Chiropractic adjustor apparatus

• US 6,602,211 B2
• Filed: 06/19/2002
• Issued: 08/05/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Erchonia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Erchonia Patent Holdings LLC
• Inventors: Tucek, Kevin B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lucchesi, Nicholas D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Thanh, Quang D
• Application Number:
  US10/174,622
• Publication Number:
  US 20030014079A1
• Time in Patent Office: 412 Days
• Field of Search: 601/97, 601/101, 601/103, 601/107, 601/108, 601/110, 601/111, 606/237, 606/238, 606/239
• US Class Current: 601/97
• 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 2023/002 having a percussion element combined with a passive spacer element for bearing against the skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0153 hand-held
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1669 moving along the body in a reciprocating manner
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/0254 with rotary motor

Abstract

A chiropractic adjustor apparatus having an electromagnetic drive mechanism connected to an actuating means which causes a shaft to reciprocate. The reciprocating shaft is used to apply pressure or force directly to the spinal vertebrae of a body. The improvements of this device include a variable-controlled switch to enable the user to change the frequency of the reciprocation; a thermal cut-off switch that automatically turns off the power to the electromagnetic drive mechanism so that the device will stop reciprocating; and a suite of structures that work together to resist rotation when the device is in use.

Claims

1. A chiropractic adjustor device comprising:

a) a housing having a central interior cavity and a pair of opposite end portions;

b) an electromagnetic drive mechanism mounted in the interior cavity of the housing;

c) a shaft extending through the electromagnetic drive mechanism and through openings in the opposite end portions of the housing;

d) means for actuating the electromagnetic drive mechanism to cause repetitive reciprocal movement of the shaft along a longitudinal axis of the shaft and relative to the housing wherein the actuating means further includes an electronic control module; and

e) means attached to the housing for gripping to hold the device; and

f) means for resisting rotation of the gripping means relative to the shaft and rotation of the shaft relative to a force-transmitting element the apparatus relative to a user'"'"'s grip.

2. The device according to claim 1 further comprising means connected to the electronic control module for cutting-off power to the electromagnetic drive mechanism upon reaching a certain temperature.

3. The device according to claim 1 further comprising means connected to the electronic control module for changing the frequency of the reciprocation.

4. The device according to claim 1 wherein the means for resisting rotation includes a force-transmitting element which is attached to the shaft with a polygonal-shaped aperture for receiving a mated polygonal-shaped end of the shaft.

5. The device according to claim 1 wherein the force transmitting element is attached to the shaft using a spring-latch.

6. The device according to claim 1 wherein the means for resisting rotation comprising:

a) a pin mounted across the shaft in a transverse relationship thereto;

b) a slotted bushing attached to one of the opposite end portions of the housing;

such that the pin fits into a slot of the slotted bushing and restrains the shaft from rotating relative to the housing.

7. The device according to claim 1 wherein the housing and opposite end portions all have passages adapted to enhance heat dissipation from the housing.

8. The device according to claim 2 wherein the means for cutting-off power to the electromagnetic drive mechanism is a thermal cut-off switch.

9. The device according to claim 3 wherein the means for changing the frequency of reciprocation is a variable-controlled switch.