US 11,998,472 B2
Portable traction device with sling
Steven Sudell, Santa Monica, CA (US)
Assigned to The Neck Hammock, Inc., Wilmington, DE (US)
Filed by THE NECK HAMMOCK, INC., Wilmington, DE (US)
Filed on Oct. 26, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/080,829.
Application 17/080,829 is a continuation of application No. 15/879,881, filed on Jan. 25, 2018, granted, now 10,813,784, issued on Oct. 27, 2020.
Application 15/879,881 is a continuation in part of application No. 15/600,901, filed on May 22, 2017, granted, now 10,813,785, issued on Oct. 27, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/374,259, filed on Aug. 12, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2021/0038419 A1, Feb. 11, 2021
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61F 5/00 (2006.01); A61F 5/048 (2006.01); A61F 5/055 (2006.01); A61H 1/00 (2006.01); A61H 1/02 (2006.01); A61M 21/02 (2006.01); A61H 23/02 (2006.01); A61M 21/00 (2006.01)
CPC A61F 5/048 (2013.01) [A61F 5/055 (2013.01); A61H 1/005 (2013.01); A61H 1/0296 (2013.01); A61M 21/02 (2013.01); A61H 23/02 (2013.01); A61H 2201/0123 (2013.01); A61H 2201/10 (2013.01); A61H 2201/1284 (2013.01); A61H 2201/1607 (2013.01); A61H 2201/1611 (2013.01); A61H 2201/5005 (2013.01); A61H 2201/5023 (2013.01); A61M 2021/0027 (2013.01); A61M 2205/502 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A portable traction device for providing cervical traction to a user in a supine position, the portable traction device comprising:
an elongated sling comprising flexible material and sized to cradle and engage a user's head when a first side of the elongated sling extends to a first side of the user's head and a second side of the elongated sling extends to a second side of the user's head while the portable traction device is in use;
a resonant actuator integrated into the elongated sling;
an anchor comprising a strap extending between an anchor tab and an anchor connector; and
an elastic portion having a first end associated with the elongated sling and a second end associated with the anchor connector,
wherein the elastic portion is strained and at an acute angle relative to a floor while the portable traction device is in use, the strained elastic portion producing a tensile force in a direction of the acute angle.
 
11. A method of applying cervical traction comprising:
providing the portable traction device as in claim 1;
attaching the anchor of the portable traction device to an anchoring object at a height above a floor;
stretching the elastic portion to produce a tensile force having a horizontal vector component towards the anchor and a vertical vector component perpendicular to the horizontal component and upward away from the portable traction device; and
cradling a head of a substantially supine user within the sling while the elastic portion is stretched, wherein the substantially supine user's feet are positioned in a direction substantially opposite the horizontal vector component.
 
14. A cervical traction system comprising:
a sling extending between first and second ends and configured to cradle a user's head during use;
an elastic portion associated with the first and second ends of the sling;
an anchor connector associated with the elastic portion; and
an anchor comprising a strap and a complementary anchor connector affixed to the strap, the complementary anchor connector configured to selectively engage the anchor connector of the elastic portion,
wherein the elastic portion is strained and at an acute angle relative to a floor while the cervical traction system is in use, the strained elastic portion producing a tensile force in a direction of the acute angle.