Surgery: kinesitherapy – Kinesitherapy – Device with applicator having specific movement
Reexamination Certificate
1998-06-23
2001-11-13
Yu, Justine R. (Department: 3733)
Surgery: kinesitherapy
Kinesitherapy
Device with applicator having specific movement
C606S204150
Reexamination Certificate
active
06315743
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is known that applying pressure to a person's forehead and/or scalp tends to help to dramatically reduce stress and relieve headaches. Typically, a person will do so by pressing and/or rubbing his or her fingers against the particular areas on the head that result in the greatest comfort. Often the pressure is applied through massage, and to this end, a number of inventions have been derived in attempt to replicate the use of one's hands by providing massage apparatuses which fit around a user's head. For examples of various head-massaging apparatuses, see Carlson, U.S. Pat. No. 2,482,838, issued Nov. 4, 1947; La Verne, U.S. Pat. No. 2,664,884, issued Jan. 5, 1954; and Chester, U.S. Pat. No. 4,506,659, issued Mar. 26, 1985.
However, the above-mentioned apparatuses are typically complicated, heavy, expensive to manufacture, uncomfortable to use, and/or inherently aesthetically displeasing for use in public or work environments. Furthermore, these apparatuses have generally failed to recognize that the application of a static and constant pressure to the temple areas of one's forehead can provide equal or even greater success in relieving stress and headaches than the above-mentioned massaging techniques. Accordingly, an invention is needed which recognizes the benefits of applying a constant and static pressure to the temple areas and further provides a light-weight, inexpensive, comfortable, and inherently aesthetically pleasing apparatus which can be worn at home, work, or in public.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the present invention provides an inexpensive, light-weight, and aesthetically pleasing apparatus which can advantageously be variously configured to apply a constant pressure to areas of a user's head to help relieve the user's stress and/or headaches. While preferred embodiments of the invention are described below, the invention generally comprises any frame which can be placed on or around the user's head such that pressure can be applied to each of the user's two temple areas. While any type of frame is contemplated as being within the scope of the invention, typically the frame will comprise either a rigid frame or a stretchable headband, each of which serve to keep the apparatus firmly and comfortably coupled to the user's head while in use.
In accordance with one preferred embodiment of the present invention, a C-shaped rigid frame member may be provided which substantially fits over the top of a user's head. Each end of the frame member suitably includes a threaded hole for accepting a screw-like head contact assembly. Moreover, a third threaded hole may be provided at the top of the C-shaped frame member for accepting a height adjustment assembly.
In accordance with a further aspect of this preferred embodiment, two screw-like head contact assemblies are suitably provided which screw horizontally into the holes in each end of the frame member. The outer end of each screw-like assembly preferably includes a knob while the inner end of each screw-like assembly is preferably connected to a pressure pad. In use, the two pressure pads may be substantially aligned with and placed against the user's respective two temple areas. The user can then adjust the amount of pressure applied to each temple by turning each knob clock-wise or counter clock-wise, thereby increasing or decreasing the amount of pressure applied through each pressure pad to the user's left and right temple areas.
In accordance with another aspect of this preferred embodiment, a height adjustment assembly is suitably provided which screws vertically into the hole in the top of the C-shaped frame member. The outer end of the height adjustment assembly preferably includes a knob while the inner end of the height adjustment assembly is preferably connected to a pressure pad. In use, the pressure pad may be substantially aligned with and placed against the top of the user's head. The user can then adjust the amount of space between the C-shaped frame and the top of the user's head by turning the height adjustment assembly either clockwise or counter-clockwise, thereby vertically adjusting the position of the head contact assemblies' pressure pads with respect to the user's temple areas.
In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention, the frame member is suitably configured such that the inner circumferential portion of its cross-section may be rectangularly shaped and the outer circumferential portion of its cross-section may be rounded. This frame member configuration results in lighter weight and greater strength, adding to user comfort and lowering manufacturing costs. Furthermore, this design provides the frame with an aesthetically pleasing look.
In accordance with another preferred embodiment of the invention, the frame member may comprise an elastic headband which fits horizontally around the upper portion of a user's head. The interior surface of the headband preferably includes two pressure pads which, in use, may be substantially aligned with and placed against the user's two respective temple areas.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1459093 (1923-06-01), French
patent: 2482838 (1949-09-01), Carlson
patent: 2664884 (1954-01-01), La Verne
patent: 3934316 (1976-01-01), Driscoll
patent: 4234176 (1980-11-01), Goff et al.
patent: 4386602 (1983-06-01), Sheldon et al.
patent: 4465069 (1984-08-01), Barbier et al.
patent: 4506659 (1985-03-01), Chester
patent: 4617925 (1986-10-01), Laitnen
patent: 4962918 (1990-10-01), Yang
patent: 5036949 (1991-08-01), Crocker et al.
patent: 5140978 (1992-08-01), Sirninger
patent: 5207688 (1993-05-01), Carol
patent: 5695501 (1997-12-01), Carol et al.
Guest Jack
Snell & Wilmer LLP
Yu Justine R.
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