Therapeutic device

April 7, 1959

A. L. HOUGHTALING

2,880,720

THERAPEUTIC DEVICE

<img file="US2880720A_D0001.tif" />

ATTORNEYS’

April 7, 1959

2,8.80,720

A. L. HOUGHTALING

THERAPEUTIC DEVICE ~

<img file="US2880720A_D0002.tif" />

<img file="US2880720A_D0003.tif" />

ATTORNEYS

April 7, 1959

A. L. HOUGHTALING

2,880,720

THERAPEUTIC DEVICE

Filed May 4, 1956

<img file="US2880720A_D0004.tif" />

Sheets-Sheet 3

<img file="US2880720A_D0005.tif" />

<img file="US2880720A_D0006.tif" />

<img file="US2880720A_D0007.tif" />

INVENTOR.

AMER L HOUGHTALING

<img file="US2880720A_D0008.tif" />

ATTORNEYS

United States Patent Office

2,880,720

Patented Apr. 7, 1959

2,880,720

THERAPEUTIC DEVICE

Amer L. Houghtaling, Cottage Grove, Oreg.

Application May 4,1956, Serial No. 582,747

Claims. (Cl. 128—33)

This invention relates to therapeutic devices and is particularly related to the stimulation of the flow of blood within the body.

The primary object of the invention is to stimulate the flow of the blood particularly to the feet and away from the feet of the patient, as for instance in diabetic cases, the raising and lowering of the feet causes increased circulation of the blood within the veins.

A further object of this invention is to provide a device whose action can be varied to suit the requirements of the patient.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device having means to carry out the various actions of the device; including means indicating the action desired by the doctor which is transmitted to the attendant by the usual chart instructions, and can be readily used by the attendant to adjust the device itself by setting the various controlling devices for the controlling of the required movement of the device.

In the assisting of the circulation of blood in reference to the feet of the patient, it has been found that if the patient’s feet and legs are raised to an elevation above his body, remaining in this position for a period of time, depending upon the patient, then lowered to a level position relative to the body or lower than the body for a period of time, and this action carried through from one position to the other for the required time a very efficient treatment can be given to the patient.

With this therapeutic device, this operation can be carried on continuously for the required time without any effort or thought given by the patient.

It has been found that all patients do not require the same type of treatment, either in amount of raising and lowering of the feet and legs, or the time required. To carry out these objects this device is so designed as to give a wide range of adjustment.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a therapeutic device that can be adapted to a standard bedstead, either of the home or hospital design. By being able to adapt the same to a standard bedstead the costs of production are less and extra room for the device is eliminated. Further, in adapting the device to the usual bedstead the patient is made to feel more at ease and the tretament can be carried out more satisfactorily.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a therapeutic device to carry out the above stated objects in a manner that does not detract from the decoration or arrangement of the normal home.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent in the following specification when considered in the light of the attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the invention shown mounted within a standard bedstead, partially broken away for convenience of illustration.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation of one of the controls for positioning one of the permanent stops or rests associated with the basic frames of the bed.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary inverted plan view of the structure shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical crosssection of the operating connecting rod, taken on the 5 line 4—4 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary enlarged end view of the reduction gear box associated with the connecting rod for operating the device.

Figure 6 is an exploded perspective fragmentary view illustrating a detail of the basic frame of the bed.

Figure 7 is a longitudinal cross-section taken through the bedstead looking into the side of the basic frame operating mechanism, taken on the line 7—Ί of Figure 15 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse crosssection taken on the line 8—8 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view 20 of part of the operating mechanism, taken on the line 9—9 of Figure 7, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary enlarged side view of the hinged portion of the basic frame of the device, with parts broken away for convenience of illustration.

Figure 11 is a plan view of the structure shown in Figure 10, with parts broken away for convenience of illustration.

Figure 12 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-section of the lever holding mechanism shown in Figure 4.

Figure 13 is a diagrammatical layout of a modified structure for operating the basic frame of the device, consisting of a hydraulic mechanism.

Figure 14 is a view similar to Figure 13 of another operating structure for the basic frame of the device. 35 Figure 15 illustrates still another modified structure for operating the basic frame of the new and improved therapeutic device.

Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like reference numerals indicates like parts throughout the 40 several figures, the reference character B indicates generally a bedstead to which the invention is attached. The bedstead B includes a basic bed frame F and a support base C. The base C includes a pair of uprights 20 secured together at their bottoms by a base board 21. The 45 uprights 20 extend at a lower level, as indicated at 22, to the opposite end 23 of the base C.

Referring to Figures 7 and 8 particularly, an outwardly extending flange 24 forms part of the base C and is adapted to hang upon a bedstead rail 25. The 50 rails 25 are supported by bed supporting legs 26.

The basic frame F includes a pair of U-shaped frames 27 and 28 having inner ends 29 and 30, respectively, referring particularly to Figures 6, 10 and 11, which are hinged together as follows. The end 29 of the frame 55 27 has an extension 31 formed thereon while the end 30 of the frame 28 has formed thereon an extension 32 offset from the extension 31 of the frame 27. The extensions 31 and 32 interlap with one another, as best illusstrated in Figure 11.

A pair of bearing assemblies 33 are bolted to the extensions 31 and 32. The bearings 33 are adapted to have journalled therein ends 34 of a cross member 35, referring particularly to Figures 1 and 8. The ends 34 are also journalled within bearings 36 located within the 65 upper ends of the supporting legs 20 of the base frame B. The above described assembly pivotally supports the base framework F, upon the base C, which in turn is supported within the side rails 25 of the bedstead B.

Operating levers 37 are fixedly keyed to the ends 3.4 ⁷⁰ of the cross member 35 by keys 37A, preventing their rotation on the cross member 35. Quadrants 38 form a part of the levers 37 and are adapted to position the arms 39 and 40 through locking mechanism 41. The arms 39 and 40 are pivotally mounted upon hubs 42 forming part of the levers 37, referring to Figure 8, particularly.

The levers 37 and the arms 39 and 40 are held in position by flanges 43, forming part of the cross member 35, while the ends 34 of the cross member are held within the bearings 36 on the supporting legs 20 by locking collars 44, maintaining the above assembly in assembled position. Outer ends 45 of the levers 39 and 40 are adapted to engage the under surface of the basic frame F, as best illustrated in Figure 7, the operation of which will be described below.

In the preferred form of this therapeutic device, a reduction power gear box 46 is employed to operate the levers 37 as follows. The levers 37 are connected together at their lower ends by a cross member 47, which is connected thereto by pivots 48.

The cross member 47 has a connecting rod assembly R connecting the same to the reduction gear box 46 in the following manner. Referring particularly to Figures 1, 7 and 8, in order to make the connecting rod R adjustable for governing the movement of the basic frame F, its length can be changed. The connecting rod R consists of a bar 49 fixedly secured to the cross member 47 on its one end and pivotally connected to the lever 50 at its opposite end. A connecting bar or rod 51 is also pivotally connected to the lever 50 at 52. A parallel connecting link 53 also connects the rods 49 and 51 together and maintains them in alignment.

A quadrant 54 forms part of the rod or lever 49 and is adapted to hold the adjusting lever 50 by means of its locking dog 55 in any desired position. The connecting rod 51 is joined to a crank 56 by a crank pin 57. The lever 56 is pivotally connected at 58 to a basic crank 59 keyed to a power shaft 60 associated with the gear box 46. The basic crank 59 provides a quadrant having teeth 61 formed thereon adapted to receive a locking device 62. By moving the crank 56 over the face of the quadrant of the crank 59 towards the shaft 60 the length of throw imparted to the connecting rod assembly R may be varied. The object of which will be more fully described later.

The U-shaped frame 28 of the basic frame F may be supported upon adjustable support arms 63 to a limited angle relative to the horizontal. The arms 63 are fixedly secured at their lower ends to a cross shaft 64. The cross shaft 64 is journalled within the side members 20 of the base C, referring particularly to Figures 1, 2, 3 and 7.

Referring to Figures 2 and 3, a quadrant 66 is adapted to hold the arms 63 in the desired position in cooperation with a crank 67 forming part of the cross shaft 64. A spring 68 is adapted to maintain the crank 67 against teeth 69 of the quadrant 66. Dogs 63A located on the upper ends of the support arms 63 are adapted to engage racks 70 forming part of the basic frame 28. When the support arms 63 are raised, the frame 28 will be held in a raised position, as for instance the position indicated by the broken lines 71, which will be described later.

Referring to Figure 12, I will explain the principle of the locking device used on the arms 39, 40, lever 50 and crank 56. The levers or arms themselves are indicated by numeral 50, while the quadrants are indicated by numeral 54, having the usual teeth 54A formed therearound. Located within the levers 50 are plungers 75, which are held therein by a removable bearing 76. The lower ends of the dogs 77 engage the teeth 54A of the quadrant 54 and are held therein by a spring 78 which bears down against the dogs 77 at its one end and under a shoulder 79 of the bearing 76 at its other end. When the operator pulls up on a knob 80 he withdraws the dog 77 from the notches 54A of the quadrant 54, permitting the movement of the arms or levers 50 above described.

I will now describe the operation of this new and improved therapeutic device. The head and body of the patient is adapted to rest on the frame section 28, while the feet and legs are adapted to rest on the frame section 5 27. Figure 7 illustrates the frame F in a horizontal position. In order to bring the basic frame F to the position indicated by broken lines 81, the crank 59, including the adjustable crank 56, will be rotated in the direction of the arrow, pulling the connecting rod R in the direction 10 of the arrow, raising the section 28 of the basic frame F by action of the arm 39. This movement will also simultaneously lower the arm 40 together with the frame member 27.

As the power bear box continues to revolve in the direc15 tion of the arrow, the cranks 59 and 56 will move the connecting rod assembly R in the opposite direction of the arrow bringing the frame F back to a level position against where the section 28 of the frame F will come to rest upon the supporting arms 63. On further rota20 tion of the crank 59, the section 27 of the frame F will be raised towards the broken line position 82, raising the feet of the patient but allowing his body to remain on a horizontal plane. On the passing of the cranks 59 and 56 beyond dead-center, having raised the foot section 27 25 of the frame F to the broken line position 82, it will begin to lower the section 27 lowering the feet back to a level, then down to the broken line position 81. It is believed that a cycle of operation would probably consume approximately one minute’s time, but I do not wish to be 3θ limited to this amount of time. The amount of lowering or raising the basic frame F will depend upon the position of the crank 56 in regards to the crank 59 as above described. The limit of movement above or below the horizontal, of the basic frame F will depend upon the ³⁵ length of adjustment of the connecting rod assembly R.

There are times that the basic frame sections 27 and 28 may be varied in their movement in regards to one another. This is accomplished by the adjustment of the arms 39 and 40 with relation to the quadrants 38 of ⁴⁰ the levers 37 using the locking mechanism 41.

In regards to the adjustments by the above described controls, each control will have a scale thereon to indicate to the operator a particular type of movement being imparted to each of the frame members 27 or 28 of the ⁵ complete frame assembly F so that the operator can follow the recommendations or instructions placed on the attendant’s chart recommended by the doctor in charge.

As stated in the above objects, one of the primary ob^υ jects is to provide a therapeutic device that can be mounted or dismounted within a standard bedstead, reducing the cost of production of this device.

In Figures 13, 14 and 15, other operating modifications _gg are illustrated diagrammatically.

In Figure 13 the basic frame F is adapted to be operated by a mechanism M which is identical to the portions of the preferred form of the invention set forth by reference numerals 37, 38, 39, 40 and 41. The mech₆θ anism M is actuated by means of a hydraulic cylinder 9® pivotally connected at 91 to a portion of the bedstead B. A connecting rod 92 extends from the hydraulic cylinder 90 and is pivotally connected at 93 to the mechanism M. Hydraulic fluid under pressure exerted by a pump P is ₆5 conducted through a hydraulic tube 94 to a valve 95 and thence to opposite ends of the hydraulic cylinder 90 alternately through hydraulic tubing 96 and 97 or is returned to a reservoir 98 through hydraulic tubing 99.

A threaded shaft 100 is pivotally connected at 101 to ,-θ the mechanism M and carries a pair of stops 102 and 103 thereon. An operating lever 104 of the valve 95 is positioned for engagement by the stops 102 and 103 upon movement of the shaft 100 to move the valve 95 to reverse the action of the hydraulic cylinder 90. The collars 102 and 103 are adjustable on the shaft 10® to vary the movement of the ftane F.

2,880,720 sorted to without departing from the scope of the appended claims.