Patent Publication Number: US-2018049941-A1

Title: Massage roller

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE 
     The present application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application No. 62/377,940, filed on Aug. 22, 2016, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Stretching is noted to be beneficial to those who do and who do not participate in exercise. In many instances, stretching is not enough to alleviate fasciculations, adhesions or tightness (sick tissue), as stretching only addresses healthy tissue, but neglect sick tissue. Several techniques have been used to reduce sick tissues. Elongating tissue with compression has proven effective in reducing sick tissue. There is a need in the art for an apparatus to be used in medical and exercise applications for stretching, massage, posture, and balance. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     Provided is a massage roller or a ball comprising: a) a rigid cylindrical or spherical body; b) a sheet of a heating pad placed over the cylindrical or spherical body; c) a rechargeable battery placed inside of the cylindrical or spherical body; wherein current from the battery makes the heating pad increase in temperature. The heating pad can get heated to a temperature of 100 to 150 Fahrenheit. A sheet of foam can be placed in between the heating pad and the cylindrical body. The roller can comprise two end caps, each end cap placed at one end of the cylindrical or spherical body. The end caps can have ventilation openings. 
     The massage roller can comprise a fan inside of the cylindrical or spherical body, the fan configured to move air through the vents of one of the end caps. The roller can further comprise a shell for placing electronic components (Circuit board, resistors, capacitors). The electronic housing is placed in the cylindrical or spherical body. The end cap can comprise a plug configured to receive a wire that carries electricity. The roller can further comprise an on/off switch placed on one of the end caps. The roller can further comprise a laminate on top of the heating pad. The laminate can be polyurethane laminate fabric. The heating pad can be made from a non-metal material and/or composite material, such as a carbon based material. The carbon based material can be a sheet of woven carbon fiber. The heating pad can have two strips of conductors that do not touch each other, each strip in contact with a lead wire. The heating pad can be rectangular in shape, and further comprising placing two strips of conductors in parallel configuration along opposite sides of the pad. The roller can further comprise a power switch on one of the end caps and a level of heating switch on another end cap. The heating pad can be in a form of a removable sleeve with or without a cover. Provided is a mat (like a yoga mat) with one or more above components, such as a layer of foam, a layer of heating pad on top of the foam, and a top cover, the mat in electronic communication with a rechargeable battery. The mat can be a portable mat. 
     Provided is a massage roller or massage ball comprising: a) a rigid cylindrical or spherical body; b) two end caps, with each end cap placed at one end of the cylindrical body; c) a sheet of foam placed over the cylindrical body; d) a sheet of woven carbon fiber placed over the foam, the sheet of carbon having two conductors that do not touch each other; e) a cylindrical or spherical shell placed inside of the body; f) a rechargeable battery placed inside of the shell; g) two lead wires carrying current from the battery to the conductor, each wire connected to one of the conductors; wherein current from the battery heats the heating pad. The shell can be removable. The massage roller can further comprise a fan for moving air out of the shell from a plurality of vents on at least one of the end caps. 
     The present invention is directed to a thermal and FIR (Far Infra Red) therapy sleeve by which it is to be placed over a massage roller/hard-cylindrical tube, sphere or human extremity. The hard cylindrical tube is to be made of a acrylonitrile butadiene-styrene (abs) due to its rigidity and ability to sustain impact, as well as its inability to form hydrochloric acid in the advent of fire as opposed to its PVC counterpart. The tube is hollow in its incarnation and will house a plastic molded insert by which the circuitry and power source will be mounted. The power source is a rechargeable battery, as described below, will supply power to the heating element and user display(s). Affixed on top of the tube will be the insulated heating element (described below). 
     The heating element is formed of carbon fiber with two lead electrodes conducting electricity through fabric allowing for constant flow of current. This, in turn, provides for consistent heat throughout element. The heating element is surrounded by a thermal bonding film on both sides. The “back” of the covered heating element is affixed to the foam roller with heat resistant adhesive. Foam affixed to the roller acts as an insulator from exogenous heat loss to the environment. The therapeutic heat side of the heating element covered in thermal bonding film is covered with a waterproof, washable material which can be either wiped down, or removed and washed to prevent transmission of disease and dirt. 
     The battery and heating element are controlled by a voltage/display controller printed circuit board (V-PCB) and a charging circuit printed circuit board (C-PCB). The V-PCB controls voltage output of the battery and display functions for the user. The C-PCB&#39;s function is to charge the Li Ion battery. It receives AC current from an attached plug which is ultimately plugged into a wall receptacle. Charging is permitted when the unit is off to limit over heating of the battery. 
     The battery, C-PCB and V-PCB are mounted on the plastic molded insert which is ultimately mounted in the cylinder. The plastic molded mount is designed to house the components such that they are balanced for consistent rolling and absorption of exogenous shock, i.e. a fall or drop. The components are strategically placed for heat conduction. 
     End caps are placed on either side of the roller to house the charging apparatus, as well as the user display and controls. 
     Mounted to an end cap is a fan to facilitate cross ventilation, ultimately conducting heat out of the roller, thus preventing over-heating. 
     It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a thermal massage therapy device, which will provide the beneficial degree of heat to the affected areas. 
     It is a further object to provide a thermal device which may operate without the need to microwave/externally heat an operative portion thereof before its use. 
     It is another object of invention to provide/produce FIR electromagnetic therapy upon application of pressure against element. 
     It is yet further an object of invention to provide an anti-microbial, cover for direct contact with skin, thus diminishing the potential for spread of microbials. The cover and/or foam and/or pad can be treated with an anti-microbial agent. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for a device that can simultaneously provide both heat and manipulate soft tissue. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of the massage roller. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the massage roller. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates the heating element/pad. 
         FIG. 4  is an exemplary illustration of various electronic components of the massage roller (and/or ball, mat). 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a sleeve with a heating pad that can be put on a rigid shell housing the battery and the electronics. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a ball with vents. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a mat. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Provided is a massage roller for stretching, massage, posture, and balance. The massage roller provides benefits of thermal therapy within the therapeutic wave-lengths of Far-Infrared light. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of the massage roller  1 . A cylindrical body is illustrated with end cap  2 . End cap  2  (and another end cap at another end of the cylindrical body) is used to close the cylindrical body that houses the electronics component and battery. End cap  2  an have vents  14  to allow for air flow. End cap  2  is a molded plastic that is affixed to the inside surface of the roller preventing access to the mounted inner components. End cap  2  can have a charging apparatus, which can include a pre-fabricated, male three-metal plug  3  and on/off switch  4 . The switch  4  can be moved to the “off” position to begin the charging process and the “on” position to start flow of electric current to the heating pad. The user can plug a cord into standard wall-plug and other side into the male charging receptacle  3 . The rechargeable battery  24  will start charging as indicated by end cap  2  LED lights  18 . LED lights  18  can be arranged in a straight line or other configuration. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a cross-section of the massage roller  1 . A cylindrical shell  6  in form of a hollow shell runs along massage roller  1 . The cylindrical shell  6  can be made from a rigid plastic. The term rigid means that where the structure is subjected to a force of one pound with a circular straight surface having a 1 inch diameter, the structure does not move by more than 0.3 mm. Typically, the structure does not move at all. A rechargeable battery  24  is placed inside cylindrical shell  6 . A housing  14  for electronics (such as a circuit board) is also placed inside of cylindrical shell  6 . A fan  7  is placed inside cylindrical shell  6  to cool the battery  24  and the electronics that are inside electronics housing  14 . The hot air is moved to outside through vents  14  of end cap  2 . Cylindrical shell  6  is enclosed by end cap  2  and end cap  5  on both sides. 
     On outside of cylindrical shell  6 , support  30  is placed, which is made of a rigid material, such as plastic. Support  30  is rigid enough to withstand the weight that a person put on the massage roller  1 . Over support  30  a layer of foam  10  is placed. The foam layer  10  can be attached with an adhesive to support  30  and goes around the outside of support  30 . The foam layer  10  absorbs impacts from the user. The foam  10  can be a high density foam, 0.1 to 1 inch thick sheet. On top of the foam  10 , a heating pad  9  can be placed. Heating pad  9  can be attached to foam  10  with adhesive  12 . Cover  8  is placed on top of heating pad  9 . Cover  8  can be attached to heating pad  9  through adhesive  11  or kept in place by tucking in below end caps  2  and  5  and/or by attaching its ends to inside of support  30 . Cover  8  can be made from polyurethane laminate fabric. 
     End cap  5  is used to house LED lights  15 , a heating level button  16 , and ventilation openings  17 . LED lights  15  are arranged as a ray-like circular pattern of yellow, orange and red colors (three rows in concentric arrangement). Circular patterned lighting  15  is utilized to indicate heating level (high, medium and low). 
     Battery  24  can be a lithium ion battery, wrapped in battery shrink wrap heat PVC insulation. It can be rated at 18.1v, 5S2P in its configuration, utilizing 18650 batteries. Normal capacity can be rated at ˜4.3 Ah, with an interior resistance of ˜550 mΩ. Maximum charge voltage can be 21v, minimum discharge voltage can be 13.75V; outgoing voltage can be rated at a range of 19.5V to 22V. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a sleeve  31  that is put on cylindrical housing  6 , so that a user can have his or her own personal massage roller without the electronic components. Cover  8 /heating pad  9 /foam  10 /support  30  come as a sleeve, which as user can slid around shell  6 , connect wires  32 , activate, and switch to the indicated temperature. The user will then commence foam rolling on or about the patient&#39;s skin or light-loose clothing. Sleeve  31  can be fused on ends with elastic fabric to allow for expansion of sleeve  31  to fit various-other massage roller devices. At least one end of sleeve remains open, and allows for user to slide foam roller of choice into sleeve. Dimensions of sleeve can be Length: 12″-35″ and Diameter: 5.5″-9″. Port  33  for charging can also be provided. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates heating pad  9 . Heating pad  9  can be a sheet. In one embodiment a pliable, carbon fiber fabric may be employed. In this embodiment, carbon fiber (sold under the name Lamina Heat®) is woven in to a fabric with electrical wire conduit throughout. In use, the wire  35  is electrified, sending a current through the carbon fiber. The electrical resistance of carbon fiber is utilized, and ultimately the carbon is heated to a temperature up to, but not to exceed 150° F. As carbon fiber is utilized as recipient of electricity, heating element will heat evenly, and in the event of tear in fabric, heat will continue without hot-spot or risk of electrocution. The heating pad can be a rectangular sheet with two strips of copper conductors  18  placed parallel to each other on two opposite sides. Each of the two leads  35  coming from inside of shell  6  are attached to a single copper conductor  18 . Electricity flows from rechargeable battery to one of the conductors, and then is forced to travel through the carbon sheet to another conductor. The resistance of the carbon to the electric flow results in a uniformly heated sheet. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates exemplary electronic components of massage roller  1 . The electronic components can include processer  20  for fetching and executing instructions from internal/external memory  21  and/or registers. Other electronic components can include speaker  27 , vibrator  22 , wireless chip (Bluetooth  26 ), and LED lights  15  and  18 . Drivers  25 ,  40 , and  42  cart be used to operate these components. Another component can be a power management unit  28  for controlling the operation of battery  24 , including charging through plug  3 , and regulating current reaching heating pad  9 . Switch  4  and button  16  can be in electronic communication with power management unit  28 . 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a ball  36 . Instead of having a massage roller, the components can be configured to have the shape of a ball  36 . The ball  36  can have the same components illustrated in  FIG. 2 , except that the components (other than the internal electronic components) can be curved to form a ball  36 . There can be one or two curved caps with vents  37 . Support  30  is rigid enough to withstand the weight that a person put on the massage roller  1 . The ball can have a spherical rigid shell, support  30 , foam  10 , heating pad  9 , and cover  8 . Electronic components can be placed inside the ball, like a fan, battery, and a housing for other electronic components. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a mat  38 . Mat  38  can have similar components as sleeve  5 , with the electronic  39  placed next to the mat. Since the mat rests on the ground, the mat may or may not have support  30 . The mat can be made from layer of a foam  10 , on which a heating pad  9  is placed, and cover  8 . 
     Certain embodiments described herein are to include thermally conductive material such as carbon fiber and/or other metals/materials with high electrical conductivity. 
     The massage roller can provide Far Infrared (FIR) therapy. Far Infrared (FIR) (λ=3-100 μm) therapy is a subdivision of the electromagnetic spectrum that has been investigated for biological effects. It has been proven to inhibit the increase of inflammatory markers, increases blood circulation and oxygen supply to damaged tissues aiding to the reduction of chronic joint and muscle pain or sport injuries. Additionally, it induces the release of nitric oxide, which signals surrounding smooth muscle to relax, dilating the arteries, increasing blood flow and delivering oxygen and nutrients to cells in the body. Finally, FIR is associated with significantly more rapid wound healing with than without FIR. Histological findings revealed greater collagen regeneration and infiltration of fibroblasts that expressed transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) in wounds in the FIR group than in the group without FIR. Stimulation of the secretion of TGF-β1 or the activation of fibroblasts may be considered as a possible mechanisms for the promotive effect of FIR on wound healing independent of skin blood flow and skin temperature. 
     During use of the massage roller, the user receives the effects of both the electromagnetic spectrum of FIR, as well as the superficial effects of superficial heat within the therapeutic range of 120° f.-140° f., in addition to the benefits of foam rolling. 
     REFERENCES 
     
         
           1 . Massage roller 
           2 . End cap a 
           3 . Plug 
           4 . Charge switch 
           5 . End cap b 
           6 . Cylindrical shell 
           7 . Fan 
           8 . Cover 
           9 . Heating pad/heating element 
           10 . Foam 
           11 ,  12 ,  13 . Adhesive 
           14 . Ventilation openings 
           15 . LED light 
           16 . Button 
           17 . Ventilation openings 
           18 . Conductor 
           20 . Processor 
           21 . Memory 
           22 . Vibrator 
           24 . Battery 
           25 . Driver 
           26 . Bluetooth 
           27 . Speaker 
           28 . Power Management Unit 
           29 . Driver 
           30 . Support 
           31 . Sleeve 
           32 . Wire 
           33 . Port 
           35 . Lead 
           36 . Ball 
           37 . Vents 
           38 . Mat 
           39 . Electronics housing for Mat 
           40 . Driver 
           42 . Driver