Massage table with curved frame

• US 7,823,517 B2
• Filed: 05/18/2007
• Issued: 11/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Earthlite, LLC
• Original Assignee: Earthlite Massage Tables, Inc.
• Inventors: Roleder, Jon W.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHEN, JOSE V
• Application Number:
  US11/804,670
• Publication Number:
  US 20070266907A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,264 Days
• Field of Search: 108/35, 108/36, 108/38, 108/165, 108/27, 108/180, 108/158.12, 108/153.1, 248/188, 248/188.1
• US Class Current: 108/27
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 3/087 with struts supporting the legs

Abstract

A massage table for supporting a person during a massage above a surface includes a leg assembly that engages the floor, and a first table top that includes a frame that is supported above the surface with the leg assembly. The frame includes a frame base that supports at least a portion of the person, and a border flange that is secured to the frame base and that extends downward from the frame base. The border flange can include a first side section, a first transverse section that extends transversely to the first side section, and a first connector section that connects the first side section to the first transverse section. The first connector section can be curved. Additionally, the border flange can include a second transverse section that extends substantially parallel to the first transverse section and a curved second connector section that connects the first side section to the second transverse section. A first segment of the first transverse section, a first part of the second transverse section, the entire first side section, the first connector section, and the second connector section are made of a continuous piece of material. For example, the continuous, piece of material can be a continuous piece of plywood that is bent during formation to form the first connector section and the second connector section.

Claims

1. A massage table for supporting a person during a massage above a surface, the massage table comprising:

a leg assembly that engages the floor; and

a first table top including a frame that is supported above the surface with the leg assembly, the frame including a frame base that supports at least a portion of the person and a border flange that is secured to the frame base and that extends downward from the frame base, the border flange including a first side section, a first transverse section that extends transversely to the first side section, and a first connector section that connects the first side section to the first transverse section, wherein the first connector section is curved;

wherein the border flange includes a second transverse section that extends substantially parallel to the first transverse section and a second connector section that connects the first side section to the second transverse section, wherein the second connector section is curved;

wherein the first segment of the first transverse section, a first part of the second transverse section, the entire first side section, the first connector section, and the second connector section are made of a continuous piece of plywood that is bent to form the first connector section and the second connector section.

2. The massage table of claim 1 wherein the border flange includes a second side section that is spaced apart from the first side section, a third connector section that connects the second side section to the first transverse section, and a fourth connector section that connects the second side section to the second transverse section wherein the third connector section is curved and the fourth connector section is curved.

3. The massage table of claim 2 wherein a second segment of the first transverse section, a second part of the second transverse section, the entire second side section, the third connector section, and the fourth connector section are made of a continuous piece of material.

4. The massage table of claim 3 wherein the border flange includes a first attacher that attaches the first segment of the first transverse section to the second segment of the first transverse section, and a second attacher that attaches the first part of the second transverse section to the second part of the second transverse section.

5. The massage table of claim 4 wherein the first attacher includes a pin that extends between the segments of the first transverse section and a brace that extends over a segment junction between the segments.

6. The massage table of claim 4 wherein a segment junction of the segments of the first transverse section and a part junction of the parts of the second transverse section is located near a center axis of the massage table.

7. The massage table of claim 1 wherein the first connector section has a radius of between approximately eight and sixteen inches.

8. A massage table for supporting a person during a massage above a surface, the massage table comprising:

a leg assembly that engages the floor; and

a first table top including a frame that is supported above the surface with the leg assembly, the frame including a frame base that supports at least a portion of the person and a border flange that is secured to the frame base and that extends downward from the frame base, the border flange including a first side section, a first transverse section that extends transversely to the first side section, and a first connector section that connects the first side section to the first transverse section, wherein a first segment of the first transverse section, the first side section, and the first connector section are made of a continuous piece of plywood that is bent to form the first connector section.

9. The massage table of claim 8 wherein the border flange includes a second transverse section that extends substantially parallel to the first transverse section and a curved second connector section that connects the first side section to the second transverse section.

10. The massage table of claim 9 wherein the first segment of the first transverse section, a first part of the second transverse section, the entire first side section, the first connector section, and the second connector section are made of a continuous piece of plywood.

11. The massage table of claim 10 wherein the border flange includes a second side section that is spaced apart from the first side section, a third connector section that connects the second side section to the first transverse section, and a fourth connector section that connects the second side section to the second transverse section wherein the third connector section is curved and the fourth connector section is curved.

12. The massage table of claim 11 wherein a second segment of the first transverse section, a second part of the second transverse section, the entire second side section, the third connector section, and the fourth connector section are made of a continuous piece of plywood.

13. The massage table of claim 12 wherein the border flange includes a first attacher that attaches the first segment of the first transverse section to the second segment of the first transverse section, and a second attacher that attaches the first part of the second transverse section to the second part of the second transverse section.

14. The massage table of claim 13 wherein the first attacher includes a pin that extends between the segments of the first transverse section and a brace that extends over a segment junction between the segments.

15. The massage table of claim 13 wherein a segment junction of the segments of the first transverse section and a part junction of the parts of the second transverse section is located near a center axis of the massage table.

16. A massage table for supporting a person during a massage above a surface, the massage table comprising:

a leg assembly that engages the floor; and

a first table top including a frame that is supported above the surface with the leg assembly, the frame including a frame base that supports at least a portion of the person and a border flange that is secured to the frame base and that extends downward from the frame base, the border flange including (i) a first side section, (ii) a first transverse section that extends transversely to the first side section, (iii) a curved first connector section that connects the first side section to the first transverse section, (iv) a second transverse section that extends substantially parallel to the first transverse section, (v) a curved second connector section that connects the first side section to the second transverse section, (vi) a second side section that is spaced apart from the first side section, (vii) a curved third connector section that connects the second side section to the first transverse section, and (viii) a curved fourth connector section that connects the second side section to the second transverse section;

wherein a first segment of the first transverse section, the first connector section, the first side section, the second connector section, and a first part of the second transverse section are made of a continuous piece of plywood that is bent into a somewhat C shaped configuration;

wherein a second segment of the first transverse section, the third connector section, the second side section, the fourth connector section, and a second part of the second transverse section are made of a continuous piece of plywood that is bent into a somewhat C shaped configuration; and

wherein the leg assembly includes a first leg that is secured to the frame near the first connector section and a second leg that is secured to the frame near the third connector section;

wherein the border flange includes a first attacher that attaches the first segment of the first transverse section to the second segment of the first transverse section, and a second attacher that attaches the first part of the second transverse section to the second part of the second transverse section.

17. The massage table of claim 16 wherein a segment junction of the segments of the first transverse section and a part junction of the parts of the second transverse section is located near a center axis of the massage table.

18. A massage table for supporting a person during a massage above a surface, the massage table comprising:

a leg assembly that engages the floor; and

a first table top including a frame that is supported above the surface with the leg assembly, the frame including a frame base that supports at least a portion of the person and a border flange that is secured to the frame base and that extends downward from the frame base, the border flange including (i) a rigid, first section that is made of a continuous piece of bend plywood; and

(ii) a rigid second section that is attached to the first section at two spaced apart locations;

wherein the first section and the second section attached together have a somewhat rounded rectangular shape with two generally straight side sections that are spaced apart by two generally straight transverse sections.

19. The massage table of claim 18 wherein the first section is somewhat C shaped, and wherein the border flange includes a first attacher that attaches the first section to the second section, and a second attacher that attaches the first section to the second section.