AU2003248301B1 - Massage Mat - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT MASSAGE MAT The invention is described in the following statement: Description: This invention has been designed to provide persons with a suitable platform to receive massages on.

When receiving a massage it is common for a person to take up a position on a freestanding type massage table. The portable versions of these tables can fold and be carried from place to place. Permanent tables are usually found at chiropractors, sports therapists, naturopaths, etc. The permanent and portable tables range in cost from a couple of hundred dollars to the thousands of dollars.

On other occasions persons receive massages in situations such as on their bed. Often a person will attempt to prop themselves up with a series of pillows. People find it difficult to relax, as the person has to either, turn their head to one side, or attempt to build a section of pillows around them, that holds their head up off the mattress so they do not suffocate.

There have been previous smaller, more portable massage platforms designed however it would appear that they attempt to mimic the professional tables by providing adjustable head rests and/or being in a number of different parts.

The purpose of this invention is to provide persons with an affordable one piece alternative, than having to purchase a permanent or portable massage table.

Complete Specification: Massage Mat: Arron OTTAWAY Technical features: The author will describe the mat as having a 'head' end, being the end of the mat where the head rests and a 'hip' end, being the end of the mat where the hips rest. The leading edge describes the farthest edge of the mat at the head end. The topside of the mat describes the surface that a person would lay on and the underside of the mat describes the surface that makes contact with a sturdy surface (ie. the floor).

The massage mat is moulded from foam. A high-density foam is most appropriate however any form of foam or cushioning material may be utilised. The foam may be left raw or covered with a product.

The massage mat is approximately 1000mm long and 600mm wide.

The head end of the mat is approximately 100mm thick.

The hip end of the mat is approximately 10mm thick.

At the centre of the head end and approximately 200mm from the leading edge is the centre point of circumference for an elliptical hole cut directly through the entire thickness of the mat. The elliptical hole is approximately 170mm in length and 100mm wide at its farthest point.

The topside of the elliptical hole has the edge removed by cutting a 5mm x portion of the foam or cushioning material around the entire circumference of the hole.

On the underside of the mat a rectangular section is removed along the width of the mat intersecting with the elliptical hole cut through the thickness of the mat. This rectangular section is approximately 130mm in width beginning 100mm from the underside leading edge. The height of the rectangular section is approximately On the topside of the mat, on both 1000mm length edges, approximately 220mm from the leading edge, two concave portions, measuring approximately 280mm in length and approximately 40mm in depth, are cut from the topside and side of the mat.

Approximately 440mm from the leading edge on the topside of the mat a gradual taper in mat thickness begins across the width of the mat leading to the hip end. The incline stops with a height of approximately 10mm being left at the far hip end edge.

To assist with understanding the invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which show one example of the invention: Complete Specification: Massage Mat: Arron OTTAWAY Diagram: Figure 1 shows one example of the massage mat according to this invention.

Figure 2 shows how a person would lay on the massage mat.

Referring to figure 1: 1. It can be see that the massage mat is approximately 1000mm in length so that a person may comfortably lay along the length of the mat with his or her lower portion of legs extending onto whatever surface you place the mat on, ie. the floor.

2. The massage mat is approximately 600mm in width. This size will accommodate even the broadest person.

3. The massage mat is approximately 100mm in thickness at the head end. This thickness provides enough space so that a person placing their face in the elliptical head support hole (see will be provided with adequate space from th de sulfdue Lthe mat is jpnnued uu, Limb providing a bcathing passageway (see 6).

4. The massage mat is approximately 10mm thick at the hip end.

The elliptical hole cut through the centre of the mat at the head end, provides an area for a person to place their face into. The elliptical hole has had the edge removed to provide more comfort for the person and their face.

6. The rectangular section removed from the underside of the mat, intersects with the elliptical hole cut directly through the mat. This rectangular cross section provides a breathing duct for a person when they place their face into the elliptical hole.

7. 7a and 7b refer to the concave sections removed from each side of the massage mat. The purpose of these removed sections are to provide greater comfort for the person when they are laying face down on the mat with their arms out to the side of their body. The persons arms would eventually rest on whatever surface the massage mat is placed onto.

8. The lower portion of the massage mat that takes the weight of the person has a gradual incline from 100mm at the head end to 10mm at the hip end. This gradual incline provides a comforting slope for the lower torso and leads the person onto the surface that the massage mat has been placed onto.

Referring to figure 2: 1. It can be seen that a person laying face down will have an adequate breathing space, which is provided, by the rectangular section removed from the underside of the mat. The person's arms extend down across the removed concave sections of the massage mat. The person's lower torso travels down the incline and eventually onto whatever surface the massage mat is placed.

It will be realised that this mat may be extended past the 1000mm in length to provide a full body mat to lie on.

Complete Specification: Massage Mat: Arron OT1TAWAY

Claims (9)

1. A massage mat for supporting a user lying in a prone position on a surface, the massage mat comprising a unitary support portion sized to support a user's body from beyond the forehead to at least the hip region above the surface, the support portion S having a head and shoulder support portion extending substantially parallel to the surface and a wedge-shaped torso support portion extending from the head and shoulder support portion, the head and shoulder support portion provided with an opening therein for receiving the face of a user, the mat manufactured from a material having cushioning properties.

2. The massage mat of claim 1 further comprising a removable cover.

3. The massage mat of either one of the preceding claims wherein the dimension of the head and shoulder support portion and the torso support portion together is approximately 1000mm long and 600mm wide.

4. The massage mat of any one of the preceding claims wherein the opening is an elliptical hole cut through the mat with the topside edge removed.

The massage mat of any one of the preceding claims wherein a rectangular section channel extends across the underside width of the mat intersecting with the opening in the mat.

6. The massage mat of any one of the preceding claims wherein the mat has a topside edge located at an upper periphery and a concave section approximately 280mm in length is removed from at least one topside edge, the concave section to receive a user's arm thereon.

7. The massage mat of any one of the preceding claims wherein the head and shoulder support portion is approximately 100mm in thickness for approximately 440mm of its length, and the torso support portion gradually tapers to 10 mm in thickness.

8. The massage mat according to any one of the preceding claims adapted to be rolled up and held with a form of fastening device.

9. The massage mat substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing. DATED this 2 2 nd day of December 2003 ARRON OTTAWAY By his Patent Attorneys Cullen Co.