Abstract:
A therapy device comprising is disclosed. One embodiment of the therapy device includes a casing comprising a flexible material, one or more individual units encased within the casing, comprising substantially spherical objects having a diameter in a range of 2.5 centimeters to 18 centimeters, wherein between each individual unit there is an inter-unit region that is variable in size. A loop fastener fixed to a terminal of one of the individual units allows a user to loop the device around ins or her neck.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    There exists a large demand among travelers, physical therapists, students, large music or sporting event attendees, and those who work at desks or in sitting positions for comfortable and customizable neck, head and body padding. 
         [0002]    The current solutions for personal therapy devices such as headrests, heating pads or neck braces typically serve one purpose only and are not configurable, or even portable in some instances. Some users prefer the ability to have a very comfortable neck support that can be manipulated to hold their chin up for example. Others desire a solution that is customizable so that it is not limited to the application of the neck or head, but rather can be used to support other parts of the body. Current solutions are also not easy to store. Those that are easy to store are likely inflatable, which do not provide the same kind of comfort, and support that filled or padded support or braces do. Current solutions, even if they are very comfortable for their application still are limited because they do not offer the ability of the user to shape it to their preference. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0003]      FIG. 1A  is a plan view of a configurable personal therapy device according to an embodiment 
           [0004]      FIG. 1B  is a cross sectional diagram of a configurable personal therapy device according to an embodiment. 
           [0005]      FIG. 1C  is a cross sectional diagram of one unit of a configurable personal therapy device according to an embodiment. 
           [0006]      FIG. 1D  is a cross sectional diagram of one unit of a configurable personal therapy device according to an embodiment. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating one method for configuring a personal therapy device according to an embodiment. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating one method for configuring a personal therapy device according to an embodiment. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a diagram of one use case of the personal therapy device. 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is a diagram of one use case of the personal therapy device. 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is a diagram illustrating one method for configuring a personal therapy device according to an embodiment. 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  is a diagram of an embodiment of a personal therapy device. 
           [0013]      FIG. 8  is a diagram of one use case of the personal therapy device of  FIG. 7 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0014]    Embodiments of the invention include a support device that can be manipulated to support a person&#39;s head, neck, or other body part during sitting, standing, laying or prone positions. The shape and size of the support device is adjustable to support a person&#39;s head, neck, legs, back or other body part. 
         [0015]    Embodiments of the invention include several spherical or other shaped units made of foam, rubber or other synthetic materials designed to absorb impact and provide support when shaped. These units in some embodiments are whole or filled and in other embodiments are hollow. These units are in a casing made with nylon, spandex, polyester or other materials that allow for the configuration of the shape and retention of the desired form of the therapy device, In one embodiment of the invention the casing of the units creates ridges that allow the therapy device to have a massage effect when tapped, rubbed or slid against a user&#39;s body. In one embodiment the comfort of the user is taken into consideration as this fabric or synthetic material acting as the casing is soft and comfortable to the touch. In another embodiment, the shape of the therapy device would be like a collar or horse-shoe, with an opening for the therapy device to be placed around the body part or user for support. In another embodiment, the natural shape of the therapy device is straight or only slightly curved, not a rigid horseshoe shape. 
         [0016]      FIG. 1A-1E  shows an embodiment of the therapy device,  FIG. 1A  shows the therapy device in a natural resting position with a slight curve to its shape.  FIG. 1B  shows a cross section of an embodiment of the therapy device. The therapy device contains individual units  101 . The individual units  101  are wrapped tightly in the casing  103 . At the top of the support padding is a loop fastener  105  made of the same fabric as the casing  103 . The loop fastener  105  can be used to hang the therapy device from a hook or for configuration. The inter-unit region  107  is an area between two units that is of varying size depending on the distance between the two units.  FIG. 1C  shows an embodiment of a cross section of a unit  101 , in this embodiment the unit  101  is hollow. The wall  108  of the unit  101  can be rigid or soft. The wall  108  can be compressed. The wall  108  can be fabric as in the example of being filled with beads, or alternatively, cavity  110  can be empty and wall  108  can be different width or dimension to accommodate different degrees of deformability. In one example, wall  108  will range in thickness between 0.2 centimeter and 1 centimeter. The dimension of  108  is not meant to be limiting, any feasible dimension is possible. The cavity  110  can be filled with bead like objects, such as polystyrene beads, that give the unit  101  more weight or support. The dimension  102  of unit  101  can be different to accommodate various applications for the therapy device. In one example, diameter  102  could range from 2.5 centimeters to 14 centimeters. The diameter  102  is not meant to be limiting, any feasible dimension is possible.  FIG. 1D  shows a cross section of unit  114  that would be contained in an embodiment of the therapy device. In this embodiment the width  104  and height  106  of unit  114  are not equal. The shape of the unit  114  can be oblong or uneven for different embodiments of the therapy device. That is, although the unit can be substantially spherical or symmetrical in all dimensions, the unit can also not be symmetrical in all dimensions. 
         [0017]      FIG. 2  shows the configuration of the therapy device according to an embodiment. The loop fastener  105  can be used to configure the therapy device into a fixed position or loop by slipping one or more of the units  101  through the loop fastener  105 . The loop fastener  105  being made of a flexible material allows for the fastener to expand and then contract around the inter-unit region  107  between the units  140  and  142 . The loop fastener  105  can also be used to affix the therapy device to a piece of furniture or a user&#39;s body part for added configurability. 
         [0018]      FIG. 3  shows the configuration of the therapy device according to an embodiment. The therapy device  118  is shown in its configuration as a loop. The configuration is achieved by placing inter-unit region  106  over inter-region unit  107  and twisting to create tension. The inter-region unit  107  is laid over inter-region unit  106  and unit  140  and  142  are twisted around units  143  and  145 . 
         [0019]      FIG. 4  is a diagram of one use case of the personal therapy device. A user&#39;s head is represented with the therapy device configured as a loop around the user&#39;s neck. The therapy device is acting like a neck support or brace. The therapy device is configured so two units  101  act as a chin support. The therapy device keeps it shape using the method shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0020]      FIG. 5  shows a configuration of the therapy device  100  according to an embodiment. A user&#39;s head is represented with the therapy device configured as a loop around the user&#39;s neck. The user can lean their head in any direction to rest on the therapy device. A pillow  500  is shown to demonstrate how the therapy device can work in conjunction with a head rest to stabilize a user&#39;s neck and head. 
         [0021]      FIG. 6  shows a configuration of the therapy device according to an embodiment An expandable strap  106  is sized to fit over a person&#39;s hand and securely fit on the person&#39;s wrist, The configuration of device  122  makes it possible for the user to compress the deformable unit  101  with their hand for stress relief or as an exercise to strengthen hand muscles. In this embodiment unit  101  can be made of different densities or as a filled or hollow unit as described in  FIG. 1C . 
         [0022]      FIG. 7  is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a personal therapy device  120  according to an embodiment. In this embodiment the therapy device contains a single unit  101 . The single unit  101  is in an appropriately sized casing  601 . The therapy device has an expandable strap  106  that can expand over a user&#39;s wrist or other body part. 
         [0023]      FIG. 8  shows a deployment  124  of the therapy device  120  according to an embodiment. The expandable strap  106  is slid over a user&#39;s wrist. The expandable strap  106  is pulled over the user&#39;s wrist and contracts to rest into position at the desired part of the user&#39;s wrist. The therapy device  120  is then used as a wrist or hand support.