Patent Publication Number: US-7707654-B1

Title: Massage glove

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates generally to a massage glove that is worn by a user when administering a massage. More particularly, the present application involves a massage glove that incorporates a plurality of pads that act in combination with the hand of the user to provide an improved massage. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Massages are commonly performed for therapeutic purposes and for the relief of stress. Although it is most common for a user to perform massage by hand, various devices are known in the art to aid a user in providing a massage. For example, hand held devices that include wheels or rollers are used for giving a more intense massage. These types of devices are held by the hand of a user and are rolled back and forth over parts of the user&#39;s body that require stress relief. Although these types of devices work well for their intended purpose, it may be the case that they cause discomfort to the person receiving the massage when the wheels or rollers are applied to bony parts of the person&#39;s body such as his or her shoulder blades. Further, as the device is held by the hand of the user, the user generally concentrates more on rolling the device and less on the actual person receiving the massage. 
   Other devices used to provide massages are power driven, hand held devices that deliver percussion to the body of a person receiving the massage. These types of devices generally have two or more protrusions that vibrate and may optionally apply heat to the person&#39;s skin. The user may move the device across areas of the person&#39;s body so that the protrusions apply percussive force to muscles of the person so as to relieve stress. Although these types of devices are effective at delivering a satisfying massage they may sometimes cause discomfort upon contacting bones in the shoulders or spine of the person receiving the massage. Additionally, as these devices provide a relatively strong percussive force, they may sometimes be overused to the point at which muscle soreness results in the person receiving the massage. 
   Another device used for providing massage is a glove that incorporates power driven vibration elements in various portions of the glove. A user may place his or her hand within the glove and turn on the device so that areas of the glove, such as the fingers, vibrate. The user can then lay his or her hands on the person so that vibration from the glove is transferred to the person receiving the massage. Aside from requiring a constant source of power to operate the glove, these types of devices may be uncomfortable for the user of the glove as it inevitably applies vibration to the hand of the user giving the massage. 
   As such, there remains room for variation and improvement within the art. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Various features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the following description, or may be obvious from the description, or may be learned from practice of the invention. 
   The present invention provides for a massage glove for use in giving a massage. The glove includes a glove body that is configured for being worn on the hand of a user. At least one pad is carried by the glove body. The pad defines a bead pocket into which a plurality of beads are located. The pad also defines a resilient pocket into which a resilient member is located. The beads are configured to be located intermediate the resilient member and the skin of the user proximate to the pad when the glove body is worn on the hand of the user. 
   The present invention also provides for a massage glove as immediately discussed in which the bead pocket covers a greater area of the glove body than the resilient pocket. 
   Also provided in accordance with the present invention is a massage glove that includes a glove body that is configured for being worn on the hand of a user. A plurality of pads are included and are carried on the palmar side of the glove body. The pads have a resilient member and a plurality of beads. The plurality of beads are located intermediate the resilient member and the skin of the user proximate to the pads when the glove body is worn on the hand of the user. The plurality of beads cover a greater area of the glove body than the resilient member of the pad. Also, the resilient member has a higher resiliency than the plurality of beads. 
   Another exemplary embodiment of the invention exists in a massage glove as discussed above in which the resilient member is silicon gel. A further exemplary embodiment exists in a massage glove as previously discussed in which the beads are made from cured silicon gel, marble and/or glass. An additional exemplary embodiment exists in a massage glove as previously discussed in which the glove body is made of latex. 
   The present invention also provides for an embodiment of the massage glove as discussed above in which the pads are located on the tips of the thumb, index finger, middle finger, ring finger and little finger of the glove body. An additional exemplary embodiment exists in a massage glove as previously mentioned in which at least one of the pads is located at the palm of the glove body proximate to the index finger, middle finger, ring finger and little finger of the glove body. At least one of the pads is located at an end of the palm of the glove body opposite from the index finger, middle finger, ring finger and little finger of the glove body. At least one of the pads is located at an end of the palm of the glove body opposite from the thumb of the glove body. 
   An additional exemplary embodiment of the present invention resides in a massage glove as discussed above that further includes a kneading portion carried by the glove body. The kneading portion defines a bead pocket into which a plurality of beads are located. The kneading portion is located at the palm of the glove body proximate to the thumb of the glove body. 
   A further embodiment of the massage glove exists as described above in which the bead pocket is contoured for receiving a portion of the hand of the user when the glove body is worn on the hand of the user. 
   The present invention also provides for a massage glove with a glove body made of latex that is configured for being worn on the hand of a user. A plurality of pads are carried on the palmar side of the glove body and have a resilient member and a plurality of beads. The beads are located intermediate the resilient member and the skin of the user proximate to the pads when the glove body is worn on the hand of the user. The pads are located at the tips of the thumb, index finger, middle finger, ring finger and little finger of the glove body. At least one of the pads is located at the palm of the glove body proximate to the index finger, middle finger, ring finger and little finger of the glove body. At least one of the pads is located at an end of the palm of the glove body opposite from the index finger, middle finger, ring finger and little finger of the glove body. Also, at least one of the pads is located at an end of the palm of the glove body opposite from the thumb of the glove body. A kneading portion is included and is carried by the glove body. The kneading portion defines a bead pocket into which a plurality of beads are located. The kneading portion is located at the palm of the glove body proximate to the thumb of the glove body. 
   These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth more particularly in the remainder of the specification, which makes reference to the appended Figs. in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a plan view of the palmar side of a massage glove in accordance with one exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 4  is a close-up plan view of a finger of the massage glove in accordance with an alternative exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 5  is a close-up plan view of a finger of the massage glove in accordance with another alternative exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional elevation view of a finger of a massage glove in accordance with another alternative exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   Repeat use of reference characters in the present specification and drawings is intended to represent the same or analogous features or elements of the invention. 
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, and not meant as a limitation of the invention. For example, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield still a third embodiment. It is intended that the present invention include these and other modifications and variations. 
   It is to be understood that the ranges mentioned herein include all ranges located within the prescribed range. As such, all ranges mentioned herein include all sub-ranges included in the mentioned ranges. For instance, a range from 100-200 also includes ranges from 110-150, 170-190, and 153-162. Further, all limits mentioned herein include all other limits included in the mentioned limits. For instance, a limit of up to about 7 also includes a limit of up to about 5, up to about 3, and up to about 4.5. 
   The present invention provides for a massage glove  10  that is useful for providing an improved massage. The massage glove  10  has at least one pad  16  that includes a plurality of beads  20  and a resilient member  24 . A user may don the massage glove  10  and rub the person receiving the massage. The beads  20  act to move in a circular pattern which in combination with the force and motion of the user&#39;s  14  hand gives a more stimulating and improved massage. 
     FIG. 1  shows one embodiment of the massage glove  10  worn on the hand of the user  14 . The massage glove  10  includes a glove body  12  that may be made from a flexible, resilient material that fits snugly on the hand of the user  14 . For example, the glove body  12  may be made of latex in accordance with one exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The glove body  12  can be constructed out of a material that allows the hand of the user  14  to breath. Additionally or alternatively, powder may be included in the glove body  12  to minimize perspiration within the glove body  12  and facilitate removal once the massage is complete. The glove body  12  may be formed by any suitable method of manufacture. For example, hot stamping may be employed in forming the glove body  12 . 
   A plurality of pads  16  are carried by the glove body  12 . Although a number of pads  16  are shown in  FIG. 1 , it is to be understood that only one pad  16  need be provided in accordance with various exemplary embodiments of the present invention. As such, any number of pads  16  may be employed. The pads  16  are located on the palmar side  66  of the glove body  12  and are at the fingertips of the thumb  34 , index finger  36 , middle finger  38 , ring finger  40  and little finger  42  of the glove body  12 . The pad  16  has a plurality of resilient members  24  that extend from the outer surface of the glove body  12 . Although shown as having four resilient members  24 , it is to be understood that the pads  16  on the thumb  34 , index finger  36 , middle finger  38 , ring finger  40  and little finger  42  may have any number of resilient members  24  in accordance with other embodiments. For example, up to five resilient members  24 , up to ten resilient members  24 , or up to twenty-five resilient members  24  may be included in other embodiments of the massage glove  10 . 
   The pads  16  also include a plurality of beads  20  as shown more clearly in  FIG. 2 . The beads  20  can be spherical objects or may be irregular in shape so that they have flattened surfaces and corners. The beads  20  may move in relation to one another when force is applied thereto by the hand of the user  14 . The beads  20  can be made of a variety of materials. For example, the beads  20  can be made of cured silicon gel, marble or glass in accordance with various embodiments. The beads  20  are contained within a bead pocket  18 . As shown, the bead pocket  18  is defined by a bead pocket layer  26  and a portion of the glove body  12 . However, it is to be understood that in other embodiments the bead pocket  18  is defined completely by the bead pocket layer  26 . The bead pocket layer  26  may be made of the same or different material than the glove body  12 . Further, the bead pocket layer  26  can be integrally formed with the glove body  12  or may be attached thereto though the use of adhesion or other fasteners. 
     FIG. 3  shows a cross-section of the massage glove  10  taken along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 1 . The bead pocket  18  has a contoured section  64  on a surface facing the skin of the user  14  when the user  14  dons the massage glove  10 . The contoured section  64  acts to receive the fingertip of the user  14  and provides a greater degree of comfort to the user  14  while wearing the massage glove  10 . 
   The resilient member  24  is contained within a resilient pocket  22 . The resilient pocket  22  is defined by both the glove body  12  and a resilient pocket layer  28 . As with the bead pocket layer  26 , the resilient pocket layer  28  may be made of the same or different material than the glove body  12 . Further, the resilient pocket  22  may alternatively be completely defined by the resilient pocket layer  28 . The resilient member  24  is contained within the resilient pocket  22  so that the resilient member  24  does not escape the resilient pocket  22  during use of the massage glove  10 . Although described as being within the resilient pocket  22 , the resilient member  24  need not be contained either entirely or partially within a resilient pocket  22  in other embodiments. For example, in one embodiment the resilient member  24  is attached to the outer surface of the glove body  12  without the presence of a resilient pocket  22 . 
   The resilient member  24  can be made out of any material that exhibits some degree of resiliency. For example, the resilient member  24  may be silicon gel in one embodiment. The resilient member  24  may have a higher degree of resiliency than the beads  20 . As such, the beads  20  may be more rigid than the resilient member  24 . In use, the user  14  places his or her hand within the massage glove  10  and provides a massage. Force imparted by the user  14  in combination with the interaction of beads  20  and resilient member  24  yields a more satisfying and intense massage. The beads  20  of the pad  16  cover a greater surface area of the glove body  12  than the resilient members  24  of pad  16 . This arrangement affords greater massaging intensity. However, it is to be understood that in other exemplary embodiments that the resilient members  24  may cover the same or a larger amount of area of the glove body  12  than the beads  20  of the pad  16 . 
     FIG. 6  is a close-up cross-sectional view of a finger  36  of the massage glove  10  in accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. An index finger  68  of the user  14  is shown inserted into the index finger  36  of the glove body  12 . The finger  68  is positioned in the glove body  12  so that the beads  20  in the bead pocket  18  are located between the resilient member  24  and the skin of the finger  68  proximate to pad  16 . Although shown on the inside  30  of glove body  12 , it is to be understood that the beads  20  and bead pocket  18  may be located on the outside  32  of glove body  12  in other embodiments. Likewise, although shown on the outside  32  the resilient member  24  may be located on the inside  30  of glove body  12  in other embodiments. In these other embodiments, it may be desirable to have the beads  20  located between the resilient member  24  and the skin of the finger  68  of the user  14 . Application of the massage glove  10  to the person receiving the massage may cause the beads to move in a circular pattern that in turn with the resilient member  24  causes a deeper sensation of massaging. 
   As shown in  FIG. 1 , four resilient members  24  are included in the pads  16  on the thumb and fingers  34 ,  36 ,  38 ,  40  and  42 . Three of the resilient members  24  are teardrop shaped and are arranged next to one another such that the middle resilient member  24  lays in an opposite direction than those on either side. The fourth resilient member  24  is oval shaped and is located closer to the palm of the glove body  12  than the other resilient members  24 . The resilient members  24  can be provided in a variety of shapes and sizes in accordance with various exemplary embodiments. For example,  FIG. 4  shows an alternative arrangement of the resilient members  24 . Here, the pad  16  includes three resilient members  24  that are arranged generally in a linear fashion on thumb  34  away from palm  44 . The resilient member  24  closest to the palm  44  is generally moon or crescent shaped while the resilient member  24  farthest from palm  44  is generally circular in shape. The resilient member  24  intermittent the other two is generally elongated in shape with ends complimentary to those of the facing edges of the other two resilient members  24 . The resilient members  24  may have a length from 0.25 to 2 centimeters and a width from 0.50 to 1 centimeter. The resilient members  24  may have a height of 0.50 centimeters from the outer surface of the glove body  12 . The beads  20  of pad  16  are arranged so that they cover a greater surface area of glove body  12  than do the three resilient members  24 . 
     FIG. 5  shows another alternative exemplary embodiment of the pad  16 . Here, the pad  16  is located on the index finger  36  and includes five resilient members  24  thereon. Three of the resilient members  24  are tear drop shaped and are arranged across the index finger  36 . The middle resilient member  24  is oriented in an opposite direction to the two on either side. The fourth resilient member  24  of the pad  16  is located closer to the palm  44  than the three previously mentioned resilient members  24  and is generally oval in shape. Finally, the fifth resilient member  24  is located a greater distance from palm than the other four resilient members  24  and is generally circular in shape. The resilient members  24  may have a length of from 0.50 centimeters to 1.5 centimeters and a width from 0.5 centimeters to 1 centimeter. Further, the height of the resilient members  24  from the surface of the glove body may be 0.5 centimeters. The beads  20  of pad  16  cover a greater surface area of glove body  12  than the five resilient members  24 . The massage glove  10  may have pads  16  with the same pattern of resilient members  24  on all of the fingers and thumb  34 ,  36 ,  38 ,  40  and  42 . 
   Referring back to  FIG. 1 , the massage glove  10  has a number of additional pads located thereon. A pad  52  is located at the palm  44  of the glove body  12  and is positioned at an end  46  of the palm  44 . End  46  is located at a portion of the palm  44  proximate to the fingers  36 ,  38 ,  40  and  42  of the glove body  12 . Pad  52  includes beads  20  and five resilient members  24 . Resilient members  24  of pad  52  are oval shaped and have varying lengths such that some of the resilient members  24  are more elongated than others. The pad  52  is constructed in the same manner as pads  16  previously described that are located on thumb and fingers  34 ,  36 ,  38 ,  40  and  42 . Pad  52  is positioned on the glove body  12  so that force exerted by the upper palm region of the hand of the user  14  is transferred through the pad  52  and interacts with pad  52  to produce a more intense massaging force. 
   Another pad  54  is carried by the glove body  12  and is located at an end  48  of the palm  44  that is opposite from the fingers  36 ,  38 ,  40  and  42 . Pad  54  has a plurality of beads  20  and a plurality of resilient members  24 . Again, pad  54  is constructed in a similar manner as pads  16  previously described and located on thumb and fingers  34 ,  36 ,  38 ,  40  and  42 . A user  14  may apply force with the palm of his or her hand which is transferred through pad  54  into the person receiving the massage. 
   Yet another pad  56  is incorporated in the massage glove  10 . Pad  56  is located at an end  50  of the palm  44  that is opposite from the thumb  34 . Pad  56  has a single resilient member  24  and a plurality of beads  20 . As with previously described pads  52  and  54 , pad  56  may be constructed in manners similar to those discussed above with respect to pads  16  on thumb and fingers  34 ,  36 ,  38 ,  40  and  42 . For example, the bead pockets  18  may be contoured in order to receive the corresponding portion of the hand of the user  14 . Additionally, although shown in  FIG. 1  as having a certain number, size and shape of resilient members  24 , the pads  52 ,  54  and  56  may have resilient members  24  that are variously configured in other exemplary embodiments. Further, the beads  20  of pads  52 ,  54  and  56  may cover a greater surface area of glove body  12  than their respective resilient members  24 . However, it is to be understood that the beads  20  may cover the same amount of surface or a lesser amount of surface than the resilient members  24  in other embodiments. The pads  16 ,  52 ,  54  and  56  may have resilient members  24  oriented in the same or different patterns and configurations in accordance with various exemplary embodiments. The pads  16 ,  52 ,  54  and  56  may be positioned on the glove body  12  to correlate to areas commonly involved in the application of pressure during a massage. 
   The massage glove  10  also has a kneading portion located at an end  62  of the palm  44  proximate to the thumb  34 . Kneading portion  60  includes a plurality of beads  20  that are contained in a bead pocket  18  formed in part by a bead pocket layer  26 . The beads  20 , bead pocket  18  and bead pocket layer  26  may be provided in the various manners discussed with respect to these components in relation to the pad  16  on the thumb and fingers  34 ,  36 ,  38 , and  42 . The kneading portion  60  does not include a resilient member  24 . The kneading portion  60  is used for kneading and allows for the transfer of forces from the palm region of the hand of the user  14  into the person receiving the massage. It is to be understood that in other exemplary embodiments of the present invention that the kneading portion  60  need not be present. In these instances, the kneading portion  60  may be eliminated so that only the glove body  12  is present on the end  62 . Alternatively, the kneading portion  60  may be converted into a pad  16  with the addition of resilient members  24  in other embodiments. An open area  58  is present in the central area of the palm  44 . In other embodiments, the palmar side  66  of the massage glove  10  may have pads  16  present across the entire palm  44  so that the open area  58  is not present. 
   While the present invention has been described in connection with certain preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the subject matter encompassed by way of the present invention is not to be limited to those specific embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended for the subject matter of the invention to include all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as can be included within the spirit and scope of the following claims.