The present invention is directed generally to physical therapeutic equipment, and more specifically, to a heated roller.
Rollers are used in physical therapy and exercise and are sold in a variety of lengths, diameters, densities, and colors. Rollers are used in hospitals, physical therapy clinics, exercise classes, and at home. They are used for exercise, stretching, massage, posture, and balance.
Heat may be used in physical therapy and exercise to confer physiological benefits and increase a user's comfort, such as when using a roller. However, the use of heat may be inefficient, impractical, or may pose a safety risk due to a potential risk of burning the user's skin. Roller users therefore have had difficulty combining the use of a roller with the use of heat.
For example, to combine the physiological benefits and increased comfort from the use of heat with the use of rollers, a user may preheat the targeted area of skin before using the roller. This form of treatment is inefficient because the user's skin may cool before the user finishes using the roller. Alternatively, a user may use the roller in a heated environment, but this form of treatment is impractical because of the difficulty in effectively, safely, and comfortably heating a room to a temperature that will heat the user's skin (e.g., up to 113 degrees F.). The user may also wrap the exterior of the roller with a heating element, but this may be dangerous because of the risk of burning the user's skin due to direct contact with the heating element.
The roller body 110 of the heated roller 100 forms the structure that comes into contact with the user 200. For some uses of the heated roller 100, the user 200 may lie on top of the heated roller 100 and shift his or her weight so that the heated roller 100 rolls under the body of the user 200. The weight of the user 200 compresses the tissues of the user 200 (particularly, the muscles of the user 200) against the roller body 110 of the heated roller 100 and the pressure the roller body 110 exerts on the user 200 results in a tissue massage. If the roller body 110 of the heated roller 100 is too firm, use of the heated roller 100 may be uncomfortable, or potentially even painful. On the other hand, if the roller body 110 of the heated roller 100 is too soft, the heated roller 100 may not provide enough resistance to compress the tissues of the user 200 sufficiently to confer any benefit during use. Thus, the roller body 110 may be formed from any number of materials that are not too hard or too soft.
The roller body 110 of the heated roller 100 may be formed of a material of any number of colors. The color of the material forming the roller body 110 of the heated roller 100 may indicate information about the roller 100. For example, white may indicate a less dense material, black may indicate a more dense material, and red and blue may indicate an intermediate level of material density. Likewise, the color may indicate the intensity of the heat offered or the diameter of the heated roller 100. The exterior surface 111 of the roller body 110 may also be covered with colors or patterns for visual appeal or may include raised bumps or patterns for increased skin stimulation or tissue massage.
The roller body 110 of the heated roller 100 should be formed into a shape that allows the heated roller 100 to roll under the user 200 in a smooth and continuous motion when the user 200 shifts his or her weight over the heated roller 100; e.g. a shape that allows for rolling. Thus, the roller body 110 of the heated roller 100 may be formed in any number of shapes that include a round cross-section. For example,
The roller body 110 of the heated roller 100 may also have a wide variety of lengths and diameters. The roller body 110 should be long enough to be practical for use but short enough to facilitate convenient storage and transportation. For example, if the heated roller 100 is longer than the user 200, it may be difficult to maneuver for use or to transport. Conversely, if the heated roller 100 is too short, it may be difficult to use. In preferred embodiments, the roller body 110 may be between 15 centimeters and 183 centimeters (six inches and six feet) in length.
Likewise, the roller body 110 of the heated roller 100 should be wide enough to be practical for use, yet narrow enough to facilitate safe use. For example, if the diameter of the roller body 110 is too large, the heated roller 100 may not apply targeted pressure on the tissue of a user 200 and the user 200 may have difficulty balancing on the heated roller 100. Similarly, if the diameter of the roller body 110 is too small, it may not have space to house internal components. Thus, in preferred embodiments, the roller body 110 may be between five centimeters and 61 centimeters (two inches and two feet) in diameter.
The roller body 110 of the heated roller 100 may include body attachment elements 114 that enable the roller body 110 to be attached to a removable cap 120. Attaching the cap 120 to the roller body 110 may reduce wasted heat loss from openings 118 in the ends 115 and 117 of the roller body 110, may improve the structural integrity of the heated roller 100 during use, and may reduce the likelihood that internal parts will unintentionally come out. Thus, the body attachment elements 114 may be configured to provide a secure attachment so that the cap 120 does not come off during use, but may also be configured to allow for convenient removal of the cap 120 to facilitate disassembly of the heated roller 100 for reheating the heating element 140 or cleaning, repairing, or replacing the heated roller 100 parts.
The body attachment elements 114 may be configured so as not to (or minimally) interfere with the ability of the heated roller 100 to roll. Likewise, the body attachment elements 114 may be positioned on the internal surfaces of the roller body 110 so as not to cause discomfort to the user 200.
The heating element 140 provides heat that transfers through the structural support 130 and the roller body 110 to reach skin of the user 200. The heating element 140 may provide heat evenly along the length and diameter of the heated roller 100. The heating element 140 may be sized to fit into a hollowed core 134 of the structural support 130 through an opening 136 in the structural support 130. However, if the heating element 140 itself provides structural support, the heating element 140 and the structural support 130 may be formed integrally into the same component and the heating element 140 should fit into a hollowed body core 116 of the roller body 110 through an opening 118 in the roller body 110.
The heating element 140 may be an electric or non-electric heating element. If the heating element 140 is a non-electric heating element, it may be formed from microwaveable heating packs, boiling heating packs, chemical (instant) heating packs, hydrocollator pads, clay packs, hot stones, and ceramic elements.
For physiological benefits, the heated roller 100 may heat the skin of a user 200 to between approximately 104 and 113 degrees F. Skin heating above 113 degrees F. may pose a risk of burns. To heat the skin of a user 200 to this temperature range, the heating element 140 may reach a higher temperature, as some heat may be lost while traveling from the heating element 140 through the structural support 130 and roller body 110 of the heated roller 100 to the skin of the user 200.
The heating element 140 may be removable for reheating, cleaning, repair, or replacement. To increase the ease of removal or re-insertion, the heating element 140 may include a heating element harness 142 or a heating element handle (not shown). The heating element harness 142 may be formed from any number of materials, such as string, rope, or plastic tabs. For example, in
Multiple heating elements 140 may be used to improve heating for a long or wide heated roller 100. For example, for a long heated roller 100, multiple heating elements 140 may be used end-to-end to improve heating over the length of the roller body 110 of the heated roller 100. Likewise, for a wide heated roller 100, multiple heating elements 140 may be used side-to-side to improve heating for the width of the roller body 110 of the heated roller 100.
The roller body 110 of the heated roller 100 may include body perforations 112 that extend between the exterior surface 111 and the interior surface 113 to improve heat transfer from the heating element 140 at the core of the heated roller 100 to the user's 200 skin. Perforations 112 may be particularly beneficial if the roller body 110 is formed from a thermally insulating material, such as foam. In some embodiment, body perforations 112 should not be too large or too numerous that they significantly compromise the structural integrity of the heated roller 100, but should not be too small or too few that heat does not effectively transfer from the heating element 140 at the core of the heated roller 100 to the skin of the user 200. For example, a heated roller 100 may have body perforations 112 with a diameter of one-third centimeter (one-eighth inch), two-third centimeter (one-quarter inch), one and one-quarter centimeters (one-half inch), two centimeters (three-quarter inch), or two and one-half centimeters (one inch) and may have between 20 to 500 body perforations 112.
The number and size of body perforations 112 may depend on a number of factors such as: the dimensions of the roller body 110, including the roller body 110 thickness and diameter, the desired level of skin heating, the amount of heat produced by the heating element 140, the heat conducting properties of the roller body 110, the heat conducting properties of the structural support 130, the weight of the user 200, and the intended type of use. Further, the size of body perforations 112 may be decreased when more are used or increased when less are used. When different roller body 110 materials are used, different arrangements of perforations 112 may be utilized.
In addition to variations in size and number, the body perforations 112 may be formed of any number of shapes. The shape of the body perforations 112 may depend upon the same factors discussed above for the size and number of body perforations 112, or they may be selected for their aesthetic appeal.
Additionally, the body perforations 112 may be formed into any number of patterns. The pattern of body perforations 112 may aim to avoid transferring heat to areas the roller body 110 of the heated roller 100 that do not come into contact with the skin of the user 200, such as the ends 115 and 117 of the roller body 110. The pattern of body perforations 112 may also aim to improve even heat distribution across the skin of the user 200. Thus, a pattern with regularly spaced body perforations 112 that avoids the ends 115 and 117 of the roller body 110 may be used. Alternatively, a pattern may be selected that allows for approximately even heating but offers other aesthetic benefits, such as a spiral pattern.
The roller body 110 of the heated roller 100 may be hollowed to form a hollowed body core 116 that houses the heating element 140. If the heating element 140 does not also provide structural support, the hollowed body core 116 may additionally house a structural support 130. If the heated roller 100 includes caps 120 on both ends 115 and 117 of the roller body 110, the hollowed body core 116 may extend through both ends 115 and 117 of the roller body 110, forming openings 118 at the first end 115 and at the second end 117 of the roller body 110. However, if the heated roller 100 includes a cap 120 on one end 115 of the roller body 110, the hollowed body core 116 may extend through the length of one end 115 of the roller body 110, forming an opening 118 at the first end 115 of the roller body 110.
The hollowed body core 116 may be formed into a shape that allows for easy insertion and removal of the structural support 130 and heating element 140.
The hollowed body core 116 and opening 118 may large enough to allow for easy insertion and removal of the heating element 140 or structural support 130. At the same time, the hollowed body core 116 may small enough so that the roller body 110 includes sufficient material to pad the user 200 against the hardened internal structural support 130. If the heated roller 100 has a cap 120 on one end 115 of the roller body 110, a hollowed body core 116 that is too long, may result in a thin layer of roller body 110 material on the uncapped end 117. During use, pressure on the heated roller 100 from the weight of the body of the user 200 may result in damage to the uncapped end 117 of the roller body 110 and the internal parts may come out. On the other hand, if the hollowed body core 116 is too short, it may be difficult to achieve even heating for the length of the heated roller 100.
Consequently, the dimensions of the hollowed body core 116 may depend on any number of factors, including: the dimensions of the roller body 110 of the heated roller 100, the dimensions of the heating element 140, the dimensions of the structural support 130, the desired level of skin heating, the amount of heat produced by the heating element 140, the heat conducting properties of the roller body 110, the heat conducting properties of the structural support 130, the user's 200 weight, and the intended type of use.
The heated roller 100 may also include a structural support 130. The structural support 130 may be housed in the hollowed body core 116 of the roller body 110 and house the heating element 140. The structural support core 134 may extend through both ends 135 and 137 of the structural support 130, forming openings 136 at the first end 135 and a second end 137 of the structural support 130.
The structural support 130 may improve the integrity of the heated roller 100 to compensate for any loss in structural integrity resulting from the hollowed body core 116 and the body perforations 112. The structural support 130 may also protect the internally housed heating element 140.
The structural support 130 may be formed into the shape of the hollowed body core 116. The thickness of the walls of the structural support 130 may depend on the type of material used to form the structural support 130, the heat conducting properties of the structural support 130, the dimensions of the hollowed body core 116, the dimensions of the heating element 140, and the size and number of structural support perforations 132. The structural support 130 should be formed of a sturdy material that can withstand pressure from use.
Additionally, if the structural support 130 is formed from a thermally insulating material, the structural support 130 may be perforated with structural support perforations 132 that extend between the exterior surface 131 and the interior surface 133 of the structural support 130 to improve heat transfer from the heating element 140 into the roller body 110. Structural support perforations 132 should not be too large or too numerous that they undermine the structural integrity of the structural support 130, but should not be too small or too few that heat does not effectively transfer from the heating element 140 at the core of the heated roller 100 to the skin of the user 200. For example, a heated roller 100 may have structural support perforations 132 with a diameter of one-third centimeter (one-eighth inch), two-third centimeter (one-quarter inch), one and one-quarter centimeter (one-half inch), two centimeters (three-quarter inch), or two and one-half centimeters (one inch) and may have between 20 to 500 structural support perforations 132.
The number and size of structural support perforations 132 may depend on factors such as: the dimensions of the structural support 130, including the structural support 130 thickness, the desired level of skin heating, the amount of heat produced by the heating element 140, the heat conducting properties of the roller body 110, the heat conducting properties of the structural support 130, the user's 200 weight, and the intended type of use. Further, The size of the structural support perforations 132 may be decreased when more are used or increased when less are used.
In addition to variations in size and number, the structural perforations 132 may be formed of any number of shapes. The shape of the structural support perforations 132 may depend upon the same factors discussed above for the size and number of structural support perforations 132.
Additionally, the structural support perforations 132 may be formed into any number of patterns. The pattern of structural support perforations 132 may aim to avoid transferring heat to areas the roller body 110 of the heated roller 100 that do not come into contact with the skin of the user 200, such as the ends 115 and 117 of the roller body 110. The pattern of structural support perforations 132 may also aim to improve even heat distribution across the skin of the user 200. Thus, a pattern with regularly spaced perforations that avoids the ends 135 and 137 of the structural support 130 may be used.
Further, the structural support perforations 132 may be similar to or identical to the body perforations 112 in number, shape, size, and pattern. In an example embodiment, the structural support perforations 132 may also be aligned with body perforations 112. This arrangement may improve heat transfer from the heating element 140 through the structural support 130 and through the roller body 110 to the skin of the user 200.
The heated roller 100 may include a cap 120 located on one or both ends 115 and 117 of the roller body 110. A cap 120 located on both ends 115 and 117 of the roller body 110 of the heated roller 100 may allow for insertion and removal of multiple heating elements 140 into openings 118 in both ends 115 and 117 of a long roller body 110. The cap 120 may reduce heat loss from the ends 115 and 117 of the roller body 110, improve the structural integrity of the roller 100 during use, and reduce the likelihood that internal parts will unintentionally come out.
The cap 120 may be completely or partially removable and thus include cap attachment elements 122. The cap attachment elements 122 provide a secure attachment so that the cap 120 does not unintentionally come off during use, but also allows for convenient removal of the cap 120 to facilitate disassembly of the heated roller 100 for reheating the heating element 140 or cleaning, repairing, or replacing the heated roller 100 parts.
The cap attachment elements 122 may be configured so as not to interfere with the ability of the heated roller 100 to roll without causing discomfort to the user 200.
The heated roller 100 may include accessories, such as a sleeve for covering the heated roller 100 and a device for heating the heating element 140. The sleeve may help keep the heated roller 100 clean, may improve ease of transporting the heated roller 100, and may improve heat retention in the heated roller 100 during breaks in use. Additionally, the sleeve may include a sleeve handle to further improve ease of transporting the heated roller 100.
A device for heating the heating element 140 may be used to heat the heating element 140 before use and for reheating the heating element 140 during breaks in use. For example, a hydrocollator or a stone heater may be used to heat heating elements 140 such as clay packs and hot stones.
There are many types of use for the heated roller 100.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61752807 | Jan 2013 | US |