Massage table

The present invention is an improved massage table having a cutout disposed therein with a removable insert that exposes a cavity in the area of a pregnant woman's stomach and abdomen to accommodate the enlarged area comfortably thereby allowing the pregnant woman to receive massage therapy in a prone position. The cavity has disposed therewithin a recessed material covering which provides support without undue pressure to the woman's abdominal area. Lateral supports and a sternum support are also provided for additional comfort and security.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention: 
This invention relates to the field of massage tables, and more 
particularly, to a stationary or portable massage table or convertible 
medical examination table adaptable for use with pregnant women. 
2. Art Background: 
In the area of massage, medical treatment and in particular, treatment for 
pain and discomfort during pregnancy, such as through massage therapy, 
there is a distinct lack of available devices designed for pregnant women. 
Many pregnant women complain of ongoing back and leg pains, swollen hands 
and feet and constant tiredness during their pregnancies. Doctors have 
commonly recognized that if the pregnant woman were to receive massages, 
particularly on a regular basis, many of the foregoing complaints would be 
alleviated, or at least greatly minimized. 
The major drawback of existing massage tables is that, while they are 
generally acceptable for use in connection with normal ailments on typical 
non-pregnant patients, the design of such massage tables is unacceptable 
for pregnant patients having distended abdominal areas. There are no prior 
art massage tables or prenatal care tables which allow the pregnant woman 
to comfortably lie in a prone position. As such, a pregnant woman desiring 
a massage must either receive it while laying on her side, which has 
generally been shown to be less effective than laying in a prone position, 
or alternatively, she must endure a massage in a very uncomfortable prone 
position. 
Some attempts have been made to address the problem of providing a 
comfortable sleeping area for pregnant women. However, the devices in the 
prior art have several drawbacks, and further, there is no device 
specifically designed for massage which accommodates the physiology of 
pregnant women. 
A number of prior art devices have been developed which are relevant to the 
subject invention. 
U.S. Pat. No. 2,726,407 discloses a medical cart and supporting structure 
which includes a portion which raises to elevate the head of a patient and 
which further includes cabinets and drawers for storing items below the 
cart. 
U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,464,069; 4,021,872; 3,988,793; 4,051,566; 4,054,960; and 
4,382,306 all disclose mattresses or cots of various types having recessed 
areas or cavities therein adapted to fit the abdominal and stomach area of 
a pregnant woman, thereby providing comfort and relieving pressure to the 
abdomen when it is distended as a result of pregnancy. However, one 
problem associated with many of the above-referenced inventions is that 
they do not provide structure for gradually changing the size of the 
cavity in the mattress as the abdomen of the pregnant woman expands during 
the course of pregnancy. In fact, many of the above-referenced devices 
provide only a cavity of fixed size and do not provide any support 
whatsoever for the woman's abdomen. Such structures thereby allow the 
woman's abdominal walls to stretch and sag as a result of gravity rather 
than providing any minimal support thereto which would provide comfort to 
the pregnant woman. Other of the above-referenced devices which do provide 
some support to the abdominal region provide only a fixed space in which 
the pregnant woman's abdomen may fit, so that if the woman's abdomen is 
either too large or too small to exactly accommodate the area provided 
therefor, the woman may experience some or even severe discomfort. 
In particular, in connection with massage tables, there is no prior art 
device which is specifically designed for massage therapy and which allows 
a woman to receive a massage which is so vital for her daily comfort, 
particularly during the latter months of pregnancy. These and other 
problems are overcome with the present invention, which is described 
briefly below. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention is an improved massage table, and essentially, a 
massage table adapted to be used for massaging pregnant women, although it 
may also be used for massaging non-pregnant patients, both men and women. 
The table is also specifically effective for obese men and women with 
large stomach and abdominal areas. The present invention is designed to 
provide pregnant women with the opportunity to enjoy a massage while lying 
on their stomaches. 
The invented massage table comprises a platform on which the patient lies, 
the platform being divided into a head portion and a foot portion. The 
head portion of the platform may be raised to an inclined position whereby 
the patient's head and shoulders may be elevated above the heart and legs. 
The entire device is made of nonporous wood covered with plastic material, 
such as vinyl, which is approved and effective for use in hospitals and 
other medical settings. 
Provided in the head portion of the platform is a removable insert. When 
the patient is lying on her back, the insert is installed so that a solid 
support is provided for the back of the patient. In the alternative mode, 
the solid support is removed and a square or rectangular cavity is 
provided to accommodate the stomach and abdominal area of the pregnant 
woman, obese person or other similarly situated patient. Provided in the 
cavity is a stretchable fabric material which provides the requisite 
amount of support for the stomach and abdominal area of the patient with 
minimal pressure thereto. Also provided in the cavity area in this 
alternative mode of operation is a pair of sliding longitudinal support 
members which are slideable to a position abutting the distended stomach 
and abdomen of the pregnant woman to provide support and comfort thereto. 
The longitudinal support members are generally rectangular and slightly 
wider at the ends than in the middle, and are specifically designed to 
comfortably support most pregnant woman. Also provided is a sternum 
support means which preferably is attached to the support table by means 
of a tongue-in-groove support device. The sternum support means is 
designed to fit along the sternum of most pregnant women without 
interfering with their breasts, which tend to be tender during pregnancy. 
The invented massage table is also provided with a plurality of drawers and 
storage areas thereunder for storing various massage lotions or any other 
medical and/or massage supplies which are required. 
Additionally, the invented massage table is designed in one embodiment to 
appear and function like a standard medical examination table so that it 
can be used for alternative purposes. In another embodiment, the invented 
massage table is only designed for use as a massage table. In yet another 
embodiment, the invented massage table is lightweight and designed to be 
portable. 
The use of the invented massage table enables pregnant women to be massaged 
in their neck, back and lower body while laying on their stomach without 
applying any substantial pressure to the abdomen and stomach region. By 
the use of the present invention, it is anticipated that the circulatory 
problems and lower back stress which typically accompany pregnancy may be 
alleviated or at least diminished. 
It is an object of the present invention to provide a massage table useful 
and comfortable for massaging pregnant women. 
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a massage 
table which is capable of being used for typical massage patients as well 
as pregnant and obese patients. 
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a general 
medical table for use in connection with a variety of medical procedures 
and examinations, which examination table is convertible for use as a 
massage table for pregnant women. 
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a massage 
table having a head portion which may be inclined at a variety of 
different elevations. 
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a massage 
table having sufficient storage thereunder for storing massage oils and 
creams as well as other medical and massage supplies. 
This and other objects of the present invention will be understood with 
reference to the drawings briefly described below.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention comprises a massage table which is particularly 
designed for use with pregnant women. Of course, it will be recognized by 
persons of ordinary skill in the art that it can be used for non-pregnant 
persons as well as obese persons and it is useful for any of the 
foregoiing applications. Obviously such other uses of the subject table 
are contemplated by the present invention and are covered hereunder. 
The present invention, namely an improved massage table, delineated herein 
by the numeral 20 comprises generally a platform 22 having a foot section 
24 and a head section 26. The platform 22 is supported on base members 21 
and 23. The foot section 24 is disposed on a solid frame and the head 
section 26 is hinged at 28 so that it may be raised to an upward inclined 
position as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, for example. The head section 26 has a 
removable insert 30 which, when installed in position, provides a solid 
support such as for normal patients or for use in connection with pregnant 
patients lying on their backs. The head platform 26 is supported in the 
upward position preferably by support member 32 being pivotally attached 
to platform 26 at one end thereof and being disposed at the other end 
thereof in detentes 34(a), (b), or (c). 
The device generally also has in the preferred embodiment a pair of sliding 
doors 36(a) and (b) which cover an area with shelves or drawers 38 (a), 
(b), (c) and (d). 
As shown in FIG. 4, the head platform 26 comprises a border 40 comprising 
members 42 and 44 attached together by cross-member 43 which sandwiched 
therebetween frame member 46. Similarly, with respect to the foot platform 
24, the platform comprises an upright border 47 and a padded platform 
member 48 with downward edges 49 circumventing the border 47. The entire 
platform 22 comprises in general a wooden or other solid base member, such 
as 43 or 45, for example, covered by a foam or other resilient material 
pad, such as 51 and 52, which in turn is covered by plastic, such as 
vinyl, or other water proof or resistant material 53 and 54. In this 
manner, a secure solid platform is provided. 
The removable insert 30 comprises a frame member 55 with a solid base 
member 43 attached thereto and covered by a foam or resilient member 51. 
The removable insert 30 is supported by inset support member 58 which is 
disposed under the periphery of the removable insert 30. Attached to 
insert support member 58 is material support member 56 which supports the 
frame 62 which holds the resilient material 60 in position. Resilient 
material 60 provides the support for the pregnant woman's abdomen when the 
woman is lying in the prone position on the platform 22. 
As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a pregnant woman patient 64 is shown lying on 
the invented massage table 20. The woman 64 is shown in dotted lines. FIG. 
5 shows the support structure for the patient in the cavity, which support 
structure comprises a pair of side supports 66a and 66b and a sternum 
support 68. The side supports 66a and 66b have a contoured generally 
rectangular shape. They are rounded at all corners and are slightly wider 
at the ends 73 than in the middle 74. This shape has been tested on woman 
of all sizes and shapes and has been found to be the optimum shape to 
accommodate most pregnant women. The side supports are padded for comfort. 
The sternum support 68 is generally a rounded rectangular shape and is 
designed and adapted to fit between the breasts of most pregnant women. 
This is particularly important because the breasts of the pregnant women 
tend to be very sensitive during pregnancy and undue pressure thereon may 
provide severe discomfort. Optimally, the sternum support extends along 
the sternum down to near the end of the sternum in between the breasts of 
the pregnant woman lying on the massage table in a prone position. 
The resilient material 60 is shown supporting the woman's abdominal region 
in FIG. 6 and the sternum support 68 is shown supporting the sternum of 
the patient 64. The side supports 66a and 66b are supported on a small 
side support platform 65 disposed on opposite sides of the cavity so that 
they can slide in the cavity to a desired position underneath the patient 
64 such that the patient is minimally supported without applying any 
substantial pressure to the abdominal area of the patient. The sternum 
support 68 comprises a tongue member 69 which is adapted to removably fit 
within groove 70, formed by bracket 71 attached to the underside of the 
platform to secure it in place as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. 
The adaptation and use of the lateral support members 66a and 66b are 
important for the support and comfort of the patient. The prior art 
devices, with one exception do not provide any support or allow for any 
variation in the size of the protruding abdomen as a function of the size 
and shape of the pregnant women particularly in light of the gestational 
age of the fetus. Instead, the prior art devices merely provide a cavity 
or recess in a mattress or the like of uniform size with the presumption 
and expectation that such cavity or recess is acceptable for all woman. 
This presumption has been shown to be incorect, and the present invention 
takes into account the variation in the size of the women by providing 
both lateral supports which can slide within the recessed cavity to a 
position abutting the patient and the sternum support. 
Thus, the present invention provides security and comfort to the patient to 
a much greater extent that the prior art devices. Also, by providing a 
stretchable material 60 the woman's abdominal and stomach regions are 
supported to a sufficient extent that there is no substantial pressure or 
discomfort to the patient, although there is a reasonable amount of 
support provided to eliminate any undue stress on the abdominal muscles 
and tissue. The material can be any stretchable, resilient fabric, either 
natural or synthetic. In the preferred embodiment, the material is a 
double knit or two layers of single knit polyester or nylon. However, it 
will be appreciated by a person of ordinary skill in the art that there 
are numerous materials and combinations of materials which will function 
in accordance with the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
As is shown in FIG. 7, the lateral support member 66a and 66b are disposed 
in position abutting the stomach and abdomen of the pregnant woman. The 
material 60 is stretched to accommodate the protrusion caused by the 
stomach and abdomen. The material is disposed in a frame 62 which is 
rectangular or square and the material is stapled, glued or otherwise 
adhered thereto. 
FIG. 8 shows an exploded view of the cavity or recess of the present 
invention including the lateral support members 66a and 66b, the frame 62 
with the material 60 attached thereto, border 40 comprising members 42 and 
44 attached together by cross-member 43 which sandwiched therebetween 
frame member 46, covered by a foam or other resilient material pad 52, 
which in turn is covered by plastic or other water proof or resistant 
material 53. 
It will be obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art that a number 
of modifications and changes can be made to the subject invention without 
departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, which is 
defined by the claims appended hereto and all equivalents thereof.