Patent Application
20080161736
1. Field of Technology
The present invention relates to massage devices, and more particularly, it relates to a massage device incorporated in a barber or beautician's chair to support and provide non-obtrusive therapeutic massage of the neck, back and seat areas.
2. Description of Related Art
Many people utilize the services of barbers and beauticians for hair styling, curling, cutting, shampooing, etc. During such procedures, an important consideration is proper positioning of the client to allow the hairstylist to perform the tasks effectively. Indeed, the use of chairs adapted for barber or beautician use is very widespread throughout the hair salon industry. Such chairs are typically vertically adjustable in their distance from the ground and facilitate the work of the hair stylist/hairdresser by positioning the occupant at the desired height during haircutting and styling. Other chairs are adapted for positioning the occupant for shampooing, e.g., by reclining the occupant so that the head is positioned over a sink, or for positioning the client under a hair dryer or hot lamp device.
Many of the procedures (permanent waves, hair coloring) take significant amounts of time to perform, and often entail a client sitting in a chair for hours awaiting completion of the process. During this entire time, the head often must be held erect. Clients are given magazines and other reading material, which are often uncomfortable to read for people with back and neck problems, as the neck must be bent and held at an angle during reading. This is fatiguing and compromises the proper positioning of the spine, which ideally should be straight when sitting.
Accordingly, improving the comfort and ergonomics of a chair user, especially one who is required to sit for long or extended periods of time, would be highly desirable.
It is an aspect of the invention to provide a massage device incorporated, e.g., in a barber chair that flexibly provides massage capabilities to not only the seat and back areas, but to a neck area of a seated user in an unobtrusive way which does not interfere with a barber performing hair styling procedures.
It is another aspect of the invention to provide a massage device which may be incorporated into existing structures for providing hands-free therapeutic neck massages of a user.
According to an aspect of the invention a massage device is provided comprising a chair including a seat, a back rest and a base. A neck support is movably attached to the back rest and at least one massage unit disposed in at least one of the seat, back rest and neck support. The neck support is configured to be moved between an in-use position and a not-in-use position.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a massage device is provided comprising a neck support having at least one massage unit disposed therein and a movable arm configured to be attached to the neck support at a first end for enabling movement of the neck support to a desired position.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a massage device is provided comprising a chair including a seat, a back rest, a base and a foot rest. A neck support is provided movably attached to the back rest via an arm and at least one massage unit is disposed in each of the seat, back rest and neck support. The neck support is configured to be moved between an in-use position and a not-in-use position.
Other aspects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed solely for purposes of illustration and not as a definition of the limits of the invention, for which reference should be made to the appended claims. It should be further understood that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale and that, unless otherwise indicated, they are merely intended to conceptually illustrate the structures and procedures described herein.
In the drawings wherein like reference numerals denote similar components throughout the views:
The chair includes a back rest 105, a pair of arm rests 115 and a foot rest 113. A rod 107 connects the back rest 105 to the seat 103, and may be adapted to attach the back rest 105 to the seat 103 at a fixed angle and/or be configured to enable tilting/reclining of the back rest 105. For example, rod 107 may include springs, flex rods and/or be comprised of resilient material adapted to give to pressure but spring back into its original position upon release of such pressure. The back rest 105 is preferably ergonomically configured, including at least a lumbar support, and is shaped to support the spine of a seated occupant in an ergonomically correct position. The seat 103 may also be ergonomically designed. The foot rest 113 is preferably configured to be adjustable in a vertical and/or horizontal direction for the comfort of the client. The foot rest 113 may be connected to, e.g., the bottom of seat 103, as shown in
A neck massager support 109 is provided movably attached via a rear arm 111 to a rear side of the back rest 105. The rear arm 111 may include pivotable and/or rotatable joints 110 for permitting the neck support 109 to be moved from an in-use position (e.g., located above a top side of the back rest 105 and adjacent to, in contact with or near a seated client's neck) for providing support and/or massage, to a ‘removed’ or not-in-use position (e.g., away from the top side of the back rest/away from the client's neck) when the neck support is not in use for support or massage. For example,
In another embodiment, a neck support 301 may be provided movably attached to either a left or right side portion of the back rest 105, as shown in
Each arm 111, 303 may include at least two pivotable/rotatable joints 110, 305 to facilitate a full range of motion, e.g., at predetermined increments or to an infinite number of positions. Once a desired position is achieved, such attained position may be locked into place. Alternatively, arms 111, 303 and/or 605 may be comprised of a unitary flexible, formable material that may be shaped/bent in any desired direction to facilitate placement of the neck support in various positions.
According to an aspect of the present invention, the neck supports 109, 301 may be moved to a multitude or infinite number of positions between an in-use position (e.g., as shown in
The neck supports 109, 301 may be comprised of a cushioning material that is preferably comfortable, supportive and conforming to the neck and head area (e.g., orthopedic foam, memory foam material) and is, in part preferably shaped to fit at least into the recess of a person's neck for providing maximum contact and support in that area. Alternate shapes may be contemplated, e.g., the neck support may be configured to wrap around a wider area of the user's neck and/or head for a wider area of support and massage.
Advantageously, the mobility of a neck support according to the present invention enables the barber to remove the neck support from the neck area of the chair occupant to have unimpeded access to the rear of the client's head during, e.g., hair styling procedures. Alternatively, if a client must wait for a period of time unattended (e.g., during a hair coloring procedure, before the stylist can attend to the client, or when a particular a hair styling procedure is completed) the neck massager/support 109, 301 may be moved back into position behind the client's neck so that the client may enjoy the benefits of cervical neck support and therapeutic massage during waiting, as explained further below.
According to an aspect of the present invention, any or all of the seat 103, back rest 105 and neck support 109 are configured to provide therapeutic massage capability. For example, as shown in
The chair of
The ergonomic shape of the neck supports 109, 301 and their adjustability provide customized massage for the user. For example, a neck support according to the present invention may be pushed firmly up against the back of the neck for maximum contact and a more forceful massage. The height of the neck support may be adjusted via the arms 111, 303 to fit the user's dimensions.
In another embodiment, a neck support including a massaging unit according to the present invention may be retrofit to existing chairs, sofas or other structures via, e.g., an attachment kit, to provide removable neck support/massage capabilities at any chair or location. Such attachment kit may include, e.g., a movable arm configured to be attached at a first end to the neck support and at a second end to, e.g., a chair. Attachment means may comprise, e.g., clamps, clips, bolts, etc.
While there have been shown, described and pointed out fundamental novel features of the present principles as applied to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form and details of the methods described and devices illustrated, and in their operation, may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the present principles. For example, it is expressly intended that all combinations of those elements and/or method steps which perform substantially the same function in substantially the same way to achieve the same results are within the scope of the present principles. Moreover, it should be recognized that structures and/or elements and/or method steps shown and/or described in connection with any disclosed form or embodiment of the present principles may be incorporated in any other disclosed, described or suggested form or embodiment as a general matter of design choice. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto.
