Abstract:
A massaging device which is straddled over the doorstop of a door opening at an elevated location coincident with a hard-to-reach back area and held in place by the leaning weight of a user moving back and forth and up an down permitting a self-administered back massage.

Description:
The present invention relates generally to a massaging device and, more particularly, to the use of a massaging device for the self-administration of a massage to a difficult to reach back areas. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Field of Invention 
   Subluxations of the vertebrae in diverse regions are known to be associated with or occur concomitantly with headaches, neck pain, neck muscle spasms, upper, mid and lower back pain to mention but a few cause and effect circumstances, and understandably has given rise to scientific chiropractic care because of the effectiveness of spinal/structural adjustments of the human body in promoting health where other methods have failed. A masseuse-administered massage is a popular practice. So also is a self-administered massage which is the particular focus of the mode of use of the massaging device of the invention. 
   An ability to self-administer a massage is already well known in the patented literature. It, of necessity, requires providing a support for a massaging device and thus allowing the user to make massaging contact with the supported device. Examples of supported massaging devices for self-administered massages are U.S. Pat. No. 4,520,798 for “Self Acupressure Method” issued to Lewis on Jun. 4, 1985 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,174,282 for “Massage Apparatus” issued to Bieggi on Dec. 29, 1992, to mention but a few. In the &#39;798 Lewis patent, the massaging device is supported on a wall by brackets interconnected between the wall and the massaging device wherein the brackets are embodied with joints providing degrees of movement to facilitate the positioning of a massaging surface relative to selected back areas of the user receiving the massage. 
   In the &#39;282 Bieggi patent, the setup is greatly simplified by the suspension of the massaging device from the top edge of a door and the user undergoing body movements while pressing against the suspended massaging device. 
   While the simplification of the support provided by Bieggi to that of Lewis is noteworthy, it is not entirely satisfactory because the bodily movements of the user, particularly laterally of the massaging surface, urges the device in corresponding lateral movement and when this occurs there is diminished relative movement at the interface of the user&#39;s back and the massaging surface and relative movement is, of course, determinative of the effectiveness of the massage being administered. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Broadly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a supported massaging device contributing to an effective self-administered massage overcoming the foregoing and other shortcomings of the prior art. 
   More particularly, it is an object to operatively position a massaging device for use in an open doorway and maintain this position stationary during massaging use by using to advantage the leaning pressure applied by the user against the massaging surface, so that maximum relative movement at the critical surface interface of the user and the massage-applying surface occurs, to corresponding maximize the massaging benefit, all as will be better understood as the description proceeds. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The description of the invention which follows, together with the accompanying drawings should not be construed as limiting the invention to the example shown and described, because those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains will be able to devise other forms thereof within the ambit of the appended claims. 
       FIG. 1  is a side elevational view of a massaging device according to the present invention in use in a doorway in its operative position on a doorway doorstop and held in place by the leaning weight of a user; 
       FIGS. 2 ,  3  and  4  are views similar to  FIG. 1 , in which the doorway is simplified in a phantom perspective, and the figures illustrate modes of use; 
       FIG. 5  is a plan view in cross section taken along line  5 – 5  of  FIG. 1  which illustrates a typical construction of a doorway and of the doorstop thereof; 
       FIGS. 6 ,  7  and  8  are isolated views of the massaging device used in  FIGS. 1–4 , in which  FIG. 6  is a side elevational view,  FIG. 7  is a front view and  FIG. 8  a rear view; and 
       FIG. 9  is a partial cross sectional view projected from  FIG. 5  and as seen along line  9 – 9  of  FIG. 8 . 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Back massaging devices are already well known as exemplified by the prior patents previously noted and are of various constructions. However, not known and underlying the present invention, is the recognition that an open doorway  10  having a vertically oriented doorstop  12  can advantageously be used as the site  14  of the massage, and the massaging device  16  held in place on the doorstop  12  at a desired elevation  18  coinciding with the region  20  of the back of the user  22  receiving the massage and, most significant, wherein the massaging device is held in place at said elevation  18  by the force  24  applied by the leaning in the direction of the force by the user against the massaging device  16 . That is, the massaging device  16  appropriately constructed as will be subsequently described to have a back-massaging function, is positioned by the user  22  reaching back and placing the device  16  in straddling relation, as at  26 , again as will be subsequently explained, to the doorstop  12 , and leaning against the massaging device  16 . Next, bracing himself with his hands  28  against the opposite door jamb or frame  30 , as at  32 , possibly even increasing the leaning force  24 , the user with knee flexuring will move up and down in opposite directions  34  to correspondingly move the back region  20  being massaged up and down over the stationarily held massaging device  16  at the elevation  18 , thus achieving a massaging function at the interface of the massaging device  16  and the back region  20 , as at  36 . 
   To change to a lower region for massaging, a cord  38  attached at one end  40  to the massaging device  16  is used to lower and subsequently to raise, the device  16 , in the opposite directions  44 , as required in the massaging routine. 
   For completeness sake it is noted in conjunction with  FIG. 5  that typically the construction of a doorway  10  embodied with a doorstop  12  includes connected studs  46  and  48  assembled between sheet rock panels  50  and  52 , and cooperating clam shell moldings  54  and  56  appropriately attached to extend forwardly of the sheet rock panels  50  and  52  for appropriate attachment on opposite sides to a doorframe member  58 . Mounted vertically and centrally at the inner surface of the doorframe  58  is the doorstop  12  which typically is provided in the standard size of 1¼ inch wide and ⅜ inch thick. 
   As best shown in detail in  FIGS. 6–9 , and also in  FIG. 5 , a preferred embodiment of the massaging device  16  is rectangular in shape, being 5 inches by 6 inches, providing a massaging function with semi-circular projections, 4 in number, individually and collectively designated  60 , the centers of which are spaced 3 inches apart, as at  62 , and extending forwardly of the device front surface  64 . On the device rear surface  66 , spaced apart walls  68  bound a recess  70  sized to straddle the 1¼ inch width of the doorstop  12  and of an appropriate depth into the thickness  72  of the device  16  which in practice provided good results at 1 inch. 
   The preferred construction material of the body of the massaging device  16  is plastic and includes a construction material of a hard rubber for an insert  74  with molded teeth  75  positioned and adhesively secured in place in the recess  70  which optionally can be used to hold the device  16  against sliding movement when the user&#39;s torso, as previously described, moves up and down in the opposite directions  34 . Insert  74  is made with an extension  76  which has opening  78  for the attachment of the string  38 . 
   While the apparatus for practicing the within inventive method, as well as said method herein shown and disclosed in detail is fully capable of attaining the objects and providing the advantages hereinbefore stated, it is to be understood that it is merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiment of the invention and that no limitations are intended to the detail of construction or design herein shown other than as defined in the appended claims.