US3695256A

US3695256A - Over-a-door support for cervical traction apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3695256A
Application number: US89839A
Authority: US
Inventors: James P Brower
Original assignee: Richards Manufacturing Co LP
Current assignee: Richards Manufacturing Co LP; Richards Manufacturing Co Inc
Priority date: 1970-11-16
Filing date: 1970-11-16
Publication date: 1972-10-03
Anticipated expiration: 1989-10-03

Abstract

A device intended to be removably attached to the top of a door for supporting cervical traction apparatus. The device is particularly directed toward applying cervical traction at home or in a doctor''s office or where more elaborate traction support structure commonly found in a hospital, or the like, is unavailable. The device includes adjustable structure that adapts it to a variety of different doors having various thicknesses, i.e., it fits all common doors without the use of normal attaching devices and/or tools, e.g., screws, threaded clamps, screwdrivers, etc. A significant feature of the device is that it may be repeatedly attached to a door without marring or defacing the surface thereof so that when not in active use, it may simply be lifted off the top of the door and stored in any out of the way convenient location.

Description

United States Patent Brewer Oct. 3, 1972 [72] Inventor: James P. Brower, Memphis, Tenn.

[73] Assignee: Richards Manufacturing Company,

Memphis, Tenn.

[22] Filed: Nov. 16, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 89,839

[52] US. Cl. ..128/75, 248/226 B [51] Int. Cl. ..A6lh 1/02 [58] Field of Search..128/7S, 83, 84; 248/214, 226 B [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,843,114 7/1958 Hall ..128/75 2,282,653 5/ 1942 I-Ierzmark ..128/84 C 1,772,176 8/1930 Benjamin ..248/214 X 2,879,023 3/1959 Barrier et a1. ..248/226 B 1,760,346 5/1930 Correa ..248/226 B 2,840,241 6/ 1958 Callais ..248/226 B X 2,940,442 6/ l 960 Wilhelm 128/75 2,811,965 11/1957 Richards ..128/75 3,585,992 6/1971 Vessels ..128/75 3,063,445 11/1962 Ries ..128/75 2,938,695 5/1960 Ciampa ..248/214 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 802,869 2/ 1951 Germany ..248/226 B 295,556 12/1953 Switzerland ..248/226 B 416,981 l/ 1967 Switzerland ..248/226 B 6/1943 Denmark ..248/226 B Primary ExaminerRichard A. Gaudet Assistant ExaminerJ. Yasko Attorney-John R. Walker, 111

[57] ABSTRACT A device intended to be removably attached to the top of a door for supporting cervical traction apparatus. The device is particularly directed toward applying cervical traction at home or in a doctors office or where more elaborate traction support structure commonly found in a hospital, or the like, is unavailable. The device includes adjustable structure that adapts it to a variety of different doors having various thicknesses, i.e., it fits all common doors without the use of normal attaching devices and/or tools, e.g., screws, threaded clamps, screwdrivers, etc. A significant feature of the device is that it may be repeatedly attached to a door without marring or defacing the surface thereof so that when not in active use, it may simply be lifted off the top of the door and stored in any out of the way convenient location.

6 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEU E 3 'FIG. I

FIG. 3

FIG. 2 43 39 INVENTOR.

I JAMES F. 'BROWER OVER-A-DOOR SUPPORT FOR CERVICAL TRACTION APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF'THE INVENTION 1 Field of the Invention This invention pertains to the field of door hangers for supporting an apparatus used in applying traction to the head portion of a human being.

2. Description of the Prior Art The prior art known by the applicant consists of the Stowell et al U.S. Pat. No. 2,674,996; the Wilhelm U.S. Pat. No. 2,701,564; the Hall U.S. Pat. No. 2,843,114; the Ciampa U.S. Pat. No. 2,938,695; and the Ries U.S. Pat. No. 3,063,445. The U.S. Pat. No. 2,674,996 is particularly directed toward a novel semi-rigid headgear especially adapted for providing a generalized distribution of pressure on the various parts of the head of a patient undergoing cervical traction and is in no way associated with a door. The US. Pat. No. 2,701,564 utilizes a door support bracket formed from a single metallic blank which is adaptable to the thickness of one specific door. This invention appears to have two unique features, i.e., traction is applied by tensioning the traction cord, thus eliminating the need for a weight; the structure of the device provides for packaging and/or shipping in a knocked-down condition so as to be readily assembled by the user or purchaser.

The U.S. Pat. No. 2,843,114 also utilizes a doormounting bracket formed from a single sheet of metal which limits its utilization to a door of a predetermined thickness. This invention appears to be particularly directed toward providing an improved orthopedic head sling.

The U.S. Pat. No. 3,063,445 utilizes a device which may be adapted to a door or a bed. The parts of the device are secured to one another in adjustable positions by the use of screws. The device is adjustable so as to be compatible with different thicknesses of doors, however, the adjustment involves manipulating of the impinging screws.

The U.S. Pat. No. 2,938,695 incorporates a bracket which engages the top of the door and has structure which automatically adjusts the bracket with doors of varying thicknesses. However, the structure of this device is dependent upon the door being in a closed position relative to its door frame when the bracketarm apparatus is in use. Additionally, the bracket-arm apparatus must be positioned on the side of the door which is opposite the door stops adjacent the margins of the door. These limitations present the following problems to the user: First, the user and/or the doctor may prefer that the door remain open. Secondly, the user may prefer to use the traction apparatus in one room, however, the door stops prevent the U.S. Pat. No. 2,938,695 apparatus from being used on that side of the door. Thirdly, treatment of this nature incurs prolonged utilization on a frequent basis, accordingly, the door passageway is denied access by other persons of the household when being used in a home, and administrative personnel when being used in a doctors office or the like. i.e., Fourthly, the door conceivably may be inadvertently opened while the traction apparatus is being utilized, i. the person utilizing the apparatus being on one side of a solid door, and a second person opening the door from the opposite side. This would undoubtedly cause an objectionable incident,

i.e., the bracket-arm apparatus becoming disengaged from the top of the door would fall down, possibly injuring the patient.

7 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed toward overcoming the disadvantages andproblems relative to previous over-a-door supports for cervical traction apparatuses. The device includes adjustable structure that automatically adapts it to a variety of different doors having various thicknesses, i.e., it fits all common doors without the use of nonnal attaching devices and/or tools, e.g., screws, threaded clamps, screwdrivers, etc. A significant feature of the device is that it may be repeatedly attached to adoor without marring or defacing the surface thereof so that when not in active use, it may simply be lifted off the top of the door and stored in any out of the way convenient location.

The device is intended to be used in conjunction with a door while the door is open. This is a distinct advantage over some prior devices which contemplated the use thereof in conjunction with a door while the door is in a closed position. The advantages of attaching cervical traction apparatus to an open door as opposed to a closed door are: (l) The device may be attached to either side of the door; (2) a doctor or physiotherapist being of opposite sex than that of the patient may feel more comfortable while in a room with a patient while the door remains open; (3) The door does not block the passageway while the cervical traction apparatus is being used, accordingly, persons other than the patient may come and go through the passageway at their will and pleasure without disturbing the patient; (4) The possibility of an objectionable incident, i.e., the closed door being inadvertently opened, thus disengaging the door-engaging device which may fall onto the patient, is precluded; (5) The patient is able to observe the activity in the immediate area, a natural human tendency that is denied an individual in a closed room.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the over-a-door support for cervical traction apparatus of the present invention, showing the cervical traction apparatus in a preferred environment applying traction to a human head while supported by a door, the head being phantomized.

FIG. 2 is a partial front view of the bracket means showing the upper portion thereof.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectionalized view similar to FIG. 1 but showing the door engaging structure in greater detail.

FIG. 4 is a partial plan view showing the engaging relationship of the bracket means with the main support member.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The over-a-door support 11 of the present invention is intended to be used with the usual cervical traction apparatus including the usual head support 13, i.e., a head halter or head traction sling, the usual weight 15, and the usual traction cord 17. The one end of the traction cord 17 is attached to the weight 15, and the other end thereof is attached to the head support 13, in a usual manner obvious to those skilled in the art.

The support 11 comprises a main support member 19, formed from strap steel or the like so as to have a right triangular-like shape, substantially as depicted in FIG. 1 of the drawings, i.e., including a vertical portion 21, a horizontally disposed base portion 23, a diagonal portion 25 extending from the vertical portion 21 to the base portion 23, and an upper horizontal portion 27 integrally attached to the vertical portion 21 adjacent the upper end thereof. The diagonal portion 25 preferably terminates with an upturned vertical portion 29 fixedly attached to the vertical portion 23 in any well known manner, e.g., welding or the like.

A pair of

pulley assemblies

31, 33, being fixedly attached to the bottom side of the base portion 23 in any well known manner, e.g., rivets or the like, threadedly receive the intermediate portion of the traction cord 17, as best viewed in FIG. 1. Thus, the weight is suspended by the traction cord 17 directly beneath the pulley assembly 31 and the traction cord 17 is threadedly received by the

pulley assemblies

31, 33 so that the head support 13 is suspended by the opposite end of the traction cord 17 directly beneath the pulley assembly 33, with the head support 13 supporting a human head H in a well known manner.

The support 11 includes a bracket means 37, formed from plate steel or the like having the shape of a rectangle whose width preferably is substantially twice the width of the steel stock from which the main support member 19 is formed. The bracket means 37 is provided with a transverse slot 39 (FIG. 2) adjacent the upper end thereof for slidably receiving the upper horizontal portion 27 of the main support member 19, as best viewed in FIG. 4 of the drawings. The length of the slot 39 is slightly greater than the width of the main support member 19 (FIG. 4) and the width thereof is slightly greater than the thickness of the portion 27 of member 19. In this regard, it should be pointed out that the main support member 19 preferably is completely plastic-coated by a fluidized bed plastic coating process well known to those skilled in the art, with the coating consisting of vinyl chloride resin 41. Obviously, the dimensions of the slot 39 are determined subsequent to the abovementioned fluidized bed plastic coating process so that the bracket means 37 may freely slide to and fro along the upper horizontal portion 27 of the member 19, for reasons yet to be disclosed.

The bracket means 37 includes an inwardly directed radius 43 superadjacent the slot 39 and an outwardly directed radius 45 subjacent the slot 39 respectively defining the upper and lower surfaces of the slot 39.

The vertical portion 21 of the member 19 contiguously engages the one side of a door 47 while the upper horizontal portion 27 thereof reaches over and is resting upon the top of the door 47, as best viewed in FIG. 1. The length of the portion 27 preferably is greater than the thickness of any door 47 to which the support is intended to be attached, i.e., the slidable bracket means 37 making provisions for adapting the support 11 to a variety of different doors having various 21, it is free to slide to and fro along the upper horizontal portion 27, i.e., the inwardly directed radius 43 moving upwardly away from the upper surface of the portion 27 and the outwardly directed radius 45 moving downwardly away from the lower surface of the portion 27. Additionally, it may be seen that urging the lower end of the bracket means 37 away from portion 27 causes the inwardly directed radius 43 defining the upper surface of the slot 39 to diggingly engage the upper surface of the horizontal portion 27 and the outwardly directed radius 45 defining the lower surface of the slot 39 to diggingly engage the lower surface of the horizontal portion 27. Accordingly, it should now be obvious that the bracket means 37 may be selectively placed along the length of the horizontal portion 27 so as to maintain a rigid substantially parallel relationship with the vertical portion 21 and is anchored to the horizontal portion 27 when a force is applied to the bracket means 37 which tends to urge the lower part thereof leftwardly (see FIG. 3) or away from the vertical portion 21. In other words, the bracket means 37 may be rigidly maintained in infinite locations along the length of the portion 27.

The bracket means 37 additionally includes an inwardly directed bowed portion 49 adjacent the lower end thereof for tangentially engaging the door 47, i.e., the vertical porticgn 21 contiguously engages a side 51 of the door 47 and the bowed portion 49 of the bracket means 37 tangentially engages a side 53 opposite the side 51. The bowed portion 49 assures that a force is exerted leftwardly adjacent the lower end of the bracket means 37 by tangentially engaging the side 53 of the door 47 so as to diggingly engage the opposing

radii

43, 45 respectively with the upper and lower surfacesof the horizontal portion 27, i.e., the length of the bracket means 37 is used as leverage.

In order to preclude the bracket means 37 from becoming disassociated with the main support member 19, when the device 11 is detached from the door 47, a stop rivet 55 is placed adjacent the outermost end of the horizontal portion 27. An aperture 57 is provided adjacent the outermost end of the portion 27 for frictionally receiving the conventional stop rivet 55 or the like.

From the above disclosure; it should be apparent that the support 11 of the present invention is adapted to be attached to the top of a variety of different doors hav ing various thicknesses. In operation, the support 1 1 is simply placed over the top of a door 47 with the vertical portion 21 contiguously engaging the side 51 of a door 47, the upper horizontal portion 27 reaching over and resting upon the top of the door 47, and the bracket means 37, being slidably positioned along the horizontal portion 27 to the desired location, pulling the vertical portion 21 contiguously against the surface 51 of the door 47, as previously described. The user places the head support 13 about his head H in the usual manner and opens the door 47 to the desired position preferably placing a chair (not shown) directly beneath the support 11. The one end of the traction cord 17 is then attached to the head support 13 and is threaded through the

pulleys

31, 33, as previously described, so that the other end of the traction cord 17 may support the weight 15 in the usual manner, with the user assuming a sitting position upon the chair (not shown). The duration of time which the traction is applied and the frequency thereof is optional and prescribed by the doctor or physiotherapist.

Although the invention has been described and illustrated with respect to a preferred embodiment thereof, it is not to be so limited since changes and modifications may be made therein which are within the full intended scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. An over-a-door support for cervical traction apparatus having a head support including a head sling, a weight and a traction cord attached at one end to said weight and at the other end to said head support, said over-a-door support comprising a main support member including a vertical portion for contiguously engaging one side of a variety of different doors having various thicknesses and a base portion for extending horizontally outward from the side of the door, said main support member including an upper horizontal portion attached to said vertical portion adjacent the upper end thereof for reaching over the top of the door, bracket means comprising substantially vertical platelike structure including a lower portion for engaging one side of the door and including an upper portion slidably attached to said upper horizontal portion and defining holding means including a transverse slot having inwardly and outwardly directed arcuate portions for holding said vertical portion in constant contiguous engagement with the door, and pulley means fixedly attached to said base portion receiving said traction cord intermediate the ends thereof. subjacent 2. An over-a-door support for cervical traction apparatus having a head support including a head sling, a weight and a traction cord attached at one end to said weight and at the other end to said head support, said over-a-door support comprising a main support member including a vertical portion for contiguously engaging one side of a variety of different doors having various thicknesses and a base portion for extending horizontally outward from the side of the door, said main support member including an upper horizontal portion attached to said vertical portion adjacent the upper end thereof for reaching over the top of the door, bracket means slidably attached to said upper horizontal portion for holding said vertical portion in constant contiguous engagement with the door, and pulley means fixedly attached to said base portion receiving said traction cord intermediate the ends thereof; said bracket means including platelike structure provided with a transverse slot adjacent the upper end thereof for slidably receiving said upper horizontal portion of said main support member, said platelike structure including an inwardly directed radius superjacent said slot and an outwardly directed radius subjacent said slot respectively defining the upper and lower surfaces of said slot for diggingly engaging the respective upper and lower surfaces of said upper horizontal portion of said main support member selectively along the length thereof so as to maintain a rigid substantially parallel relationship with said vertical portion of said main support member for-engaging the opposite side of a variety of different doors having various thicknesses.

3. The device of claim 2 in which said platelike structure of said bracket means includes an inwardly pirected bowed portion ad'acent the lowgr epd thereof or tangential y engaging t e opposite si e o a variety of different doors having various thicknesses.

4. The device of claim 1 in which said main support member is plasticcoate,d with a coating consisting of vinyl chloride resin.

5. An over-adoor support for cervical traction apparatus having a head support including a head sling, a weight and a traction cord attached at one end to said weight and at the other end to said head support, said over-a-door support comprising a main support member'having a right triangular-like shape including a vertical portion for contiguously engaging one side of a variety of different doors having various thicknesses with the base portion of said triangle extending horizontally outward from the surface of the door, said main support member including an upper horizontal portion integrally attached to said vertical portion adjacent the upper end thereof for reaching over the top of the door, bracket means including platelike structure provided with a transverse slot adjacent the upper end thereof for slidably receiving said upper horizontal portion of said main support member, said platelike structure including an inwardly directed radius superjacent said slot and an outwardly directed radius subjacent said slot respectively defining the upper and lower surfaces of said slot for diggingly engaging the respective upper and lower surfaces of said upper horizontal portion of said main support member selectively along the length thereof, said platelike structure including an inwardly directed bowed portion adjacent the lower end thereof for tangentially engaging the opposite side of a variety of different doors having various thicknesses so as to urge said lower end of said platelike structure outwardly therefrom in a leverage-like manner to firmly anchor said platelike structure to said upper horizontal portion of said main support member in a substantially vertical relationship therewith, and pulley means fixedly attached to said base portion of said triangle receiving said traction cord intermediate the ends thereof.

6. The device of claim 5 in which said main support member is plastic-coated with a coating consisting of vinyl chloride resin.

Claims

1. An over-a-door support for cervical traction apparatus having a head support including a head sling, a weight and a traction cord attached at one end to said weight and at the other end to said head support, said over-a-door support comprising a main support member including a vertical portion for contiguously engaging one side of a variety of different doors having various thicknesses and a base portion for extending horizontally outward from the side of the door, said main support member including an upper horizontal portion attached to said vertical portion adjacent the upper end thereof for reaching over the top of the door, bracket means coMprising substantially vertical platelike structure including a lower portion for engaging one side of the door and including an upper portion slidably attached to said upper horizontal portion and defining holding means including a transverse slot having inwardly and outwardly directed arcuate portions for holding said vertical portion in constant contiguous engagement with the door, and pulley means fixedly attached to said base portion receiving said traction cord intermediate the ends thereof. subjacent

2. An over-a-door support for cervical traction apparatus having a head support including a head sling, a weight and a traction cord attached at one end to said weight and at the other end to said head support, said over-a-door support comprising a main support member including a vertical portion for contiguously engaging one side of a variety of different doors having various thicknesses and a base portion for extending horizontally outward from the side of the door, said main support member including an upper horizontal portion attached to said vertical portion adjacent the upper end thereof for reaching over the top of the door, bracket means slidably attached to said upper horizontal portion for holding said vertical portion in constant contiguous engagement with the door, and pulley means fixedly attached to said base portion receiving said traction cord intermediate the ends thereof; said bracket means including platelike structure provided with a transverse slot adjacent the upper end thereof for slidably receiving said upper horizontal portion of said main support member, said platelike structure including an inwardly directed radius superjacent said slot and an outwardly directed radius subjacent said slot respectively defining the upper and lower surfaces of said slot for diggingly engaging the respective upper and lower surfaces of said upper horizontal portion of said main support member selectively along the length thereof so as to maintain a rigid substantially parallel relationship with said vertical portion of said main support member for engaging the opposite side of a variety of different doors having various thicknesses.

3. The device of claim 2 in which said platelike structure of said bracket means includes an inwardly directed bowed portion adjacent the lower end thereof for tangentially engaging the opposite side of a variety of different doors having various thicknesses.

4. The device of claim 1 in which said main support member is plastic-coated with a coating consisting of vinyl chloride resin.

5. An over-a-door support for cervical traction apparatus having a head support including a head sling, a weight and a traction cord attached at one end to said weight and at the other end to said head support, said over-a-door support comprising a main support member having a right triangular-like shape including a vertical portion for contiguously engaging one side of a variety of different doors having various thicknesses with the base portion of said triangle extending horizontally outward from the surface of the door, said main support member including an upper horizontal portion integrally attached to said vertical portion adjacent the upper end thereof for reaching over the top of the door, bracket means including platelike structure provided with a transverse slot adjacent the upper end thereof for slidably receiving said upper horizontal portion of said main support member, said platelike structure including an inwardly directed radius superjacent said slot and an outwardly directed radius subjacent said slot respectively defining the upper and lower surfaces of said slot for diggingly engaging the respective upper and lower surfaces of said upper horizontal portion of said main support member selectively along the length thereof, said platelike structure including an inwardly directed bowed portion adjacent the lower end thereof for tangentially engaging the opposite side of a variety of different doors having various thicknesses so aS to urge said lower end of said platelike structure outwardly therefrom in a leverage-like manner to firmly anchor said platelike structure to said upper horizontal portion of said main support member in a substantially vertical relationship therewith, and pulley means fixedly attached to said base portion of said triangle receiving said traction cord intermediate the ends thereof.