Patent ID: 6273866
Filing Date: 2001-08-14
Classification: A47C,Y10S

Abstract:
A cuff apparatus for wrapping around a body part of an individual, comprising:a. a first fluid structure having a base portion, a plurality of hollow glands extending upwardly from the base portion and a plurality of apertures extending therethrough from the base portion, the plurality of hollow glands and the plurality of apertures arranged in an alternating offset arrangement from one another;b. a plurality of first fluid ducts formed with said base portion of said first fluid structure and respectively connected between said plurality of glands for transferring fluid therebetween;c. a second fluid structure having a base portion and a plurality of hollow glands extending upwardly from the base portion, the plurality of hollow glands arranged in an alternating offset arrangement from one another;d. a plurality of second fluid ducts formed with said base portion of said second fluid structure and respectively connected between said plurality of glands of said second fluid structure for transferring fluid therebetween;e. said first fluid structure overlaid on said second fluid structure such that a respective one of said plurality of hollow glands of said second fluid structure respectively inserted into a respective one of said plurality of apertures of said first fluid structure to form a matrix surface arrangement, such that said plurality of hollow glands of said first and second fluid structures are relatively in close proximity of one another;f. means for supplying fluid under pressure to inflate said plurality of hollow glands of said first and second structures to a desired stiffness, where fluid is respectively transferrable from said plurality of hollow glands by said plurality of first and second fluid ducts, and said means further having the capability of rapidly inflating and deflating said plurality of hollow glands of said first and second fluid structures at different times to create a massaging effect for massaging the body part of the individual positioned on said plurality of hollow glands of said first and second fluid structures; andg. means for maintaining said plurality of hollow glands of said first and second fluid structures around the body part of the individual;h. whereby said first and second fluid structures have the ability to adjust the relative pressure over a range to suit the various shapes and masses of body parts and also provide the massaging effect against the body part of the individual.