Traction device

A traction device comprising:

• a portable frame having an upper surface adapted to support an individual to be subjected to traction, and a pair of rods releasably engageable with the frame proximate the opposite ends of the upper surface and providing mounting points spaced from said upper surface;
• a pair of tension members emanating from the underside of the frame and having free ends passing through the respective mounting points and back toward the upper surface of the frame;
• means for securing the free end of one of the tension members to the individual to be subjected to traction;
• a chain having upper and lower runs parallel to the upper surface defined by spaced sprockets, one of the tension members being attachable to the upper run of the chain and the other tension member being attachable to the lower run of the chain, one of the sprockets having a transverse detent;
• a rotatable shaft including a handle manually operable by the individual to be subjected to traction, said shaft projecting through the sprocket having the detent and having a radial projection proximate the detent;
• a spring biasing the sprocket having the detent against the projection so that the detent engages the projection until the applied tension in one of the tension members reaches a preselected value, beyond which the projection becomes disengaged from the detent to prevent the applied tension from exceeding the preselected value;
• means for varying the force of the spring to select the desired tension;
• and
• a brake preventing the shaft from rotating in a direction to release the appied tension so that the preselected tension value is maintained.