Patents Assigned to Glacier Cross, Inc.
  • Patent number: 7597673
    Abstract: The pneumatic lumbar traction device comprises two separable parts, namely an upper hollow part and a lower frame, the frame having a pneumatically operated piston and cylinder mechanism fixed in and located centrally therein with a piston rod extending outwardly to engage a bar positioned to engage and move a loop fixed to a pelvic traction belt outwardly of a foot end of the device; the upper hollow part having an upper surface on which a user will lie during use; a generally elongate chest belt having opposite end portions with a strap fixed on each end portion with a first clip on said strap and a mating second clip fixed on the opposite end portion, each strap, after said mating clips are fixed together, being capable of being pulled through said first clip to tighten it on the first clip against said fixed mating second clip thereby to tighten the chest belt around a users chest; two, spaced apart, elongate strips of hook or loop material fixed to a central area of the upper surface for engaging with an
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Glacier Cross, Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan Chitwood, Susan Nickell
  • Publication number: 20090093745
    Abstract: The pneumatic lumbar traction device comprises two separable parts, namely an upper hollow part and a lower frame, the frame having a pneumatically operated piston and cylinder mechanism fixed in and located centrally therein with a piston rod extending outwardly to engage a bar positioned to engage and move a loop fixed to a pelvic traction belt outwardly of a foot end of the device; the upper hollow part having an upper surface on which a user will lie during use; a generally elongate chest belt having opposite end portions with a strap fixed on each end portion with a first clip on said strap and a mating second clip fixed on the opposite end portion, each strap, after said mating clips are fixed together, being capable of being pulled through said first clip to tighten it on the first clip against said fixed mating second clip thereby to tighten the chest belt around a users chest; two, spaced apart, elongate strips of hook or loop material fixed to a central area of the upper surface for engaging with an
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2007
    Publication date: April 9, 2009
    Applicant: Glacier Cross, Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan Chitwood, Susan Nickell
  • Patent number: 6045525
    Abstract: The pneumatic lumbar traction device comprises two separable parts, namely an upper hollow shell and a lower plate or frame. The plate or frame has a pneumatically operated piston and cylinder mechanism located centrally thereof with a piston rod extending outwardly to engage a guided bar guided in a guideway mounted to the plate or frame. The guided bar extends outwardly of a foot end of the hollow shell and the plate or frame has an outer perimeter. The hollow shell has an inner perimeter which is sized to seat over and around the outer perimeter of the plate or frame, such that the outer perimeter of the plate or frame can bear against the inner perimeter of said hollow shell at a head end of the device when traction is placed on the lumbar region of a users back. The hollow shell has the foot end and a head end. The opening at the foot end allows the guided bar to extend therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: Glacier Cross, Inc.
    Inventor: Ralph M. Chitwood
  • Patent number: 5916185
    Abstract: The cervical traction or stretch device comprises: an inflatable bladder or bellows having a central U-shaped space so that the bladder or bellows can extend at least part way around the neck of a user, and a pumping mechanism coupled to the bladder or bellows and operable by a user for pumping air into the bellows. The bladder or bellows has an upper side and a lower side. The lower side is constructed and arranged to be positioned adjacent a user's shoulders and exert pressure thereagainst when inflated. And the upper side is constructed and arranged to engage and exert pressure against the base of a user's head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Assignee: Glacier Cross, Inc.
    Inventor: Ralph M. Chitwood
  • Patent number: 5709649
    Abstract: The neck curvature alignment device comprises: a framework including a base portion adapted to be supported on a generally planar surface and having an upper surface and a pivot portion having an outer surface and being pivotally connected to the base portion; a moving mechanism situated between the base portion and the pivot portion for moving the pivot portion away from the base portion; a device for actuating the moving mechanism; a head and neck receiving device mounted on the upper surface of the base portion and having structure for engaging and bearing against the occipital bone of a patient's head, whereby operation of the moving mechanism will cause the pivot portion to move away from the base portion to cause the head and neck receiving portion to act in an arcuate direction against a patient's neck and head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1998
    Assignee: Glacier Cross, Inc.
    Inventor: Ralph M. Chitwood
  • Patent number: 5662597
    Abstract: The gravity traction device comprises an inclined platform or table having an upper inclined surface for supporting a user's upper body or torso and a generally U-shaped, head receiving portion mounted to the platform adjacent an upper end thereof and having contoured surfaces for receiving and supporting a user's head and neck and a ridge with an adjacent lift surface for engaging against the occipital bone of the user's head received in the head receiving portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1997
    Assignee: Glacier Cross, Inc.
    Inventor: Ralph M. Chitwood
  • Patent number: 5569175
    Abstract: The pivotable cervical traction/stretch and neck curve support device comprises a base portion having an upper inclined surface for supporting a person's upper body or torso, a table or platform situated adjacent the base portion and having an upper surface and a bottom surface, a pivotable mounting mechanism attached to the base for pivotally and rotatably mounting the platform to the base in a manner allowing rotation of the platform about any one of or all of an X-axis, a Y-axis and a Z-axis. The mounting mechanism includes structure for securing the platform in a desired position, a head portion having an inner surface and a bottom surface, the bottom surface being in sliding contact with the platform, the head portion also having specially contoured surfaces for receiving a person's head, and a mechanism for incrementally moving the head portion on the platform away from the inclined surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1996
    Assignee: Glacier Cross, Inc.
    Inventor: Ralph Chitwood
  • Patent number: 5454781
    Abstract: The cervical traction/stretch device comprises a hollow inflatable body made of an elastically expandable material and includes a shoulder portion, a head portion and a bellows portion which is integrally formed with the head portion and to the shoulder portion. The bellows portion, the shoulder portion and the head portion have aligned U-shaped openings therein adapted to receive a user's neck. Pumping structure is connected to the body for pumping air into the body and for relieving or releasing air out of the body and the head portion. The bellows portion and the shoulder portion have an un-inflated condition, a first inflated condition and a second inflated condition where the bellows portion acts against and between the head portion and the shoulder portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 3, 1995
    Assignee: Glacier Cross, Inc.
    Inventor: Ralph M. Chitwood
  • Patent number: 5441479
    Abstract: The cervical traction device comprises: a body including a shoulder portion, a head portion and a bellows which extends substantially across the width and height of the body between and connected to the head portion and to the shoulder portion and acting against and between substantially the full inner end surface of the head portion and the full inner end surface of the shoulder portion. The bellows, the shoulder portion and the head portion have aligned U-shaped openings therein adapted to receive a patient's neck. A hand operated air pump is connected to the bellows for pumping air into the bellows and for relieving or pumping air out of the bellows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 15, 1995
    Assignee: Glacier Cross, Inc.
    Inventor: Ralph Chitwood
  • Patent number: 5052378
    Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided a portable traction apparatus including a table having a head end and a foot and including a generally rectangular panel adapted to be placed in a horizontal position. A traction exerting mechanism is mounted to the table and includes an extension linkage assembly fixed to the table and including articulated pivotally interconnected links, an elongate upper end member connected at an inner end to the linkage assembly and having an outer end extending outwardly of the head end of the table and or, an elongate lower end member having an inner end connected to the linkage assembly and an outer end extending outwardly of the foot end of the table and, first and second lever arms pivotally connected to and forming part of the linkage assembly, each lever arm having an outer end extending outwardly from one side of the table and having arm engaging means at the outer end of each lever arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1991
    Assignee: Glacier Cross, Inc.
    Inventor: Ralph M. Chitwood