Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61H—PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY
  • A61H7/00—Devices for suction-kneading massage; Devices for massaging the skin by rubbing or brushing not otherwise provided for
  • A61H7/001—Devices for suction-kneading massage; Devices for massaging the skin by rubbing or brushing not otherwise provided for without substantial movement between the skin and the device
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61H—PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY
  • A61H9/00—Pneumatic or hydraulic massage
  • A61H9/005—Pneumatic massage
  • A61H9/0078—Pneumatic massage with intermittent or alternately inflated bladders or cuffs
  • A61H9/0085—Inflated by user's body movement, e.g. ambulatory devices
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61H—PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY
  • A61H2201/00—Characteristics of apparatus not provided for in the preceding codes
  • A61H2201/16—Physical interface with patient
  • A61H2201/1602—Physical interface with patient kind of interface, e.g. head rest, knee support or lumbar support
  • A61H2201/165—Wearable interfaces

Definitions

• the subject of the invention is a garment for massaging at least a part of the body of an individual.
• Document FR-A-2 144 971 describes an inflatable garment of this type.
• This garment comprises adjacent waterproof fabric pockets 5, which can each be inflated and deflated, by means of a connection tube connected to an appropriate source of pressurized air, by means of a programmed device making it possible to control selectively inflating and deflating said bags according to a
• This garment allows to exert on the body of the user, or on a part of it, a massage action similar to that performed manually by a physiotherapist.
• this garment has the disadvantage of requiring a source of pressurized air and a control apparatus for ensuring the inflation and deflation of the pockets and, consequently, the required massage. It is therefore intended to be used on a site equipped with such equipment and
• the invention aims to produce a garment of simple design which, without using any external equipment and leaving its user entirely free to move and move, allows to automatically massage the part of the body which is there coated when it is subject to movement.
• the subject of the invention is a garment for the massage of at least one part of the body of an individual, comprising a flexible envelope adapted to closely fit at least said part of the body and equipped with means for confining a fluid capable of being circulated to massage said part of the body, characterized in that said confinement means consist of independent sealed channels each partially filled with an incompressible fluid and each oriented substantially in the direction of the fibers or masses muscles with which they are in contact when said envelope is in place on said part of the body.
• said envelope and the wall of said channels are made of extensible material and said envelope consists of several pieces joined together and adapted to each correspond substantially to the outline of a muscle mass of said part of the body.
• the wearing of the garment according to the invention automatically ensures, by the displacement of the fluid inside the channels, an appropriate massage in the desired direction, namely in the longitudinal direction of the muscle fibers.
• Figure 1 is a partial elevational view, from the back, of an individual wearing a garment according to the invention.
• Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view along the length of a channel of the garment of Figure 1; 10 and
• Figure 3 is a sectional view along line III-III of Figure 2.
• a garment according to the invention consists of a number of pieces 2 which are cut in such a way that, once the garment is worn by an individual as shown in the figure, the outline of each piece corresponds substantially to that of a muscle mass or area of the individual.
• the outline of the parts 2 is materialized by lines
• each piece 2 of the garment 1 has one or more channels 3 independent of each other and which are each partially filled with an incompressible fluid, for example a liquid such as water.
• the channel (s) 3 of each piece 2 of the garment are each oriented in the direction of the fibers of the masses or muscular zones with which they are in contact when the
• each channel 3 is defined by an elongated tubular sheath 4 made of a fluid-tight material and extensible at least in its longitudinal direction.
• the sheath 4 is for example made of an elastomeric material or a stretch fabric which is impermeable or waterproofed by a conventional treatment.
• the sheath 4 is made of a material or fabric unidirectionally extendable.
• Each sheath 4 is sandwiched between an interior fabric 5 and an exterior fabric 6 also extensible, for example a fabric of the LYCRA type.
• the fabrics 5 and 6 are preferably extendable unidirectionally, the direction of extension being oriented along the length of the sheaths 4.
• the fabrics 5 and 6 preferably have elongation characteristics similar to those of the sheath 4.
• Each sheath 4 is fixed in the desired position between the fabrics 5 and 6 by a seam 7 formed in the latter around the sheath 4 by means of an elastic thread. If the sheath 4 is formed by the assembly of two sheets defining a peripheral rim 8, preferably the seam 7 is sewn through this rim 8.
• the channels 3 are filled for about half to two thirds of their volume by the incompressible fluid and for the rest by air.
• the incompressible fluid is preferably water, but it may be another liquid, sand, or the like.
• the channels 3 have for example a length of between a few centimeters and about ten centimeters and a section of the order of a few tenths of cm 2 .
• the different parts 2 of the garment 1 are assembled to each other along their outline shown in broken lines in Figure 1 by seams in elastic son.
• the whole garment is arranged so as to closely fit the part of the body of the individual who wears it, in the manner of tights.
• the garment 1 can cover only a part or the whole body and, in the latter case, it can be in one or more parts which overlap at their junction, one of the two parts being able to be devoid of channels 3 in the overlap area.
• the part of the body which is coated with it is continuously gently massaged by the circulation of the incompressible fluid in the channels 3 under the effect of body movements and muscle masses. This massage is particularly effective because it is continuously exercised optimally and effortlessly at each point of the body covered with the garment, thus providing a feeling of well-being.
• all of the sheaths 4 forming part of a part 2 can be made in one piece, for example by means of two waterproof sheets formed and assembled by any suitable conventional means.

Landscapes

• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• Epidemiology (AREA)
• Pain & Pain Management (AREA)
• Physical Education & Sports Medicine (AREA)
• Rehabilitation Therapy (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
• Dermatology (AREA)
• Massaging Devices (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=9461001

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (4)

Families Citing this family (9)

Family Cites Families (14)

• 1994
  • 1994-03-14 FR FR9402935A patent/FR2717074B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 1995
  • 1995-03-14 EP EP95912314A patent/EP0765149A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 1995-03-14 US US08/704,790 patent/US5765226A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1995-03-14 WO PCT/FR1995/000303 patent/WO1995024881A1/fr not_active Application Discontinuation

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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