Abstract:
A system of heat/massage devices for a user&#39;s body parts needing heat and massage therapy. Conformable pads, made from a flexible, water-resistant material such as neoprene, nylon, vinyl, or GORE-TEX®, hold vibration and heating elements, which are electrically connected to a control unit with variable control switches. Several of the pads can be used simultaneously, and each can be controlled individually. One pad can be connected to another pad in series to increase the number of pads that can be used at the same time.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to a plurality of individually-controlled, combination heat/massage devices comprising pads with heating and massaging elements, which can be wrapped around body parts needing heat and massage therapy.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    It is well known to use heating pads for treating muscle and joint pain. It is also known that massage therapy can relax and soothe individuals. Several prior art devices combine heating/cooling elements with massage units. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,886,934 to Doty discloses a rigid housing with gripping arms for receiving a body portion, with a heating pad lining the gripping arms and housing, and vibrator means carried within the housing. U.S. Pat. No. 4,607,624 to Jefferson shows a unitary box-shaped device which contains a heating element, a vibration unit, and controls. U.S. Pat. No. 5,902,256 to Benaron discloses a flexible housing with one or more pockets for holding heating or cooling gel packs, as well as power vibrators. U.S. Pat. No. 6,193,678 to Brannon discloses a vest unit with a hook-and-pile-covered interior surface to which can be attached vibration units and heating elements.  
           [0003]    However, none of the prior art devices combines the features of the present invention, which provides a plurality of heat/massage devices, each of which can be wrapped and secured around a different area of the body to relieve pain, swelling, and discomfort to knees, elbows, shoulders, ankles, etc. Several of the devices can be used simultaneously. Each device has individual controls to allow adjustment of the intensity of vibration and heat applied to an affected body part.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    The heat/massage devices of the present invention can be generally rectangular in shape, or can be custom-cut to fit around a particular body part. Each device has a flexible water-resistant pad holding the heating and vibration elements; an optional soft inner layer and a protective outer layer can be used with the device. A releasable complementary fastening system is used to secure each device around a particular area of the user&#39;s body.  
           [0005]    Each device is electrically and mechanically connectable to a control unit, either directly or in series with another device. As a result, a user may treat several areas of his or her body simultaneously. For instance, a body builder could treat both of his biceps and forearms simultaneously. Indicator switches on the control unit allow the user to adjust the heat level and vibration intensity of the elements in each pad. The control unit is generally powered using standard household receptacles; an adapter can facilitate its use with a vehicle&#39;s D/C power source.  
           [0006]    The heat/massage devices can be made in different sizes, depending on the size of the user and the area to be treated. The appearance of the pads can be enhanced by the use of various colors and decorative designs.  
           [0007]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a plurality of heat/massage devices to relieve pain, swelling, and discomfort in the knees, ankles, shoulders, elbows, and back by applying heat and vibration directly to several affected areas simultaneously.  
           [0008]    A further object of the present invention is to provide heat/massage devices with individually controlled heating and vibration elements.  
           [0009]    Yet another object of the present invention is to provide heating/massage devices which can be wrapped and secured around different parts of the body.  
           [0010]    Still another object of the present invention is to provide lightweight heating/massage devices which are portable, versatile, and easy and convenient to use.  
           [0011]    A still further object of the present invention is to provide heating/massage devices which can be connected in series, then connected to a main control unit.  
           [0012]    Other advantages of the present invention will be understood from the detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the figures disclosed. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]    [0013]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a forearm heat/massage device, connected to a bicep/tricep heat/massage device, which is plugged into a control unit.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view through an arm with a forearm device encircling it.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 3 is a top view of a forearm device, opened and laid flat.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 4 is a front view of a cable used to attach a heat/massage device to a control unit.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 5 is an end view of an end of the cable.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 6 is a detail view of one of the vibrator elements inside a holding pocket on a heat/massage device.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional side view of part of a heat/massage device showing the vibration elements and the heating elements.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 8 is a front view of a hand heat/massage device, ready for use.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 9 is a front view of a shoulder heat/massage device, ready use.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 10 is a front view of a torso heat/massage device, ready for use.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 11 is a front view of a thigh and a calf heat/massage device, ready for in use.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 12 is a front view of an ankle heat/massage device, ready use.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 13 is a front view of a combination chest/back heat/massage device, ready for use.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 14 is a back view of the chest/back device of FIG. 13. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0027]    As shown in FIG. 1, the invention uses a control unit  10  with multiple receptacles or jacks  11   a ,  11   b ,  11   c  ( 11   d ), each for receiving a connecting plug  17   a . The control unit  10  has a variable position vibration control switch  12   a , and a variable position heat control switch  12   b  for each connecting plug  17   a . A user can move the variable position vibration control switch  13   a  and the variable position heat control switch  13   b  independently of each other, depending on the intensity of vibration and heat he desires. An indicator light  14  lets the user know that a particular heat/massage device, such as the forearm device  20  and/or the biceps/triceps device  30 , is mechanically and electrically connected to the control unit  10 . Although FIG. 1 shows four jacks  11   a ,  11   b ,  11   c , ( 11   d ), a control unit  10  may have fewer or more jacks, or may have fewer jacks, with expansion slots for adding additional jacks, as needed. The control unit  10  is connected by power cord  16  to an AC to DC converter  15 , which can be plugged into a household wall outlet. Alternatively, an adapter (not shown) can be provided to allow a user to operate the control unit  10  with another power generator, such as an automobile&#39;s DC power source.  
         [0028]    As shown in FIG. 1, a generally rectangular forearm heat/massage device  20  has been wrapped around a user&#39;s forearm. The forearm device  20  has a support pad  21 , made from flexible water-resistant material, such as neoprene, nylon, vinyl or GORE-TEX®, which encases standard, readily available vibration elements  22  and heating elements (not shown). The vibration elements  22  and the heating elements (not shown) are connected by wiring (not shown) to junction box  23 . As shown in FIG. 1, the forearm device  20  can be connected by electrical cable  19  to biceps/triceps device  30  by plugging connecting plug  17   b  into junction  33 , which is connected by electrical cable  18  to the control unit  10  by plugging connector plug  17   a  into the control unit  10 . Alternatively, forearm device  20  can be connected directly to the control unit  10  by plugging connector plug  17   b  into jack  11   c  on the control unit  10 .  
         [0029]    The generally rectangular biceps/triceps device  30  has been wrapped around the user&#39;s upper arm. The biceps/triceps device  30  has a support pad  31 , made from neoprene, nylon, vinyl, GORE-TEX®, or a similar water-resistant material, which encases standard, readily available vibration elements  32  and hearing elements (not shown). The vibration elements  32  and the heating elements (not shown) are connected by wiring (not shown) to junction box  33 . The biceps/triceps device  30  is connected by electrical cable  18  to the control unit  10  by plugging connector plug  7   a  into the control unit  10 . As noted supra, additional heat/massage devices can be plugged into jacks  11   a ,  11   b , and  11   c , thereby allowing a user to treat other parts of his body, including joints, which may need heat/massage therapy.  
         [0030]    As shown in FIG. 2, the forearm heat/massage device  20  has been wrapped around a user&#39;s forearm, with an electrical cable  19  extending therefrom. The support pad  21  has multiple “pockets”  24 , each of which encloses a vibration element  22 . The support pad  21  is held in place on the arm by use of a repositionable fastening system. For example, as FIG. 2 shows, complementary strips of a hook and loop fastening system (VELCRO®) have been attached to ends of the support pad  21 , and the first end of the support pad  21  with the first part  25  of the fastening system has been overlapped and secured to the second end of the support pad  21  with the complementary second part  26  of the fastening system.  
         [0031]    Optionally, and not shown, the support pad  21  can have attached thereto an inner layer of soft cotton, to provide comfort to the skin, and/or an outer protective layer which can be removed for laundering. The outer layer can be made with decorative designs and colors, depending on the user&#39;s preferences.  
         [0032]    The forearm heat/massage device  20  is shown opened and laid flat. The support pad  21  encloses vibration elements  22 , each of which is held in a “pocket”  24 . The vibration elements  22  are electrically connected to the junction box  23  by conventional wiring  27 . The support pad also encloses heating elements  28 , which are electrically connected to the junction box  23  by conventional wiring  27 . Power to the device is carried by electrical cable  19 , which has connector plug  17   b  with prongs  29 . The first end of the support pad  21  has the first part  25  of a fastening system, and the second end of the support pad  21  has the complementary second part  26  of the fastening system. Although FIG. 3 shows twenty-six vibration elements  22 , more or fewer vibration elements  22  may be used, depending on design choice.  
         [0033]    As shown in FIG. 4, the electrical cable  18  used with a heat/massage device has a connector plug  17   b  with prongs  29  and a junction box  33 .  
         [0034]    As shown in FIG. 5, the electrical cable  18  used with a heat/massage device has a junction box  33  with openings  35  for receiving the prongs  29  of connector plug  17   b.    
         [0035]    As shown in FIG. 6, each “pocket”  24  on a support pad  21  holds a vibration element  22 , with space for movement of the vibration element  22  due to its vibration. Optionally, additional space can be provided to allow manual sideways movement of each vibration element within the “pocket”  24  to allow a user to adjust the position of each vibration element, depending on his preference. Wiring  27  provides power to the vibration element  22 .  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional view of vibration element  22  held in “pocket”  24  on the support pad  21 . Heating elements  28  carry heat throughout the support pad  21 .  
         [0037]    [0037]FIGS. 8 through 14 show different embodiments of the heat/massage device of the present invention. As shown, the heat/massage devices can be configured to fit particular areas of the body in need of heat/massage therapy.  
         [0038]    In FIG. 8, a hand heat/massage device  40  has an opening for a thumb. The support pad  41  holding the vibration elements  42  and the heating elements (not shown) is wrapped around the palm, and the first end of the support pad  41  with the first part  43  of the fastening system has been overlapped and secured to the second end of the support pad  41  with complementary second part  44  of the fastening system. Electrical cable  18  with connector plug  17   c  carries power to the hand heat/massage device  40  from the control unit  10  (not shown).  
         [0039]    In FIG. 9, a shoulder heat/massage device  50  has an opening for a user&#39;s arm. The support pad  51  holding the vibration elements  52  and the heating elements (not shown) is wrapped around a user&#39;s shoulder and the first end of the support pad  51  with the first part  53  of the fastening system has been overlapped and secured to the second end of the support pad  51  with the complementary second part  54  of the fastening system. Electrical cable  18  with connector plug  17   d  carries power to the shoulder heat/massage device  50  through junction box  33 .  
         [0040]    In FIG. 10, a torso heat/massage device  60  has been wrapped around a user&#39;s torso. The support pad holds vibration elements  62  and heating elements (not shown), which can be positioned to provide vibration and heat to affected areas. The first end of the support pad  61  with the first part  63  of the fastening system has been overlapped and secured to the second end of the support pad  61  with the complementary second part  64  of the fastening system. Electrical cable  18  with connector plug  17   e  carries power to the torso heat/massage device  60  through junction box  33 .  
         [0041]    In FIG. 11, a user is using a thigh heat/massage device  70  and a calf heat/massage device  75  simultaneously. The support pad  71  holding the vibration elements  72  and heating elements (not shown) is wrapped around the user&#39;s thigh, and the first end of the support pad  71  with the first part  73  of the fastening system has been overlapped and secured to the second end of the support pad  71  with the complementary second part  74  of the fastening system. Electrical cable  18  with connector plug  17   f  carries power from the control unit  10  (not shown) to the thigh heat/massage device  70  though junction box  33 .  
         [0042]    A calf heat/massage device  75  can be used alone or in connection with the thigh heat/massage device  70 . The support pad  76  holding the vibration elements  77  and the heating elements (not shown) is wrapped around the user&#39;s calf, and the first end of the support pad  76  with the first part  78  of the fastening system has been overlapped and secured to the second end of the support pad  76  with the complementary second part  79  of the fastening system. Electrical cable  19  with connector plug  17   g  carries electrical power from junction box  33  to junction box  23 .  
         [0043]    In FIG. 12, a foot heat/massage device  80  has an opening for a user&#39;s foot. The support pad  81  holding the vibration elements  82  and the heating elements (not shown) is wrapped around the user&#39;s ankle, and the first end of the support pad  81  with the first part  83  of the fastening system has been overlapped and secured to the second end of the support pad  81  with the complementary second part  84  of the fastening system. Electrical cable  18  with connector plug  17   h  carries power to the junction box  33  from the control unit  10  (not shown).  
         [0044]    In FIG. 13, a vestlike chest/back heat/massage device  90  has openings for a user&#39;s arms. The support pad  91  holding the vibration elements  92  and the heating elements (not shown) is worn like a jacket, and the first end of the support pad  91  with the first part  93  of the fastening system has been overlapped and secured to the second end of the support pad  91  with the complementary second part  94  of the fastening system. Electrical cable  18   a  with connector plug  17   i  carries power to the chest vibration elements  92  from the control unit  10  (not shown). Electrical cable  18   b  carries power to the back vibration elements  95  (not shown) from the control unit  10  (not shown). Alternatively, connector plug  17   i  can be plugged into junction box  33   b , or connector plug  17   j  can be plugged into junction box  33   a , and both will be operated simultaneously (as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 11).  
         [0045]    As shown in FIG. 14, the chest/back heat/massage device  90  has back vibration elements  95  held by the support pad  91 .