed at the short side (8) of the device and extends out from said side, suitably at least 10 cm, underneath the male hold¬ ing means (5) protruding out from said side (8) , so that said piece of cloth at the application of the device on an extremi¬ ty will be lying between the burdock ribbons (5) and the skin. 10. Traction device in accordance with claims 1 to 3 , c h a ¬ r a c t e r i z e d by, that a cloth lid is permanently mounted on the base material (1) on the outside of the device close to its longest side (3) and directly above the openings of the pockets (2) , so that one by the folding down of said lid over the openings of the pockets (2) and by the locking of the same in folded down position can safely retain those into the pockets (2) put weights, also when the device is turned upside down.

Inventors: BYSTROEM JOHAN ADOLF, BYSTROEM, JOHAN, ADOLF
Applicants: BYSTROEM JOHAN ADOLF, BYSTROEM, JOHAN, ADOLF
Application year: 1991
Main classification: A63B21
IPC codes: A61H1, A63B21