Neck and Upper Back Massage Device

Abstract

This invention is directed toward a massaging device with linearly adjustable nodes that conform to different bodies and treatment regimens, capable of simultaneously massaging both the neck and upper back of a user. The device requires no effort or force on the part of the user to hold the device in position or to apply pressure.

Claims

1. A device for massaging the neck of a person, comprising: a controller and a massager, where the controller consists of an electric plug, a body, and a remote control, where a user can manipulate the body to have the remote control send a signal to the massager, and where the signal can vary one or more attributes of the massager, where the massager consists of a front support and a floor base, two node assemblies, where the two node assemblies are offset to one another by an angle, and where the angle is 90 degrees, and where each node assembly is slidably retained by a shaft carriage assembly, a linear gear support, a reciprocal motor support, and a node shaft support along two reciprocal shafts, where each of the two reciprocal shafts is retained by an outer shaft holder and an inner shaft holder, where a location of each node assembly is controlled by a linear gear and a reciprocal motor assembly with gear where each node assembly consists of a node shaft, which is connected to the node gear shaft assembly, a node bearing, where the node bearing connects the node assembly to the node shaft, three trapezius nodes, which are tensionally opposed against a node core of the node assembly, and where each of the three trapezius nodes rotates around a node pin, where each node assembly is capable of rotation, and where the rotation is controlled by a node motor and gear assembly, a node gear shaft assembly, where a location along the reciprocal shaft, a speed of rotation, and sequence of rotation, and duration of rotation are controlled by the controller.

2. The device of claim 1, where each node assembly additionally comprises one or more node heads, where each of the one or more node heads has a stem section and a head section, where the stem section connects the head section to the node assembly.

3. The device of claim 2, where at least one of the head sections of the one or more node heads has a half-spherical shape.

4. The device of claim 3, where there are at least two node heads, and where the at least two node heads have a node head shape, and where the node head shape of the at least two node heads is identical to the node head shape of the other node heads of the at least two node heads.

5. The device of claim 3, where there are at least two node heads, and where the at least two node heads have a node head shape, and where the node head shape of the at least two node heads is not identical to the node head shape of the other node heads of the at least two node heads.

6. A device for providing a simultaneous neck and upper back massage, comprising: a neck massager and a back massager, where the neck massager comprises a neck massager base, where the neck massager base comprises two neck massager halves, where the two neck massager halves are angled away from each other at a 90-degree angle.

7. The device of claim 6, where the neck massager additionally comprises an occipital node assembly, where the occipital node assembly is rotatable.

8. The device of claim 7, where the occipital node assembly comprises one node.

9. The device of claim 7, where the occipital node assembly comprises two nodes.

10. The device of claim 7, where the occipital node assembly comprises three nodes or more nodes.

11. The device of claim 7, where the occipital node assembly comprises more than one node and each node has a node height, and the node heights of each node are equal.

12. The device of claim 7, where the occipital node assembly comprises more than one node and each node has a node height, and the node heights of each node are not equal.

13. The device of claim 6, where the back massager comprises two trapezius node assemblies, where each of the trapezius node assemblies comprises a trapezius node, an axle, a shaft adaptor, a rotary motor, a linear actuator, a motor mount, a slide rail, an axle holder a set screw assembly and an axle bearing.

14. The device of claim 13, where the trapezius node is connected to the axle and held in place by the set screw assembly, where the axle holder, the axle bearing, the shaft adaptor, the slide rail, and the motor mount secure the axle, where the rotary motor provides rotational power to the trapezius node, and where the linear actuator controls a desired location on the axle where the trapezius node is set.

15. The device of claim 14, where the trapezius node is capable of moving in a linear direction along the axle, where the trapezius node comprises a central cavity, where the central cavity has a central cavity diameter and the axle has an axle diameter, and the central cavity diameter is only slightly larger than the axle diameter.

16. The device of claim 15, where the trapezius node additionally comprises a node base, three curved plates, three node springs, and three node pins, where the three curved plates are attached to the node base by three node pins.

17. The device of claim 16, where each curved plate is rotably pressured in an outward direction by a node spring.

18. The device of claim 17, where the trapezius node is linearly adjustable along the axle, where the trapezius node is linearly adjustable along the axle through a gear and pulley system.

19. The device of claim 17, where the trapezius node is linearly adjustable along the axle, where the trapezius node is linearly adjustable along the axle through a gear and pulley system, where the trapezius node is linearly adjustable along the axle through gear and chain system, where the trapezius node is linearly adjustable along the axle through the axle additionally comprising a plurality of bumps and the trapezius node additionally comprising a cavity the approximate dimensions of one of the plurality of bumps, such that the trapezius node can be manually moved from one of the plurality of bumps to another of the plurality of bumps, where both the occipital node assembly and the two trapezius node assemblies have means of adjusting the angle between them.

20. A device for massaging the neck of a person, consisting of: a controller and a massager, where the controller consists of an electric plug, a body, and a remote control, where a user can manipulate the body to have the remote control send a signal to the massager, and where the signal can vary one or more attributes of the massager, where the massager consists of a front support and a floor base, two node assemblies, where the two node assemblies are offset to one another by an angle, and where the angle is 90 degrees, and where each node assembly is slidably retained by a shaft carriage assembly, a linear gear support, a reciprocal motor support, and a node shaft support along two reciprocal shafts, where each of the two reciprocal shafts is retained by an outer shaft holder and an inner shaft holder, where a location of each node assembly is controlled by a linear gear and a reciprocal motor assembly with gear where each node assembly consists of a node shaft, which is connected to the node gear shaft assembly, a node bearing, where the node bearing connects the node assembly to the node shaft, three trapezius nodes, which are tensionally opposed against a node core of the node assembly, and where each of the three trapezius nodes rotates around a node pin, where each node assembly is capable of rotation, and where the rotation is controlled by a node motor and gear assembly, a node gear shaft assembly, where a location along the reciprocal shaft, a speed of rotation, and sequence of rotation, and duration of rotation are controlled by the controller, where each node assembly additionally comprises one or more node heads, where each of the one or more node heads has a stem section and a head section, where the stem section connects the head section to the node assembly, where at least one of the head sections of the one or more node heads has a half-spherical shape, where there are at least two node heads, and where the at least two node heads have a node head shape, and where the node head shape of the at least two node heads is not identical to the node head shape of the other node heads of the at least two node heads.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0021] One preferred form of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0022] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a person resting on the massage device.

[0023] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the External Device Assembly.

[0024] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the interior machinery of the device.

[0025] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the shoulder massaging portion of the device.

[0026] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the shoulder massaging portion of the device with the trapezius node in a far-extended location.

[0027] FIG. 6 is a side view of the trapezius node portion of the invention.

[0028] FIG. 7 is a front, perspective view of the occiput node portion of the invention.

[0029] FIG. 8 shows perspective views of several options for the Occipital Node Assembly portion of the invention.

[0030] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the External Device Assembly.

[0031] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the interior machinery a second embodiment of the device.

[0032] FIG. 11 is a back perspective view of the interior machinery a second embodiment of the device.

[0033] FIG. 12 is a top perspective view of the interior machinery a second embodiment of the device.

[0034] FIG. 13 is a side perspective view of the interior machinery of a second embodiment of the device.

[0035] FIG. 14 is a front view of the trapezius node portion of the invention.

[0036] FIG. 15 is a side view of the trapezius node portion of the invention.

[0037] FIG. 16 is a back perspective view of the interior machinery a second embodiment of the device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0038] Many aspects of the invention can be better understood with references made to the drawings below. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. Instead, emphasis is placed upon clearly illustrating the components of the present invention. Moreover, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts through the several views in the drawings. Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the embodiments of the invention are not limited in their application to the details of construction and to the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The embodiments of the invention are capable of being practiced and carried out in various ways. In addition, the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

[0039] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a person resting on the massage device. The person lies flat on the ground or other flat object and places the invention under his/her neck and upper back. The person's weight presses down on the massaging nodes such that the person does not need to pull or push on anything to bring the invention in pressurized contact with the areas to be massaged. The device 1 is a small, roughly rectangular massager that conveniently rests under the neck and upper back of the user. An electrical plug can be plugged into an electrical outlet while the duration and intensity of massagers is controlled with a hand-held remote 2 that can communicate with the massaging device directly or wirelessly.

[0040] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the External Device Assembly showing the device 1, the electrical connection 3 and the remote controller 2. As can be appreciated from this view, the device is small enough to be portable, such that a user is not physically limited to a treatment room at a user's home, but rather can take the device wherever he/she goes. It is also contemplated that a wireless connection to the massaging device could be used.

[0041] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the interior machinery of the device. The interior machinery is housed in an angled base 4, 5, to which a soft cover is attached which protects the user against the hard parts of the device. The device has an Occiput Assembly or Neck Massager, referenced generally as 20, for massaging the neck, with two Occipital Nodes Assemblies 6 are angled 90 degrees for neck massage. For massaging the upper back and shoulders, the device also has two Trapezius Motion Sub-Assemblies, or Upper Back Massagers, generally referenced as 21: one on either side of the occiput assembly. It is contemplated that the various components may have adjustable angles to compensate for different sized users and different treatments desired.

[0042] In terms of functionality, the neck massager 20 has two Occipital Node Assemblies 20, angled away from each other by 90 degrees. This offset allows for a superior massaging of the neck region. On either side of the neck massager 20 are two Back Massagers 21. Each back massager 21 has a trapezius node 6, that is the actual massaging portion. The trapezius node is linearly movable back and forth along an axle 8 to allow for back and shoulder massaging at exactly the correct point, and to allow for different treatment areas to be accessed. A set screw assembly 15 holds the trapezius node 6 on the axle 7. A shaft adaptor 9 connects the axle 7 to a rotary motor 10 which is supported by a motor mount 12 and connected to a linear actuator 11. A slide rail 13 and axle holder 14 support the device. As the rotary motor 10 rotates the trapezius node 6, the linear actuator 11 determines where on the axle 8 the trapezius node 6 will be doing its massaging.

[0043] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the shoulder massaging portion 21 of the device. The distance of the trapezius node 6 can be configured for multiple size users via the linear actuator 11 to accommodate different neck and trapezius widths on the user. Once the user's preferred mirrored node distance is determined, the rotary of the trapezius node can be activated (one direction). Once the rotary action is activated, the linear actuator reactivates to during rotary motion to move the axis back and forth up to 1-inch to move the nodes back and forth on axis to provide a variable trapezius massage. An axis bearing 16 allows for smooth rotation of the axle 8.

[0044] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the shoulder massaging portion of the device with the trapezius node 6 in a far-extended location along the axle 7. A set screw assembly 15 holds the trapezius node 6 in its desired location so that it can rotate at that location and deliver a massage to the proper location on a user.

[0045] FIG. 6 is a side view of the trapezius node portion 6 of the invention. The trapezius node 6 is comprised of three curved plates (22) that are secured to the central node base 18 by a node pin 17. A node spring 19 provides tension against the curved plates 22 to keep them putting pressure on user. These nodes are rotated on axle 7 in one direction only. A set screw assembly, 26, holds the node unit to the axle.

[0046] FIG. 7 is a front, perspective view of the occiput node portion 20 of the invention. The occipital nodes 6 rotate in opposing directions, the neck massager 20 has two Occipital Node Assemblies 6, angled away from each other by 90 degrees, held in place by the neck massager base 23. This offset allows for a superior massaging of the neck region.

[0047] FIG. 8 shows perspective views of several options for the Occipital Node Assembly portion of the invention. is a front, perspective view of the occiput node portion of the invention, with 1, 2, or 3 nodes, generally referenced as 50 showing the different node configurations.

[0048] Geared motors provide between 12 kg and 15 kg torque. Independent reciprocal drive with positional sensors for multiple programmable modes of independent manual position setting. Alternatively, there can be a direct bevel gear drive for a simpler version. Alternatively, dual independent nod drive motor for more intelligent programmable modes, for example, left-only or right-only trap massage.

[0049] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the External Device Assembly. This figure shows the device 1, the electrical connection 3 and the remote controller 2.

[0050] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the interior machinery a second embodiment of the device. The interior machinery is housed in an angled front support 4, and a floor base 5, to which a soft cover is attached which protects the user against the hard parts of the device. The device has an Occiput Assembly or Neck Massager for massaging the neck, with two Occipital Nodes Assemblies 6 are angled 90 degrees for neck massage. It is contemplated that the various components may have adjustable angles to compensate for different sized users and different treatments desired.

[0051] In terms of functionality, the neck massager has two Occipital Node Assemblies 6, angled away from each other by 90 degrees. This offset allows for a superior massaging of the neck region. The node assemblies 6 can move laterally along two reciprocal shafts 7, which are stabilized by a Left Outside Shaft Holder 12, a Left Inside Shaft Holder 11, a Right Inside Shaft Holder 14, and a Right Outside Shaft Holder 13. A linear gear 16 is driven by a reciprocal motor assembly with gear 17 moves the node assemblies back and forth along the reciprocal shafts 7, supported by a linear gear support 19.

[0052] Shaft carriage assemblies 10 have holes through with the reciprocal shafts 7 pass. On each node assembly 6, a node motor and gear assembly 8 and a node gear shaft assembly 9 control the movement of the node assembly 6, with support from a node shaft support 15

[0053] FIG. 11 is a back perspective view of the interior machinery a second embodiment of the device. Visible in this figure are the reciprocal motor supports 18,

[0054] FIG. 12 is a top perspective view of the interior machinery of a second embodiment of the device.

[0055] FIG. 13 is a side perspective view of the interior machinery of a second embodiment of the device.

[0056] FIG. 14 is a front view of the trapezius node portion of the invention. The node shaft 20 holds the unit around a node bearing 25, about which it rotates. The actually massaging device consists of three trapezius nodes 21 rotating around three node pins 22, with a node spring 24 providing support for the massaging device.

[0057] FIG. 15 is a side view of the trapezius node portion of the invention.

[0058] FIG. 16 is a back perspective view of the interior machinery a second embodiment of the device.

[0059] It should be understood that while the preferred embodiments of the invention are described in some detail herein, the present disclosure is made by way of example only and that variations and changes thereto are possible without departing from the subject matter coming within the scope of the following claims, and a reasonable equivalency thereof, which claims I regard as my invention.

[0060] All of the material in this patent document is subject to copyright protection under the copyright laws of the United States and other countries. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in official governmental records but, otherwise, all other copyright rights whatsoever are reserved.