Massaging element and a portable massager using same

Details Massaging element and a portable massager using same Massaging element and a portable massager using same

1999-02-24

2001-01-16

Yu, Justine R. (Department: 3733)

Surgery: kinesitherapy

Kinesitherapy

Device with applicator having specific movement

C601S097000, C601S103000, C601S136000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06174298

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to devices to induce a massaging motion over a certain area of the patient's body. In particular, the device of the present invention relates to back massagers of the type simulating the long stroke massaging motions given by a professional massage therapist.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The word “massage” generally describes a variety of motions over the patient's body such as rubbing over the skin, rumpling the muscles, slapping or rapping and pressing over various portions of the patient's body so as to eliminate venous congestion, to stimulate arterial circulation, and to intensify metabolism in various tissues. Although a massage can be performed manually by another person, various devices have been described in the prior art that would be either of assistance to the person performing a massage or allow the patient to induce a massage onto himself without the help of others. Specifically, such devices have been proposed for the massage of the patient's back.
The area of the patient's back presents a special interest for a massaging therapy. Complains of a “back pain”, especially in the lumbar region, are quite common. In fact, in some cases they can cause severe pains and even become debilitating. It is believed that periodic applications of a massaging therapy can stimulate more blood to flow to these areas and therefore relieve these symptoms. On the other hand, as opposed to other portions of the body, the back is difficult to reach for the patient himself. Therefore, there is a need for either professional assistance or an apparatus allowing the patient to apply a massage to the back of the body.
A large variety of massagers and massaging devices have been proposed for these purposes. They generally can be divided into two groups. The first one consists of small hand-held devices inducing high frequency vibrations over a limited area of the skin. Although inexpensive and portable, these devices do not allow for a deep massage of the tissue such as what can be given by a professional massage therapist. The second group consists of rather complex back massage devices typically incorporated in a piece of furniture such as a chair or a bed.
Various chair-type massaging devices are suggested in U.S. Pat. No. 5,348,529 by Veltri, U.S. Pat. No. 5,233,973 by Gill, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,020,518 by Spears. These devices of various levels of complexity are typically incorporated in a chair and provide a massaging action by moving a singe or several pairs of rollers up and down the patient's back while the patient is sitting in the chair. In addition to being complex and not portable, these devices do not allow for the change in the direction of a massaging action or the change in the force applied to various parts of the back.
Another version of the chair attachment is suggested in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,018,511 by Yokoi. Elongated plate members having massaging protrusions with optional leaf springs are described in this U.S. patent as the basis of the massaging apparatus. Reciprocating movements of the plate members cause high frequency vibrational massage to be applied to the patient's back or other portions of the body held against the apparatus. This apparatus does not have provisions for a deep long stroke massage of the patient's back wherein the massaging protrusions can move slowly along a substantial portion of the skin rather then frequently hitting a limited area of the skin. In addition, this device is quite large and can not be easily folded for storage.
Several bed-type back massaging devices are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,078,125 by Schumacher, U.S. Pat. No. 4,984,568 by Persaud, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,875,470 by Cotone. These devices generally comprise a massaging robotic arm attached to a driving apparatus which in turn is located in the vicinity of the patient's bed. Although allowing for various useful long stroke massaging motions, these devices are extremely complex and have to be permanently attached to the vicinity of the patient's bed.
The need therefore exists for a simple massaging apparatus with a massaging element allowing for a long stroke deep skin massage especially over the patient's back. Such apparatus should allow the patient to administer massage onto himself easily and, at the same time, the massager should be both foldable and portable so as to allow the use in various circumstances, such as at home, in a car or a truck, in a hospital, in a gym, and alike.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to overcome these and other drawbacks of the prior art by providing a novel massaging element and a simple massager device utilizing this element for delivering a long stroke back massage.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a massaging element and a massager using same, such massager operable manually or from a powered drive.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a portable massager using the massaging element of the present invention, such massager being easily transportable to be used in various environments such as at home, in a vehicle, in a hospital, in a gym, and alike.
The present invention is based on a principle schematically illustrated on
FIGS. 1A and 1B
. The massaging element of the present invention contains at least one pair of symmetrical arc-shaped spring elements (
12
) and (
13
) attached at the top to a central driving component (
11
). These spring elements may be a leaf spring or a flat spring as well as other types of springs. They may also have variable flexibility along their length. At their free ends at the bottom, the spring elements (
12
) and (
13
) are equipped with massaging units (
14
) and (
15
) respectively, such as rollers illustrated on the drawings. Quick disconnect couplings (not shown) of any known type allow for easy replacement of the rollers for other massaging units such as rollers of other shapes, as well as brushes, protrusions, massaging fingers and other types commonly used for massaging purposes to change the type of a massage given to the patient. Manual or mechanized reciprocating movements of the central driving component (
11
) cause the massaging units (
14
) and (
15
) to move outwardly while compressing and massaging the skin of the patient. The massaging action therefore is delivered by both compressing and rolling motions over the patient's skin.
More than one pair of spring elements can also be used in a massaging element. Those skilled in the art would readily appreciate the possibility of having multiple pairs extending radially from the central driving element to allow for a radial massage over a larger area of the skin. Various lengths of the spring elements would allow to change the coverage area of the massaging element. The force of the massage can be easily adjusted by varying the initial position of the central driving element. Lowering the initial position in accordance with the drawings will increase the intensity of the massage, while lifting it up would decrease it respectively.
Another possibility of adjustments would be the rotation of the direction of outward movements.
FIGS. 1A and 1B
show lateral massage of the patient's back. A simple ¼ turn would allow for change to a longitudinal massage as well.


REFERENCES:
patent: 1161767 (1915-11-01), Geraldine
patent: 2690746 (1954-10-01), Achberger
patent: 2959167 (1960-11-01), Leclabart
patent: 3616793 (1971-11-01), Draper
patent: 4875470 (1989-10-01), Cotone
patent: 4984568 (1991-01-01), Persaud
patent: 5018511 (1991-05-01), Yokoi
patent: 5020518 (1991-06-01), Spears
patent: 5078125 (1992-01-01), Schumacher
patent: 5094225 (1992-03-01), Craw
patent: 5233973 (1993-08-01), Gill
patent: 5348529 (1994-09-01), Veltri
patent: 393353 (1924-04-01), None
patent: 468838 (1914-07-01), None
patent: 533487 (1922-03-01), None
patent: 442105 (1936-02-01), None

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