U.S. patent application number 10/353728 was filed with the patent office on 2004-07-29 for therapeutic device.
Invention is credited to Conklin, Brad, Rapoport, Mitchell I..
Application Number | 20040147378 10/353728 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32736249 |
Filed Date | 2004-07-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040147378 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Conklin, Brad ; et
al. |
July 29, 2004 |
Therapeutic device
Abstract
A therapeutic device to achieve myofascial release, having
holders that close against and grasps an extremity when pulled. A
cord, which is resilient and flexible, is removably secured to each
holder. The opposite ends of the cords are connected to various
means such as a handle or a rope for pulling the cords.
Inventors: |
Conklin, Brad; (Maybrook,
NY) ; Rapoport, Mitchell I.; (Woodstock, NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
John Maier, III
666 AARON COURT
KINGSTON
NY
12401
US
|
Family ID: |
32736249 |
Appl. No.: |
10/353728 |
Filed: |
January 29, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/124 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 21/0552 20130101;
A63B 21/0442 20130101; A63B 21/169 20151001; A63B 21/4019 20151001;
A63B 69/0059 20130101; A63B 2071/024 20130101; A63B 21/4015
20151001; A63B 21/0557 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/124 |
International
Class: |
A63B 021/02 |
Claims
The claims are:
1. A therapeutic device for use to achieve myofascial release, the
therapeutic device comprising: a holder that closes against and
grasps an extremity when pulled; a cord, the cord being resilient
and flexible, the length of cord having an inner end and an outer
end; means secured to the holder and means secured to the inner end
of the length of cord for removably connecting the holder to the
cord; and means connected to the outer end of the cord for pulling
the cord.
2. A therapeutic device according the claim 1 wherein the holder is
a hollow rope of woven strands which constrict and close when
pulled.
3. A therapeutic device according the claim 1 wherein the means for
removably connecting the holder to the cord is a hook with a spring
lock and the means secured to the holder is a holder ring.
4. A therapeutic device according the claim 1 wherein the means
connected to the outer end of the cord is a cord ring.
5. A therapeutic device according the claim 1 wherein the cord has
the capacity for approximately a twenty pound pull.
6. A therapeutic device according the claim 1 wherein the cord has
a circular cross section with a diameter of approximately a quarter
inch.
7. A therapeutic device according the claim 1 wherein: the means
connected to the outer end of the cord is a cord ring; and further
including a main ring, the cord ring being removably attached to
the main ring.
8. A therapeutic device according the claim 1 wherein the cord has
a length of approximately one foot.
9. A therapeutic device for use to achieve myofascial release, the
therapeutic device comprising: a plurality of holders that close
against and grasp an extremity when pulled; a plurality of cords,
each cord being resilient and flexible and having an inner end and
an outer end; means secured to the holders and secured to the
inside end of each of the plurality of cords for removably
connecting each of the plurality of holders to one of the plurality
of cords; and means connected to the outer end of the plurality of
cords for pulling the cords.
10. A therapeutic device according the claim 9 wherein each holder
is a hollow rope of woven strands which constrict and close when
pulled.
11. A therapeutic device according the claim 9 wherein the means
for removably connecting each holder to a cord is a hook with a
spring lock and the means secured to each holder is a holder
ring.
12. A therapeutic device according the claim 9 wherein the means
connected to the outside end of the plurality of cords are cord
rings.
13. A therapeutic device according the claim 9 wherein each cord
has the capacity for approximately a twenty pound pull.
14. A therapeutic device according the claim 9 wherein each cord
has a circular cross section with a diameter of approximately a
quarter inch.
15. A therapeutic device according the claim 9 wherein: the means
connected to the outside end of each cord is a cord ring; and
further including a main ring, the cord rings being removably
attached to the main ring.
16. A therapeutic device according the claim 9 wherein each cord
has a length of approximately one foot.
17. A therapeutic device for use on extremities to achieve
myofascial release, the therapeutic device comprising: five
holders, each one of which that closes against and grasps an
extremity when pulled; five holder rings, one of said holder rings
being connected to one of the five holders; five cords, each cord
being resilient and flexible, each cord having an inner end and an
outer end; five hooks, each with a flexible lock, each of the five
hooks being connected to the outer end of one of the cords, each of
the five hooks being connected to a holder ring; a main ring, the
main ring being split; five cord rings, one cord ring being
connected to the outer end of each of the five cords; and the five
cord rings being mounted on the split ring.
18. A therapeutic device according the claim 17 wherein each cord
has a circular cross section with a diameter of approximately a
quarter inch.
19. A therapeutic device according the claim 17 wherein each cord
has the capacity for approximately a twenty pound pull.
20. A therapeutic device according the claim 17 wherein each cord
has a length of approximately one foot.
21. A therapeutic device to achieve myofascial release,
thetherapeutic device comprising: an enclosure secured to an
extremity; a plurality of cords, each cord being resilient and
flexible and having an inner end and an outer end; means secured to
the enclosure and secured to the inside end of each of the
plurality of cords for removably connecting each of the plurality
of cords to the enclosure; and means connected to the outer end of
the plurality of cords for pulling the cords.
22. A therapeutic device according to claim 21 wherein the
enclosure is a glove.
23. A therapeutic device according to claim 21 wherein the
enclosure is a boot.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] This invention relates to therapeutic devices and more
particularly to a therapeutic device for myofascial release.
[0003] 2. Prior Art and Objects
[0004] The need for myofascial release has been long known.
Myofascial release is a mild and gentle stretching technique that
is applied to the body in areas of restrictions that are causing
pain and/or limitation or movement. Myo means muscle and Fascia is
the tough connective tissue that surrounds and infuses every
structure in the body. It helps to support and protect those
structures and also creates separation between vessels, organs,
bones and muscles. Restrictions may occur from some form of trauma
that causes an inflammatory reaction. These restrictions or
adhesions glue structures together causing both pain and limitation
of movement.
[0005] Traditionally, a therapist would pull on the fingers or
other extremities to relieve the myofasial condition but a device
has never been known to be used for such a purpose by a therapist
with vastly improved benefits.
[0006] The Collier Patent, U.S. Pat. No. 5,039,093 teaches a device
for use in exercising the toes by means of a resilient connection
to the leg. Use of hollow rope that closes down when pulled and
thus serves as a finger holder has also been known as is shown in
the Collier Patent, just cited as well as in the Thomas Patent,
U.S. Pat. No. 2,688,961.
[0007] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to
provide a device for myofascial release.
[0008] It is a further object to provide a device for myofascial
release that can be used in a variety of ways to provide varying
relief.
[0009] It is still another object to provide a device for
myofascial release that is both economical to produce but durable
and dependable.
[0010] These and other objects and advantages of the present
invention will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the
art as the description thereof proceeds.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] A therapeutic device is provided for myofascial release
which has a holder that closed against and grasps an extremity when
pulled. A length of cord, which is resilient and flexible has an
inside end and an outside end. Means is secured to the holder and
to the inside end of the length of cord for removable connecting
the holder to the cord. Means connected to the outside end of the
cord is used to pull the cord.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is a plan view of the device lying flat on a
horizontal surface.
[0013] FIG. 1A is a cross-section view along line 1A of FIG. 1.
[0014] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the device attached to the fingers
of a hand with the cords under tension.
[0015] FIG. 3 is a pictorial view of a glove to be fitted over the
hand for use in situations where pulling through the fingers is not
desirable.
[0016] FIG. 4 a pictorial view of a boot to permit use of the
therapeutic device on the leg without pulling on the toes.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE NUMERALS
[0017]
1 NUMERAL DESCRIPTION 11 Outside End 13 Inside End 15 Fingers 17
Holders 19 Strands 21 Open End (Holders) 23 Inside End (Holders) 25
Holder Ring 27 Holder Collar 29 Main Ring 31 Cords 33 Inside End
(Cords) 35 Hook 37 Flexible Lock 39 Outside End (Cords) 41 Cord
Rings 43 Glove 44 Hand 45 Hand Binding 46 Wrist 47 Glove Rings 49
Finger Tips 51 Foot 53 Legs 55 Boot 57 Foot Binding 59 Ankle 61
Boot Rings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0018] Looking at FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 the components of the device
are shown. The device has an outside end 11 and an inside end 13.
The inside end 13 is affixed to the extremities, in this specific
situation, the fingers 15 of a person being treated and the outside
end 11 is affixed to a wall or a floor or ceiling or is pulled by a
therapist. The fingers 15 may be replaced by other extremities.
[0019] At the inside end 13 are holders 17. Since the human hand
has five fingers 15, there are normally five holders 17. Similarly,
there are five toes. The holders 17 are made from a hollow rope
preferably made from polypropylene. The hollow rope is formed of
woven strands 19 and when placed on the fingers 15 or other
extremities and pulled, the hollow rope constricts and closes down
upon the finger 15 thereby gripping the finger 15. The use of such
a hollow rope for gripping a finger 15 or anything else placed
inside the hollow rope is known. The best result for this invention
is to grasp the fingers 15 as close to the end of the finger 15 as
possible as this provides the greatest myofascial relief.
[0020] The holders 17 each have an open end 21 which is also the
inside end which is placed over the fingers 15. The opposite or
outside end 23 of each holder 17 has a holder ring 25 with an
extension (not shown) which fits into the holder 17. A holder
collar 27 is placed on the holder 17 adjacent the outside end 23
and clamps down on the extension (not shown) thereby retaining each
holder ring 25 at the outside end 23of the holder 17.
[0021] At the outside end 11 of the device a main ring 29 is
provided. The main ring 29 is preferably a split ring. Between the
main ring 29 and the holder rings 25, a series of cords 31 are
provided. The cords 31 are flexible and resilient. It has been
found preferable to use a cord 31 which is round and has a quarter
inch diameter. Such a cord 31 has a capacity for a twenty pound
pull which provides the desired results. The cords 31 each
preferably have a length of approximately one foot and at their
inside ends 33 are connected to the holders 17. At the inside end
33, each cord 31 has a hook 35 with a flexible lock 37 attached to
it. By depressing the flexible lock 37, the hook 35 can be opened
to remove the hook 35. This is particularly important as individual
patients have different size fingers 15 or other extremities and
hollow rope of varying internal diameters are available for the
holders 17. By means of the hooks 35 being designed for ready
removal, different sized holders 17 can be easily installed to
permit the greatest comfort and effectiveness for each patient.
[0022] At the outside end 39 of each cord 31, remote from the
holders 17, a cord ring 41 is affixed to the cord 31. The cord
rings 41 are solid but since the main ring 29 is a split ring, the
cord rings 41 can be easily slipped on and off the main ring 29.
This permits the removal of any one cord 31 and its holder 17 from
the device in the event it is determined for whatever reason that
pulling should not be applied to any one or more fingers 15 or
extremities.
[0023] A handle (not shown) may be attached to the main ring 29 so
that a therapist can pull against the fingers 15 or other
extremities of the patient being treated. In the alternative, the
main ring 29 can be attached by a rope (not shown) to a ceiling or
the floor or a wall. By using varying locations for the rope, the
patient can pull against the rope and produce varying results due
to the direction of force being applied. Likewise, the duration of
the pulling may be varied.
[0024] In FIG. 3 an enclosure for the hand or glove 43 is shown on
a hand 44. The glove 43, as is normally expected for a glove, fits
securely on the hand 44. A hand binding 45, which is permanently
affixed at one end to the glove 43, is wrapped about the wrist 46
and pulled tight and then secured at the opposite end to the glove
43 by any suitable means, such as hook and loop material (not
shown).
[0025] The glove 43 is used for patients whose hands 44 are not
capable of withstanding the pull through the hands 44 that occurs
when the holders 17 are placed on the fingers 15. Various reasons
cause such a situation and one possible condition would be
arthritis in the hands 44. However, a patient whose hand 44 is not
capable of use of the therapeutic device can still obtain benefit
from the therapeutic device in the arms and shoulders.
[0026] Glove rings 47 are secured to the glove 43 at each of the
finger tips 49. The glove rings 47 serve the same purpose as the
holder rings 25. The glove rings 47 are secured to the finger tips
49 of the glove 43 by any suitable means. The cords 81 of the
therapeutic device previously described for use directly on the
fingers 15, are secured to the glove rings 47 by the hooks 35. The
hooks 35 are also used with the therapeutic device when it is
placed directly on the fingers 15.
[0027] The therapeutic device also has benefits when used on the
feet 51 and legs 53 but since the foot 51 is generally situate at
approximately right angles to the leg 53, connection to the toes in
the same manner as to the fingers 15, may not always be an
appropriate manner to achieve myofascial release in the legs 53.
Myofascial release in the foot 51 is possible by connection to the
toes. However, as with the hands 44, conditions such as arthritis
can required that no pull be placed on the toes. In FIG. 4, a foot
enclosure or boot 55 is shown. The boot 55 is secured to the foot
51 and held on the foot 51 by means of a foot binding 57 which
wraps about the foot 57 and the ankle 59. The foot binding 57 is
also held in place by any suitable means as with the hand binding
45.
[0028] Boot rings 61 are secured to the boot 55. In FIG. 4, three
boot rings 61 are shown but with a boot ring 61 on the opposite
side adjacent the ankle 59, at least four boot rings 61 are
available on the boot 55. By connecting the hooks 35 to the boot
rings 61, the leg 53 can be benefitted by the use of the
therapeutic device. The forces applied to the leg 53 will be more
in line with the leg 53 and possibly in addition, a foot 57
incapable of withstanding the pull, will not be damaged.
[0029] The device may be used in a variety of ways by a therapist.
Extremities, excepting injured extremities are placed into the
holders 17. Usually one to two pounds of traction are applied to an
outstretch arm. The traction is continued for a minute and a half
to two minutes. Then traction is stopped and then the treatment is
released. The device when held in the hand of the therapist and
when connected to a fixed location permits varying the angle of
pull.
[0030] It is to be understood that the drawings and description
matter are in all cases to be interpreted as merely illustrative of
the principles of the invention, rather than as limiting the same
in any way, since it is contemplated that various changes may be
made in various elements to achieve like results without departing
from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended
claims.
* * * * *