ALEXANDRIA, Va., July 21 -- United States Patent no. 12,685,564, issued on July 21.

"Spinal traction device and method" was invented by Charles J. Bronder Jr. (Hypoluxo, Fla.).

According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A spinal traction device, mountable on a head of a wearer for the application of a traction force, includes a front piece arrangeable in front of the face of the wearer. Top and bottom fasteners may extend from the front piece and secure to a top and a bottom of the head, respectively. A rear portion of the bottom fastener may be arranged below the occiput of the head. First and second elongate members may extend from opposite sides of the bottom fastener in a generally axial direction rela...