Inflatable massage garment

• US 7,771,376 B2
• Filed: 01/25/2006
• Issued: 08/10/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rochelle B. Roth
• Original Assignee: Midtown Technology Limited
• Inventors: Smith, Brian, Ramsey, Roger H., Roth, Rochelle B., Brazis, William
• Primary Examiner(s): DEMILLE, DANTON D
• Application Number:
  US11/339,813
• Publication Number:
  US 20070088239A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,658 Days
• Field of Search: 601/11, 601148-152, 602/13, 128/DIG.20, 2DI/G 3
• US Class Current: 601/152
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1645 contoured to fit the user
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5007 computer controlled
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2209/00 Devices for avoiding blood stagnation, e.g. Deep Vein Thrombosis [DVT] devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 9/0078 with intermittent or alternately inflated bladders or cuffs mattresses for preventing bed-sores with alternated pressurized chambers A61G7/05776
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/20 Inflatable splint
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 2/03 Inflatable garment

Abstract

A massage device for massaging a body part of a person in an unsupervised and unattended setting is provided. In a preferred embodiment, the massage device comprises an inflatable garment (200) having a plurality of inflation bladders (250), to apply pressure to the body part, and an inflation assembly (300) includes a manifold (324) into which the pressurized fluid flows, a plurality of inflation valves (326) which control the flow of fluid from the manifold to the bladders, and a manifold valve for controlling the maximum pressure level within the bladders. The inflation assembly may have a predeterminated inflation capacity which defines a maximum bladder size as well as an array in which the bladders are arranged. The massage device may further comprise a connector for connecting tubes from the bladders to the inflation assembly, wherein the connector includes a garment-identifying component for identifying the type of garment connected to the inflation assembly.

Claims

1. A massage device for use in an unsupervised and unattended setting, the massage device comprising:

an inflatable garment having a plurality of inflatable bladders, wherein the inflatable garment is shaped to accommodate a back and shoulder portion of a user and includes a central opening to accommodate a neck of the user and wherein the inflatable bladders are located in at least a back portion and a shoulder portion of the inflatable garment and wherein the inflatable garment further includes a plurality of inserts adjacent to the user'"'"'s neck to form a raised neckline, and an elastic material along longitudinal edges of the garment, and

an inflation assembly for supplying the pressurized fluid to each of the inflatable bladders.

2. A massage device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the inflatable garment further includes a pressure plate generally shaped to contour the back and shoulder portion, and straps to assist in holding the pressure plate in place.

3. A massage device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the plurality of inserts includes at least one tab formed in the central opening to form the raised neckline in a neck region of a user.