Orthopedic chair
O Unlted States Patent 1111 3,878,840  
 Esbelin 1 Apr. 22, 1975 ORTHOPEDIC CHAIR 3.477.713 ll/l969 Cudmore 272 33 A [76] n ento J n Esbelin hem e 3.769 969 11/1973 Nez1k .1 128/68 .lacquetieres, Beynost 01700. France Prmmry Exummer-Lawrence W. Trapp [22] Filed: Aug. 22, I973 [21] App]. N0.: 390,421 [57] ABSTRACT An orthopedic chair adapted to place a user into a fetal position in which his spinal column is intimately [30] Foreign Applicamm Pnonty Dam and substantially entirely supported by a curved sup- ScpL 1972 France 7131646 port surface conforming thereto. The user sits on a seat and at the medial rear portion of the seat there [52] U.S. Cl. 128/70; 128/70; 128/68 extends an upright support with the Curved Support [51] ll!- Cl. A6&#34; 5/00 surface The f of the user rest on a f pp at [58] held of Search |28/68 7O&#39; tached to the seat itself or to legs for the seat while the 128/31; 272/33 A head of the user is supported by a head rest including 0 a chin support. Arm rests are attached to the upright [56] cinemas cued support and pass beneath the armpits of the user. UNITED STATES PATENTS l.869.460 8/l932 Brand 128/70 3 Dmwmg F&#39;gum ORTHOPEDIC CHAIR BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to orthopedic. relaxation apparatus.  
  The invention is particularly concerned with that technical aspect of orthopedic means. corrective medical gymnastic means. and means for providing a state of relaxation.  
  Current conditions of modern living (substantial automobile use. sedentary practices, eating habits etc.) contribute to frequent troubles with the verterbrae i.e.. to their alignment. their relative spacing etc. Notably. there is frequent misalignment and/or disjunction of the verterbrae. particularly the lower sacro-lumbar region which has substantial importance and can result in disasterous effects.  
  The apparatus according to the invention permits a dislocation. that is to say a restoration in alignment and/or spacing by a slackening or relief of the entire verterbrae and particularly the frequently toubled sacro-lumbar verterbrae. This apparatus operates to place an individual into a fetal position to attain a state of relaxation or relief not ordinarily in the meaning of the term corresponding to a complete muscular relaxation but in the sense of a complete relaxation of all of the bodily functions and mind as well. The apparatus can also be considered as having utility in the field of physical culture.  
  The orthopedic relaxation apparatus is principally characterized by a chair comprising a seat or base on which the treated subject sets. a dorsal support which extends at least from the seat up to the top of the spinal column of the user. said dorsal support having a width such that only the spinal column is supported thereby. said dorsal support having an inner surface for contacting the spinal column which is concave, an arm rest means. a chin support and a foot rest.  
  According to a further feature of the chair of the invention the seat or base is so inclined to naturally bring the spinal column of the subject into contact with the dorsal support.  
  The seat can also have a support on which it can rest on the ground.  
  The concavity of the dorsal support is smooth and regular and it has a central offset distance. of the order of, for example. 11 centimeters for average subjects.  
  The arm rest means is adjustable in height and width with respect to the dorsal support to adapt exactly under the armpits of the treated subject.  
  The chin support is connected to the dorsal support by an articulated connection which is adjustable in height such that its connection with the dorsal support or other part of the apparatus should be above the level of the glandular organs at the base of the skull of the treated subject ultimately to support the head in proper position.  
  A plurality of pairs of foot rests can be mounted on the chair at different levels such that the subject can fold his legs to the desired fetal position or can reach a normal position while passing through one or more intermediary positions.  
 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. I is a side view of the apparatus according to the invention. with a user illustrated in chain dotted lines in a position of dislocation;  
 FIG. 2 is a front view of the apparatus; and FIG. 3 is a top plan view thereof.  
 DETAILED DESCRIPTION The apparatus according to the invention essentially comprises a chair with a seat I on which the subject can be seated. and a dorsal support 2 projecting upward from the seat I at the rear medial portion thereof. The support 2 has a curved inner surface 20 which conforms closely to the shape of the spinal column of an individual seated on seat 1. More specifically, the inner surface 20 is generally concave and extends from the seat of the top of the spinal column of the subject. The dorsal support 2 is rigid and provides good support for the verterbrae of the subject. and its width is relatively narrow and limited only to support the subject over the width of the spinal column for substantially its entire length. It is to be noted that the dorsal support 2 has a width substantially equal to that of the verterbrae of the spinal column and that its concave profile is regular. that is to say. it is preferably in the form of an arc of a circle. The offset distance F, i.e.. the perpendicular distance from the chord joining the ends of the surface 20 to a point on the curve furthest from said chord is about 11 centimeters for use with average subjects. It is a further aspect of the invention to adapt the concave profile of the dorsal support as a function of the size of the subject to be treated. in particular. for adjusting the seat in such manner to provide for its use for children and adults of all sizes.  
  To provide close support of the spinal column over the entire length of the surface of 2a and continuous contact of the spinal column with surface 2a. the chair further comprises lateral arms 3 which are fixable in adjusted position on support 2. More specifically the arms 3 are mounted on respective brackets 9 which. in turn. are affixed by bolts 10 to one of a series of holes II along the length of support 2 whereby the arms can be fixed in adjusted position along the length of the support 2 with each arm being capable of having its height adjusted with respect to the seat 1. Such height adjustment of the arms 3 is intended to permit the posi&#39; tioning of the arms as a function of the size of the subject such that the arms 3 pass under the armpits of the patient in a manner to provide thereat a good support to lighten the load on the verterbrae of the spinal column between the shoulders and obtaining for the remainder of the spinal column the desired intimate support by support 2 over the length of surface 20. In addition to the height adjustment, the arms 3 are arranged to be laterally adjusted in position by mounting bolts 12 in selected holes [3 in brackets 9 so as to be adapted to the width of the back of the particular subject.  
  The support of the spinal column is obtained in a practical manner automatically by mounting on the apparatus. foot rests 4 which are rigidly secured in adjustable relation with respect to the seat 1. More specifically, the foot rests 4 are adjustable in height in slots 15 in the seat I in such manner to bring the knees of the user adjacent his body with the legs bent to attain a fetal position (FIG. I) which acts to place the spinal column of the user against support surface 2a of support 2. It is also to be noted that the vertical adjustment of foot rests 4 in slot I5 is effective to provide the necessary adaptation for the particular user.  
  To facilitate the support of the subject in the required position. the apparatus according to the invention further comprises a head rest at the upper part of support 2 in the form ofa chin support 5 which is connected in adjustable pivotal fashion by means of bolts 16 in a hole 17 in support 2 to regulate the position of chin support 5 with respect to support 2. The chin support 5 is also adjustable vertically in the holes 17, and a feature of the invention is that the point of pivotal attachment of chin support 5 with respect to support 2 is adjustable so as to be placed above the level of the glandular organs at the base of the skull of the patient so as to constitute a proper support for the head of the subject.  
  According to a characteristic feature of the inven tion. the upper surface of the seat 1 is inclined downwardly towards the support 2 by about 6 to assure the correct and uniform support of the spinal column by the surface 20. The arms 3 are also so inclined but in reverse direction in such manner to give to the body of the subject an inertial position to improve the contact of the spinal column of the patient against the concave support surface 20.  
  The chair 1 can be completed by a support In for resting on the ground which however is not necessary. Preferably. but in non-exclusive manner nevertheless. it is contemplated according to the invention. for example. to attach the seat I on a support composed of three legs la. one leg being placed at the rear in extension of the support 2.  
  The apparatus can be constructed in any suitable manner and ofa suitable material corresponding to the usage. such as for example. plastic or other molded products. or wood or metal in tubular form.  
  The apparatus according to the invention can be used principally in two ways:  
  I. it can be used as in orthopedic apparatus which serves to relax the spinal column which is only supported against the curved support 20 for the purpose of realignment of the verterbrae and particularly relief of the sacro-lumbar verterbrae. with slackening of the entire spinal column. for a treatment usually known as dislocation.  
  2. the seat according to the invention permits attainment of a total relaxation of the totality of the functions which obtain the fetal position by the subject utilizing the chair to provide physical and mental relaxation by modification of the rhythm and the respiratory condition. and total relaxation of all bodily functions accompanying a repose of the mind. in this regard, the attainment of the fetal position not only has the desired effect of producing a uniform and total support of the spinal column by the support 2 but the desirable psychological comforting aspect thereof.  
  The benefit and advantages of the apparatus according to the invention has been given in the above description and the appended drawings. however underlined is the functional and economical aspects. It is noted that the chair according to the invention, taking account of the different of the relative adjustments of the elements. can be adapted and utilized according to the variabilities of the subjects. The curved support 2 adjustable or not in width corresponds substantially to the width of the spinal column which should be solely supported thereby.  
  In the particular disclosed embodiment the total height of support 2 is 100 cm, and the support 2 has a width of 6 cm. The portion of support 2 with the concavity is 90 cm. In the use of the chair, there is a decompression or relaxation of the verterbrae due to the manner in which the verterbrae of the user is intimately supported on support 2 and this is not only relaxing for the subject but is useful to realign the verterbrae in the case of back disorders.  
  The invention is not limited solely to the embodiments disclosed nor to the specific construction of the various parts which have been particularly noted. Rather it embraces all variations falling within the scope of the appended claims.  
 What is claimed is:  
  1. An orthopedic chair comprising means including a seat for supporting a user in a fetal position with his legs folded against his chest. and an upright support on said seat provided with a concave curved surface for being in intimate contact with and supporting the spinal column of the user substantially over the length thereof with the user in said fetal position, said upright support having a narrow width such that only the spinal column of the user is supported thereby.  
  2. A chair as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for supporting the user in the fetal position further comprises a foot rest on said seat. an arm support means attached to the upright support. and a head rest means attached to the upright support.  
  3. A chair as claimed in claim 2 wherein said curved surface is a smooth curve which has an offset distance of about I l centimeters. said offset distance being measured along a perpendicular line from a chord joining the ends of the curve to a point on the curve furthest from said chord.  
  4. A chair as claimed in claim 2 wherein said seat is inclined rearwardly and downwardly towards said upright support.  
  5. A chair as claimed in claim 4 wherein said inclination of the seat is about 6.  
  6. A chair as claimed in claim 4 wherein said arm support means comprises a pair of arm rests supported from said upright support at an adjustable level and at an adjustable spacing to pass beneath the armputs of the user.  
  7. A chair as claimed in claim 6 wherein said arm supports are inclined downwardly and forwardly from the upright support.  
  8. A chair as claimed in claim 2 wherein said head rest means comprises a chin support attached to the upright support at an adjustable level above the base of the skull.  
  9. A chair as claimed in claim 1 comprising a support for placing the seat on the ground.  
  10. A chair as claimed in claim 2 comprising means supporting the foot rest means from said seat for relative height adjustment.  
  1 l. A chair as claimed in claim 1 wherein said upright support is constituted of a rigid material.  
  12. A chair as claimed in claim I wherein said means for supporting the user in a fetal position further comprises an arm support means on said upright support, a foot rest on said seat. and chin support means on said upright support.  
  13. An orthopedic chair comprising means including a seat for supporting a user in a fetal position with his legs folded against his chest, an upright support on said seat provided with a concave curved surface for being in intimate contact with and supporting the spinal column of the user substantially over the length thereof with the user in said fetal position. and at least three legs supporting said seat, one of which legs is in prolongation of said upright support.