Patent Application
20190070067
Handheld massagers incorporating one or more wheels that one roll over a user's body or the body of another are well known. Typically, they comprise a rigid structure to be gripped in the hand(s) to which the wheels are attached either directly or by way of axles.
Stress balls are also known. Stress balls typically comprise a malleable ball which can be squeezed or manipulated by a hand and fingers ostensibly to relive stress and/or muscle tension. At least two basic types are known: a bean bag type; and an elastomeric type. The bean bag type typically comprises a thin elastomeric cover containing particulate (such as sand, gel or beads). The elastomeric type often comprises a squeezable resilient foam or rubber-like material that rebounds back to its original shape once squeezing has stopped.
Embodiments of the present invention comprise a handheld massage device incorporating a massage wheel that has a resilient and compliant thick exterior skin. The device permits a person holding the massager to alternatingly tighten and loosen his/her grip on the device with the cover resiliently deforming to help the person to relieve stress in a manner substantially similar to that used on a stress ball. The person can also simultaneously or separately roll the wheel over the extremities of him or herself or those of another to provide a massage.
In embodiments, the wheel is made of a harder material than the gel-like skin and can include nubbins or other surface topography to provide the person against whom the wheel is being rolled an enjoyable and/or effective massage. The wheel is typically rotatably received in a rigid body over which the gel-like skin is molded or otherwise attached.
In some embodiments, the device is generally ovoid and sized to fit comfortably within the grip of a hand. Differently sized devices can be provided for people having differently sized hands. Embodiments can also include indentations or divots that may be either generally circular or ovular in which to receive a user's thumb or other finger to assist in gripping the device and to position the hand in the ideal position for one or both of rolling the massager over a body and alternatingly squeezing and relaxing the hand's grip on the device.
The terms and phrases as indicated in quotation marks (“ ”) in this section are intended to have the meaning ascribed to them in this Terminology section applied to them throughout this document, including in the claims, unless clearly indicated otherwise in context. Further, as applicable, the stated definitions are to apply, regardless of the word or phrase's case, to the singular and plural variations of the defined word or phrase.
The term “or” as used in this specification and the appended claims is not meant to be exclusive; rather the term is inclusive, meaning either or both.
References in the specification to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, “another embodiment, “a preferred embodiment”, “an alternative embodiment”, “one variation”, “a variation” and similar phrases mean that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment or variation, is included in at least an embodiment or variation of the invention. The phrase “in one embodiment”, “in one variation” or similar phrases, as used in various places in the specification, are not necessarily meant to refer to the same embodiment or the same variation.
The term “couple” or “coupled” as used in this specification and appended claims refers to an indirect or direct physical connection between the identified elements, components, or objects. Often the manner of the coupling will be related specifically to the manner in which the two coupled elements interact.
The term “directly coupled” or “coupled directly,” as used in this specification and appended claims, refers to a physical connection between identified elements, components, or objects, in which no other element, component, or object resides between those identified as being directly coupled.
The term “approximately,” as used in this specification and appended claims, refers to plus or minus 10% of the value given.
The term “about,” as used in this specification and appended claims, refers to plus or minus 20% of the value given.
The terms “generally” and “substantially,” as used in this specification and appended claims, mean mostly, or for the most part.
Directional and/or relationary terms such as, but not limited to, left, right, nadir, apex, top, bottom, vertical, horizontal, back, front and lateral are relative to each other and are dependent on the specific orientation of a applicable element or article, and are used accordingly to aid in the description of the various embodiments and are not necessarily intended to be construed as limiting.
The massage wheel is best shown in
The circumferential surface of the wheel 20 which comes into intimate contact with the body of a person being massaged may include a surface topography designed and configured to enhance the massage experience. As shown in the illustrated wheel a plurality of protruding nubbins 21 are circumferentially-spaced are provided on the circumferential surface. The type and configurations of the wheel's surface features can vary significantly depending on a particular design and the desired massaging experience.
The rigid body 30 is best shown in
The bottom edge of the body and its cavity include an outwardly-extending circumscribing flange 31 The circumscribing flange includes a plurality of small holes 33 spaced about it and extending through it. Further, outwardly-extending front and rear protrusions 35 are provided on the front and back sides of the body as can best be seen in
The gel-like elastomeric cover 40 is seen by itself in
The exterior surface of the cover is substantially ovoid with an ovular indentations 41 being provided on each of the left and right sides of the cover's exterior proximate the front end thereof. These indentations provide a place for a user to place his/her thumb and another finger to more securely hold the device while performing a massage. The shape, placement and configuration of the indentations can vary in other embodiments.
In one embodiment the cover 40 comprises a solid thermoplastic polyurethane material that is injection molded over the rigid body. Typically, the gel-like material has a Shore A hardness of about 0-10 although the hardness can vary from softer to harder, such as from a Shore 00 value of 40 to a Shore A hardness value of 30. The relative softness and compliance of the cover as well as its thickness permit a holder to squeeze and release the device much in the same manner he/she might when kneading a stress ball. In some instances, a user may knead the device through its cover while simultaneously rolling the massage wheel on his/her skin or the skin of another person. In other instances, the user may knead the device distinctly and apart from performing a massage. The cover can be made of other materials that are also elastomeric and resilient such as, but not limited to, solid thermosetting polyurethane, silicone or latex, as well as open and closed cell foams made of the same or similar materials.
The gel-like soft but resilient consistency of the cover material along with the relative thickness of the cover over the rigid body make it suitable and effective when used as a stress ball replacement. As can be appreciated the thickness of one embodiment of the cover varies from a low of about 9 mm on the front side of the device to a maximum of about 17 mm at the thickest part of the “egg” proximately halfway along its length. Typically, the thickness of the gel cover where typically gripped is about 12 mm or greater.
The illustrated embodiment has three only the described components but variations and other embodiments may comprise additional components or elements. For instance, in one variation a separate axle can be provided. In yet other variations a multi-piece body or wheel can specified. For example, a tread or tire can be provided on the circumferential exterior of the wheel that is made of a compliant material to provide a massage experience that is different from a device utilizing a wholly rigid wheel or wheel assembly. As can be appreciated, however, the three piece device will typically be more cost effective to produce than a device having more pieces.
The egg-shape of the illustrated embodiment is configured to be more comfortably and more securely held in the hand than other shapes, such as a sphere; however, embodiments of other shapes are contemplated, such as a ergonomically-configured cover having indentations for each finger and having an exterior shape substantially similar to the interior shape of a person's hand when griping an object.
Embodiments of the massaging device 10 can be used in a manner similar to many hand held massage devices already on the market, but additionally it can be used to provide the person gripping the device as a means to exercise his/her hand either separately or while performing a massage.
In one use, a person holding the device massages the body of another person. While massaging the other person, the person applies pressure to the device resiliently deforming the cover and then relaxes his/her hand in an alternating fashion.
In another similar use, the person holding the device massages him or herself while kneading the device with the hand holding the device.
In yet another use, the user simply picks up the device and uses the device as a stress ball without performing a massage on him or herself or anyone else.
Other uses as would be obvious to one or ordinary skill in the art to which the invention pertains are also contemplated.
The various embodiments and variations thereof, illustrated in the accompanying Figures and/or described above, are merely exemplary and are not meant to limit the scope of the invention. It is to be appreciated that numerous other variations of the invention have been contemplated, as would be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, given the benefit of this disclosure. All variations of the invention that read upon appended claims are intended and contemplated to be within the scope of the invention. For instance, in one variation, the axle protrusions can be provided on the wheel; whereas, the corresponding holes can be provided in the rigid body.
This application claims priority to and incorporates fully by reference U.S. provisional patent application No. 62/553,283 entitled Combination Wheeled Massager and Stress Relief Device filed on Sep. 1, 2017 and having the same inventor.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62553283 | Sep 2017 | US |
