Mechanical massage device

Abstract

A massage mechanism includes a housing containing substantially uni-directional roller components. The rollers are able to rotate in one direction, but either not easily or not at all in the opposite direction. Each roller of a total of two rollers is able to rotate in a direction that is opposite of the other roller. The effect of the described configuration is that as the roller massage device moves across a skin surface of a patient, a leading edge roller is able to roll, while a trailing edge roller is held stationary, or substantially stationary. The stationary roller on the trailing edge of the roller massage device pushes against the skin, generating a skin fold. The skin fold can be further generated and magnified by the provision of a vacuum pressure within a chamber of the roller massage device, suctioning the skin up into the device, working in conjunction with the rollers. In addition, an electromagnetic force can be applied to the skin fold.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description and accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective cutaway illustration of a roller massage device, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the roller massage device, according to one aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective close-up cutaway view of a ratchet portion of a roller component of the roller massage device, according to one aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 4A is an exploded view of the ratchet mechanism in the roller component of the roller massage device, according to one aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 4B is a perspective view of the ratchet mechanism in the roller component of the roller massage device, according to one aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a side view showing creation of a skin fold by the roller massage device, according to one aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the roller massage device, according to one aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the rollers with a knurled surface, according to one aspect of the present invention; and

FIGS. 8A, 8B, 8C, and 8D are perspective views of the rollers with various insert configurations embedded therein.

Claims

1. A massage device, comprising: a housing having a pair of opposed side walls and top wall forming an open chamber;a first roller rotatably mounted between the pair of opposed side walls and able to rotate about a first axis;a second roller rotatably mounted between the pair of opposed side walls and able to rotate about a second axis;a first rotational control mechanism coupled with the first roller;a second rotational control mechanism coupled with the second roller;wherein the first rotational control mechanism is configured to permit the first roller to rotate in a first rotational direction about the first axis and at least substantially hinders, or prevents, rotation in a second rotational direction about the first axis opposite the first rotational direction; andwherein the second rotational control mechanism is configured to permit the second roller to rotate in the second rotational direction about the second axis and at least substantially hinders, or prevents, rotation in the first rotational direction about the second axis.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the massage device is operable to travel across a surface in a first linear direction and a second linear direction substantially opposite the first linear direction.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the first and second rollers are arranged such that if the massage device travels across the surface in the first linear direction, the first roller rotates in the first rotational direction and the second rotational control mechanism at least substantially hinders rotation of the second roller in the first rotational direction.

4. The device of claim 2, wherein the first and second rollers are arranged such that if the massage device travels across the surface in the second linear direction, the first rotational control mechanism at least substantially hinders rotation of the first roller in the second rotational direction and the second roller rotates in the second rotational direction.

5. The device of claim 1, further comprising at least one pair of slots supporting the first roller, the second roller, or both.

6. The device of claim 5, further comprising at least one spring bias applied to the first roller, the second roller, or both, biasing the roller toward an outer edge of the device away from the other roller.

7. The device of claim 1, further comprising at least one electromagnetic energy emitter providing electromagnetic energy generally within the housing such that the electromagnetic energy can be applied to a skin fold generated by the massage device.

8. The device of claim 1, further comprising the first roller, the second roller, or both, having a knurled surface across at least a portion thereon.

9. The device of claim 1, further comprising the first roller, the second roller, or both, having at least one insert embedded therein.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the at least one insert comprises an insert of different material from that which forms a surface of the first roller, the second roller, or both.

11. The device of claim 9, wherein the at least one insert comprises a metal insert embedded within a substantially non-metal roller surface.

12. The device of claim 9, wherein the at least one insert comprises a plurality of inserts embedded in the first roller, the second roller, or both, such that a surface of the plurality of inserts substantially follows a contour of the surfaces of the first roller, the second roller, or both.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the first rotational control mechanism, the second rotational control mechanism, or both, comprise a ratchet mechanism.

14. The device of claim 1, further comprising a port configured to receive a vacuum pressure source and convey vacuum pressure to the open chamber.

15. A method of making a massage device, comprising: forming a housing having a pair of opposed side walls and top wall forming an open chamber;rotatably mounting a first roller between the pair of opposed side walls that is able to rotate about a first axis;rotatably mounting a second roller between the pair of opposed side walls that is able to rotate about a second axis;providing a first rotational control mechanism coupled with the first roller;providing a second rotational control mechanism coupled with the second roller;wherein the first rotational control mechanism is configured to permit the first roller to rotate in a first rotational direction about the first axis and at least substantially hinders, or prevents, rotation in a second rotational direction about the first axis opposite the first rotational direction; andwherein the second rotational control mechanism is configured to permit the second roller to rotate in the second rotational direction about the second axis and at least substantially hinders, or prevents, rotation in the first rotational direction about the second axis.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the massage device is operable to travel across a surface in a first linear direction and a second linear direction substantially opposite the first linear direction.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the first and second rollers are arranged such that if the massage device travels across the surface in the first linear direction, the first roller rotates in the first rotational direction and the second rotational control mechanism at least substantially hinders rotation of the second roller in the first rotational direction.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the first and second rollers are arranged such that if the massage device travels across the surface in the second linear direction, the first rotational control mechanism at least substantially hinders rotation of the first roller in the second rotational direction and the second roller rotates in the second rotational direction.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising providing at least one pair of slots supporting the first roller, the second roller, or both.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising providing at least one spring bias applied to the first roller, the second roller, or both, biasing the roller toward an outer edge of the device away from the other roller.

21. The method of claim 15, further comprising providing at least one electromagnetic energy emitter providing electromagnetic energy generally within the housing such that the electromagnetic energy can be applied to a skin fold generated by the massage device.

22. The method of claim 15, further comprising providing a port configured to receive a vacuum pressure source and convey vacuum pressure to the open chamber.

23. A method of using a massage mechanism, comprising: obtaining the massage mechanism comprising: a housing having a pair of opposed side walls and top wall forming an open chamber;a first roller rotatably mounted between the pair of opposed side walls and able to rotate about a first axis;a second roller rotatably mounted between the pair of opposed side walls and able to rotate about a second axis;a first rotational control mechanism coupled with the first roller;a second rotational control mechanism coupled with the second roller;wherein the first rotational control mechanism is configured to permit the first roller to rotate in a first rotational direction about the first axis and at least substantially hinders, or prevents, rotation in a second rotational direction about the first axis opposite the first rotational direction; andwherein the second rotational control mechanism is configured to permit the second roller to rotate in the second rotational direction about the second axis and at least substantially hinders, or prevents, rotation in the first rotational direction about the second axis;positioning the first and second rollers of the massage mechanism on a tissue surface to be massaged; andmotivating the massage mechanism in a first direction, causing a skin fold to form ahead of the second roller to massage the tissue.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising motivating the massage mechanism in a second direction opposite the first direction, causing a skin fold to form ahead of the first roller.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising alternating motivation of the massage mechanism between movement in the first direction and movement in the second direction.

26. The method of claim 23, further comprising providing a vacuum source to the massage mechanism that magnifies the skin fold formation.

27. The method of claim 23, further comprising providing an electromagnetic force to the skin fold.