PERSONAL HEALTHCARE DEVICE

A personal healthcare device includes a base member mountable to a wall and at least one insert. Each insert has a size and shape corresponding to a size and shape of a corresponding recess in the base member. Each insert further includes at least one protrusion extending from the insert in a direction away from the base member. Additionally, each protrusion is configured for selectively making contact with and applying pressure to a surface of a user.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a personal healthcare device.

2. Description of the Related Art

There are a number of devices on the market for relieving musculoskeletal discomfort and/or itching related to dry skin, insect bites, allergic reaction or other skin-related afflictions. Depending on the location of the afflicted area, an individual suffering from such irritations may be able to address it without the aid of a third party, for example in areas which are on the front of the body or within easy reach, such as on the arms, legs, chest or feet. Unfortunately, not all surface areas of the body are readily accessible by the individual without the aid of either a third party or a device which operates as an extension of the arm of the individual. The most readily identifiable such area which is particularly difficult to reach is on one's back.

A number of devices have been developed in the art to make it easier for a user to address discomfort, whether it be itching or related to a neuromuscular condition. For example, a number of hand-held devices have been developed for the application of pressure to a predetermined area of the body. An example of such a hand-held device is a percussion massager which applies a steady progression of pulses of pressure against the desired area. The use of such a hand-held device is, however, limited by the user's dexterity, unless assisted by a third party. Additionally, elongate back scratchers and massagers are known in the art. Typically, these are in the form of an elongate handle with a curved prong or plurality of prongs extending therefrom. The user then extends the apparatus over his or her shoulder and applies pressure while trying to position the device over the desired area. The problem with this type of device is that the amount of pressure which can be applied to the desired area is limited by the user's flexibility and upper body strength, as well as his or her coordination in positioning the device accurately without visual aid.

What is needed in the art is a personal healthcare device which allows the user to selectively apply pressure to the affected area without the associated problems of the known art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a personal healthcare device including a base member, mountable to a wall and having at least one recess and at least one insert sized and shaped to correspond with the at least one recess. The at least one insert includes at least one protrusion extending from the insert and in a direction away from the base member. The at least one protrusion is configured for selectively making contact with and applying pressure to a surface of the user.

The present invention also provides a method of producing a personal healthcare device. According to the method of the present invention, a base member which is mountable to a wall and which includes at least one recess is provided. At least one insert having a size and shape corresponding with a size and shape of the at least one recess in the base member is also provided. The at least one insert includes at least one protrusion extending from the insert in a direction away from the base member. The at least one protrusion is configured for selectively making contact with and applying pressure to a surface of the user. The at least one insert is securely positioned within the at least one corresponding recess.

An advantage of the present invention is a user can selectively apply pressure to an otherwise unreachable area of the body without the assistance of another person.

Another advantage is that the selective pressure can be applied to the desired area without requiring direction to a third party, thus saving time and likely discomfort.

Yet another advantage is that a single device can be utilized to manipulate the desired surface of the user to quickly and efficiently relieve uncomfortable physical irritation, such as itches and musculoskeletal aches and pains. Additionally, since the user controls the amount of pressure applied, additional irritation from excessive pressure can be avoided. Upon the achieving relief from the particular itch or musculoskeletal irritation, the user can immediately cease use of the device if desired and avoid the infliction of additional discomfort resulting from excessive pressure or any indication of increased discomfort resulting from misalignment of the device with the affected surface area of the user.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly toFIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a schematic illustration and an exploded view of personal healthcare device10of the present invention, which generally includes a base member12and one or more inserts16.

Base member12is configured to be securely mounted to a wall, for example, using at least one known fastener. Advantageously, this allows a user to apply increased pressure with little or no movement of personal healthcare device10. Base member12is substantially rigid to avoid bending of device10away from the user upon the application of force against one or more protrusions18extending from inserts16of device10. Base member12may, for example, be formed of wood, metal, plastic or ceramic. Base member12includes one ore more recesses14which may be in any shape, for example, rectangular, square, kidney-shaped, or round, such as circular or oval-shaped. The one or more recesses14may have a length equal to their width. Alternatively, recesses14may have a greater width than length or vice versa. Base member12may, for example include more than one recess14, for example two (as shown), three or four recesses14. If there is more than one recess14, they may be arranged parallel to each other, transverse to each other, in a regular pattern or in a random pattern.

Inserts16have a size and shape of a corresponding recess14into which it may be securely positioned. Each insert16includes one or more protrusions18extending therefrom in a direction away from base member12. Protrusion18extending from insert16are configured for selectively making contact with and applying pressure to the surface of a user. Inserts16each include a substantially planar portion20which is configured to abut an internal surface (not shown) of recess14. Inserts16may be formed from any of a number of materials, including wood, metal, plastic, vulcanized rubber or various polymers. Inserts16are sized and shaped to correspond with a corresponding recess14in base member12and are configured to be securely positioned within corresponding recesses14of base member12. Inserts16may be secured within recesses14by a number of fastening mechanisms, for example, a snap fit, compression fit, or magnetic fixation. Any known fastener can be utilized to secure inserts16into recesses14, for example, a cam lock, screws, bolts, pins or clips.

Protrusions18of inserts16extend in a direction away from base member12when inserted into recess14. Recesses14may each be sized and shaped to receive a plurality of inserts16having differently shaped protrusions18. For example, according to the present invention, two inserts16having differently shaped protrusions18may be provided which are interchangeable within a single recess14within base member12.

According to the present invention, protrusions18may be configured differently, dependent upon their intended use. A number of exemplary embodiments of inserts16including protrusions18are illustrated inFIGS. 3-5. According to the embodiments illustrated inFIGS. 3 and 4, inserts16are provided which include a plurality of protrusions18extending away from base member12. Protrusions18are illustrated inFIG. 3as being in the form of a plurality of semi-rigid bristles18for exfoliating skin from a predetermined surface of the user. In this form, the personal healthcare device10may also be effectively utilized to relieve itching. The semi-rigid bristles18may be natural bristles, for example, boar bristles or horse hair bristles or they may be man-made from, for example, nylon, stainless steel, plastic, metal or from a plurality of polymer materials.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention, illustrated inFIG. 4, insert16may include protrusions18in the form of a knob or a plurality of knobs or fingers18, extending in a direction substantially transverse to planar portion20of insert16. Knobs or fingers18are also at least semi-rigid, for example rigid, and may be formed, for example, from metal, wood, synthetic rubber, natural rubber or a polymeric material. According to this embodiment of the healthcare device10of the present invention, knobs or fingers18may be arranged to contact a plurality of predefined pressure or acupressure points of a user.

According to an additional embodiment of the present invention, protrusion18extending from insert16may be in the form of a neck frame18, illustrated inFIG. 5. Neck frame18is configured for comfortably supporting the head and neck of a user. Neck frame18is adjustable in a horizontal and/or vertical direction in order to accommodate users having necks of different widths and/or lengths.

Referring now toFIG. 6, there is shown an embodiment of the present invention having a plurality of recesses14which are each sized and shaped to receive at least one insert16. Accordingly, it is feasible to have, for example two inserts16, each having protrusions18which are sized and/or shaped differently.

The present invention further provides a method of using a healthcare device10. According to the method of the present invention, base member12, including one or more recesses14is mounted to a wall. One or more inserts16having a shape and size corresponding to the recesses14is positioned within or inserted into recesses14. A body surface is selectively positioned against and pressure selectively applied to one or more protrusions18extending from inserts16.

Optionally, the method according to the present invention further includes the step of securely fastening inserts16within recesses14using any of a number of known fasteners. Alternatively, the inserts may be firmly secured within the recesses using a snap fit or compression fit.

Further, the protrusion is in the form of a neck frame, the method of the present invention further includes the step of adjusting the neck frame to fit firmly around the neck of a user in a horizontal and/or vertical direction.