Abstract:
An inflatable massaging device for human neck and shoulder, comprising mainly three open-ended ring-shaped air bladders and housings, adjacent two of the air bladders and housings being able to communicate with each other; hooks and loops to connect some of the open ends of the air bladders and housings; an air valve; an air pump; and a plurality of massage balls.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     This invention relates to an inflatable massaging device for human neck and shoulder, in particular to an inflatable massaging device for human neck and shoulder that can be controlled by the user.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Conventionally, people use an inflatable device which can consist of one or more inflatable bladders, and which can be put around the human neck and then inflated, so that the head can be pushed up and the burden (load) of the neck can be reduced.  
         [0003]     The drawbacks of this conventional device is that it can not provide appropriate massage to the shoulder, and that each of the inflatable bladders must be inflated separately and thus it is time-consuming and in convenient.  
         [0004]     Furthermore, the inflatable bladders can not be alternatively inflated and deflated without opening an air inlet valve thereof.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     An objective of the present invention is to provide an inflatable massaging device for human neck and shoulder, which is comprised mainly of, preferably, three inflatable air bladders, wherein each two adjacent ones of the three air bladders can communicate. With each other and thus only one air inlet valve is needed.  
         [0006]     Another objective of the present invention is to provide an inflatable massaging device wherein, on the lower surface thereof, a plurality of massage balls are provided, so as to massage the shoulder. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]      FIG. 1  is a perspective schematic view showing a preferred embodiment of the inflatable massaging device of the present invention;  
         [0008]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an upper air bladder and housing of the inflatable massaging device;  
         [0009]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a middle air bladder and housing of the inflatable massaging device;  
         [0010]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a lower air bladder and housing of the inflatable massaging device;  
         [0011]      FIG. 5  is a top view of  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0012]      FIG. 6  is a bottom view of  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0013]      FIG. 7  is a top view of  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0014]      FIG. 8  is a bottom view of  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0015]      FIG. 9  is a top view of  FIG. 4 ;  
         [0016]      FIG. 10  is a bottom view of  FIG. 4 ;  
         [0017]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the inflatable massaging device, with a portion cut off to show the inside of the bladders;  
         [0018]      FIG. 12  is another perspective view of the inflatable massaging device, showing an air tube for inflation;  
         [0019]      FIGS. 13 and 14  illustrate how to put the inflatable massaging device around the neck;  
         [0020]      FIGS. 15 and 16  are side views showing the inflatable massaging device in an inflated position;  
         [0021]      FIGS. 17 and 18  are front view and rear view, respectively, showing the inflatable massaging device in an inflated position;  
         [0022]      FIG. 19  shows a front view depicting a hand controlling the inflation and deflation;  
         [0023]      FIG. 20  shows an example of inflating means (air pump) employed with the device;  
         [0024]      FIG. 21  shows a perspective view of air pump used in the present invention;  
         [0025]      FIG. 22  shows a perspective view of a portion of the air pump shown in  FIG. 21 ;  
         [0026]      FIG. 23  is a perspective view similar to  FIG. 22 , looking from a difference angle;  
         [0027]      FIG. 24  is a top view of the parts shown in  FIG. 22 ;  
         [0028]      FIG. 25  is an exploded view of the parts shown in  FIG. 22 ;  
         [0029]      FIG. 26  is a longitudinal sectional view of the parts shown in  FIG. 22 ;  
         [0030]      FIG. 27  is a top view of the air pump, with a cover installed;  
         [0031]      FIG. 28  is a bottom view of the air pump;  
         [0032]      FIG. 29  is a schematic view depicting the hand and the air pump;  
         [0033]      FIG. 30  is a similar to  FIG. 29 , showing different angle;  
         [0034]      FIG. 31  is a perspective view of the air valve that can be used on the inflatable massaging device;  
         [0035]      FIG. 32  is similar to  FIG. 31 , with a lid closed the air valve;  
         [0036]      FIG. 33  is an exploded view of the air valve; and  
         [0037]      FIG. 34  is a longitudinal sectional view of the air valve, without showing the lid. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0038]     Please see  FIGS. 1-12  for the description of the structure of a preferred embodiment of the inflatable massaging device for human neck and shoulder. Designating numeral  1  generally indicates the inflatable massaging device. The inflatable massaging device  1  is comprised mainly of an upper air bladder and housing (shell)  2 , a middle air bladder and housing  3 , and a lower air bladder and housing  4 . Each of the air bladders and housings has an air bladder  13  and housing (shell)  14 . As shown in  FIGS. 1, 2  and  6 , the lower side of the upper air bladder and housing  2  is provided with an air valve  10 . From  FIGS. 5-10 , we can see an air communication hole  5  is provided on the lower side of the upper air bladder and housing  2 , which is aligned with and communicates with an air communication hole  6  provided on the upper side of the middle air bladder and housing  3 . Likewise, an air communication hole  7  is provided on the lower side of the middle air bladder and housing  3 , which is aligned with and communicates with an air communication hole  8  provided on the upper side of the lower air bladder and housing  4 .  
         [0039]     Hooks and loops (Velcros)  12  are provided on the lower side of the upper air bladder and housing  2  for adjusting the degree of opening of open ends of the upper air bladder and housing  2 . Likewise, hooks and loops (Velcros)  12  are provided on the lower side of the middle air bladder and housing  3  for adjusting the degree of opening of open ends of the middle air bladder and housing  3 . Preferably, the distance between the front edge of the neck of the user and the inner sides of the front positions of the upper air bladder and housing  2  and the middle air bladder and housing  3  is about the same as the width of 2 to 3 fingers before the inflatable massaging device  1  is inflated.  
         [0040]     Hooks and loops (Velcro)  11  are also provided on the lower side of the middle air bladder and housing  3  and the upper side of the lower air bladder and housing  4 , so that they can be attached together and the relative position between them can be adjusted to enhance comfortableness.  
         [0041]     A plurality of massage balls  9  are provided on the lower side of the lower air bladder and housing  4  and are positioned at places corresponding to some pressure points on the shoulder so that when the inflatable massaging device  1  is fully inflated, the massage balls  9  can stimulate those pressure points.  
         [0042]     An inflation tube is connected at one end to the air valve  10 , and at the other end to an inflation means (air pump).  
         [0043]     The housing (shell)  14  is made of soft fabric or other suitable material. The air bladder  13  is made of soft PVC (poly vinyl chloride), TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane), PU (polyurethane), or other suitable material.  
         [0044]      FIGS. 13 and 14  illustrate how to put the inflatable massaging device  1  around the neck. As mentioned hereinabove, preferably, the distance between the front edge of the neck of the user and the inner side of the front portions of the upper air bladder and housing  2  and the middle air bladder and housing  3  is about the same as the width of 2 to 3 fingers before the inflatable massaging device  1  is inflated.  
         [0045]     The material of the air bladders  13  of the upper air bladder and housing  2  and the lower air bladder and housing  4  is relatively softer than that of the middle air bladder and housing  3  so that, as seen from  FIGS. 15-18 , the upper edge of the upper air bladder and housing  2  can closely contact the lower cheek and rear head of the user, and the lower edge of the lower air bladder and housing  4  can closely contact the shoulder of the user, and the relative movement between the inflatable massaging device  1  and the shoulder of the user can be minimized after the inflatable massaging device  1  is fully inflated.  
         [0046]     The inflatable massaging device  1  of the present invention can also be used on the car, using the power source on the car if the user wants to do so.  
         [0047]     Please see  FIGS. 21-26  for the detailed structure of the air pump  50 . The air pump  50  comprises mainly a discharge valve button  52 , a safety valve plunger  57 , a pipe  51  for accommodating the discharge valve button  52  and relevant parts, a second pipe  56  for accommodating the safety valve plunger  57  and relevant parts, a pumping device  53 , a pipe  55  in communicating with the pumping device  53 , a pipe  54  for accommodating an end of an air tube having another end connected to the air valve of the inflatable massaging device of the present invention, and a starting button  58 .  
         [0048]     The discharge valve has the button  52 , a spring  61 , a socket  62 , a fixation element  71 , a piston  63 , and a bolt  64  for fastening the button  52 , the fixation element  71 , and the piston  63  together, when the button  52  is pushed down, the piston  63 , the fixation member  71  and the bolt  64  are pushed down simultaneously, and air can be discharged from an air release hole  77 .  
         [0049]     The safety valve has the plunger  57 , a piston  65 , a spring  66 , a stopper  67 , a micro-adjustment member  70 , and two bolts  68  and  69  for fastening the stopper  67  to the pipes  54  and  55 . The micro-adjustment member  70  and the stopper  67  have corresponding threads so that the member  70  can be rotated to adjust and set safety pressure which is preferably 0.015 MPA (mega Pascal). When the air pressure in the air tube or pipe  54  is more than the set value, the plunger  57  and the piston  65  is pushed downward by the air pressure and excessive air can be discharged from the air release hole  77 .  
         [0050]     Indicating light  59  indicates the inflation of the air pump  50 , indicating light  60  indicates that the power is “on”, A switch  72  is provided on the housing of the air pump  50 , A socket  73  is also provided on the housing of the air pump  50  for the insertion of a plug (line)  76  of an adapter (ac/dc converter), A clip (or hook)  74  is provided on the housing of the air pump  50  for attaching the air pump  50  on a belt or pocket of the user. A battery compartment  75  is also provided on the housing for accommodating batteries.  
         [0051]     When the user&#39;s hand (finger, preferably forefinger) pushes down the starting button  58 , the pumping device  53  is energized to provide air to the air valve on the inflatable massaging device of the present invention through the pipes  53  and  54 , and an air tube (not shown in the drawings), and thus the inflatable massaging device is inflated when the user&#39;s hand (finger, preferably thumb) pushes down the safety valve plunger  57 , air from the inflatable massaging device is discharged at air release hole  77  through the air valve, air tube, and the pipe  54 , and thus the inflatable massaging device can be deflated.  
         [0052]     In actual use, the user can choose one of the following three ways, or other suitable ways; 
        1. Push and release: the user continuously inflate the inflatable massaging device until the user can not tolerate, then deflate the same, then inflate and deflate it alternatively;     2. Continuous inflation: the user inflate the inflatable massaging device fully, then discharge about half of the air in that device, and then inflate it fully again. These steps can be repeatedly done.     3. Full inflation and full release: the user inflate the inflatable massaging device fully, then turn off the air pump  50 , let the air stay in the inflatable massaging device for a while (eg. 3-5 minutes), then deflate the inflatable massage device. These steps can be repeatedly done.        
 
         [0056]     The purpose of alternatively inflating and deflating the inflatable massaging device is to exert pressure to the user&#39;s body part so as to massage it and stimulate pressure points; then let the body part relaxed when it is deflated.  
         [0057]     Please see  FIGS. 31-34  for the detailed structure of the air valve, the air valve includes a housing  78 , an inner element  81 , a connecting element  79 , a stopper  82 , and a lid  80 .  
         [0058]     When the connecting element  79  is inserted into the inner element  81 , it pushes down the stopper  82  and thus air can go from the air pump  50 , an air tube (not shown in the drawings) which is inserted into the upper and of the connecting element  79 , the connecting element  79 , the gap between the stopper  82  and the inner element  81 , and enter the inflatable massaging device of the present invention. (as shown in  FIG. 34 ). When the connecting element  79  is removed from the air valve, the air pressure in the inflatable massaging device pushes the stopper  82  into a closed position. At this time, the lid  80  can be put on to help preventing the leakage of the air from the inflatable massaging device.  
         [0059]     The advantage of this structure is that, at this status, the user can move around freely without the need of carrying the air pump  50 .  
         [0060]     When the user wants to release the air from the inflatable massaging device, a piece of stick or rod similar to the connecting element  79  can be inserted into the inner element  81  to push down the stopper  82  so that the air can be released.