Massage device for neck portion

A massage device includes a rotatable member rotatably supported on a supporting base with a pivot axle, and a neck massage member engaged onto the rotatable member and rotated in concert with the rotatable member relative to the supporting base for engaging with a neck portion of a user and for exercising and massaging the neck portion of the user. The supporting base includes a number of rollers engaged with the rotatable member for rotatably supporting the rotatable member on the supporting base. The supporting base includes a number of sockets for engaging with and for supporting the rollers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a massage device or mechanism, and more particularly to a massage device or mechanism including a massage pad or member rotatably supported on a supporting base for suitably exercising or massaging the neck portion of the user.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Various kinds of typical massage devices or mechanisms have been developed and provided for massaging various portions of the user, and normally comprise a resilient or soft massaging pad or member for softly contacting various portions of the user and for selectively exercising or massaging the various portions of the user when required.

For example, U.S. Patent Application No. 2008/0086066 to Munday discloses a typical inversion suspension exerciser comprising a massage device wherein massage members engage with grooves for attaching to the massage device and for selectively engaging with the user to selectively massage the user, and further teaches that the use of removable massage members allows for massage members of different sizes and shapes to be interchangeably attached in order to apply a desired amount of pressure to the user during the massage.

U.S. Patent Application No. 2004/0243037 to Zapalac et al. discloses a typical massage device comprising a plurality of massage members for engaging with and for massaging the user manually.

U.S. Patent Application No. 2005/0015031 to Lin discloses a further typical massage device comprising a plurality of rotatable massage members for engaging with and for massaging the user manually.

However, the typical massage devices may not be used for massaging the neck portion of the user, or the neck portion of the user may not be exercised with the typical massage devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a massage device or mechanism including a massage pad or member rotatably supported on a supporting base for suitably exercising or massaging the neck portion of the user.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a massage device comprising a supporting base, a rotatable member rotatably supported on the supporting base with a pivot axle for allowing the rotatable member to be rotated relative to the supporting base, the rotatable member including an upper portion, and a neck massage member engaged onto the rotatable member and rotated in concert with the rotatable member relative to the supporting base, for engaging with a neck portion of a user and for allowing the user to pivot or rotate and exercise and massage the neck portion of the user.

The supporting base includes a number of rollers disposed on the supporting base and engaged with the rotatable member for rotatably supporting the rotatable member on the supporting base. The supporting base includes a number of openings or sockets provided thereon for receiving and engaging with and for supporting the rollers respectively. The supporting base includes a peripheral flange extended therefrom, and the sockets are disposed on the peripheral flange and equally spaced from each other. The supporting base includes a number of pads attached to a bottom portion of the supporting base for frictionally contacting or engaging with the carrier or the ground or supporting table or the like.

The rotatable member includes a peripheral rib extended therefrom and contacted and engaged with the rollers for allowing the rotatable member to be rotatably supported on the supporting base. The supporting base includes a peripheral flange extended therefrom, the peripheral flange of the supporting base includes an outer diameter equal to that of the peripheral rib of the rotatable member for allowing the peripheral flange of the supporting base to be aligned with the peripheral rib of the rotatable member.

The rotatable member includes an opening formed in the upper portion of the rotatable member for receiving and engaging with the neck massage member. The neck massage member includes a container having a compartment formed in the container for receiving a fluid, such as a cold water or hot water. The neck massage member includes a lid for closing the compartment of the container and for stably retaining the fluid within the compartment of the container. The neck massage member includes a cover attached onto the container of the neck massage member for covering and protecting the container. The neck massage member includes two end caps attached to the container and contacted and engaged with the cover for positioning the cover on the container and for preventing the cover from being disengaged from the container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings, and initially toFIGS. 1 and 2, a massage device or mechanism1in accordance with the present invention is provided for attaching or mounting or securing to a supporting base or carrier9, such as a tilting inversion exerciser9or the like, with such as a fastening belt90or the like, or provided for being supported on a ground or supporting table99(FIG. 8) for suitably contacting or engaging with various portion, such as the neck portion80of the user8(FIGS. 8-10), and for suitably exercising or massaging the neck portion80of the user8.

As shown inFIGS. 2-7, the massage device1comprises a lower supporting stand or base10for pivotally or rotatably attaching or mounting or securing or supporting a follower or rotatable member20thereon, the lower supporting base10includes one or more (such as four) stands or pads11disposed or attached to the lower or bottom portion12thereof, and the pads11are preferably manufactured or made of soft or resilient materials, such as plastic, rubber, or other synthetic materials or the like for frictionally contacting or engaging with the carrier9, or the ground or supporting table99.

The lower supporting base10includes an upper portion13having a circular or peripheral fence or flange14extended upwardly therefrom, and includes one or more (such as four) seats or sockets15formed or provided thereon (FIGS. 3, 7), such as disposed or provided on the peripheral flange14and equally spaced from each other, and one or more (such as four) pulleys or rollers16disposed or attached or mounted or secured to or in the sockets15respectively for contacting or engaging with the rotatable member20and for pivotally or rotatably supporting the rotatable member20thereon.

For example, the rotatable member20includes a circular or peripheral fence or rib21extended downwardly therefrom (FIGS. 3, 7) and having an outer diameter equal to that of the peripheral flange14of the supporting base10and contacted or engaged with the rollers16(FIG. 7) for allowing the rotatable member20to be pivotally or rotatably supported on the supporting base10and for allowing the rotatable member20to be smoothly pivoted or rotated relative to the supporting base10. The rotatable member20may be pivotally or rotatably secured or coupled to the supporting base10with a pivot axle22and/or a fastener23, for preventing the rotatable member20from being disengaged or separated from the supporting base10.

The rotatable member20includes a lower circular or peripheral fence or skirt24extended downwardly therefrom (FIGS. 4, 7) for forming or defining a compartment or chamber25therein and for receiving or accommodating or engaging with the supporting base10and for allowing the supporting base10to be suitably confined and shielded and protected within the chamber25of the rotatable member20, best shown inFIG. 7. The rotatable member20includes an upper portion26having a relative upwardly converged and protruded and ridged structure or configuration for attaching or mounting or securing a neck massage member30thereon, and the neck massage member30may be made of softer or resilient materials for comfortably engaging with and supporting the upper or the neck portion80of the user8(FIGS. 8-10), and the neck massage member30may thus be pivoted or rotated in concert with each other relative to the supporting base10.

In operation, as shown inFIGS. 8-10, the neck portion80of the user8may be engaged with and supported on the neck massage member30of the rotatable member20which may be pivoted or rotated relative to the supporting base10in order to exercise or massage the neck portion80of the user8. The neck massage member30of the rotatable member20is preferably manufactured or made of soft or resilient materials, such as plastic, rubber, or other synthetic materials or the like for resiliently or softly contacting or engaging with the neck portion80of the user8. As shown inFIGS. 1-2, the massage device1may be attached or secured to the carrier or the tilting inversion exerciser9or the like, with the fastening belt90or the like for contacting or engaging with or massaging the neck portion80of the user8.

Alternatively, as shown inFIGS. 11-12, the neck massage member31may include a substantially U or V-shaped structure or configuration having a recess32formed or defined between two bulges or swellings33for solidly and stably receiving or engaging with or retaining the neck portion80of the user8. Further alternatively, as shown inFIGS. 13-17, the rotatable member200includes a cavity or opening27formed in the upper portion26thereof for receiving or engaging with the neck massage member300, in which the neck massage member300includes a bladder or container34having a chamber or compartment35therein for receiving or accommodating or engaging with a fluid, such as a cold or hot water or the like, and closable with a lid36.

In operation, the cold or hot water or fluid contained in the compartment35of the container34of the neck massage member300may be used for cooling or heating the neck portion80of the user8. The neck massage member300may further include an outer shield or cover37attached or mounted or secured onto the container34of the neck massage member300for covering or shielding and/or protecting the container34of the neck massage member300, and one or more (such as two) end covers or caps38may further be provided and attached or mounted or secured onto the two end portions of the container34of the neck massage member300and contacted or engaged with the cover37for holding or retaining or positioning the cover37on the container34of the neck massage member300and for preventing the cover37from being disengaged or separated from the container34of the neck massage member300.

Accordingly, the massage device or mechanism in accordance with the present invention includes a massage pad or member rotatably supported on a supporting base for suitably exercising or massaging the neck portion of the user.