Abstract:
A sleeping massage pad having a removable semi-cylindrical shaped acupressure support, an acupressure pad and a pair of mated connectors. The acupressure pad includes a neck section, a shoulder section and a back section. Each section of the acupressure pad having a plurality of different sized protrusions configured to apply acupressure with the protrusions being generally same sized within the same section. The pair of mated connectors removable connect the acupressure pad and the removable semi-cylindrical shaped acupressure support to each other.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The claimed invention relates to a sleeping massage pad, and more particularly, to a sleeping massage pad that simulates the benefits of acupuncture without the association of acupuncture needles. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Acupuncture is a collection of procedures involving penetration of the skin with needles to stimulate certain points on the body. it is believed that stimulating specific acupuncture points corrects imbalances in the flow of “qi” through channels known as meridians. Although acupuncture is relatively safe when administered by qualified practitioners using sterile needles and carries a very low risk of serious adverse effects, many people shun away from acupuncture procedures because of their fear of the acupuncture needles which penetrates their skin. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,250,067 describes an acupuncture treatment pad with multiple rigid needle-like or sharpened knife-like protuberances which penetrates a person&#39;s skin and used for short time, on the order of one to three minutes. The rigid needle-like or sharpened protuberances penetrates the user&#39;s skin and does not alleviate people fear of acupuncture procedures. 
     Accordingly, the claimed invention proceeds on the desirability of providing a sleeping massage pad which simulates the benefits of acupuncture without the association of needles or an object penetrating one&#39;s skin. 
     OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Therefore, it is an object of the claimed invention to solve the aforementioned problems with the currently available acupuncture procedures. 
     Another object of the claimed invention is to provide a sleeping massage pad which provides the benefits of acupuncture without the association of needles. 
     A further object of the claimed invention is to provide aforesaid sleeping massage pad with a removable semi-cylindrical shaped acupressure support and an acupressure pad. 
     In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the claimed invention, the sleeping massage pad comprises 
     In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the claimed invention, the aforesaid sleeping massage pad further comprises. 
     In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the claimed invention, the aforesaid sleeping massage pad further comprises 
     Various other objects, advantages and features of the claimed invention will become readily apparent from the ensuing detailed description. Novel features will be emphatically pointed out in the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The claimed invention is further explained in the description which follows with reference to the drawings, illustrations illustrating, by way of non-limiting examples, various embodiments of the invention, with like reference numerals representing similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of the sleeping massage pad in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the claimed invention and comprising a removable cover, a removable semi-cylindrical shaped acupressure support and an acupressure pad; 
         FIGS. 2A-B  show perspective view and side view of the acupressure pad of  FIG. 1  in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the claimed invention; 
         FIGS. 3A-C  show perspective views of the removable semi-cylindrical shaped acupressure support in various engagement state with the acupressure pad to form the sleeping massage pad in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the claimed invention 
         FIG. 4  shows the side view of the sleeping massage pad being utilized by a user in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the claimed invention; 
         FIG. 5  shows a perspective view of the removable semi-cylindrical shaped acupressure support in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the claimed invention; and 
         FIG. 6A-B  show perspective views of the removable semi-cylindrical shaped acupressure support being utilized by a user in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the claimed invention; 
         FIG. 7  shows a perspective view of the sleeping massage pad in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the claimed invention and comprising a removable cover, a removable semi-cylindrical shaped acupressure support and an acupressure pad; and 
         FIGS. 8A-B  show perspective view and side view of the acupressure pad of  FIG. 7  in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the claimed invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the claimed invention, the sleeping massage pad  1000  comprises a removable semi-cylindrical shaped acupressure support  100 , an acupressure pad  200 , and an optional removable cover  300 . Preferably, as shown in  FIGS. 1-4  and  7 - 8 , the acupressure pad  200  is sloped from a thick end  210  and a thin end  220 . 
     In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the claimed invention, the removable semi-cylindrical shaped acupressure support  100  comprises two ends  110 ,  120  and at least two sets of a plurality of embossed parts  130 , e.g., three lines of embossed parts  130  as shown in  FIG. 5 . Preferably, a set of embossed parts  130  are located toward each end  110 ,  120  of the removable semi-cylindrical shaped acupressure support  100 . It is appreciated that blood vessels are located on both sides of the human spine and as shown in  FIGS. 6A-B , the embossed parts  130  apply acupressure to the spine and surrounding blood vessels when the user&#39;s body moves around the removable semi-cylindrical shaped acupressure support  100  positioned underneath the user&#39;s upper or lower back area to provide acupuncture effects. This advantageously enables the user  10  to identify and locate the pressure points on her back, thereby permitting the embossed part  130  to apply acupressure to these pressure points to strengthen and improve the functions of the user&#39;s organs, such as the heart, stomach, lung, kidney and pancreas. Similarly, when the removable semi-cylindrical shapes acupressure support  100  is positioned underneath user&#39;s shoulders and neck area and the embossed parts  130  apply acupressure to the neck and shoulder areas when the user&#39;s body moves around the removable semi-cylindrical shaped acupressure support  100 . 
     In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the claimed invention, as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 7 , the removable semi-cylindrical shaped acupressure support  100  can be used to apply acupressure to the head, neck, shoulder and back areas of the user. As shown in  FIGS. 6A-B , the removable semi-cylindrical shaped acupressure support  100  boosts metabolism of five major internal organs (liver, kidney, stomach, lungs and heart) when utilized by the user to apply acupressure to her neck, shoulder, upper back and lower back areas. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the claimed invention, the user  10  moves from side to side while moving the removable semi-cylindrical shaped acupressure support  100  from the lower back area to the neck area and vice-versa. Preferably, the removable semi-cylindrical shaped acupressure support  100  comprises an opening  180  at each  110 ,  120  to operate as a handle to facilitate movement of the removable semi-cylindrical shaped acupressure support  100  from one area of the body to another area of the body, as exemplary shown in  FIGS. 6A-6B . That is, the removable semi-cylindrical shaped acupressure support  100  boost the metabolism of the user&#39;s internal organs by applying acupressure to the user&#39;s back spots from the user&#39;s lower back area to the upper back area when the user&#39;s body repeatedly moves from one end to the other end of the removable semi-cylindrical shaped acupressure support  100 . 
     In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the claimed invention, as shown in  FIGS. 3A-3C , the thick end  210  of the acupressure pad  200  comprises a male connector or connector protrusion  230 , preferably, an elongated cylindrical or rectangular shaped protrusion. The male connector  230  mates with a correspondingly shaped connector slot or female connector  160  on the removable semi-cylindrical shaped acupressure support  100  to provide the sleeping massage pad  1000 , as exemplary shown in  FIG. 4 . Preferably, the male connector  230  extends along the entire width of the acupressure pad  200  at the thick end  210  and the female connector  160  extends along the entire length of the removable semi-cylindrical shaped acupressure support  100 . The removable semi-cylindrical shaped acupressure support  100  can be detached from the acupressure pad  200  and used separately to apply acupressure to the head, neck, shoulder and back areas of the user, as exemplary shown in  FIGS. 6A-6B . 
     In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the claimed invention, the removable semi-cylindrical shaped acupressure support  100  is cushioned for comfort, such as a sponge cover (not shown). The semi-cylindrical shape of the acupressure support  100  provides acupuncture effects while the user is sleeping with the acupressure support  100  because people have tendency to move their head unconsciously during sleep and inevitably move their head across the set of embossed parts  130 . 
     In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the claimed invention, as shown in  FIGS. 1-2B , the acupressure pad  200  comprises three sections: a neck section  250 , a shoulder section  240  and a back section  230 . Preferably, as shown in  FIGS. 1-4  and  7 - 8 , the acupressure pad  200  is sloped from the thick end  210  and the thin end  220 . That is, the acupressure pad  200  is sloped from the neck section  250  to the back section  230  such that the neck section  250  is thicker than the back section  230  to accommodate a contour of a user&#39;s body. Each section  230 ,  240 ,  250  comprises differently sized protrusions or embossed parts  235 ,  245  and  255 , respectively, to apply acupressure to back, shoulder and neck areas of the user  10 . 
     In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the claimed invention, as shown in  FIGS. 1-4  and  7 - 8 , the number and the firmness of protrusions can vary in each section of the acupressure pad  200 . For example, the firmness of the neck protrusions  255  can be the hardest and the firmness of back protrusions  235  can be the softest, or vice-versa. The protrusions in each section of the acupressure pad  200  are generally similar in shape, size and firmness. Preferably, the number of back protrusions  235  in the back section  230  is greater than the number of shoulder protrusions  245  in the shoulder section  240  to cover the back area of the user  10  which is larger than the shoulder area of the user  10 ; and the number of shoulder protrusions  245  in the shoulder section  240  is greater than the number of neck protrusions  255  in the neck section  250  to cover the shoulder area of the user  10  which is larger than the neck area of the user  10 . In accordance with an aspect of the claimed invention, as shown in  FIGS. 1-4  and  7 - 8 , the acupressure pad  200  comprises seven or eight rows back protrusions  235 , three rows of shoulder protrusions  245  and one row of neck protrusions. Each row of protrusions comprises five to eight protrusions. 
     In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the claimed invention, as shown in  FIGS. 1-4  and  7 - 8 , the neck protrusions  255  is wider and higher than the shoulder and back protrusions  245 ,  235 , and the shoulder protrusions  245  are higher than the back protrusions  235 . As exemplary shown in  FIGS. 2   b  and  8   b , the term higher or height refers to the distance from the surface  205  of the acupressure pad  200  to the top of the protrusions  235 ,  245 ,  255 . 
     In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the claimed invention, the number of the neck protrusions  255  is an odd number, preferably there are seven neck protrusions  255 . The neck protrusions form a single row from one side  215  of the acupressure pad  200  to the other side  225  of the acupressure pad  200 . All neck protrusions  255  are generally similar in shape, size and firmness, except for the middle neck protrusion  255  which is shorter in height than rest of the neck protrusions  255  to accommodate the user&#39;s neck. 
     In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the claimed invention, as shown in  FIGS. 1-4  and  7 - 8 , the neck protrusions  255  is wider and higher than the shoulder and back protrusions  245 ,  235 , and the shoulder protrusions  245  are higher than the back protrusions  235 . As exemplary shown in  FIGS. 2B and 8B , the term higher or height refers to the distance from the surface  205  of the acupressure pad  200  to the top of the protrusions  234 ,  245 ,  255 . 
     In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the claimed invention, as shown in  FIGS. 1-4  and  7 - 8 , the acupressure pad  200  is generally rectangular in shape and comprises the two small sides corresponding to the thick end  210  and the thin end  220 , and two larger sides corresponding to sides  215 ,  225 . In accordance with an aspect of the claimed invention, the rows of back and shoulder protrusions  235 ,  240  are positioned towards the sides  215 ,  225  of the acupressure pad  200  in the back and shoulder sections  230 ,  240  to form two columns. It is appreciated that blood vessels are located on both sides of the human spine and the back, and the shoulder protrusions  235 ,  245  apply acupressure to the spine and surrounding blood vessels when the user&#39;s body moves around the acupressure pad  200 . When the user lies on the acupressure pad  200 , as shown in  FIG. 4 , the back protrusions  235  apply acupressure to the user&#39;s upper and/or lower back areas to provide acupuncture effects. This advantageously enables the user  10  to identify and locate the pressure points on her shoulders and back, thereby permitting the shoulder and back protrusions  245 ,  235  to apply acupressure to these pressure points to strengthen and improve the user&#39;s organ functions, such as the heart, stomach, lung, kidney and pancreas. Similarly, the shoulder and neck protrusions  245 ,  255  apply acupressure to the user&#39;s shoulders and neck areas to provide acupuncture effects. Preferably, as shown in  FIG. 8B , the shoulder protrusions  245  varies in height. The shoulder protrusions  245  closer to the back protrusions  235  are shorter in height than the shoulder protrusions  245  closer to the neck protrusions  255 . 
     In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the claimed invention, as shown in  FIGS. 7-8 , the acupressure pad  200  comprises a plurality of connectors  270 , each connector  270  mating with a corresponding connector  330  on the cover  300 . One or more hooks  170  on the removable semi-cylindrical shaped acupressure support  100  mates with corresponding holes  310  on the cover  300  to securely fastened the cover to the removable semi-cylindrical shaped acupressure  100 . Preferably, there are two hooks  170  near each end of the removable semi-cylindrical shaped acupressure support. As exemplary shown in  FIGS. 1 and 7 , the optional cover  300  can be placed over the removable semi-cylindrical shaped acupressure support  100  and the acupressure pad to minimize or reduce the acupressure applied by the protrusions  235 ,  245 ,  255  and the embossed parts  130 . 
     In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the claimed invention, as shown in  FIGS. 7-8 , the acupressure pad  200  comprises a plurality of venting holes  260 , preferably six venting holes  260 , connected to an air passageway  265  that spans the entire width of the acupressure pad  200 . The venting holes  260  and the air passageway  265  are preferably located in the neck section  250  of the acupressure pad  200 , preferably below the neck protrusions  255 . The optional cover  300  also comprises corresponding venting holes  320  such that the venting holes  320  on the optional cover line up with the venting holes  260  on the acupressure pad  200  when the optional cover  300  is placed over the acupressure pad  200 . 
     In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the claimed invention, as shown in  FIG. 8B , the acupressure pad  200  further comprises a head section  280  near the thick end  210  of the acupressure pad  200  to removably receive the removable semi-cylindrical shaped acupressure support  100 . Preferably, as shown in  FIG. 7 , the removable semi-cylindrical shaped acupressure support  100  can move laterally on the head section  280  along the width of the acupressure pad  100 . That is, the mated connectors  160 ,  230 , connecting the removable semi-cylindrical shaped acupressure support  100  and the acupressure pad  200 , are configured to enable the removable semi-cylindrical shaped acupressure support  100  to move laterally on the head section  280  from one side  215  of the acupressure pad to the other side  225  of the acupressure without disengaging. 
     In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the claimed invention, the acupressure pad  200  can be made of one type of material or multiple types of material. For example, the acupressure pad  200  can be molded from various materials to provide sturdy backing or bottom surface and a cushioned top surface where the protrusions are located. 
     The claimed sleeping massage pad  1000  can be utilized to alleviate pain and refresh one&#39;s body through acupressure massage provided by various protrusions  235 ,  245 ,  255  and/or the embossed parts  130 . The claimed invention advantageously replicates the actions of acupuncture without associated needles penetrating one&#39;s skin and improves the overall blood circulation which enhances the health of user&#39;s organs to advance the overall health of the user. 
     Although the claimed invention and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the claimed invention described in the specification.