Postural table

Abstract

The postural table (1) to promote, by laying the patient down on the table, a static stretching of muscles and / or to promote restoration of postural symmetry, the table comprises: a platform (2), having planar development and quadrangular contour to define a holding plane (21) for a patient, having a plurality of through holes (3) transversely crossing the platform (2) with a direction incident to the holding plane (21); a plurality of pins (4) coupleable to the plurality of holes (3) to define anchoring points on which the patient can push with one limb to stretch a group of muscle bundles or to define the points of restraint or support of one portion of the patient's body to stretch the others; wherein the platform (2) comprises a lower slab-shaped element (5), preferably made of plywood, coupled to a mattress pad (6) extending along the entire quadrangular contour of the platform (2).

Description

[0001] POSTURAL TABLE

[0002] Technical Field

[0003] This solution relates to a postural table. The term “postural table” means a platform on which a patient lies to undergo static stretching of muscles aimed at seeking the patient’s postural symmetry.

[0004] Background Art

[0005] The postural table finds application in the fitness sector, e.g. gyms, beauty centers and in the medical sector, e.g. health care centers, polyclinics, rehab centers and physical therapy centers.

[0006] A variety of physical activities are implemented to lose weight, increase muscles and train general mobility. All of these physical activities can be performed outdoors or inside spaces such as homes, gyms and fitness centers and can be done free-body, with equipment and machines.

[0007] In addition to the above physical activities carried out by people who do not have physical problems, there are also preventive or rehab activities through which one tries to prevent or treat problems related to the musculoskeletal, neurological or visceral systems caused by injury, deformity, stress or postural errors.

[0008] For the physical activities and physical therapy activities mentioned above, there are several types of exercises, including static exercises, which consist of performing static muscle contractions by working muscles out while keeping them in a state of immobility, thus without subjecting them to stretching and without fatiguing them by moving a load.

[0009] This type of static exercise is implemented free-body or with the aid of equipment or machines.

[0010] Free-body exercises, in order for them to be effective, require the constant supervision of a trainer or of a physical therapist to check the correct positioning of the limbs, while working out and, in some cases, to physically impose a correct posture to perform the exercise. To generate these positioning constraints while avoiding the massive presence of experienced personnel, machines can be used to force the user to take on certain postures while using the machine. In addition to the high cost of these machines, which does not facilitate their widespread use, they are also not very popular due to their reduced flexibility of use.

[0011] In fact, the aforementioned machines may be suitable for one part of the body, e.g. the lower limbs, but not for other parts of the body. In order to have a fleet of machines capable of working out almost the entire musculoskeletal system, large investments and huge space are required to accommodate them.

[0012] It should be added that the design of these machines is based on standard, i.e., average builds, and therefore, in some cases, they cannot be usable by very tall and / or very heavy people.

[0013] Description of the Invention

[0014] The aim of this solution is to devise a postural table.

[0015] The object of this solution is to devise a postural table with a reduced cost compared to the cost of machines on the market and with a high flexibility of use. In particular, the object of this solution is to devise a postural table which can provide a workout on the entire musculoskeletal system and which can be used by any patient, even those with height and / or body weight that is strongly above average.

[0016] Again, the object of this solution is to devise a postural table which can enable the implementation of treatments through the transmission of tension along myofascial chains.

[0017] The specified technical aim and the specified objects are substantially achieved by a postural table comprising the technical characteristics set forth in one or more of the attached claims. The dependent claims correspond to possible embodiments of the invention.

[0018] Brief Description of the Drawings

[0019] Further characteristics and advantages of this solution will appear clearer from the indicative, and therefore non-limiting description of one embodiment of a postural table.

[0020] This description will be set forth below with reference to the attached drawings, only provided for illustrative and, therefore, non-limiting purposes, wherein:

[0021] - Figure 1 shows, in perspective view from above, a postural table provided with some accessories with some parts removed to better illustrate others; - Figure 2 shows a front view of an accessory which can be coupled to the postural table in Figure 1;

[0022] - Figure 3 shows, in perspective view, the postural table in Figure 1 in a second configuration of use;

[0023] - Figure 4 shows, in perspective view, the postural table in Figure 1 in a third configuration of use;

[0024] - Figure 5 shows, in perspective view from above, the postural table in Figure 1 during its own use and therefore with a patient on board;

[0025] - Figure 6 shows, in perspective view, a system of postural tables comprising a first postural table positioned with horizontal layout and a second postural table positioned with vertical layout and adjacent to the first postural table;

[0026] - Figure 7 shows an additional system of postural tables comprising a first postural table positioned with horizontal layout and a second postural table with horizontal layout placed coplanar and adjacent to the first postural table.

[0027] - Figure 8 shows, in schematic view, a construction detail of the table shown in Figures 1-7;

[0028] Embodiments of the Invention

[0029] With reference to the attached figures, reference numeral 1 globally denotes a postural table. Such postural table 1 has a slab-shaped development with main direction of development along two main axes, width and length. In other words, the postural table 1 mainly develops by length and width, while having moderate transverse thickness.

[0030] To give an example, the postural table 1 preferably has a length of between 200 cm and 120 cm, preferably 150 cm, a width of between 150 cm and 90 cm, preferably 100 cm, and a thickness of between 5 cm and 15 cm, preferably 7 cm. The postural table 1 is composed of a first horizontal plane O on which the patient lies down to implement, on the latter, static stretching of their muscles and / or to promote restoration of their postural symmetry.

[0031] The postural table 1 comprises a platform 2 having a planar development and quadrangular contour with a holding plane 21 defining the first horizontal plane O. As visible in the attached figures, the platform 2 preferably has a rectangular shape. Specifically, the platform has a first pair of sides 22, parallel to each other, joined to a second pair of sides 23, also parallel to each other. By virtue of the preferred rectangular shape, the first pair of sides 22 is shorter than the second pair of sides 23.

[0032] The platform 2 comprises a lower slab-shaped element 5 overlaid on the top and coupled to a mattress pad 6. The lower slab-shaped element 5 is preferably made of plywood while the mattress pad 6 is preferably made of flexible closed-cell polyurethane, also known in the market by the trade name of “memory foam”, to improve user comfort. The slab-shaped element 5 and the mattress pad 6 are coupled together so as to define a sandwich with the mattress pad 6 occupying the entire surface extent of the slab-shaped element 5. In this way, the patient can lie down on top of the platform 2, that is, above the first horizontal plane O, while keeping their body resting on a soft surface provided by the mattress pad 6.

[0033] The platform 2 is transversely crossed by a plurality of through holes 3 to which a plurality of pins 4 is coupleable.

[0034] Each hole belonging to the plurality of holes 3 has a development which is incident the platform 2 and has a conical shape. More specifically, each hole belonging to the plurality of through holes 3 has a preferable perpendicular development with respect to the platform 2.

[0035] The plurality of through holes 3 has such a distribution that it fully occupies the platform 2. In other words, the platform 2 has a perimeter frame with thickness of between 2 and 5 cm which is not occupied by the plurality of through holes 3. More precisely, the plurality of through holes 3 is developed through a first and a second hole rows 31,32. The first hole row 31 has the holes which are spaced apart along a longitudinal direction and along a transverse direction by a center- to-center distance p. Similarly, the second plurality of hole rows 32 has the holes which are spaced apart along a longitudinal direction and along a transverse direction by a center-to-center distance p. The second plurality of hole rows 32 is then staggered from the first plurality of hole rows, both in the longitudinal direction and in the transverse direction, by a center-to-center distance equal to p / 2. In other words, the first plurality of hole rows 31 has a hole arrangement module, which is repeated several times, consisting of a quatem of holes providing, at its center, a hole belonging to the second plurality of hole rows 32. Similarly, the second plurality of hole rows 32 has a hole arrangement module, which is repeated several times, consisting of a quatem of holes providing, at its center, a hole belonging to the first plurality of hole rows 31.

[0036] An example of the arrangement of the first plurality of rows 31 and of the second plurality of rows 32 is shown in Figure 8.

[0037] In this way, the coupling of the plurality of holes 3 to the plurality of pins 4 provides for a much denser distribution of the pins by allowing them to adapt to the morphologies of very different user bodies.

[0038] This special arrangement of the plurality of holes 3, and consequently of the pins 4, allows for greater precision in sensitively and accurately identifying the most correct points and angles in which to place the patient regardless of, e.g., the height of the patient, the length of their lower and upper limbs, the length of their back, the size of their pelvis as well as the size of their clavicles and scapulae. The fact remains that the postural table 1 in order for it to enjoy high flexibility of use and thus to be used with people of different height or morphology must have a distribution of the plurality of through holes 3 by rows, e.g., a first and a second hole row 31,32, evenly distributed throughout the platform 2 with a symmetry along one longitudinal way and along one transverse way.

[0039] In this way, by exploiting the principle of symmetry between the left and right sides of the body, a corresponding symmetrical arrangement of the holes makes it possible to fit the personal muscular-articular individualities and demands, regardless of a person’s height and of the length of one’s bones.

[0040] As anticipated above, the plurality of through holes 3 is engaged by the plurality of pins 4 and, in particular, it is coupleable to the holes according to a direction incident to the platform and preferably according to a direction perpendicular to the same.

[0041] Each pin, belonging to the plurality of pins 4, can therefore be attached to the platform to define an anchoring point on which the patient can push with a limb to stretch a group of muscle bundles or to define a point of restraint or support of one portion of the patient’s body to stretch the others.

[0042] Each pin has a substantially cylindrical shape and is divided into a coupling portion 41 and a working portion 42. The working portion 42 is the part of the pin protruding from the table 1 when the pin has been coupled to the respective hole. The working portion 42 has a preferably cylindrical shape and is the part on which the patient can rest or push with a part of their body.

[0043] As visible from the annexed figures, the working portion 42 has an outer diameter of between 3.5 cm and 5 cm, preferably 4 cm. Through this specific sizing, the Applicant has been able to ascertain good maneuverability of the pin and, especially, good resistance to shear and bending stresses, induced by the patient’s thrusts, which do not weaken the pin and the coupling portion of the same with the respective hole 3. In other words, once a diameter of the pin 4 in the indicated range has been established, a good durability of the pin itself over time is maintained and, most importantly, weakening is avoided of the pin which over time results in reduced stability of the same within the hole. The working portion 42 then has a variable height from a minimum of 20 cm to a maximum of 160 cm. Pins with a small height of the working portion 42 are preferably used to attach the joint heads of the head, shoulders, arms (elbows and wrists), torso (rib cage), hips (iliac crests) and plantar floor, while pins with a high height of the working portion 42 are preferably used, in the case of supine position, for coupling and blocking the lower limbs while, in the case of sitting position, for back and arm support.

[0044] The coupling portion 41 is the part embedded inside the table 1 by means of the insertion within a respective through hole 3. The coupling portion 41 has a substantially truncated cone shape to make an airtight coupling with the through hole 3 drilled on the table 1. Due to this specific coupling, a slight push of the pin 4 against the table 1 is enough to make a stable coupling between the pin 4 and the through hole 3.

[0045] In addition, any wear effects generated on the coupling portion 41 given by the frequent coupling and uncoupling of the pin 4 on the hole 3 are also recovered by the tapered coupling between the hole and the coupling portion 41. Below the slab-shaped element 20, the platform 2 is coupled to a framing 7. The framing 7 makes it possible to promote the displacements of the platform 2, therefore of the postural table 1, along a supporting plane P and also allows the platform 2 to be positioned at a height which is elevated from the supporting plane P.

[0046] In addition, the postural table 1 comprises movement means for moving the platform 2 adapted to allow the position and / or inclination thereof to be varied with respect to a supporting plane.

[0047] Advantageously, the movement means are of the pneumatic, electric or manual type.

[0048] In addition, it cannot be ruled out from the scope of this disclosure that the postural table 1 may be provided with heating means adapted to allow the temperature of the platform 2 to change.

[0049] It cannot also be ruled out that the aforementioned postural table 1 may be provided with magnetizing means which are adapted to magnetize the platform 2 in order to enable the use thereof in magnetotherapy practices.

[0050] The framing 7 comprises a bedplate 8, defined by a frame with a counter-shaped contour to that of the platform 2, with a pair of uprights 81 and a pair of crossbeams 82. The pair of uprights 81 is connected to the pair of crossbeams by forming a quatem of vertices 83.

[0051] There is a quatem of pivoting wheels 84 where the quatem of vertices 83 is located. The quatem of wheels 84 allows for an elevation of the platform 2 from the supporting plane P and any possible displacement thereof along the supporting plane P.

[0052] Optionally, the framing may comprise a quatern of elevations 85, one associated with each pivoting wheel, to allow for the platform 2 to be elevated from the supporting plane P.

[0053] The quatem of elevations 85 is placed between the quatem of vertices 83 and the quatem of pivoting wheels 84.

[0054] Each elevation 85, having substantially the shape of a column, has an upper end 851 connected to a respective vertex 83 and a lower end 852 connected to a respective pivoting wheel 84.

[0055] Depending on the needs of the trainer or of the physiotherapist or depending on the patient’s degree of mobility, the postural table may be brought from a plane closer to the supporting plane P to a plane further away from the supporting plane P by supplementing the bedplate 8 with the quatem of elevations 85.

[0056] The bedplate 8 can also comprise reinforcing crossbeams (not shown in the annexed figures), connected to the crossbeams 82 or between the crossbeams 82 and the uprights 81, to stiffen the bedplate 8 and to increase the load that the platform can withstand without incurring bending or cracking.

[0057] Two systems 100 of postural tables are shown in Figures 6 and 7, which involve the use of some tables, preferably two tables 1 and 1’, according to the proposed schemes.

[0058] In a first configuration, shown in Figure 6, the system 100 comprises a first postural table 1 and a second postural table 1 ’ connected to each other. The first postural table 1 has an arrangement according to a first horizontal plane O while the second postural table 1 ’ has an arrangement according to a vertical plane V. The second postural table 1 ’ is locked together to the first postural table 1, through known means of connection and therefore not described in detail, by placing the second postural table 1 in contact with one of the sides belonging to either the first or the second pair 22,23 of the first table 1.

[0059] In this way, it is possible to have the patient carry out static exercises by placing their lower limbs on the horizontal plane O and their upper limbs on the vertical plane V, or vice versa, thus arranging the patient’s body in a squared position.

[0060] In a second configuration, shown in Figure 7, the first postural table 1 is directed according to a first horizontal plane O and the second postural table 1 ’ is directed according to a second horizontal plane O’.

[0061] The first and the second horizontal planes O, O’ are coplanar to each other, and the first postural table 1 is set in contact with and adjacent to the second postural table 1’.

[0062] Through this second configuration, an extension of the platform 2 is achieved, thus overcoming the limitation imposed by the measurements of an individual platform 2 to implement treatments to patients with non-standard bone length or height as is often the case with professional players or athletes.

[0063] The postural table 1 and the system 100 achieve important benefits.

[0064] First of all, the conformation of the platform 2 and in particular the provision of the mattress pad 6 allows for increased patient comfort even in the case of long treatment sessions.

[0065] Secondly, the arrangement of the plurality of holes 3 gives the postural table 1 high flexibility of use. In fact, as a result of the arrangement of the plurality of holes 3, it is possible to treat patients with musculoskeletal structures beyond standard dimensions and it is also possible to locate the working points for the body of any patient more precisely and accurately, whether that patient has standard or non-standard morphology.

[0066] The conical type of coupling between the pins and holes ensures high reliability of airtightness over time and in particular prevents the pins, due to wear and tear, from wearing out over time on the circumferential measurement, thus making an unreliable loose coupling which is also unpleasant to the patient.

[0067] Finally, the framing allows bearing loads of overweight people and thus making the postural table usable with any patient.

Claims

CLAIMS1) Postural table (1) to promote, by laying the patient down on the table, a static stretching of muscles and / or to promote restoration of postural symmetry, said table comprising: a platform (2), having planar development and quadrangular contour to define a holding plane (21) for a patient, having a plurality of through holes (3) transversely crossing the platform (2) with a direction incident to the holding plane (21); a plurality of pins (4) coupleable to the plurality of holes (3) to define anchoring points on which the patient can push with one limb to stretch a group of muscle bundles or to define the points of restraint or support of one portion of the patient’s body to stretch the others; characterized by the fact that said platform (2) comprises a lower slab-shaped element (5), preferably made of plywood, coupled to a mattress pad (6) extending along the entire quadrangular contour of the platform (2).2) Postural table (1) according to claim 1, wherein each pin belonging to the plurality of pins (4) has a coupling portion (41) of truncated cone shape, insertable into a corresponding hole belonging to the plurality of through holes (3), and a working portion (42) of cylindrical shape, continuing the coupling portion (41), on which the patient can rest or push with a part of their body.3) Postural table (1) according to claim 2, wherein said plurality of pins (4) is coupleable to the plurality of through holes (3) according to a direction incident to the platform (2) preferably perpendicular to the same.4) Postural table (1) according to claim 2, wherein said working portion (42) has an outer diameter of between 3.5 cm and 5 cm, preferably of 4 cm.5) Postural table (1) according to claim 1, wherein each hole belonging to the plurality of through holes (3) is of the conical type.6) Postural table (1) according to claim 1, wherein the platform (2) has a first pair of sides (22), parallel to each other, joined to a second pair of sides (23) parallel to each other, said first pair of sides (22) being shorter than the second pair of sides (23) so as to define a rectangular perimeter of the table (2).7) Postural table (1) according to claim 1 , wherein said plurality of through holes (3) comprises: a first plurality of hole rows (31), spaced apart from each other along a longitudinal direction and along a transverse direction by a center-to-center distance (p); a second plurality of hole rows (32), spaced apart from each other along a longitudinal direction and along a transverse direction by a center-to-center distance (p), said second plurality of hole rows (32) being staggered from the first plurality of hole rows (31), both in the longitudinal direction and in the transverse direction, by a center-to-center distance (p / 2).8) Postural table (1) according to claim 7, wherein said first plurality of hole rows (31) and said second plurality of hole rows (32) are evenly distributed throughout the platform (2) with axial- symmetric arrangement along a longitudinal median axis of the platform (2) and along a transverse median axis of the platform (2).9) Postural table (1) according to claim 1, wherein said mattress pad (6) is made of flexible closed-cell polyurethane preferably of the memory foam type.10) Postural table (1) according to claim 1, wherein said platform (2) is connected below, where the lower slab-shaped element (5) is located, to a framing (7) comprising: a bedplate (8) having a pair of uprights (81), parallel to each other, and a pair of crossbeams (82), parallel to each other, said pair of uprights (81) being connected to the pair of crossbeams (82) by defining a quatern of vertices (83); a quatern of pivoting wheels (84), connectable where the quatern of vertices (83) is located, adapted to allow for an elevation of the platform (2) from a supporting plane (P) and any possible displacement thereof along the supporting plane (P).11) Postural table (1) according to claim 10, wherein said framing (7) also comprises a quatern of elevations (85), to allow for the platform (2) to be elevated from the supporting surface (P), placed between said basement (8) and saidquatem of pivoting wheels (84), each of said elevations (85) having an upper end (851), connected to a respective vertex (83), and a lower end (852), connected to a respective pivoting wheel (84).12) Postural table (1) according to claim 10, wherein said bedplate (8) also comprises a plurality of reinforcing crossbeams to stiffen the bedplate (8) and to enable the platform (2) to support high loads.13) Postural table (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, comprising movement means of said platform (2).14) Postural table (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, comprising heating means adapted to allow the temperature of said platform (2) to change.15) Postural table system (100) of the type comprising: a first postural table (1) made according to any of the preceding claims directed according to a first horizontal plane (O); a second postural table (1’) made according to any of the preceding claims directed according to a vertical plane (V) and placed adjacent to the first postural table (1) to have a horizontal plane and a vertical plane on which parts of the patient’s body rest.16) Postural table system (100) of the type comprising: a first postural table (1) made according to any of the preceding claims directed according to a first horizontal plane (O); a second postural table (1’) made according to any of the preceding claims directed according to a second horizontal plane (O’) and placed adjacent to the first postural table (1), said second horizontal plane (O’) being coplanar to the first horizontal plane (O) to define an extension of the first horizontal plane (O) acting as an extension of the working plane defined by the first horizontal plane (O).

Images