Therapeutic, fitness, and sports enhancement device

• US 8,002,682 B2
• Filed: 11/10/2008
• Issued: 08/23/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Performance Solutions LLC
• Original Assignee: Performance Solutions LLC
• Inventors: Dye, Kipp K.
• Primary Examiner(s): RICHMAN, GLENN E
• Application Number:
  US12/291,437
• Publication Number:
  US 20090131234A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,016 Days
• Field of Search: 482/23, 482/91, 482/132, 482/148, 482/14, 541/7, 569/0, 5901-902, 593/0, 563/0, 565/2, 565/53, 5631-632, 571/0, 571/3, 5731-732, 563/7, 564/4, 562/8, 564/8, 542/5, 137/223, 606/240, 601/121, 601118-120, 601127-129, 601/19, 128/845, 128/80, 128/856, 128/878, 264/176, 264/212, 2 1/6, 212/5, 216/9, 602/63, 152/301.1, 150118-119, 401/197
• US Class Current: 482/132
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 15/0092 hand-held A61H15/0085 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2015/0014 cylinder-like, i.e. rollers
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/169 Physical characteristics of the surface, e.g. material, relief, texture or indicia
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/00 Extrusion moulding, i.e. expressing the moulding material through a die or nozzle which imparts the desired form; Apparatus therefor extrusion blow-moulding B29C49/04
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/12 Articles with an irregular circumference when viewed in cross-section, e.g. window profiles
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 53/40 for articles of definite length, i.e. discrete articles
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/48 using adhesives , i.e. using supplementary joining material; solvent bonding
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/1122 Single lap to lap joints, i.e. overlap joints B29C66/45, B29C66/472, B29C66/52272 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/128 Stepped joint cross-sections
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/1282 comprising at least one overlap joint-segment
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/12881 comprising at least two monotone curved joint-segments
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/14 the joint having the same thickness as the thickness of the parts to be joined B29C66/1142 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/4322 by joining a single sheet to itself B29C66/4332 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/54 Joining several hollow-preforms, e.g. half-shells, to form hollow articles, e.g. for making balls, containers; Joining several hollow-preforms, e.g. half-cylinders, to form tubular articles
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/5432 joining hollow covers and hollow bottoms to open ends of container bodies
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/727 being porous, e.g. foam
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/73756 the to-be-joined areas of both parts to be joined being fully cured
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/73941 characterised by the materials of both parts being thermosets
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 23/001 Pipes; Pipe joints pleated hoses B29D23/18
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2023/06 PE, i.e. polyethylene
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2105/04 : cellular or porous
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2105/046 : with closed cells
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2105/24 : crosslinked or vulcanised
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2023/003 : having irregular or rough surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/463 : Grips, handles handgrips as part of the body finishing of the vehicles B29L2031/3029
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/52 : Sports equipment ; Games; Articles for amusement; Toys B29L2031/54 takes precedence

Abstract

A therapeutic, fitness, and sports enhancement device comprising a cylindrically shaped body having a predetermined density and predetermined diameter including a plurality of projections of a predetermined shape. One or more of the predetermined density, the predetermined diameter, and predetermined shape are configured to enhance mobilization of one or more small soft tissue structures of the human body.

Claims

1. A therapeutic, fitness, and sports enhancement device comprising:

a completely solid cylindrically shaped body including a length, closed ends, and a uniform diameter, the body including a plurality of projections of a predetermined shape configured to mobilize soft tissue by extending into the soft tissue of a user, each said projection extending upwardly from the solid body and extending entirely straight and parallel to a longitudinal axis of the body and to other like projections and extending the entire length of the body, the body having a predetermined density and predetermined diameter;

wherein one or more of the predetermined density, the predetermined diameter, and predetermined shape are configured to enhance mobilization of one or more small soft tissue structures of the human body.

2. The device of claim 1 in which the one or more small soft tissue structures include a smaller soft tissue structure chosen from the group consisting of:

an arch of a foot, a heel of the foot, a plantar fascia of the foot, an Achilles tendon and associated calf muscles, an elbow, a wrist, a knee, a head, a piriformis muscle of the hip, and neck.

3. The device of claim 1 in which the one or more of the predetermined density, the predetermined diameter, and the predetermined shape are configured to efficiently break up collagenous fibers of the one or more small soft tissue structures.

4. The device of claim 2 in which the one or more of the predetermined density, the predetermined diameter, and the predetermined shape are configured to efficiently break up collagenous fibers of heel and into the plantar facial bands.

5. The device of claim 1 in which the one or more of the predetermined density, the predetermined diameter, and the predetermined shape are configured to efficiently break up collagenous fibers to manage plantar fasciitis, calf strain, and tendonitis associated with the one or more small soft tissue structures.

6. The device of claim 1 in which the one or more of the predetermined density, the predetermined diameter, and the predetermined shape are configured to maximize mobilization of the one or more small soft tissue structures to enhance flexibility of the one or more small soft tissue structures.

7. The device of claim 1 in which the one or more of the predetermined density, the predetermined diameter, and the predetermined shape are configured to maximize mobilization of small soft tissue structures to enhance small to enhance distensibility of the one or more soft tissue structures.

8. The device of claim 1 in which the predetermined density is in the range of about 2 lb/ft³ to about 12 lb/ft³.

9. The device of claim 1 in which the predetermined density is about 6 lb/ft³.

10. The device of claim 1 in which the predetermined diameter is in the range of about 2 inches to about 4 inches.

11. The device of claim 10 in which the predetermined diameter is about 3 inches.

12. The device of claim 1 in which the cylindrically shaped body has a length in the range of about 2 inches to about 18 inches.

13. The device of claim 12 in which the cylindrically shaped body has a length of about 8 inches to about 12 inches.

14. The device of claim 1 in which the cylindrically shaped body and the plurality of shaped projections are made of a pliable material.

15. The device of claim 11 in which the pliable material includes a closed-cell foam material.

16. The device of claim 15 in which the closed-cell foam material includes a chemically cross-linked polyethylene foam.

17. The device of claim 1 in which the plurality of shaped projections include a shape chosen from the group consisting of:

a curved shape, a triangle shape, a square, a notch shape, a cylindrical shape with rounded ends, and cylindrical shape with flat ends.

18. The device of claim 1 in which the plurality of shaped projections longitudinally extend over a length of the body.

19. The device of claim 1 in which the plurality of shaped projections radially extend from the body are at the same angles.

20. The device of claim 1 in which the plurality of shaped projections radially extend from the body at different angles.

21. The device of claim 20 in which the plurality of shaped projections are configured in a wave pattern.

22. The device of claim 20 in which the plurality of shaped projections are configured in a Z pattern.

23. The device of claim 20 in which the plurality of shaped projections are configured in a helical pattern.

24. The device of claim 20 in which the plurality of shaped projections are individually spaced in a predetermined pattern over the body.

25. The device of claim 24 in which the predetermined pattern includes an aligned pattern of a plurality of shaped projections.

26. The device of claim 24 in which the predetermined pattern includes an offset pattern of a plurality of shaped projections.

27. A therapeutic, fitness, and sports enhancement device for managing plantar fascia, tendonitis, and calf strain comprising:

a completely solid cylindrically shaped body including a length, closed ends, and a uniform diameter, the body including a plurality of projections of a predetermined shape configured to mobilize soft tissue by extending into the soft tissue of a user, each said projection extending upwardly from the solid body and extending entirely straight and parallel to a longitudinal axis of the body and to other like projections and extending the entire length of the body, the body having a predetermined density and predetermined diameter;

wherein one or more of the predetermined density, the predetermined diameter, and predetermined shape are configured to enhance mobilization of one or more small soft tissue structures of the human body.