Abstract:
A chiropractic adjustment tool or tapper comprises a housing, the housing having an open end; a striker assembly disposed within the housing and secured thereto; and a plunger device or plunger disposed externally to the housing and secured thereto, the plunger being in communication with the striker assembly through the open end in the housing. The striker assembly comprises a reciprocating striking rod. A power source, such as a pneumatic motor, electric motor, solenoid arrangement, or the like, provides power through a series of gears and springs to move the striking rod in reciprocating fashion. The plunger comprises a plunging rod slidable within a body. Once each cycle, the striking rod strikes the plunging rod, which moves away from the striking rod and strikes the patient&#39;s body. Upon striking the patient&#39;s body, another spring retracts the plunging rod until it once again contacts the striking rod and is again forced against the patient&#39;s body. A typical rate of impact is thirty impacts per second, though other rates of impact are available and can be efficacious as well. Both the speed and the force of impact are adjustable to provide optimal therapeutic effects.

Description:
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable. 
     REFERENCE TO MICROFICHE APPENDIX 
     Not applicable. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention involves the field of medical devices. More particularly, it involves the field of medical devices used in chiropractic. Even more particularly, it relates to chiropractic adjustment tools used to move bones and relieve muscle spasms and stress. 
     2. Prior Art 
     As is well-known in the chiropractic art, the spines or other bones of humans sometimes go out of alignment or are otherwise mis-adjusted. This can lead to discomfort and, sometimes, additional physical symptoms. In such cases, an adjustment of the spine or other bone to a healthy alignment can have substantial therapeutic effects. 
     Several attempts have been made to provide hand-held or other small devices to assist in adjusting a patient&#39;s spine or other bone by the use of impacts against the bone. However, each of these devices provides only a single impact per application, as described below. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,016,873, issued Apr. 12, 1977 to Anderson, is entitled “PNEUMATIC IMPACTER.” The patent teaches a pneumatic gun-type device with an impact cylinder which is released when a trigger is squeezed. The impact cylinder, when released by the trigger, is extended under pressure until it makes contact with a surface. The pressure is adjustable to permit the user of the device to set the pressure desired for a specific treatment. The device provides one impact per pull of the trigger. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,498,464, issued Feb. 12, 1985 to Morgan, Jr., is entitled “CHIROPRACTIC INSTRUMENT.” The patent teaches a manually-operated instrument used to provide an impact to a specific surface of a body. The instrument has a plunger or cylinder-type device with a striking surface. The cylinder is movable within a hand-held chamber. The movement of the cylinder is controlled by a spring, which is contained within the chamber, and permits an adjustment of the tension applied by the cylinder. In use, a user of the device manually strikes it against a patient&#39;s body. The spring adjustment permits the user to determine the impacting pressure the person wishes to make on the patient&#39;s body. The device provides one impact per application. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,669,454, issued Jun. 2, 1987 to Shamos, is entitled “PERCUSSING CHIROPRACTIC DEVICE HAVING ADJUSTABLE SPRING FORCE.” The patent teaches a body-impact device similar to the Morgan device discussed above. The device consists of a hand-held chamber having an anvil at one end and a spring-biased hammer mounted in the chamber. An elongated spindle is connected to the hammer for drawing the hammer away from the anvil into a loaded position in which the spring is compressed. Upon release of the spring, the hammer strikes the anvil, which strikes the patient&#39;s body. The level of tension is adjustable to provide impacts of varying strength to a patient&#39;s body. The device provides one impact per application. 
     As can be seen from the above, the prior art has provided several single-impact chiropractic devices. However, the prior art has not disclosed a multiple-impact device for providing therapeutic pressure to a patient&#39;s body. Multiple impacts are desirable because of the cumulative effect of the treatment provided therewith. The present invention is directed to this shortcoming in the prior art. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a chiropractic adjustment tool or tapper, which, generally, comprises: 
     (a) a housing, the housing having an open end; 
     (b) a striker assembly disposed within the housing and secured thereto, the striker assembly comprising a power source, the power source providing operational power to the striker assembly; and 
     (c) a plunger disposed externally to the housing and secured thereto, the plunger being in communication with the striker assembly through the open end in the housing. 
     The striker assembly comprises a reciprocating striking rod. A power source, such as a pneumatic motor, electric motor, solenoid arrangement, or the like, provides power through a series of gears and springs to move the striking rod in reciprocating fashion. 
     The plunger comprises a plunging rod that is slidable within a body. Once each cycle, the striking rod strikes the plunging rod, which moves away from the striking rod and strikes the patient&#39;s body. Upon striking the patient&#39;s body, a spring retracts the plunging rod until it once again contacts the striking rod and is again forced against the patient&#39;s body. A typical rate of impact is thirty impacts per second, though other rates of impact are available and can be efficacious as well. Both the speed and the force of impact are adjustable to provide optimal therapeutic effects. 
     For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference characters refer to like parts through the several views, in which: 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
     FIG. 1 is an environmental view of an adjusting tool in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a side view of the adjusting tool of FIG. 1; and 
     FIG. 3 is a side view of a striker assembly of the adjusting tool of FIG.  1 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to the drawing, there is depicted a chiropractic adjustment tool or tapper in accordance with the present invention, generally denoted at  10 . The tapper  10 , generally, comprises: 
     (a) a housing  12 , the housing having an open end  20 ; 
     (b) a striker assembly  26  disposed within the housing and secured thereto, the striker assembly comprising a power source, the power source providing operational power to the striker assembly; and 
     (c) a plunger  14  disposed externally to the housing and secured thereto, the plunger being in communication with the striker assembly through the open end in the housing. 
     The housing  12  is a hollow member having an outer shell  16 , the shell having an outer surface  19  and an inner surface  21 . The shell  16  is made of any convenient material, such as plastic, metal, or the like. The shell has a handle portion  18  to enable easy grasping and holding of the housing  12 . The shell  16  also has a barrel portion  17  integral with the handle portion and bearing the open end  20 . The inner surface  21  of the barrel  17  is, preferably, provided with thread  13  proximate the open end  20  to enable threading attachment of the plunger  14 , as described hereinbelow. 
     As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the striker assembly  26  is disposed within the barrel  17 . The striker assembly  26  comprises a frame  53 . The frame  53  has a first plate  54 , a second plate  80 , a third plate  82 , and a fourth plate  86 . The first plate  54  is secured to the barrel  17  of the housing  12  by suitable fastening devices such as screws, rivets, or the like, thereby securing the entire striker assembly to the barrel. The plates of the frame  53  provide anchors for other elements of the tapper  10 , as described below. The frame  53  is, preferably, made of a metal for durability, though other materials such as plastics can also be used if sufficiently durable. 
     The striker assembly  26  further comprises a power source  22 . The power source  22  is operatively connected to a source of energy  23 . The power source  22  and source of energy  23  may be of any convenient form, such as a pneumatic motor operatively connected to a compressed air source (not shown), or an electric motor operatively connected to a battery  55 , or an electric motor operatively connected to a wall outlet, etc. Where a wall outlet is used, an electric power cord  27  is secured to the electric motor and extends through an aperture  29  formed in the shell  16 . The aperture  29  enables the power cord  27  to emerge therethrough and plug into a wall outlet (not shown) to obtain electric energy therefrom in the well-known manner. 
     The power source  22  is operatively connected to means  24  for controlling the flow of power disposed on the outer surface  19  of the shell  16 , such as a switch  25  or the like, in the well-known manner to enable a user to control the operation of the device by regulating the flow of power from the power source. The switch  25  may be in any well-known form, including a “trigger” or a “button,” either of which plungingly closes the circuit to the power source if electric, controls the flow of air if pneumatic, etc. 
     The striker assembly  26  further comprises a reciprocating striking rod  31 . The striking rod is axially elongated and has a forward first end defined by an enlarged diameter portion  92 , a medial portion defined by an enlarged diameter portion  92 , and a rearward second end  77 . A coil spring  90  is disposed around the striking rod  31  with a forward end of the spring engaging the third plate  86  and a rearward end of the spring engaging the enlarged diameter portion  92 . The striking rod  31  is, preferably, made of a metal for durability. The power source  22  provides power to propel the striking rod  31  forward and backward. If the power source  22  is an electric motor, the striking rod is propelled as described hereinbelow. 
     The first plate  54  has a first side  56  and a second side  58  opposite the first side, and has a first aperture  60  and a second aperture  62  spaced from the first aperture formed therethrough. The motor  22  and an anchor  64  are disposed on the first side  56  of the first plate  54  and are secured thereto by screws, rivets, or the like. A first gear  66  and a second gear  68  are disposed on the second side  58  of the first plate  54  opposite the motor  22  and the anchor  64 , respectively. A first connecting rod  63  extends from the motor  22  through the first aperture  60  to the first gear  66 , and is secured thereto by a bushing  70 . A second connecting rod  65  extends from the anchor  64  through the second aperture  62  to the second gear  68 , and is secured thereto by a bushing  72 . The first gear  66  and the second gear  68  are in meshing engagement with each other. 
     The second gear  68  is integrally formed with a hollow shaft  74 . The hollow shaft  74  extends around a hub  75  into an aperture  78  formed in a wheel  76 , the hub  75  being integrally formed with the wheel  76 . The hub  75  is mounted on the shaft  74  and secured thereto by least one rivet  79  or the like. So secured, the wheel  76  has a surface  81  which as a result of the mounting is tilted (i.e., inclined) to the axis of rotation of the shaft  74 . As the shaft  74  turns, the wheel  76  alternately tilts toward and away from the shaft. The striking rod  31  has its rearward end  77  positioned for contact with the wheel  76  and projecting in a direction opposite the shaft  74 . 
     As noted hereinabove, the first plate  54  secures the entire striker assembly to the barrel  17 . The second plate  80  of the frame  53  is secured to the first plate  54  by suitable fasteners such as screws, rivets, or the like, or may be formed integrally therewith, and is normal thereto. The third plate  82  of the frame  53  projects upwardly from the second plate  80 , spaced from the first plate  54 , and is secured to the second plate  80  by suitable fasteners such as screws, rivets, or the like, or may be formed integrally therewith. An aperture  84  is formed through the third plate  82 . The fourth plate  86  of the frame  53  projects upwardly from the second plate  80 , spaced from the third plate  82  in the direction away from the first plate  54 , and is secured to the second plate  80  by suitable fasteners such as screws, rivets, or the like, or may be formed integrally therewith. An aperture  88  is formed through the fourth plate  86  in alignment with the aperture  84  in the third plate  82 . 
     The striking rod  31  slidingly extends through the aperture  84  in the third plate  82  and the aperture  88  in the fourth plate  86 . Because the third and fourth plates are secured to the second plate  80 , and the second plate is secured to the first plate  54 , and the first plate is secured to the barrel  17  of the housing  12 , the striking rod is thus slidingly secured within the barrel  17 . 
     Means for biasing, such as the spring  90 , is circumferentially disposed about the striking rod  31  between the third plate  82  and the fourth plate  86  to retract the striking rod  31  after an impact, as described hereinbelow. 
     When the power source  22  is engaged via the means for controlling  24 , the first connecting rod  63  causes the first gear  66  to rotate. The motion of the first gear  66  causes the second gear  68 , with which the first gear  66  is meshingly engaged, to rotate. The motion of the second gear  68  causes the shaft  74 , with which the second gear  68  is integrally formed, to rotate. The rotation of the shaft  74  causes the wheel  76 , which is securedly mounted on the shaft  74 , to rotate. The motion of the wheel  76 , which, as described hereinabove, alternatively tilts towards and away from the shaft  74  and and delete, “which which is intermittently contacted by the wheel  76  at the point  77  thereof to reciprocally move”; causes the striking rod  31 , which is intermittently contacted by the wheel  76  at the point  77  thereof to reciprocally move to move away from the shaft, thus compressing the spring  90  disposed around the striking rod. When the wheel  76  rotates sufficiently that the the wheel  76  moves toward the shaft  74 , the motion of the wheel causes the striking rod  31  to move toward the shaft, thus decompressing the spring  90  disposed around the striking rod. 
     Thus, the power source  22  provides power to the striking rod  31  to move the striking rod away from the shaft  74  and toward the open end  20  of the barrel  17  of the housing  12 . The spring  90  then decompresses, propelling the striking rod  31  back away from the open end  20  and toward the shaft  74 . 
     As noted hereinabove, the power source  22  may be a pneumatic motor. If a pneumatic motor is used, the striker assembly  26  comprises a turbine to provide power to propel the striking rod  31  forward and backward. Similarly, a solenoid arrangement may advantageously be used to provide power to propel the striking rod  31  forward and backward. Turbine and solenoid assemblies are well known to the skilled artisan, and as such are not detailed herein. 
     Regardless of the method by which the striking rod  31  reciprocates, the striking rod  31  engages the plunger  14  through the open end  20  of the barrel  17 . 
     The plunger  14  comprises a hollow cylindrical body  28 . The body  28  is made of any convenient material, preferably a metal for durability. The body  28  has a first end  30 , an opposed second end  32 , and an outer surface  33 . The diameter of the cylindrical body  28  is substantially equal to the inner diameter of the barrel  17 . The body  28  of the plunger  14  is provided with thread  11  on its outer surface  33 . The threadings  11  and  13  respectively on the outer surface  33  of the body  28  of the plunger  14  and on the inner surface  21  of the barrel  17  proximate the open end  20  cooperate to enable threaded attachment of the plunger  14  to the barrel  17 . 
     The plunger further comprises means  37  for adjusting the plunger. The means  37  for adjusting, preferably, comprises an annular ring  34  disposed around the body  28  of the plunger  14 , the ring  34  having an inner surface  35 . The ring  34  is made, preferably, of the same material as the body  28 . The inner diameter of the annular ring  34  is substantially equal to the outer diameter of the body  28 , and the outer diameter of the annular ring  34  is larger than the diameter of the barrel  17 . The annular ring  34  is provided with thread  39  on its inner surface  35 . The threadings  11  and  39 , respectively on the outer surface  33  of the body  28  of the plunger  14  and on the inner surface  35  of the annular ring  34  cooperate to enable threaded attachment of the annular ring  34  to the body  28 . 
     The annular ring  34  enables adjustment of the plunger  14 , and thus of the tapper  10 . The body  28  of the plunger  14  screws into the open end  20  of the barrel  17 , as described hereinabove. However, the plunger  14  can screw into the barrel  17  only until the annular ring  34  encounters the forward end face of the barrel  17 , as the outer diameter of the annular ring  34  is greater than the diameter of the barrel  17 . Thus, by screwing the annular ring  34  nearer the first end  30  or the second end  32  of the body  28 , less or more, respectively, of the body  28  may screw into the barrel  17 . 
     The plunger  14  further comprises a reciprocating plunging rod  36  disposed within the hollow cylindrical body  28 . The plunging rod  36  extends through the hollow body  28  of the plunger  14  and emerges from both the first end  30  and the second end  32  thereof, the plunging rod  36  being longer than the body  28  and slidable therewithin. The plunging rod  36  has a first end or striker-contacting end  38  and a second end or body-contacting end  40  corresponding to the first end  30  and the second end  32  of the body  28 , respectively. The plunging rod  36  has an enlarged-diameter portion  42  at its first end  38  adjacent to the first end  30  of the housing  28 . The diameter of the enlarged-diameter portion  42  is substantially similar to the enlarged diameter portion  42  of the striking rod  31  of the striker assembly  26 , which is disposed within the barrel  17  as described hereinabove. The plunging rod  36  is, preferably, made of the same material as the striking rod  31  for durability. The plunging rod  36  percussively contacts a patient being treated by the tapper  10 , using power from the power source  22  as delivered by the striking rod  31  and as described hereinbelow. 
     Bushings  44  and  46  are seated in the first end  30  and the second end  32 , respectively, of the body  28  to seal the ends around the plunging rod  36 . 
     Means for biasing, such as a spring  48 , is disposed around the plunging rod  36  within the hollow body  28  to retract the plunging rod  36  after an impact, as described hereinbelow. 
     A tip  50  is mounted atop the plunging rod  36  at its second end  40 . The tip  50  is formed, preferably, of synthetic rubber or another yielding material. A removable, disposable second tip  52  may be used with the device  10 . Where used, the second tip  52  envelops the tip  50 , to provide a hygienic surface for contact with a person to be treated by the tapper  10 . 
     In use, the plunger  14  is screwed into the barrel  17 . The amount of the plunger emplaced inside the barrel  17  is dependent on the placement of the annular ring  34  around the body  28  of the plunger  14 , as described hereinabove. When the means  24  for controlling the flow of power is engaged, for example by a user engaging the switch  25 , the power source  22  provides power to the striking rod  31  as described hereinabove. The striking rod  31  thrusts away from the power source  22  and toward the plunging rod  36 . The striking rod  31  hits the plunging rod  36 , thereby propelling the plunging rod  36  away from the barrel  17  and compressing the spring  48 . The rest of the plunger  14  is held stationary by the threaded engagement between the plunger  14  and the barrel  17 ; the plunging rod  36  therefore slidably moves within the plunger  14  upon being struck by the striking rod  31 . 
     The striking rod  31  retreats from the point of impact, propelled backward by both the impact and the spring  90  wrapped around the striking rod, then is thrust forward again by the power source  22  as described hereinabove. The plunging rod  36  concurrently is driven forward by the impact until the tip  50 , or the removable second tip  52 , comes into contact with the person to be treated. Upon contacting the person to be treated, the spring  48  recoils and forces the plunging rod  36  back toward the striking rod  31 . When the power source  22  has impelled the striking rod  31  sufficiently forward, and the spring  48  has impelled the plunging rod  36  sufficiently backward, the striking rod  31  hits the plunging rod  36  again and propels the plunging rod  36  into another contact with the person being treated. 
     The force of the impacts between the striking rod  31  and the plunging rod  36  is dependent on the initial location of the plunging rod relative to the striking rod. The closer the plunging rod  36  is to the striking rod  31 , the more forceful the impact. The initial location of the plunging rod  36  relative to the striking rod  31  is dependent on the location of the annular ring  34  between the ends of the body  28  of the plunger  14 , as described hereinabove. If the annular ring is closer to the first end  30  of the body  28 , less of the body  28  may enter the barrel  17 , and thus the initial position of the rod  36  is farther from the striking rod  31 . If the annular ring  34  is farther from the first end  30  of the body  28 , more of the body  28  may enter the barrel  17 , and thus the initial position of the plunging rod  36  is closer to the striking rod  31 . Therefore, by moving the annular ring closer to or farther from the first end  30  of the body  28 , the force of the impacts between the striking rod  31  and the plunging rod  36  are lessened or increased respectively. 
     Depending on the positioning of the annular ring  34  on the body  28  of the plunger  14 , and depending on the power source  22 , the plunging rod  36  can contact the person being treated at any of a range of rates and force levels, one such rate being thirty times per second. The constant tapping by the plunging rod  36  provides therapeutic treatment to the person being treated. 
     While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and the foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiment has been shown and described fully and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected.