Chiropractic adjusting tool

• US 6,228,042 B1
• Filed: 09/24/1998
• Issued: 05/08/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Thomas E. Dungan
• Original Assignee: Thomas E. Dungan
• Inventors: Dungan, Thomas E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yu, Justine R.
• Application Number:
  US09/159,897
• Time in Patent Office: 957 Days
• Field of Search: 601/107, 601/108, 601/97, 601/100, 601/101, 601/111, 601/103, 601/46, 601/67, 601/68, 601/69, 601/70, 601/72, 606/237, 606/238
• US Class Current: 601/107
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 1/008 Apparatus for applying pressure or blows almost perpendicular to the body or limb axis, e.g. chiropractic devices for repositioning vertebrae, correcting deformation
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0153 hand-held
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1418 Cam
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1664 linear
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1688 disposable
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/0254 with rotary motor
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/04 with hydraulic or pneumatic drive hydraulic or Pneumatic massages, A61H9/00; underwater massages, A61H33/00

Abstract

A chiropractic adjustment tool or tapper comprises a housing, the housing having an open end; a striker assembly disposed within the housing and secured thereto; and a plunger device or plunger disposed externally to the housing and secured thereto, the plunger being in communication with the striker assembly through the open end in the housing. The striker assembly comprises a reciprocating striking rod. A power source, such as a pneumatic motor, electric motor, solenoid arrangement, or the like, provides power through a series of gears and springs to move the striking rod in reciprocating fashion. The plunger comprises a plunging rod slidable within a body. Once each cycle, the striking rod strikes the plunging rod, which moves away from the striking rod and strikes the patient'"'"'s body. Upon striking the patient'"'"'s body, another spring retracts the plunging rod until it once again contacts the striking rod and is again forced against the patient'"'"'s body. A typical rate of impact is thirty impacts per second, though other rates of impact are available and can be efficacious as well. Both the speed and the force of impact are adjustable to provide optimal therapeutic effects.

Claims

1. An impact tool, the tool comprising:

(a) a housing, the housing having an open end;

(b) a striker assembly disposed within the housing and secured thereto, the striker assembly comprising;

(1) an axially reciprocating striking rod, said striking rod having force receiving end and a force transmitting end,

(2) means for biasing the striking rod in a direction away from said open end,

(3) a drive gear assembly rotatably connected to a power source to provide operational power to the striker assembly,

(4) a drive shaft affixed to the drive gear and rotatable therewith, and

(5) a wheel mounted on the drive shaft and rotatable therewith, the wheel having a surface thereof inclined to the axis of rotation for driving the force receiving end of the striking rod towards the open end,

(c) a plunger assembly threadably secured to the open end of said housing for movement inwardly and outwardly of the opening thereof with at least a portion thereof being disposed externally to the housing, the plunger assembly comprising;

(1) a hollow body having an exterior surface,

(2) a plunging rod mounted for axially reciprocating movement in said plunger assembly, said plunging rod having a forward end externally of the hollow body for contacting a human body and a rearward end being in communication with the force transmitting end of the striking rod through the open end in the housing, and

(3) means for normally biasing the plunging rod in a direction substantially opposite the biasing direction of said striking rod, and

(d) an annular ring movably connected to the exterior surface of said hollow body, said annular ring being selectively positionable relative to the plunger assembly and having an abutment face for engaging the housing, the annular ring once positioned operating to permit only a desired amount of movement of the plunger assembly in a direction inwardly of said housing and thereby to position the rearward end of the plunging rod relative to the force transmitting end of the striking rod lessen or increase the force of the impacts between the plunging rod and the striking rod.

2. The tool of claim 1 wherein

the housing comprises a barrel portion proximate the open end thereof, the barrel portion having an inner surface and an outer surface with at least a portion of the inner surface of the barrel portion proximate the open end being threaded,

the hollow body of the plunger assembly has a threaded outer surface, the threaded outer surface being threadably engaged with the thread on the inner surface of the barrel portion, and

the annular ring has a threaded inner surface, the threaded inner surface of the annular ring threadably engaging with the threaded outer surface of the hollow body of the plunger assembly.

3. The tool of claim 2 wherein the striker assembly further comprises a frame, the frame being secured to the barrel portion of the housing.

4. The tool of claim 3 wherein the striking rod is slidably attached to the frame.

5. The tool of claim 1 further comprising manually operated switch means for controlling the power source.

6. The tool of claim 5 wherein

the hollow body of the plunger assembly shape comprises a substantially cylindrical shape, the body adapted to be insertable into the barrel and removably securable thereto,

the power source is disposed within said housing in operable relation to said striker assembly and to said means for controlling the power source.

7. The tool of claim 1 further comprising a tip, the tip being secured to the forward end of the plunging rod.

8. The tool of claim 7 further comprising a removable second tip, the removable second tip disposed about the tip.