Patent Publication Number: US-2021161759-A1

Title: Extension arm attachment for a massager apparatus

Description:
This is a non-provisional application that claims benefit to U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 62/943,125 filed on Dec. 3, 2019, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The present disclosure generally relates to extension arms for portable devices, and in particular to an extension arm attachment configured for engaging a portable “T”-style hand-held massager device. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Portable hand-held massager devices, such as “T”-style hand-held percussion massager devices, are well known for providing rehabilitative and therapeutic massaging effects to a user. Typically, these types of portable massager devices are held by the hand and manipulated by the user to massage particular portions of the body; however, areas of the body, such the back, are difficult to reach and directly apply the portable massager. As such, portable hand-held massager devices lack a means for allowing a user to contact those hard-to-reach areas of the body, such as the upper and lower back areas. 
     It is with these observations in mind, among others, that various aspects of the present disclosure were conceived and developed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of the extension arm attachment engaged with a conventional portable massager device. 
         FIG. 2  is an enlarged perspective view of the extension arm attachment engaged to the conventional portable massager device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the extension arm attachment of  FIG. 1  showing an extension arm, coupling member, hand grip, and plastic end cover. 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged view of the coupling member engaged to the extension arm without the clamping member. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the extension arm attachment of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of the extension arm attachment of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  is a proximal end view of the extension arm attachment of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 8  is a distal end view of the extension arm attachment showing the inner channel and inner shoulder configured to receive and engage a handle of the conventional portable massager device of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding elements among the view of the drawings. The headings used in the figures do not limit the scope of the claims. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Various embodiments of an extension arm attachment configured for securely mounting a portable massager device, such as a “T”-style portable massager devices, that extends the reach of the portable massager device such the user can reach previously inaccessible areas of the body with the portable massager device due to the additional extension provided by the extension arm attachment when mounted to the portable massager device. In some embodiments, the extension arm attachment includes an extension arm forming an elongated body coupled with a coupling member mounted to one end of the extension arm. In one aspect, the coupling member defines an inner channel configured to receive the handle of a portable massager device and collectively forms an inner shoulder with the extension arm to define a mounting surface for mounting the portable massager device to the inner channel of the coupling member. In some embodiments, a cable tie is provided to securely mount the portable massager device to the extension arm. Referring to the drawings, an embodiment of an extension arm attachment for coupling with a massager apparatus is illustrated and generally indicated as  100  in  FIGS. 1-8 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-4 , an embodiment of the extension arm attachment, designated  100 , is illustrated. As shown, the extension arm attachment  100  includes a hollow, tubular-shaped extension arm  101  configured to securely engage a coupling member  102 . In some embodiments, the extension arm  101  and coupling member  102  are made from an ABS material that allow a cable tie  103  to securely couple the attachment arm  101  to the coupling member  102 . In one method of assembly, the attachment arm  101  is received within the coupling member  102  such that the attachment arm  101  extends a distance within the coupling member  102 . In some embodiments, a band  111  of a cable tie  103  may be tightened around groove  114  of the coupling member  102  by inserting the band  111  through a housing  110  that engages serrations (not shown) formed along one side of the band  111  until the band  111  produces a compressive force around the coupling member  102  such that the coupling member  102  cannot be disengaged from the extension arm  101 . In some embodiments, the cable tie  103  may be tightened around the coupling member  102  either by hand or by machine. In some embodiments, the extension arm  101  and coupling member  102  may be manufactured as a single unitary construct without requiring prior assembly during manufacture. 
     Referring back to  FIG. 1 , as noted above the extension arm attachment  100  is configured to be coupled with a conventional portable massager apparatus  10 , for example, a “T”-style portable percussion massager apparatus; however, any portable massager apparatus with a suitable handle may be coupled to the extension arm attachment. The extension arm attachment  100  is configured to be coupled with the handle  14  of the portable massager apparatus  10 . In one method of assembling the portable massager apparatus  10  to the extension arm attachment  100 , the handle  14  may be partially disposed within the coupling member  102  such that the rubberized grip of the portable massager apparatus  10  is either partially or fully disposed within the coupling member  102 . In some embodiments of the portable massager apparatus  10 , remains exposed and only the free end of the handle  14  is engaged with the coupling member  101 , while in other methods of assembly the handle  14  is fully disposed within the coupling member  102  of the extension arm attachment  100 . In either case, a user will be able to grip the handle  14  and operate the portable massager apparatus  10  under normal use once the extension arm attachment  100  is connected. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the extension arm  101  forms an elongated tubular-shaped body forming a distal end portion  104  configured for mounting the coupling member  102  with the portable massager apparatus  10  and an opposite proximal end portion  105  configured to be used as a gripping surface  116 . As further shown, an end cap  117  seals off the proximal opening  115  of the extension arm  101 . The extension arm  101  defines a distal opening  112  formed at the distal end  104  of the extension arm  101  that communicates with an inner channel  113  that extends the length of the extension arm  101 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the coupling member  102  forms a body  106  defining a distal end  108  and an opposing proximal end  109  with an axial channel  107  formed between and in communication with a distal end  108  and a proximal ends  109 , respectively. In some embodiments, the coupling member  102  may be attached or formed integral with the distal end portion  104  of the extension arm  101 . Once engaged to the extension arm  101 , the coupling member  102  is configured to receive the handle  14  of the portable massager apparatus  10  such that the portable massager apparatus  10  is securely mounted to the coupling member  102  of the extension arm attachment  100 . In one aspect, the body  106  of the coupling member  102  defines a shallow circumferential groove  114  configured to receive the clamping tie  103  for tightening and securing the distal end  104  of the extension arm  101  to the proximal end  109  of the coupling member  102 . In another aspect, the handle  14  of the portable massager apparatus  10  may be configured to house a conventional lithium ion battery which engages the coupling member  102  in which the friction and suction between the rubber material of the coupling member  102  and the handle  14  is sufficient to hold the extension arm attachment  100  to the portable massager apparatus  10  securely together. 
     In some embodiments, a flexible retention band, such as a flexible band made from VELCRO, may be engaged around the portable massager apparatus  10  for further securing the portable massager apparatus  10  with the extension arm attachment  100 . In some embodiments, a gripping handle may be a padded hand grip  116  engaged along the extension arm  101  along the proximal end portion  105  for providing a gripping surface for the user when handling the extension arm attachment  100 . 
     In one aspect, engagement of the extension arm attachment  100  to the portable massager device  10  decreases the degree of vibration felt by the user handling the extension arm  101  due to the coupling member  102  and the addition of the padded hand grip  116 . 
     It should be understood from the foregoing that, while particular embodiments have been illustrated and described, various modifications can be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications are within the scope and teachings of this invention as defined in the claims appended hereto.