Beds – Support means for discrete portion of user – useable with bed... – For head or neck
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-03
2001-10-23
Trettel, Michael F. (Department: 3628)
Beds
Support means for discrete portion of user, useable with bed...
For head or neck
C005S944000, C005S630000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06305040
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
1. The Field of the Invention
This invention relates to physical therapy and, more particularly, to novel systems and methods for selectively applying pressure to designated locations on a member of a human body in order to provide relaxation of muscles for therapeutic effect.
2. The Background Art
Massage therapy has been known for several years, even decades or more. Within the established medical community within the United States and other countries of the world, massage therapy has gained increased recognition for the therapeutic benefits available by selective application of regular motion and pressure to muscles of the body in order to relieve tension and provide associated benefits.
Chiropractic medicine has gained favor as persons treated thereby become satisfied that they feel better. Regardless of the school that one subscribes to, feeling healthy is one ultimate measure of success of any treatment. In Asian countries, ancient arts have been practiced that have only recently become known, acknowledged, applied, investigated, and the like, within the Western Hemisphere. For example, acupuncture involves the use of carefully placed and manipulated needles for providing relief of various symptoms.
Similarly, another ancient art involves the use of massage, careful movement and pressure over a region of muscle in the body in order to relax the muscle. Athletic trainers during the Olympic Games used numerous massage therapists to prepare athletes for competition and to relax and promote healing in athletes coping with injuries.
Pressure is a mechanism that has been used for numerous benefits. In the cardiovascular system of the human body, pressure is known to be useful in constricting blood flow from wounds. It is also known that the muscular structure of the human body is interwoven with the vascular system carrying blood therethrough in order to pass nutrients and waste. Pressure applied to key points on the surface of the skin has been viewed as helpful in providing relief for a variety of symptoms.
As a practical matter, massage therapy, and acupressure may be related. As an individual works by finger pressure in an area of a bodily member that appears to respond or provide a response to the manipulating pressure, an individual may feel relaxation in the affected muscles. Thus, chiropractic treatment, massage therapy, acupressure, and the like, may provide relaxation of muscles, which relaxation may provide any other benefits associated therewith. One difficulty that is created by the current mechanisms for delivering such massage therapy or relaxation therapy by application of various massage techniques, is the absence of a skilled practitioner.
For example, quick tapping with fingers is sometimes used in order to stimulate muscles. Brisk rubbing may use friction to stimulate the flesh near the skin of a user and the skin itself. Slow, kneading motion using the thumbs and fingers along with the heel of the hand to work and squeeze large muscle groups firmly is also used. Application of pressure from a thumb, finger, palm, side of the hand, or knuckle may also be used. Since all of these manual applications of pressure are adapted to use by skilled practitioners, the growth of such techniques in popularity creates a shortage of practitioners.
Nevertheless, a steady pressure applied in an appropriate location, may be one effective technique for relaxation. What is needed is an apparatus and method that can be applied easily by an unskilled user. For example, if a user has a desire or need to relax, it would be an improvement in the art to provide an apparatus that is sized and structured to effectively apply pressure in a proper location, in a proper degree, and in a proper direction to provide the relaxation desired. It would be an improvement in the art to provide an apparatus and method by which a user could simply position a bodily member within or upon an apparatus that could apply proper pressure to proper muscles or muscle groups in order to provide relaxation.
BRIEF SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for applying a selective pressure at a designated location in a manner that will be easily replicated by a user with a minimal amount of skill.
Consistent with the foregoing objects, and in accordance with the invention as embodied and broadly described herein, an apparatus and method are disclosed, in suitable detail to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention. In certain embodiments, an apparatus and method in accordance with the present invention may include a pillow-like apparatus that may be effective to position or lift a bodily member to a proper position for application of localized pressure.
The apparatus may include one or more pressurizing elements protruding away from the pillow's outer surface or bulk outer expanse, in order to apply a selective and increased pressure distributed over a selected portion of the bodily member being affected. The apparatus may be used at rest, eliminating any need for a user to maintain any particular skill, strength, or the like. Thus, young or elderly patients need not be so physically fit as a massage therapist in order to obtain the benefits of the apparatus and method.
In one embodiment, the pressurizing elements of the apparatus may be designed to provide pre-selected locations, forces, and areas. For example a protrusion may be spaced from another protrusion, or from some gauge point, a selected distance effective to position the protrusion properly for a desired effect. The protrusion may then apply the proper pressure to a proper location, designated and gauged on a specific member of a body of a user, in order to be effective. Pressure may produce, for example, relaxation in a desired muscle or muscle group.
In one embodiment, multiple protrusions may extend away from the bulk expanse of an apparatus in order to provide self-location of the protrusions against the body of a user. In one presently preferred embodiment, a “pillow” may be provided that contains a support for receiving and supporting the back of a user. Another portion of the pillow may provide substantial support for the head of the user. Over the bulk expanse of the pillow may be multiple pressure members for applying pressure to the upper central muscles of the back. Other pressurizing elements may be adapted to fit against the neck, producing pressure thereagainst.
In one such particular embodiment, upper pressurizing elements, with respect to the head, may be positioned just below the occipital portion of the skull, against the neck, in the hollow where the neck muscles contract away from the skull and toward the neck vertebrae. Pressure may be applied laterally, and forwardly (with respect to a user) against the neck muscles on either side. Accordingly, the symmetry of the neck and of the pillow may provide self-location of the pillow by a user.
Moreover, the lower pressurizing members may be adapted to fit in a location effective to press into the back muscles near the base of the neck. The pressurizing elements may be designed to a size, resilience, area, force, effective pressure, and so forth, effective to provide a gentle but effective pressure. Moreover, the lower pressurizing elements may be so located with respect to the upper pressurizing elements as to aid a user in gauging the position of the pillow device under the neck and shoulders.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1250392 (1917-12-01), Vance
patent: 1981379 (1934-11-01), Thomson et al.
patent: 4210134 (1980-07-01), Okazaki et al.
patent: 5163193 (1992-11-01), Whitmore
patent: 5197975 (1993-03-01), Mombrinie
patent: 5481771 (1996-01-01), Burk, IV
patent: 5724687 (1998-03-01), Kim
patent: 5819743 (1998-10-01), McMillin et al.
patent: 5820573 (1998-10-01), Ramos
patent: 5911656 (1999-06-01), Futagami
“Acupressure's Potent Points” Michael Reed Gach, pp. 26-27, 36-37, 40-41, 54-55, 60-61, 64-65, 76-77, 90-91, 98-99, 114-115, 132-133,
Santos Robert G.
Trettel Michael F.
LandOfFree
Acupressure pillow apparatus and method does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Acupressure pillow apparatus and method, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Acupressure pillow apparatus and method will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2585696