IMPROVED ROTATING BALL MASSAGER

Abstract: An improved rotating ball massager (10) that allows an individual to manually massage oneself or another person. The massager (10), in the preferred embodiment, is comprised of a flexible hand enclosure (11) such as a glove (12) or mitten (17) having attached to its palm, finger and thumb areas a plurality of rotating ball assemblies (13). These assemblies include a base (13a) that holds a circular ball (13b) rotatably captive. Thus, allowing the ball to rotate freely in any direction as directed by the movement of the hand. By using the massager (10) the beneficial effects of a massage are enhanced over those when only bare hands are used. The massager (10) can also be used in combination with an electric vibrator (35) and in other embodiments with the vibrator and/or a heating element. These additional implements further add to the relief of aches and the therapeutic effects provided by the massage.

Description: IMPROVED ROTATING BALL MASSAGER TECHNICAL FIELD This invention pertains to the field of body mas¬ saging apparatuses, and more particularly to apparatuses that use captive rotating balls or beads to enhance the effect of the massage. BACKGROUND ART The massaging of the human body has long been used for relieving body aches, for providing therapeutic effects and for the generally soothing effect it imparts on the person being massaged. Massagers generally use their bare hands when giving a massage. However, aiding implements such as electric vibrators, rolling pins, pebbles and balls or a combination of the above have been used to amplify the beneficial effect of the mas¬ sage. Most of these implements, other than the electric vibrator, are difficult to use, are easily misplaced and limited in their use because of their bulkiness and awkwardness in holding and maintaining the implement in a desired body location. A search of the prior art did not disclose any patents that read on the claims of the instant invention. However, Patent No. 4,198,962 entitled "Foot Massager" issued to McCauley on 22 April 1980 was considered related. This patent discloses a foot massager com¬ prising of a frame, supporting a plurality of parallel rods and a plurality of rotatable balls mounted on the rods. The rods are attached to the frame to provide a OMPI "' generally convex arcuate massaging surface. A vibrator is attached to the structure to provide vibrational energy to the balls. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The Improved Rotating Ball Massager is comprised of several embodiments where each embodiment makes use of either a rotating ball assembly or a rotating circular bead assembly. The assemblies are permanently attached to the palm, finger and thumb areas of a glove or mitten, to various shapes of cushions/cushion enclosures, or to a single fabric or a two-ply air filled fabric that is stretched and attached to a rigid frame. The glove and mitten embodiments particularly solve the problems that occur when hand-held loose balls, pebbles and the like as are used to give a massage. Some embodiments of the Improved Rotating Ball Massager can also be used in combination with electric vibrators and/or heating elements to further add to the relief of aches and to the therapeutic effect provided by a massage. In addition to providing a massaging apparatus that offers instant relief to tired, aching muscles and nerves by simple pressure of the hand and/or fingers, it is also an objective of the invention to provide a massager that: o can be used by both non-professional persons as well as professional masseurs, masseures and thera¬ pists, o can be easily manipulated by an individual without assistance from another person, o can be operated as a single unit or attached to and used in conjunction with electrical vibrators and/or heating elements, and o can be easily and inexpensively manufactured. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The details of The Improved Rotating Ball Massager are described in connection with the accompanying draw¬ ings in which: FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the massaging surface of the glove with a plurality of rotating ball assemblies attached. FIGURE 2 is a top view of the rotating ball as¬ sembly. FIGURE 3 is a side view of the rotating ball assembly. FIGURE 4 is a plan view of the massaging surface of the glove with a plurality of the rotating circular bead assemblies attached. FIGURE 5 is a plan view of the massaging surface of the mitten with a plurality of the rotating circular bead assemblies attached. FIGURE 6 is a side view of the mitten shown in FIGURE 5. FIGURE 7 is a plan view of the non-massaging surface of the mitten shown in FIGURE 5. FIGURE 8 is an end view of one of the beads used in the rotating circular bead assembly. FIGURE 9 is a cross sectional view showing the bore through the beads used in the rotating circular bead assembly. FIGURE 10 is a perspective view of the rod used to hold the beads of the rotating circular bead assembly. OMPI FIGURE 11 is a plan view of the bell-shaped rectangular cushion/enclosure massager with a plurality of the rotating circular bead assemblies attached. FIGURE 12 is a end view of the bell shaped surface of the rectangular cushion/enclosure massager shown in FIGURE 11. FIGURE 13 is a perspective view of the rectangular/ angled cushion/enclosure with a plurality of the rotating ball assemblies attached. FIGURE 14 is a cutaway section of a typical two-ply fabric shown with a check valve attached to one side. FIGURE 15 is a plan view, of the rigid frame and stretched fabric massager with a plurality of the rotat¬ ing ball assemblies attached. 5 FIGURE 16 is a top view of an electric hand-held electric vibrator having attached the band of elastic material with the rotating circular bead assembly. FIGURE 17 is a side view of the electric hand-held, electric vibrator having attached the band of elastic 0 material with the rotating circular bead assembly. FIGURE 18 is a bottom view of the band of elastic material shown with the band clips attached. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The improved rotating ball massager 10 is described 5 in terms of six embodiments. The best mode for carrying out the invention, or preferred embodiment, is comprised of a combination of two elements: a flexible hand enclosure 11 and a rotating ball assembly 13. The hand enclosure 11 may be either a glove 12 as 0 shown in FIGURE 1 or a mitten as shown in FIGURES 5 and 6. The glove in the preferred embodiment is made of canvas with an elasticized ribbing 12a located around the wrist area. However, any suitable flexible material may be used. The rotating ball assembly 13, as shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, is comprised of a cylindrical base 13a and a circular ball 13b where both parts may be made of plastic, wood, metal, or a resilient material such as hard rubber with .plastic being preferred. The base 13a has a flat bottom surface 13c and a concave upper surface 13d that is dimensioned to rotatably retain the ball 13b. Thus, the assembly 13 allows the ball 13b to rotate easily in all directions while remaining captive within the base 13a. To combine the two elements 11, 13 into a func¬ tional massaging embodiment a plurality of rotating ball assemblies 13 are attached to the glove 12 in an arrange¬ ment that effectively covers the glove palm 12b, and the bottom surface of the fingers 12c and thumb 12d. In the preferred embodiment, as shown in FIGURE 1, a total of seventeen assemblies are attached to the glove. The attachment of the assembly 13 to the glove 12 is accom¬ plished by applying an adhesive substance 14, such as a permanent setting cement, to the bottom surface 13c of the base 13a and placing the base on the designated area on the glove. To use the improved rotating ball massager the glove is slipped into the hand and the hand is manipulated about a body region to provide the massage. To further enhance the massage, a hand-held electric vibrator 35 may be. strapped to the glove 12 or mitten 17. The second embodiment of the improved rotating ball massager 10 is also comprised of a combination of two elements: a hand enclosure 11 and a plurality of rotat¬ ing circular bead assemblies 18. The hand enclosure 11 may be either a glove 12, as shown in FIGURE 4, or a mitten 17, as shown in FIGURES 5, 6 and 7. The glove or mitten, in the second embodiment, is also made of canvas or an equivalent material with an elasticized ribbing 12a located around the wrist area. The rotating circular bead assembly 18, as shown attached to a glove 12 and a mitten 17 in FIGURES 4, 5 and 6 respectively, is comprised of either a plurality of circular beads or balls 18a or a single bead or ball 18a and a correspondingly sized rod 18c. The circular bead(s) 18a are circular in shape and have a central bore 18b therethrough as best shown in FIGURES 8 and 9. The beads or balls may be made of plastic, wood or metal or a resilient material such as hard rubber. The rod 18c, as best shown in FIGURE 10, consists of a horizontal section 18d with a contiguous 90-degree vertical section on each end. When completely shaped, the rod resembles an inverted square "U". The rod has a diameter that allows the circular beads 18a to be easily inserted and rotated about the horizontal section 18d of the rod. The length of the vertical sections are chosen to allow the beads to easily rotate * against the surface of the hand enclosure 11. To assemble the rotating circular bead assembly 18 one of the vertical ends is initially bend downwardly and the bead(s) 18a are inserted into the rod. Once all the beads are inserted, the remaining vertical section is bend downwardly at a point that allows sufficient lateral bead movement to assure that the beads can rotate freely. Thus, maintaining the beads in a captive position as best shown in FIGURE 4. The ends of the vertical sections may terminate in an "L" shape, "T" shape or an eyelet 18f as shown in FIGURE 10. Whatever, the shape of the terminating end, its purpose is to allow the assembly 18 to be attached to the hand enclosure 11 by wrapping and stitching 20 the ends to the surface of the hand enclosure 11. Other attach methods may also be used, i.e. , having grooved vertical ends that when inserted into a spring-loaded locking eyelet automatically lock, where the eyelets are located on the surface of the hand enclosure 11. The single or plurality configuration of the circular bead assemblies are arranged and attached to conform. to the particular shape of the hand enclosure. For example, in the glove 12 configuration, as shown in FIGURE 4, five assemblies 18 with plurality beads are arranged in parallel rows extending from the front to the back of the palm surface. Additionally, there are also single bead assemblies extending across the length of the fingers and thumb with one single bead assembly 18 attached near the bottom of the thumb area approximately normal to the rotational angle of the majority of the other assemblies 18. In the mitten configuration, as shown in FIGURES 5 and 6, ten assemblies 18 with plurality beads are arranged in parallel rows extending from the top to the bottom of the mitten palm and three single bead assemblies 18 are attached in the thumb area. With either the glove or mitten bead assembly arrangement an optimum massaging configuration is achieved, and as in the preferred embodiment, the glove or mitten may also be used with a hand-held electric vibrator. The third embodiment of the improved rotating ball massager 10, as shown in FIGURES 11 and 12, is designed to be used as a hand-held unit to massage the neck and shoulder area or .it can be placed on the floor and used as a foot massager. This embodiment is comprised of a combination of three elements: a resilient rectangular cushion 25, a flexible rectangular enclosure 26, and a plurality of rotating circular bead assemblies 18. The cushion 25 is constructed of a resilient, material such as a urethane foam and is configured with a lateral and centrally located bell shaped upper surface 25b that extends over the length of the rectangular OMPI cushion as best shown in FIGURE 13. The flexible rectangular enclosure 26 is designed to fit snuggly over the cushion 25 and is made of canvas or other equivalent material. The enclosure may be left •*-> open on one end or sealed by means of a zipper or snaps. A plurality of rotating circular bead assemblies 18 are arranged in parallel rows extending laterally over the crest of the bell shaped upper surface 25b of the flexible rectangular enclosure 26 as best shown in 0 FIGURE 12. For this particular embodiment a total of five assemblies each having five beads were used. The general description of the assembly 18 and its attachment methodology is identical to that described for the second embodiment. Also it should be noted that the number of 5 balls per assembly as well as the diameter of the balls is dependent upon the size and use of the massaging device. The fourth embodiment of the improved rotating ball massager 10, as shown in FIGURE 13, is designed to be placed on a chair for massaging the upper and lower back. This embodiment is also comprised of three elements: a resilient rectangular/angled cushion 28, a flexible angled enclosure 29, or a flexible angled two-ply enclosure 27 and a plurality of rotating ball assemblies 13. The cushion 28 is constructed of a resilient material such as a urethane foam and is configured as shown in FIGURE 13, with a flat back side 28a and an inclined front side 28b with the incline tapering at the top of the cushion. With this configuration the cushion can be placed on the back of a chair or on a bed to provide an optimum massaging angle surface. The flexible angled enclosure 29 is designed to fit snuggly over the cushion and is made of canvas or other equivalent material. The enclosure may be left open on one end or sealed by means of a zipper or snaps. O P ' An alternative enclosure may also be used that has a hermetically sealed two-ply fabric 27, as shown in FIGURE 14, located on the upper or functional side of the enclosure 29. Attached to one side of the two-ply fabric is an air inlet check valve 27a. The check valve allows air to enter and fill the fabric while preventing air from escaping. A sufficient quantity of air is inserted to allow an air cushion to be formed. The air cushion allows the rotating ball assemblies 13 to rotate easily even when excessive body weight is applied to the fabric. A plurality of rotating ball assemblies 13 are arranged to effectively cover the inclined front side 28b of the flexible angled enclosure 27 or 29 as shown in FIGURE 13. For this particular embodiment, a total of seventy-two assemblies 13 were used. The general description of the assembly 13 and its attachment methodology is identical to that described for the * preferred embodiment. The third and fourth embodiments are especially suited for having a conventional heating element placed between the cushion 25, 28 and the enclosure 26, 29 respectively. The heating element further enhances the therapeutic and soothing effects provided by the massage. The fifth embodiment of the improved rotating ball massager 10, as shown in FIGURE 15, is dimensioned to be placed on top of a bed for massaging in a prone position or hung on a wall for massaging in a standing position. This embodiment is comprised of a combination of three elements: a rigid frame 30, a resilient body-support fabric 31, or a resilient body support two-ply fabric 32 and a plurality of rotating ball assemblies 13. The rigid frame 30 is of a rectngular shape and is dimensioned preferably to fit on top of a single bed. The frame is constructed by joining two frame side members 30a to two corresponding frame end members 30b. The joint is accomplished by either welding 33 or bolting (not shown) the pieces together. Around the periphery of the frame are located a series of contiguous tabs 30c having a hole 30d therein. The tabs are located on each corner of the frame and are centered on each frame side member 30a and frame end member 30b. The tabs are used for hanging the frame on a wall or fastening the frame to a bed. The resilient body-support fabric 31 is dimensioned to fit on top of the frame 30 in a stretched condition. The preferred method for attaching the fabric 31 to the frame 30 is by a heat process that fuses the bottom of the fabric to the upper surface of the frame. However, other conventional attachment methods that allow the fabric to be stretched over the frame may be used. An alternative fabric, as shown in FIGURE 14, may also be used. This fabric is comprised of a hermetically sealed two-ply fabric 32 having an air inlet check valve 32a on one or two sides. The check valve 32a allows air to enter into the fabric 32 while preventing air from escap¬ ing. A sufficient quantity of air is inserted into the fabric to allow an air cushion to be formed. The air cushion allows the rotating ball assemblies 13 to rotate easily even when excessive body pressure is applied to the fabric. Fabrics filled with permanent captive air may also be used. In this type of fabric, air is carried in partitioned sections where one or two rotating ball assemblies 13 per section can be attached. A plurality of rotating ball assemblies 13 are arranged to effectively cover the usable resilient area of the fabric 31 or 32 as shown in FIGURE 14. For this embodiment a total of 560 assemblies 13 were used. The general description of the assembly 13 is identical to that described for the first embodiment. However, the preferred method for attaching the assembly 13 to the OMPi fabric 31 is by a heat process that fuses the bottom surface of the assembly to the upper surface of the fabric. The sixth embodiment of the improved rotating ball massager 10, as shown in FIGURES 16, 17 and 18, is designed to be used with a standard hand-held electric vibrator, this embodiment is comprised of a combination of five elements: the standard hand-held electric vibrator 35, a set of vibrator clips 36, a band of elastic material 37, a set of band clips 38, and a single rotating circular bead assembly 18. The electric vibrator 35 has an on-off switch 35a and a standard power cord and connector 35b, and is modified by attaching (when required) a vibrator clip 36 on each side of the vibrator as shown in FIGURES 16 and 17. The clips 36 are attached to the vibrator by conven¬ tional means such as by a permanent setting adhesive. The band of elastic material 37 has attached to each end a band clip 38 as shown in FIGURE 18. The clips are sized and designed to allow them to securely clip on to the ends of the vibrator clips 36 as best shown in FIGURE 17. The clips are attached to the band by conventional means such as by a combination of rivets 39 and an enforcement rivet plate 40. The single rotating circular bead assembly 18, as best shown in FIGURE 16, has a rod 18c sized to contain three beads 18a. The assembly 18 is placed along the length of the band 37 to allow the beads 18a to rotate when the hand-held electric vibrator 35 is moved in a forward and backward direction. Thus, this embodiment produces a vibrating motion in addition to the rotating action of the beads. OMPI Although the invention has b&en described in com¬ plete detail and pictorally shown in the accompanying drawings, it is not to be limited to such details since many changes and modifications may be made to the Improved Rotating Ball Massager without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. Hence, the invention is described to cover any and all modifications and forms which may come within the language and scope of the claims. OMPΓ

Claims: CLAIMS 1. An improved rotating ball massager comprising: a) a flexible hand enclosure, b) a rotating ball assembly comprising: 1) a cylindrical base having an upper 5 concave surface and a flat bottom surface. 2) a circular ball held rotatably captive within the concave surface of said base, where a plural¬ ity of said assemblies are arranged to effectively cover the palm and bottom surface of the fingers and thumb of 10 said hand enclosure, and c) means for attaching the bottom surface of the base to the palm and bottom surface of the fingers and thumb of said hand enclosure. 2. The improved rotating ball massager as specif- 15 ied in claim 1 wherein said means for attaching bottom surface of said base to the palm and bottom surface of the fingers and thumb of said hand enclosure is by an adhesive substance. 3. The improved rotating ball massager as specif- 20 ied in claim 1 wherein said hand enclosure is comprised of a glove. 4. The improved rotating ball massager as specif¬ ied in claim 1 wherein said hand enclosure is comprised of a mitten. 25 5. An improved rotating ball massager comprising: a) a flexible hand enclosure, v b) a rotating circular bead assembly compris¬ ing: 1) a plurality of circular beads each 30 having a central bore therethrough. 2) a rod having a horizontal center sec¬ tion with a downwardly angled vertical section on each end, with said rod having a diameter that allows said circular beads to be easily inserted and rotated about the horizontal center section and where the length of vertical sections are chosen to allow said beads to easily rotate against the surface of said hand enclosure, and where a plurality of said assemblies are arranged and attached in parallel rows extending from the front to the back of the palm surface and bottom surface of the fingers and thumb of said hand enclosure, and c) means for attaching the ends of the verti¬ cal section of said rod to the palm and bottom surface of the fingers and thumb of said hand enclosure. 6. The improved manual massager as specified in claim 5 wherein the vertical ends of said rod are shaped to have an eyelet. 7. The improved rotating ball massager as specif¬ ied in claim 5 wherein said rod attaching means is accomplished by wrapping and stitching the ends of the vertical section of said rod to the palm and bottom surface of the fingers and thumb of said hand enclosure. 8. The improved rotating ball massager as specif¬ ied in claim 5 wherein said hand enclosure is comprised of a glove. 9. The improved rotating ball massager as specif¬ ied in claim 5 wherein said hand enclosure is comprised of a mitten. 10. The improved rotating ball massager as specif¬ ied in claim 5 wherein said rotating circular bead assembly is comprised of a single bead rotatably attached to said rod. 11. An improved manual massager comprising: a) a resilient rectangular cushion having a flat bottom and a lateral and centrally located bell- shaped upper surface extending over the length of said rectangular cushion, b) a flexible rectangular enclosure sized to fit over said resilient rectangular cushion, c) a rotating circular bead assembly compris¬ ing: 1) a plurality of circular beads each having a central bore therethrough, 2) a rod having a horizontal center section with a vertical section on each end, with said rod having a diameter that allows said circular beads to be easily inserted and rotated about the horizontal center section and where the vertical sections are sized so that said beads can easily rotate against the surface of said flexible enclosure, and where a plurality of said assemblies are arranged in parallel rows extend- ing laterally over the crest of the bell shaped upper surface, and d) means for attaching the ends of the vertical section of said assembly to said flexible enclosure. 12. The improved rotating ball massager as specified in claim 11 wherein rod attaching means is accomplished by wrapping and stitching the ends of the vertical section of said rod to said flexible enclosure. 13. An improved rotating ball massager comprising; a) a resilient rectangular/angled cushion having a flat back side and an inclined front side with the incline tapering at the top of the cushion, b) a flexible angled enclosure sized to fit over said resilient rectangular/angled cushion, c) a rotating ball assembly comprising: 1) a base having an upper concave surface and a flat bottom surface, 2) a circular ball held rotatably captive within the concave surface of said base, where a plurality of said assemblies are arranged to effectively cover the side of said flexible enclosure corresponding to the inclined front side of said resilient rectangular cushion, and d) means for attaching the bottom surface of the base of said rotating ball assembly to said flexible enclosure. 14. The improved rotating ball massager as specif- ied in claim 13 wherein said means for attaching bottom surface of said base to said flexible enclosure is by an adhesive substance. 15. The improved rotating ball massager as specified in claim 13 further comprising a heating element placed between said cushion and said flexible enclosure. 16. An improved rotating ball massager comprising: a) a rigid frame, b) a resilient body-support fabric stretched and attached to the upper surface of said rigid frame by attaching means, 17 c) a rotating ball assembly comprising: 1) a base having an upper concave surface and a flat bottom surface, 2) a circular ball held rotatably captive within the concave surface of said base, where a plural¬ ity of said assemblies are arranged to effectively cover the upper surface of said body support fabric, and d) means for attaching the bottom surface of the base to the upper surface of said body support fabric. 17. The improved rotating ball massager as specified in claim 16 wherein said rigid frame is of rectangular shape with a plurality of contiguous tabs having holes therein located around the periphery of said frame where said tabs are suitable for hanging said frame on a wall or fastening to a bed. 18. The improved rotating ball massager as specified in claim 16 wherein said body-support fabric is further comprised of a hermetically sealed two-ply fabric having an air inlet check valve attached to said fabric into which air is inserted to allow said two-ply fabric to form an air cushion. 19. The improved rotating ball massager as specified in claim 16 wherein said means for attaching said body-support fabric to said frame is accomplished by a heat process that fuses bottom of said fabric to upper surface of said frame. 20. The improved rotating ball massager as specified in claim 16 wherein said means for attaching bottom surface of said base to the upper surface of said body-support fabric is by a heat process that fuses the bottom of said base to the surface of said fabric. 21. An improved rotating ball massager comprising: a) a standard hand-held electric vibrator, b) a set of rigid vibrator clips convention¬ ally attached to each side of said vibrator, c) a band of elastic material having a rigid band clip conventionally attached to each end of said band where said band clips allow said band to be clipped to said clips on said vibrator, d) a rotating circular bead assembly compris- ing: 1) a plurality of circular beads each having a central bore therethrough, 2) a rod having a horizontal center section with a vertical section on each end, with said rod having a diameter that allows said circular beads to be easily inserted and rotated about the horizontal center section and where the vertical sections are sized so that said beads can easily rotate against the surface of said band where said rotating circular bead assembly is attached across the length of the upper surface of said band, and e) means for attaching the ends of the verti¬ cal section of said rod to said band. 22. The improved rotating ball massager as specif- ied in claim 21 wherein said rod attaching means is accomplished by wrapping and stitching the ends of the vertical section of said rod to said band. 23. The improved rotating ball massager as specified in claim 1 wherein said flexible hand enclosure can be used in combination with said hand-held electric vibrator. O PI

Inventors: LOHATI ALADAR, LOHATI GIZELLA, LOHATI, ALADAR, LOHATI, GIZELLA
Applicants: LOHATI ALADAR, LOHATI GIZELLA, LOHATI, ALADAR, LOHATI, GIZELLA
Application year: 1982
Main classification: A61H15
IPC codes: A41D19, A61H15