Abstract:
An accessory bar for a treatment bed is disclosed. The bar comprises a bracket releasably mounted, in use, to said treatment bed. An upright extends upwardly from the bracket in use. In one embodiment, an aim extends transversely from the upright. The aim has extending therefrom one or more pairs of posts. The posts extend generally horizontally, towards the area over the bed, in use.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to the field of personal wellness. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Thermal (infrared) massage, as a tool to enhance personal wellness and immune function, is gaining consumer acceptance worldwide. As a result of this increased awareness and acceptance, a plurality of specialized tools are reaching the marketplace. One type of tool that has reached the marketplace is a treatment system which includes a treatment bed, first and second treatment appliances, a treatment mat and first and second remote control units. The treatment bed has a main body pad, a lower body pad, a bed frame and a pair of grips. The main body pad is for supporting and selectively applying heat and massage to the main (upper) body of a user in the supine or prone position. The lower body pad is for supporting and selectively applying heat and massage to the lower body of the user. The bed frame is for supporting the main body pad and the lower body pad in use. The grips are bolted on opposite sides of the frame and are for assisting the user in movement to and from the supine and prone positions on the treatment bed. The first and second treatment appliances are for placement against a selected body region and selectively applying heat and point pressure thereto. Each appliance includes a waisted portion and the second appliance is larger than the first. The treatment mat has a hand-grip and is for producing far infrared radiation and negative ions. The first remote control unit is for controlling the first and second treatment appliances and the main and lower body pads. The second remote control unit is for controlling the mat and has a socket defined therein. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Apparatus for use with a treatment system forms one aspect of the invention. The treatment system is of the type including a treatment bed, first and second treatment appliances, a treatment mat and first and second remote control units. The treatment bed has: one or more cushions for supporting a user in the supine or prone position; a bed frame supporting the one or more cushions in use; a pair of grips, bolted on opposite sides of the bed frame, for assisting the user in movement to and from the supine and prone positions; and a cradle, releasably mounted to the bed frame. The first and second treatment appliances each include a waisted portion. The treatment mat has a hand-grip. The first remote control unit is for controlling the first and second treatment appliances and adapted to be releasably received by the cradle. The second remote control unit is for controlling the treatment mat and has a socket defined therein. The apparatus comprises a support frame, for, in use, releasably receiving and supporting in elevated relation above and to one side of the treatment bed, one or more of: the first treatment appliance, the second treatment appliance, the treatment mat, the first remote control unit, the second remote control unit, the cradle and a video monitor. 
         [0004]    According to another aspect of the invention, the support frame can be adapted for, in use, releasably receiving and supporting in elevated relation above and to one side of the treatment bed: the first treatment appliance, the second treatment, the treatment mat, the first remote control unit, the second remote control unit and the cradle. 
         [0005]    According to another aspect of the invention, the support frame can include an upright having an arm extending laterally therefrom, the arm having: for each appliance, a pair of protruding posts, the posts of each pair being spaced apart for releasably receiving therebetween the waisted portions of said each appliance, to provide for said releasable receipt of said each appliance. 
         [0006]    According to another aspect of the invention, the support arm can include a bore to provide for said releasable receipt of the cradle. 
         [0007]    According to another aspect of the invention, the support arm can further include a pin for receiving the socket of the second remote control unit, to provide for said releasable receipt of the second remote control unit. 
         [0008]    According to another aspect of the invention, the upright can form part of crook, the crook terminating in a hook for receiving the hand-grip of the treatment mat, to provide for said releasable receipt of the treatment mat. 
         [0009]    According to another aspect of the invention, the crook, the upright and the arm can be substantially coplanar, with the hook and the arm lying on opposite sides of the upright. 
         [0010]    According to another aspect of the invention, the support frame can be releasably secured to the bed frame in use. 
         [0011]    According to another aspect of the invention, the support frame can be bolted to the bed frame in use and one or more of the bolts bolting the support frame to the bed frame can form part of the bolts by which the grips are mounted to the bed frame. 
         [0012]    Apparatus for use with a treatment system forms another aspect of the invention. This treatment system is of the type including a treatment bed, first and second treatment appliances, a treatment mat and first and second remote control units. The treatment bed has: a main body cushion for supporting and selectively applying heat and massage to the upper body of a user in the supine or prone position; a lower body cushion for supporting and selectively applying heat and massage to the lower body of the user; a bed frame supporting the main body cushion and the lower body cushion in use; a pair of grips, bolted on opposite sides of the bed frame, for assisting the user in movement to and from the supine and prone positions; and a cradle, releasably mounted to the frame. The first and second treatment appliances are each for placement against a selected body region and selectively applying heat and point pressure thereto and each includes a waisted portion. The treatment mat has a hand-grip and is adapted for producing far infrared radiation and negative ions. The first remote control unit is for controlling the first and second treatment appliances and the main and lower body cushions and is adapted to be releasably received by the cradle. The second remote control unit is for controlling the treatment mat and has a socket defined therein. 
         [0013]    This apparatus comprises: a support frame, for, in use, releasably receiving and supporting in elevated relation above and to one side of the treatment bed, one or more of: the first treatment appliance, the second treatment appliance, the treatment mat, the first remote control unit, the second remote control unit, the cradle and a video monitor.
       Forming another aspect of the invention is, in combination:
           a treatment bed having: one or more cushions for supporting a user in the supine or prone position; and a bed frame supporting the one or more cushions in use; and   a support frame releasably connected, in use, to the treatment bed, and adapted for releasably receiving and supporting in elevated relation above and to one side of the treatment bed, one or more of:
               a diagnostic device;   an energetic medical device;   a remote control;   a credit card reader; and   a video monitor.   
               
               
 
         [0022]    As yet other aspects of the invention:
           the treatment bed can have a pair of grips, bolted on opposite sides of the bed frame, for assisting the user in movement to and from the supine and prone positions; and   the support frame can be bolted to the bed frame in use and one or more of the bolts bolting the support frame to the bed frame can form part of the bolts by which the grips are mounted to the bed frame.           
 
         [0025]    As yet other aspects of the invention: (i) the combination can further comprise an energetic medical device having a waisted portion; and (ii) the support frame can be adapted for receiving said energetic medical device and include an upright and, for said energetic medical device, a pair of horizontally extending posts adapted to receive therebetween the waisted portion of said energetic medical device, thereby to provide for said releasably receipt of said energetic medical device. 
         [0026]    According to another aspect of the invention, the upright can have an arm extending laterally therefrom and from which the posts protrude. 
         [0027]    According to another aspect of the invention, the energetic medical device can be for placement against a selected body region and selectively applying far-infrared radiation and point pressure thereto. 
         [0028]    According to another aspect of the invention, (i) the combination can further comprise an energetic medical device having a hand-grip; (ii) the support frame can be adapted for receiving said energetic medical device and (iii) the upright can form part of crook, the crook terminating in a hook for receiving the hand-grip of the energetic medical device, to provide for said releasable receipt of said energetic medical device. 
         [0029]    According to another aspect of the invention, the energetic medical device can be a treatment mat adapted to produce far infrared radiation and negative ions. 
         [0030]    According to another aspect of the invention, the crook, the upright and the arm can be substantially coplanar, with the hook and the arm lying on opposite sides of the upright. 
         [0031]    An accessory bar for a treatment bed forms another aspect of the invention. The bar comprises: a bracket releasably mounted, in use, to said treatment bed; an upright extending upwardly from the bracket in use; and an arm extending transversely from the upright, the arm having extending therefrom one or more pairs of posts, the posts extending generally horizontally, towards the area over the bed, in use. 
         [0032]    According to another aspect of the invention, the upright can form part of crook, the crook terminating in a hook, the crook, the upright and the arm being substantially coplanar, with the hook and the arm lying on opposite sides of the upright. 
         [0033]    Other advantages, features and characteristics of the present invention, as well as methods of operation and functions of the related elements of the structure, and the combination of parts and economies of manufacture, will become more apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description and the appended claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, the latter being briefly described hereinafter. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0034]      FIG. 1  shows a prior art treatment system; 
           [0035]      FIG. 2  shows apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0036]      FIG. 3  shows the apparatus of  FIG. 2  in use with part of the structure of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0037]      FIG. 4  is a partial view of the apparatus of  FIG. 2  in use with another part of the structure of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0038]      FIG. 5  is a view of the apparatus of  FIG. 2  in use with the structure of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0039]      FIG. 6  is a view of apparatus according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0040]      FIG. 7  is a view of apparatus according to yet another exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0041]      FIG. 8  is a view of apparatus according to yet another exemplary embodiment of the present invention in use; 
           [0042]      FIG. 9  is a view similar to  FIG. 3  but showing apparatus according to yet another exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0043]      FIG. 10  is a view similar to  FIG. 3  but showing apparatus according to yet another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0044]    The present invention relates to the field of wellness and, in an exemplary embodiment, relates to a treatment system. For clarity in the description of the invention, a prior art treatment system  11 , with which the invention can be used but which forms no part of the invention, will firstly be described with reference to  FIG. 1 . 
         [0045]    The treatment system  11  is of the type including a treatment bed  12 , first  14  and second  16  treatment appliances, a treatment mat  18  and first  20  and second  22  remote control units. The treatment bed  12 , first  14  and second  16  treatment appliances and first remote control unit  14  are sold by Migun Medical Instrument Co. under Model No. HY-7000 UM. The treatment mat  18  and the second remote control unit  22  are sold by Migun Medical Instrument Co. under Model No. MG-3600. 
         [0046]    The treatment bed  12  has a main body cushion  24 , a lower body cushion  26 , a bed frame  28 , a pair of grips  30  and a cradle  46 . 
         [0047]    The main body cushion  24  is for supporting and selectively applying heat and massage to upper body of a user in the supine or prone position on the treatment bed. The lower body cushion  26  is for supporting and selectively applying heat and massage to the lower body of the user. For the purpose of applying heat and massage, each of the main body  24  and lower body  26  cushions includes devices for producing far infrared radiation, and well as vibrators. 
         [0048]    The bed frame  28  is for supporting the main body cushion  24  and the lower body cushion  26  in use and is formed out of tubular elements, bolted together. 
         [0049]    The grips  30  are bolted on opposite sides of the frame  28  and are for assisting the user in movement to and from the supine and prone positions on the bed  12 . 
         [0050]    The first  14  and second  16  treatment appliances are for placement against a selected body region and selectively applying heat and point pressure thereto. Each appliance includes a waisted portion  14 A,  16 A and the second appliance  16  is larger than the first appliance  14 . For the purpose of applying heat each of these appliances  14 ,  16  includes a device for producing far infrared radiation. 
         [0051]    For the purpose of applying point pressure, each of these devices includes hard surfaces, specifically, jade stones  32 . The first device  14  includes two stones  32 , and the second device  16  includes 15 stones. 
         [0052]    The cradle  46  is releasably mounted to the frame  28  via an intermediate flexible shaft  45  having a threaded bore at its end (not shown) and releasably receives the first remote control unit  20 , discussed below, when not in use. To releasably mount the cradle  46  to the frame  28 , a bolt (not shown) passes through a bore (not shown) in the frame  28  and threads into the threaded bore at the end of shaft  45 , to secure the shaft  45  to the frame  28 . 
         [0053]    The treatment mat  18  has a hand-grip  34  and is adapted to produce far infrared radiation, for heating purposes, as well as negative ions. 
         [0054]    The first remote control unit  20  is for controlling the first  14  and second  16  treatment appliances and the main  24  and lower  26  body cushions. 
         [0055]    The second remote control unit  22  is for controlling the treatment mat  18  and has a socket (not shown) defined therein. 
         [0056]    Turning now to the apparatus of the present invention, same will be seen in isolation in  FIG. 2  and will be seen to comprise a support frame  36  which includes an upright  38 , an arm  40 , a bracket  42 , posts  44 , pin  47  and a hook  48 . The upright  38  forms part of a crook  50 . The arm  40  extends transversely from the upright  38  and has pin  47  extending therefrom and a bore  51  defined therethrough. Bracket  42  is rigidly connected, by welding, to the base of the upright  38 . Two pairs of posts  44  are provided, which protrude from the arm  40 . The hook  48  defines the terminus of the crook  50 . The crook  50 , the upright  38  and the arm  40  are substantially coplanar, with the hook  48  and the arm  40  lying on opposite sides of the upright  38 . At the base of the upright  38 , immediately preceding the bracket  42 , the upright  38  jogs slightly. 
         [0057]    For use, the support frame  36  is releasably secured, specifically, by bolts  54 , to the bed frame  28  in use, as shown in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 . More particularly, the support frame  36  is bolted to the bed frame  28  in use using the same bores as used to secure one of the grips  30 , i.e. one or more of the bolts  54  bolting the support frame  36  to the bed frame  28  form part of the bolts by which the grips  30  are mounted to the bed frame  28 . The bolt holding the flexible shaft  45  of the cradle  46  is also removed from the bed frame  28 , to release shaft  45 , and the bolt is fitted through bore  51  of the support frame, and thence back into the threaded bore in the shaft  45 , to secure the shaft/cradle to the support frame. 
         [0058]    The apparatus is shown in use in  FIG. 5 . Herein, it will be seen that the apparatus is adapted to releasably receive and supporting in elevated relation, above and to one side of the treatment bed  12 , each of the first  14  and second treatment  16  appliances, the treatment mat  18  and the first  20  and second  22  remote control units. More particularly, the waisted portions  14 A,  16 A of each appliance  14 ,  16  are releasably received between a respective pair of posts  44 , the cradle  46  is in releasably receipt of the first remote control  20 ; the pin (not visible in  FIG. 5 ) is in releasable receipt of the socket of the second remote control unit  22  and the hook  48  is in releasable receipt of the hand-grip  34  of the mat  18 . 
         [0059]    The apparatus will thus be seen to conveniently store all of the accessories associated with the treatment system, and thus is aptly described as an ‘accessory bar’. The accessory bar avoids damage/injury that might otherwise occur if the appliances/remote controls were simply left between use on the bed itself or the surrounding floor surface. As well, the bar keeps the appliances/controls in a location convenient for self-users, who might otherwise be required to lift them from the floor while on the bed, or hold onto them while mounting and dismounting the bed, adding to the potential for injury. The ‘jog’ in the upright, previously mentioned, ensures that the accessory bar and the accessories themselves, are disposed slightly to the side of the table, about 3″ from the edge of the cushions, so as not to interfere with ingress/egress. 
         [0060]    Variations of this are, of course, possible. 
         [0061]      FIG. 6 , for example, shows a variation  36 A which does not include the hook/crook. This could be advantageous, as not all users will have use for and purchase the treatment mat. 
         [0062]      FIG. 7  shows another example  36 B, wherein the posts protrude from the upright, i.e. with no transverse arm. 
         [0063]    As well, whereas a specific model of treatment bed is illustrated and referenced, it will be understood that the support frame could be utilized with beds of other manufacturers and other styles.  FIG. 8 , for example, shows a variant of the mounting bracket mounted to a treatment bed of the type formed out of wood panels. Depending upon the treatment bed with which the support frame is used, suitable accommodation will need to be made, inter alfa, to the jog in the upright, to provide sufficient clearance to users, as will be evident to persons of ordinary skill in the art. 
         [0064]    The support frame could also be adapted to receive a video monitor  100 , as shown in  FIG. 9 . The monitor  100 , which becomes easily viewable when mounted on the support frame, could be used advantageously for marketing and instructional purposes. 
         [0065]    As well, whereas specific treatment appliances and mats are herein shown and described, it will be understood that the invention could readily be used with other energetic medical devices and diagnostic devices, either as substitutes for, or supplemental to, those illustrated and described herein.  FIG. 10 , for example, shows the accessory bar in use with a diagnostic device  102 . 
         [0066]    Further, although not shown, the bar could be made telescopic, for greater flexibility. 
         [0067]    Also not shown, a credit card reader could be provided and received, for example, in a manner analogous to the manner in which the video monitor is mounted. This would, for example, allow the treatment system to be installed on a pay-per-use basis in airports, hotels, etc. 
         [0068]    Accordingly, the present invention should be understood as limited only by the accompanying claims, purposively construed.