Patent Publication Number: US-7211057-B2

Title: Method and apparatus for providing hot and cold massage

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
   The present invention is generally related to massagers and more particularly to a system and method for providing a hot massage or cold massage. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Individuals generally, develop sore muscles and general aches and pains during the course of daily events. If muscles located in the back, shoulders, legs, feet or other areas become extremely tired, the circulation of the blood becomes sluggish, causing the compression of various nerves near the muscles. Recovery from fatigue of various muscles is delayed by the compressed nerves. Therefore, stimulation of the sore, aching, or tired muscles, which increases blood flow in the various muscles, hastens recovery from these general muscle maladies. 
   In folk medicine, simple mechanical objects without moving parts and of various designs were created for kneading troubled muscles in an attempt to increase blood flow. In Asian medicine, massage and acupuncture are used to stimulate an acupoint at which vital nerves are concentrated. More recently, doctors, personal trainers, and other experts in the field apply heat or cold to muscles in an attempt to alleviate the general muscle maladies. Also, more recently, many types of electronic massage devices have been created for promoting circulation of blood in the various troubled muscles. 
   There are several different techniques to massage troubled muscles and each technique provides different relief to the muscles. Vibratory massage applies a percussive force to the muscles that loosens tight muscles and encourages blood flow. Heat similarly loosens tight muscles and encourages blood flow, although more slowly than vibratory massage. The benefit of massage through heat over vibratory massage is that massage through heat is gentler on sore muscles. Cold massage can reduce swelling and inflammation in muscles and is often used to treat microtraumas in tendons, joints and bones. Each of these massage techniques, in their own ways, are useful in relieving troubled muscles. 
   The many types of electronic massage devices currently on the market have various characteristics. Some devices provide vibratory massage. Some devices provide heat massage. A couple of devices provide cold massage. Ideally, a massage device would be capable of relieving muscle aches through all three of these massage techniques. 
   Electronic massage devices that provide massage through heat, usually consume significant amounts of power. Electrically warming a massage head on the massage device is normally achieved with a resistive heating element, which requires a significant current to be warmed and to stay warm. Similarly, most cooling devices draw significant power. Ideally, a massage device would be capable of either heat or cold massage without consuming significant amounts of power. 
   Thus, a heretofore-unaddressed need exists in the industry to address the aforementioned deficiencies and inadequacies. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus and method for providing a hot or cold massage. 
   Briefly described, in architecture, one embodiment of the system, among others, can be implemented as a massage device, as follows. The massage device has a housing, which includes a massage head integral with the housing. The massage head has a first massaging surface. A heating element, integral with the housing, is positioned sufficiently proximate to the first massaging surface to raise a temperature of the first massaging surface above ambient temperature when the heating element is at an above ambient temperature. The massage device also includes a massage head cover formed to engage the massage head. The massage head cover includes a second massaging surface and a material that is capable of being cooled or frozen. 
   The present invention can also be viewed as providing methods for massaging. In this regard, a first method, among others, can be broadly summarized by the following steps: warming a first massaging surface on a massage head to above ambient temperature; beginning to massage with the massage head while the massage head cover is above ambient temperature; cooling a massage head cover to below ambient temperature; attaching the massage head cover to the massage head; and massaging with the massage head cover while the massage head cover is below ambient temperature. 
   A second method, among others, for providing a massage can be broadly summarized by the following steps: cooling one massage head cover to below ambient temperature; attaching the massage head cover to a massage head; and massaging the sore muscle with the massage head cover and massage head while the massage head cover is below ambient temperature. 
   Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the present invention will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the present invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Many aspects of the invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present invention. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention having the massage head  14  and the massage head cover  20  separated. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the first exemplary embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  having the massage head cover  20  secured to the massage head  14 . 
       FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the first exemplary embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the first exemplary embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 5  is a flow chart of a first possible use of the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 6  is a flow chart of a second possible use of the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   In accordance with a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention,  FIGS. 1 through 4  illustrate a massage device  10 . The massage device  10  includes a housing  12 , which is substantially a body of the massage device  10 . A massage head  14  is integral with the housing  12 . A first massaging surface  16  is integral with the massage head  14 . The housing  12  contains a heating element  18  positioned sufficiently proximate to the first massaging surface  16  to raise a temperature of the first massaging surface  16  above ambient temperature when the heating element  18  is at an above ambient temperature. The massage device  10  also includes a massage head cover  20  formed to engage the massage head  14 . The massage head cover  20  includes a second massaging surface  22  and is at least partially constructed from a freezable material  24 . It should be noted that the freezable material  24  may instead be a coolable material that does not freeze. 
   The housing  12  can be constructed in many different ways. The first exemplary embodiment of the massage device  10 , as shown in  FIG. 3 , uses a housing  12  that has a hollow, somewhat cylindrical shape. However, the housing  12  can be formed in any shape imaginable and, presently, a plethora of massage devices of varying shapes and sizes are known to those skilled in the art. The housing  12  is intended to at least partially house the electronics associated with the massage device  10  and, more specifically, the massage head  14  and heating element  18 . If, as shown in the first exemplary embodiment, the massage device  10  is designed to be handheld, a handle  26  may be attached to the housing  12 . 
   The massage head  14  has a wide range of structure possibilities. The massage head  14 , as shown in the first exemplary embodiment, is wider than the housing  12 , and contains the elements for providing heat and vibratory massage. The massage head  14  also has a first massaging surface  16 , which may be smooth, covered in nodules, or otherwise crafted for providing a massaging touch to aching muscles. The massage head  14  may include a percussive massage element  28  designed to cause the massage head  14  to vibrate. 
   Many designs for the percussive massage element  28  are known to those skilled in the art. One possible design for the percussive massage element  28  is a rotatable, off-balance weight  30 . The off-balance weight  30  is driven to rotate by a motor  32  within the massage device  10 . Also, a counterweight  34  may be provided in the massage head  14  to inhibit percussive force from the percussive massage element  28  from translating down the handle  26  of the massage device  10 . 
   The massage head cover  20  may be designed to be microwaveable or may contain an insert that is microwaveable. The massage head cover  20  also has the second massaging surface  22 , which may be smooth, covered in nodules, or otherwise crafted for providing a massaging touch to aching muscles. The second massaging surface  22  may be designed to translate percussive force from the percussive massage element  28  to the user. The massage head cover  20  may be designed to easily conduct temperatures, including, but not limited to, that of the heating element  18  or the freezable material  24 . The massage head cover  20  may be designed to easily conduct temperatures at the second massaging surface  22 . The massage head cover  20  may also include an insert joined to the second massaging surface  22 , wherein said insert is the freezable material  24 . The freezable material  24  may include a freezable gel. 
   As shown in  FIG. 1 , the massage device  10  contains further features. As discussed, the massage head cover  20  is formed to engage the massage head  14 . According to the first exemplary embodiment, a thumbscrew  36  may be attached to a tab (not shown) running through the massage head cover  20 . The tab is insertable into a massage head slot  38 . Turning the thumbscrew  36 , after the tab has been inserted into the massage head slot  38 , engages the massage head cover  20  to the massage head  14 . This engagement is designed to withstand any percussive force from the percussive massage element  28 . Many variations and modifications of the engagement in the first exemplary embodiment may be made without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the massage device  10 . 
   The first exemplary embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  also contains elements for controlling operation of the massage device  10 . The massage device  10  includes a control panel  40 . The control panel  40  may include an on/off switch for either or both of the percussive massage element  28  and for the heating element  18 . The control panel  40  may include buttons for controlling the intensity of the percussive force from the percussive massage element  28  and/or the intensity of the heat from the heating element  18 . Other controls for controlling the features of the massage device  10  herein described may further be included with the control panel  40 . The massage device  10  also includes an electrical cord  42  for receiving power from a wall outlet, although power may be provided alternatively or in combination with a battery. 
     FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6  are flowcharts illustrating the architecture, functionality, and operation of a possible implementation of the first exemplary embodiment of the massage device  10  of  FIG. 1 . In this regard, each block represents a module or segment, which comprises one or more executable instructions for implementing the specified function(s). It should also be noted that in some alternative implementations, the functions noted in the blocks may occur out of the order noted in the flow charts. For example, two blocks shown in succession may in fact be executed substantially concurrently or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality involved, as will be further clarified herein below. 
   A first method  100  of treating a sore muscle using the massage device  10  is shown in  FIG. 5 . The first method  100  includes a step of warming  102  a first massaging surface  16  on a massage head  14  to above ambient temperature. Another step in the method is beginning  104  to massage the sore muscle with the massage head  14  while the massage head  14  is above ambient temperature. The step of beginning  104  to massage may be completed, for example, by kneading the first massaging surface  16  on the massage head  14  against the sore muscle in a rote motion. Another step in the first method  100  is cooling  106  a massage head cover  20  to below ambient temperature. Another step in the first method  100  is attaching  108  the massage head cover  20  to the massage head  14 . The step of attaching  108  the massage head cover  20  to the massage head  14  may be completed, for example, by inserting the thumbscrew  36  tab into the massage head slot  40  and turning the thumbscrew  36 . Another step in the first method  100  is massaging  110  the sore muscle with the massage head cover  20  while the massage head cover  20  is below ambient temperature. 
   The method  100  of treating a sore muscle using the massage device  10  may include additional steps. One additional possible step is the step of causing  112  the massage head cover  20  to vibrate. The step of causing  112  the massage head cover  20  to vibrate may be accomplished, for example, by causing the off-balance weight  30  to rapidly rotate, which will generate vibrations within the massage head  14  and those vibrations will translate to the massage head cover  20 . The step of causing  112  the massage head cover  20  to vibrate may also be accomplished, for example, by generating percussive force with the percussive massage element  28  in the massage head  14  and that percussive force will translate to the massage head cover  20 , causing it to vibrate. A related additional step includes step of inhibiting  114  a vibration of the massage head  14  from translating down to a handle  26  attached to the massage head  14 . The step of inhibiting the vibration of the massage head  14  may be accomplished by attaching a counterweight  34  to the massage device  10 , between the massage head  14  and the handle  26 . Many variations and modifications for causing the massage head  14  to vibrate in the first method  100  may be made without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the step of causing  112  the massage head cover  20  to vibrate. 
   A separate additional possible set of steps include a step of warming  116  the first massaging surface  16  on the massage head  14  to above ambient temperature. The step of warming  116  the first massaging surface  16  may be accomplished, for instance, by engaging the heating element. A second step in the additional possible set of steps includes translating  118  a warmth of the first massaging surface  16  to the massage head cover  20  to increase a temperature of the massage head cover  20  to above ambient temperature. 
   A second method  130  of treating a sore muscle using the massage device  10  is shown in  FIG. 6 . One step of the second method is cooling  132  one massage head cover  20  to below ambient temperature. The step of cooling  132  the massage head cover  20  may be performed by freezing the massage head cover  20 , wherein the massage head cover  20  contains a freezable material  18 , or by freezing a freezable material  18 , which is then inserted into the massage head cover  20 . Another step of the second method is attaching  134  the massage head cover  20  to a massage head  14 . The step of attaching  134  the massage head cover  20  to the massage head  14  may be completed, for example, by inserting the thumbscrew  36  tab into the massage head slot  40  and turning the thumbscrew  36 . Another step of the second method  130  is massaging  136  the sore muscle with the massage head cover  20  while the massage head cover  20  is below ambient temperature. The step of massaging  136  the sore muscle may be completed, for example, by kneading the second massaging surface  22  of the massage head  14  against the sore muscle in a rote motion. 
   The second method  130  of treating a sore muscle using the massage device  10  may include additional sets of steps. One additional possible set of steps may include the step of removing  138  the massage head cover  20  from the massage head  14 . Another step in this additional set of steps is heating  140  the massage head  14  to above ambient temperature. The step of heating  140  the massage head  14  may be accomplished by warming the heating element  18  in the massage head  14 . Another step is this additional set of steps is massaging  142  the sore muscle with the massage head  14  while the massage head  14  is above ambient temperature. 
   The second method  130  of treating a sore muscle using the massage device  10  may include another additional sets of steps. One additional possible set of steps may include the step of removing  138  the massage head cover  20  from the massage head  14 . Another step in this additional set of steps is heating  144  the massage head cover  20  to above ambient temperature without the aid of the heating element  18 . The step of heating  144  the massage head cover  20  may be accomplished, for instance, by heating the massage head cover  20 , microwaving the massage head cover  20 , or by heating or microwaving an insert to be placed in the massage head cover  20 . Another step in this additional set of steps is massaging  146  the sore muscle with the massage head cover  20  while the massage head cover  20  is above ambient temperature. The step of massaging  146  the sore muscle with the massage head cover  20  may be accomplished with or without the massage head cover  20  engaged with the massage head  14 . 
   The second method  130  of treating a sore muscle using the massage device  10  may include another additional sets of steps. One additional possible set of steps may include the step of heating  148  the massage head  14  to above ambient temperature. The step of heating  148  the massage head  14  may be accomplished by warming the heating element  18  in the massage head  14 . Another step in this set of additional steps is translating  150  heat from the massage head  14  through the massage head cover  20 . Another step in this set of additional steps is massaging  152  the sore muscle with the massage head cover  20  while the massage head cover  20  is above ambient temperature. The step of massaging  152  the sore muscle with the massage head cover  20  may be accomplished with or without the massage head cover  20  engaged with the massage head  14 . 
   It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments of the present invention are merely possible examples of implementations, merely set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the invention. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments of the invention without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the invention. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure and the present invention and protected by the following claims.