Traction device adjustment mechanism and method
AssigneeAMEI Technologies Inc.
InventorsSteven M. Reinecke, Allan D. Luce, Robin Sydor, Mark J. Strehlke
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for adjusting the length of a belt having first and second front portions and a back portion, the first and second front portions each moveable with respect to the back portion, includes attaching opposite ends of a strap to each of the front two portions. The strap includes a middle bonding section bound together. The method further includes coupling the strap to the back portion between the opposite ends such that movement of the first and second front portions away from the back portion causes detachment of portions of the middle bonding section and moving each of the two front portions away from the back portion.
Claims15
An ambulatory spinal traction device comprising:
- two or more support belts configured to be positioned around the body of a user;
- one or more support mechanisms, each support mechanism coupled between two or more of the support belts and operable to apply a decompressive force to a spine of the user when the support belts are positioned around the body of the user;
- wherein each support belt comprises a back portion and first and second front portions, each front portion moveable relative to the back portion to adjust the support belt;
- and
- at least one length adjustment device coupled to at least one of the belts comprising:
- a strap coupled to each of the front portions and comprising a binding section, the binding section comprising first and second portions;
- a strap guide coupled to the belt proximate the back portion, the strap guide operable to guide the strap;
- and
- a hook and loop material disposed on the binding section of the strap and coupling the first and second portions of the binding section to one another, the binding section of the strap requiring the first and second front portions of the belt to move in the same amount, relative to the back portion of the belt, as the first and second portions of the binding section of the strap are uncoupled from one another as the belt is positioned around the body of the user.
A device, comprising:
- a belt comprising first front, second front, and back portions, the first and second front portions each connected to and moveable with respect to the back portion;
- a length adjustment mechanism, comprising:
- a strap having opposite ends coupled to the first and second front portions, the strap having a binding section operable to bind portions of the strap together, the binding section comprising first and second portions;
- a strap guide coupled to the back portion and operable to guide the strap such that movement of the first and second front portions away from the back portion requires detachment of the first and second portions of the binding section from one another;
- and
- a hook and loop material disposed on the binding section of the strap and coupling the first and second portions of the binding section to one another;
- detachment of the first and second portions of the binding section from one another restricting relative motion of the first and second front portions such that movement of the first front portion relative to the back portion requires movement of the second front portion relative to the back portion in the same amount as the first and second portions of the binding section of the strap are detached from one another as the belt is positioned around the body of a user.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.