Patent Application
20060142675
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an apparatus for applying pressure to a head of a user, more particularly to an apparatus that is secured to the user for applying pressure to the user.
2. Background Art
It is common for people to experience migraine or tension headaches, which are associated with the head and/or neck of the user. These ailments may be relieved upon an application of pressure or massage to particular pressure points on the head or the neck of the user.
Accordingly, the prior art has provided a plurality of headbands for applying pressure or other effects to the head of the user. Such headbands however apply unnecessary pressure to non-target areas of the head. Additionally, many prior art headbands are limited to use with the head of the user only.
Prior art headbands generally engage the user's head about the perimeter. Thus, if a predetermined pressure is desired at focal points, a pressure is applied on one side of the user's head, including focalized pressures and general contact pressures, in combination with a resultant pressure applied on the other side of the user's head.
It is a goal of the present invention to provide an apparatus for applying pressure to the head and/or neck of the user that targets the pressure points of the user and is not limited in the manners of prior art apparatuses.
An aspect of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for applying pressure to a head and/or neck of a user. The apparatus comprises a first member sized to receive a portion of the head or the neck for imparting a focalized pressure thereupon. A second member is operably connected to the first member for securing the apparatus to the user.
Another aspect of the present invention is to provide an apparatus having a semi-rigid arcuate substrate for receiving a portion of the head or the neck of the user therein. At least one node is affixed to the substrate for applying a focalized pressure to the user. A flexible member is attached to the substrate for securing the apparatus to the user and for applying tension to the substrate, thus applying the focalized pressure to the at least one node.
A further aspect of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for applying pressure to a suboccipital area of the user.
Yet another aspect of the present invention is a method for relief by applying pressure to the suboccipital area of the user by a pair of nodes that are urged by a flexible member in tension.
The above aspects and other aspects, objects, features, and advantages of the present invention are readily apparent from the following detailed description of the embodiments of the present invention when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.
With reference to
Referring to
The apparatus 10 includes, for example, an adjustable fabric strap 30 connected to the substrate first end 22 and the substrate second end 24 for securing the apparatus 10 to the user 14. The strap 30 may be secured about a forehead 32, for example, of the user 14 for securing the pressure-applying apparatus 10 to the user 14 and for applying pressure to the suboccipital area 12. The strap 30 may include buckle 34 for permitting lengthwise adjustment of the strap 30. The adjustability of the strap 30 permits the user 14 to apply tension to the strap 30 and consequently upon the substrate 20 for providing the resultant focalized pressures upon the nodes 28, 28′. The strap 30 may be connected to the substrate first end 22 and second end 24 via pivotal connections for enhancing the flexibility of the strap 30 relative to the substrate 20. The pivotal connections may be a conventional snap.
The substrate 20 may be molded from a semi-rigid polymeric material, such as injection-molded polyethylene. Due to the profile of the substrate 20, and the material utilized, the user is contacted by the nodes 28, 28′ at the target area and the strap 30 at the forehead 32. The substrate 20 avoids direct contact upon the user at the suboccipital area 12 such that the focalized pressures are the only pressures applied in this region.
Unlike the prior art, the pressure applied to the target area is substantially limited to focalized pressures. Therefore, the pressure applied at the forehead 32 is substantially a result of the focalized pressures only. In comparison with the prior art, the apparatus 10 of the present invention applies less pressure overall about the perimeter of the head 16 and the neck 18 of the user 14 by minimizing pressures to non-target areas adjacent to the target areas.
A pressure distribution is illustrated in
Prior art headbands commonly apply a partial hoop stress adjacent to the focalized pressures 36, 36′ as well. With utilization of a prior art headband, a greater partial hoop stress 38 is required to counteract the focalized pressures 36, 36′ and extraneous partial hoop stresses. Therefore, by providing the pressure-applying apparatus 10 of the present invention, which, for example, utilizes the substrate 20 that avoids direct contact with the user at the target area, less overall pressure is applied to the user's head 14 than that which is required in prior art apparatuses. Due to the rigidity of the substrate 20, the user may be received at least partially within the substrate 20 without substantially engaging the substrate 20. This relationship is illustrate in
Referring again to
The present invention contemplates that various substrates 20 may be provided for cooperation with necks of varying size. Additionally, the substrate 20 may be fabricated to predetermined dimensions corresponding to a particular user. For example, a mold may be generated from the user's neck. Then, the substrate may be heated to a temperature that renders the material pliable, (such as three hundred degrees Fahrenheit for a substrate formed from a polyethylene sheet). Subsequently, the substrate can be molded upon the replica of the user's neck to result in a customized pressure-applying apparatus 10 for the particular user.
With reference now to
The prior art apparatuses are provided with fixed nodes, thus limiting the applicability of a common design to adequately apply pressure to various users. The adjustability of the pressure-applying apparatus 10 permits the user 14 to adjust the positioning of the nodes 28, 28′ to engage desired pressure points upon the head 16 or the neck 18 of the user 14. Thus, various users may receive adequate pressure from a common apparatus that incorporates adjustability.
The adjustability of the nodes 28, 28′ permits interchangeability of the nodes 28, 28′ with other nodes varying in shape or durometer. For example, frusto-conical nodes 28, 28′ are illustrated, however various node shapes are contemplated, such as hemispherical nodes, or the like. Additionally, nodes molded of various durometers permit the user to select the relative rigidity or flexibility of the nodes 28, 28′ applied upon the focalized pressure points.
Referring again to
With reference now to
In the alternative, the node 46 may include a cavity 56 formed therein, which is illustrated in phantom in
Alternatively, or in addition to the cooling system depicted in
While embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it is not intended that these embodiments illustrate and describe all possible forms of the invention. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
