Granted Patent B2

US 6,974,432 · App. 10/453,835 · Granted Dec 13, 2005

Abstract

Claims (41)

1. A method for adjusting the length of a belt having right and left front portions and a back portion, the right and left front portions of the belt each moveable with respect to the back portion of the belt, the method comprising:

attaching opposite ends of a strap to the right and left front portions of the belt, the strap having a middle section comprising opposing portions detachably coupled to one another;

coupling the strap to the back portion of the belt between the opposite ends of the strap such that movement of the right and left front portions of the belt away from the back portion of the belt causes detachment of the opposing portions of the middle section of the strap from one another; and

moving the right and left front portions of the belt away from the back portion of the belt to adjust the length of the belt, the detachable coupling of the opposing portions of the middle section of the strap ensuring that the right and left front portions of the belt move in approximately equal amounts relative to the back portion of the belt.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the opposing portions of the middle section of the strap comprise hook and loop material.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the opposing ends of the strap comprise a plurality of snaps.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising detaching the strap from the belt alter adjusting the belt about a user's body.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising coupling the right and left front portions of the belt to the back portion of the belt after moving the right and left front portions of the belt a desired distance relative to the back portion of the belt.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the strap is coupled to the right and left front portions of the belt using snaps.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the strap is coupled to the right and left front portions of the belt and to the back portion of the belt such that the strap may be selectively decoupled from the belt.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the belt is positioned around the user's body during initial fitting of a traction device for the user.

9. A method of fitting an ambulatory fraction device to a user, comprising:

positioning two or more support belts around the user's body, each support belt comprising a back portion and right and left front portions; and

adjusting the length of at least one of the support belts, adjusting the length comprising:

attaching opposite ends of a strap to the right and left front portions of the belt, the strap having a middle section comprising opposing portions detachably coupled to one another;

coupling the strap to the back portion of the belt between the opposite ends of the strap such that movement of the right and left front portions of the belt away from the back portion of the belt causes detachment of the opposing portions of the middle section of the strap from one another; and

moving the right and left front portions of the belt away from the back portion of the belt to adjust the length of the belt, the detachable coupling of the opposing portions of the middle section of the strap ensuring that the right and left front portions of the belt move in approximately equal amounts relative to the back portion of the belt.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the opposing portions of the middle section of the strap comprise hook and loop material.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the opposing ends of the strap comprise a plurality of snaps.

12. The method of claim 9 , further comprising detaching the strap from the belt after adjusting the belt about the user's body.

13. The method of claim 9 , further comprising coupling the right and left front portions of the belt to the back portion of the belt after moving the right and left front portions of the belt a desired distance relative to the back portion of the belt.

14. The method of claim 9 , wherein the strap is coupled to the right and left front portions of the belt using snaps.

15. The method of claim 9 , wherein the strap is coupled to the right and left front portions of the belt and to the back portion of the belt such that the strap may be selectively decoupled from the belt.

16. The method of claim 9 , wherein the belts are positioned around the user's body during initial fitting of the device for the user.

17. A method of applying traction to a user's spine, comprising:

positioning two or more support belts around the user's body, each support belt comprising a back portion and right and left front portions;

adjusting the length of at least one of the support belts, adjusting the length comprising:

attaching opposite ends of a strap to the right and left front portions of the belt, the strap having a middle section comprising opposing portions detachably coupled to one another;

coupling the strap to the back portion of the belt between the opposite ends of the strap such that movement of the right and left front portions of the belt away from the back portion of the belt causes detachment of the opposing portions of the middle section of the strap from one another; and

moving the right and left front portions of the belt away from the back portion of the belt to adjust the length of the belt, the detachable coupling of the opposing portions of the middle section of the strap ensuring that the right and left front portions of the belt move in approximately equal amounts relative to the back portion of the belt; and

applying a decompressive force to the user's spine when the support belts are positioned around the user's body, the decompressive force applied by one or more supports, each support coupled between two or more of the support belts.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the opposing portions of the middle section of the strap comprise hook and loop material.

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein the opposing ends of the strap comprise a plurality of snaps.

20. The method of claim 17 , further comprising detaching the strap from the belt after adjusting the belt about the user's body.

21. The method of claim 17 , further comprising coupling the right and left front portions of the belt to the back portion of the belt after moving the right and left front portions of the belt a desired distance relative to the back portion of the belt.

22. The method of claim 17 , wherein the strap is coupled to the right and left front portions of the belt using snaps.

23. The method of claim 17 , wherein the strap is coupled to the right and left front portions of the belt and to the back portion of the belt such that the strap may be selectively decoupled from the belt.

24. The method of claim 17 , wherein the belts are positioned around the user's body during initial fitting of the device for the user.

25. The method of claim 17 , wherein the supports comprise lifting mechanisms.

26. The method of claim 17 , wherein the back portion of the belt is generally rigid in the direction of the decompressive force.

27. The method of claim 17 , wherein the right and left front portions of the belt are generally rigid in the direction of the decompressive force.

Assignments (9)