Patent Publication Number: US-11045380-B2

Title: Portable apparatus for decompressing lumbar spine with localized traction

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention generally relates to an apparatus for decompressing lumbar spine with localized traction, and more specifically, wherein the apparatus is lightweight and portable. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     A wide variety of devices has been developed for decompressing the lumbar spines of humans, such as for physical therapy and chiropractic uses. Most of these devices are large, heavy, substantially immobile, and expensive. Many of these devices are practical only when owned by clinicians and chiropractors for use in clinics. The few devices that are for home use are unwieldy and difficult to move, especially for users who are suffering from spinal discomfort. Furthermore, these devices are not suitable for use on soft or uneven surfaces, such as couches or beds, thereby requiring users to stand and/or lay on a floor or table, potentially causing discomfort and/or injury. 
     SUMMARY 
     One embodiment of a lightweight and portable apparatus that decompresses lumbar spine with localized traction is provided. The apparatus includes a base frame. A rest support shaft has first and second ends. The rest support shaft is coupled to the base frame by the first end. A stability shaft for providing rigidity to the apparatus is coupled to the rest support shaft and the base frame. First and second leg rests are supported by the second end of the rest support shaft. The first and second leg rests are supported such that the height of the leg rests can be adjustable. A plurality of feet are coupled to the base frame. The plurality of feet support the base frame by three points of contact. 
     Another embodiment of the lightweight and portable apparatus that decompresses lumbar spine with localized traction is provided. The apparatus includes a base frame. A rest support shaft has first and second ends. The rest support shaft is rotatably coupled to the base frame by the first end. A stability shaft for providing rigidity to the apparatus is coupled to the rest support shaft. The stability shaft is rotatably coupled to the base frame. First and second leg rests are supported by the second end of the rest support shaft. The first and second leg rests are supported such that the height of the leg rests can be adjustable. A plurality of feet are coupled to the base frame. The plurality of feet support the base frame by three points of contact. The apparatus is configured such that the rest support shaft and the stability shaft can each be rotated about the base frame such that the apparatus is compacted and has increased portability. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated, as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a plan view of an embodiment of the apparatus in an unfolded position. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates another plan view of the apparatus in an unfolded position. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates yet another plan view of the apparatus in an unfolded position. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates still another plan view of the apparatus in an unfolded position. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a plan view of an embodiment of the apparatus in a compact position. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates another plan view of the apparatus in a compact position. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates yet another plan view of the apparatus in a compact position. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates still another plan view of the apparatus in a compact position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to the Figures, wherein like numerals indicate like or corresponding parts throughout several views, aspects of an apparatus  10  are provided. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , the apparatus  10  includes a base frame  12 , one or more rest support shafts  14 , a stability shaft  16 , first and second leg rests  18 , and a plurality of feet  20 . The base frame  12  is substantially rigid and configured to support the apparatus  10 . The base frame  12  is substantially composed of lightweight material, such as aluminum or lightweight metal alloy. The base frame  12  can also be composed of polymeric material, or any other suitable lightweight material. In some embodiments, the base frame  12  is substantially composed of several lightweight materials. 
     The one or more rest support shafts  14  are coupled to and extends from the base frame  12 . In some embodiments, such as those illustrated in  FIGS. 1-4 , the apparatus  10  includes a plurality of rest support shafts  14 , the plurality of rest support shafts  14  being parallel to one another. In other embodiments, the apparatus  10  includes a single rest support shaft  14 . The rest support shafts  14  are composed of lightweight material, such as aluminum, lightweight metal alloy, polymeric material, or a combination thereof. The rest support shaft  14  is rotatably coupled to the base frame  12  such that the rest support shaft  14  can pivot about the base frame  12 . 
     In some embodiments, the rest support shafts  14  each include first and second rest support shaft portions  26 ,  28 , i.e. first and second ends, and at least one rest support shaft locking pin  22 . The rest support shafts  14  each define a plurality of rest support shaft locking holes  24 . The rest support shaft locking pin  22  is fixed to the first rest support shaft portion  26 . The second rest support shaft portion  28  defines the plurality of rest support shaft locking holes  24 . The first and second rest support shaft portions  26 ,  28  are configured such that the first rest support shaft portion  26  is partially within the second rest support shaft portion  28 . The first rest support shaft portion  26  is configured to slide coaxially within the second rest support shaft portion  28 , such as via telescoping motion. The first rest support shaft portion  26  can slide within the second rest support shaft to align the rest support shaft locking pin  22  with one of the plurality of rest support shaft locking holes  24 , thereby initiating a locked position. When the locked position is initiated, the first rest support shaft portion  26  is prevented from further sliding within the second rest support shaft portion  28 , thereby rigidly aligning the first and second rest support shaft portions  26 ,  28 . The rest support shaft locking pin  22  can be manually removed from the rest support shaft locking hole  24  in which the rest support shaft locking pin  22  is aligned, thereby initiating an unlocked position. When the unlocked position is initiated, the first rest support shaft portion  26  can once again slide coaxially within the second rest support shaft portion  28 . The rest support shaft locking holes  24  are configured such that length of the rest support shaft  14  can be adjusted by initiating the locked position with the rest support shaft locking pin  22  in different rest support shaft locking holes  24 . For example, some rest support shaft locking holes  24  are positioned such that initiating the locked position with the rest support shaft locking pin  22  in the rest support shaft locking holes  24  will make the rest support shaft  14  relatively shorter than if the locked position were initiated with the rest support shaft locking pin  22  in other of the rest support shaft locking holes  24 . Any suitable locking mechanism can be used to initiate the locked position of the first and second rest support shaft portions  26 ,  28  in place of or in addition to the rest support shaft locking pin  22  and rest support shaft locking holes  24 , e.g. a cam lock or an expandable friction taper lock. 
     The stability shaft  16  extends from the base frame  12  opposite the rest support shafts  14 . The stability shaft  16  is composed of lightweight material, such as aluminum, lightweight metal alloy, polymeric material, or a combination thereof. The stability shaft  16  has a first stability shaft portion  30  and a second stability shaft portion  32 , i.e. first and second ends. The first stability shaft portion  30  is coupled to the base frame  12  such that the stability shaft  16  can pivot relative the base frame  12 . The second stability shaft portion  32  is coupled to the second rest support shaft portion  28 . The stability shaft  16  provides rigidity to the apparatus  10  by stabilizing the rest support shaft  14  relative the base frame  12 . In some embodiments, the stability shaft  16  is configured to be selectively extended and retracted. The stability shaft  16  has first and second stability shaft portion  30 ,  32 . The first stability shaft portion  30  includes a stability shaft locking pin  34 . The second stability shaft portion  32  defines a stability shaft locking hole  36 . The first stability shaft portion  30  is partially slidable within the second stability shaft portion  32  such that the first stability shaft portion  30  moves coaxially relative the second stability shaft portion  32 , such as by telescoping motion. The stability shaft locking pin  34  can be selectively aligned with the stability shaft locking hole  36  to temporarily prevent the first stability shaft portion  30  from sliding within the second stability shaft portion  32 , thereby providing rigidity to the stability shaft  16 . Any suitable locking mechanism can be used to prevent the first stability shaft portion  30  from sliding within the second stability shaft portion  32  in place of or in addition to the stability shaft locking pin  34  and the stability shaft locking hole  36 , e.g. a cam lock or an expandable friction taper lock. 
     The first and second leg rests  18  are coupled to and supported by one or more rest support shafts  14 . The first and second leg rests  18  are coupled to the second rest support shaft portions  28  of the one or more rest support shafts  14 . In embodiments where the apparatus  10  includes only one rest support shaft  14 , both of the first and second leg rests  18  are coupled to the second rest support shaft portion  28  of the one rest support shaft  14 . In embodiments where the apparatus  10  includes a plurality of rest support shafts  14 , the first and second leg rests  18  are coupled to second rest support shaft portions  28  of different rest support shafts  14 . Height of the first and second leg rests  18  can be adjusted by adjusting the length of the one or more rest support shafts  14  via the rest support shaft locking pin  22  and the plurality of rest support shaft locking holes  24 . In some embodiments, the first and second leg rests  18  can each be rotated via an axis radial to the one or more rest support shafts  14 . In some embodiments, the first and second leg rests  18  are padded or cushioned, such as with foam, polymer, or any suitably soft material. In some embodiments, the first and second leg rests  18  are substantially cylindrical. In other embodiments, the first and second leg rests  18  each include a substantially flat portion. The first and second leg rests  18  can be any suitable shape. 
     In some embodiments, the first and second leg rests  18  are configured to substantially support popliteal fossa of the human body. In other embodiments, the first and second leg rests  18  are configured to substantially support calves of the human body. A user of the apparatus  10  can rest each of his or her popliteal fossa or calves on the first and second rest support shafts  14  while lying down adjacent the apparatus  10 , thereby lifting and providing traction to a lumbar spine of the user. Height of the leg rests  18  can be adjusted to suit the user by adjusting length of the one or more rest support shafts  14 . 
     The plurality of feet  20  are coupled to the base frame  12  and support the base frame  12  by three points of contact. The plurality of feet  20  are configured to support the base frame  12  when the apparatus  10  is set upon a surface, such as a floor, a bed, or a couch. In some embodiments, the apparatus  10  includes three feet  20 , each of the feet  20  supporting the base frame  12  by one point of contact. The base frame  12  being supported by three points of contact allows the apparatus  10  to maintain stability when set upon a soft surface, such as a bed or a couch. In some embodiments, the plurality of feet  20  includes a pivot foot. The pivot foot is coupled to the base frame  12  and the stability shaft  16 . The pivot foot allows the stability shaft  16  to pivot relative the base frame  12 . In some embodiments, height of at least one of the plurality of feet  20  is adjustable. Adjusting height of the at least one of the plurality of feet  20  enables the user to raise or lower one or more portions of the apparatus  10 . For example, height of one of the feet  20  can be adjusted to stabilize the apparatus  10  when the apparatus  10  is set upon a surface that is perfectly flat. In some embodiments, one or more of the plurality of feet  20  include a helical ridge, i.e. a screw mechanism, that allows the user to adjust height of the one or more of the plurality of feet  20  by twisting the one or more of the plurality of feet  20 . 
     The apparatus  10  is substantially lightweight and portable. As shown in  FIGS. 5-8 , in some embodiments the apparatus  10  is configured to be substantially flattened, thereby filling less volume and being portable. The apparatus  10  is configured to be substantially flattened and compacted by performing one or more of the following: shortening length of the one or more rest support shafts  14 , shortening length of the stability shaft  16 , shortening length of one or more of the plurality of feet  20 , rotating the first and second leg rests  18 , pivoting the one or more rest support shafts  14  relative the base frame  12 , and pivoting the stability shaft  16  relative the base frame  12 . Flattening the apparatus  10  allows the user to more easily carry and store the apparatus  10 . 
     The present invention has been described herein in an illustrative manner. It is to be understood that the terminology which has been used is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation. Many modifications and variations of the invention are possible in light of the above teachings. The invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described within the scope of the appended claims.