Combined massage and heating devices

• US 4,979,502 A
• Filed: 01/06/1989
• Issued: 12/25/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Troy T. Hunt
• Original Assignee: Troy T. Hunt
• Inventors: Hunt, Troy T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Burr, Edgar S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lewis, Aaron J.
• Application Number:
  US07/294,919
• Time in Patent Office: 718 Days
• Field of Search: 128/24.1, 128/68.1, 128/32
• US Class Current: 601/15
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0207 heated
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0228 heated by an electric resistance element
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/165 Wearable interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/021 Scalp
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/04 neck
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/06 Arms
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/08 Trunk
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/081 Back
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/10 Leg
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/02 with electric or magnetic drive
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 601/15 Head, face, neck, scalp

Abstract

A vibrator/heating apparatus is adapted to provide selected and variable vibration and/or heat to specific portions of the human body using respective vibrator and heaters and respectively controlled by first and second manually operable controllers and powered by ac/dc converters to apply power to the controllers and the vibrator, heater, controller and power supply are mounted to housing that conforms to a particular part of the human body.

Claims

1. Apparatus adapted to provide selected and variable vibration and/or heat to the upper portions of the human body, comprising:

vibrator means for producing vibrations of selected frequency and amplitude;

first manually operated means for controlling the frequency and amplitude of said vibrator means;

battery power supply means for supplying electric power to said first means for controlling;

heating means for producing a controlled amount of heat;

second manually operated means for controlling said heating means to produce heat output over several levels of heat;

means for housing said vibrator means and said first and second manually operated means, and being in the form of a vest to conform to the upper portions of the human body to conduct the vibrations and heat to said upper part of the human body, said housing means including a battery compartment removably inserted within said housing means for retaining a plurality of battery components, and terminals mounted on an external surface of said battery component and electrically connected to said plurality of batteries and to said means for controlling;

said heating means and said second controlling means being retained in said vest and electrically connected with said plurality of battery components; and

said battery compartment further including an opening onto an external surface of said housing and a movable flap for covering said opening in said battery compartment.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first and second manually operated means are mounted on the front of said vest to be accessible to the hand of the human wearing the vest.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, further comprising fasteners for securing the front portion of said vest.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said heating means and said vibrator means extend only over a portion of said vest.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said heating means and said vibrator means extend substantially over the entirety of said vest.