Check-actuated control mechanisms – Including electric circuit with switch operated by check – And holding circuit responsive to operation of switch
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-12
2001-03-27
Olszewski, Robert P. (Department: 3652)
Check-actuated control mechanisms
Including electric circuit with switch operated by check
And holding circuit responsive to operation of switch
Reexamination Certificate
active
06206166
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates generally to massage tables and, more particularly, to coin-operated massage tables.
BACKGROUND ART
Massage therapy is the science concerned with pressure applied to body muscle to stretch and relieve muscle spasms. Skilled massage therapists often use their hands to accomplish this response. Certain treatments, however, are best accomplished slowly or at a certain repeatable frequency that is optimally achieved by machines.
For example, back problems are often caused by disc degeneration. As a result of accidents causing trauma, or improper posture that occurs through long work days of sitting, and lack of exercise, vertebrae discs lose their cushioning abilities and may deteriorate to a position allowing adjacent vertebrae to contact and rub against the nerve. This can be quite painful and, for discs to remain healthy, doctors recommend regular exercise regimens.
In addition to exercise, it has long been recognized that moving a correctly positioned roller longitudinally relative to the spine may retard disc degeneration and may actually repair damaged discs through increased circulation and audible action which is essentially the release of natural buildup of the free floating gases in the body located in the joints. As a consequence, therapy tables relying upon various arrangements of rollers and components inducing vibration are becoming increasingly popular for use in the doctor's office and as retail consumer purchases for home use. This is because such tables can generally operate without close supervision by a doctor.
In view of the above, massage tables are generally available to the public in only one of two ways. The first approach to availability is retail customer purchase for home use. Since these tables can be very expensive, particularly massage tables designed to have actual therapeutic effects, cost prohibitiveness is a factor preventing widespread use. The second approach to use is in a doctor's office. While this avoids the need for the patient to make a large retail purchase, the average cost of use is still high since it is billed at a relatively large dollar amount for a small predetermined time interval (e.g., the average price being about $25.00/10 to 15 minutes of use).
It is accordingly an object of the invention to enhance the availability of massage tables to users without the need for expensive home purchase.
Another object is to increase the use of massage tables without requiring a visit to a doctor's office to either obtain a prescription or to use a massage table.
Still a further object is to make available to users a high quality table at low cost, and to locate these massage tables in needed practical locations where people yearn for such devices.
Yet a further object is to make such tables available in which the table design is based on the specifications dictated by the doctor.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention concerns a coin and currency operated massage table comprising a table having a supporting surface on which a user is adapted to lie in a supine position. It is within the scope of this invention to substitute a massage chair instead of a table and the terms “table” and “chair” should be considered as interchangeable within the context of this specification. At least one body acting member is movably mounted to the table to project from the supporting surface to interact with the user's body when lying against said surface. A motive system is operatively mounted to the table to move the body acting member relative to the table. In accordance with the invention, a payment device is connected to the motive system and adapted to be connected to a power source to accept one of coin and currency and thereupon actuate the motive system for a predetermined time interval so that the user receives a massage.
The foregoing coin operated massage table advantageously provides users with an opportunity to receive a high quality massage without having to either purchase a motorized massage table or chair through retail sale, or experience massage only by means of an expensive visit to a doctor's office or similar prescriptive event. It is contemplated that the same benefits of massage as available through a doctor's or physical therapist's office can now be made available to users through the advent of a coin and currency operated, publicly placed massage table in accordance with the objects of the present invention.
Preferably, the motive system includes a motor controller and a drive motor connected to the body acting member and the payment device includes a currency validator and a PLC timer connecting the currency validator to the motor controller. The currency validator includes a circuit converting an amount of currency received into a representative series of pulse outputs which are communicated to the PLC timer which then converts the pulse outputs into timed increments that actuates and then shuts the motor controller. Optionally, the validator is incapable of at least one of making change and returning said currency.
In accordance with a further feature of the invention, there is further included a data accumulator operatively connected to the PLC timer to store data representative of how much currency has been deposited into the currency validator. In this manner, the owner of the coin operated table may plan removal of currency when a sufficient amount of money has been accumulated through the currency validator and before an associated currency stacker becomes full which would render the table inoperative.
In the preferred embodiment, the table is an intersegmented traction table which has a plurality of rollers positioned with their axes horizontal. The rollers are carried by a roller transport mechanism that functions to move the rollers along a user's back muscles. The intersegmented traction table may further include a support device which positions the supine user in alignment with the roller. The height of the rollers is adjustable relative to a user's back by a roller height regulation device that functions to adjust the vertical position of the roller relative to the user's back. The intersegmented traction table may further have a control panel functioning to permit the user to regulate the speed and direction of advance of the rollers and the height of the rollers. The intersegmented traction table is connected to a power source that typically is electrical and is attached to the payment device which accepts both coin and currency.
The payment device may also be a card reader used in substitution for, or in conjunction with, the coin and currency validator. The payment device functions to regulate the time the user can receive a massage.
The present invention is also directed to a massage system in which a plurality of tables as described hereinabove are located in geographically disparate areas such as throughout a city or other geographic locale. In one preferred embodiment, these areas are publicly accessible to encourage users to experience the benefits of massage at a relatively low cost. However, it is also within the scope of this invention to position one or more of the tables in a doctor's office and/or a physical therapist's office. In the latter type of use, i.e., in a professional office, it is preferred that the massage table have the capability of disablement of the payment device so that the table may be optionally used in a conventional manner without coin operation.
A method of offering massage in accordance with the invention is also disclosed. The method comprises the steps of providing a user with a coin or credit card operated, motor controlled massage unit at a predetermined location, and enabling the user to receive a massage by lying on the massage unit after depositing a predetermined amount of money into a currency/card validator physically mounted proximate the unit.
The unit is preferably located only at a publicly accessible location. However, it is within the scope of this in
Jaketic Bryan
Lowe Hauptman Gopstein Gilman & Berner LLP
Olszewski Robert P.
LandOfFree
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