CA2088832A1 - Strap-mounted massaging device - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

A massaging device constructed as a set of massaging elements comprising disc-shaped rollers rotatably mounted on the ends of a plurality of transversely-positioned axles space apart along the length of a strap and retained by the strap. The axles and rollers are designed so that the axles are flush-mounted with the outer face of the rollers, and the axles do not project beyond the rollers, eliminating any possibility of injuring the skin while massaging. The strap is designed to insure that the massaging elements do not become entangled, while preserving the stability and flexibility of the device. The ends of the strap are provided with wide handles, providing additional comfort during use. The inventive design provides and inexpensive, light, sturdy, safe and easy-to-use massaging device.

Description

208~2 STRAP~MVUNTED ~ASSA~ING DEVICE

FIFLD ~F THE INVENTION

Tne p~sen~ inrent~n relates to m~ssaging ~evices ~enerally~ and more part~ularly, ~o ~n improved massa~ing device havlng rollers oppos~tely-mounted along the edges of ~ strap~

BACKG~OUND OF THE INYENTION

lhere are known massaging devl¢es ~onstru~ted as a set of ~heels or balls each rotatlng on ~h axls provided between two pardllel cords, ~ith th~ en~ provided with handles, su~h as disclos~d by German patent 2,?25,~69. A simple variat~on o~ this desinn ls disclosed in Germdn patent 2,12h~1b3, whe~e ~he handles are provld~d as rlngs. ~n ~erman patent 2,21~,878, a ri~ld ~rame is provide~ havin~ t multlple o~ balls on each transverse a~ls, and a similar desi~n without the ~rame is disclosed ln ~erman 1~ pa~ent 2,323 7 85t.
In another ~esign, such as th~t dlsclosed by Br~tish pat~nt 2,100,~04, the balls ar~ ~ounted between two cords extending parallel to one an~ther and b~ing malntalned apart from one another by tr~nsYerse axles. Plastic sleeves seated oYer the ~ords are used to keep the ~xles spaced apart from one another a~
fix~d intervals ~lon~ the c~rd length, llke the rungs of a ladder~ The p~r~llel cords and sleeves form the fra~e, whlch holds the balls in place, and retalns them on the tr~n~verse axle5. Rings provided at either frame end serve as handles.

20~832 A dlsadv~nta~ o- thls c~n~ru~lon Is thht ~he ~r~nsvers~ axles pro~ct beyond the frame, so t~at wh~n the d~vloe ls vlgorously applled to massage tlle ~ody, theso proJectlons ~ay scrat~h ar In~ure the skLn.
r~ Tll~ prlor ~rt deslgns for masso~ln~ devlc~s based on tll~ use Or d rrame torm~a hy cords ls d~fflcult to use slnce the ~ntlre length often becomes ent~ngled ~nd must be strdlshten~d out befo~e usc. Also, these deslgns us0 woodon parts whlch are non-~a~hable, llmltlng the abillty to cle~n and mdln~a1~ them.
IO lhe use oF many parts co~pllcates and slows produc~ion, espeeia)l~ ~here the cords must be thre~ed th~ough ea~h p~rt.
In additl~n, thls desl~n cduses noise as ~ result of frlctlon devcl~ped botween ~he ~ooden p~rts ~nd ~he cord f~dm~, Tll~s frlctlon 9150 shortQns ~he useful l~fe of ~ne deYlce.
~5 Another varlatlon of ~ maSSdglng devlce- desly~ 1~
pr~vlded ln US Patent 4,210,135 to Deus~r, In which ~ plur~llty of m~ssaging members sh~pod dS dlscs are held on a flcxlble sh~tt ln o ~o~ shapeu Slnce thls devlce ls manipulated by one hand, only 8 llmlted ~mount of farc~ ls developed whlle massagl~g ag~lnst the ~ody.
In vlew of the llml~lons ~n prior crt mass~lnj device desl~n, lt would b~ desirable to prov~de a sl~ply construo~d, s,lf7, Inel(oensl.e ~nd essy-to~us7 ml~ssaglng devic7 ~ ' ' .

~8~32 ~UMMAkY Of THE INY~NrION

Acc~rdlngly, ~t ls a pr~nGlpal obj~ct o~ the pr~sent lnYention to o~erCom~ ~he aboYe-mentlon~d ~isddvantages 0~ the prlor art and pro~lde a str~p-~ounted ~assaglng deYice fea~uring a ~t~ap haYlng sets o~ rollers oppos~t~ly mount~d on l~s cd~es.
In accordanc~ ~th ~ preferred ~mbo~lment of tho present InYenllon. there 1~ provlded a strdp-mount~d ~sa~lng devlce comPr~ln~:
a ~l~xlble strap;
1~ a plurallty o~ axles each extendln~ tr~nsverse to sald strdp and b~ing retalned thereon; and a plural~ty of rota~able m~ss3glng elements nrrDnged in sets mou~ed oYer the ends of each o- ~bld ~xles, Tn the preferred embodlment, the mbss~lng devl~e ls 1~ ~onstructe~ as ~ set of massa~lng alements comprising disc~shaped rollers rotstably mount~d on the ends of ~ plurall~y of a~les spaced ~part a~ong ~he l~n~th of a s~rap. The str~p Is provlded as a t~o-layered mat~rlal se~n togeth~r wi~h the axles r~tained ~n pocke~s for~ed bet~een the ~aYers. The axles and rollers ~r~
7n deslgned so that the axles a~ flush~mounted with the outer face ~f the ~ollers, and the axles ~o not proJect b~yond the rollers, ~limlnatlng any poss~billty of In~urlns the sktn whlle massqglng~
~ he InY~ntiYe de~lgn oYercomes the dlsadYanta~es o~
prlor ar~ desl~ns by use o~ the strap rOr mountln~ the massaslng .S ele~e~ts~ The strap Is desi~ned to Insure th~t .the massaglng ~lements do not become ~ntanglcd, wh~le preserV~n~ t~C s~a~ y and ~lex~blllty o~ the de~lce. Th~ enas of th~ strap ~re provi~ed .

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:, 2 ~ 3 2 ~ltll ~Id~ handles, p~ovldlng addltlondl comfort durin~ u~e.
In ~ddlll~n, ~he lnyentlvQ design sl~plltles prsductlon and reduces produc~lon ~osts by reducln~ the n~lmber o~
components. Also, thc roller massa~ing elements dr~ m2nur~c~ured from plasLIc by InJectlon mold~ng, then muunted on the axles and ~ch~nl~ lock~d thereon. SeYer~l technlques exls~ for ~cc~anlc~lly Jockin~ the rollers on the axles, lncludlng thermoplastic or mcchanic~l deform~tlon of the aXlQ ends, or Us~
of ~ fa~t~ner c~p, screw or other fastener~
~ he use of p~astlc components ~or the massaglng elements enables gre~ter ~arlufacturln~ pre~slon an~ reduce~
toler~nces between th~ a~les ~nd ~l~m~nts, docreaslnY the noisc assoclated w~th us~ ~f the ~eYlce~
ay vlr~ue of ~ts unl~ue deslgn, an Inexpens~ve, llght, slurd~, sate and easy-to-use massa~in3 devlce can be rnanufactur~d, O~her features and ddvant~es of the Invcntlon ~111 become apparent from th~ folJo~lng ~rawln~s and descrlptlon.
DRIEF DESCRJPllON OF THE D~A~INGS
For a better understandin~ of th~ InYentloh ~ith regard 2~ to the embodlments t~ereof. ref~renc~ Is made tO the acco~pdnyin~
drawlngs, in whlch Ill~e nlmerals deslgn~te correspondln~ el~ments or sectlons througnou~ an~ ln which:
Flg, ~ lS a top view of a prlor ar~ massaglng devlGe construct~d usln~ wooden rollers ln ~ frame forme~ by cords, 2~ Fl9. 2 Is a to~ ~lew of preferred embodl~en~ o~ 3 strap-mounl~rJ massa~ln~ devlco ~onstruole~l In dccordance w~h th~
prlnclples of the lnventlon:

~ ~ 8 (~

Fl~. 3 illustrat~s a sl~e Yiew of an alternatlYe em~odlment of the str~p of Flg. Z, fea~urino a spr~ng ~amp ~r reta~nln~ transYers~ly-mDunted ~xles on the str~p; ~nd Flg. 4 !s a de~led vle~ of a portlon ~f thc m~ssaglng d~lce o~ Fl~. 2, ~ho~lng ~assagln~ elements mount~d on dn axl~.
DETAILE~ DESCRIPT10~ ~F rHE PREFE~RED k~O~lMEHTS
Refer~ln~ no~ to Fl~, 1, ther0 1s shown a t~p vlew of ~
prior art moss~ng de~lce 10, ~h~ch IS a deslgn representat~Ye ~f sever~l slmllar prlar art devlces~ dS menl1~ned in ~he IU back~round. ~e~lce 10 Is construoled ~slng ~ooden rollers l2 mounted on dxl~s ~ whlch are seated transverse ~o a palr of cords 16 formln~ a fram~ 1~. Th~ Indlv~dual ~xles 1~ ~r~
mdint~ned spdced ~pdrt ~ 1n fram~ 17 by ~ sct o~ plas~'c spacers 18 through whlch eords 16 are threaded. The cord 1~ ~nds ]~, Fcrm ~oops 19, proYld~n~ n~ndles to man~puldtc devlce 10 ln use.
A dissdYentage Of thls construction 1s ~that the transYerse qxles 14 proJ~t beyond the cord fram~ 17, so th~t when the devlc~ 10 ls ~Igorously applled ~o ~assage the body.
these pro~oCt5ng ~xles 14 may sc~tch or InJure ~hc skln.
2n The prlor art desl~ns Por massaglng d~vlc~ based on the us~ or a frame f~rmed 4y cords Is dlf~lcu1t to use slnce the entlre length o~ten ~co~es en~3ngled and must be strdight~nod out before use. ~Iso, these deslgns use w~o~en parts wlllch ~re non-w~shable, limltlng the ability to clean and malntain them.
.5 ~h~ use of many parts complio~tes and slows productlon, especlally ~here cords 16 must be threaded through ea~h part.

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~8~32 RY~rrl1Iy no~ ~o Fl~ here ~s shown d t~p Yiew 0~ a preferred embodiment of a st~ap-mounted massaglng devlce 20 constructed itl arrcurddnce ~ltlI llle prlnclples of the present lnYention. DeYIce 2~ ~omprises a strap 22 w1th a deslred len~th, .~ ~Ith eaCh of It ends fol~ed oYer ltself as a loop ~o prov~de h~ndles ~4. ~3s~aglng e1ements 25 are f~rmed wlLh a cenlrdl hote.
are sh~ped as dlsc-shaped rol1ers and aro rolala~ly moun~ed in pairs on ~ plur~llty of axl~s 2~ spaced ~par~ perpendlcular ~o ~he len~th of str3p 2Z~ The s~nap 2~ ~ornprlses t~o layers of ~a~rlal ~ewll toga~ller ~y stltches 2~, ~ormlng d pl~allty of ~ock~s ~ ~or reta~nlng each ax~e 26 between straP 22 l~yers.
Each axle 26 Is prov1ded with a len~th equ1valcnl to tll~ s~rap 22 wldth plus tlle thlckness o~ a p~ir of ~a~sagin~
elements 25. M2ssl~1ng ele~ents ~S ~ deslgned to b~ loc~cd on . axles 26 such that the end uf each axle 26 is ~lush-moun~ed wltll the outer face o~ each ~lement 25, ~ormln~ a substantl~lly contlnuous surtDce such th~t ~xl~ 26 does not pro~e~t ~eyond It, nor Ss axl~ 26 r~ccsse~ ln thc hole or massagln~ elemen~ 25.
It wlll be ~ppreclatQd tnat In an ~lternatlvc dcslgn, 2~ massa~ln~ elements 25 may be b~ shaped, ~heel-shaped or gear-shape~ elements~ or elements haYin~ smooth ed~es, or they can be shap~d to achleve a deslred physiotherapy ef~eet.
In ti~. 3, therQ is shown i s~de vlew of an alterna~ive embodlment o~ the strap 22 of Flg. 2. ~ea~ur~ng a sprlng clamp 30 ~or ret~lnlng axles 26 transversely-mounte~ on strap 2~ ln thls Qmbodlrnen~, strap ~Z Is pr~ ded ~s a sinale l~yer of mat~rial. Sprln~ clamp 30 Is typloally made of mctal and is form~fl wlth ~ clr~ul~r proflle ~Ith In~drd~y faclng e~ges 8 3 ~

32. In thls emb~dlment. axles 26 a~ for~d wlth ~ palr o~
parallel ~ro~ves 34. To att~ch strap Z2 to each ~xl~ 267 dxle 26 ls pl~ed into the cldmp 3~ such that straP 2~ 15 p~assed between them, ~nd cla~p 30 edg~s 32 en~a~o grooYes 34, and ret~ s~r~p 2~ ~heretn. Other clan~ps or b~ckles mæy b~ used for ~hl9 punp~se.
In Flg. 4, d deta~led vlew Is s~l~wn vr A port~on of the massagln~ dev~ce of Fl~. 2, shu~n~ mass3~1n~ ments ~ moullted on axle 26 in locklng fashlon~ For thls purpose, a clrcular depresslon 36 Is ~ormed in ~he oute~ face of massagln~ ele~en~
IO 2~, wlth a ~ eter 51 Ightly lar~er than ~hat of hole 3~/ ~ormad In each massaylny element 25. ~he ends of eoC~ axle 26 are shaped ~ith a lacklng shoulder 38 ~hicll ~atches the contour o~ clrcul~r d~prcsslon 3fi, and ~hlch retains moss~in~ element 25 on ~xle ~6.
Ther~ are sevqral methods of ~or~lng locklng shoulder ~S ~ on 8~1e 26, an~ among these are ther~pl~st~c o~ mechanlcal defvrmat~on of the end~ of oxles ~6, In addltlon, all ~nl~rged end p~Ce can be yluoa or otherw~se ~t~cl~ed ~o the a~le. A
~astener Cldmp ~r scre~ c~n also ba used. Thus, the ~nds of axles 26 are flush-mounted ~Ith th~ outer ~ace of massaglng elements 2S
2u }~ the thermoplosttc de~ormatlon ~ethod is us~d, flrst the ~x1~5 Z~ are pl~ced in Pockets Z8 Dn slrap Z2. Mass~ln~
ele~ents z5 3rc then mounted on axles 26. Then, each axle ~6 15 orlented Yertlcally and mechanl~al pressur~ Is ~pplled comblned ~ith heatlng a~o~e and below axle 26, for a penlod as requlred ln Accordance ~Ith the type o~ materlal~ Baf~r~ pr~ssure Is applled, mass~glng element 25 Is moved away from the end of axle 2E so as to ~old ~elng d~m~ed by the hoc~. ~hls c~n be don~ by squee~ing ., 2 ~ 3 ~

slrdp 22 to n~rro~ It stlghtly, ~nd then releosln~ It one~ th~
de~ormatiorl ~)as ~een ~o~pleted. Thls m~thod results tn wld~nln~
the ends of axl~s 2~, whll~ shortenlng thelr lengt11 sl1~htlyO
In uso. strap-m~unted m~ssagln~ ~evl~e 20 Is h~ld b~
it~ handles ~4 so that massd9lng ~lements 25 contact the ~ody.
~cv~ce- 2~ 15 then drawn over the hodY ared ~hlch ~s to ~e massag~ with a deslred force bnd speed, M~ss~ln~ clements 2$
rot~te freely and provlde st~mu~ation to the skln ~nd musc1ss In lcccrdanee with ~l1e ~orce applied.
IO In summary, the flush mounted deslgn of ~xles Z6 wlth the outer ~ace of ~ssd~lng el~cnts 25 ln~ures ~ha~ ~xles 26 do not pro~ecS beyond the dlscs, e1im~natlng any possiblll~y of In~urlng the skln whlle ~assa~lng.
The lnventlv~ de~lgn o~ercom~s the dlsadYanta~es o~
~rlor ar~ deslgns by use of strap ~ ~or ~ountlng the mass~lng elerents. The st~p 22 lS designed to lns~re that hl~ssaging elements 25 do not become entangled, whlle pr~servlng st~blllty and flexlblllty uf the device. The ends of strap 27 ~re provlded ~Ith ~ide handles 24, p~ovldln~ ~ddlt~onal com~ort durlng use.
2n In a~dltlon, ~he Invertlve des~gn slmp~lfles production ~nd reduces productlon costs slnce mass~ing elements 2S c~n be manufacture~5 from plastic by in~otlon moldlng, then mounted on axl~s 26 ~nC me~hanlcally locked the~e~n~
The use of plastlc comp~nents f~r massa~in~ elements 25 ~5 enables greater ~Dn~fdcturin~ pre~lsion, allo~lng for reduced tolerances ln the flt betwe~n the axles 26 and e~emgnts 25, and d~creasln~ the n~lse ~ssoclat~d wlth use of the devlce 20.
Havlng descrlbed the in~entlon wlth re~a~d to certal :

2 ~ 3 2 speclflc embo~l~ments thereof, It Is to ~o llndel~sl.~d that the descl~ipt1on 1~ no~ meant as ~ limltatlon, sln~e fl~rther mo~llflcatlons may now become apparent to tho~e skllled in th~ ~rt and it Is Intended tO co~er such modlflcdtlons as fbll wlthln ~he 5 scope of the ~ppcndcd cla~ms.

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Claims (11)

1. A strap-mounted massaging device comprising:
a flexible strap;
a plurality of axles each extending transverse to said strap and being retained thereon; and a plurality of rotatable massaging elements arranged in sets mounted over the ends of each of said axles.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said massaging elements are disc-shaped rollers.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said axle ends are flush-mounted with outer faces of said massaging elements.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein said massaging elements have smooth edges.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein said strap is provided as at least two layers of material have formed therebetween pockets open on either side of said strap, said axles extending through and being retained in said pockets.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein said axles are formed with parallel grooves extending therein, and further comprising a clamp shaped to engage said grooves and retain said strap therein.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein at opposite ends of said strap there are formed loops providing handles.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein said axle ends are each formed with a locking shoulder for retaining thereon said massaging elements.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein said axle is formed of plastic and said axle end is thermoplastically-deformed to provide said locking shoulder.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein said massaging elements are manufactured of plastic and are each formed with a circular depression centrally disposed for seating said locking shoulder.

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