AU2013201721A1 - Canine therapy mat - Google Patents

Abstract

A massage mat for canines comprising a mattress, a vibration transfer plate located within the mattress, and a vibratory source associated with the vibration transfer plate. The vibratory source may be a hollow body housing a motor which 5 is powered by a power source such as a battery. The massage mat also includes a control system, such as a wireless remote control, for operating the mat.

Description

P/00/011 Regulation 3.2 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 ORIGINAL COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention Title: "CANINE THERAPY MAT" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: 1 TITLE CANINE THERAPY MAT FIELD OF THE INVENTION 5 The present invention relates to a therapeutic device for treatment of animals. More particularly, the invention relates, but is not limited, to a massage device for use with animals such as canines. BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION 10 Like humans, performance animals such as greyhounds and working dogs can suffer from muscular aches, damage, and strain as a result of prolonged or intense physical activity. Therapies such as manual massage, acupressure, heat therapy, and laser and ultrasound treatment have been used to treat such muscular 15 conditions. These methods have also been used to treat a variety of other animal health conditions including arthritis, muscle, joint and ligament damage, hip and elbow dysplasia, and other musculoskeletal conditions. Cycloid vibration therapy (CVT) has been used as an effective treatment for humans and animals such as horses for many years. CVT is characterised by 20 a 3-dimensional circular vibration which is generated by an electromechanical oscillator. Using a hand held vibrating massage unit, the vibration penetrates deeply and gently through the entire body. Hand held vibrating massagers have been used in the treatment of canines. Such devices provide deep cycloidal treatment to localised areas and 25 are useful for concentrating on specific areas of injury or strain. Vibrating back packs have also been developed to deliver gentle cycloidal treatment to larger areas. Such back packs include specifically designed harnesses to ensure the device is positioned correctly on the canine. While the prior art devices described above are generally satisfactory for 30 their intended purpose, all of these devices suffer from one or more shortcomings. For example, massage and acupressure are quite manual techniques and thus the effectiveness of these therapies is dependant on the person providing 2 the therapy. Heat therapy and laser and ultrasound treatment can be time consuming and expensive, and ultrasound treatment does not penetrate the animal's body very deeply. Hand held massagers offer deeper penetration, however they are 5 generally small in size and are therefore most effective on specific areas of the animal. The canine may also find the hand held massager unnerving and may attempt to get away or chew the device. Vibrating back packs solve some of the above problems; however the harnesses may be chewed by the canine. Finally, it can be difficult to keep an animal such as a canine still for the 10 period of time required to perform the above treatments. The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that the prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in Australia or elsewhere. 15 OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to overcome or at least alleviate one or more of the above described disadvantages of the prior art, or to provide the consumer with a useful commercial choice. 20 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In one form, although not necessarily the only or broadest form, the invention resides in a massage mat for canines, comprising: a mattress; a vibration transfer plate located within the mattress; 25 a vibratory source associated with the vibration transfer plate; a power source that powers the vibratory source; and a control system for operating the massage mat. Preferably, the mattress is formed from a closed cell polyurethane foam. Preferably, the vibratory source comprises a hollow body housing a 30 motor. In a preferred form, the motor includes an eccentrically mounted weight that is rotated to generate vibration.

3 The vibration transfer plate is preferably adapted to transfer the vibration generated from the vibratory source to substantially the entire surface of the mattress. Preferably, the vibration transfer plate is formed from stainless steel. 5 In a preferred form, the vibration transfer plate has a length of about 45 to 55 centimetres, and a width of about 25 to 35 centimetres. In one form, the vibration transfer plate is a solid sheet. In an alternate form, the vibration transfer plate is a frame consisting of a perimeter and a number of cross members. 10 It is preferred that the vibratory source is capable of emitting three distinct massage patterns. Preferably, the density of the closed cell polyurethane foam is in the range of 20 to 30 kg/m 3 , and the hardness is in the range of 100 to 150 Newtons. In an alternate form, the mattress is formed in two discrete layers. In this 15 form, the vibration transfer plate is located between the mattress layers. In a preferred form, the power source is a battery and the control system is a wireless remote control. Preferably, the mattress is enclosed in a waterproof cover. It is preferred that the waterproof cover includes a closure means such as a zipper on one side 20 to allow easy access to the power source, control system and vibratory source. The waterproof cover may also include one or more handles for carrying purposes. In an alternative form, a hand held massager can be coupled to the massage mat. In this form, the massage mat may contain an additional battery 25 for supplying power to the hand held massager, or an adaptor cable assembly that can supply power to the hand held massager. In yet another alternative form, a cushion is positioned on top of the massage mat. Preferably, the cushion is formed from soft foam, such as closed cell 30 polyurethane foam, and is enclosed in a machine washable cushion cover that is attached to the massage mat.

4 It is preferred that the cushion cover includes a zip, or other closure means, so that the cushion can be removed from the cushion cover prior to washing or cleaning the cushion cover. Preferably, the cushion cover is attached to the massage mat by hook 5 and loop fasteners. Whilst the invention has been described in relation to canines, it should be appreciated that the invention could also be used with other animals such as cats, pigs, and ponies. Further features and advantages of the present invention will become 10 apparent from the following detailed description. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS To assist in understanding the invention and to enable a person skilled in the art to put the invention into practical effect, preferred embodiments of the 15 invention will be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a massage mat for canines according to a first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a cut away view of the vibratory source showing the motor; 20 FIG. 3 is a front view of the wireless remote control; FIG. 4 is an exploded view of a massage mat for canines according to a second embodiment of the present invention; and FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of a massage mat for canines according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 25 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Embodiments of the invention are illustrated in concise outline form in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are necessary for understanding the embodiments of the present invention, but so as not to 30 obscure the disclosure with excessive detail that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art in light having the benefit of the present description. In this patent specification, adjectives such as first and second, left and right, front and back, top and bottom, etc., are used solely to distinguish one 5 element from another element without necessarily requiring a specific relative position or order. Words such as "comprises" or "includes" are not used to define an exclusive set of elements. Rather, such words merely define a minimum set of elements included in a particular embodiment of the present 5 invention. It will be appreciated that the invention may be implemented in a variety of ways, and that this description is given by way of example only. Referring to FIG. 1 there is a shown a top perspective view of a massage mat 10 for canines including a mattress 12, a power source 18, and a control system 20. A vibratory source 14 and a vibration transfer plate 16 are positioned 10 within the mattress. The mattress may be formed from any suitable material. However, the Inventors have found that closed cell polyurethane foam is ideal as it allows the vibration generated from the vibration transfer plate 16 and the vibratory source 14 to be transferred to the entire surface of the mattress 12. In this embodiment, the mattress 12 is enclosed in a waterproof cover 13 15 which includes a zipper 15 along one side to allow the user to easily access the power source 18, control system 20 and vibratory source 14. It should be appreciated that other forms of closure means, such as a hook and loop fastener or buttons, would also be suitable. The waterproof cover 13 may also include one or more handles 17 for carrying purposes. 20 Referring to FIG. 2, the vibratory source 14 is comprised of a hollow body 22 which houses a motor 24. In this example, the motor 24 is located at one end of the hollow body 22; however persons skilled in the art would appreciate that the position of the motor 24 could be altered. For example, the motor 24 could be located in the middle of the hollow body 22. As shown in FIG. 2, the motor 24 25 has electrical connections 26 to connect with leads on the power source in order to provide power to drive the motor. In an alternative embodiment, the vibratory source 14 has a single fused lead for connecting to the power source 18. The motor 24 is capable of running at different speeds and frequencies, depending upon the power applied to the motor. On one end of the motor shaft 30 28, there is an eccentrically mounted weight 30 for generating the vibration. In a preferred embodiment, the vibratory source 14 is capable of emitting three distinct massage patterns. Massage pattern one is a constant steady vibration which is referred to as STD. Massage patten two, referred to as CPM, is an 6 alternating vibration that rises from the minimal level to the maximum selected level. Massage pattern three is similar to massage pattern two; however the massage cycle is spread over a longer period of time. This massage pattern is referred to as TS. The vibratory source 14 is preferably located within the 5 mattress 12; however it may also be located on one side of the mattress 12. The vibratory source 14 is powered by the power source 18, which in this embodiment is a battery. In this example, the power source 18 is located on the side of the mattress 12; however persons skilled in the art would appreciate that the power source 18 could be located elsewhere on the mattress 12. In an 10 alternative embodiment, the massage mat 10 could be connected to an electric power supply. Attached to the vibratory source 14 is a vibration transfer plate 16. The vibration transfer plate 16 is located within the mattress 12 and is preferably formed from stainless steel. The vibration transfer plate 16 is capable of 15 transmitting the vibration generated from the vibratory source 14 to the entire surface of the mattress 12. In this embodiment, the vibration transfer plate 16 is a solid sheet which is roughly rectangular; however persons skilled in the art would appreciate that other sizes and shapes would also be suitable. It will also be appreciated that the vibration transfer plate 16 can be aligned differently with 20 respect to the vibratory source 14. For example, the vibration transfer plate 16 could be turned roughly 90 degrees such that the shortest side is attached to the vibratory source 14. Importantly, the Inventors have found that the vibration transfer plate 16 does not need to be the same size as the mattress 12 in order to transfer vibration across the entire surface of the mattress 12. 25 The vibratory source 14 is controlled by the control system 20. As shown in FIG. 3, the control system 20 can be a wireless remote control 32. The wireless remote control 32 has various buttons to enable the user to turn the massage mat on and off 34, select the massage pattern 36, the intensity of the vibration 38 and the time of operation 40. In a preferred embodiment, the 30 wireless remote control 32 also has a screen 42 or transparent LED window. In this example, the wireless remote control 32 is stored on the side of the mattress 12; however it will be appreciated that the control system 20 could be stored elsewhere on the mattress 12, for example in an external side pocket.

7 Referring to FIG. 4 there is a shown an exploded view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the closed cell polyurethane foam mattress is formed in two separate layers 44, 46 such that the vibration transfer plate 48 is located between the layers. The vibratory source 5 14, power source 18 and control system 20 are sandwiched between pieces of closed cell polyurethane foam 50 that abut the layers of foam mattress 12. Persons skilled in the art would appreciate that these components could also be located within cavities in the layers of foam mattress. In this embodiment, the vibration transfer plate 48 is not a solid 10 rectangular sheet, but a frame consisting of a perimeter 49 and a number of cross members 51. The vibration transfer plate 48 could also be formed as a grid or lattice of beams. The vibration transfer plate 48 is still formed from stainless steel. In the alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the massage mat 10 15 includes a cushion 60 that is positioned on top of the mattress 10. The cushion 60 is enclosed in a machine washable cushion cover 62 that is attached to the massage mat 10. The cushion cover 62 includes a zip 64, or other closure means, to allow the cushion 60 to be removed from the cushion cover 62 prior to washing or cleaning the cushion cover 62. In this embodiment, the control 20 system is a remote control 66 that is located in a pocket 68 on the side of the massage mat 10. The pocket 68 is constructed from a clear plastic film that enables operation of the remote control 66 without the need to remove it from the pocket 68. However, the remote control 66 can easily be removed from the pocket 68 if required. 25 In operational use, the user switches on the massage mat by means of the control system. The motor is then activated by the power supply and the motor shaft begins turning. When the motor shaft turns, the eccentrically mounted weight also turns and creates circular vibrations. The vibrations pass through the motor housing to the vibration transfer plate. The vibrations are then 30 transmitted to substantially the entire surface of the massage mat via the plate and to the body of the canine sitting, standing or lying on the massage mat. Advantages of the present invention over the prior art include the compactness and portability of the canine massage mat. Secondly, the massage 8 mat is self-contained, waterproof and easy to clean. The compact design of the massage mat reduces the likelihood of the canine chewing the mat. Fourthly, the vibratory massage penetrates deeply; however, it is delivered in a gentle manner which can reduce the canine's stress associated with receiving the therapeutic 5 treatment. The speed and pattern of the vibration can be varied quickly and easily. Further, the size of the mat is suited to most canines. The above description of various embodiments of the present invention is provided for purposes of description to one of ordinary skill in the related art. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to a single disclosed 10 embodiment. As mentioned above, numerous alternatives and variations to the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art of the above teaching. Accordingly, while some alternative embodiments have been discussed specifically, other embodiments will be apparent or relatively easily developed by those of ordinary skill in the art. Accordingly, this specification is 15 intended to embrace all alternatives, modifications and variations of the present invention that have been discussed herein, and other embodiments that fall within the spirit and scope of the above described invention.

Claims (20)

1. A massage mat for canines, comprising: a mattress; 5 a vibration transfer plate located within the mattress; a vibratory source associated with the vibration transfer plate; a power source that powers the vibratory source; and a control system for operating the massage mat.

2. The massage mat of claim 1, wherein, the mattress is formed from a 10 closed cell polyurethane foam.

3. The massage mat of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein, the vibratory source comprises a hollow body housing a motor.

4. The massage mat of claim 3, wherein, the motor includes an eccentrically mounted weight that is rotated to generate vibration. 15

5. The massage mat of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein, the vibration transfer plate is adapted to transfer the vibration generated from the vibratory source to substantially the entire surface of the mattress.

6. The massage mat of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein, the vibration transfer plate has a length of about 45 to 55 centimetres, and a width of about 25 20 to 35 centimetres.

7. The massage mat of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein, the vibration transfer plate is a solid sheet.

8. The massage mat of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein, the vibration transfer plate is a frame consisting of a perimeter and a plurality of cross 25 members.

9. The massage mat of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein, the vibratory source is capable of emitting three distinct massage patterns.

10. The massage mat of any one of claims 2 to 9, wherein, the density of the closed cell polyurethane foam is in the range of 20 to 30 kg/M 3 , and the 30 hardness of the closed cell polyurethane foam is in the range of 100 to 150 Newtons.

11. The massage mat of any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein, the mattress is formed in two discrete layers. 10

12. The massage mat of claim 11, wherein, the vibration transfer plate is located between the two discrete layers of the mattress.

13. The massage mat of claim 11 or 12, wherein, the vibratory source, power source and control system are located within cavities in the layers of the 5 mattress.

14. The massage mat of any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein, the power source is a battery.

15. The massage mat of any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein, the control system is a wireless remote control. 10

16. The massage mat of any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein, the mattress is enclosed in a waterproof cover.

17. The massage mat of claim 16, wherein, the waterproof cover includes a closure means which allows easy access to the power source, control system and vibratory source. 15

18. The massage mat of any one of claims 16 to 17, wherein, the waterproof cover includes at least one handle for carrying purposes.

19. The massage mat of any one of claims 1 to 18, wherein, a hand held massager is coupled to the massage mat.

20. The massage mat of any one of claims 1 to 19, wherein, the massage mat 20 includes a battery for supplying power to the hand held massager.