(19)
(11) EP 0 500 508 B1

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION

(45) Mention of the grant of the patent:
26.10.1994 Bulletin 1994/43

(21) Application number: 92850018.0

(22) Date of filing: 31.01.1992
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)5A63B 23/04, A63B 21/002

(54)

Device for the adjustment of a crooked pelvis

Vorrichtung zur Wiederanpassung eines krummen Beckens

Dispositif pour redresser le pelvis tordu


(84) Designated Contracting States:
DE DK ES FR GB SE

(30) Priority: 19.02.1991 SE 9100492

(43) Date of publication of application:
26.08.1992 Bulletin 1992/35

(73) Proprietor: Tornberg, Göte
S-951 62 Lulea (SE)

(72) Inventor:
  • Tornberg, Göte
    S-951 62 Lulea (SE)

(74) Representative: Onn, Thorsten et al
AB STOCKHOLMS PATENTBYRA Box 23101
104 35 Stockholm
104 35 Stockholm (SE)


(56) References cited: : 
DE-A- 3 436 554
GB-A- 1 534 737
DE-A- 4 000 428
US-A- 3 887 180
   
       
    Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention).


    Description


    [0001] In this case the invention concerns a device for the adjustment of a displaced or crooked pelvis or a displaced or crooked hip-joint. Devices of This kind are known from DE-A-4 000 428 and US-A-3 887 180

    [0002] The bad habit of supporting one's self more on one leg than on the other leg can cause a tilting in the orientation of the pelvis and at the same time an apparent shortening of one of the legs. This increases the load on this side can give pains in the hip or leg. The crooked orientation of the pelvis is transmitted upwards and can give back pain and sciatica. With the crooked orientation of the pelvis there is produced with every movement an unnatural loading on the muscles, on the disks in the spine and on the joints, for example the hip-joint and the knee; the result of which is wear and when blockages occur, then the blood circulation is hindered.

    [0003] The purpose of the invention under consideration is to produce a device to adjust a crooked or displaced pelvis or a crooked or displaced hip-joint, so that the crooked position or displacement is eliminated and the above named problems are cured. The means by which this invention makes this possible are stated in the characteristics of the invention in the patent claims. The apparatus can even be used for traction treatments (stretching) of a sprained wrist or knee.

    [0004] Examples of the form of the invention are further explained in the descriptions of the drawings, of which Fig. 1 shows a side view of the first design of the device according to the invention when it is mounted on a bench; Fig. 2 shows a side view of the device according to Fig. 1 viewed from the bench's foot end; Fig. 3 shows a top view of part of the device based on Fig. 1 and Fig. 2; Fig. 4 shows a top view of another design of the device according to the invention and Fig. 5 shows a side view of the short end of the device based on Fig. 4.

    [0005] Figures 1, 2 and 3 show the first design of the device according to the invention. Similar parts have been given similar reference numbers in these figures. Device 10 for the adjustment of a crooked pelvis or a displaced hip-joint is comprised of a support member 12 which consists of two bar-shaped bodies 12, which are intended to be fastened to the foot end of a bench 18, on their respective long sides of the bench 18 so that they are set facing eachother (compare Fig. 1 and Fig. 2). The device 10 comprises even two resistance members 14, 14' which can be fastened between the two bar-shaped bodies 12. Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 show the resistance members 14, 14' fixed between the bar-shaped body 12. The resistance members 14, 14' are preferably made of two rolls 14, 14' (for example leather-covered rolls) which are joined at their ends 22, 22' as shown in Fig. 3. This makes it possible to fasten the resistance bodies 14, 14' between the bar-shaped body 12 in the manner shown in Fig. 1, such that the first roll 14 is on the same plane but in front of the second roll 14'. This relationship is shown in Fig. 2 in which the first roll 14 is drawn with hatching lines. Device 10 also includes a support member 16 which can be fastened between the two bar-shaped bodies 12 with two fasteners 20 (see Fig. 2). Support body 16 is preferably a long, leather-clad, pillow-like body.

    [0006] In order to use device 10 which is shown in Fig. 1, 2 and 3, by a person with for example a crooked pelvis, a person lies on their back on the bench 18 and places their heels on the support body 16 and the top of one of the feet (the foot of that leg which appears to be shorter) against the first roll 14 and the bottom of the ofther foot ( the foot of that leg which appears to be longer) against the other roll 14'. The crooked position of the pelvis can now be corrected by pressing the top side of one of the feet against the first roll 14 while at the same time the bottom of the other foot is pressed against the other roll 14'. In this way one pulls with the shorter leg while one presses in the opposite direction with the longer leg. Fig. 3 shows how the feet are placed. The two rolls 14, 14' can be fastened at different heights relative to the bench 18 so that the distance between the rolls 14, 14' and the support member 16 can be changed to individually fit different people. Furthermore, both rolls 14, 14' can be fastened between the two bar-shaped bodies 12 after a rotation of 180° has been made of the rolls 14, 14' so that the roll 14 is placed in the same plane, but behind the second roll 14', that is, opposite the relationship shown in Fig. 1. Device 10 can even be used by a person who lies on their stomach on bench 18. Support member 16 then provides support for the person's toes. Otherwise the adjustment of a crooked pelvis is done in the manner described above.

    [0007] Fig. 4 and 5 show another design of the device according to the invention. Device 40 for the adjustment of a displaced hip-joint or a crooked pelvis is shown in Fig. 4 in a top view and contains a support member 50 which, for example, is intended to be placed on a support surface 52, such as a floor. The support member 50 can be assumed to be comprised of two parts, that is, first part 46 and a second part 48, which certainly could be one piece, but the second part's (48) upper surface is parallel with, but further from the support surface 52 than the first part's (46) upper surface, as presented in Fig. 5. Device 40 includes even a resistance member 42 which is in one piece together with the first part (46) of the support member 50, together with another resistance member 44 which can be fastened to the second part (48) of the support member 50. Resistance member 44 is adjustable at right angles to its length along the length of second part 48 of the bottom member 50, so that the resistance member 44 can be slid to the position shown in Fig. 4 with the dashed lines (44') and fastened there with fasteners, which are not shown.

    [0008] Device 40 is used to correct a crooked pelvis or a displaced hip-joint if a person places the bottom of one foot on the resistance member 42 and places the other foot under the resistance member 44, then the person presses the bottom of the foot against the resistance member 42 at the same the person presses the top surface of the other foot against the resistance member 44. In this manner the crookedness is removed from the pelvis. By moving resistance member 44 from the position shown using solid lines to the position shown using dashed lines 44' in Fig. 4, device 40 is changed so that it is suitable for placing the left foot and right foot, respectively, on the resistance member 42.

    [0009] Device 40 includes even a fastening member, not shown, which can be used to fasten device 40 to, for example, the leg of a bed with the short side, shown in Fig.5, against a support surface, for example the floor, through which the crooked pelvis or the displaced hip-joint can be adjusted when the person lies on their back on the support surface. Likewise, device 40 can be used by a person in an upright position as well as while lying on their back.

    [0010] Device 40 can even be supplemented with an axel which is provided with a pressure body which can be rotated, for example, in the form of a roller. The axel can also be fastened to the other part 48 of the support member 50, through which device 40 can be used for reflexology when a person, in this case, places the bottom of the foot on the roll and performs reflexology.

    [0011] The design forms shown in Fig 1-5 supply only an example of how the invention can be put into practice and do not limit the invention, whose extent of protection is given in the patent claims.


    Claims

    1. Devices (10;40) for the adjustment of a displaced hip-joint or a crooked pelvis of a person, characterized in that the device (10;40) includes a support member (12;50) and two resistance members (14,14';42,44) supported by the support member (12:50), whereby at least one of the resistance members (14,14';42,44) is displaceable relative to the support member (12;50), the resistance members are separated from each other permitting one resistance member (14,14';42,44) to be applied to the top side of one foot and the other resistance member to be applied to the bottom side of the other foot when the legs are extended, the adjustment is accomplished when the top side of one foot is pressed against the one resistance member while at the same time the bottom side of the other foot is pressed against the other resistance member.
     
    2. Device (10) according to claim 1 characterised in that the bar-shaped support members (12) are made to be placed facing eachother on the sides of the foot end of a bench (18) and can be fastened to the resistance members (14, 14') and to the bench; between the two bar shaped bodies (12) these rolls (14, 14') can be fastened.
     
    3. Device (10) according to claim 2 characterised in that the rolls (14, 14') between eachother are joined by their ends (22, 22') so that the center-line of the axel together with one of the rolls longitudinal axis are parallel with the center-line of the axel together with the other rolls longitudinal axis.
     
    4. Device (10) according to claim 3 characterised in that the device (10) also includes a support body (16) which can be fastened between the bar-shaped members (12) which are intended to provide support for the heels of both of the feet or the toes when the top of one of the feet presses against one of the rolls at the same time as the bottom of the other foot presses against the other roll.
     
    5. Device (10) according to claim 4 characterised in that the two rolls (14, 14') joined together can be fastened between the bar-shaped members (12) at a height which can be adjusted relative to the surface where one lies on the bench (18).
     
    6. Device (40) according to claim 1 characterised in that one of the resistance members (42) is a support member (42) which is in one piece together with the first portion (46) of the support member (50) together with that the other resistance member (44), which can be fastened, comprises one support device (44) which is adjustable at right angles to its length along another portion (48) of the support member (50) so that the support member (42) is suitable for contact with the bottom of one foot and the support device (44) is suitable for contact with the top of the other foot when the legs are stretched out.
     
    7. Device (40) according to claim 6 characterised in that it also includes a fastening mechanism on the support member (50) so that the device can be fastened to, for example, the leg of a bed in such a way that the described adjustment can be performed when a person lies on their back.
     
    8. Device (40) according to claim 7 characterised in that it also can be supplemented with an axel containing a pressure body capable of being rotated, which axel can be fastened to the other part (48) of the support member (50), through which the device (40) can be used for reflexology treatments.
     


    Ansprüche

    1. Vorrichtung (10; 40) zum Einrichten eines verschobenen Hüftgelenks oder eines gekrümmten Beckens einer Person,
    dadurch gekennzeichnet,
    daß die Vorrichtung (10; 40) ein Trageelement (12; 50) und zwei Widerstandselemente (14, 14'; 42, 44), welche durch das Trageelement (12; 50) getragen sind, umfaßt, wobei wenigstens eines der Widerstandselemente (14, 14'; 42, 44) bezüglich des Tragelelements (12; 50) verschiebbar ist, wobei die Widerstandselemente voneinander getrennt sind und einem Widerstandselement (14, 14'; 42, 44) ein Anlegen an der Oberseite eines Fußes und dem anderen Widerstandselement ein Anlegen an der Unterseite des anderen Fußes ermöglicht ist, wenn die Füße ausgestreckt sind, wobei das Einrichten erreicht wird, wenn die Oberseite des einen Fußes gegen das Widerstandselement gepreßt wird, während zur gleichen Zeit die Unterseite des anderen Fußes gegen das andere Widerstandselement gepreßt wird.
     
    2. Vorrichtung (10) nach Anspruch 1,
    dadurch gekennzeichnet,
    daß die balkenförmigen Trageelemente (12) zum einander gegenüberliegenden Anordnen an den Seiten des Fußendes einer Bank (18) ausgebildet sind und an den Widerstandselementen (14, 14') und der Bank festgelegt werden können, wobei zwischen den balkenförmigen Körpern (12) die Rollen (14, 14') festgelegt werden können.
     
    3. Vorrichtung (10) nach Anspruch 2,
    dadurch gekennzeichnet,
    daß die Rollen (14, 14') zwischen einander durch ihre Enden (22, 22') verbunden sind, so daß die Mittellinie der Achse zusammen mit einer der Rollenlängsachsen parallel zur Mittellinie der Achse zusammen mit der anderen Rollenlängsachse steht.
     
    4. Vorrichtung (10) nach Anspruch 3,
    dadurch gekennzeichnet,
    daß die Vorrichtung (10) ferner einen Stützkörper (16) umfaßt, welcher zwischen den balkenförmigen Elementen (12) festgelegt werden kann, welche zum Vorsehen einer Stütze für die Fersen beider Füße oder für die Zehen beabsichtigt sind, wenn die Oberseite von einem der Füße zur gleichen Zeit, wenn die Unterseite des anderen Fußes gegen die andere Rolle drückt, gegen eine der Rollen drückt.
     
    5. Vorrichtung (10) nach Anspruch 4,
    dadurch gekennzeichnet,
    daß die beiden miteinander verbundenen Rollen (14, 14') zwischen den balkenförmigen Elementen (12) in einer Höhe festgelegt werden können, welche bezüglich der Oberfläche, auf welcher man auf der Bank (18) liegt, eingestellt werden kann.
     
    6. Vorrichtung (40) nach Anspruch 1,
    dadurch gekennzeichnet,
    daß eines der Widerstandselemente (42) ein Stützelement (42) ist, welches zusammen mit dem ersten Abschnitt (46) des Trageelements (50) einteilig ist, und daß das andere Widerstandselement (44), welches festgelegt werden kann, eine Stützvorrichtung (44) umfaßt, welche in rechten Winkeln zu ihrer Länge entlang eines weiteren Abschnitts (48) des Tragelelements (50) einstellbar ist, so daß das Stützelement (42) zum Kontakt mit der Unterseite eines Fußes geeignet ist, und die Stützvorrichtung (44) zum Kontakt mit der Oberseite des anderen Fußes geeignet ist, wenn die Beine ausgestreckt sind.
     
    7. Vorrichtung (40) nach Anspruch 6,
    dadurch gekennzeichnet,
    daß sie ferner einen Befestigungsmechanismus an dem Trageelement (50) umfaßt, so daß die Vorrichtung zum Beispiel an dem Bein eines Bettes derart festgelegt werden kann, daß das beschriebene Einrichten durchgeführt werden kann, wenn eine Person auf ihrem Rücken liegt.
     
    8. Vorrichtung (40) nach Anspruch 7,
    dadurch gekennzeichnet,
    daß sie ferner durch eine Achse ergänzt werden kann, welche einen drehbaren Druckkörper enthält, welche Achse an dem anderen Teil (48) des Trageelements (50) festgelegt werden kann, wodurch die Vorrichtung (40) für Reflexbehandlungen verwendet werden kann.
     


    Revendications

    1. Appareil (10; 40) pour rajuster la jointure de la hanche courbée ou le bassin courbé, caractérisé par ce que l'appareil (10; 40) comprend en élément de base (12; 50) et deux organes de résistance (14,14'; 442,44), arrangés a l'élément de base (12; 50) en quoi les organes de résistance (14,14';42,44), dont l'un, au moins, peut être déplacé par rapport à l'élément de base (12; 50), sont arrangés par intervalles si bien que l'un s'adapte à l apposition contre le dessous de l'autre pied, les jambes étant étendues, en quoi le rajustement décrit se passe en ce que le dessus d'un pied est pressé contre l'organe de résistance en même temps que le dessous de l'autre pied est pressé contre l'autre organe de résistance.
     
    2. Appareil (10) selon la première demande, caractérisé par ce que l'élément de base (12) se compose de deux organes (12), formés en bâtons au pied d'une couchette (18), possibles à assujettir l'un face à l'autre, et par ce que les organes de résistance (14,14') se composent de deux rouleaux (14,14'), possibles à assujettir entre les organes formés en bâtons.
     
    3. Appareil (10) selon deuxième demande, caractérisé par ce que les rouleaux (14,14') sont joints entre eux, chacun à son extrémité (22,22'), si bien qu'une ligne centrale le long de l'extension d'un rouleau est parallèle à une ligne centrale le long de l'extension de l'autre rouleau.
     
    4. Appareil (10) selon troisième demande, caractérisé par ce que, en outre, l'appareil comprend un organe d'appui (16), possible à assujettir entre les organes formés en bâtons (12), lequel se propose d'être l'appui des talons des deux pieds ou des doigts de pied, quand le dessus d'un pied est pressé contre un rouleau en même temps que le dessous de l'autre pied est pressé contre l'autre rouleau.
     
    5. Appareil (10) selon quatrième demande, caractérisé par ce que les deux rouleaux joints (14,14') peuvent être assujettis entre les organes (12), formés en bâtons, sur un niveau possible à ajuster par rapport à la surface de repos de la couchette (18).
     
    6. Appareil (40 selon première demande, caractérisé par ce que l'un des organes de résistance (42) est un organe d'appui (42) qui est d'une pièce avec la première partie (46) de l'élément de base (50), et que l'autre organe de résistance (44), possible à assujettir, se compose d'un appareil d'appui (44), lequel est possible à déplacer à travers le sens de sa longueur et le long d'une autre partie (48) de l'élément de base (50), si bien que l'organe d'appui (42) s'adapte à l'apposition contre le dessous d'un pied et l'appareil d'appui (44) à l'apposition contre le dessus de l'autre pied, les jambes étant étendues.
     
    7. Appareil (40) selon sixième demande, caractérisé, en outre, par ce qu'il comprend un organe à assujettir, arrangé à l'élément de base (50) pour pouvoir assujettir l'appareil à un pied de lit par exemple, de facon que l'ajustement dit puisse être fait quand la personne est couchée sur le dos.
     
    8. Appareil (40) selon septième demande, caractérisé, en outre, par ce qu'on peut le compléter avec un arbre, fourni d'un organe de presse à tourner, et possible à assujettir à l'autre partie (48) de l'élément de base (50), en quoi l'appareil peut être employé par un kinésithérapeute.
     




    Drawing