US 2006/0149175 A1 · Apparatus for applying traction

Abstract

The present invention relates to (with reference to FIG. 1) apparatus (1) for applying traction to a human body. The apparatus (1) comprises a first body support (2) for supporting a user's upper back and a head rest (3) located on top of the upper surface (7) of the first body support (2) and slidable along the upper surface (7). The apparatus has means for causing the head rest to slide along the upper surface (7) of the first body support. The sliding of the head rest (3) along the upper surface (7) to move the supported head from the torso and thereby applies traction to the human body. Additionally or alternatively a pair of shoulder rests (4) can be provided which when slid across the upper surface (7) provide traction across a user's shoulders. Preferably, the body support (2), the head rest (3) and the shoulder rests (4) all comprise inflatable bladders and the traction is applied to the user's body by inflating the bladders.

Claims31

Dependent claims

Apparatus for applying traction to a human body comprising:

a first body support for supporting a first part of the human body, the first body support having an upper surface engageable by the first part of the human body;
a second body support for supporting a second part of the human body located on top of the upper surface of the first body support and slidable along the upper surface;
and
means for causing the second body support to slide along the upper surface of the first body support;
wherein
sliding of the second body support along the upper surface of the first body support acts to move the second part of the human body away from the first part of the human body and thereby applies traction to the human body;
wherein the second body support comprises an inflatable bladder and the means for applying a force on the second body support comprises inflation means for inflating the inflatable bladder of the second body support, inflation of the bladder of the second body support giving rise to sliding motion of the second body support along the upper surface of the first body support.

4 more elements

Apparatus for applying traction to a human body comprising:

a body support for supporting an upper back of a human user, the first body support having an upper surface engageable by the upper back of the human user;
a head rest located on top of the upper surface of the body support and slidable along the upper surface;
a pair of shoulder rests each located on top of the upper surface of the body support and each slidable along the upper surface;
means for causing the head rest to slide along the upper surface of the first body support to apply traction to a neck of the user;
and
means for causing the shoulder rests to slide along the upper surface of the first body support away from each other to apply traction across shoulders of the user;
wherein the head rest and the shoulder rests each comprise an inflatable bladder and the means for causing the head rest and the shoulder rests to slide across the upper surface of the first body support comprises inflation means for inflating the inflatable bladders, inflation of the bladders giving rise to sliding motion of the head rest and the shoulder rests along the upper surface of the first body support.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Apparatus for applying traction

Life of this patent

Apparatus for applying traction

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims31