Patent Document

[0001]    This application claims the priority and benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent App. Ser. No. 60/973,798 filed Sep. 20, 2007. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to chiropractic health care and to devices that are used in the area of chiropractic treatment. More specifically, the present invention relates to an improved posture correction tool in the form of a novel table that is used by chiropractic practitioners to treat mechanical disorders of the spine and musculoskeletal system. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Chiropractic health care is well known. Chiropractic health care focuses on disorders of the musculoskeletal system and its related nervous system, and the effects that such disorders have on a patient&#39;s general health and well-being. Doctors of Chiropractic, alternatively referred to as “chiropractors” or “chiropractic physicians,” practice a drug-free, hands-on approach to health care that includes patient examination, diagnosis and treatment. The most common treatment and therapeutic procedure performed by chiropractors on patients is known as “spinal manipulation” or “chiropractic adjustment.” Chiropractic manipulation or adjustment is a manual procedure whereby the chiropractor uses his or her hands to manipulate the joints of the body, particularly the spine, in order to reduce pain and restore or enhance joint function. Manipulation is generally a painless procedure that works by restoring normal joint function and position, and is a safe and effective treatment. To be therapeutic, the manipulation is directed in a very specific path relative to the joint to be treated. During the treatment, the joint is moderately distracted while a high velocity (i.e. very fast) low amplitude (i.e. relatively shallow) thrust is applied through the joint space to restore normal position and function to that joint. 
         [0004]    Chiropractic tables, also known as “adjusting tables,” are also well known. When combined with the knowledge, skill and experience of the chiropractor, such tables are successfully used in therapeutic chiropractic manipulation as a means of restoring and enhancing the well-being of the patient. Using such adjusting tables during the performance of therapeutic manipulation, chiropractors are able to successfully manage the biomechanical relationship of the patient&#39;s spinal segments in relationship to each other as part of the overall central nervous system, the peripheral nervous system, the protective meningeal barriers and all of the other tissues that are connected to the spinal column. The chiropractic table provides the support means for properly positioning the patient prior to application of the manipulative joint thrust, thus allowing the chiropractor to effectively produce the intended result. 
         [0005]    In the experience of this inventor, chiropractic tables of the prior art lack certain functionalities that could assist the chiropractor in the application of his or her treatment of the patient. For example, while such tables may include drop sections for assisting the chiropractor during application of the above-mentioned manipulative joint thrust, which is also known as a “drop adjustment,” they are very limited in their use. 
         [0006]    Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved posture correction tool in the form of a chiropractic adjusting table that has certain new, useful and non-obvious features including: 
         [0007]    1. Flying drops (thoracic and lumbar) in the thoracic and lumbar sections. “Flying drops” are defined as the thoracic and lumbar sections of the table of the present invention which are able to be raised and angled and cocked and dropped in any position. These “flying drops” allow the chiropractor to set up a patient in a specific posture and perform a drop adjustment without adding any incorrect postures. In other words, conventional drops find chiropractors unable to perform a drop without adding an incorrect posture to the patient&#39;s spine. In the past, attempts were made to compensate for the lack of “flying drops” by using foam wedges. These wedges, however, rarely allowed for an exacting postural set-up prior to a drop being administered. Therefore, chiropractors were often frustrated with the lack of postural correction results because they were often adding improper postures. 
         [0008]    2. Pelvic elevation “flying drop” in the pelvic section. The pelvic section of the table can be raised, cocked, and dropped at any height. Here again, this “flying drop” allows the chiropractor to set up a patient in a specific posture and perform a drop adjustment without adding any incorrect postures. Conventional drops find chiropractors unable to perform a drop without adding an incorrect posture to the patient&#39;s spine and attempts were made to compensate for the lack of “flying drops” by using foam wedges. These wedges, however, rarely allowed for an exacting postural set-up prior to a drop being administered. As a result, chiropractors were often frustrated with the lack of postural correction results because they were often adding improper postures. 
         [0009]    3. The cervical instrument adjusting fulcrum is a unique feature elevates and rotates in order to provide exact positioning for critical cervical instrument adjusting. 
         [0010]    4. A head piece that lowers up to three inches (3″) below table horizontal while remaining fully functional in thirty degree)(30°) flekion and extension drop. This unique feature provides chiropractors the ability to have the table compensate for anterior or lateral head translation without adding unwanted postures when performing cervical drop work. Additionally, whether the head piece is raised or lowered, it maintains full functionality in thirty degree)(30°) flexion and extension drops. 
         [0011]    5. The use of polyurethane pads, for the first time, provide a predictable rebound during the patient adjustment. In addition, is the polyurethane pad allows, for the first time, for a “pre-stress” to be used just prior to following through with the drop in an adjustment. The polyurethane pads have also allowed flexibility of a futuristic design that includes beveled edges and more of a human form outline for easier on- and off-patient access, as well as easier approach to the table by the chiropractor. Up to this point, chiropractic tables had traditionally been covered with a foam product that was limited in all that was described above. 
         [0012]    6. This table was also designed for ease of mobility. It has lift rods at the head and foot of the table. It has wheels that are easily inserted or removed. Aside from portable chiropractic tables, the heavier permanent tables have not been designed with mobility in mind. 
         [0013]    7. The table of the present invention was engineered with safety in mind. The majority of conventional “pinch points” have been eliminated. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0014]    The table the present invention has obtained these objects. It was designed to perform certain functions that no other table in the prior art performs. These unique functions require the chiropractic practitioner to essentially “re-learn” how to use the new posture correction tool table of the present invention. For example, the table of the present invention uses polyurethane pads that have been designed with densities to maximize the “pre-stress” that is needed for optimal mechano-reception and thus maximal neurological correction. The table of the present invention also comprises a unique head piece, a unique cervical instrument adjusting fulcrum, unique thoracic and lumbar pieces, and a unique pelvis piece. 
         [0015]    The head piece in the table of the present invention is raised and lowered electrically. While the table remains horizontal, the head piece can be lowered a distance below the thoracic piece or can be raised a distance above it as well. The head piece thus allows for flexion and extension of the patient&#39;s head. The head piece can be moved up to an unprecedented, and fully usable, thirty degrees) (30°) in both flexion and extension. The head piece used in the table of the present invention can also be favored, or biased, to drop cephalad or caudad. The head piece includes a tension setting having a tension knob that covers the full spectrum of tension in just two and one-quarter turns. On the lowest tension setting, the weight of the individual table pads, themselves, is enough to cause that section to drop. At its highest tension setting, the relevant table pad requires a high amount of force to get the section to drop. It does not require much rotation of the sensitive tension knob to create a great change in tension setting. To ensure complete function of the head piece when it is in extension, it is necessary to make sure that the cervical instrument adjusting fulcrum is fully depressed. 
         [0016]    The cervical instrument adjusting fulcrum in the table of the present invention is a feature that elevates and rotates in order to provide exact positioning for critical cervical instrument adjusting. 
         [0017]    The thoracic and lumbar pieces in the table of the present invention include thoracic and lumbar drops that are mounted on a single plate and can be raised to fifty-five degrees)(55°) above horizontal. The thoracic drop is a “flying drop,” which means that the thoracic piece can be cocked and dropped at an angle. The table of the present invention can be equipped with a standard lumbar handle-cocking device, the lumbar piece also being a flying drop mechanism. The table may alternatively be equipped with an optional lumbar foot pedal cocking device wherein the flying drop is replaced with a lumbar drop that only functions in the horizontal position. 
         [0018]    The pelvic piece in the table of the present invention is equipped with a standard pelvic-hinged drop which is either cocked with the standard handle-cocking device or optional foot pedal-cocking device. If the table is equipped with the optional pelvic elevation, it will come with a foot pedal-cocking device only and is a flying drop which can be cocked and dropped in any position. The manually operated optional pelvic elevation piece elevates approximately eight inches (8″) above horizontal. 
         [0019]    Finally, the table of the present invention utilizes polyurethane pads that will not lose the integrity of their density as compared to upholstered foam pads. The densities of the pads have been designed to maximize the “pre-stress” needed for optimal mechano-reception and thus maximal neurological correction. Therefore, the practitioner needs to apply a force to the spine to take up slack in the polyurethane while following through to complete a drop. 
         [0020]    The foregoing and other features of the table of the present invention will be apparent from the detailed description that follows. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0021]      FIG. 1  is a front, left side and top perspective view of a table constructed in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 2  is an exploded front, left side and top perspective view of the table illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 3  is a top plan view of the table illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0024]      FIG. 4  is a left side elevational view of the table illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0025]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged partial left side elevational view of the head piece portion of the table illustrated in  FIG. 4  and showing the head piece portion in its lowest position. 
           [0026]      FIG. 6  is a partially sectioned top plan view of the forward-most portion of the bottom frame taken along line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 5 . 
           [0027]      FIG. 7  is the same view illustrated in  FIG. 5  but showing the head piece portion in its highest position. 
           [0028]      FIG. 8  is a view similar to those illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 7  but showing the head piece portion in an upwardly angled position. 
           [0029]      FIG. 8A  is an enlarged cross-sectioned view of a portion of the head piece support structure shown in  FIG. 8 . 
           [0030]      FIG. 9  is a bottom, left side and rear view of the handle-cocking assembly that is used in the head piece portion of the table of the present invention. 
           [0031]      FIG. 10A  is a partially sectioned left side elevational view of the head piece portion and showing the head piece drop pin in its “post-drop” position. 
           [0032]      FIG. 10B  is a partially sectioned rear elevational view of the handle-cocking assembly that is illustrated in  FIG. 9  and showing the head piece drop pin in the position that it is in as shown in  FIG. 10A . 
           [0033]      FIG. 11A  is a partially sectioned left side elevational view of the head piece portion and showing the head piece drop pin in its “pre-drop” or “cocked” position. 
           [0034]      FIG. 11B  is a partially sectioned rear elevational view of the handle-cocking assembly that is illustrated in  FIG. 9  and showing the head piece drop pin in the position that it is in as shown in  FIG. 11A . 
           [0035]      FIG. 12  is a further enlarged left side elevational view of the cervical pad assembly in the table of the present invention and showing the cervical pad in its lowest vertical position relative to the table. 
           [0036]      FIG. 13  is a view similar to that illustrated in  FIG. 12  and showing the cervical pad in its highest vertical position relative to the table. 
           [0037]      FIG. 14  is a bottom, left side and rear view of the handle-cocking assembly that is used in the lumbar and thoracic portion of the table of the present invention. 
           [0038]      FIG. 15  is a partial left side elevational view of the lumbar and thoracic portion of the table illustrated in  FIG. 4  and showing the lumbar and thoracic portion in its fully “down” position. 
           [0039]      FIG. 16  is a view similar to that illustrated in  FIG. 15  and showing the lumbar and thoracic portion in a “raised” position. 
           [0040]      FIG. 17  is a further enlarged left side elevational view of the lumbar and thoracic portion of the table illustrated in  FIGS. 15 and 16  and showing, in phantom view, the respective drop pin assemblies used with that portion. 
           [0041]      FIG. 18  is an enlarged front, left side and bottom perspective view of the foot pedal-cocking assembly used in the pelvic portion of the table illustrated in  FIG. 4 . 
           [0042]      FIG. 19  is a partial left side elevational view of the pelvic portion of the table illustrated in  FIG. 4  and showing the pelvic portion in its fully “down” position. 
           [0043]      FIG. 20  is a view similar to that illustrated in  FIG. 19  and showing the pelvic portion in a “raised” position. 
           [0044]      FIG. 21  is a further enlarged view similar to that illustrated in  FIG. 20  and showing relative movement of the foot pedal-cocking assembly and of the pelvic column. 
           [0045]      FIG. 22  is a greatly enlarged cross-sectioned and left side elevational view of the drop pin assembly in the pelvic portion of the table. 
           [0046]      FIG. 23  is a rear elevational view of the foot pedal-cocking assembly illustrated in  FIG. 18  and showing the foot pedals in the “up” position. 
           [0047]      FIG. 24  is a view similar to that illustrated in  FIG. 23  and showing the foot pedals in the “down” position. 
           [0048]      FIG. 25  is a partial left side elevational view of the leg and foot portions of the table illustrated in  FIG. 4  and showing the leg and foot portions in their fully “down” position. 
           [0049]      FIG. 26  is a view similar to that illustrated in  FIG. 25  and showing the leg and foot portions in an “up” or raised position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0050]    Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein like numbered elements refer to like elements throughout,  FIGS. 1 through 4  illustrate a representative structure, generally identified  10 , which is a preferred embodiment of a posture correction tool table that is constructed in accordance with the present invention. Generally speaking, the table  10  comprises a plurality of pads that are mounted onto a superstructure. It is this plurality of pads that support the patient during chiropractic treatment. More specifically, and moving from that forward-most point of the table  10  where the patient&#39;s head (not shown) would rest, it will be seen that the pads comprise a head pad  40 , a cervical pad  50 , a composite thoracic pad  60 , a lumbar pad  70 , a pelvic pad  80 , a leg pad  90 , and a foot pad  100 . Additionally, two semi-circular shaped arm pads  45  are located and mounted to either side of the head pad  40 . This allows the patient, who is supported in the prone position by the table  10 , to rest his or her arms on the arm pads  45  during chiropractic treatment. 
         [0051]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , the table  10  comprises a supporting super-structure generally comprising a bottom frame  20  and a top frame  30 . The bottom frame  20  comprises a plurality of longitudinally-extending bottom frame members  21  and a plurality of integrally-attached, transversely-extending bottom frame members  22 . The transversely-extending bottom frame members  22  each include castor/support subassemblies  23 . The castor/support subassemblies  23  provide for ease of mobility of the table  10  as may be desired or required. The top frame  30  comprises a plurality of vertically-disposed top frame members  31  and plurality of integrally-attached, longitudinally-extending top frame members  32 . A rail  33  is disposed forwardly of the top frame  30 , the purpose of which will be apparent later in this detailed description. The last part of the supporting super-structure of the table  10  of the present invention is the head pad frame  44 . 
         [0052]    The head pad  40  is a structure comprised of opposing outer pad portions  40   a  defining a central groove  40   b . See  FIG. 3 . The head pad  40  is secured to a head pad plate  41  which is in turn attached to a top drop plate  43  by means of a plurality of cervical drop links  42 . Again, see  FIG. 2 . A plurality of dome-shaped bumpers  48  are attached to the top drop plate  43  for cushioning. See also  FIG. 7 . The top drop plate  43  is attached to a portion of the head pad frame  44 . Attached to the top drop plate  43  is the head and cervical drop sub-assembly  140 . Refer again to  FIG. 2 . The head pad  40  is raised and lowered electrically. While the table  10  remains horizontal, the head pad  40  in the preferred embodiment and its related structures can be lowered three inches (3″) below the thoracic pad  60  or raised eight inches (8″) above the thoracic pad  60 . See  FIGS. 5 and 7 , for example. This range of movement is accomplished by means of a carriage  34  that is attached to the head pad frame  44  and which is slidably and vertically movable along the rail  33 . This is accomplished by actuation of the ball drive  35  and ball screw  36 . 
         [0053]    Referring now to  FIGS. 9 ,  10 A,  10 B,  11 A and  11 B, it will be seen that the head and cervical drop subassembly  140  comprises a drop pin  141 , a lever bottom stop  142 , a tension tube  143  and a tension knob  144 . To manually “cock” the head pad  40  and its related structure, the practitioner pulls upwardly on one end  146  of the cocking bar or lever  145 . It is to be understood that the table  10  of the present invention can be configured such that the head pad  40  can be favored to drop cephalad (towards the forward portion of the table  10 ) or caudad (towards the rearward portion of the table  10 ), depending upon the treatment that is desired or required. 
         [0054]    As is illustrated in much greater detail in  FIGS. 10A and 11A , it will be seen that the tension tube  143  houses a tensioning spring  147  that biases a release member  148  against the drop pin  141 . Specifically, the drop pin  141  comprises a cylindrically-shaped and dome-topped upper portion  151  and a circumferential and outwardly tapered bottom portion  152 , the bottom portion  152  terminating in a circumferential ridge  153  and capture groove  154 . As the practitioner raises the end  146  of the cocking bar or lever  145 , as shown in  FIG. 11A , the drop pin  141  is elevated by means of a plate that engages a collar portion  155  of the drop pin  141 . In this motion, the upper portion  151  of the drop pin  141  urges the head pad plate  41  upwardly to the pre-drop position shown. In this position, the release member  148  housed within the tension tube  143  is “captured” within the groove  154  of the drop pin  141 . This position is maintained until a downward force is exerted on the head pad  40  thereby urging the drop pin  141  downwardly and causing the release member  148  to be pushed into the tension tube  143  and out of the groove  154  of the drop pin  141 . 
         [0055]    At this point, it should be mentioned that the tension knob  144  covers the full spectrum of tension in just two and a quarter turns. On the lowest tension setting, the weight of the head pad  40  and its plate  41  is enough to cause the head pad  40  to drop. At its highest tension setting, the head pad  40  requires a high amount of force to get the section to drop. It does not require much rotation of the sensitive tension knob  144  to create a great change in tension setting. This functionality is also present in other portions of the table  10 ,  12  will be apparent later in this detailed description, like tension knobs being bilateral, however. 
         [0056]    Referring now to  FIG. 8 , for example, it will be seen that the head pad  40  can also be moved upwardly or downwardly to allow for flexion and extension of the head pad  40  relative to the horizontal. In the table  10  of the present invention, the head pad  40  can be moved into an unprecedented thirty degrees)(30°) in both flexion and extension. This movement is accomplished by use of the release lever  49  disposed to one side of a hydraulic tube or cylinder  46 , which use extends or retracts the rod  47  within the tube  46 . See  FIG. 8A . More specifically, when the lever  49  is depressed upwardly, it releases the rod  47  of the gas cylinder  46  to quietly and smoothly raise, lower or angle and lock the head pad  40 . This functionality is present in other portions of the table  10  as well, as will be apparent later in this detailed description. 
         [0057]    The table  10  of the present invention also comprises a cervical instrument adjusting fulcrum in the form of a cervical pad  50 , the cervical pad  50  being supported by and rotatably mounted about a vertically-adjustable structure  52 . See  FIGS. 12 and 13 . The cervical instrument adjusting fulcrum that is utilized in the table  10  of the present invention is unique. To the knowledge of this inventor, no other table of past or current manufacture includes this structure. Use of this structure allows the chiropractor the ability to create the exact patient posture that is necessary in order to utilize impulse adjusting instruments to correct postural positioning of the patient. One such instrument is disclosed and claimed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,144,417 issued to Colloca et al. During usage of such an instrument with the adjusting fulcrum and cervical pad  50 , the patient is positioned on his or her side with the patient&#39;s neck being properly positioned for instrumental stimulation. Prior to this innovation, chiropractors would resort to supporting the patient&#39;s neck with pillows, wedges or some combination of both. Use of the adjustable cervical pad  50  is novel and unprecedented. 
         [0058]    Referring again to  FIGS. 1 through 4 , it will be seen that the thoracic pad  60  is comprised of opposing outer pad portions  60   a  and a central pad portion  60   b . The next adjacent pad is the lumbar pad  70 . See also  FIG. 15 . Referring specifically to  FIGS. 1 ,  16  and  17 , it will be seen that the thoracic pad  60  is attached to a thoracic pad plate  61  and that the lumbar pad  70  is attached to a lumbar pad plate  71 . The thoracic pad plate  61  and the lumbar pad plate  71  are each attached to a single “common” thoracic-lumbar support plate  62 . The common thoracic-lumbar support plate  62  is hingedly attached to a portion of the top frame  30  by means of a primary hinge  65 . A secondary hinge  63  is also provided to allow the thoracic pad plate  61  and the lumbar pad plate  71  to each rotate upwardly from the common thoracic-lumbar support plate  62  at the secondary hinge  63 . See  FIG. 17 . 
         [0059]    As shown in  FIG. 16 , the common thoracic-lumbar support is plate  62  is rotatable about the primary hinge  65 . Elevation of the common thoracic-lumbar support plate  62  is accomplished by actuation of the hydraulic tube  66  via the bilateral lever  67 . The functionality of this hydraulic tube  66  is essentially identical to that of the hydraulic tube  46  that is used with the head pad  40  and its related structure. The hydraulic tube  67  that is attached to the common thoracic-lumbar support plate  62  allows the plate  62  to be raised up to fifty-five degrees)(55°) above the horizontal. A plurality of bumpers  68  are disposed between the common thoracic-lumbar plate  62  and the top frame  30  to cushion the return of the plate  62  to the horizontal. 
         [0060]    Referring again to  FIG. 1 , it will be seen that the common thoracic-lumbar plate  62  has a plurality of apertures  64  defined in it. The purpose of the apertures  64  is to allow for access to the thoracic pad plate  61  and to the lumbar pad plate  71  from below. Situated below each of these plates  61 ,  71  is a thoracic drop subassembly  160  and a lumbar drop subassembly  170 , respectively. 
         [0061]    Referring again to  FIG. 17 , it will be seen that the thoracic drop subassembly  160  comprises a drop pin  161 , a lever bottom stop  162 , a tension tube  163 , a pair of bilateral tension knobs  144  (see  FIG. 14 ) and a miter gear assembly  169 . To manually “cock” the thoracic pad  60  and its related structure, the practitioner pulls upwardly on one end  166  of the bilateral cocking bar or lever  165 . See also  FIG. 14 . It will also be seen that the tension tube  163  houses a tensioning spring  167  that biases a release member  168  against that drop pin  161 . The drop pin  161  comprises a cylindrically-shaped and dome-topped upper portion  181  and a circumferential and outwardly tapered bottom portion  182 , the bottom portion  182  terminating in a circumferential ridge  183  and capture groove  184 . As the practitioner raises the end  166  of the bilateral cocking bar or lever  165 , the drop pin  161  is elevated by means of a plate that engages a collar portion  185  of the drop pin  161 . In this motion, the upper portion  181  of the drop pin  161  urges the thoracic pad plate  61  upwardly to the pre-drop position shown in phantom view in  FIG. 17 . In this position, the release member  168  housed within the tension tube  163  is captured within the groove  184  of the drop pin  161 . 
         [0062]    As is also shown in  FIG. 17 , the table  10  of the present invention further comprises a lumbar drop sub-assembly  170 . The lumbar drop sub-assembly  170  comprises a drop pin  171 , a lever bottom stop  172 , a tension tube  173 , a pair of bilateral tension knobs  174  (see  FIG. 14 ) and a miter gear assembly  179 . To manually “cock” the lumbar pad  70  and its related structure, the practitioner pulls upwardly on one end  176  of the cocking bar or lever  175 . It will also be seen that the tension tube  173  houses a tensioning spring  177  that biases a release member  178  against the drop pin  171 . This drop pin  171  again comprises a cylindrically-shaped and dome-topped upper portion  191  and a circumferential and outwardly tapered bottom portion  192 , the bottom portion  192  terminating in a circumferential ridge  193  and capture groove  194 . As the practitioner raises the end  176  of the cocking bar or lever  175 , the drop pin  171  is elevated by means of a plate that engages a collar portion  195  of the drop pin  171 . In this motion, the upper portion  191  of the drop pin  171  urges the lumbar pad plate  71  upwardly to the pre-drop position shown in phantom view in  FIG. 17 . In this position, the release member  178  housed within the tension tube  173  is captured within the groove  194  of the drop pin  171 . 
         [0063]    It should again be mentioned here that the tension knobs  164 ,  174  illustrated in  FIG. 14  cover the full spectrum of tension in just two and a quarter turns. On the lowest tension setting, the weight of the respective pads  60 ,  70  and their plates  61 ,  71  is enough to cause the pads  60 ,  70  to drop. At their highest tension setting, the pads  60 ,  70  require a high amount of force to effect a drop. It does not require much rotation of the sensitive tension knobs  164 ,  174  to create a great change in tension setting. 
         [0064]    The table  10  of the present invention further comprises a pelvic pad  80 . See  FIGS. 3 ,  4  and  19  through  21  in this regard. As shown, the pelvic pad  80  is supported by and attached to a pelvic pad plate  81 . The pelvic pad plate  81  is attached to a drop bracket  82 . Disposed vertically below the drop bracket  82  is a pelvic column outer-housing  83  and a pelvic column inner-housing  84 . The inner-housing  84  is slideably moveable within the outer-housing  83 . Disposed within the outer and inner-housings  83 ,  84  is a hydraulic tube  86  that is actuated by a lever  87 . A plurality of bumpers  88  are mounted to the top frame  30  to provide cushioning for the pelvic pad plate  81  when the pelvic pad plate  81  is dropped or lowered to its bottom-most position. 
         [0065]    Referring now to  FIGS. 20 through 22  in particular, it will be seen that a pelvic drop sub-assembly  110  is also provided. The pelvic drop sub-assembly  110  comprises a drop pin  111 , a bottom stop  112 , a tension tube  113 , a pair of bilateral tension knobs  114  and a miter gear assembly  119 . As shown, the tension tube  113  houses a tensioning spring  117  that biases a release member  118  against the drop pin  111 . The drop pin  111  comprises a cylindrically-shaped upper portion  121  and a circumferential and outwardly tapered bottom portion  122 , the bottom portion  122  terminating in a circumferential ridge  123  and capture groove  124 . In the preferred embodiment, the cocking bar or lever (as was used with the other pad elements previously discussed) is replaced by a foot lever sub-assembly  130 . See  FIGS. 18 ,  23  and  24 . The foot lever sub-assembly  130  is attached to a link  133  which allows the drop pin  111  to be “cocked” by the practitioner pushing down on one of two spring-loaded bilateral foot pedals  131 . Depression of the foot pedal  131  rotates a linkage  132  that elevates a plate  133  that engages a collar portion  125  of the drop pin  111 . In this motion, the upper portion  121  of the drop pin  111  urges the pelvic pad plate  81  upwardly to the pre-drop position shown in  FIG. 21 . In this position, the release member  118  housed within the tension tube  113  is captured within the groove  124  of the drop pin  111 . The drop pin  111  is further attached to a bottom-most shaft  129  by means of a pelvic drop link  89 . The bottom-most shaft  129  is also attached to the lowest portion of the hydraulic tube  86  of the pelvic drop portion of the table  10 . This results in coordinated movement between the drop pin  111  and the pelvic pad  80 . 
         [0066]    Finally, disposed at the rearward-most end of the table  10  of the present invention are the leg pad  90  and the foot pad  100 . See  FIGS. 3 ,  4 ,  25  and  26  in particular. As shown, the leg pad  90  is supported by and attached to a leg pad plate  91 . The leg pad plate  91  is attached to the top frame  30  by means of a hinge  92 . The hinge  92  allows the leg pad plate  91  and leg pad  90  to rotate about the top frame  30 . The leg pad plate  91  is variably positionable relative to the horizontal by means of a hydraulic tube  93  and actuation lever  94  of the type previously described. The foot pad  100  is attached to a supported by a foot pad bracket  101 . The foot pad bracket  101  is secured to a longitudinally-extending slide  102 , the slide being longitudinally moveable along a slide receiver  103 . This movement is shown in phantom view in  FIGS. 25 and 26 . 
         [0067]    In view of the foregoing, it will be apparent that there has been provided an improved posture correction tool in the form of a chiropractic adjusting table that has certain new, useful and non-obvious features including “flying drops” in the thoracic and lumber sections; pelvic elevation “flying drop” in the pelvic section; a cervical instrument adjusting fulcrum; a uniquely-movable head piece; polyurethane pads; and which is easy to move and eliminates conventional “pinch points” for enhanced safety.

Technology Category: 1