The present disclosure is directed to a massage device and system designed to facilitate both hands-free and hand-holdable use as an individual device and in combination with other massage tools.
Numerous massage tools are available in the marketplace that address a variety of needs in manipulation of the muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Included among these tools are large foam rollers on which the user rests their body and roll across a supporting surface. These rollers can require a substantial amount of floor space as the user rolls their body along the roller and the roller moves along the floor. Their size also makes it difficult to direct the pressure into hard-to-reach areas.
The present disclosure is directed to a device and system that enables a user to manually control the point of pressure or to use the device and system in a hands-free mode. In addition, the device combines an appealing appearance with the ability to utilize multiple accessories or other massage devices to enhance the massage experience.
In one implementation of the present disclosure a kit is provided that includes a foam roller, a massage device having a body with a first substantially flat surface and a second curved surface that extends upward away from the first surface, and one or more protrusions that extend from the body. The kit includes a removable, stretchable cover that has openings sized and shaped to couple to the protrusions. The roller includes an opening sized and dimensioned to receive the massage device. The body has a firm top portion and a flexible bottom portion, the protrusions extending from the bottom portion, the bottom portion being configured to conform to a curvature of the foam roller. In addition, the body includes a plurality of grooves and a plurality of extensions, the grooves having a widest portion adjacent to the first flat surface and having a tapered end closer to a top point of the massage device.
In another implementation of the present disclosure a massage device is provided that includes a main body having a bottom end portion and a shape comprising a dome, a peripheral ridge extending laterally outward from the bottom end portion of the main body, and a base portion including an outer lip having a vertical portion and a horizontal portion that extends radially inward from the vertical portion, the outer lip of the base portion configured to engage the peripheral ridge of the main body to secure the base portion to the main body.
In some implementations, the main body includes a bottom surface and a recess formed in the bottom surface, and the base portion includes a top surface and a protrusion extending from the top surface. In some implementations, the recess has a cross-sectional shape comprising a rectangle. In some implementations, the protrusion has a cross-sectional shape comprising an elongate strip and three relatively short strips that intersect and are perpendicular to the elongate strip. In some implementations, the protrusion is positioned within the recess and the protrusion is frictionally engaged with outer walls of the recess. In some implementations, when the protrusion is positioned within the recess, the base portion is frictionally secured to the main body. Some implementations further include an adhesive that secures the main body to the base portion. In some implementations, the base portion includes a central opening and an inner lip surrounding the central opening. In some implementations, the inner lip is shorter than the outer lip.
In another implementation of the present disclosure a massage device kit is provided that includes a main body having a bottom end portion and a shape comprising a dome, a peripheral ridge extending laterally outward from the bottom end portion of the main body, a first base portion including a first outer lip and a first bottom surface having a first coefficient of friction, the first outer lip configured to engage the peripheral ridge to secure the first base portion to the main body, and a second base portion including a second outer lip and a second bottom surface having a second coefficient of friction different from the first coefficient of friction, the second outer lip configured to engage the peripheral ridge to secure the second base portion to the main body.
In some implementations, the main body includes a bottom surface and a recess formed in the bottom surface, the first base portion includes a first top surface and a first protrusion extending from the first top surface, and the second base portion includes a second top surface and a second protrusion extending from the second top surface. In some implementations, when the first protrusion is positioned within the recess, the first base portion is frictionally secured to the main body and when the second protrusion is positioned within the recess, the second base portion is frictionally secured to the main body. In some implementations, the first base portion includes a first central opening and a first inner lip surrounding the first central opening, and the second base portion includes a second central opening and a second inner lip surrounding the second central opening.
In another implementation of the present disclosure a method of assembling a massage device is provided that includes inserting a peripheral ridge extending laterally outward from a bottom end portion of a dome-shaped main body of the massage device into an outer lip of a base portion, the outer lip including a vertical portion and a horizontal portion coupled to the vertical portion, setting the main body down on the base portion so that an outer surface of the bottom end portion is bounded by the outer lip of the base portion, and manipulating the outer lip of the base portion so the horizontal portion of the outer lip covers the entirety of the peripheral ridge of the main body.
In some implementations, the method further includes using the massage device to perform a massage. In some implementations, manipulating the outer lip of the base portion so the horizontal portion of the outer lip covers the entirety of the peripheral ridge of the main body secures the base portion to the main body. In some implementations, setting the main body down on the base portion comprises setting the main body down on the base portion so that an inner surface of the bottom end portion is bounded by an inner lip of the base portion. In some implementations, the method further includes selecting the base portion from a first base portion including a first bottom surface having a first coefficient of friction and a second base portion including a second bottom surface having a second coefficient of friction. In some implementations, the selecting is based on a third coefficient of friction of a surface on which the massage device is to be used.
The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present disclosure will be more readily appreciated as the same become better understood from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
In the following description, certain specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of various implementations of the disclosure. However, one skilled in the art will understand that the disclosure can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures associated with manufacturing techniques have not been described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the descriptions of the implementations of the present disclosure.
Unless the context requires otherwise, throughout the specification and claims that follow, the word “comprise” and variations thereof, such as “comprises” and “comprising,” are to be construed in an open, inclusive sense, that is, as “including, but not limited to.”
Reference throughout this specification to “one implementation” or “an implementation” means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the implementation is included in at least one implementation. Thus, the appearances of the phrases “in one implementation” or “in an implementation” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same implementation. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics can be combined in any suitable manner in one or more implementations.
As used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. It should also be noted that the term “or” is generally employed in its sense including “and/or” unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
As used in the specification and appended claims, the use of “correspond,” “corresponds,” and “corresponding” is intended to describe a ratio of or a similarity between referenced objects. The use of “correspond” or one of its forms should not be construed to mean the exact shape or size.
In the drawings, identical reference numbers identify similar elements or acts. The size and relative positions of elements in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale.
The present disclosure is directed in part to a massage device 100 that is configured to be used to massage or otherwise provide user-controlled body weight pressure to the user's muscles, ligaments, and tendons as well as other areas of the body. For example, the user can place the massage device 100 on a floor and then position their muscle, such as their quadriceps, on a curved top 110 of the massage device 100. The user can apply a specific amount of pressure on the curved top 110 in a fixed position or move their muscle across the curved top 110. This massage device 100 is a stationary massager as opposed to known foam rollers that move beneath a user as the user moves. This stationary roller remains stationary on a surface while a user slides or moves along a top surface of the device to massage the user's selected muscle, tendon, or other body part. This allows the user control application of pressure to the selected body part.
With reference to
The sidewall 120 has a substantially flat outer surface 121, as shown in
As shown in
The bottom surface 130 can be a textured surface configured to provide resistance to slipping during use. For example, if the user places this device on the floor to use in a hands-free mode, the bottom surface is configured to temporarily adhere to or grip the floor to prevent the device from moving when the user applies pressure downward or in a side-to-side movement. In particular, if the user is positioned in a push-up position with one of their quadriceps on the device, the user can slide over the top surface 111 towards and away from their hands. As they slide, the device will stay in place to allow controlled user massage.
When using the massage device 100 in a hands-free mode, the user places the massage device 100 on a floor or other horizontal surface, such as a table or desk. The floor or other horizontal surface can have a carpet covering, tile covering, or other types of floor covering. The bottom surface is configured to grip or otherwise prevent slippage of the massage device during use. If the device is placed on a desk, the user can press their forearm onto the massage device 100 to release tension, such as tension caused by carpal tunnel syndrome or other ailments. For example, to massage the forearm muscles the user positions the portion of their arm closest to the elbow on top of the massage device 100 and use their body weight to push the massage device into their forearm muscle.
In some implementations, the user can place the massage device on a wall or other vertical surface. For example, to massage back muscles, a user can hold the massage device 100 against a wall and then lean their back against the massage device 100. The user can use a combination of body weight and strength to push their back muscles against the massage device 100. In some implementations, a user can place and use the massage device 100 on an inclined surface. A horizontal or inclined surface can have a concrete, paint, drywall, workout mat or other surface covering.
As described above, the bottom surface 130 can be placed on surfaces at numerous angles and with a variety of surfaces. Therefore, the bottom surface 130 can have various finishes, textures, or other means for gripping or attaching to surfaces or resisting movement on those surfaces. The bottom surface 130 can include a layer of one or more lower density rubber composites including open cell styrene, butadiene rubber, open cell styrene-butadiene, neoprene, silicon rubber, leather, cork, polyethylene foam, silicone, or other material.
The massage device 100 includes an internal cavity 140 as shown in
The bottom surface 130 has a generally circular shape. In other implementations or configurations, the bottom surface 130 can have other shapes, such as oval, rectangular, star, irregular, or other geometric and non-geometric shapes. In this implementation, the entire massage device is formed from a single material. The massage device can be formed in a single mold. In one implementation, the massage device includes a material that forms a self-hardening shell that creates a smooth resilient surface for interaction with the user. The material may be polyurethane foam or an Ethylene-vinyl acetate. In an alternative implementation, the massage device includes an open-celled internal foam portion and a closed-cell external portion. The massage device is resilient such that it resists permanent deformation.
The surface 150 defines the size and shape of the cavity 140. The surface 150 can include one or more sections. For example, in the implementation shown in
A first diameter 131 of the interior cavity 140 is smaller than a second diameter 133 of an outer edge 135 of the bottom surface 130. In one implementation, the first diameter is 4.5 inches and the second diameter is 6 inches.
In an alternative implementation, the top 110 can be a different material than the sidewall 120. For example, the top 110 can be a material that is configured to grip, hold, and move a user's skin to create friction with the user's muscle, while the sidewall 120 that corresponds to the bottom surface is a stickier material that grips a surface on which the device is used. The stickiness is associated with an ability to adhere or grip without leaving a residue. The grip of the top 110 is textured to create friction with the user's skin or clothing. If it is a smooth surface, it can be more difficult for the user to control movement over the top. The texture can have various dents or divots that are not visible to the naked eye.
In other implementations, the bottom surface can be a porous material that interacts with and grips a surface while the top is smooth or polished to allow for smooth movement across the top.
It is to be understood that the dimensions of the device and its shape can vary in order to provide an appealing appearance. Thus, radiuses of curvature, symmetry, and relationships of various cosmetic features to one another will have an artistic aspect unrelated to the function of the device.
The bottom surface 230 is circular and has an inner diameter of 231. The circular perimeter of an outer edge 235 and the circular perimeter of an inner edge 229 are concentric. In other implementations, one or both of the inner edge 229 and the outer edge 235 can have a different shape, such as an oval, a parallelogram, or other geometric or non-geometric shape. The inner edge 229 and the outer edge 235 can have different shapes with respect to one another.
The inner edge 229 corresponds to an interior cavity 240, which can be seen in dashed lines in
The top 210 also corresponds to a portion of a circle, which has a larger radius R1 than the radius R2. This circular configuration facilitates massaging muscles and other body tissues. The round or curved surface offers a specific, focused surface area for penetrating deep tissue massage. The top 210 has a top surface 211 that has a spherical or dome shape that provides for muscle penetration when a body is pressed against the massage device 200. However, the specific radius of curvature can be varied to provide an aesthetically appealing appearance.
In one implementation, a first radius R1 of the top surface 211 can be small, for example, between one half and 2 inches. A small radius has a smaller skin contact area, facilitates deeper penetration into muscle and other soft tissue and also facilitates more precise massaging and stretching. In other implementations the first radius can be larger, for example, between 2 inches and 4 inches. A larger radius can have a larger skin contact area or surface area. The larger surface area can be suitable for a larger user or provide for a different style massage, such as a shallower massage over a larger area.
The sidewall 220 can have a substantially concave lower surface 221, i.e., the sidewall flares out from the top 210. The sidewall 220 can have a first or upper end that transitions to the top 210 and a second or lower end that transitions to the bottom surface 230.
As with the bottom surface 130 of massage device 100, the bottom surface 230 in this implementation is substantially flat and can act as a base to support the massage device 200. The bottom surface 230 in conjunction with the sidewall 220 support the device when a force of a user is applied from the top down on the massage device 200. In one implementation, the sidewalls are substantially rigid such that they can slightly compress to absorb the weight or pressure of the user while maintaining nearly the original shape of the device. The volume of the interior cavity can be slightly reduced during use, such as a reduction in volume of 10% or less. In other implementations, there is no change to the interior volume.
As shown in
As shown in
In some implementations, the inner surface 250 of the cavity 240 can have other shapes. For example, the inner surface can have a pyramidal shape, a cube shape, or other shape. Likewise, the top 210 can have a shape other than that of a spherical cap or spherical dome. For example, the top 210 can have a pyramidal shape, preferably one with shallow or substantially horizontal faces, can have a flat shape, have multiple tops 210, or other shape that facilitates muscle massaging.
Each attachment structure 370 includes a channel 373 and a protrusion 372. The protrusion 372 is flush with an exterior surface 311 of the device, such that the protrusion 372 does not extend outside of the dome shape of the device. The channel 373 is removed from the bottom surface 330. This can be removed after the device is formed or the device can be formed in a mold that defines the protrusions and other features of the device.
As viewed in
The channel 373 can also define the size and shape of the protrusion 372. For example, in
Although the channel 373 is depicted as being substantially half bean shaped, it can be U-shaped or in other implementations, the channel can have other shapes, for example, the channel can be V-shaped.
In this implementation, the massage device is wider than it is tall. This gives a wide surface area on which a user can apply pressure for massage. The protrusions 372 end or abut a plane that is the same plane in which the bottom surface 330 extends; see
From the bottom surface 330 a semicircular curvature 371 that provides one boundary of the channel 373 is visible. The channel 373 curves further towards a center point 353. A dashed line 357 shows the further interior curvature of the channel 373.
The protrusion 470 includes a head 471 attached to a post 472. The head 471 is wider than a diameter of the post 472. A ratio of a width of the head 471 to a diameter of the post 472 can be greater than 4 to 1. The head 471 and post 472 can be made of one or more of many suitable materials including metal, plastic, other polymers, and wood. The protrusion 470 can be coupled to the massage device 400 after the device is manufactured. For example, in some implementations, the post 472 is punctured or otherwise held by the lower portion 421 of the device.
In an alternative implementation, the massage device 400 can include integrated protrusions 480 formed of the same material as the device; see
The removable cover 500 includes a central portion 520 that can be a single piece of material. The central portion 520 can be made from the elastic or other stretchable materials or fabrics. Stretchable materials allow the cover 500 to have a substantially flat shape when not attached to a massage device 501 and also allow the cover 500 to stretch and conform to the shape of the massage device 501. For example, as shown in
The cover 500 includes openings 511 bounded by curved extensions 510 that extend from the central portion 520 of the cover 500. The central portion 520 and the curved extensions 510 can be made from the same material or different materials. For example, the central portion 520 can be configured to have particular friction properties, which can be based on a selected use. The curved extensions 510 can be configured to have particular strength or elasticity properties, which can be based on how secure or how taut the cover 500 attaches to the massage device 501.
The cover 500 can also include curved sides 505 between the curved extensions 510. The curved sides 505 can reduce the quantity of material used to make the cover 500 as compared to a cover without curved sides. The size and shape of the curved sides 505 can also change to suit the properties of the cover 500 and the curved extensions 510. For example, removing a larger amount of material can provide for narrower arms 513 with greater stretch ability as compared to removing smaller portions, which would create wider arms 513.
The openings 511 can facilitate attaching the cover 500 to the massage device 501. For example, massage device 501 can include protrusions 570 that can be similar to protrusions 470 shown in
In some implementations, the cover 500 can include other means for attaching to the massage device 501. For example, in some implementations, couplers can be added to the cover 500, such as snaps or hook-and-loop fasteners that couple with a corresponding snap or hook-and-loop fastener on the massage device 501.
The cover 600 includes a central portion 620 that has a circular shape. The central portion 620 ideally is constructed of elastic or other stretchable materials or fabrics that can stretch in length and width to conform to the size and shape of the massage device. Stretchable materials allow the cover 600 to have a substantially flat shape when not attached to a massage device 601 and also allow the cover 600 to stretch and conform to the shape of the massage device 601. For example, as shown in
While in some implementations, the cover 600 can have a flat shape when in a relaxed position, as shown in
The cover 600 can include attachment loops 615 that extend from the central portion 620 of the cover 600. Each loop 615 forms an aperture 616 in combination with the central portion 620 of the cover 600. As shown in
The attachment loops 615 have a first end 617 and a second end 618 attached to the central portion 620 of the cover 600 to form the loop 615. The attachment loops 615 can be made from one or more of a number of materials. For example, the loops can be made from elastic or stretchable material, such as rubber, or from stiffer material, such as nylon.
Although
In some implementations, the loop 615 is continuous or otherwise does not have ends 617, 618. In such implementations, a portion of the loop 615 is attached to the central portion 620.
The removable covers can have a variety of textures that range from a smooth spandex type material to a textured material that has significant high and low points. The textured material can utilize a plurality of resilient dots that are affixed to or formed as part of the central region. Preferably, the resilient dots are sized and shaped to be touching adjacent resilient dots. The dots can have varying diameters as a base and varying heights to provide differing massage surfaces when applied to the massage device. The massage device can be packaged together with a plurality of removable covers that offer a variety of textures that can be rotated as selected by the user.
The grooves 795 include an interior surface 791 that in one implementation can have an arc shape as viewed from the top or bottom, for example, as shown in
As discussed above, various features of the bottom 730 of the massage device 700 can provide additional self-gripping structures that can resist lateral movement of the massage device 700 when it is placed on a supporting surface. For example, when placing the massage device 100 on carpet, the bottom surface 730 will push down into the carpet. When pushed down into carpet, the carpet material immediately below the bottom surface 730 is crushed or deformed while the carpet material adjacent to the bottom surface 731 is not crushed or deformed, or it can be crushed or deformed to a lesser extent than the carpet near the bottom surface 731.
The curved sides of the extensions 792 of the massage device 700 provide additional resistance to lateral movement. For example, on carpet the lower edge 793 of each curved side 790 can partially encircle or partially enclose a portion of carpet; thus, in order to move the device laterally, additional carpet within each of the curved sides 790 can be crushed or deformed.
The massage device 700 includes one or more extensions 792 that protrude out from the sides of the massage device 700 to provide a wider base or bottom surface 730 and can provide additional support to resist tipping of the massage device 700. Although shown in
The massage device 802 includes a top 810 having a top surface 811 and a sidewall 820 having an outer surface 821. The top 810 and sidewall 820 are ideally made from materials with differing properties. For example the top 810 can be made from a stiff material such as polyethylene foam, while the sidewalls 820 can be made from a more malleable material such as silicone. Using a stiff material for the top 810 provides a user with a stiff surface to use in massaging their muscles and other soft tissue while the more malleable material, such as silicone, allows the bottom 830 of the massage device 800 to more easily conform to the shape of the surface 805 of the roller 801. In such an implementation, the massage device 802 forms a dome shape when at rest and at least partially deforms, as shown in
In some implementations, other structures or means are used to couple the massage device 902 to the roller 901. For example, hook-and-loop fasteners, glue, epoxy, or other coupling devices can be used to couple the massage device 902 to the roller 901. In some implementations, a strap is orientated longitudinally and engages at the ends of the roller 901 instead of around the sides as shown in
In some implementations, the massage device 1002 couples or attaches to the roller 1001 through other or additional means. For example, in some implementations, the lower surface 1052 of the opening 1050 and the base 1030 of the massage device 1002 include couplers, such as hook-and-loop fasteners.
The main body 1206 has a surface roughness that allows a user to slide their body smoothly across the main body 1206 in a controlled manner. In some implementations, a surface of a metallic mold used to form the main body 1206 is texturized to provide the main body 1206 with the surface roughness. In some implementations, the surface of the mold is texturized to have a surface roughness corresponding to sandpaper having a CAMI grit designation of 24, 30, 36, 40, 50, 60, 80, 100, 120, 150, 180, 220, 240, 320, 360, 400, 500, 600, 800, or 1000, such that the molded main body 1206 has a surface roughness corresponding to the negative of such a surface. In other implementations, the main body 1206 has a surface roughness corresponding to sandpaper having one of the CAMI grit designations listed above, or corresponding to the negative or a melamine foam, or corresponding to the roughness or height of human fingerprints.
In another implementation, the massage device 1200 includes ridges that have a height of 1 millimeter to 1 centimeter. The ridges may have curved, smooth edges.
The massage device 1200 also includes a base portion or shoe 1208 positioned on a bottom end portion of the main body 1206. The shoe 1208 is either removable from the main body 1206 or is formed integrally with the main body 1206. The shoe 1208 provides a bottom surface 1202 of the massage device 1200 and includes an outer lip or edge 1210 that extends up a small portion of the sides of the main body 1206 to secure the shoe 1208 to the main body 1206. The shoe 1208 includes an inner lip 1212 along an interior of the shoe 1208 surrounding a central opening formed in the shoe 1208 that is sized and shaped to more securely hold the main body 1206 to the shoe 1208. The bottom surface 1202 has a shape comprising a square having rounded corners 1204 and an opening formed at a center thereof, the opening having a shape comprising a square having rounded corners. The shoe preferably is formed of a material (e.g., a thermal plastic elastomer (TPE), a rubber, a silicone, etc.), such as at the bottom surface 1202, configured to grip and hold the massage device 1200 in place on the surface during use.
The shoe or base is optional. The device 1200 can be used on a floor or wall without the shoe or base. In some implementations, the devices described herein are configured to grip the floor or wall when pressure is applied to maintain the device in place as the user moves along the device. For example, if used on carpet, the carpet threads are compressed under the bottom surface of the device and interact with the edges adjacent to the bottom surface both on the exterior and interior portions of the device. The bottom surface may be textured to grip the surface on which it is placed.
For example, if the surface is a wood floor that has a relatively low coefficient of friction (e.g., a static or a dynamic coefficient of friction) and is relatively smooth or slick, the shoe can comprise a suitably (e.g., highly) adhesive, gripping, or otherwise textured bottom surface 1202 that can better grip the slick surface. If the surface is a rough concrete floor that has a relatively high coefficient of friction and is relatively rough, the shoe 1208 can comprise a less adhesive bottom surface 1202, which can be formed of a different plastic than the main body 1206.
In some implementations, a massage device kit includes a plurality of main bodies 1206 and a plurality of shoes 1208, where each of the main bodies 1206 have a different surface roughness with respect to each other, and where each of the plurality of shoes 1208 comprise a bottom surface formed from a different material and having a different coefficient of friction. A user can then select a main body 1206 based on a desired surface roughness and a shoe 1208 based on the coefficient of friction of the surface that the massage device 1200 is to be used on, and install the selected shoe 1208 on the selected main body 1206 prior to using the massage device 1200.
The massage device 1200 has a shape in plan view that comprises a square with rounded corners. In alternative implementations, such as that shown in
The recesses 1222 have an overall shape that is slightly smaller than the overall shape of the protrusions 1224, such that the protrusions 1224 frictionally engage with the outer walls of the recesses 1222 when positioned therein. The recesses 1222 and the protrusions 1224 help to hold the shoe 1208 on the main body 1206 when the massage device 1200 is assembled. In some cases, the main body 1206 and the shoe 1208 are formed without the recesses 1222 and the protrusions 1224, respectively, and an adhesive such as glue or an epoxy can be used to hold the massage device 1200 together once assembled. In some cases, the recesses 1222 and the protrusions 1224 can be used in combination with such an adhesive.
To assemble the massage device 1200, a user first selects a shoe 1208 having a bottom surface with a desired coefficient of friction. If desired, the user can then apply an adhesive, glue, or the constituent parts of an epoxy to the main body 1206 or the shoe 1208. The user then inserts the lip 1216 of the main body 1206 into the outer lip 1210 of the shoe 1208, and in particular under the horizontal portion 1220 of the outer lip 1210 of the shoe 1208. The user can then set the main body 1206 down on the shoe 1208 such that a bottom surface of the main body is bounded on the inside by the inner lip 1212 of the shoe 1208 and on the outside by the outer lip 1210 of the shoe 1208. The user can then manipulate the shoe 1208, which can be formed from a pliable material, to ensure that the horizontal portion 1220 of the outer lip 1210 covers the entirety of the lip 1216. The user can also then position the bottom surface 1202 of the massage device 1200 on a surface such as a wall, a tabletop, or a floor, and use the massage device 1200 to perform a massage.
In an alternative implementation, the device 1200 includes steep sidewalls 1205 that transition from a bottom surface 1203 to a top 1201 of the dome. The sidewalls 1205 may be come nearly vertical, such as at a 75-85 degree angle with respect to the bottom surface. The sidewalls smoothly transition into the curved top surface.
Each of the massage devices 1302, 1303, 1304 have a generally square shape associated with a bottom surface. The bottom surfaces are the surfaces that face and contact the roller. The bottom surfaces are either curved to match a curvature of the roller or bendable to adjust to the curvature of the roller. A top surface of each of the massage devices is curved or otherwise rounded, such that each massage device adds a different curvature and thus a different type of massage to the roller.
Each massage device includes a band 1314, 1316, 1318 that fits around and holds the massage device on the roller. The bands can be elastic to snuggly attach the massage device to the roller. Alternatively, the bands can be nylon or other fabric that is sized and dimensioned to hold the massage device in place on the roller. In one implementation, the band is sewn on to the bottom surface of the massage device such that the band cannot be opened and is a single loop. In other implementations, which are described in more detail below, the band has two parts that are coupled together, such as with hook-and-loop fastener material or with a strap.
The band 1402 can be sewn onto opposite ends of the dome 1406. Alternatively, the band can be a single piece that is attached with hook-and-loop fastener material to the bottom surface of the dome.
Each of the massage devices described above can be high density plastic with little give to provide a strong, sharp, pressure point massage. Alternatively, the massage devices, for example the massage domes and massage portions, can be firm to slightly soft, such as a resilient rubber that has a slight give but is otherwise rigid.
An outer surface 2308 of the massage device 2300 includes at least one, and in some implementations, a plurality of bumps 2306 instead of being a smooth surface as shown in prior implementations. The bumps 2306 can all be the same size and shape or can be an irregular size and shape. The massage device can be made of a firm, but resilient material such that when a user presses their muscle into the massage device, the bumps 2306 give some, while maintaining their shape. The bumps have rounded external surfaces 2310. In other implementations, these surfaces can be truncated to have a flat external surface. In one implementation, the bumps are evenly spaced hemispheres with each having a size corresponding to that of a golf ball or a tennis ball, or having a diameter in the range of 0.5-2.0 centimeters, or having a diameter in the range of 2.5 to 3.0 inches. The entire outer surface 2308 can be covered in the evenly spaced hemispheres. In alternative implementations, the other massage devices described herein include at least one of, or a plurality of, such bumps.
The protrusions 2506 can be a plurality of evenly spaced protrusions 2506 around the entire device 2500 or can be ridges that encircle the entire device 2500. For example, the top surface of each protrusion 2506 can have a length that is in the range of 1.0-3.0 centimeters and a width in the range of 0.5-1.0 centimeters. If the ridges are formed, each ridge will have a single top surface that forms a ring around the device 2500.
The plurality of protrusions 2604 are illustrated as having curved sidewalls 2610 that couple to a rectangular top surface 2608. The top surface 2608 can be square or can be curved. In addition, the sidewalls 2610 can be perpendicular to the surface 2602 instead of being curved. The protrusions 2604 are preferably evenly spaced in rows and columns.
In one implementation, the bottom surface 2802 is flexible such that it can curve around a foam roller. In another implementation, the bottom surface 2802 is configured to grip a wall or floor to hold the device in place as the user applies pressure with their body. Instead of three large curved protrusions, there may be two protrusions side by side. For example, the dimensions may correspond to two tennis balls. The arrangement of large protrusions may be incorporated in the devices described above, which may include the hollow central portions and an optional base.
Different patterns and shapes of protrusions can be added to any of the implementations described herein. For example, the exterior surface that interacts with the user may have a plurality of triangularly or pyramid shaped protrusions that are small in comparison to a height of the device. A ratio of the height of the device to a height of each protrusion from the exterior surface may be in the range of 10:1 to 20:1. The protrusions may each be rounded. The protrusions may be spaced from each other on the exterior surface or there may be formed to overlap each other. The protrusions may also be flexible, while remaining resilient, where they return to their original shape when pressure is removed. Various attachments, straps, or bands can be coupled to these different devices to couple them to foam rollers. Alternatively, these devices can be used on a flat surface without attachment to other devices.
The materials used to form these devices grip a user's skin, muscles, and fascia and create friction to massage the user. The grip and friction relieve tension, create more blood flow, and aid the user in massaging their own muscles and fascia. These materials are configured to temporarily deform in response to pressure, however, the deformation is slight to continue to support the user and apply sufficient pressure to provide massage.
The devices described herein may include a hollow interior to reduce cost and weight of the device. The hollow interior can also provide for more flexibility of the bottom surface to conform to the surface on which it is placed.
In some implementations, these devices can be formed from a material that is textured such that the protrusions are a first large format change in dimension and the texture of the material is a small format change in material.
The various implementations described above can be combined to provide further implementations. These and other changes can be made to the implementations in light of the above-detailed description. In general, in the following claims, the terms used should not be construed to limit the claims to the specific implementations disclosed in the specification and the claims, but should be construed to include all possible implementations along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. Accordingly, the claims are not limited by the disclosure.
This application is a continuation application of U.S. non-provisional application Ser. No. 15/501,429 filed Feb. 2, 2017, which is a non-provisional application of U.S. provisional application No. 62/033,776, filed Aug. 6, 2014, U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 62/057,993, filed Sep. 30, 2014, and U.S. provisional application No. 62/076,031, filed Nov. 6, 2014, each of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
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