Tragus acupressure clip with over-opening prevention and pressure adjustment

• US 5,662,679 A
• Filed: 03/26/1996
• Issued: 09/02/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Shatzu Health Products Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Shatzu Health Products Incorporated
• Inventors: Voss, Theodore N., Kirk, Karl D. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Buiz, Michael Powell
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRUONG, KEVIN THAO
• Application Number:
  US08/625,516
• Time in Patent Office: 525 Days
• Field of Search: 606/204, 606/206, 606/207, 606/201, 606/157, 606/151, 606/158, 606/205
• US Class Current: 606/204
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/027 Ears
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 39/04 Devices for pressing such points, e.g. Shiatsu or AcupressureMassage or pressure on general areas A61H9/00 - A61H23/00

Abstract

A tragus acupressure clip is disclosed with a concave spring having two opposing jaws. The jaws are separated by an opening of a slot delineated by an inner surface of the concave spring. Two opposing pressure pads are provided, each positioned on an inner surface of the concave spring and separated by the slot. Two mutually non-touching finger tabs are provided, each having one end attached to a different jaw on the outer surface of the spring. Each finger tab has a second end extending along an outer surface of the spring approximately only as far as the portion of the spring opposite the opening separating the jaws. When the second ends of the finger tabs are urged towards each other, against a compression bias of the spring, the slot separating the pressure pads is enlarged. The tragus acupressure clip is not subject to over-opening of the slot which over-opening would otherwise permanently deform the spring. According to another embodiment, one of the pads is attached to its respective clamping jaw via a threaded shaft so as to enable adjustment of the clamping pressure delivered by the clip.

Claims

1. A tragus acupressure clip which prevents over-opening comprising:

a concave spring having two opposing jaws separated by an opening of a slot delineated by an inner surface of said concave spring,

two opposing pressure pads, each attached to the end of a different one of said jaws on said inner surface of said concave spring, and separated by said slot,

two finger tabs, which are mutually non-touching when said spring is in a state of rest, each of said finger tabs having one end attached to the end of a different jaw, on an outer surface of said spring, and having a second end extending away from said end of said jaw, along an outer surface of said spring approximately only as far as a portion of said spring opposite to said opening of said slot separating said jaws,

whereby said second ends of said finger tabs are urged towards one another, against a compression bias of said spring to enlarge said slot separating said pressure pads, and

wherein each of said finger tabs comprises a bend between said first and second ends of said finger tabs so that said second ends are angled towards each other, said bend in said second ends of said finger tabs decreasing an ability to grip said second ends of said finger tabs as said second ends of said finger tabs are urged towards one another, said decrease in ability to grip said finger tabs limiting an opening of said slot beyond an elastic limit of said concave spring.

2. The tragus acupressure clip of claim 1 wherein said angle of said bend is in the range of 5°

-20°

.

3. A tragus acupressure clip which prevents over-opening comprising:

a concave spring having two opposing jaws separated by an opening of a slot delineated by an inner surface of said concave spring,

two opposing pressure pads, each attached to the end of a different one of said jaws on said inner surface of said concave spring, and separated by said slot,

two finger tabs, which are mutually non-touching when said spring is in a state of rest, each of said finger tabs having one end attached to the end of a different jaw, on an outer surface of said spring, and having a second end extending away from said end of said jaw, along an outer surface of said spring approximately only as far as a portion of said spring opposite to said opening of said slot separating said jaws,

whereby said second ends of said finger tabs are urged towards one another, against a compression bias of said spring to enlarge said slot separating said pressure pads, and

wherein each of said finger tabs comprises a bend between said first and second ends of said finger tabs so that said second ends are angled towards each other, said second ends of each of said finger tabs meeting as said finger tabs are urged towards one another to prevent urging said finger tabs towards each other beyond a certain limit so as to limit an opening of said slot beyond an elastic limit of said concave spring.

4. The tragus acupressure clip of claim 3 wherein meeting edges of said second ends of said finger tabs are twisted relative to one another.

5. A tragus acupressure clip comprising:

a concave spring having two opposing jaws separated by an opening of a slot delineated by an inner surface of said concave spring,

two opposing pressure pads, each attached to the end of a different one of said jaws on said inner surface of said concave spring, and separated by said slot,

two mutually non-touching finger tabs, each having one end attached to the end of a different jaw, on an outer surface of said spring, and having a second end extending away from said end of said jaw, along an outer surface of said spring approximately only as far as a portion of said spring opposite to said opening of said slot separating said jaws,

whereby said second ends of said finger tabs are urged towards one another, against a compression bias of said spring to enlarge said slot separating said pressure pads, and

wherein said concave spring is made of high yield tempered stainless steel.

6. A tragus acupressure clip comprising:

a concave spring including an inner concave spring positioned with an outer concave spring and attached thereto to define two opposing jaws separated by an opening of a slot delineated by an inner surface of said inner concave spring,

two opposing pressure pads, each attached to the end of a different one of said jaws on said inner surface of said inner concave spring, and separated by said slot,

two mutually non-touching finger tabs, each having one end attached to the end of a different jaw, on an outer surface of said outer concave spring, and having a second end extending away from said end of said jaw, along an outer surface of said spring approximately only as far as a portion of said outer concave spring opposite to said opening of said slot separating said jaws,

whereby said second ends of said finger tabs are urged towards one another, against a compression bias of said concave spring to enlarge said slot separating said pressure pads.

7. A tragus acupressure clip with clamping pressure adjustment comprising:

a concave spring having first and second opposing jaws separated by an opening of a slot delineated by an inner surface of said concave spring,

a threaded shaft having a first end disposed in a hole formed through said first clamping jaw and a second end extending into said opening, wherein a rotation of said shaft extends said second end into and withdraws said second end from, said opening of said slot,

first and second opposing pressure pads, said first pressure pad being attached to said second end of said threaded shaft and said second pressure pad being attached to the end of said second jaw on said inner surface of said concave spring, said first and second pressure pads being separated by said slot,

two finger tabs, which are mutually non-touching when said spring is in a state of rest, each of said finger tabs having one end attached to the end of a different jaw, on an outer surface of said spring, and having a second end extending away from said end of said jaw, along an outer surface of said spring approximately only as far as a portion of said spring opposite to said opening of said slot separating said jaws,

whereby said second ends of said finger tabs are urged towards one another, against a compression bias of said spring to enlarge said slot separating said pressure pads.

8. The tragus acupressure clip of claim 7 wherein a rotation of said shaft in a first direction extends said first pad so as to narrow said slot and to increase a clamping pressure of said clip.