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
  • A61H15/00—Massage by means of rollers, balls, e.g. inflatable, chains, or roller chains
  • A61H15/0092—Massage by means of rollers, balls, e.g. inflatable, chains, or roller chains hand-held
• • 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
  • A61H2205/00—Devices for specific parts of the body
  • A61H2205/08—Trunk
  • A61H2205/081—Back

Definitions

• the invention relates to a method for guiding at least one rotatable body into a desired position behind the back and keeping it there, in order to thereby suitably accomplish massage, as well as an apparatus for massaging a person' s own back.
• Finnish patent application 871296 shows a device comprising a framework having a handle, and a massaging body arranged in said framework, said massaging body being pressed against the back by pulling said handle.
• said device has the disadvantage that the massage motion itself is accomplished with aid of the own arms, which results in that the back musculature cannot simultaneously be relaxed. The massage itself will thereby be insufficient and may in certain conditions lead to direct injury.
• the purpose of the present invention is to provide a massage arrangement giving, in an easy manner, effective self massage of selectively chosen portions of the back. This purpose is achieved with the method and the apparatus for the realization of said method, which are evident from the enclosed claims.
• a person by actively moving his back plane pres- singly in the tangential plane of at least one freely sup ⁇ ported body causes said body to press against said back plane under an essentially rolling rotation, whereby the position of said body, at least initially, is determined with the aid of guiding means arranged at holding means, said guiding means preferably moving freely at least in planes parallel with said tangential plane.
• individual guiding means are used for this purpose, with the aid of which the position and direction of the rotation axis of the rotatable body is controlled in such a way, that said rotatable body, at a tangential motion under simultaneous pressure from the back plane, may be brought to rotate essentially freely from a desired starting point in a desired direction.
• the invention further includes an apparatus characterized in that at least one massaging body is arranged rotatingly at holding means, said means being fastened in guiding means, for the individual positioning of the massaging body.
• said holding means comprise special shaft means around which said massaging body rotates, whereby said guiding means are arranged at least at one end of said shaft means, for selective control of the position and direction of said respective shaft means with respect to the person' s back plane.
• guiding means for the individual positioning of said massaging body in relation to a person' s back plane are flexibly arranged, respectively at holding means, whereby said guiding means, extending in their operative position generally downwards, are arranged to move freely in relation to the person' s hands, as a result of the rolling motion of the massaging body along the person' s back plane.
• the rotatable body according to the invention may be guided to its position as well as to its direction of rotation said rotatable body, according to one embodiment of the in ⁇ vention, is especially designed so that it comprises a hard inner core, said core being coated with a softer outer layer at least at those portions bearing against the person' s back.
• the massaging effect of said embodiment is especially favorable since said hard core even at a relatively weak general pressure with the person' s back gives a proportionate ⁇ ly strong reactive pressure, which due to said softer coating will be evenly distributed on the back surface without causing discomfort.
• Fig. 1 discloses the general principles for massage according to one embodiment of the invention
• Fig. 2 discloses the arrangement in Fig 1, seen from the front,
• Fig. 3 discloses, from the front and partly in section, a preferred embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention, the holding means comprising special shaft means for determining also the rotational direction of said massaging body.
• Fig. 4 discloses, in a side view, the apparatus according to Fig 3, whereby supplemental details are indicated in phantom,
• Fig. 5 discloses, in axial section, an embodiment of the massaging body according to the invention
• Figs. 6A and 6B disclose a principal sketch of the guiding means in brought-together-position at vertical and horizontal massaging direction, respectively,
• Fig. 7 shows handle means for said guiding means in accordance with a special embodiment of the invention.
• Fig. 8 as an alternative discloses a special embodiment of the invention, where said holding means admit a free move ⁇ ment of said massaging body in all directions.
• Fig. 1 shows the general working principle of the apparatus according to the invention.
• the person 1 massaging his back which is identified below as the back plane 2, stands with his feet 3 on a base ground 4.
• a rotational massaging body 6 is inserted between said back plane 2 and a wall 5.
• Said massaging body 6 is supported freely and independently, i. e. it is not supported against the hands 9 or the like of the person 1, but is supported directly or indirectly against the structure 5 extending behind.
• said person 1 may bring his back plane 2 to move (as indicated by the arrow) upwards and down ⁇ wards along the wall 5, whereby said massaging body will roll between his back plane 2 and said wall 5.
• the person 1 can control the force with which his back is pressed against said wall.
• At least one massaging body 6 is introduced between said back plane 2 and said solid wall 5 or the like solid structure, said massaging body 6 being rotatably fitted in holding means and suitably around a shaft or corresponding shaft means 8.
• Said massaging body 6 is suitably an essentially somewhat yielding rotatable body having generally circular sections when seen in the direction of said shaft 8.
• said massaging body or it' s inner core may also comprise beads, protrusions or recesses diverging from the geometrical surface of a rotatable body.
• Said massaging body 6 comprises guiding means 1 , with the aid of which the massaging body' s position, and in the embodiment shown in Fig 3 also the direction of the massaging body' s shaft 8 may be, using the hands, adjusted prior to the start of the massaging operation.
• the starting position and the essential direction of rotation for said massaging body 6 is hereby determined by guiding the position of said shaft means 8 using guiding means 7 arranged flexibly suitably at each end 11 of said shaft 8, as is more clearly evident from Fig. 3.
• said massaging body 6 is located in its position by bringing, with aid of the hands 9, said essentially rod like guiding means 7 individual ⁇ ly at a suitable level position where said rotation shaft 8 attached at the ends of said guiding means 7 defines the positions and essential direction of rotation for said mas ⁇ saging body 6. Examples of possibilities for the positioning are further evident from Figs. 6A and 6B.
• said guiding means define only the position, whereafter said massaging body may roll in an arbitrary direction. The person' s back plane 2 may now be pressed against said massaging body 6 which is rotatably supported directly or indirectly against said wall 5 located behind said body 6.
• the musculature of the person' s back 2 must be kept relaxed, and therefore the lower part 10 of said guiding means 7 are, according to the in ⁇ vention, allowed to move essentially freely between the fingers of the person' s hand 9.
• the hand grip of said guiding means 7 is opened up so that the person' s arms 12 may hang loosely with only gliding contact to said guiding means 7.
• the apparatus comprises one massaging body 6 only, which to its appearance has the form of a sphere made of an essentially somewhat yielding material.
• some massaging bodies may be arranged above each other and/or side by side with respect to the longitudinal direction of the person' s back.
• the number of such parallel massaging bodies should be three at the most, since a higher number of such bodies would spread the massaging impact over such a large area, that the massage procedure itself would be insufficient.
• One embodiment of the invention comprises for instance two spherical massaging bodies adjacent to each other which arrangement allows one to suitably massage the muscula ⁇ ture on both sides of the spine.
• a preferred variant comprises three massaging bodies 6 arranged in a triangle, whereby the complete arrangement automatically will be stable in relation to said wall plane 5.
• spherical massaging bodies 6 In addition to spherical massaging bodies 6 also other rotatable bodies may be possible within the invention in the embodiments having a defined rotational axis 8. This is a marked advantage in comparison to a freely located massaging ball, since the spherical form is the only shape of a massaging body which at free rotation in accordance with the prior art will reasonably stay in place between the person' s back and the wall.
• the form of the massaging body 6 may be rather freely adapted for the desired form of massage, because there is no risk for said body falling down.
• the massaging body 6 may suitably be barrel shaped for giving massage over a larger area.
• the massaging body 6 has the general form of a thread bobbin having a thinner central portion and thicker side portions. This single massaging body suitably replaces the two adjacent located discussed above.
• the massaging body according to the invention should essentially be at the same time both hard and soft, so that effective massage can be obtained without damages or dis ⁇ comfort.
• the respective massaging body 6 is a rotatable body with an inner core 13 of harder material and at least one on this core arranged softer filling layer 14 which simultaneously forms the surface layer of said massaging body 6.
• the thickness of said surface layer is suitably in the order of 0.5 to 1.5 centimetres. A person pressing his back lightly against said massaging body thus achieves a light surface massage, while a harder pressure gives an indirect contact to said harder core 13.
• Said core 13 and/or said filling layer 14 preferably com ⁇ prises, in an axial section extending along the rotational axis, a radially protruding central area 15 and in relation to said portion outwardly it located portions having radially recessed side areas 16.
• An example of this embodiment appears in Fig. 5, where the specifically designed massaging body permits the massaging body 6 to reach especially well in to back musculature located for instance between rib bones and/or adjacent to the spine.
• the respective massaging body 6 may in some cases be appropriate for the respective massaging body 6 further to comprise special vibrator means for a vibrating massage.
• Said last-mentioned holding means suitably comprises a band-like structure having the general character of a spherical surface segment 30, the edges of which keep said massaging body 6 freely rotationally in place.
• said holding means suitably are manufactured of an essentially resilient material, said edges 31 then being, in accordance with an advantageous embodiment, slotted for allowing an easy interchanging of massaging bodies, said body being spherical in this embodiment.
• inter ⁇ changeable massaging bodies 6 of different hardness and/or axial design of the core and/or having other individual pro ⁇ perties it is appropriate to give the surface of different massaging bodies different coloring so that the properties of each respective massaging body easily may be identified.
• said guiding means 7 are flexibly and suitably removably arranged at the ends of said respective shaft means 8.
• a removable design is generally evident from Fig. 3, where a flexible intermediate piece 17 is inserted in the tube constituting the rotational shaft 8 for said massaging body 6 in the embodiment disclosed.
• On each side of said massaging body there is further advantageously arranged holding collars 19 threaded upon said shaft tube and keeping said massaging body 6 in position.
• said respective guiding means 7 are formed from a tubular material.
• Said intermediate piece 17 is suitably made from an elastomeric material allowing a bending in all directions, whereby each end of said intermediate piece 17 suitably comprises a number of ring shaped holding portions 18, the purpose of which is to removably attach said intermediate piece to each respective tube.
• An alternative embodiment comprises a suitably somewhat stiff ball and socket joint between said shaft means 8 and the respective guiding means 7. The flexible attachment of the guiding means 7 to said shaft means 8 allows said guiding means 7 to be brought into a position where the arms 12 of the person 1 and thus his back musculature too may be relaxed, and this disregarding the individual body constitution of said person 1.
• said guiding means 7 are designed as essentially rod like means, which at the massaging procedure may be arranged to run freely in relation to the person' s hands 9.
• said guiding means suitably comprise, at the ends directed towards said massaging body 6, bends or the like curved portions 20 as is indicated more closely in Fig 3. From Fig 3 it is further evident, that said guiding means 7 and said flexible intermediate piece 17 are suitably lockable, with the aid of locking means 21, for preventing any mutual torsional movement. This is important for the handling of said guiding means 7 for guiding said rotational axis 8 of said massaging body 6.
• said massaging body 6 may still run freely, which is made possible by the fact, that the curved portion 20 of at least that guiding means 7 which is higher up brings said guiding means 7 to run free from said massaging body 6.
• the rotational axis 8 of said massaging body 6 extends more or less vertically, and said massaging body 6 may thus be brought sideward with corresponding movements.
• said guiding means 7 run essentially free during the actual massaging procedure, so that the person' s arms 12 may hang loose.
• the device has an essentially "one-armed" design.
• this may easily be achieved by bringing said guiding means 7 to move through a guiding handle means 22 in accordance with Figs. 6A and 7.
• Said guiding means 7 are then bent towards each other and run suitably through a respective opening or recess 23 in said handle means 22, which in the embodiment disclosed in Fig. 7 preferably comprises a handle 24.
• said curved portions 20 suitably constitute an Y-structure at the upper end of said guiding means 7, see Fig. 6A, said flexible intermediate pieces 17 being attached to the legs of said Y-structure.
• Said recesses 23 in said handle means 22 may preferably be opened and comprise suitably frictional means 25 so that a certain resistance against said gliding arises and said guiding means 7 are kept in position.
• the gliding resistance should suitably be so low, that the frictional forces against said handle 24 do not give any essential tension in the person' s hands 9 if he uses them to keep said handle means 22 and thereby the massage apparatus in a proper position.
• the alternative embodiment according to Fig. 8 indicates one single guiding means 7, which suitably is designed as a somewhat curved rod which freely may run between the fingers in one hand.
• said guiding means 7 further comprise support means 26 arranged behind said massaging body 6 for stationary supporting against any firm structure located behind said means.
• Said support means 26 suitably comprise a frictional back surface 27 which may press against said structure located behind said means, for example said wall 5 disclosed in Fig. 4.
• the advantage with said embodiment is, that the risk for the massaging body to tend to fall down is reduced. Further the risk for making said structure dirty is reduced, and said structure need not comprise more than one relatively stationary point, while the freely moving embodiment needs a certain wall area for a satisfactory function.
• the embodiment mentioned here gives, however, a slightly lower massaging effect, and it is there ⁇ fore appropriate for said support means 26 to be removable, which in Fig 4 is indicated in phantom.
• the lower ends 10 of said guiding means 7 are designed as curving 28 inwards, whereby magnetic means 29 further suitably are located at said ends in order to keep said guiding means 7 together when the apparatus is stored.
• said guiding means 7 are easy to take apart pieces, which facilitates use during trips.

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• Health & Medical Sciences (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)
• Public Health (AREA)
• Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
• Massaging Devices (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=8530011

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (5)

Cited By (4)

Citations (5)

• 1990
  • 1990-03-06 FI FI901130A patent/FI85647C/fi not_active IP Right Cessation
• 1991
  • 1991-03-06 WO PCT/FI1991/000065 patent/WO1991013605A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1991-03-06 CA CA002077640A patent/CA2077640A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1991-03-06 EP EP91905129A patent/EP0518915A1/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 1991-03-06 AU AU74427/91A patent/AU7442791A/en not_active Abandoned

Patent Citations (5)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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