Patent Publication Number: US-2013231594-A1

Title: Heated roller apparatus

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed generally to physical therapeutic equipment, and more specifically, to a heated roller. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART 
     Rollers are used in physical therapy and exercise and are sold in a variety of lengths, diameters, densities, and colors. Rollers are used in hospitals, physical therapy clinics, exercise classes, and at home. They are used for exercise, stretching, massage, posture, and balance. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an illustration of an assembled heated roller. 
         FIG. 2  is an illustration of the heated roller of  FIG. 1  when disassembled. 
         FIG. 3  is an illustration of the heated roller when partially assembled. 
         FIG. 4  is an illustration of the heated roller in use. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Heat may be used in physical therapy and exercise to confer physiological benefits and increase a user&#39;s comfort, such as when using a roller. However, the use of heat may be inefficient, impractical, or may pose a safety risk due to a potential risk of burning the user&#39;s skin. Roller users therefore have had difficulty combining the use of a roller with the use of heat. 
     For example, to combine the physiological benefits and increased comfort from the use of heat with the use of rollers, a user may preheat the targeted area of skin before using the roller. This form of treatment is inefficient because the user&#39;s skin may cool before the user finishes using the roller. Alternatively, a user may use the roller in a heated environment, but this form of treatment is impractical because of the difficulty in effectively, safely, and comfortably heating a room to a temperature that will heat the user&#39;s skin (e.g., up to 113 degrees F.). The user may also wrap the exterior of the roller with a heating element, but this may be dangerous because of the risk of burning the user&#39;s skin due to direct contact with the heating element. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary heated roller  100 . The heated roller may include a roller body  110 , a cap  120 , a roller body exterior surface  111 , and roller body perforations  112 . This figure illustrates the heated roller  100  when it is fully assembled and ready for use by a user. Although not visible when assembled, the heated roller  100  may include numerous internal features.  FIG. 2  illustrates the heated roller  100  when it has been disassembled. In addition to the roller body  110  and the cap  120 , this figure also illustrates a structural support  130  and a heating element  140 . The heating element  140  may be inserted into a hollowed structural support core  134  of the structural support  130  through an opening  136  in a first end  135  of the structural support  130 . The structural support  130  may be inserted into a hollowed body core  116  of the roller body  110  through an opening  118  in a first end  115  of the roller body  110 .  FIG. 3  illustrates the heated roller  100  in a partially assembled form. Here, the heating element  140  is shown partially inserted into the structure support  130  through the opening  136  in the first end  135  of the structural support  130 , which is in turn partially inserted into the body  110  through the opening  118  in the first end  115  of the roller body  110 . The cap  120  remains unattached from the roller body  110 . A user may place the cap  120  on the roller body  110  when assembly is completed by, for example, fully inserting the heating element  140  into the structural support  130 , and fully inserting that combination into the roller body  110 .  FIG. 4  illustrates the heated roller  100  in use by a user  200 . Here the user  200  is positioned on his side, placing his weight on the heated roller  100  under the upper portion of his leg. 
     Body 
     The roller body  110  of the heated roller  100  forms the structure that comes into contact with the user  200 . For some uses of the heated roller  100 , the user  200  may lie on top of the heated roller  100  and shift his or her weight so that the heated roller  100  rolls under the body of the user  200 . The weight of the user  200  compresses the tissues of the user  200  (particularly, the muscles of the user  200 ) against the roller body  110  of the heated roller  100  and the pressure the roller body  110  exerts on the user  200  results in a tissue massage. If the roller body  110  of the heated roller  100  is too firm, use of the heated roller  100  may be uncomfortable, or potentially even painful. On the other hand, if the roller body  110  of the heated roller  100  is too soft, the heated roller  100  may not provide enough resistance to compress the tissues of the user  200  sufficiently to confer any benefit during use. Thus, the roller body  110  may be formed from any number of materials that are not too hard or too soft.  FIG. 2  illustrates a heated roller  100  with a roller body  110  formed in foam. However, the roller body  110  may also be formed in any other number of materials, including plastic, rubber, and cork. The density of the material comprising the roller body  110  of the heated roller  100  may vary according to any number of factors. Examples of factors important for determining the density include: the comfort level desired by the user  200 , the weight of the user  200 , and the intended type of use. 
     The roller body  110  of the heated roller  100  may be formed of a material of any number of colors. The color of the material forming the roller body  110  of the heated roller  100  may indicate information about the roller  100 . For example, white may indicate a less dense material, black may indicate a more dense material, and red and blue may indicate an intermediate level of material density. Likewise, the color may indicate the intensity of the heat offered or the diameter of the heated roller  100 . The exterior surface  111  of the roller body  110  may also be covered with colors or patterns for visual appeal or may include raised bumps or patterns for increased skin stimulation or tissue massage. 
     The roller body  110  of the heated roller  100  should be formed into a shape that allows the heated roller  100  to roll under the user  200  in a smooth and continuous motion when the user  200  shifts his or her weight over the heated roller  100 ; e.g. a shape that allows for rolling. Thus, the roller body  110  of the heated roller  100  may be formed in any number of shapes that include a round cross-section. For example,  FIG. 2  illustrates a heated roller  100  with a cylinder shaped roller body  110 , which has a circular cross-section. 
     The roller body  110  of the heated roller  100  may also have a wide variety of lengths and diameters. The roller body  110  should be long enough to be practical for use but short enough to facilitate convenient storage and transportation. For example, if the heated roller  100  is longer than the user  200 , it may be difficult to maneuver for use or to transport. Conversely, if the heated roller  100  is too short, it may be difficult to use. In preferred embodiments, the roller body  110  may be between 15 centimeters and 183 centimeters (six inches and six feet) in length.  FIG. 2  illustrates a heated roller  100  having a roller body  110  with an approximate length of 30 centimeters (one foot). 
     Likewise, the roller body  110  of the heated roller  100  should be wide enough to be practical for use, yet narrow enough to facilitate safe use. For example, if the diameter of the roller body  110  is too large, the heated roller  100  may not apply targeted pressure on the tissue of a user  200  and the user  200  may have difficulty balancing on the heated roller  100 . Similarly, if the diameter of the roller body  110  is too small, it may not have space to house internal components. Thus, in preferred embodiments, the roller body  110  may be between five centimeters and 61 centimeters (two inches and two feet) in diameter.  FIG. 2  illustrates a heated roller  100  with a roller body  110  with a diameter of approximately 18 centimeters (seven inches). 
     The roller body  110  of the heated roller  100  may include body attachment elements  114  that enable the roller body  110  to be attached to a removable cap  120 . Attaching the cap  120  to the roller body  110  may reduce wasted heat loss from openings  118  in the ends  115  and  117  of the roller body  110 , may improve the structural integrity of the heated roller  100  during use, and may reduce the likelihood that internal parts will unintentionally come out. Thus, the body attachment elements  114  may be configured to provide a secure attachment so that the cap  120  does not come off during use, but may also be configured to allow for convenient removal of the cap  120  to facilitate disassembly of the heated roller  100  for reheating the heating element  140  or cleaning, repairing, or replacing the heated roller  100  parts. 
     The body attachment elements  114  may be configured so as not to (or minimally) interfere with the ability of the heated roller  100  to roll. Likewise, the body attachment elements  114  may be positioned on the internal surfaces of the roller body  110  so as not to cause discomfort to the user  200 .  FIG. 2  illustrates a heated roller  100  with magnet-type body attachment elements  114 , secured into recesses in the first end  115  of the roller body  110 . During assembly, corresponding magnet-type cap attachment elements  122  secured into recesses in the cap  120  may be attached to the magnet-type body attachment elements  114 . The magnet-type attachment elements  114  and  122  may be secured into recesses in the ends  115  and  117  of the roller body  110  and the cap  120  by an adhesive such as glue. But the attachment elements  114  and  122  may take many different forms. For example, attachment elements  114  and  122  may be formed by snaps, hook and loop fasteners, or screws. Alternatively, the attachment elements  114  and  122  may take the form of alterations to the shape of the ends  115  and  117  of the roller body  110  (such as groves) and cap  120  (such as threads) that allow the cap  120  to simply screw onto the ends  115  and  117  of the roller body  110 . 
     Heating Element 
     The heating element  140  provides heat that transfers through the structural support  130  and the roller body  110  to reach skin of the user  200 . The heating element  140  may provide heat evenly along the length and diameter of the heated roller  100 . The heating element  140  may be sized to fit into a hollowed core  134  of the structural support  130  through an opening  136  in the structural support  130 . However, if the heating element  140  itself provides structural support, the heating element  140  and the structural support  130  may be formed integrally into the same component and the heating element  140  should fit into a hollowed body core  116  of the roller body  110  through an opening  118  in the roller body  110 . 
     The heating element  140  may be an electric or non-electric heating element. If the heating element  140  is a non-electric heating element, it may be formed from microwaveable heating packs, boiling heating packs, chemical (instant) heating packs, hydrocollator pads, clay packs, hot stones, and ceramic elements.  FIG. 2  illustrates the heated roller  100  with a microwaveable heating pack-type heating element  140 . If the heating element  140  is an electric heating element, it may be formed from plug-in electric heating elements (such as a silicon electric heating pad) or battery powered heating elements. 
     For physiological benefits, the heated roller  100  may heat the skin of a user  200  to between approximately 104 and 113 degrees F. Skin heating above 113 degrees F. may pose a risk of burns. To heat the skin of a user  200  to this temperature range, the heating element  140  may reach a higher temperature, as some heat may be lost while traveling from the heating element  140  through the structural support  130  and roller body  110  of the heated roller  100  to the skin of the user  200 . 
     The heating element  140  may be removable for reheating, cleaning, repair, or replacement. To increase the ease of removal or re-insertion, the heating element  140  may include a heating element harness  142  or a heating element handle (not shown). The heating element harness  142  may be formed from any number of materials, such as string, rope, or plastic tabs. For example, in  FIG. 2  the heating element  140  has a string-type heating element harness  142 . 
     Multiple heating elements  140  may be used to improve heating for a long or wide heated roller  100 . For example, for a long heated roller  100 , multiple heating elements  140  may be used end-to-end to improve heating over the length of the roller body  110  of the heated roller  100 . Likewise, for a wide heated roller  100 , multiple heating elements  140  may be used side-to-side to improve heating for the width of the roller body  110  of the heated roller  100 . 
     Perforations 
     The roller body  110  of the heated roller  100  may include body perforations  112  that extend between the exterior surface  111  and the interior surface  113  to improve heat transfer from the heating element  140  at the core of the heated roller  100  to the user&#39;s  200  skin. Perforations  112  may be particularly beneficial if the roller body  110  is formed from a thermally insulating material, such as foam. In some embodiment, body perforations  112  should not be too large or too numerous that they significantly compromise the structural integrity of the heated roller  100 , but should not be too small or too few that heat does not effectively transfer from the heating element  140  at the core of the heated roller  100  to the skin of the user  200 . For example, a heated roller  100  may have body perforations  112  with a diameter of one-third centimeter (one-eighth inch), two-third centimeter (one-quarter inch), one and one-quarter centimeters (one-half inch), two centimeters (three-quarter inch), or two and one-half centimeters (one inch) and may have between 20 to 500 body perforations  112 .  FIG. 2  illustrates a heated roller  100  with approximately 75 body perforations, each with an approximate diameter of two centimeters (three-quarter inch). 
     The number and size of body perforations  112  may depend on a number of factors such as: the dimensions of the roller body  110 , including the roller body  110  thickness and diameter, the desired level of skin heating, the amount of heat produced by the heating element  140 , the heat conducting properties of the roller body  110 , the heat conducting properties of the structural support  130 , the weight of the user  200 , and the intended type of use. Further, the size of body perforations  112  may be decreased when more are used or increased when less are used. When different roller body  110  materials are used, different arrangements of perforations  112  may be utilized. 
     In addition to variations in size and number, the body perforations  112  may be formed of any number of shapes. The shape of the body perforations  112  may depend upon the same factors discussed above for the size and number of body perforations  112 , or they may be selected for their aesthetic appeal.  FIG. 2  illustrates a heated roller  100  with body perforations  112  formed in the shape of punch holes. Other shapes for body perforations  112  may include slits and pin holes. 
     Additionally, the body perforations  112  may be formed into any number of patterns. The pattern of body perforations  112  may aim to avoid transferring heat to areas the roller body  110  of the heated roller  100  that do not come into contact with the skin of the user  200 , such as the ends  115  and  117  of the roller body  110 . The pattern of body perforations  112  may also aim to improve even heat distribution across the skin of the user  200 . Thus, a pattern with regularly spaced body perforations  112  that avoids the ends  115  and  117  of the roller body  110  may be used. Alternatively, a pattern may be selected that allows for approximately even heating but offers other aesthetic benefits, such as a spiral pattern. 
     Hollowed Body Core 
     The roller body  110  of the heated roller  100  may be hollowed to form a hollowed body core  116  that houses the heating element  140 . If the heating element  140  does not also provide structural support, the hollowed body core  116  may additionally house a structural support  130 . If the heated roller  100  includes caps  120  on both ends  115  and  117  of the roller body  110 , the hollowed body core  116  may extend through both ends  115  and  117  of the roller body  110 , forming openings  118  at the first end  115  and at the second end  117  of the roller body  110 . However, if the heated roller  100  includes a cap  120  on one end  115  of the roller body  110 , the hollowed body core  116  may extend through the length of one end  115  of the roller body  110 , forming an opening  118  at the first end  115  of the roller body  110 . 
     The hollowed body core  116  may be formed into a shape that allows for easy insertion and removal of the structural support  130  and heating element  140 .  FIG. 2  illustrates a heated roller  100  with a hollowed body core  116  formed in the shape of a cylinder with a circular cross section. While the hollowed body core  116  may be formed into any shape, a shape with a circular cross section may improve the structural strength of the heated roller  100  and improve even heating. 
     The hollowed body core  116  and opening  118  may large enough to allow for easy insertion and removal of the heating element  140  or structural support  130 . At the same time, the hollowed body core  116  may small enough so that the roller body  110  includes sufficient material to pad the user  200  against the hardened internal structural support  130 . If the heated roller  100  has a cap  120  on one end  115  of the roller body  110 , a hollowed body core  116  that is too long, may result in a thin layer of roller body  110  material on the uncapped end  117 . During use, pressure on the heated roller  100  from the weight of the body of the user  200  may result in damage to the uncapped end  117  of the roller body  110  and the internal parts may come out. On the other hand, if the hollowed body core  116  is too short, it may be difficult to achieve even heating for the length of the heated roller  100 . 
     Consequently, the dimensions of the hollowed body core  116  may depend on any number of factors, including: the dimensions of the roller body  110  of the heated roller  100 , the dimensions of the heating element  140 , the dimensions of the structural support  130 , the desired level of skin heating, the amount of heat produced by the heating element  140 , the heat conducting properties of the roller body  110 , the heat conducting properties of the structural support  130 , the user&#39;s  200  weight, and the intended type of use.  FIG. 2  illustrates a heated roller  100  with an approximate diameter of 18 centimeters (seven inches) and a hollowed body core  116  with an approximate diameter of eight centimeters (three inches). Likewise,  FIG. 2  illustrates a heated roller  100  with an approximate length of 30 centimeters (one foot) and a hollowed body core  116  with an approximate length of 28 centimeters (11 inches). 
     Structural Support 
     The heated roller  100  may also include a structural support  130 . The structural support  130  may be housed in the hollowed body core  116  of the roller body  110  and house the heating element  140 . The structural support core  134  may extend through both ends  135  and  137  of the structural support  130 , forming openings  136  at the first end  135  and a second end  137  of the structural support  130 . 
     The structural support  130  may improve the integrity of the heated roller  100  to compensate for any loss in structural integrity resulting from the hollowed body core  116  and the body perforations  112 . The structural support  130  may also protect the internally housed heating element  140 . 
     The structural support  130  may be formed into the shape of the hollowed body core  116 . The thickness of the walls of the structural support  130  may depend on the type of material used to form the structural support  130 , the heat conducting properties of the structural support  130 , the dimensions of the hollowed body core  116 , the dimensions of the heating element  140 , and the size and number of structural support perforations  132 . The structural support  130  should be formed of a sturdy material that can withstand pressure from use.  FIG. 2  illustrates a heated roller  100  with a structural support  130  formed from PVC, or polyvinyl chloride, of approximately one-third centimeter (one-eight inch) thickness. The material forming the structural support  130  may also have heat conducting properties that improve the transfer of heat from the heating element  140  to the skin of the user  200 . 
     Additionally, if the structural support  130  is formed from a thermally insulating material, the structural support  130  may be perforated with structural support perforations  132  that extend between the exterior surface  131  and the interior surface  133  of the structural support  130  to improve heat transfer from the heating element  140  into the roller body  110 . Structural support perforations  132  should not be too large or too numerous that they undermine the structural integrity of the structural support  130 , but should not be too small or too few that heat does not effectively transfer from the heating element  140  at the core of the heated roller  100  to the skin of the user  200 . For example, a heated roller  100  may have structural support perforations  132  with a diameter of one-third centimeter (one-eighth inch), two-third centimeter (one-quarter inch), one and one-quarter centimeter (one-half inch), two centimeters (three-quarter inch), or two and one-half centimeters (one inch) and may have between 20 to 500 structural support perforations  132 .  FIG. 2  illustrates a heated roller  100  with approximately 150 structural support perforations  132 , each with an approximate diameter of one and one-quarter centimeter (one-half inch). 
     The number and size of structural support perforations  132  may depend on factors such as: the dimensions of the structural support  130 , including the structural support  130  thickness, the desired level of skin heating, the amount of heat produced by the heating element  140 , the heat conducting properties of the roller body  110 , the heat conducting properties of the structural support  130 , the user&#39;s  200  weight, and the intended type of use. Further, The size of the structural support perforations  132  may be decreased when more are used or increased when less are used. 
     In addition to variations in size and number, the structural perforations  132  may be formed of any number of shapes. The shape of the structural support perforations  132  may depend upon the same factors discussed above for the size and number of structural support perforations  132 .  FIG. 2  illustrates a heated roller  100  with structural support perforations  132  formed in the shape of punch holes. Other shapes for structural support perforations  132  may include slits and punch holes. 
     Additionally, the structural support perforations  132  may be formed into any number of patterns. The pattern of structural support perforations  132  may aim to avoid transferring heat to areas the roller body  110  of the heated roller  100  that do not come into contact with the skin of the user  200 , such as the ends  115  and  117  of the roller body  110 . The pattern of structural support perforations  132  may also aim to improve even heat distribution across the skin of the user  200 . Thus, a pattern with regularly spaced perforations that avoids the ends  135  and  137  of the structural support  130  may be used. 
     Further, the structural support perforations  132  may be similar to or identical to the body perforations  112  in number, shape, size, and pattern. In an example embodiment, the structural support perforations  132  may also be aligned with body perforations  112 . This arrangement may improve heat transfer from the heating element  140  through the structural support  130  and through the roller body  110  to the skin of the user  200 . 
     The heated roller  100  may include a cap  120  located on one or both ends  115  and  117  of the roller body  110 . A cap  120  located on both ends  115  and  117  of the roller body  110  of the heated roller  100  may allow for insertion and removal of multiple heating elements  140  into openings  118  in both ends  115  and  117  of a long roller body  110 . The cap  120  may reduce heat loss from the ends  115  and  117  of the roller body  110 , improve the structural integrity of the roller  100  during use, and reduce the likelihood that internal parts will unintentionally come out. 
     The cap  120  may be completely or partially removable and thus include cap attachment elements  122 . The cap attachment elements  122  provide a secure attachment so that the cap  120  does not unintentionally come off during use, but also allows for convenient removal of the cap  120  to facilitate disassembly of the heated roller  100  for reheating the heating element  140  or cleaning, repairing, or replacing the heated roller  100  parts. 
     The cap attachment elements  122  may be configured so as not to interfere with the ability of the heated roller  100  to roll without causing discomfort to the user  200 .  FIG. 2  illustrates magnet-type cap attachment elements  122 , secured into recesses in the cap  120 . During assembly, corresponding magnet-type body attachment elements  114  secured into recesses in the ends  115  and  117  of the roller body  110  may be attached to the magnet-type cap attachment elements  122 . The magnet-type attachment elements  114  and  122  may be secured into recesses in the ends  115  and  117  of the roller body  110  and cap  120  by an adhesive such as glue. In a similar manner to the body attachment elements  114 , examples of cap attachment elements  122  include snaps, hook and loop fasteners, and screws. 
     Accessories 
     The heated roller  100  may include accessories, such as a sleeve for covering the heated roller  100  and a device for heating the heating element  140 . The sleeve may help keep the heated roller  100  clean, may improve ease of transporting the heated roller  100 , and may improve heat retention in the heated roller  100  during breaks in use. Additionally, the sleeve may include a sleeve handle to further improve ease of transporting the heated roller  100 . 
     A device for heating the heating element  140  may be used to heat the heating element  140  before use and for reheating the heating element  140  during breaks in use. For example, a hydrocollator or a stone heater may be used to heat heating elements  140  such as clay packs and hot stones. 
     Use 
     There are many types of use for the heated roller  100 .  FIG. 4  illustrates a user  200  using the heated roller  100  to massage the hamstrings. The heated roller  100  may be used for physical therapy, exercise, stretching, massage, posture, and balance. Some, but not all embodiments of the heated roller  100  may offer physiological benefits. Likewise, some, but not all uses of the heated roller  100  may offer benefits of increased user  200  comfort. For example, for a user  200  may lie on his or her back with arms stretched out and a heated roller  100  under the back to form a fulcrum that results in a pectoral muscle stretch. In this case, the heat from the heated roller  100  may increase the comfort of the user  200 , by supplying heat to the back of the user  200 , even though heat may not be supplied to the pectoral muscles being stretched.