Device for strengthening spinal muscles

Abstract

A device for strengthening spinal muscles is provided. The device can elastically perform acupressure along uneven portions of the spine, the device can relieve a patient's pain, prevent skin damage due to acupressure that is repeatedly performed several times, and effectively maintain contact with a cervical spine for a long time.

Claims

1. A device for strengthening spinal muscles, the device comprising: a driving unit including a motor and a reducer; two support portions in which one of the support portions is connected to a shaft of the reducer and a remaining one is connected to a side wall of a housing; a press portion eccentrically connected to a disk of each of the support portions; and the housing accommodating the driving unit, the support portions, and the press portion; wherein the disk has a supporter shaft on an outer side thereof and has a rectangular recess having a round upper edge and a flat lower edge in an inner side thereof by a predetermined depth, wherein each of the support portions includes: a spring accommodated in the recess; a supporter supporting a press roller shaft; and a cover covering the recess to prevent separation of the spring and the supporter and having a rectangular cover opening having rounded upper and lower edges.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising: an additional spring, an additional supporter, an additional cover, an additional press portion and an additional recess symmetrically disposed to the recess of the disk.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a device for strengthening spinal muscles according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

(2) FIG. 2 is a plan view illustrating the device for strengthening spinal muscles according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

(3) FIGS. 3a, 3b, 3c and 3d illustrate views illustrating a state of the device for strengthening spinal muscles according to the first embodiment of the present invention being operated;

(4) FIG. 4 is a view illustrating a state of the device for strengthening spinal muscles according to the first embodiment of the present invention being used;

(5) FIG. 5 is an exploded-perspective view illustrating a substantial part of the device for strengthening spinal muscles according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

(6) FIG. 6 is a view illustrating a state where support portions and a press portion are combined in a device for strengthening spinal muscles according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

(7) FIG. 7 is an exploded-perspective view illustrating a substantial part of the device for strengthening spinal muscles according to the second embodiment of the present invention; and

(8) FIG. 8 is an exploded-perspective view illustrating a substantial part of a device for strengthening spinal muscles according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

BEST MODE

(9) Hereinafter, embodiments of a device for strengthening spinal muscles according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, it should be understood that the exemplary embodiments according to the concept of the present invention are not limited to the embodiments which will be described hereinbelow with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(10) FIGS. 1 to 5 illustrate a device for strengthening spinal muscles according to a first embodiment of the present invention, the device including: a driving unit 10 consisting of a motor 11 and a reducer 12; two support portions 20 connected to a shaft 13 of the reducer 12; a press portion 30 eccentrically connected to the support portions 20; and a housing 40 accommodating the driving unit 10, the support portions 20, and the press portion 30.

(11) The motor 11 of the driving unit 10 is connected to the reducer 12. The reducer 12 is connected to a supporter shaft 21 of the support portions 20. A press roller shaft 31 of a press roller 32 is eccentrically connected to each disk 22 of the support portions 20.

(12) The number of press roller 32 according to the first embodiment of the present invention is only one. This is because the contact with the cervical vertebrae is intermittently achieved in the case the number of press rollers 32 is three or more, so that the pressing effect is insufficient. Thus, rotating only one press roller 32 at a slow speed increases the contact time with the cervical vertebrae and maximizes the pressing effect. As a result of several repeated tests by the present inventor, it has been discovered that about 40 rpm of a rotation speed of the reducer is most effective for strengthening the spinal muscles.

(13) The press roller shaft 31 is fixedly coupled to the inside of disks 22 and does not rotate by itself. Alternatively, the press roller shaft 31 may be connected in a manner being rotatable by itself, and a bearing may be provided at a connected portion to reduce frictional force. The press roller 32 is fitted over the press roller shaft 31 so as to be rotatable by itself. A material of the press roller 32 may be rubber, stretchable plastic, or the like.

(14) A force transmitted by the motor 11 through the supporter shaft 21 connected to the reducer 12 causes the disks 22 to rotate, and the press roller shaft 31 connected to the inside of the disks 22 performs the circular motion. When the press roller 32 comes into close contact with the back in accordance with the circular motions of the disks 22 and the press roller shaft 31, the press roller 32 presses the spinal muscles while rotating. As illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 5, the diameter of the press roller 32 is greater than the diameter of the disks 22.

(15) FIGS. 3a, 3b, 3c and 3d illustrate that an eccentric circular motion of the press roller 32 in order as the disk 22 rotates. FIG. 3a illustrates the topmost position of the press roller 32, and FIG. 3c illustrates the bottom position of the press roller 32. In FIG. 3a, the pressing is performed.

(16) As illustrated in FIG. 5, the housing is constructed such that a lower surface thereof is flat and a partition wall is provided between the driving unit 10 and adjacent one of the support portions 20. In addition, the housing is constructed such that side walls thereof are trapezoidal and an upper portion thereof is opened such that the press portion 30 protrudes. A hole is formed in the partition wall to allow a shaft of the reducer to pass therethrough, and a hole is formed in a right wall of the side walls to allow the supporter shaft 21 to pass therethrough. In addition, a driving unit cover 41 is provided to cover the driving unit 10.

(17) FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate a device for strengthening spinal muscles according to a second embodiment of the present invention, wherein springs 24 support the press roller shaft 31 to press the spinal muscles dynamically according to the curves of the spine.

(18) In the device for strengthening spinal muscles according to the second embodiment of the present invention, one of the two support portions 20 is connected to a shaft 13 of the reducer 12 through the supporter shaft 21 provided on an outer side of a corresponding disk 22, and the other support portion 20 is connected to the right wall of the housing 40.

(19) Each of the disks 22 has the supporter shaft 21 on the outer side thereof and has a rectangular recess 23a in the inner side by a predetermined depth so as to be positioned in the supporter shaft 21. The recess 23a is rectangular in which an upper edge thereof is round and a lower edge thereof is flat. The spring 24 and a supporter 25 are inserted into the recess 23a to support the press roller shaft 31. In addition, a cover 26 is provided to cover the recess 23a, so that the separation of the spring 24 and the supporter 25 is prevented. Multiple bolt holes 28 are provided around the recess 23a to fasten bolts 27. The cover 26 has a rectangular cover opening 29 with rounded upper and lower edges so that the press roller shaft 31 moves up and down dynamically by the movement of the springs 24.

(20) In addition, in order to fasten the cover 26 to the disk 22, multiple bolt holes 28 are provided in the cover 26, corresponding to the number of bolt holes 28 provided in the disk 22.

(21) An upper portion of the supporter 25 is semi-circular to receive the press roller shaft 31 thereon and a lower portion thereof is flat. The spring 24 is positioned under the supporter 25. When the press roller 32 comes into close contact with the back, the press roller 32 moves up and down dynamically according to the curves of the spine, so that a high-intensity force is not applied to a local region.

(22) FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate that support portions 20 identical to those of the second embodiment are disposed symmetrically about a support plate shaft 21 according to a third embodiment of the present invention. In detail, recesses 23b are symmetrically provided on the opposite sides of recesses 23a, and the recesses 23a accommodate springs 24, supporters 25, covers 26, and a press portion 30.

DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCE NUMERALS IN THE DRAWINGS

(23) 10: Driving unit

(24) 11: Motor 12: Reducer

(25) 13: Reducer shaft

(26) 20: Support portion

(27) 21: Supporter shaft 22: Disk

(28) 23a, 23b: Recess 24: Spring

(29) 25: Supporter 26: Cover

(30) 27: Bolt 28: Bolt hole

(31) 29: Cover opening

(32) 30: Press portion

(33) 31: Press roller shaft 32: Press roller

(34) 40: Housing

(35) 41: Driving unit cover