Abstract:
A roller for therapy with a temperature control to enable a user to combine the benefits of heat or cold with the use of a roller. The roller comprises a generally cylindrically shaped roller body, a heating element, fluid conducting elements, a power source, and a hollow core that houses components including the power source. The heating and cooling elements are electric and are configured within the housing or in an external component in different embodiments of the apparatus. Temperature control is available to the user through an interface configured on the housing or in an external component in different embodiments of the apparatus.

Description:
COPYRIGHT NOTICE 
       [0001]    Portions of this disclosure contain material in which copyright is claimed by the applicant. The applicant has no objection to the copying of this material in the course of making copies of the application file or any patents that may issue on the application, but all other rights whatsoever in the copyrighted material are reserved. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to roller devices for use in physical therapy, exercise, stretching, massage and for a variety of other purposes to improve and maintain a healthy body. Prior art rollers are known in the art. Examples are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 8,337,437 entitled “System and Methods for Promoting Health” to Hitzmann and published United States Patent Application Serial No. 2013/0231594 entitled “Heated Roller Apparatus.” 
         [0003]      FIGS. 1A-C  show a prior art foam roller  100  in use during exercises to work the back. In  FIG. 1A , the user exercises the lower back area with the roller by sitting on the roller and slowly moving back and forth with the roller working the muscles in the buttocks and the lower back. In  FIG. 1B , the roller is placed at the middle of the back and the user works the back muscles between the shoulders and the lower back. And, in  FIG. 1C , the roller is placed below the shoulders and the user works the upper back and shoulder muscles. The roller may be used for a wide range of exercises to work muscles in all parts of the body as shown, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 8,337,437. The descriptions and figures showing the exercises are incorporated herein for reference. It should be understood that a roller of the type and shape shown in  FIGS. 1A-1C  may also be used for an unlimited number of other exercises devised by physical therapists, trainers and other professionals who routinely work with people in the health industry. 
         [0004]      FIG. 2  is a prior art  200  roller with perforations  205  to allow heat from a removable heating element in the core of the roller to be distributed through the perforations to reach the user&#39;s skin. Such a roller is described and shown in US Patent Publication 2013/0231594 referenced above. 
         [0005]    A variety of other rollers are also shown in the prior art including those that provide heat and vibration during use. However, there is a need for an improved roller that alternatively provides heat or cooling during use and that is easy and safe to use. The present invention offers a unique combination of features that increases the flexibility of a roller to address the application of hot or cold temperatures during exercise. Numerous other advantages and features of the invention will become readily apparent from the detailed description of the embodiments of the invention, from the claims, and from the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    For a better understanding of the present invention, and to describe its operation, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings. The drawings show different embodiments of the present invention in which: 
           [0007]      FIGS. 1A-C  show a prior art roller in use for different exercises; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  shows a prior art roller with perforations and a heating element; 
           [0009]      FIG. 3A-C  show perspective views of a first embodiment of a roller of the present invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  shows internal components of a first embodiment of a roller of the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is a cut-away view of a pump with a heating element; 
           [0012]      FIGS. 6A-B  show perspective views of a second embodiment of a roller of the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  shows internal components of a second embodiment of a roller of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a roller of the present invention on a heating station; 
           [0015]      FIG. 9  shows the heating station of  FIG. 8  without the roller; 
           [0016]      FIGS. 10A-B  are two perspective views of the heating element of the third embodiment of the roller of  FIGS. 8-9 ; and 
           [0017]      FIGS. 11A-E  show views of a fourth embodiment of a roller of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0018]    The present invention will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Throughout the  FIGS. 3-11 , like elements of the invention are referred to by the same reference numerals for consistency purposes. 
         [0019]      FIGS. 3A-C  are perspective views of a first embodiment of a roller  300  of the present invention. Roller  300  is generally cylindrical in shape and the exterior is covered with a hollow tubing  305 . Hollow tubing may be flexible and is typically formed of malleable plastic, vinyl, polypropylene or another suitable material that deforms to a small degree along the sidewall when pressure is applied against it, but returns to its original form when the pressure is removed. Hollow tubing  305  has a diameter that is preferably in the range of approximately 11 mm to 16 mm and a wall thickness that is preferably in the range of approximately 2 mm to 4 mm. 
         [0020]    Fluid circulates through hollow tubing  305  during use. Hollow tubing  305  is wound around the entire length of roller  300  starting at a first end  310  of roller  300  where an entry port  315  is positioned and extending in a tightly wound spiral configuration around the exterior of roller  300  to an exit port  320  at second end  325  of roller  300 . The fluid in tubing  305  may be heated or cooled to provide heat or cooling to the skin and/or musculature of a user of roller  300 . Entry port  315  and exit port  320  are formed of rigid material such as plastic and are either integrated in the body of roller  300  near end  310  and  315  respectively or configured to pass through a hole in the body of roller  300 . Alternatively, ports  315 ,  320  may be integrated in or pass through a hole in end panels  345 ,  350  covering an interior portion of roller  300  at first end  310  and second end  325 , respectively. 
         [0021]    The fluid flowing through tubing  305  is circulated by a pump (shown in  FIG. 4 ) that is controlled by power switch  330  integrated in end panel  345 . Temperature adjustments to the fluid are controlled by temperature switches  335   a - c  mounted in end panel  345 . Temperature switches  335   a - c  of  FIG. 3  are integrated in end panel  345  and are shown with the representative settings “low,” “medium” and “high.” It should be understood that the number of settings may be more or less than three by adding or removing switches  335 , or a single variable switch could be used to adjust the temperature across a temperature range. For example, a low temperature may be 100° F., a medium temperature may be 120° F. and a high temperature may be 140° F. An indicator light  340  and a charging port  355  are integrated in end panel  345 . 
         [0022]    In  FIGS. 3B-3C , roller  300  is shown in a perspective break-out view of the component parts with a sleeve  360  within which internal parts are housed. Sleeve  360  may be made out of a rigid plastic or metal material and it allows the housing of roller  300  to be a formed in a single piece. All of the internal components can then be fitted within sleeve  360  (as seen in the cut-away view of  FIG. 3C ), and sleeve  360  may be slid into the hollow center core of roller  300 . Details of the components that are fitted within sleeve  360  are shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0023]      FIG. 4  shows the internal components of roller  300  that are housed within the hollow core of roller  300 . In one embodiment shown in  FIGS. 3B-3C , sleeve  360  is used within which the internal components are fitted. Alternatively, the internal components may be mounted in the hollow core of roller  300  without the use of sleeve  360 . In that case, roller  300  may be formed of two or more exterior molded parts that are fitted together around the internal components. 
         [0024]    The internal components include a rechargeable battery  405 , an electrically powered pump  410  and a heating chamber  415  within which a heating element is housed. Pump  410  is a standard positive displacement pump that is manufactured, for example, by Misol.  FIG. 5  is a cut-away view of heating chamber  415  showing heating element  505  inside heating chamber  415 . Heating element  505  is a standard resistance style heating coil of that is manufactured, for example, by RoadPro. Heating element  505  is used to heat the fluid in the system to a desired temperature which is adjusted using switches  335   a - c . Rechargeable battery  405  supplies power to pump  410  and heating element  505 . Battery  405  is recharged through charging port  355  to which a standard AC power cord  365  is plugged into an AC wall outlet. Once charged and during operation, indicator light  340  on end panel  345  indicates whether battery  405  is adequately charged to power pump  410  and heating element  505 . 
         [0025]    Power from battery  405  is supplied to pump  410  and heating element  505  through electrical connections shown as power wires  420  connecting battery  405  to power switch  330  and temperature switches  335   a - c , pump wire  425  connecting on/off switch  330  to pump  410  and heat wire  430  connecting temperature switches  335   a - c  to heating element  505 . 
         [0026]    A closed loop is formed in the system through which fluid flows as it is pumped by pump  410 . The closed loop includes: (1) a pump output tube  435  connected between an output of pump  410  and an input of heating chamber  415 ; (2) a heating output tube  440  connected between heating chamber  415  and entry port  315  of tubing  305 ; and (3) tubing  305  winding around the exterior of roller  300 ; and (4) a pump input tube  445  connected between exit port  320  of tubing  305  and an input of pump  410 . The fluid may be water or it may be another fluid such as mineral oil or a glycol based heating fluid. The purpose of using an oil type fluid is that it is maintained at a higher temperature more efficiently than water thereby requiring less power supplied to heating element  505  over time conserving battery power and requiring charging less often. Further, the use of an oil type fluid instead of water inhibits bacterial growth in the internal components of the system and minimizes cleaning requirements over the life of the heated roller and its component parts, and it also prevents freezing should the unit be exposed to cold temperatures. 
         [0027]    In operation, fluid is circulated through the closed loop system by pump  410 . As the fluid flows through tubing  305  wound around the exterior of roller  300 , tubing  305  delivers a heated contact area to a user as the heated contact area comes into contact with the user&#39;s skin during use of roller  300 . The fluid is circulated through pump  410  which pumps the fluid out to output tube  435 . From there, the fluid circulates through heating chamber  415  where it is heated to the desired temperature by heating element  505 . As the fluid flows out of heating chamber  415 , it passes into heating output tube  440  connected between heating chamber  415  and entry port  315  of tubing  305  at the first end  310  of roller  300 . Once in tube  305 , the fluid flows in a spiral pattern around the exterior of roller  300  before entering pump input tube  445 . While it is flowing through tube  305  in a heated state after leaving heating chamber  415 , the exposed surface area of tubing  305  contacts a user&#39;s skin during use delivering heat to the skin while the roller moves against the skin. Upon exiting tube  305  into exit port  320  at second end  325 , the fluid is carried through pump input hose  445  where it re-enters the input of pump  410 . The fluid is constantly circulated through this closed loop in a heated state as long as pump  410  is turned “on” using switch  330 . The temperature of the fluid is determined by adjusting the heating element using switches  335   a - c.    
         [0028]      FIG. 6A  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a roller  600  in accordance with the present invention. In this embodiment, exterior surface  605  is formed of any rigid, durable material such as metal or mold-injected plastic. The metal or plastic could be of varying thickness, but a thickness of approximately ⅛ of an inch would be acceptable for the intended purpose. The controls in an end panel  345  are the same as those shown for the embodiment of  FIGS. 3-5 . A cut-away side view of this embodiment is shown in  FIG. 6B . In this embodiment, the interior portion of roller  600  is filled with fluid. A pump  610  circulates fluid within the interior portion by drawing in the fluid through an intake tube  615  and outputting the fluid through an exit tube  620 . A heating element  625  maintains the fluid at a desired temperature that is set according to the controls in end panel  345 . The other internal components are housed in a dry tube  630  that is affixed at one end to end panel  345  such that the electronics can be controlled directly from end panel  345 . The heated fluid circulating within the hollow interior portion of roller  600  surrounds dry tube  630  and contacts an interior surface of the external housing maintaining it a desired temperature for contact between the exterior surface of roller  600  and a user&#39;s skin. 
         [0029]      FIG. 7  shows the internal structure of roller  600 . Heating element  625  is powered by a battery  635  that is the same as the one shown in the first embodiment. Battery  635  is housed in dry tube  630  so that it stays dry, along with the electrical interface  640  to heating element  625 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a roller  800  in accordance with the present invention. In this embodiment, roller  800  is formed of a plastic or metal materials as with the other embodiments with a composition similar to roller  600  of  FIGS. 6-7  and including a hollow core. The hollow core forms a container that is filled with fluid. In this embodiment, a first end  805  of roller  800  is adapted to mate with a roller interface  810  (see  FIG. 9 ) of a heating station  815  such that first end  805  of roller  800  is accepted into roller dock or interface  810  of heating station  815  for heating fluid inside roller  800 . Heating station  815  includes temperature switches  820   a - c  that set a temperature level—low, medium, high—to which the fluid inside of roller  800  is heated. Power button  825  controls power to heating station  815 . Indicator light  830  indicates when roller  800  has reached the desired temperature and is ready for use. Power cord  835  plugs into standard wall outlet or alternatively could be powered by DC source. 
         [0031]      FIG. 9  shows heating station  815  of  FIG. 8  without roller  800  in place in roller dock  810  of heating station  815 . In this view, power ring elements  840   a - b  are visible. When power switch  825  is activated, charging station  815  is turned on and concentric power ring elements  840   a - b  provide power to heating element  1020  (see  FIG. 10B ). Heating element  1020  warms to an appropriate temperature as determined by temperature switches  820   a - c . Power ring elements  840   a - b  are configured in a concentric pattern so that roller  800  does not need to be specifically aligned with placed in heating station  815 . Power ring elements  840   a - b  are preferably recessed in heating station  815  to minimize the likelihood of a short circuit. 
         [0032]      FIGS. 10A-B  are two perspective views of a heating element  845  of roller  800  as shown in  FIGS. 8-9 . In the view of  FIG. 10A , roller  800  is shown with first end  805  in a form as it would be used. In this view, roller base  805  is visible with sealed cap  1010  in place over the hollow internal core of roller  800  where fluid is contained. Cap rings  1015  align with power ring elements  840   a - b  when roller  800  is placed in roller dock  810  on heating station  815  during operations to supply power through cap rings  1015  to heating element  1020  (see  FIG. 10B ). 
         [0033]    In the view of  FIG. 10B , cap  1010  is shown removed from roller  800  and heating element  1020  is visible on the inside portion of cap  1010  where that it may be inserted into the hollow core of roller  800  so that it is contact with the fluid contained within the core. Cap  1010  forms a water-tight seal when it is inserted into opening  1025  using threads  1030  along the sides of cap  1010 . Alternatively, cap  1010  may be sealed in opening  1025  by using a snap-in design in which cap  1010  snaps into place. Once cap  1010  is removed from opening  1025 , fluid may be replaced and the hollow core forming the container for the fluid may be cleaned. 
         [0034]      FIGS. 11A-B  are two perspective views of a fourth embodiment of a roller  1100  in accordance with the present invention.  FIG. 11A  shows a roller  1100  fitting into a station  1105  in a roller dock or interface  1110 . In this embodiment, all heating or cooling is performed at a source of the fluid. Fluid of a desired temperature, which may be hot, warm or cold, is input to station  1105  via hose  1120  when activation button  1115  is depressed on station  1105 . Roller  1100  is essentially a large water bottle and may be filled from input hose  1120 . 
         [0035]    In the view of  FIG. 11B , roller  1100  is shown removed from roller dock  1110 . A pair of fluid ports  1125   a ,  1125   b  that incorporate one-way valves prevent fluid loss when roller  1100  is inserted into or removed from roller dock  1110 . Fluid input port  1125   a  is connected to input hose  1120  and fluid output port  1125   b  is connected to output hose  1130 . A source of fluid (e.g. water or oil) can be connected to hose  1120  and output hose  1130  can be connected to a drain. When fluid of a desired temperature is provided to fill an interior hollow portion of roller  1100 , a valve on fluid input port  1125   a  is opened and fluid flows into roller  1100 . Any excess fluid is circulated out through output port  1125   b  and into hose  1130  to the drain. In this way, fluid of the appropriate temperature fills roller  1100 . 
         [0036]      FIG. 11C  shows a detailed view of fluid ports  1125   a  of station  1105 . A spring-loaded valve  1150  is seated inside ports  1125   a ,  1125   b  permitting fluid to flow from input tube  1120  through input port  1125   a  into roller  1100  when it is placed in dock  1110 . 
         [0037]      FIGS. 11D-E  shows fluid ports  1155   a - b  on a first end  1145  of roller  1100 . Each port is similar in structure to the one-way ports  1125   a - b  of station  1105  and includes a spring loaded valve  1160   a - b  that is opened when in place in roller dock  1110  and automatically closed when roller  1100  is removed from dock  1110 . 
         [0038]    While the invention has been described with respect to the figures, it will be appreciated that many modifications and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. Any variation and derivation from the above description and drawings are included in the scope of the present invention as defined by the claims.