U.S. patent application number 16/298194 was filed with the patent office on 2019-07-04 for stationary massage device, system and methods for soft tissue strain release.
The applicant listed for this patent is Jason T. Su. Invention is credited to Jason T. Su.
Application Number | 20190201272 16/298194 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 65137928 |
Filed Date | 2019-07-04 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20190201272 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Su; Jason T. |
July 4, 2019 |
STATIONARY MASSAGE DEVICE, SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR SOFT TISSUE
STRAIN RELEASE
Abstract
A stationary massage device, system and corresponding methods
are used for self-administrated or assisted soft tissue strain
release (including trigger point therapy, strain-and-counterstrain
therapy and neuromuscular release). The massage device comprises a
body, wherein the body may include branches, each having flat
surfaces, edges, ridges or corners. The surfaces, edges and ridges
may be pushed along the myofilament direction of the soft tissues
to produce pressing, rubbing, stretching and pulling actions on the
soft tissues as stripping massages. The system can be configured to
form different geometric shapes, and made of different materials of
different firmness. The system can be further configured to perform
unheated, or heated massages; and cooling treatments. In addition
to being used alone, the system can be mounted on a piece of wall,
a standing frame, furniture or a garment.
Inventors: |
Su; Jason T.; (CUPERTINO,
CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Su; Jason T. |
CUPERTINO |
CA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
65137928 |
Appl. No.: |
16/298194 |
Filed: |
March 11, 2019 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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15658413 |
Jul 25, 2017 |
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16298194 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61H 7/00 20130101; A61H
7/001 20130101; A61H 2201/0228 20130101; A61H 2201/1619 20130101;
A61F 2007/0228 20130101; A61F 7/02 20130101; A61F 7/007 20130101;
A61H 2201/0149 20130101; A61H 2201/0292 20130101; A61F 7/03
20130101; A61H 2201/1692 20130101; A61H 7/002 20130101; A61F 7/0097
20130101; A61H 2201/0278 20130101; A61H 2201/1671 20130101; A61H
2201/165 20130101; A61H 2201/0138 20130101; A61F 2007/0242
20130101; A61F 2007/0233 20130101; A61H 7/003 20130101; A61F
2007/0223 20130101; A61F 2007/0052 20130101; A61H 2201/0214
20130101; A61H 2201/0207 20130101; A61H 1/02 20130101; A61H
2201/1623 20130101; A61F 7/08 20130101; A61F 2007/0231 20130101;
A61F 2007/0207 20130101; A61H 1/006 20130101; A61H 2201/0126
20130101; A61H 2201/169 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A61H 1/02 20060101
A61H001/02; A61F 7/00 20060101 A61F007/00; A61F 7/03 20060101
A61F007/03; A61H 7/00 20060101 A61H007/00 |
Claims
1. A massage system comprising a standing mounting frame comprising
a first standing member; a second standing member; one or more
connection members connecting the first standing member to the
second standing member; and one or more mounting bars attached to
the first standing member and the second standing member; and a
plurality of massage devices mounted on the one or more mounting
bars of the standing mounting frame.
2. The massage system of claim 1, wherein the first standing member
comprises a first floor element extending along a first direction;
and a first post element attached to the first floor element, the
first post element being extending along a second direction
perpendicular to the first direction; and wherein the second
standing member comprises a second floor element extending along
the first direction; and a second post element attached to the
second floor element, the second post element being extending along
the second direction.
3. The massage system of claim 2, wherein the one or more
connection members comprise a first connection member; and a second
connection member; wherein the one or more connection members
extend along a third direction perpendicular to the first direction
and the second direction; and wherein the second connection member
is closer to the first floor element than the first connection
member.
4. The massage system of claim 3, wherein the one or more mounting
bars comprises a first mounting bar; and a second mounting bar;
wherein the one or more mounting bars extend along the third
direction; and wherein the second mounting bar is closer to the
first floor element than the first mounting bar.
5. The massage system of claim 4, wherein the plurality of massage
devices comprise a first massage device directly attached to the
first mounting bar; a second massage device directly attached to
the first mounting bar; a third massage device directly attached to
the second mounting bar; and a fourth massage device directly
attached to the second mounting bar; wherein the plurality of
massage devices extend along the first direction.
6. The massage system of claim 5, wherein the massage system is
characterized by a first condition in which a distance between the
first massage device and the second massage device is larger than a
distance between the third massage device and the fourth massage
device; and a second condition in which the distance between the
first massage device and the second massage device is smaller than
the distance between the third massage device and the fourth
massage device.
7. The massage system of claim 6, wherein the massage system is
further characterized by the first condition in which the third
massage device and the fourth massage device are configured to be
sit by a user; and the second condition in which the third massage
device and the fourth massage device are configured to be contacted
by a first thigh and a second thigh of the user respectively.
8. The massage system of claim 7, wherein a side massage device is
directly attached to the first post element of the first standing
member of the standing mounting frame and wherein the side massage
device extends along the first direction.
9. The massage system of claim 8, wherein the massage system is
further characterized by the second condition in which a space
between the third massage device and the side massage device is
configured to receive a leg of the user.
10. The massage system of claim 7, wherein a top massage device is
directly attached to the first mounting bar and wherein the top
massage device extends along the first direction.
11. The massage system of claim 10, wherein the massage system is
further characterized by the second condition in which a space
between the first massage device and the top massage device is
configured to receive an arm of the user.
12. The massage system of claim 7 further comprising a first
supporting massage device directly attached to the first mounting
bar; a second supporting massage device directly attached to the
second mounting bar; a third supporting massage device directly
attached to the third massage device and the fourth massage device;
and a fourth supporting massage device directly attached to the
third massage device.
13. The massage system of claim 12, wherein the massage system is
further characterized by the first condition in which the first
supporting massage device is configured to be contacted by a neck
of the user; the second supporting massage device is configured to
be contacted by a back of the user; the third supporting massage
device is configured to be contacted by a buttock of the user; and
the fourth supporting massage device is configured to be contacted
by a thigh of the user.
14. The massage system of claim 5 further comprising a supporting
massage device directly attached to the first mounting bar; wherein
the supporting massage device extends along the second direction;
and wherein the supporting massage device is configured to be
contacted by a back of a user.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This patent application is a Divisional Application of a
pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/658,413 filed on Jul.
25, 2017. The Disclosure made in U.S. patent application Ser. No.
15/658,413 is hereby incorporated by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to soft tissue strain release
(including trigger point therapy, strain-and-counterstrain therapy
and neuromuscular release) therapy devices, systems and methods.
More particularly, the present invention relates to soft tissue
strain release therapy which emphasizes stripping and passive
stretching.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Soft tissue strain release (including trigger point,
strain-and-counterstrain and neuromuscular release) therapy is a
method commonly used by physical and massage therapists, osteopaths
and chiropractors to treat soft tissue relate pains, and to restore
physical healthiness and functions of a patient. A properly design
soft tissue strain release device or system can facilitate the
practice of these health care professional, and reduce the risk of
their work injuries. It can also enable the patients to perform
self-administrated therapies away from a clinic, and increase the
frequency of the intervention as they are often time required.
[0004] Conventionally available devices for this application herein
described are canes, balls, rollers and hand-held or mounted
probes. They generally make contact with the body in two shapes:
ball or cylinder. The rolling or probing action mainly generates
forces perpendicular to the skin surface, which are called normal
forces. They generate relatively low amount of forces lateral to
the skin surface, which are called shear forces, compared to
stripping massage as a massage therapist does with his or her
hands. Therefore, the conventional massage devices don't achieve
the full effectiveness of the hand massage that involves stripping
actions. A massage device such as in U.S. Pat. No. 5,643,182
demonstrates a cylinder-shaped massager that rolls on the skin.
Massage devices such as in U.S. Pat. No. 8,932,322 and
US20130085426 demonstrate ball-shaped massagers that probe at
trigger points.
[0005] In order to generate sufficient shear forces to achieve the
full effectiveness of a massage therapy, the massage device must
possess the following capabilities: 1) sitting still against the
movement of the user's body, 2) distributes the forces in strip
shape (long and narrow), moving in parallel (0 degree) along or at
a small angle to the direction of the myofilaments.
[0006] Ideally, this massage device should still have pointy parts
available to probe trigger points alone. It should be able to fit
various locations of the body, too, stripping and probing alike. It
should further address the needs of a massage with heating and
cooling treatments.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] Disclosed herein is the present invention "Stationary
Massage Device, System and Methods for Soft Tissue Strain Release".
The object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus, a
system, and methods that can facilitate self-administrated as well
as assisted stripping and probing massage therapies.
[0008] It is yet another objective of the invention to provide a
massage device, a system, and methods which temperature can be
raised or lowered to meet the requirements of certain
treatments.
[0009] In one embodiment, the soft tissue strain release system
comprises a tool. The tool comprises a bar-shaped body, wherein the
body includes multiple surfaces. The surfaces form edges, ridges or
corners: the edges defined by the joint of two surfaces; the ridges
defined by a strip of flat narrower surface rising above some of
other surfaces, or sitting on the top of some of its surrounding
surfaces when the body lies at certain positions; and the corners
defined by pointy parts that may be formed by the joint of three or
more surfaces.
[0010] In another embodiment, the soft tissue strain release system
comprises a tool. The tool comprises a body, wherein the body
includes one or multiple sections connected together, each section
constituting an embodiment of the hereinbefore mentioned
embodiment.
[0011] In yet another embodiment, the soft tissue strain release
system comprises a tool. The tool comprises a body, wherein the
body includes one or multiple of the embodiments mentioned
hereinbefore, and a heating source surrounding around or embedded
inside the body.
[0012] The detailed technology and preferred embodiments
implemented for the subject invention are described in the
following paragraphs accompanying the appended drawings for people
skilled in this field to well appreciate the features of the
claimed invention. It is understood that the features mentioned
hereinbefore and those to be commented on hereinafter may be used
not only in the specified combinations, but also in other
combinations or in isolation, without departing from the scope of
the present invention.
Advantageous Effects of the Invention
[0013] The present invention "Stationary Massage Device, System and
Methods for Soft Tissue Strain Release" has the following main
advantageous effects: 1) having a flat and branched surface to form
a stable bottom, and allowing the massage system to have a good
grip on the surface where the massage system sits, producing the
stability for shear force generation a stripping massage requires;
2) having the flexibility of doing any combination of stripping and
probing massages through the combination of the edges and corners
made in different orientations in one single system; 3) simply by
rotating the system and aligning it at different angles with
respect to his or her body, the user being able to press two
trigger points separated by various distances; 4) having different
geometric shapes formed by different ends of different sections
permitting the users to fit said system in different locations of
their bodies; 4) each branch or section of the system serving any
of the following purposes: a contact component, a handle and an
anchor.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a stationary message device
for soft tissue strain release according to certain
embodiments.
[0015] FIG. 2 is a top view of a stationary message device for soft
tissue strain release according to certain embodiments.
[0016] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a stationary message device
for soft tissue strain release according to certain
embodiments.
[0017] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a stationary message device
for soft tissue strain release according to certain
embodiments.
[0018] FIG. 5 is a horizontal cross section view of a stationary
message device for soft tissue strain release according to certain
embodiments.
[0019] FIG. 6 is a horizontal cross section view of a stationary
message device for soft tissue strain release according to certain
embodiments.
[0020] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a stationary message device
for soft tissue strain release according to certain
embodiments.
[0021] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a stationary message device
for soft tissue strain release according to certain
embodiments.
[0022] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a stationary message device
for soft tissue strain release according to certain
embodiments.
[0023] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a stationary message device
for soft tissue strain release according to certain
embodiments.
[0024] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a stationary message device
for soft tissue strain release according to certain
embodiments.
[0025] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a stationary message device
for soft tissue strain release according to certain
embodiments.
[0026] FIG. 13-34 are illustrations of the use of a stationary
message device for soft tissue strain release according to certain
embodiments.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0027] In the following descriptions, the present invention will be
explained with reference to example embodiments thereof. However,
these example embodiments are not intended to limit the present
invention to any specific example, embodiment, environment,
applications or particular implementations described in these
example embodiments. Therefore, description of these embodiments is
only for purpose of illustration rather than to limit the present
invention. It should be appreciated that, in the following
embodiments and the attached drawings, elements unrelated to the
present invention are omitted from depiction; and dimensional
relationships among individual elements in the attached drawings
are illustrated only for ease of understanding, but not to limit
the actual scale.
[0028] Referring first to FIG. 1-10, various embodiments of the
present invention of stationary massage device for soft tissue
strain release are shown. Referring to FIG. 1, the device comprises
a body 100 including multiple surfaces 201-208, edges 211-216, and
corners 221-226. The surfaces 201-208 can be of any shape,
preferably a polygon such as a trapezoid, a rectangle, a triangle
or a square. The edges 211-216 formed at the junction of two of the
surfaces 201-208, can have curvatures of any radius, small radius
for deeper stripping massage actions, and large radius for more
superficial rubbing actions. The corners 221-226 are formed where 3
or more of the surfaces 201-208 join together. The corners 221-226
may have curvatures of any radius. These examples of the
embodiments of the present invention are provided to facilitate the
description and understanding, but not to limit the choices of
implementation.
[0029] Referring to FIG. 1-4, two bodies 100 and 101 with different
proportions of the top surfaces 208 and the bottom surfaces 203 are
illustrated. As demonstrated, the surfaces 201-208 and edges
211-216 can be made of different proportions without departing from
the scope of the invention. The body of the massage device may
comprise a single section or multiple sections connected to each
other. Each of the sections thereof can be made straight or curved.
As illustrated in FIG. 1-2, the body of the device includes three
connected sections that form together a T-shaped cross section on
its horizontal planes.
[0030] FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate embodiments having different top
views, one having T shape, and the other F shape. Comprising
different counts and shapes of said sections allows the user to
reach different locations of his or her body.
[0031] Referring to FIG. 7, an embodiment of the present invention
comprises body 104 that has a plurality of smaller components
301-310, each having pegs 311 and holes 312 to hold each other
together when assembled. Components 301-310 can be arranged in any
style to scale up or down the dimensions of any surface, and any
edge of body 104. The sizes, the shapes and the numbers of
components 301-310, and of their pegs 311 and holes 312 can be
varied without departing from the scope of the invention. The
methods of bonding components 301-310 is not limited to pegs 311
and holes 312 as exemplified in FIG. 7. There are presented to
facilitate the illustration of the present invention, and can be
replaced with other methods such as screws, Velcro or glue without
departing from the scope of the invention.
[0032] The bodies 100-104 shown in FIG. 1-7 can be made of any type
of natural or manmade materials, such as wood, glass, metal,
plastic, rubber, and ceramic, or of a combination of two or more of
them. Referring to FIG. 8, an embodiment 105 of the present
invention comprising two different materials is shown. Body 105
includes body 100 made of a hard material, and wrapper 400 made of
soft fabric. Wrapper 400 permits the user to change the firmness
and the texture of the contacts, and, in turn, the depth of the
pressing and the friction of rubbing, respectively. A tail 401 of
wrapper 400 may be made as an extension to facilitate the handling
and the anchoring during application.
[0033] Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, wrapper 500 for heated massage
is illustrated. In this embodiment, body 100 is wrapped by a
heating wrapper 500. Heating wrapper 500 comprises pockets 501 that
contain rice grains, beans or any material with practically high
heat capacity that can be heated up by microwave, thereafter, hold
the heat, and gradually release the heat over a reasonably long
period of time. The wrapper 500 may include, but not limited to, a
securing method Velcro tape 502.
[0034] Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, another heating method is
illustrated. In this embodiment, body 100 is wrapped by
electrically heated blanket wrapper 600.
[0035] FIG. 13-34 demonstrate the use of one of the embodiments of
the present invention of stationary massage devices for soft tissue
strain release. Referring to FIG. 17-24, the user identifies the
zones needed to be treated, lying face up if the zones are found on
the back side, or lying face down if the zones are on the frontal
side. The user thereafter puts device 100 under his or her body,
and presses the soft tissues against the edges and/or corners of
device 100 with his or her body weight and movement. Stationary
massage device 100 sits still, stretching, rubbing or probing the
soft tissues as the user moves his or her body. With some
adjustment on the location and the angle of device 100 after it is
placed, the user finds the optimal position to perform the massage.
Simultaneous stripping, rubbing and probing at various locations in
proximity are performed that yields the effects most similar to
massages by the hands of a physical therapist or a masseuse. This
is what a conventional cylinder-shaped roller, or a spherical or
pointy probe massage device cannot do.
[0036] Referring to FIG. 25, an embodiment of stationary massage
device 100 including components hooks 701 and strings is 702 is
illustrated. The securing components such as 701 and 702 enable the
device to be mounted on furniture. In this example, device 100 is
mounted on a chair. This system can be very useful in reducing the
risk of repetitive stress (strain) injury at a work place when it
is made commonly available, and its self-administrated massage as a
common practice is promoted.
[0037] Referring to FIG. 26, an embodiment of stationary massage
device 108 is shaped and sized in such a way that the user may
recline in it as a chair or a couch. Having his or her strained
soft tissues in the back or in the shoulder areas, the user may sit
with his or her back pressed and moved against one of the edges of
device 108. Similarly, the user may lie facing downward with his or
her chest leaning toward the device to treat the strained soft
tissues in the chest or in abdominal areas. System including device
108 or a furniture comprising device 108 is very useful at a
rehabilitation center, a nursing home, or even a work place where
regular soft-tissue-strain-releasing exercise is a key component of
maintaining or restoring the healthiness of its member.
[0038] Referring to FIG. 27-31, a single or multiple stationary
massage devices 100 are mounted on a standing mounting frame
801-805. They provide further stability and flexibility. The
mounting positions of stationary massage devices 100 can be
configured differently as shown. The flexibility permits the user
to access certain hard-to-reach areas that can be only exposed when
the user is sitting or reclining in some unique positions the
standing frame enables him or her to take. However, the systems
with mounting frames 801-804 required more space, and aren't as
easy to carry around as a portable counterpart. Therefore, they are
suitable for clinic applications where many users may visit and
share the equipment. They are also very suitable for fitness
centers, sports clubs, pharmacy, shopping centers or places like
these where a larger space and public access are available, and the
exercises of early prevention of the sports-related injuries are
beneficial.
[0039] FIG. 28 shows a massage system 802 in examples of the
present disclosure. The massage system 802 comprises a standing
mounting frame 2820 and a plurality of massage devices 2860. The
standing mounting frame 2820 comprises a first standing member
2822, a second standing member 2824, one or more connection members
2840 connecting the first standing member 2822 to the second
standing member 2824, and one or more mounting bars 2850 attached
to the first standing member 2822 and the second standing member
2824. The plurality of massage devices 2860 are mounted on the one
or more mounting bars 2850 of the standing mounting frame 2820.
[0040] The first standing member 2822 comprises a first floor
element 2811 extending along X direction, and a first post element
2813 attached to the first floor element 2811. The first post
element 2813 extends along Z direction. The second standing member
2824 comprises a second floor element 2831 extending along X
direction, and a second post element 2833 attached to the second
floor element 2831. The second post element 2833 extends along Z
direction.
[0041] The one or more connection members 2840 comprise a first
connection member 2842, and a second connection member 2844. The
one or more connection members 2840 extend along Y direction. The
second connection member 2844 is closer to the first floor element
2811 than the first connection member 2842.
[0042] The one or more mounting bars 2850 comprises a first
mounting bar 2852, and a second mounting bar 2854. The one or more
mounting bars 2850 extend along Y direction. The second mounting
bar 2854 is closer to the first floor element 2811 than the first
mounting bar 2852.
[0043] The plurality of massage devices 2860 comprise a first
massage device 2862 directly attached to the first mounting bar
2852, a second massage device 2864 directly attached to the first
mounting bar 2852, a third massage device 2866 directly attached to
the second mounting bar 2854, and a fourth massage device 2868
directly attached to the second mounting bar 2854. The plurality of
massage devices 2860 extend along X direction.
[0044] The massage system is characterized by a first condition
(see FIG. 28) and a second condition (see FIG. 31). In the first
condition (see FIG. 28), a distance between the first massage
device 2862 and the second massage device 2864 is larger than a
distance between the third massage device 2866 and the fourth
massage device 2868. The user sits on the third massage device 2866
and the fourth massage device 2868. In the second condition (see
FIG. 31), the distance between the first massage device 3162 and
the second massage device 3164 is smaller than the distance between
the third massage device 3166 and the fourth massage device 3168.
The first thigh of the user contacts the third massage device 3166.
The second thigh of the user contacts the fourth massage device
3168. A side massage device 3190 is directly attached to the first
post element 2813 of the first standing member 2822 of the standing
mounting frame 2820. The side massage device 3190 extends along X
direction. A space 3199 between the third massage device 3166 and
the side massage device 3190 is configured to receive a leg of the
user. Still in the second condition (see FIG. 30), a top massage
device 3097 is directly attached to the first mounting bar 2852.
The top massage device 3097 extends along X direction. A space 3081
between the first massage device 2862 and the top massage device
3097 is configured to receive an arm of the user.
[0045] Referring now to FIG. 29, the massage system further
comprises a first supporting massage device 2952 directly attached
to the first mounting bar 2852, a second supporting massage device
2954 directly attached to the second mounting bar 2854, a third
supporting massage device 2956 directly attached to the third
massage device 2866 and the fourth massage device 2868, and a
fourth supporting massage device 2958 directly attached to the
third massage device 2866. A neck of the user contacts the first
supporting massage device 2952. A back of the user contacts the
second supporting massage device 2954. A buttock of the user
contacts the third supporting massage device 2956. A thigh of the
user contacts the fourth supporting massage device 2958.
[0046] Referring now to FIG. 27, the massage system further
comprises a supporting massage device 2776 directly attached to the
first mounting bar 2852. The supporting massage device 2776 extends
along Z direction. A back of a user contacts the supporting massage
device 2776.
[0047] Referring to FIG. 32-33, an embodiment with Velcro garment
901 comprising massage system 100 is shown. Referring to FIG. 34,
similarly, an embodiment with strap or belt massage wear 902
comprising system 100 is shown. They provide further flexibilities
of the use of the current invention.
[0048] The above disclosure is related to the detailed technical
contents and inventive features thereof. People skilled in this
field may proceed with a variety of modifications and replacements
based on the disclosures and suggestions of the invention as
described without departing from the characteristics thereof.
Although such modifications and replacements may not be fully
disclosed in the above descriptions, the following claims will
further cover possible variations within the scope of the
invention.
* * * * *