Patent Application
20100187213
The present invention relates to a therapeutic mat. The mat or pad may be in various forms such as a floor mat, a seat bottom, and a seat back. The mat or pad provides therapeutic relief in the form of vibratory motion and/or heat.
A wide variety of mats are known in the art. Many mats include vibrating elements for massaging and/or heating elements. Although such mats may be useful, problems arise if the mat requires cleaning or is otherwise immersed in liquid. Prolonged exposure to liquids such as cleaning water can damage electronic components and particularly, sensitive circuitry and vibrating components incorporated in the mat.
Massaging mats are typically provided with a large number of outwardly extending projections or “fingers”. When a user presses against such mats, the “fingers” provide increased pressure at their points of contact with the user, thereby providing a pleasant feeling to the user. Although satisfactory in many regards, these mats typically have limited application since the projections are unable to reach certain regions of a user such as arches along the underside of a user's feet.
In view of the foregoing, a need exists for a therapeutic mat which can be easily cleaned and/or immersed in a cleaning liquid without the potential for damage. In addition, a need exists for an improved therapeutic mat which provides increased therapeutic benefits.
The difficulties and drawbacks associated with previously known mats are overcome in the present apparatus for a therapeutic mat having a massager module that can be selectively removed from the mat. The mat also includes one or more outwardly projecting members that transmit vibratory motion to the user.
In one aspect, the present invention provides a vehicle floor mat comprising a thin, planar, flexible member defining an upwardly directed first face, an oppositely directed second face, and an interior hollow region between at least a portion of the first face and the second face. The first face defines at least one raised region. The flexible member is sized and shaped to reside along the floor of a vehicle cabin. The mat also comprises a massager module disposed in the interior hollow region of the flexible member. The module emits vibratory motion upon application of electrical power to the module. The mat further comprises a control unit for controlling the operation of the massager module. And, the mat additionally comprises an electrically conductive cord extending between the massager module and the control unit. The massager module includes at least one outwardly extending member that directs vibratory motion to the at least one raised region of the first face of the flexible member.
In another aspect, the invention provides an electrically powered therapeutic mat comprising a thin, planar, flexible member defining a first upwardly directed face and a second oppositely directed face. The flexible member further defines a hollow interior region between at least a portion of the first face and at least a portion of the second face. The flexible member includes an assembly providing selective access to the interior region from one or both of the faces. The flexible member further includes at least one upwardly extending projection along the first face of the flexible member. The mat also comprises a massager module disposed in the interior region defined in the flexible member. The mat additionally comprises a heating element disposed in at least a portion of the flexible member. And, the mat comprises a control unit in communication with both the massager module and the heating element and configured for controlling the operation of each of the massager module and the heating element.
In yet another aspect, the invention provides a mat adapted for placement on a vehicle seat. The mat comprises a thin, planar, flexible member sized and shaped to conform and be positioned on a vehicle seat. The flexible member defines a seat portion for placement on a seat cushion of the vehicle seat and a back portion for placement on a back cushion of the vehicle seat. The member defines a selectively accessible interior hollow region in at least one of the seat portion and the back portion of the flexible member. The mat further comprises at least one massager module disposed in the at least one interior hollow region defined in the flexible member. The module emits vibratory motion upon application of electrical power to the module. The mat also comprises a control unit for controlling the operation of the at least one massager module. And, the mat further comprises an electrically conductive cord extending between the control unit and the at least one massager module.
As will be realized, the invention is capable of other and different embodiments and its several details are capable of modifications in various respects, all without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and description are to be regarded as illustrative and not restrictive.
The present invention relates to a therapeutic mat or pad which provides therapeutic relief in the form of vibratory massage and optionally, in combination with the emission of heat. The therapeutic mat or pad can be provided in several different forms, for example as a mat adapted for placement of a user's foot or feet thereon, or as a component of a seating unit, such as for example as a seat bottom or seat back. Preferably, the therapeutic mat or pad is adapted for use in a vehicle cabin, such as within the interior of an automobile or like vehicle, and so includes provisions for powering the therapeutic mat from the power system of the vehicle. These aspects and others are detailed herein.
The massage system 10 also includes a massager module 90 which may be in a variety of different forms, shapes, and configurations. A preferred form for the massager module 90 used in the system 10 is a relatively flat, planar, flexible member. The module 90 may also be in a variety of different shapes such as circular, oval, square, rectangular, polygonal, . . . etc. The module 90 is depicted in a circular shape in the accompanying figures. The module 90 defines a first face 92, an oppositely directed second face 94, and an edge 96 extending between the faces 92 and 94 and generally defining the outer perimeter of the module 90.
The massage system 10 further includes a power and/or communication cord 80 extending between the control/power unit 50 and the massager module 90. The cord 80 preferably is a multi-conductor cord and is adapted to provide electrical power to one or more powered devices utilized in the therapeutic mat or pad, such as the massager module 90, and/or one or more electrical heating elements. The cord 80 may also include one or more electrical conductors for providing or receiving electrical control signals used in the operation of the massager module 90 and/or heating elements. For example, temperature sensors may be provided in the mat which can provide electrical signals to the control unit 70 for governing the operation of the mat. It is also preferred that the power cord include appropriate insulation and in certain applications, a protective sheathing along its length.
It is also contemplated that one or more connectors can be provided in conjunction with the cord 80 to provide selectable connection and removal of either or both of the control/power unit 50 and the massager module 90 from the cord 80.
The massage system 110 includes a control/power unit 150 which preferably comprises a 12 VDC plug/adapter 160, and a control unit 170. The adapter or plug is preferably a male plug adapted to be inserted within and engage a female connector such as a vehicle cigarette lighter receptacle. The control unit may include one or more control elements 174, one or more on/off elements 176, and a housing 178. Although not specifically depicted, it will be understood that the control unit 170 may also include one or more indicator(s) for presenting information to the user.
The massage system 110 of the massaging foot mat 100 also preferably comprises a power/communication cord 180 extending from the control/power unit 150.
The massage system 110 of the massaging foot mat 100 also comprises one or more massager modules 190. In the version depicted in
A human foot is characterized as having a transverse arch extending in a width direction along an underside of the foot, and a longitudinal arch extending in a length direction also along the underside of the foot. These concave regions along the underside of the foot are generally not accessible by flat massaging surfaces, or even planar surfaces with massaging “fingers” as known in the art. Provision of the outwardly projecting region or member 198 of the massage module 190 enables these regions of a user's feet to be contacted with and receive therapeutic massaging relief. Accordingly, the preferred embodiment mat includes one or two outwardly projecting members such as member 198, each of which is sized, shaped, and configured to reach and contact the concave arch regions along the underside of a human foot.
The massaging foot mat 100 also includes a mat 120. The mat is preferably in the form of a relatively thin, planar, flexible member adapted to reside along the floor, and particularly along the floor of an automotive or vehicle cabin. The mat may be formed from a wide array of materials and can utilize a single or multilayer construction. The mat defines an upwardly directed first face 122, an oppositely directed second face 124, and an edge 126 extending between the faces 122 and 124. For applications in which the massaging floor mat 100 is provided as a vehicle floor mat, the mat 120 can be in a shape corresponding to the shape of the floor region to receive the mat, and/or to accept components within the vehicle interior such as a gas pedal. The foot mat 100 is illustrated in
A significant and preferred feature of the massaging foot mat 100 is a massager module access and retention system 130. The retention system releasably retains the one or more massager modules 190 in association with the mat 120. It will be appreciated that the mat 100 includes the massager module 190 within the interior of the mat, and thus the module 190 would not be visible from the mat exterior.
The mat 120 may optionally also be provided with one or more apertures through which the previously described therapeutic projection(s) 198 may extend. Thus, the projection(s) 198 may directly contact the underside of a user's foot. It will be understood that the aperture(s) are sized, shaped, and located corresponding to the size, shape, and location(s) of the therapeutic projection(s).
As previously noted, in one embodiment, the one or more projections 198 can be included with or extend from the massager module 190. In this version of the invention, provisions are included in the mat 120 to accommodate the projections 198, such as apertures or other structures in the mat which cooperate with the projections so that the projections can transmit vibratory motion directly from the module 190 to a user in contact with the projections. Alternatively, the invention includes forming or providing the one or more projections 198 as part of the mat 120 and locating such projections so that vibratory motion from the module 190 can be effectively transmitted thereto.
The massaging seat system 200 further comprises one or more components of a seat, preferably a seat adapted to be used in a vehicle or the like, such as for example a seat bottom 220 and/or a seat back 240. It will be appreciated that the seat system 200 may comprise both a seat bottom 220 and a seat back 240; a seat bottom 220 by itself; or a seat back 240 by itself. Furthermore, it will be appreciated that for a version of the massaging seat system 200 in which both a seat bottom 220 and a seat back 240 are provided, the bottom and back may be formed such that they are permanently attached or releasably attached to one another such as along region 221.
Furthermore, in accordance with the present invention, it is contemplated that the seat bottom 220 and/or the seat back 240 may be formed as integral components of a seat assembly, such as for example, an automotive seat assembly. Alternatively, the seat bottom 220 and seat back 240 may be provided as auxiliary, add-on components which may be permanently or temporarily attached to the appropriate faces of a seating assembly.
Referring further to
Preferably, both the seat bottom 220 and the seat back 240 include provisions for retaining one or more massager module(s) 290. These provisions may in many instances, be the same or similar as the access and retention provisions 130 described and shown in
The present invention therapeutic mat or pad also may include one or more additional therapeutic components. A preferred example of such a component is an electrically operated resistive heating element. Thus, one or more heating elements could be incorporated in the massaging mats 100 and 300, or in the massaging seat system 200. The one or more resistive heating element(s) can be in nearly any shape, size, and/or configuration. However, it is preferred for most applications that the resistive heating element(s) be in the form of thin, flexible strips. The resistive heating elements are preferably permanently incorporated in the massaging foot mat or massaging seat system; however the invention includes versions in which the heating elements can be removed from the mat or system, such as for example to allow for replacement or washing of the mat or system. For versions in which the heating elements can be removed from a mat, it is contemplated that the heating elements can be accessed and/or removed either separately or collectively with the previously described massager modules.
The preferred embodiment mats can be formed using constructions, materials, and components described in the prior art, such as for example in one or more of U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,476,921; 3,100,483; 4,326,506; 4,329,981; 5,254,384; 5,490,821; 5,628,079; 6,579,250; and 7,297,126. In addition, various vibration-providing components and heating systems are known in the art, commercially available, and potentially eligible for use in the preferred embodiment mats described herein. For example, flexible heating elements and controllers are available from Birk Manufacturing of East Lyme, Conn.; and Watlow of St. Louis, Mo.
Although the present invention has been described in terms of a floor mat and a seating system; it will be understood that the present invention can be provided in numerous other forms and configurations. Furthermore, although the floor mats and seating systems are primarily described in terms of application within a vehicle cabin or interior, it will be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to such applications.
Many other benefits will no doubt become apparent from future application and development of this technology.
All patents, published applications, and articles noted herein are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.
As described hereinabove, the present invention solves many problems associated with previous type devices. However, it will be appreciated that various changes in the details, materials and arrangements of parts, which have been herein described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of the invention, may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the principle and scope of the invention, as expressed in the appended claims.
This application claims priority upon U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 61/147,155 filed Jan. 26, 2009.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61147155 | Jan 2009 | US |
