Portable real time, dry mechanical relaxation and physical therapy device simulating application of massage and wet hydrotherapy for limbs

• US 6,607,499 B1
• Filed: 04/19/2000
• Issued: 08/19/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: James Becher
• Original Assignee: James Becher
• Inventors: Becher, James
• Primary Examiner(s): YU, JUSTINE ROMANG
• Application Number:
  US09/552,724
• Time in Patent Office: 1,217 Days
• Field of Search: 601/133, 601/23, 601/24, 601/26-31, 601/34-36, 601/1, 601/84, 601/97-99, 601/101-105, 601/112-116, 601/125-127
• US Class Current: 601/133
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 15/0078 power-driven
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2015/0007 with balls or rollers rotating about their own axis
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0207 heated
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0228 heated by an electric resistance element
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0242 by a fluid circulating in the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/025 by direct air flow on the patient's body
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/10 with further special therapeutic means, e.g. electrotherapy, magneto therapy or radiation therapy, chromo therapy, infrared or ultraviolet therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/102 with aromatherapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5007 computer controlled
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5048 Audio interfaces, e.g. voice or music controlled
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/0263 using rotating unbalanced masses
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/04 with hydraulic or pneumatic drive hydraulic or Pneumatic massages, A61H9/00; underwater massages, A61H33/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 7/007 Kneading
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 9/0021 Hydraulic massage
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 9/0071 by localized pressure, e.g. air streams or jets

Abstract

A relaxation station for inducing user relaxation includes a sleeve with a reclining surface attached to said frame for accommodating a limb of a user. The sleeve has a plurality of preferably pairs of massage grippers connected to and extending generally upward therefrom. These massage gripper pairs are elongated members projecting generally upward from the sleeve and the gripper pairs are capable of moving reciprocally between an open and a closed position to simulate finger manipulated massage. In a closed position, they cradle and contact the body or a portion thereof of a user. These massage gripper pairs having motive actuators for producing movement between said open and said closed positions, such as scissors extenders or flexible cables The massage gripper elongated members produce massage motions in at least one massage contact pad. The contact pads preferably have a temperature regulator and a dry hydrotherapy supply for enhancing the relaxation of a user and to simulate human massage.

Claims

1. A massage simulating station for treating at least one limb of a user, comprising:

a limb accommodating base housing having a limb resting surface for accommodating at least one limb of a user therein, a frame having a plurality of pairs of longitudinally extending, sequentially positioned massage grippers connected to and extending generally upward therefrom;

said pairs of massage grippers comprising complementary elongated jaw members projecting generally upward from said frame;

each elongated jaw member further comprising a plurality of adjacent soft massage contact pads positioned from a proximal end of each said elongated jaw member to a distal outer end of each said elongated jaw member, said complementary elongated jaw members of said massage grippers being capable of moving reciprocally between an open and a closed position, said closed position cradling and contacting the limb of a user at multiple skin contact points thereof, said massage grippers having motive means for producing movement between said open and said closed positions;

each said massage gripper elongated jaw member respectively having attached thereon said plurality of soft massage contact pads for contacting and massaging the limb of a user, at said multiple skin contact points.

2. The limb massage simulating station of claim 1, wherein

said motive means for producing movement of said plurality of pairs of elongated jaw members of said massage grippers between said open and said closed positions being compressed air dispenser.

3. The limb massage simulating station as in claim 1, wherein

each said soft massage contact pad comprises a super-soft outer shell surrounding and attached to a relatively harder resilient inner liner, said inner liner being in turn attached to each said elongated jaw member.

4. The limb massage simulating station of claim 1, wherein said motive means for producing movement of said plurality of pairs of elongated jaw members of said massage grippers between said open and said closed positions being compressed air means;

and

each of said massage grippers further having said scissors extender means cooperating in concert with said compressed air means for producing movement of said pairs of complementary elongated jaw members of said plurality of pairs of massage grippers between said open and closed positions; and

said motive means connected to said massage gripper elongated jaw members for producing clamping massage motions upon the limb.

5. The limb massage simulating station of claim 1 wherein said compressed air dispenser includes a compressor providing a pressurized source of air producing said clamping massage motions of said massage grippers, said motions of said massage grippers further modified by respective in-line flow control valves regulating a predetermined rate of air flow of said pressurized air, said predetermined rate of pressurized air flow controlling the rate of the opening and closing of each of said plurality of said pairs of elongated jaw members of said massage grippers.

6. The limb massage simulating station as in claim 1, wherein said motive means for said pairs of massage grippers are linear actuators powered by steppe;

motors, said linear actuators driving ball and socket linkages to alternately open and close said pairs of elongated jaw members of said massage grippers.