US006123392A

Ulllted States Patent [ 19] [ 11] Patent N u m b er : 6, 123, 392

Alf r ed et al. [ 4 5 ] Date o f Patent: Sep . 26, 2000
[ 5 4 ] CHIROPRACTIC ADJUSTIN G CHAIR 4 , 5 4 2, 936 9/ 198 5 Gaf k en .
4 , 930, 8 4 2 6/ 1990 Wilk inso n et a1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 297/ 4 66
[ 76] Inv ento r s: J e? ' R. Alf r ed, 205 0 S. Wo o dlands 5 , 04 0, 5 22 8 / 1991 Daniels - - - - - - - - - ~ - -
V illag e Blv d F lag staf f , Ar iz 8 6001; g alto n . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ter esa GI Alf r ed, Ro adr u nner , , o g an . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
L a , F lag staf f , Ar iZ ' 8 6004 5 , 8 06, 929 9/ 1998 Cho l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 297/ 4 66 X
F OREIGN PATEN T DOCUMEN TS
[ 21] APPl- N ~ 1 09/ 5 15 , 04 0 115 768 4 / 195 6 F r anc e . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 297/ 4 66
[ 22] F iled: Mar . 6, 2000
Related US. Ap p lic atio n Data
[ 63] Co ntinu atio n o f ap p lic atio n N o . 09/ 273, 5 04 , Mar . 22, 1999,
ab ando ned.
[ 60] Pr o v isio nal ap p lic atio n N o . 60/ 08 5 , 5 27, May 14 , 1998 .
[ 5 1] Int. Cl. 7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A4 7C 7/ 5 0
[ 5 2] US. Cl. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 297/ 4 66; 297/ 4 23. 17; 297/ 4 23. 1;
297/ 4 23. 12
[ 5 8 ] F ield o f Sear c h . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 297/ 4 66, 195 . 11,
297/ 4 23. 12, 4 23. 17, 4 23. 37, 34 4 . 18 , 4 23. 1
[ 5 6] Ref er enc es Cited
U. S. PATEN T DOCUMEN TS
D. 28 6, 8 22 11/ 198 6 Op SV ik .
D. 291, 15 5 8 / 198 7 Wer theim er .
D. 292, 8 5 3 11/ 198 7 Op SV ik .
D. 294 , 5 4 5 3/ 198 8 Op SV ik .
D. 295 , 119 4 / 198 8 Gu sr u d .
D. 299, 5 94 1/ 198 9 Ric har dso n .
D. 34 8 , 5 68 7/ 1994 L andr y .
4 8 5 , 277 11/ 18 92 Hu nter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 297/ 4 66
4 , 065 , 18 0 12/ 1977 K ar ay 297/ 4 66
4 , 192, 5 4 6 3/ 198 0 Sm ith . . . . . . . . 297/ 4 66
4 , 300, 24 9 11/ 198 1 Taylo r . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 297/ 4 23. 17 X
4 , 4 31, 234 2/ 198 4 L ac ey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 297/ 4 66 X
Pr im ar y Exam iner Peter M. Cu o m o
Assistant Exam iner Ro dney B. White
Atto r ney, Ag ent, o r F ir m Ric har d C. L itm an
[ 5 7] ABSTRACT
A c hir o p r ac tic adj u sting c hair inc lu des b r ac ing f o r r estr ain
ing later al m o v em ent o f the leg s o f a p er so n seated ther eo n,
f o r aiding in the m anip u latio n o f v ar io u s ar eas o f the sp ine
o f a p atient b y a c hir o p r ac to r , ther ap ist, o r o ther health
p r o f essio nal. The c hair inc lu des a b ase ( Whic h m ay b e
adj u stab le f o r heig ht) , a seat, and a p air o f adj u stab le
extensio ns f o r g ener ally im m o b ilizing the leg s. The exten
sio ns ar e p r ef er ab ly adj u stab ly m o u nted to the u nder side o f
the seat p o r tio n su c h that they ar e adj u stab le lo ng itu dinally
and ar c u ately in ho r izo ntal and v er tic al p lanes. The f o r w ar d
o r distal end o f eac h extensio n is p r o v ided With a p added
b r ac e f o r ho lding the lo Wer extr em ities o f the p atient. The
extensio ns ar e then adj u sted to lim it the m o v em ent o f the
p atient s lo Wer extr em ities, ther eb y stab ilizing the lo Wer
b o dy du r ing the sp ine o r u p p er b o dy m anip u latio n p r o c edu r e
and p r ec lu ding o r g r eatly r edu c ing r o tatio n o f the leg s and
p elv ic ar eas o f the p atient. The b r ac es at the distal ends o f
the extensio ns m ay c o m p r ise v ar io u s f o r m s, su c h as g ener
ally L , U, o r c ir c u lar c o n? g u r atio ns, as desir ed and dep end
ing u p o n the deg r ee o f leg r estr aint desir ed.
20 Claim s, 4 Dr aw ing Sheets
U. S. Patent Sep . 26, 2000 Sheet 1 o f 4 6, 123, 392
U. S. Patent Sep . 26, 2000 Sheet 2 o f 4 6, 123, 392
4 8 4 2 k
4 6c
4 0/
. L A
F IG. 2A
U. S. Patent Sep . 26, 2000 Sheet 3 o f 4 6, 123, 392
U. S. Patent Sep . 26, 2000 Sheet 4 o f 4 6, 123, 392
4 2
\
4 4
4 4
F ig . 4 B
6, 123, 392
1
CHIROPRACTIC ADJUSTIN G CHAIR
REF EREN CE TO REL ATED PATEN T
APPL ICATION S
This ap p lic atio n is a c o ntinu atio n o f Us. p atent ap p lic a
tio n Ser . N o . 09/ 273, 5 04 , ? led Mar . 22, 1999, no W ab an
do ned and c laim s the b ene? t o f Us. Pr o v isio nal Patent
Ap p lic atio n Ser . N o . 60/ 08 5 , 5 27, ? led o n May 14 , 1998 .
BACK GROUN D OF THE IN V EN TION
1. F ield o f the Inv entio n
The p r esent inv entio n r elates g ener ally to c hair s and the
lik e f o r seating o r su p p o r ting a p er so n, and m o r e sp ec i? c ally
to a c hair f o r u se b y c hir o p r ac tic p r o f essio nals f o r f ac ilitat
ing m anip u latio n o f the v er teb r ae o f a p atient. The p atient is
seated in the p r esent c hair , and leg r estr aining m eans stab i
liZ e the lo Wer extr em ities to p r ec lu de their later al r o tatio n
When the u p p er b o dy and sp ine ar e ther ap eu tic ally r o tated.
2. Desc r ip tio n o f Related Ar t
Chir o p r ac tic ther ap y has enj o yed ev er inc r easing p o p u
lar ity as p eo p le hav e disc o v er ed its b ene? ts. A c o m m o n
c hir o p r ac tic p r o c edu r e is the to r sio nal m anip u latio n o f the
sac r al, lo Wer lu m b ar , and tho r ac ic r eg io ns o f the sp ine,
Wher ein the u p p er to r so o f the p atient is tWisted o r tu r ned to
the lef t and r ig ht While the hip s and lo Wer b o dy ar e held
r elativ ely statio nar y.
Tr aditio nal exam inatio n tab les hav e no t b een desig ned f o r
the sp ec i? c stab iliZ atio n o f the lo Wer b o dy f o r m anip u latio ns
o f this typ e. F o r this r easo n, c hir o p r ac to r s ar e o f ten tau g ht to
hav e their p atients Wr ap their leg s ar o u nd the leg s o f the
exam inatio n tab le in an ef f o r t to p r ev ent m o v em ent o f the
lo Wer extr em ities alo ng With the to r so . While this m etho d is
f u nc tio nal, it dep ends lar g ely u p o n the p atients ab ility to
stab iliZ e his o r her o Wn lo Wer b o dy, and do es no t help tho se
p atients Who ar e no t ab le to c o nto r t their b o dies in su c h a
Way.
Ac c o r ding ly, a need Will b e seen f o r a c hir o p r ac tic adj u st
ing c hair Whic h inc lu des m eans f o r stab iliZ ing the hip s and
lo Wer extr em ities o f a p atient seated ther ein, f o r p r ec lu ding
r o tatio nal m o tio n ther eo f . This allo Ws the u p p er b o dy to b e
r o tated o r tWisted r elativ e to the lo Wer b o dy f o r ther ap y o f
the sp ine and asso c iated m u sc les and str u c tu r e, While the
lo Wer p o r tio n o f the b o dy o f the p atient is held r elativ ely
statio nar y b y the p r esent c hair . Adisc u ssio n o f the r elated ar t
o f Whic h the p r esent inv ento r is aWar e, and its dif f er enc es
and distinc tio ns f r o m the p r esent inv entio n, is p r o v ided
b elo W.
US. Pat. N o . 4 , 5 4 2, 936 issu ed o n Sep . 24 , 198 5 to Dav id
M. Gaf k en, titled Chir o p r ac to r s Exam inatio n Chair ,
desc r ib es A g ener ally H- shap ed f r am e hav ing a ? xed c ir c u
lar c hair at o ne j u nc tu r e o f the f r am e, and a sec o nd c hair
sec u r ed to the c r o ssm em b er to sWing in a ho r iZ o ntal ar c
ab o u t its attac h p o int With the c r o ssm em b er . N o m eans o f
r estr aining later al m o v em ent o f the leg s is p r o v ided b y the
Gaf k en c hair , Wher eas the p r esent c hir o p r ac tic adj u sting
c hair p r o v ides later al r etaining m eans f o r p r ec lu ding later al
leg m o tio n o f a p atient seated in the c hair . Also , the p r esent
inv entio n c o m p r ises o nly a sing le seating su r f ac e, With the
c hir o p r ac to r u sing a sep ar ate seat o r c hair o r r em aining u p
and m o b ile f o r m anip u latio n o f the p atient as r eq u ir ed.
US. Pat. N o . D- 28 6, 8 22 issu ed o n N o v . 25 , 198 6 to Peter
Op sv ik , titled Co m b ined Ro c k ing Chair And K neeler ,
illu str ates a desig n f o r a k neeling typ e c hair , in Whic h a p air
o f k nee o r shin p ads ar e p o sitio ned in f r o nt o f a seating
su r f ac e. The u ser sits u p o n the seating su r f ac e With the k nees
10
15
20
35
4 0
4 5
5 0
5 5
60
65
2
o r shins r esting u p o n the k nee o r shin p ad p o r tio ns o f the
c hair . A p air o f r o c k er s extends f o r War dly f r o m b eneath the
seating su r f ac e, With o ne o f the k nee p ads disp o sed at the
r aised end o f eac h r o c k er . N o later al r estr aining m eans is
p r o v ided f o r the leg s o f a p er so n u sing the Op sv ik r o c k ing
k neeling c hair , and the instab ility o f the r o c k ing c hair is no t
su itab le f o r u se as a c hir o p r ac tic c hair .
U. S. Pat. N o . D- 291, 15 5 issu ed o n Au g . 4 , 198 7 to Ro g er
Wer theim er , titled Or tho p edic Chair , illu str ates a desig n
f o r a k neeling typ e c hair su p p o r ted b y c aster s b eneath the
f r am e. The k nee o r shin p ads extend u p War dly f r o m tWo o f
the f r am e m em b er s, b u t no later al r estr aint m eans is p r o
v ided f o r the leg s o f a p er so n u sing the Wer theim er c hair ,
Wher eas the p r esent c hair p r o v ides su c h later al r estr aint
m eans f o r p r ec lu ding m o v em ent o f the lo Wer b o dy o f a
p atient du r ing c hir o p r ac tic m anip u latio n.
U. S. Pat. N o . D- 292, 8 5 3 issu ed o n N o v . 24 , 198 7 to
PeWter Op sv ik , titled Chair , illu str ates a desig n f o r a
k neeling typ e c hair su p p o r ted o n f o u r ? xed leg s. The r ear
leg s su p p o r t a seating su r f ac e, While the f r o nt leg s su p p o r t
a sing le later al k nee o r shin su p p o r t. The k nee o r shin
su p p o r t and seat ar e c o nnec ted b y a c entr al b r ac e. N o later al
leg r estr aining m eans is p r o v ided b y o p sv ik f o r his c hair
desig n.
U. S. Pat. N o . D- 294 , 5 4 5 issu ed o n Mar . 8 , 198 8 to Peter
Op sv ik , titled Seat Cu shio n And Su p p o r t Unit F o r A
Co m b ined Seat And K neeler , illu str ates a desig n f o r a
c aster ed u nit ap p ar ently hav ing a c o nnec to r extending f o r
War dly f r o m the f r am e ther eo f . Only the seating p o r tio n is
illu str ated; no k nee o r shin su p p o r ts o r p ads ar e sho Wn,
m u c h less any later al r estr aint m eans f o r the leg s o f a p er so n
seated o r b r ac ed ther eo n.
U. S. Pat. N o . D- 295 , 119 issu ed o n Ap r . 12, 198 8 to Sv ein
A. Gu sr u d, titled Chair , illu str ates a desig n hav ing a
seating su r f ac e and k nee su p p o r t su r f ac e. The r em ar k s o f the
Gu sr u d disc lo su r e state that the c hair has a lo Wer su p p o r t
ing m em b er to eng ag e the shins o f the u ser , b u t no later al
r estr aining m eans f o r the leg s o f a p er so n u sing the Gu sr u d
c hair , is ap p ar ent.
U. S. Pat. N o . D- 299, 5 94 issu ed o n Jan. 31, 198 9 to
Bev er ly J. Ric har dso n, titled Ther ap eu tic Po stu r e Chair ,
illu str ates a desig n f o r a k neeling typ e c hair hav ing tWo
sep ar ate shin su p p o r ts. While the shin su p p o r ts hav e slig htly
c o nc av e su r f ac es f o r g r eater c o m f o r t, they do no t inc lu de
any m eans f o r p r ec lu ding later al m o v em ent o f the u p p er o r
lo Wer leg s o r shins When the u p p er b o dy is tu r ned o r tWisted,
Wher eas the p r esent c hir o p r ac tic adj u sting c hair inc lu des
su c h leg b r ac es o r sto p s f o r the leg s o f a p er so n seated in the
p r esent c hair .
U. S. Pat. N o . D- 34 8 , 5 68 issu ed o n Ju l. 12, 1994 to
Sylv ain L andr y, titled Chair , illu str ates a desig n f o r a
k neeling typ e c hair hav ing a sing le later al shin o r k nee
su p p o r t, sim ilar to the c hair disc lo sed in the Op sv ik 8 5 3
US. Desig n Patent disc u ssed f u r ther ab o v e. While the
L andr y c hair ap p ear s to p r o v ide so m e adj u stm ent o f v ar io u s
c o m p o nents ther eo f , no later al r estr aining m eans f o r the leg s
is p r o v ided b y L andr y f o r his c hair .
Ger m an Patent Pu b lic atio n N o . 2, 728 , 062 p u b lished o n
Jan. 11, 1979 desc r ib es ( ac c o r ding to the Eng lish ab str ac t) a
c hair With an adj u stab le f o o tr est. The sc hem atic natu r e o f the
dr aWing s do no t indic ate any f o r m o f later al r etaining m eans
f o r the leg s o f a p er so n seated o n the c hair .
F inally, Eu r o p ean Patent Pu b lic atio n N o . 17, 4 5 0 p u b
lished o n Oc t. 15 , 198 0, titled A Sitting Dev ic e, desc r ib es
a k neeling typ e c hair hav ing r o c k er s, so m eWhat sim ilar to
the c hair disc lo sed in the 28 6 US. Desig n Patent to Op sv ik ,
6, 123, 392
3
Who is o ne o f the c o - inv ento r s sho w n in the 4 5 0 Eu r o p ean
Patent Pu b lic atio n. As in the 28 6 US. Desig n Patent, no
later al leg r etaining m eans is p r o v ided in the 4 5 0 Eu r o p ean
Patent Pu b lic atio n, Wher eas su c h leg r etaining m eans is a
p ar t o f the p r esent c hir o p r ac tic adj u stm ent c hair inv entio n.
N o ne o f the ab o v e inv entio ns and p atents, either sing ly o r
in c o m b inatio n, is seen to desc r ib e the instant inv entio n as
c laim ed.
SUMMARY OF THE IN V EN TION
A c hair f o r aiding in the m anip u latio n o f the v er teb r ae o f
the sp ine o f a p atient b y a c hir o p r ac to r , ther ap ist o r o ther
health p r o f essio nal inc lu des a b ase, a seat, and a p air o f
adj u stab le extensio ns f o r r etaining the leg s o f a p er so n
seated ther eo n and p r ec lu ding later al m o v em ent o f his o r her
leg s. The extensio ns ar e m o u nted to the u nder side o f the seat
p o r tio n su c h that they ar e adj u stab le in thr ee dim ensio ns.
The f o r War d end o f eac h extensio n is p r o v ided With a p added
b r ac e Whic h is u sed to eng ag e the lo Wer extr em ities o f the
p atient. The extensio ns ar e then adj u sted to lim it the m o v e
m ent o f the lo Wer extr em ities, ther eb y stab iliZ ing the lo Wer
b o dy du r ing the m anip u latio n. Mo v em ent o f the lo Wer b o dy,
and p ar tic u lar ly the leg s and p elv ic ar eas, is p r ec lu ded o r
g r eatly r edu c ed While the m id- sec tio n and to r so ar e r o tated
o r o ther Wise m anip u lated in adj u sting v er teb r ae f r o m the
lu m b ar to the tho r ac ic r eg io ns.
The p added b r ac es o f the p r esent c hair m ay tak e m any
f o r m s inc lu ding a sim p le r ig ht ang le b r ac e that lim its later al
m o v em ent. A U- shap ed b r ac e m ay b e u sed to lim it m o v e
m ent later ally and lo ng itu dinally o r v er tic ally, dep ending
u p o n its p lac em ent r elativ e to the leg o f a p er so n in the c hair .
A sleev e- lik e b r ac e m ay also b e u sed, and is b ene? c ial if
p iv o tally m o u nted to the extensio n.
Ac c o r ding ly, it is a p r inc ip al o b j ec t o f the inv entio n to
p r o v ide a c hir o p r ac tic adj u sting c hair f o r stab iliZ ing the
lo Wer b o dy to f ac ilitate adj u stm ent and m anip u latio n o f the
v er teb r ae o f a p er so n seated in the c hair .
It is a f u r ther o b j ec t o f the inv entio n to p r o v ide a c hir o
p r ac tic adj u sting c hair inc lu ding a p air o f extensio ns o r ar m s
f o r b r ac ing the leg s o f a p er so n seated o n the c hair , f o r
p r ec lu ding su b stantial later al m o v em ent o f the leg s.
It is ano ther o b j ec t o f the inv entio n to p r o v ide a c hir o
p r ac tic adj u sting c hair Whic h extensio ns m ay b e adj u stab le
lo ng itu dinally and ar c u ately in v er tic al and ho r iZ o ntal
p lanes, as desir ed.
Yet ano ther o b j ec t o f the inv entio n is to p r o v ide a c hir o
p r ac tic adj u sting c hair Whic h leg r estr aining extensio ns
inc lu de leg r estr aining b r ac es at their distal ends.
Still ano ther o b j ec t o f the inv entio n is to p r o v ide a
c hir o p r ac tic adj u sting c hair Whic h leg r estr aining b r ac es
m ay c o m p r ise L - , U- , o r c ir c u lar r estr aining elem ents f o r
sec u r ing adj ac ent o r ab o u t the leg s o f a p er so n seated o n the
c hair , With the b r ac e elem ents b eing p added as desir ed f o r
the c o m f o r t o f a p er so n u sing the p r esent c hair .
It is an o b j ec t o f the inv entio n to p r o v ide im p r o v ed
elem ents and ar r ang em ents ther eo f in an ap p ar atu s f o r the
p u r p o ses desc r ib ed Whic h is inexp ensiv e, dep endab le and
f u lly ef f ec tiv e in ac c o m p lishing its intended p u r p o ses.
These and o ther o b j ec ts o f the p r esent inv entio n Will
b ec o m e r eadily ap p ar ent u p o n f u r ther r ev ieW o f the f o llo W
ing sp ec i? c atio n and dr aWing s.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWIN GS
F IG. 1 is an env ir o nm ental, p er sp ec tiv e v ieW o f the
p r esent c hir o p r ac tic adj u sting c hair , sho Wing its u se and
o p er atio n.
10
15
25
35
4 5
5 5
65
4
F IG. 2A is a to p p lan v ieW o f the distal p o r tio n o f a leg
r estr aint extensio n o r ar m u sed With the p r esent c hair ,
sho Wing a sleev e- typ e p added b r ac e ther eo n.
F IG. 2B is a to p p lan v ieW o f a leg r estr aint extensio n
hav ing a g ener ally L - shap ed o r r ig ht ang le b r ac e With
elo ng ated p added sec tio n.
F IG. 2C is a to p p lan v ieW o f a leg r estr aint extensio n
hav ing a g ener ally U- shap ed p added b r ac e.
F IG. 3A is a side elev atio n v ieW o f the c hir o p r ac tic
adj u sting c hair o f the p r esent inv entio n, sho Wing an exem
p lar y adj u sting p o sitio n f o r the extensio n and leg b r ac e o f
F IG. 2A.
F IG. 3B is a side elev atio n v ieW o f an alter nativ e p o sitio n
o f the extensio n and leg b r ac e o f F IG. 3A.
F IG. 4 A is a b o tto m p lan v ieW o f the u nder side o f the
p r esent c hir o p r ac tic adj u sting c hair , sho Wing the tWo exten
sio ns With the U- shap ed b r ac es o f F IG. 2C adj u sted later ally
o u tWar dly f r o m o ne ano ther .
F IG. 4 B is a b o tto m p lan v ieW o f the u nder side o f the
p r esent c hir o p r ac tic adj u sting c hair , sho Wing the tWo exten
sio ns o f F IG. 4 A adj u sted to War d o ne ano ther .
Sim ilar r ef er enc e c har ac ter s deno te c o r r esp o nding f ea
tu r es c o nsistently thr o u g ho u t the attac hed dr aWing s.
DETAIL ED DESCRIPTION OF THE
PREF ERRED EMBODIMEN T
The p r esent inv entio n c o m p r ises a c hir o p r ac tic adj u sting
c hair f o r u se in r estr aining o r p r ec lu ding later al m o v em ent
o f the leg s and p elv ic ar eas o f the b o dy o f a p atient seated
ther eo n, du r ing to r sio nal m anip u latio n o f v ar io u s ar eas o f
the sp ine and/ o r u p p er b o dy b y a c hir o p r ac to r , p hysic al
ther ap ist, o r o ther health p r o f essio nal. The p r esent c hair is
desig nated b y the r ef er enc e nu m er al 1 thr o u g ho u t the dr aW
ing F ig u r es, and is sho Wn in u se in F IG. 1 o f the dr aWing s.
The c hair 1 inc lu des a b ase 10 hav ing a g ener ally H- shap ed
p latf o r m , a seat p o r tio n 30, and tWo adj u stab le ar m s 4 0. The
b ase 10 m ay inc lu de a sec tio n f o r a p o Wer lif t ( either
elec tr o nic o r hydr au lic ) and a sec tio n f o r a Weig ht to ho ld the
b ase 10 in p lac e.
The c r o ss b r ac e 12 o f the H- shap ed b ase 10 extends
b etWeen the tWo p ar allel leg s 14 , b u t the f o r War d leg
p o r tio ns 14 a, i. e. , tho se leg p o r tio ns disp o sed f o r War dly o f
the c r o ssm em b er 12, ar e so m eWhat lo ng er than the o p p o site
r ear War d leg p o r tio ns 14 b . A g ener ally v er tic al seat p o st o r
p edestal 16 extends u p War dly f r o m the c enter o f the c r o ss
b r ac e 12, to su p p o r t the seat p o r tio n 30 ther eo n. The seat
su p p o r t p edestal 16 m ay b e adj u stab le ( b y p o Wer o r m anu al
m eans) in heig ht if so desir ed, f o r adj u stm ent to a Wide
v ar iety o f p atient siZ es. Su c h heig ht adj u stm ent m eans m ay
b e c o nv entio nal, e. g . , With the p edestal 16 c o m p r ising
telesc o p ing tu b u lar m em b er s With a ser ies o f later al adj u st
m ent p assag es ther ethr o u g h, thr o u g h Whic h a later al sto p p in
o r the lik e is inser ted at the desir ed p o sitio n to m aintain the
heig ht adj u stm ent as desir ed. Other heig ht adj u stm ent m eans
( e. g . , a helic ally thr eaded sc r eW shaf t thr eaded into a m ating
? tting , etc . ) m ay b e p r o v ided as desir ed.
With the c r o ss b r ac e 12 b eing p o sitio ned r ear War dly o f the
c enter o f the b ase 10, the seat p o st 16 is thu s also disp o sed
r ear War dly, thu s p o sitio ning the seat p o r tio n 30 so m eWhat
r ear War dly o f the v er tic al c enter o f the c hair 1 assem b ly. The
b ase 10 and seat su p p o r t p edestal assem b ly 16 m ay b e m ade
o f any m ater ial su itab le f o r su p p o r ting the Weig ht o f a seated
p atient. Altho u g h the c ho ic e o f m ater ials is g r eat, tu b u lar
steel ( sq u ar e, r o u nd, etc . ) is a p r ef er r ed c o nstr u c tio n m ate
r ial.
6, 123, 392
5
The seat p o r tio n 30 o f the c hair 1 is m o u nted to the u p p er
end o f the seat su p p o r t p o st 16. The seat 30 has no b ac k , in
o r der to allo w the c hir o p r ac to r o r health c ar e p r o f essio nal
c o m p lete ac c ess to the to r so o f a p atient seated o n the c hair .
The seat 30 itself is p r ef er ab ly p added o r u p ho lster ed and
r ec tang u lar in shap e, b u t m ay b e any su itab le shap e o r
c o n? g u r atio n. The seat 30 has a Width su b stantially eq u al to
the Width o f the H- shap ed b ase 10 and is c entr ally disp o sed
u p o n the su p p o r t p o st 16. As the su p p o r t p o st 16 is o f f set
to War d the r ear o f the b ase f r am e 10, it Will b e seen that the
seat 30 installed ther eo n is also o f f set to War d the r ear o f the
f r am e 10. The r ear edg e o f the seat 30 is p o sitio ned ap p r o xi
m ately o v er the r ear War d ends 14 b o f the leg s 14 o f the b ase
10, With the f o r War d edg e o f the seat b eing p o sitio ned
so m eWhat r ear War dly o f the f o r War d ends 14 a o f the leg s 14 .
The lo Wer p o r tio n o f the seat 30 is su f ? c iently str o ng to
su p p o r t the p atient s Weig ht as Well as to allo W m o u nting o f
the extensio ns 4 0 to the seat p o r tio n 30.
Ap air o f extensio n ar m s 4 0 ar e u sed to stab iliZ e the lo Wer
extr em ities o f the p atient u sing the p r esent c hair 1 du r ing
sp inal m anip u latio n. The extensio ns 4 0 ar e m o u nted to
either side o r end o f the u nder side o f the seat 30. Eac h
extensio n 4 0 extends f o r War dly ap p r o xim ately the sam e
distanc e as the f o r War d leg s 14 a o f the H- shap ed b ase 10,
and r ear War dly ab o u t the sam e distanc e as the r ear leg s 14 b
o f the b ase 10. The extensio ns 4 0 m ay also b e p r o v ided With
a b end o r o f f set 4 5 that r aises the f o r War d end 4 2 u p War d to
the lev el o f the seat 30 When the c hair b ase 10 is r esting u p o n
a g ener ally lev el su r f ac e. The extensio ns 4 0 ar e adj u stab le
lo ng itu dinally and ar c u ately in ho r iZ o ntal and v er tic al
p lanes, r elativ e to the c hair 10. This r ang e o f m o v em ent
assu r es a c o m f o r tab le ? t r eg ar dless o f the siZ e o f the p atient.
This also allo Ws the c hir o p r ac to r o r health c ar e p r o f essio nal
to hav e a Wide r ang e o f stab iliZ ing p o ints f o r the leg s o f the
p atient seated in the c hair 10, r ang ing f r o m the lo Wer thig h
to the ank le if nec essar y. Onc e the extensio ns 4 0 ar e
adj u sted, they ar e sec u r ed in p lac e b y a lo c k ing m ec hanism
5 0, Whic h m ay b e a tig htening k no b o r lev er Whic h c lam p s
ag ainst the g ener ally ho r iZ o ntal p o r tio n o f the extensio ns 4 0
to sec u r e them in p lac e as desir ed.
Eac h extensio n ar m 4 0 has tWo ends 4 2 and 4 4 . The ? r st
o r f o r War d end 4 2 is p r o v ided With a p added b r ac e 4 6 f o r
eng ag ing the lo Wer extr em ities o f the p atient, e. g . , near the
k nee. The p added b r ac e 4 6 m ay tak e sev er al f o r m s, With
exam p les sho Wn in F IGS. 2A thr o u g h 2C. Reg ar dless o f
f o r m , the p ad 4 6 p r o v ides c o m f o r t and p r o tec tio n f r o m
b r u ising to the p atient du r ing the sp inal adj u stm ent. The
f o r War d end 4 2 o f eac h ar m 4 0 is adj u sted ( Whic h m ay b e
f ac ilitated b y handles lo c ated at the f o r War d ends 4 2) ,
ac c o r ding to the c hir o p r ac to r s and p atient s needs f o r a
p ar tic u lar adj u stm ent, to ho ld the lo Wer extr em ities o f the
p atient to p r ec lu de any sig ni? c ant later al m o v em ent o f the
leg s o r p elv ic ar ea o f the p atient so that the p atient s b ac k
m ay b e tWisted Witho u t hav ing the lo Wer b o dy f o llo W the
m o v em ent. In the em b o dim ent o f F IG. 2B, the b r ac e c o m
p r ises a r ig ht ang le b r ac e 4 6a attac hed to the inner su r f ac e
o f the distal end 4 2 o f eac h extensio n 4 0; the o p p o site r ig ht
side b r ac e and extensio n ( no t sho Wn( Will b e seen to b e a
m ir r o r im ag e to the lef t side sho Wn in F IG. 2B. The r ig ht
ang le b r ac e 4 6a lim its the am o u nt o f f o r War d and o u tWar d
( later al) m o v em ent eac h leg m ay exhib it. By adj u sting the
extensio ns 4 0 lo ng itu dinally, ( i. e. , adj u sting the extensio ns
4 0 so the p added b r ac es 4 6a ar e c lo ser to the seat p o r tio n
30) , the am o u nt o f f o r War d m o v em ent o f the leg s o f a p atient
seated o n the p r esent c hair 1 m ay also b e lim ited. The r ig ht
ang le p adding m ay b e lim ited to a sho r t leng th, o r extend
su b stantially the entir e leng th o f the f o r War d p o r tio n o f the
distal end 4 2 o f the extensio n 4 0 as seen in F IG. 2b .
10
15
25
35
4 5
5 5
65
6
Alter nativ ely, a g ener ally U- shap ed p added b r ac e 4 6b
m ay b e u sed, as sho Wn f o r the lef t side b r ac e 4 0 o f F IG. 2C.
The b ase 5 2 o f the U- shap e Wo u ld b e m o u nted to the inner
su r f ac e o f the f o r War d end 4 2 o f eac h extensio n 4 0, su c h that
the leg s 5 4 o f the U- shap e ar e at r ig ht ang les to the ar m 4 0.
With this b r ac e 4 6b , f o r War d, r ear War d, and o u tWar d
( later al) m o v em ent o f the leg s o f a p atient ar e lim ited b y the
b r ac e.
A f u r ther alter nativ e c o m p r ising a sleev e- lik e b r ac e 4 6c
m ay b e p iv o tally m o u nted o n the inner su r f ac e o f the
f o r War d end 4 2 o f eac h ar m 4 0, as sho Wn in F IG. 2A. The
sleev e- lik e b r ac e 4 6c is adap ted to ac c ep t the lo Wer extr em
ity o f the p atient thr o u g h an o p en side. Onc e the extr em ity
is eng ag ed, the sleev e 4 6c is c lo sed With a f astener 4 8 su c h
as ho o k and lo o p typ e f astener s. This em b o dim ent allo Ws the
b r ac e to b e attac hed to the p atient at the lo Wer thig h thr o u g h
to the ank le, With ap p r o p r iate adj u stm ent o f the ar m s. Use o f
this typ e o f b r ac e is sho Wn in F IGS. 3A and 3B.
F IGS. 4 A and 4 B illu str ate b o tto m p lan v ieWs o f the
p r esent c hair 1, sho Wing m eans f o r adj u sting the distal ends
4 2 o f the tWo extensio n ar m s 4 0 ar c u ately inWar dly and
o u tWar dly r elativ e to o ne ano ther . The tWo extensio ns 4 0
p ass thr o u g h r etaining m eans 4 8 sec u r ed to the b o tto m o f the
seat p o r tio n 30, With the extensio n r etaining m eans 4 8
p r o v iding so m e later al ar c u ate f r eedo m o f m o v em ent f o r the
tWo extensio ns 4 0. Co nv entio nal lo c k ing m eans, su c h as the
lo c k ing m eans 5 0 disc lo sed in F IG. 1 f o r lo c k ing the
lo ng itu dinal and ar c u ately v er tic al p o sitio ns o f the extensio n
ar m s 4 0, m ay b e u sed to sec u r e the tWo extensio ns in the
later ally ar c u ate lo c k ed p o sitio n as desir ed Within their
r esp ec tiv e r etaining dev ic es 4 8 , dep ending u p o n the p hysi
o lo g y o r b o dy b u ild o f the p atient o r p er so n seated o n the
p r esent c hair 1, the p ar tic u lar ther ap eu tic p r o c edu r e to b e
ac c o m p lished, the needs o f the c hir o p r ac to r o r o ther health
c ar e p r o f essio nal adm inister ing the tr eatm ent, etc .
F IGS. 3A and 3B illu str ate lef t side elev atio n v ieWs o f the
p r esent c hair 1 in u se, With a p atient seated u p o n the seat
p o r tio n 30 ther eo f . In F IG. 3A, the extensio n ar m s 4 0 ar e in
a g ener ally ho r iZ o ntal disp o sitio n ( With the f o r War d ends 4 2
b eing r aised so m eWhat, du e to the o f f set 4 5 ) . The enc ir c ling
leg b and 4 6c b r ac e em b o dim ent is sec u r ed ab o u t the lo Wer
leg o f the p atient, at the u p p er p o r tio n o f the c alf and j u st
b elo W the k nee. L o c k ing o r im m o b iliZ ing the tWo extensio n
ar m s 4 0 p r ec lu des any su b stantial later al m o v em ent o f the
leg s o f the p atient, thu s allo Wing the m edic al p r ac titio ner o r
ther ap ist to m anip u late the b ac k o f the p atient to r sio nally,
Witho u t the lo Wer b o dy o f the p atient also tWisting .
If f u r ther r etentio n is r eq u ir ed, the f o r War d distal ends 4 2
o f the extensio ns 4 0 m ay b e r aised and the extensio ns 4 0
m ay b e m o v ed r ear War dly in their r etaining c o llar s o r
? xtu r es and lo c k ed in p lac e b y m eans o f the lo c k ing k no b o r
m ec hanism 5 0. This p o sitio ns the tWo leg b ands 4 6c ( o nly
the lef t b and is sho Wn in the side elev atio n v ieW o f F IG. 3B)
adj ac ent the lo Wer thig hs o f the p atient seated in the p r esent
c hair 1, im m ediately ab o v e the k nee. It Will b e seen that the
enc ir c ling b r ac es 4 6c ar e sec u r ed to the distal ends 4 2 o f the
extensio ns 4 0 b y m eans o f p iv o ts 5 2, so the enc ir c ling b r ac es
4 6c m ay b e tu r ned so their axes ar e o r iented g ener ally
ho r iZ o ntally ( as sho Wn in F IG. 3B) o r v er tic ally ( as sho Wn
in F IG. 3A) , as r eq u ir ed. It Will b e seen that the o ther b r ac ing
m eans o f F IGS. 2A and 2B m ay also b e p iv o tally m o u nted
to the distal ends 4 2 o f the extensio ns 4 0, if so desir ed.
In u se, the p atient is seated c o m f o r tab ly o n the c hair With
his o r her leg s o n the f o r War d side to War d the distal ends o f
the extensio ns. With the p atient s f eet ? at o n the ? o o r , the
extensio n ar m s ar e then adj u sted as nec essar y b y the c hir o
6, 123, 392
7
p r ac to r to sec u r e the p atient s leg s and thu s the lo Wer b o dy
to the deg r ee dic tated b y the p r o c edu r e b eing do ne. Use o f
the c hair f ac ilitates the c hir o p r ac to r s ab ility to m anip u late
the v er teb r ae o f the sp ine b y su b stantially r edu c ing o r
p r ec lu ding r o tatio n o f the lo Wer b o dy. Reg ar dless o f the
m anip u latio n b eing do ne o r the p added b r ac e b eing u sed, the
extensio ns o f the c hair ho ld the lo Wer extr em ities o f the
p atient in a p r edeter m ined p o sitio n f o r the du r atio n o f the
p atient s tr eatm ent o r u ntil the c hir o p r ac to r needs to alter the
p o sitio n. Eq u ip p ed With the c hair o f the p r esent inv entio n
and p r o f essio nal sk ills, the c hir o p r ac to r o r o ther health
p r o f essio nal c an m ak e adj u stm ents m u c h m o r e ef f ic iently o n
the v er teb r ae o f a p atient, f r o m the sac r al and lu m b ar r eg io ns
thr o u g h the tho r ac ic r eg io n o f the sp ine, Witho u t any r eq u ir e
m ent f o r the p atient to b r ac e him o r her self ac tiv ely b y
Wr ap p ing his o r her leg s ab o u t the leg s o f the c hair u p o n
Whic h he o r she is seated, as is c o nv entio nally do ne. The
p r esent c hair p r o v ides a m u c h m o r e sec u r e m eans o f p r e
c lu ding o r su b stantially r edu c ing ac c o m p anying m o v em ent
o f the p atient s lo Wer b o dy When the u p p er to r so is r o tated,
thu s p r o v iding a c o nsider ab le inc r ease in ef f ic ienc y o f the
p r o c edu r e.
It is to b e u nder sto o d that the p r esent inv entio n is no t
lim ited to the so le em b o dim ents desc r ib ed ab o v e, b u t
enc o m p asses any and all em b o dim ents Within the sc o p e o f
the f o llo Wing c laim s.
We c laim :
1. A c hir o p r ac tic adj u sting c hair f o r g ener ally p r ec lu ding
m o v em ent o f the lo Wer extr em ities o f a p atient seated
ther eo n du r ing c hir o p r ac tic adj u stm ent o f the sp ine o f the
p atient, c o m p r ising :
a b ase;
at least o ne seat su p p o r t p o st extending u p War dly f r o m
said b ase;
a seat disp o sed ato p said seat su p p o r t p o st, With said seat
hav ing o p p o sed later al edg es; and
an extensio n hav ing a f o r War d end and m o u nted b eneath
eac h o f said edg es o f said seat and extending f o r War dly
ther ef r o m , f o r r etaining and p r ec lu ding m o v em ent o f
the lo Wer extr em ities o f a p er so n seated u p o n said seat,
eac h said f o r War d end hav ing an inner su r f ac e hav ing
a p added b r ac e af ? xed ther eto f o r c u shio ning the p er
so n s lo Wer extr em ities b eing r etained b y eac h said
extensio n, With eac h said p added b r ac e b eing disp o sed
in f ac ing o p p o sitio n to o ne ano ther .
2. The c hir o p r ac tic adj u sting c hair ac c o r ding to c laim 1,
Wher ein eac h said extensio n is adj u stab ly sec u r ed to said
seat.
3. The c hir o p r ac tic adj u sting c hair as de? ned b y c laim 2,
Wher ein eac h said extensio n is lo ng itu dinally adj u stab le and
ar c u ately adj u stab le in v er tic al and ho r iZ o ntal p lanes.
4 . The c hir o p r ac tic adj u sting c hair as de? ned b y c laim 2,
inc lu ding a lo c k ing m ec hanism f o r sec u r ing eac h said exten
sio n in a ? xed p o sitio n r elativ e to said seat as desir ed.
5 . The c hir o p r ac tic adj u sting c hair as de? ned b y c laim 4 ,
Wher ein eac h said lo c k ing m ec hanism is o p er ated b y a
c o ntr o l k no b Whic h is lo o sened f o r adj u sting the c o r r esp o nd
ing said extensio n, and tig htened f o r lo c k ing the c o r r esp o nd
ing said extensio n into p o sitio n as desir ed.
6. The c hir o p r ac tic adj u sting c hair as de? ned b y c laim 1,
Wher ein eac h said p added b r ac e c o m p r ises a g ener ally
L - shap ed p ad af ? xed to said inner su r f ac e o f said f o r War d
end o f eac h said extensio n, su c h that eac h said p ad p r ec lu des
15
25
35
4 5
5 5
65
8
sig ni? c ant f o r War d and o u tWar d m o v em ent o f the lo Wer
extr em ities o f the p er so n seated u p o n said seat.
7. The c hir o p r ac tic adj u sting c hair as de? ned b y c laim 1,
Wher ein eac h said p added b r ac e c o m p r ises a p added sleev e
With o ne selec tiv ely o p enab le side f o r ac c ep ting o ne o f the
lo Wer extr em ities o f the p er so n seated u p o n said seat, With
said o p enab le side hav ing a f astener f o r selec tiv ely c lo sing
said p added sleev e ab o u t the lo Wer extr em ity.
8 . The c hir o p r ac tic adj u sting c hair as de? ned b y c laim 7,
Wher ein eac h said p added sleev e is p iv o tally sec u r ed to a
c o r r esp o nding said inner su r f ac e o f eac h said f o r War d end o f
eac h said extensio n.
9. The c hir o p r ac tic adj u sting c hair as de? ned b y c laim 7,
Wher ein said f astener f o r eac h said selec tiv ely o p enab le
sleev e c o m p r ises m ating ho o k and lo o p f astening m ater ial.
10. The c hir o p r ac tic adj u sting c hair as de? ned b y c laim 1,
Wher ein eac h said p added b r ac e c o m p r ises a g ener ally
U- shap ed p ad extending inWar dly f r o m a c o r r esp o nding said
f o r War d end o f eac h said extensio n, With eac h said U- shap ed
p ad hav ing a p air o f o p p o sed leg s f o r p lac em ent f o r War dly
and r ear War dly o f o ne o f the lo Wer extr em ities o f a p er so n
seated u p o n said seat, f o r p r ec lu ding f o r War d and r ear War d
m o v em ent o f the extr em ity b y m eans o f said o p p o sed leg s
o f said b r ac e and f u r ther p r ec lu ding o u tWar d m o v em ent o f
the extr em ity b y m eans o f the c o r r esp o nding said extensio n.
11. Ac hir o p r ac tic adj u sting c hair f o r g ener ally p r ec lu ding
m o v em ent o f the lo Wer extr em ities o f a p atient seated
ther eo n du r ing c hir o p r ac tic adj u stm ent o f the sp ine o f the
p atient, c o m p r ising :
a b ase has a g ener ally H- shap ed str u c tu r e hav ing p ar allel,
o p p o sed ? r st and sec o nd leg s With a c r o ssm em b er
extending ther eb etWeen;
at least o ne seat su p p o r t p o st extending u p War dly f r o m
said b ase;
a seat disp o sed ato p said seat su p p o r t p o st, With said seat
hav ing o p p o sed later al edg es; and
an extensio n m o u nted b eneath eac h o f said edg es o f said
seat and extending f o r War dly ther ef r o m , f o r r etaining
and p r ec lu ding m o v em ent o f the lo Wer extr em ities o f a
p er so n seated u p o n said seat.
12. The c hir o p r ac tic adj u sting c hair ac c o r ding to c laim 11,
Wher ein eac h said extensio n is adj u stab ly sec u r ed to said
seat.
13. The c hir o p r ac tic adj u sting c hair as de? ned b y c laim
12, Wher ein eac h said extensio n is lo ng itu dinally adj u stab le
and ar c u ately adj u stab le in v er tic al and ho r iZ o ntal p lanes.
14 . The c hir o p r ac tic adj u sting c hair as de? ned b y c laim
12, inc lu ding a lo c k ing m ec hanism f o r sec u r ing eac h said
extensio n in a ? xed p o sitio n r elativ e to said seat as desir ed.
15 . The c hir o p r ac tic adj u sting c hair as de? ned b y c laim
14 , Wher ein eac h said lo c k ing m ec hanism is o p er ated b y a
c o ntr o l k no b Whic h is lo o sened f o r adj u sting the c o r r esp o nd
ing said extensio n, and tig htened f o r lo c k ing the c o r r esp o nd
ing said extensio n into p o sitio n as desir ed.
16. The c hir o p r ac tic adj u sting c hair as de? ned b y c laim
11, Wher ein said ? r st and sec o nd leg s eac h hav e a f o r War d
end and an o p p o site r ear War d end, With said c r o ssm em b er
b eing p o sitio ned c lo ser to eac h said r ear War d end o f said
leg s than to eac h said f o r War d end o f said leg s.
17. The c hir o p r ac tic adj u sting c hair as de? ned b y c laim
11, Wher ein said seat su p p o r t p o st extends u p War dly f r o m
said c r o ssm em b er .
18 . The c hir o p r ac tic adj u sting c hair as de? ned b y c laim 1,
Wher ein at least said b ase, said seat su p p o r t, and eac h said
extensio n ar e steel.
6, 123, 392
9 10
19. The c hir o p r ac tic adj u sting c hair as de? ned b y c laim 1, a seat disp o sed ato p said seat su p p o r t p o st, With said seat
Wher ein at least said b ase, said seat su p p o r t p o st, and eac h hav ing OPPOSed later al edg es; and
said extensio n ar e tu b es hav ing sq u ar e c r o ss sec tio ns. an eXtenSiOIl hav ing a f Or War d end and m o u nted b eneath
20. A c hir o p r ac tic adj u sting c hair f o r g ener ally p r ec lu ding eac h o f Said edg es o f Said Seat and extending f o r w ar dly
ther ef r o m , f o r r etaining and p r ec lu ding m o v em ent o f
the lo Wer extr em ities o f a p er so n seated u p o n said seat,
said extensio n f u r ther hav ing an o f f set f o r r aising eac h
said f o r War d end g ener ally lev el With said seat When
a b ase; said b ase is r esting u p o n a lev el su r f ac e.
at least o ne seat su p p o r t p o st extending u p War dly f r o m
said b ase; * * * * *
m o v em ent o f the lo Wer extr em ities o f a p atient seated 5
ther eo n du r ing c hir o p r ac tic adj u stm ent o f the sp ine o f the
p atient, c o m p r ising :