Body contour massage device and method

• US 5,820,573 A
• Filed: 10/21/1996
• Issued: 10/13/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Grace Marie Ramos
• Original Assignee: Grace Marie Ramos
• Inventors: Ramos, Grace Marie
• Primary Examiner(s): DeMille, Danton D.
• Application Number:
  US08/735,200
• Time in Patent Office: 722 Days
• Field of Search: 601/132-138, 601/143, 601/146, 5/731, 5/733, 5/734, 5/944, 5/632, 606/242, 606/243, 606/204, 606/240
• US Class Current: 601/134
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1284 using own weight
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1695 Enhanced pressure effect, e.g. substantially sharp projections, needles or pyramids
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/081 Back
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 7/001 without substantial movement between the skin and the device
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 5/944 with upstanding firm massaging projections

Abstract

A massage device disclosed consists of a rigid flat base (30), which when configured with contoured modules (34, 36, 38) and rigid pressure nibs (10, 12, 14) or blades (20, 24, 26, 28) contours the length of an adult human body. The device operates by arranging the massage elements including buttocks, back, shoulder, and neck modules with pressure nibs or blades to match the contoured surface of the backside of person. The person then lies upward facing on the device with massage pressure applied across the entire body for the desired therapeutic effect. The device includes adjustments for body size and shape and therapeutic intensities according to pain relief requirements.

Claims

1. A body contour massage device which provides simultaneous pressure to the paraspinal regions of the back as therapy for people with excessive spinal curvature, comprising:

(a) a rigid base, and

(b) one or more rows of rounded-top pressure nibs which graduate in height and have non-rounded ends wherein the length of said base is at least sufficient to extend from the base of the neck of a human to the top of the legs of a human and wherein said nibs reside in flat-bottomed holes in said base and where the non-rounded ends of said nibs are flat and removably connected to said base by means of hook and loop fasteners and wherein the lengths of said nibs are selected to provide a contour of said rounded-tops which is similar to the contour of the spine and with said hook and loop fastener materials which provide a cushion-like affect and allow the nibs to perform slight angular-tilting moveabilities in response to the gravitational forces of a human resting thereon.

2. The body contour massage device of claim 1 wherein said base can be divided in sections.

3. The body contour massage device of claim 1 with at least one module having a flat lower surface with protruding placement feet inserted into the holes of said base with hook and loop fasteners and an upper contoured surface with a plurality of insertion holes, whereby said nibs are inserted in the holes of said base or said module and the configuration of said massage device contours a segment of the back side of a resting supine human.

4. The body contour massage device of claim 3 whereby said nibs, modules, and base are one unit and the configuration of said massage device contours a segment of the backside of a resting supine human.

5. A body contour massage device of claim 1 wherein said base is separated along a longitudinal line into two half-devices and are connected by at least one rigid perpendicular cross member and is slideably attached to said half-devices and allows a variable separation of said half-devices.

6. A method of para-spinal back therapy, comprised of the application of said body device of claim 1 to provide the simultaneous application of pressure to a multitude of muscles adjacent to the spine of the backside of a resting supine human.