Patent Publication Number: US-2018036197-A1

Title: Variable pressure massage apparatus

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a variable pressure massage apparatus including a position adjustable table upon which an individual lays to receive a massage. The apparatus also includes a motor housing and a motor driven massage drum that is suspended from the motor housing and held above the position adjustable table at which to be rotated so as to apply a pressure primarily for massaging the hips of an individual to reduce or distribute fat and cellulite. 
     2. Background Art 
     The health and therapeutic advantages of a massage are well known. Typically, an individual seeking a massage lies on a stationary massage table. In some cases, the massage is primarily intended to reduce or redistribute fat and cellulite at and near the hips of the individual. A masseuse or a masseur applies a pressure with his hands or a hand-held device to deliver the massage to the individual. Because delivering the massage to the individual requires the intervention of a masseuse or a masseur, the individual must first find a skilled therapist and then cither travel to the therapist&#39;s work site or have the therapist visit the individual. Moreover, because the therapist will tire, the length of the massage is limited in its duration. Likewise, the cost to the individual to receive the massage can become expensive with the frequency of the massages and the skill of the therapist. In this same regard, the therapist may not always be available to fit the schedule of the individual. 
     What would therefore be desirable is a massage apparatus which can be stationed in a gym, a therapy center or in the home of an individual seeking a massage and include a table on which the individual will lay so that the massage can be delivered to the hips and adjacent areas of the individual on an as-needed basis without the intervention of a masseuse or a masseur and without limitation as to the duration or regularity of the massage. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In general terms, a variable pressure massage apparatus is disclosed which includes a rotating massage drum having a generally cylindrical configuration and a position adjustable table located below the massage drum upon which an individual lays to receive a massage without the intervention of a masseuse or a masseur. The apparatus includes a hollow stand within which a lift is slidably received. A user actuated pedal is located adjacent the position adjustable table to be activated by the individual laying on the table to cause the lift to slide through the stand. The lift is connected to the table so that a movement of the lift relative to the stand causes a corresponding movement of the table and the individual laying thereon relative to the rotating massage drum. 
     A motor housing stands upwardly and above the position adjustable table. The rotating massage drum is suspended from the motor housing so as to be held over the individual laying on the table. An electric motor and a reduction gear box are located within the motor housing. The motor generates a rotational force which is applied to the rotating massage drum by way of the reduction gear box and a spindle which extends outwardly through the motor housing to the massage drum. The rotating massage drum includes a plurality of interchangeable rollers that are carried by and rotatable around respective roller shafts so as to roll over the body and particularly the hips of the individual to administer the massage when the massage drum is rotated by the motor. As a modification, the plurality of rollers are mounted on shafts that are offset from the longitudinal axes of the rollers to cause the rollers to vibrate as the drum rotates so as to more effectively reduce and redistribute the fat of the individual. 
     An electric heal lamp is located within the motor housing so as to lie above the rotating massage drum. Heat that is generated by the heat lamp is applied to the massage drum to heat the rollers thereof by way of an open window formed in the motor housing. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a variable pressure massage apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of this invention including a position adjustable table so that an individual lying on the table can receive a massage at and near her hips so as to reduce or distribute fat and cellulite; 
         FIG. 2  shows details of a motor housing and a generally cylindrical rotating massage drum that is suspended from the motor housing and held above the position adjustable table of the massage apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  shows an enlarged detailed view of the rotating massage drum that is suspended from the motor housing of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of the rotating massage drum shown in  FIG. 3  having a plurality of interchangeable rollers to roll over the body and hips of the individual shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a first embodiment for one of the plurality of interchangeable rollers from the rotating massage drum of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a second embodiment of one of the plurality of interchangeable rollers from the rotating massage drum of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a third embodiment for one of the plurality of interchangeable rollers from the rotating massage drum of  FIG. 4 ; and 
         FIG. 8  represents a modification of the generally cylindrical rotating massage drum wherein the plurality of rollers that are shown in  FIG. 4  are mounted on and rotatable around shafts that are offset from the longitudinal axes of the rollers. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     A variable pressure massage apparatus  1  according to a preferred embodiment of this invention is initially described while referring to  FIG. 1  of the drawings. The massage apparatus  1  includes a position adjustable table  3  that can be located in a gym, at home or in a therapy center to support the weight of an individual seeking the benefits of a massage without the intervention of a masseuse or a masseur. In the case of  FIG. 1 , a woman is shown laying on her side so that a massage pressure can be applied primarily to her hip for the purpose of reducing or redistributing fat and cellulite, receiving massage therapy, or simply for her comfort. However, it is to be understood that the individual with whom the massage apparatus  1  is used is not limited to a woman, and the area to be treated is not limited to the individual&#39;s hip, as shown, and may extend to other areas of her body including the thighs, chest, stomach and legs. 
     The position adjustable table  3  is ideally a hard foam pad that is covered by vinyl, leather or the like. A sheet (not shown) may be placed over the table  3  upon which the individual will lay while receiving a massage. The table  3  rests on and is supported by a (e.g., wooden) platform  5 . Laying on the ground and spaced below the table  3  is a base  7 . A hollow cylindrical stand  9  is affixed at the bottom thereof to the base  7 . The opposite top end of the cylindrical stand  9  is open. A cylindrical lift  10  is located within and slidable through the hollow cylindrical stand  9 . The top of the lift  10  is affixed to the bottom of the table platform  5 . The position of the lift  10  within the stand  9  is manually controlled by the individual so as to selectively adjust the individual&#39;s position relative to a generally cylindrical rotating massage drum  12  of the massage apparatus  1  by which a massage pressure to be applied to the user can be correspondingly controlled. Electrical and mechanical means are well known in the art for causing the lift  10  to move through the stand  9  by which to cause a corresponding movement of the position adjustable table  3  relative to the massage drum  12 . 
     Referring concurrently to  FIGS. 1-3  of the drawings, details are provided of a motor housing  18  of the variable pressure massage apparatus  1 . The motor housing  18  is held above the position adjustable table  3  by a mount  19  that stands upwardly from the base  7  of apparatus  1 . The motor housing  18  is preferably manufactured from metal and encloses a motor  18 . By way of example, the motor  18  is a ½ horsepower electric motor that is coupled to the rotating massage drum  12  by way of a 1750:25 reduction gear box  22  (best shown in  FIG. 2 ). In particular, a rotatable spindle  24  which extends axially through the massage drum  12  is connected to the gear box  22  through the motor housing  18  so that a driving force generated by the motor  20  is imparted to the massage drum  12  at the spindle  24  to cause a rotation of the massage drum. At the same time, the connection of the spindle  24  to the gear box  22  enables the rotating massage drum  12  to be suspended outside the motor housing  18  and held above the individual laying on the position adjustable table  3 . The massage drum  12  is rotated by the motor  20  at an ideal speed of 25 RPM to massage a hip of the individual laying on the table  3  in a manner that will soon be explained. 
     The motor  20  is connected to one side of an electrical switch box  26  by way of an electrical wire  28 . The switch box  26  and an electrical heating lamp  30  are both located inside the motor housing  18 . The heating lamp  30  is mounted within the motor housing  18  so as to be held above an open window  32  or similar opening formed in the motor housing (best shown in  FIG. 3 ). The open window  32  formed in the motor housing  18  lies above the rotating massage drum  12  so that the heat generated by the lamp  30  is transmitted through the window  32  to the massage drum  12  by which the massage drum is heated. The heating lamp  30  which, for example, provides 250 watts of power is connected by way of an electrical wire  34  to the opposite side of the switch box  26  inside motor housing  18 . 
     The switch box  26  is connected by way of an electrical power cord  36  to an electrical wall socket or any other suitable source of AC power. The switch box  26  has two external switches  37  and  38  that are accessible outside the motor housing  18 . Closing a first switch  37  enables AC power to be provided to the motor  20 . Closing the second switch  38  enables AC power to be applied to the heating lamp  30 . 
     Details of the generally cylindrical rotating massage drum  12  that is suspended from the motor housing  18  so as to lie above the position adjustable  3  of the variable pressure massage apparatus  1  are now explained while referring concurrently to  FIGS. 2-7  of the drawings. The massage drum  12  includes a plurality of (e.g., eight) interchangeable (e.g., wooden) rollers  42  that are uniformly spaced from one another in a circumferential direction around the rotatable spindle  24  (best shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 ). The rollers  42  are also uniformly spaced radially outward from the spindle  24 . 
     By way of a first example, the drum rollers  42  may be radiused along the length thereof (best shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 ). A radiused drum roller configuration is preferable so as to conform to the curves in the hip of the individual being massaged. By way of a second example, the drum rollers (designated  42 - 1  in  FIG. 6 ) may be uniformly cylindrical along their length. A cylindrical drum roller configuration is preferable for applying a uniformly firm pressure to the individual being massaged. By way of another example, the drum rollers (designated  42 - 2  in  FIG. 7 ) may have a radiused configuration (like that shown in  FIG. 5 ) and include a plurality of nubs or dimples  44  projecting therefrom. The nubs  44  enable focused points of pressure to be applied to the individual being massaged. 
     The rotating massage drum  12  has a pair of disk-shaped side plates  46  that are spaced from one another. The spindle  24  which extends from the motor housing  18  runs longitudinally through the generally cylindrical rotating massage drum  12  so as to extend between and outwardly from the side plates  46 . The plurality of rollers  42  also extend between the opposing side plates  46  so as to surround the spindle  24 . Each roller  42  has an axial bore  50  and a shaft  48  that runs longitudinally through the bore (best shown in  FIG. 4 ). The roller shafts  48  are of sufficient length to extend outwardly past the pair of side plates  46  between which the rollers  42  extend. The opposite ends of the roller shafts  48  are threaded, and correspondingly threaded fasteners (e.g., nuts)  52  are mated thereto to hold the shafts  48  and the rollers  42  through which the shafts  48  extend in place between the side plates  46  of the massage drum  12  (also best shown in  FIG. 4 ). Removing the fasteners  52  allows the interchangeable rollers  42  to be replaced by different rollers. 
     The diameter of each of the roller shafts  48  is less than the diameter of the respective bores  50  through which the shafts  48  ore received, such that each roller  42  is rotatable around its shaft  48  when the rollers are pressed against and moved over the body of the individual being massaged. At the same time, the massage drum  12  and the rollers  42  that are carried thereby are rotated by the motor  20  at the spindle  24  so as to generate a pressure to be applied to the individual being massaged (best illustrated in  FIG. 1 ). The rollers  42  are heated by the heat that is generated by the heating lamp  30  (of  FIG. 2 ) and applied to drum  12  via the open window  32  (of  FIG. 3 ) formed in the motor housing  18 . 
     A modification to the rotating massage drum  12  of  FIGS. 1-4  is shown in  FIG. 8  of the drawings. In this case, the shafts  48  which extend between the opposing side plates  46  and around which the rollers  42  rotate are offset by a distance “D” form the longitudinal axes (designating the point  54 ) of the rollers. The distance “D” is ideally about 1/16 inch. By virtue of this offset, a vibration is introduced to the plurality of rollers  42  that are carried by the shafts  48  of the massage drum  12  as the drum rotates. Accordingly, the pressure that is applied to the individual by the massage apparatus  1  of this invention may advantageously be more effective to reduce or redistribute the individual&#39;s fat during the massage.