Abstract:
A therapeutic roller can be used to apply a therapeutic message to a person&#39;s extremity, such as the hand or foot. In particular, a therapeutic roller device comprises an inner tube member, a textured tube member, and a mechanism for removably securing the textured tube member to the inner tube member so that the textured tube member can be easily removed and replaced with a new or different textured tube member. In particular, the textured tube member has elastic properties to facilitate removal and installation of the textured tube. In addition, the therapeutic roller can be used to provide thermal treatment to a patient.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION(S)  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/726,444, filed on Oct. 13, 2005 (Docket No.  3909 . 1000 - 000 ), the teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     Various roller devices have been shown useful for massaging or stimulating the feet and other body parts of users. A typical roller is made from wood into which elevated bumps or other surface textures may be carved. Wooden rollers are typically sold to consumers for casual home use by an individual or a family. While suitable for casual use, wooden rollers are not a good choice for patients suffering from more severe ailments.  
         [0003]     It is also known that thermal therapy can alleviate some symptoms. In particular, thermally-assisted therapeutic relief can be applied to reduce inflammation due to trauma or an inflammatory condition. Unfortunately, wooden rollers do not maintain heat or cold for a significant period of time. Instead, wooden rollers are typically used at room temperature.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0004]     A therapeutic roller in accordance with aspects of the invention can be used to apply a therapeutic massage to a person&#39;s extremity, such as the hand or foot. The therapeutic roller is particularly indicated for relief of bunions, plantar fasciitis, bursitis, rheumatoid arthritis, osteo arthritis, traumatic arthritis, post surgery edema, tendonitis, sesamoiditis, neuromas, ganglion cyst (fluid filled cyst), diabetic neuropathy, Tailor&#39;s bunion, venous insuffency, pes planus, pes cavus, metatarsalgia, dislocations, and general pain in the extremities.  
         [0005]     In accordance with aspects of the invention, a therapeutic roller can be used to treat multiple clinical patients. Each patient may respond most favorably to a particular texture structure or patterns. Consequently, the therapeutic roller can be adaptable by a clinician to suit a particular patient&#39;s needs.  
         [0006]     Furthermore, at least some patients are obese due to diabetes or other conditions. The materials used for the roller and the roller&#39;s construction are therefore selected to handle frequent use under heavy loads.  
         [0007]     In accordance with an aspect of the invention, a therapeutic roller device comprises an inner tube member, a textured tube member, and a mechanism for removably securing the textured tube member to the inner tube member. In particular, the inner tube member provides structural support.  
         [0008]     The inner tube member can include an interior cavity accessible by a user. The interior cavity can be filled with a thermal material such as water to apply heat or cold to the device. Furthermore, the inner tube member can have two interior cavities that can be heated to different temperatures.  
         [0009]     The mechanism that removably secures the textured tube member to the inner tube member can include a keyed joint between the inner tube member and the textured tube member. The keyed joint can be a tongue-and-groove joint. The mechanism can also include an end cap.  
         [0010]     In a particular embodiment, the inner tube member can be fabricated from stainless steel or another suitably strong material. The textured tube member can be fabricated from a rigid material (e.g., metal or plastic) or from an elastomeric material. In another embodiment, the textured tube member can include a plurality of textured rings arranged in a sequence. The textured tube member can further be filled with a thermal-retentive material such as a thermal gel or beads that can be heated or chilled prior to installation on the inner tube member. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]     The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of particular embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention.  
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a particular therapeutic roller device  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the roller assembly of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0014]      FIG. 3  is an end view of the inner tube  10  of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0015]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of  FIG. 3 .  
         [0016]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a textured ring, a plurality of which are arranged in sequence to form the textured surface of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0017]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the textured ring of  FIG. 5 .  
         [0018]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of the end cap of  FIG. 2 .  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0019]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a particular therapeutic roller device  1 . As shown, the device  1  includes a roller assembly  3  supported by a stand assembly  5 . The roller assembly  3  has a textured surface, shown as a plurality of rings  22 . Although a specific texture pattern is shown, other texture patterns can be employed and are anticipated. Further details of the roller assembly  3  will be described below.  
         [0020]     The stand assembly  5  includes a pair of stand mounts  50 A,  50 B, each of which has a respective inner surface  51  and a respective outer surface  53 . The roller assembly  3  mounts to the stand mounts  50 A,  50 B via respective mounting channels  52 . The stand mounts  50 A,  50 B are connected by a connecting rods  55 , which help stabilize the stand assembly  5 . Also shown are foot pads  59 . In accordance with a particular embodiment, the stand mounts are fabricated from a solid block of stainless steel, although other suitably strong materials can be used. Other stand structures can be used, as would be known of those of ordinary skill in the art.  
         [0021]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the roller assembly  3  of  FIG. 1 . As shown, the roller assembly  3  is formed around an structural inner tube member  10 . The inner tube member  10  is the main structural element of the roller  3  and is expected to support the weight of an obese patient (around 350 pounds). The inner tube member  10  can be made from stainless steel or other suitably strong materials.  
         [0022]     Around the inner tube  10  is an outer textured tube member  20 , which can be a sequence of contoured rings (as shown in  FIG. 1 ) or a single tube structure. In another embodiment, a textured surface can be fabricated directly on the inner tube member  10  so that a separate component would not be required. However, by utilizing a textured surface separable from the inner tube  10 , the textured surface can be changed or replaced.  
         [0023]     The inner tube  10  and the textured surface  20  are fixed relative to each other by a key rod  30 . As will be described in further detail below, the key rod is registered to a key channel on the inner tub  10  and to a key groove on the textured surface  20 . In another embodiment, the function of the key rod can be incorporated into either the outer rings/tubes  20 , such as a tongue-and-groove coupling.  
         [0024]     Also shown is an end cap  40 . The end cap  40  is fastened to the inner tube member  10  with screws  48  and is rotatably connected to the stand mounts  50  via mounting pins  49 . The end cap  40  is shown with an access port  42 . The access port  42  is sealable to allow heated or chilled fluid to be poured into the inner tube  10 . The heat/cold in combination with the textured surface can provide therapeutic benefits to a patient.  
         [0025]      FIG. 3  is an end view of the inner tube  10  of  FIG. 1 . The inner tube  10  has an inner surface  12  with an inner diameter of D 1  and an outer surface  16  with an outer diameter of D 3 . In a particular embodiment, the inner diameter D 1  is about 1.5 inches and the outer diameter D 3  is about 2 inches, the exact dimensions however are not critical. As shown, the outer surface  16  includes a key channel  18  that runs along the length of the inner tube  10 . Also shown are screw holes  15  for receiving the end cap screws  48  ( FIG. 2 ).  
         [0026]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of  FIG. 3 . The inner tube  10  is 10 inches long. As shown, a step  14  of diameter D 2  is formed at the ends of the inner tube  10 . The step is used to seat the end cap  40  ( FIG. 2 ). In a particular embodiment, the inner tube member is fabricated from a stainless steel tube having a about a 0.25 inch wall thickness.  
         [0027]     With the end caps  40  seated, an interior cavity  19  in the inner tube  10  can be filled with a liquid, such as heated or chilled water. The metal inner tube  10  conducts heat between the patient and the liquid. It is understood that the inner tube member  10  need not be a true tube. Instead, the inner tube member  10  can be fabricated from bar stock and be divided or bisected into two cavities, each accessible through the adjacent end cap  40  to allow for the introduction of two water temperatures (e.g., one hot and one cold).  
         [0028]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a textured ring  22 , a plurality of which are arranged in sequence to form the textured surface  20  of  FIG. 1 . Texture features  24  are arranged on the outer surface of the ring  22 . As shown, the texture features  24  are annularly spaced along the circumference of the ring  22 . In the particular texture shown, each elevated texture feature is offset from its adjacent texture features by 45 degrees. The inner surface of the ring includes two key grooves  26 A,  26 B, one of which is aligned with the key channel  18  of the inner tube  10  and receives the key rod  30 .  
         [0029]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the textured ring  22  of  FIG. 5 . The ring  22  has an inner diameter of D 3  and slides over the outer surface  16  of the inner tube  10 . Note that one key groove  26 A is aligned with a texture feature  24 , while the other key groove  26 B is offset by one-half of the angular distance to the next adjacent texture feature (22.5 degrees in the illustrated embodiment). When the rings  22  are installed, alternating key grooves  26  are aligned with the key channel  18  of the inner tube  10 . That alternating arrangement yields the texture pattern shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0030]     In another embodiment, each ring  22  has a single key groove  26  that is spaced one-forth the distance between adjacent texture features  24  (11.25 degrees in the illustrated embodiment). When installed, each ring  22  is flipped relative to the adjacent ring  22 . The resulting texture pattern would match that shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0031]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of the end cap  40  of  FIG. 2 . The end cap  40  includes a neck portion  41  that is dimensioned to be received in the step  14  of the inner tube  10  ( FIG. 4 ) and a flange portion  43  having a diameter equal to at least the diameter of the inner tube D 3  to lock the key rod  30  into place. An o-ring (not shown) maintains a watertight seal. Water or another heated or chilled fluid can be introduced into the interior cavity  19  ( FIG. 4 ) through the access port  42 , which can be temporarily sealed. The end cap is secured to the inner tube by screws  49  ( FIG. 2 ) and locks the rings in place.  
         [0032]     As shown, the end cap  40  includes a coaxial bore  44  into, but not through the end cap. This bore  44  receives a mounting pin  49  ( FIG. 2 ) for rotatably mounting the roller assembly to the mount stands  50 . In another embodiment, the end cap  40  can be fabricated to have an integrated mounting lug extending coaxially from the end cap, instead of a separate pin.  
         [0033]     In the illustrated embodiment, the textured rings  22  can be removed and replaced with other rings, which may have the same or a different texture. To remove the rings, at least one end cap is removed and the rings are slid off  
         [0034]     In another embodiment, the end cap diameter can be reduced to less than the diameter of the inner tube (less than D 3 ). A collar can be threaded onto the outer diameter of the end cap to longitudinally secure the rings. Such an embodiment permits quicker changing of the textured surface.  
         [0035]     In another particular embodiment, the textured surface is an elastomeric tube with a textured outer surface. Such a tube could be fitted onto the inner tube without requiring the removal of end caps or collars. Because the outer tube would be remain somewhat elastic after being positioned, more than one key channel may be desired, such as three or five annularly spaced key channels. Also because the elastomeric tube would be molded or extruded, mating tongues could be formed on the inside of the textured tube. When installed the formed tongues would be positioned into respective key channels. The use of textured elastomeric tubes would permit easy replacement of textures, such as may be required from patient to patient.  
         [0036]     The elastomeric tube can be thin or thick. A thinner elastomeric tube would function like a skin on the inner tube  10 . A thicker elastomeric tube can be filled with a thermal-retentive material (such as a gel or beads) that can then be heated or chilled prior to installation.  
         [0037]     While this invention has been particularly shown and described with references to particular embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made to the embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention encompassed by the appended claims.