Hoop for self-applied chiropractic care

Abstract

An apparatus for self-administering therapeutic pressure to provide chiropractic treatment to a user comprising a first and second side rails; wherein the first and the second side rails are parallel to each other, further the side rails comprises a fixable telescopic arrangement to fixedly adjust length of the side rails; a font cross rail, wherein the font cross rail acts as a thrust vector to provide desired pressure by the user; a back cross rail comprising at least one acupressure tip aligned substantially parallel to the side rails, wherein first and second side rails, the font cross rail and the back cross rail form a closed frame, whereby the adjustable side rails provide fixable adjustment of the frame depending on the user's needs. An upper cross rail, wherein the upper cross rail further comprises first padded upper rest points to act as a fulcrum between the font cross rail and the acupressure tip during the chiropractic treatment to a user's lower spinal area, whereby desired therapeutic pressure is self-administered by the user to provide chiropractic treatment to various body areas through the acupressure tip. In the preferred embodiment, this is through the use of the hoop formed by the rails that extends around the body and is held in front of the self-treating person, with the angles of the side rails extending down the side presenting a ready measure of the angle of the treating instrument on the spine.

Claims

1. An apparatus for self-administering therapeutic pressure to provide chiropractic treatment to a user wherein the apparatus comprises: a first side rail and a second side rail; wherein said first side rail and said second side rail are parallel to each other; a front cross rail, wherein said front cross rail acts as a thrust vector to provide desired pressure by the user; a back cross rail with a therapy device affixed thereto with at least one acupressure tip aligned substantially parallel to the side rails, wherein said first and second side rails, said front cross rail and said back cross rail form a closed frame; and a lower cross rail disposed medially between said back cross rail and said front cross rail connecting said first and second side rails; an upper cross rail, wherein said upper cross rail is disposed medially between said back cross rail and said front cross rail connecting said first and second side rails, said upper cross rail being displaced above said lower cross rail, wherein said upper cross rail further comprises a pair of padded forearm rest points to act as an alternate fulcrum between said front cross rail and said at least one acupressure tip during the chiropractic treatment to a user; wherein said lower cross rail further comprises a pair of padded forearm rest points to act as a fulcrum between said front cross rail and said at least one acupressure tip during the chiropractic treatment to a user, whereby the apparatus is configured to deliver self-administered desired therapeutic pressure to various body areas through said at least one acupressure tip.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said side rails comprise a fixable telescopic assembly to fixedly adjust a length of said side rails.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said telescopic assembly comprises an inner piston and a screw constrictor to lock said inner piston at a desired position to fixedly adjust the length of said side rails.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said therapy device is an impact tool.

5. An apparatus for self-administering therapeutic pressure to provide chiropractic treatment to a user wherein the apparatus comprises: a first side rail and a second side rail; wherein said first side rail and said second side rail are parallel to each other; a front cross rail, wherein said front cross rail acts as a thrust vector to provide desired pressure by the user; a back cross rail with a therapy device affixed thereto with at least one acupressure tip aligned substantially parallel to the side rails, wherein said first and second side rails, said front cross rail and said back cross rail form a closed frame; a lower cross rail disposed medially between said back cross rail and said front cross rail connecting said first and second side rails, wherein said lower cross rail further comprises a pair of padded forearm rest points to act as a fulcrum between said front cross rail and said at least one acupressure tip during the chiropractic treatment to a user; and an upper cross rail, wherein said upper cross rail is disposed medially between said back cross rail and said front cross rail connecting said first and second side rails, said upper cross rail being displaced above said lower cross rail, wherein said upper cross rail further comprises a pair of padded forearm rest points to act as an alternate fulcrum between said front cross rail and said at least one acupressure tip during the chiropractic treatment to a user, whereby the apparatus is configured to deliver self-administered desired therapeutic pressure through said lower cross rail or said upper cross rail to provide chiropractic treatment to various body areas through said at least one acupressure tip.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said side rails comprise a fixable telescopic assembly to fixedly adjust a length of said side rails.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the telescopic assembly comprises an inner piston and a screw constrictor to lock said inner piston at a desired position to fixedly adjust the length of said side rails.

8. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the therapy device is an impact tool.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 illustrates a top perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

(3) FIG. 2 illustrates a forward perspective view of the cross members of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

(4) FIG. 3 illustrates a rear view of a therapy device such as an impact tool used in conjunction with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

(5) FIG. 4 illustrates a detail of a side member adjustment portion of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

(6) FIG. 5A illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention in use with the lower cross members in use for support;

(7) FIG. 5B illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention in use with the upper cross members in use for support; and

(8) FIG. 6 illustrates a side perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

(9) Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(10) The appended claims particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter of this invention. The various objects, advantages and novel features of this invention will be more fully apparent from a reading of the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals refer to like parts.

(11) As depicted in FIG. 1 in an exemplary embodiment of the disclosed invention showing an apparatus 100 for self-administering therapeutic pressure to provide chiropractic treatment to a user, wherein the apparatus 100 comprises a first side rail 106 and a second side rail 104 connected by front cross rail 108 and a back cross rail 110 thereby forming a closed frame 102. As shown in FIG. 4, the first side rail 106 and the second side rail 104 there are a pair of telescoping assemblies 116 disposed along the length of the side rails 106, 104 comprising an inner piston 120 that may slidably inserted into the forward portion of the side rails 106, 104. When the desired length of the side rails 106, 104 is set, then a locking means 118, such as a screw constrictor, may then set the length such that the set length is stable.

(12) Traversing the closed frame are an upper cross rail 112 and a lower cross rail 114, each connected to the side rails 106, 104. Disposed on the lower portion of the upper cross rail 112, is a pair of upper padded forearm rests 128. Disposed on the lower portion of the lower cross rail 114, is a second pair of lower padded forearm rests 126.

(13) Disposed medially on the back cross rail 110 is a percussive therapy device 122 with an acupressure tip 124 as illustrated in FIG. 3.

(14) In construction the invention may be formed of plastics, lightweight tubing, or even standard off-the-shelf PVC components as depicted in FIG. 6. The padded forearm rests may be of neoprene, foam, or a combination of materials that will permit the weight of the invention to be readily supported on the forearms of the user without discomfort. The therapy device 122 affixed to the back cross rail 110 may be of the type commonly used for impact or acupressure therapies, including those such as the Arthrostim™ impact tool.

(15) In operation the user 10 places themselves within the closed frame 102 and adjusted the side rails 104, 106 to the desired length to accommodate the size and shape of the user. Depending on the portion of the spine to be treated the user 10 places their arms under the lower cross rail 114 with the lower padded forearm rests 126 atop their arms and grasps the front cross rail 108 as depicted in FIG. 5A. The acupressure tip 124 may then me placed at the specific point and angle of impact desired for effective therapies.

(16) To permit better treatment of different areas of the back and different angles of impact, the user may elect to place their arms medially between the lower cross rail 114 and the upper cross rail 112 with the upper padded forearm rests 128 atop their arms and grasp the front cross rail 108 as depicted in FIG. 5B. Such a configuration permits the user 10 to better access different portions of their spine and at different angles for the incidence of impact and pressure therapies with the acupressure tip 124.

(17) To permit treatment of different areas and to further facilitate different angles of pressure or impact, the user may elect to place one arm medially between the lower cross rail 114 and the upper cross rail 112 with the upper padded forearm rest 128 atop one arm grasping the front cross rail 108, with the second arm placed under the lower cross rail 114 with the lower padded forearm rest 126 atop the second arm grasping the front cross rail 108.

(18) Further modifications may include additional rails connecting the upper cross rail 112 and lower cross rail 114 to provide additional points for a user to grip, in addition to the front cross rail.

(19) To permit rotational or kneading treatments of different areas and to further facilitate different angles of pressure or impact, the user may elect to rotate and or move the cross rail 108 during the application of therapies, thus translating the movement and or rotation applied to the cross rail 108 to the acupressure tip 124 during treatment, broadening the scope of available therapies that may be self-administered.

(20) As shown in FIG. 6, a cord 132 with a remote switch may be used to active the therapy device 122. As well, by applying forward pressure to the front cross rail 108, the user 10 has direct control over the force applied by the acupressure tip 124 on the spine and by raising and lowering the front cross rail 108, the closed frame 102 pivots on the users forearms permitting adjustments in angle and placement of the acupressure tip 124.

(21) According to an aspect of the present invention as shown in FIGS. 1-6, an apparatus 100 for self-administering therapeutic pressure to provide chiropractic treatment to a user wherein the apparatus 100 comprises: a first side rail 106 and a second side rail 104; wherein said first side rail 106 and said second side rail 104 are parallel to each other, further said side rails 106,104 comprises a fixable telescopic assembly 116 to fixedly adjust length of said side rails 106,104; a font cross rail 108, wherein said font cross rail 108 acts as a thrust vector to provide desired pressure administered by the user; a back cross rail 110 with a therapy device 122 affixed thereto with at least one acupressure tip 124 aligned substantially parallel to the side rails 106,104, wherein said first and second side rails 106,104, said font cross rail 108 and said back cross rail 106 form a closed frame 102; a lower cross rail 114 disposed medially between said back cross rail 110 and said front cross rail 108 connecting said first and second side rails 106,104, wherein said lower cross rail 114 further comprises a pair of padded forearm rest points 126 to act as a fulcrum between said front cross rail 108 and said acupressure tip 124 during the chiropractic treatment to a user; and an upper cross rail 112, wherein said upper cross rail 112 is disposed medially between said back cross rail 110 and said front cross rail 108 connecting said first and second side rails 106,104, said upper cross rail 112 being displaced above said lower cross rail 114, wherein said upper cross rail 112 further comprises a pair of padded forearm rest points 128 to act as an alternate fulcrum between said font cross rail 108 and said acupressure tip 124 during the chiropractic treatment to a user, whereby the user electively place their arms and self-administer desired therapeutic pressure on the lower cross rail 114 or the upper cross rail 112 to provide chiropractic treatment to various body areas through the acupressure tip 124.

(22) According to another aspect of the present invention, the telescopic assembly 116 comprises an inner piston 120 and a screw constrictor 118 to lock the inner piston 120 at a desired position to fixedly adjust length of the side rails 106,104.

(23) According to another aspect of the present invention, the therapy device 122 is an impact tool including those such as the Arthrostim™ impact tool, wherein the therapy device 122 is wired 132 or wirelessly controlled by a remote controller or at least a remote switch.

(24) These and other advantages of the invention will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference to the provided written specification, claims and appended drawings.

(25) The foregoing detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the described embodiments or the application and uses of the described embodiments. As used herein, the word “exemplary” or “illustrative” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described herein as “exemplary” or “illustrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. All of the implementations described are exemplary implementations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to make or use the embodiments of the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure, which is defined by the claims. For purposes of description herein, the terms such as “upper,” “lower,” “rear,” “forward,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in FIG. 1. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented. It is also to be understood that the specific device and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the foregoing specification, are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are therefore not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise.

(26) Because many modifications, variations, and changes in detail can be made to the described preferred embodiments of the invention, it is intended that all matters in the foregoing description and shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalence.