US1869460A - Exercise and massage cushion - Google Patents

Description

Aug.2,'l932. A. w. BRAND EXERCISE AND MASSAGE CUSHION Filed Aug. 29. 1929 A TTORNEY.

Patented Aug. 2, 1932 U'Nrrs STATES ACHILL W. BRAND, OI MORRO BA Y, CALIFORNIA,

'nxnncrsn AND MASSAGE cusnron Application filed August 29, 1929. Serial No. 389,239.

My present invention relates to exercise and massage cushions, and has reference particularly to a cushion intended and adapted to be used in exercising and massaging the torso along the spine and at other points adjacent the internal organs and vital nerve centers.

An object of this invention is to provide a cushion which is so constructed and shaped that an individual can exercise and massage various portions of the body when recumbent upon a bed, couch, or the floor, in which reclining position the trunk and torso organs, nerves and muscles are presented in a relation for accomplishing of most beneficial results.

Another object is to provide a cushion whichcan be used upon various portions of the body and which is of such form that so highly eificient and beneficial results are at tained.

Still another object is to so construct the exerciser cushion that it can be made up to be placed in the hands of individual users,

accompanied by instructions or suggestions for its use, and that it will not require replacement or repair through strains encountered in ordinary use.

With this and other objects in view, which go will be apparent to those skilled in the art, my present invention includes certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter set forth in connection with the drawing and then particularly pointed out in the claim.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a view in side improved cushion.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view.

Fig. 3 is a view in end elevation.

Fig. 4 is a transverse, vertical, sectional view.

It has been found that very soothing and beneficial results are attained from massage and manipulation of the portions of the human body over and on each side adjacent the spine, and that equally beneficial results are attained by manipulation of other portions of the body adjacent the internal organs and nerve centers. Heretofore, such manipelevation of my ulation has usually beenaccomplishedmanually by an operator using the hands, and with my present invention it will-be possible for an individual to attain the same beneficial manipulation and massage without assistance and to vary the severity of the manipulation to suit his own individual desires or needs. My improved cushion is intended to be supported when in use upon a couch, bed, the floor, or upon some other relatively flat, or a perhaps yielding support, and as it is essential that a certain well defined configuration be maintained in the cushion the entire structure is built and assembled upon a base member 1. This base member, which in the present instance is shown as being a substantially rectangular elongated sheet of material is made of a length to correspond substantially to the length of the human trunk, and to better accommodate the requirements of in- 7 dividual users of different heights, it may be found desirable and necessary to vary the length of the supporting base portion and to make the finished cushions of different lengths. I i5 A body 2, which can be of any suitable stufling or filler material possessing a slight degree of resiliency is built up on the supporting base member 1 to be of substantially the contour shown in Figure 1, in which the w longitudinal top line at 3 follows substantially a normal bodily line taken coextensive with the human spine. This supporting body 1 is filled out at 4 to prrvide an extending rounded portion which will lit the neck and will engage at the base of the skull, and the top line '3 then follows an undulating curve receding at 5, rising at 6 to fit the small of the back and then sloping downwardly to H merge into the supporting base member 1., as at 7. The top along the undulating line is made of narrow width so that it will have a lateral extent only sufiicient to contact the immediate region of the spine.

A layer of cushion material is applied 9'5 at Son the top of the supporting body 2, and the cushion is then covered with a leather, fabric, or other suitable cover 9. I have found that this covering 9 can be formed from the side pieces 10 and 11 and a top'piece 12, which 1 when sewed or otherwise secured together will serve to maintain the desired shape and contour of the cushion but it is perhaps preferable that the cover 9 and the body portion 2 be stitched through as at 18 to give greater stability and to better insure maintenance of the desired form. This covering 9 can be eX- tended over the lower side of the supporting base 1 and can be secured in place thereon by the use of tacks M or other suitable fastenings, and the stitching cords 13 can be looped through suitable tufting buttons 15 if these be deemed necessary and advisable. Also, the tying strings can be extended, longitudinally as suggested at 16 in Figure 1, and greater rigidity will be attained in the supporting body 2;

In the use of my improved structure the exercise cushion will be placed upon a suitable support and the individual user will then sit upon, or adjacent to the inclined end 7, with the back toward the cushion. As the user rocks back upon the cushion the undulating curve thereof will substantially fit the natural curve of the body adjacent the spine. A lateral rolling movement of the user will exert a kneading and massaging force upon the back over and immediately on each side of the spine. The exercise and massaging action can be varied by the user rocking forward from the cushion and back again to the reclining position resting upon the cushion and the neck and portions at the base of the skull can be massaged by twisting the head from side to side while resting the neck upon the rounded portion l with the head overhanging, or alternately resting the neck over and returning it to this rounded portion. Where it is desired to massage the sides of the body adjacent the false ribs to reach the internal organs, this can be readily accomplished by lying upon the middle portion of the cushion with the same turned at right angles to the extent of the spine, or the user can lie upon the supporting surface and insert the inclined end 7 beneath the body and then roll alternately onto and off from the inclined end. The abdomen and the upper chest portion of the truck can be massaged and exercised by the user lying face downward upon the cushion with the same disposed either coextensive with or transversely across the line of the spine, and the front and side neck muscles can be massaged while resting in contact with the rounded portion 4.

The degree of force and the intensity of the massaging manipulation can be varied by the individual user to suit his own requirements, or this can be taken care of by varying the degree of elasticity in the built-up body portion 2, or the resiliency of the top cushion portion 8. Also in some instances it may be found desirable to have the covering material 9, or a portion corresponding thereto made either in whole or in part as an air-tight envelope or container to be inflated so that a pneumatic top or cushion portion will be presented for use to contact with the body.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a cushion which is of simple and inexpensive construction and which is of such form and structure that it can be used by individuals to accomplish a massaging manipulation and exercise the body adjacent the spine, over internal organs and nerve centers, and at other points where a yielding pressure and manipulation are desired.

l/Vhile I have 'shown and described only certain specific embodiments and constructions of my improved exercise and massage cushion, and have suggested only certain possible modifications in the structure and certain manners in which the same would be used, it will be appreciated that changes and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim:

An exercise and massage cushion comprising a narrow elongated substantially inflexible supporting base, and a cushion body built up on the base having an undulating contour line longitudinally on the top thereof corresponding substantially to the line on the back of the human body coextensive with the spine, said undulating top line being of narrow width in its lateral extent to contact with the back of a person lying thereon longitudinally over and immediately adjacent the spine and in its lateral extent being inclined downwardly to a wedge-shaped termination at one end of the supporting base and being rounded over and slightly elevated in a ball form at the other end to fit the back of the neck adjacent the base of the skull.

In testimony whereof I atfix my signature.

ACHILL W. BRAND.

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