Patent Publication Number: US-2019183723-A1

Title: Abdominal massaging system for improving gastric reflux, treating hiatal hernias and reducing abdominal tension

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application claims priority to U. S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/598,874, entitled Mechanical Abdominal Massager For Improving Gastric Reflux, Hiatal Hernias And Abdominal Tension, filed Dec. 14, 2017, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present system relates to therapeutic massaging devices. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Gastric reflux, hiatal hernias and abdominal tension are common maladies in our world. There is a need for natural methods to help these conditions. Unfortunately, previous approaches to solving these problems relied on medications. Unfortunately, medicated approaches tend to only address symptoms instead of the underlying causes of the problem. In addition, medications too often come with unwanted side-effects. As a result, people tend to avoid using medication until their condition becomes quite severe. This may lead to an unmanageable situation requiring surgical intervention. Other approaches, such as deep breathing, yoga, etc. require active participation and effort by the subject, and people tend to avoid (or not take time) for them as well. 
     What is instead desired is a simple mechanical solution to these problems that can be performed on the go (without taking time away from the user&#39;s busy daily schedule). Preferably, the therapeutic solution to these problems would require no active participation by the user other than putting on a small, comfortable, wearable device. As will be shown, the present system provides such a solution. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present system provides an abdominal massaging assembly, comprising: a housing with an internal cavity therein; a flexible wall membrane disposed on one side of the housing; an elastic support member connected to the housing for supporting the housing such that the flexible wall membrane is positioned against a user&#39;s chest immediately below the user&#39;s sternum; and a plurality of rotating massage arms disposed within the internal cavity of the housing, wherein the rotating arms sequentially push the flexible wall membrane against the user&#39;s chest, and wherein the rotating arms all sequentially move in a downwardly direction against the flexible wall membrane. Preferably, each of the plurality of rotating massage arms has a roller at its distal end which rolls against the flexible wall membrane. 
     In preferred embodiments, the top of the housing comprises a pair of downwardly, outwardly tapering edges dimensioned to rest against the bottom of the user&#39;s rib cage and below the user&#39;s sternum. These downwardly, outwardly tapering edges push against the bottom of the user&#39;s rib cage and sternum as the rotating arms (moving in the downwardly direction against the flexible wall membrane) push the housing upwards on the user&#39;s chest. As such, due to its unique shape, the present device remains centered at the optimal position on the user&#39;s chest at the bottom of the user&#39;s sternum adjacent to the xiphoid process of the sternum. 
     In preferred embodiments, the housing also includes a motor and battery for rotating the plurality of arms, and a control system for controlling the speed of movement of the arms. Therapeutic heating and vibration elements may optionally be added as well. 
     As such, the present system also provides a novel method of improving gastric reflux, treating hiatal hernias and reducing abdominal tension by: placing a flexible wall membrane of an abdominal massaging device against a user&#39;s chest immediately below the user&#39;s sternum, and then rotating the massage arms in the housing such that the arms sequentially push against the flexible wall membrane moving in a downwards direction against the user&#39;s chest. 
     Advantages of the present mechanical system include that it has no medication side-effects and operates in a passive therapy manner, requiring no active participation by the user except for putting on a small wearable device. The present system is natural, discreet, mobile and inexpensive. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front elevation view of the present massaging device. 
         FIG. 2  is a side elevation view of the present massaging device. 
         FIG. 3  is a front elevation view of the present massaging device with its top cover removed showing internal components of the system. 
         FIG. 4  is a side elevation view of the present massaging device with the top cover removed showing internal components of the system. 
         FIG. 5  is a view showing a patient wearing the present massaging device. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  show the present abdominal massaging device  30  comprising a hard shelled housing  25  (formed from top shell  13  and bottom shell  10 ) defining an internal cavity therein. The bottom shell  10  faces against the patient&#39;s chest. A flexible wall membrane  22  is disposed across a portion of bottom shell  10 . As seen in  FIG. 5 , an elastic support member  21  that wraps around the patient is connected to housing  25  for supporting housing  25  such that flexible wall membrane  22  is positioned against a user&#39;s chest immediately below the user&#39;s sternum. In preferred aspects, flexible membrane  22  could be made of rubber, be silicone-based or made of some other material. Flexible membrane  22  may be placed either directly against the user&#39;s skin or against the user&#39;s clothing. As seen in  FIG. 1 , a detachable buckle  18  can be used to secure elastic support member  21  onto housing  25  after elastic support member  21  has been wrapped around the user&#39;s torso (as seen in  FIG. 5 ). Preferably, housing  25  is waterproof as well. 
     As best seen in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , a plurality of rotating massage arms  1  are disposed within housing  25 , and rotating arms  1  sequentially push flexible wall membrane  22  against the user&#39;s chest. Moreover, rotating arms  1  each sequentially move in a downwardly direction D against flexible wall membrane  22 . As a result, the user&#39;s chest is massaged with a downwardly sweeping motion (i.e.: with arms  1  travelling downwards one after another on the user&#39;s chest). 
     As best seen in  FIGS. 3 and 5 , the top of the housing  25  comprises a pair of downwardly, outwardly tapering edges  27  and  28  dimensioned to rest against the bottom of the user&#39;s rib cage below the user&#39;s sternum adjacent to the sternum&#39;s xiophod process. In operation, the downwardly, outwardly tapering edges  27  and  28  push against the bottom of the user&#39;s rib cage and sternum as the rotating arms  1  move in downward direction D against flexible wall  22 . This novel housing shape has the advantage of preventing the device from walking upwardly on the user&#39;s chest (while massaging the user in a continuous downward direction). Specifically, as best seen in  FIGS. 3 and 5 , housing  25  has a generally triangular shape. 
     As best seen in  FIG. 2 , each of the plurality of rotating massage arms  1  has a roller at its distal end, and the rollers roll against inside surface of flexible wall membrane  22  as they move downwardly in direction D. Preferably, as best seen in  FIG. 4 , rotating massage arms  1  preferably extend from a rotating axle  12  mounted within the internal cavity of housing  25 . As can be seen, rotating axle  12  is preferably positioned parallel to elastic support member  21  (i.e.: rotating axle  12  and elastic support member  21  are both positioned horizontally and parallel to the ground). 
     Additional interior components of housing  25  are best seen in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , as follows. A motor  9  is provided to rotate axle  12  which in turn moves rotating arms  1 . Battery pack  8  provides power to motor  9 . A clamp  17  holds rotating axle  12  in position. A charge connector  4  can be used to plug in and recharge battery pack  8 . A rocker switch  5  can be used to turn motor  9  on and off. A control system  7  can be used to control operation of motor  9 . In preferred embodiments, control system  7  can be used to adjust the speed of motor  9  or even to vary the speed over time (in addition to merely turning the device on or off). 
     In preferred illustrated embodiments, there are two moving arms  1  (positioned at 180 degrees apart to one another on axle  12 ). It is to be understood that the present invention is not so limited. For example, the present system also encompasses configurations with three or more arms  1 . (For example, three rotating arms  1  can be positioned at 120 degrees to one another on axle  12 ). 
     In further optional embodiments, a heater can be disposed in housing  25  for delivering therapeutic heat to the user; and/or a vibrating element can also be disposed in housing  25  for delivering therapeutic vibration to the user. For example, heating can be accomplished by using mini infra-red lightbulbs in the interior of the housing, around the perimeter of flexible membrane  22 . It is to be understood, however, that other heating methods can be used instead, all keeping within the scope of the present invention. In addition, vibration can be added by any system that spins an imbalanced weight with a motor. It is to be understood, however, that other vibrating system and methods can be used instead, all keeping within the scope of the present invention. 
     In preferred aspects, the present system also provides a method of improving gastric reflux, treating hiatal hernias and reducing abdominal tension by: placing a flexible wall membrane  22  of an abdominal massaging device  30  against a user&#39;s chest immediately below the user&#39;s sternum, and then rotating the massage arms  1  in housing  25  such that arms  1  sequentially push against flexible wall membrane  22 , thereby moving in a downward direction D against the user&#39;s chest. This optional method preferably further comprises positioning a pair of downwardly, outwardly tapering top edges  27  and  28  of housing  25  against the bottom of the user&#39;s rib cage below the user&#39;s sternum such that edges  27  and  28  push against the bottom of the user&#39;s rib cage and sternum as rotating arms  1  moving in the downwardly direction D to prevent the housing  25  from “walking up” the patient&#39;s chest. 
     In operation, the movement of the sequential rotating arms  1  pushing downwardly just below the xiphoid process of the sternum in the center of the upper abdomen provides a relaxing, rotary massaging motion. This action relaxes the diaphragm, allows the stomach to move inferiorly and stimulates parasympathetic nerves to improve digestion, thereby relaxing the abdomen and enhancing proper diaphragmatic breathing.