OVERLAY FOR MASSAGE HEADREST

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a fabric overlay for a massage table or headrest. The overlay includes: a first fabric portion having an aperture therethrough, the aperture defined by an inner edge of the first fabric portion, wherein the first portion is configured to extend in a first plane, and a second fabric portion formed into a tube and having first and second ends, wherein the first end of the second portion is joined to the first fabric portion so that the tube extends around the aperture and extends away from the first plane. The fabric of the overlay includes a first layer of fabric bonded to a second, different, layer of fabric, wherein the first layer is a fabric top layer and the second layer is a breathable polymer membrane. In use, the overlay provides a comfortable, washable barrier between the patient's skin and the surface of the massage headrest.

Claims

1. A fabric overlay for a massage headrest, the overlay comprising: a first fabric portion having an aperture therethrough, the aperture defined by an inner edge of the first fabric portion, wherein first portion is configured to extend in a first plane; and a second fabric portion formed into a tube and having first and second ends, wherein the first end of the second portion is joined to the first fabric portion so that the tube extends around the aperture and extends away from the first plane; wherein the fabric of the overlay comprises a first layer of fabric bonded to a second, different, layer of fabric, wherein the first layer is a fabric top layer and the second layer is a breathable polymer membrane.

2. The overlay according to claim 1, wherein the first end of the tube is sewn to the first fabric portion at or near the inner edge, or wherein the first end of the tube is glued or heat sealed to the first fabric portion at or near to the inner edge of the first fabric portion.

3. The overlay of claim 1, wherein the first fabric portion has an outer edge, the outer edge defining one of a square shape, a round shape, or an oval shape.

4. The overlay of claim 1, wherein the first fabric portion and second fabric portion are made from a resilient fabric having a thickness greater than or equal to 2 mm and less than or equal to 5 mm.

5. The overlay of claim 1, wherein fabric further comprises a third layer, bonded to the adjacent second layer, wherein the third layer is a padded textile layer.

6. The overlay of claim 5, wherein the padded textile layer is a woollen layer or a microfleece layer.

7. The overlay of claim 1, wherein the first portion of the overlay has a constant fabric thickness.

8. The overlay of claim 1, wherein a strap is connected to the second portion, preferably wherein the strap is connected at or near the second end of the second portion.

9. The overlay of claim 8 wherein the strap is connected to the second portion at two places, such that the strap extends across the tube.

10. A massage arrangement comprising: a massage headrest having a first surface containing a massage headrest aperture for receiving a person's face; and the overlay according to claim 1, wherein the aperture of the overlay is substantially the same size and shape as the massage headrest aperture, such that, in use, the second fabric portion extends through the massage headrest aperture and the first fabric portion lays on the first surface of the massage headrest.

11. The massage arrangement according to claim 10 wherein the overlay is not folded over itself at any region.

12. A method of manufacturing an overlay for a massage headrest, the method comprising: forming a first fabric portion having an aperture therethrough, the aperture defined by an inner edge of the first fabric portion wherein first portion is configured to extend in a first plane; forming a second fabric portion by forming rectangular fabric portion into a tube by connecting two opposing sides of the rectangle together; forming a second fabric portion by forming rectangular fabric portion into a tube by connecting two opposing sides of the rectangle together, such that the other two sides of the rectangular fabric portion provide first and second ends of the tube; connecting the first end of the tube to the inner edge of the first portion so that the second portion extends around the aperture and extends away from the first plane to form the overlay, wherein the fabric of the overlay comprises a first layer of fabric and a second, different, layer of fabric, wherein the first layer is a fabric top layer and the second layer is a breathable polymer membrane.

13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising forming a strap having first and second opposed ends; and connecting the first end of the strap to a first point on the second portion.

14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising connecting the second end of the strap to a second point on the second portion such that the strap extends across the tube.

15. The method according to claim 12, wherein the fabric is a machine washable fabric.

16. The method according to claim 12, wherein the fabric of the overlay further comprises a third layer, bonded to the adjacent second layer, wherein the third layer is a padded textile layer.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0030] Certain embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described in greater detail by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0031] FIG. 1 shows a schematic side view of a patient lying on a massage table with an overlay in accordance with the disclosure;

[0032] FIG. 2 shows a first perspective view of an overlay for a massage table according to the disclosure;

[0033] FIG. 3 shows a second perspective view of the overlay of FIG. 2;

[0034] FIG. 4 shows a plan view of the overlay of FIGS. 2 and 3;

[0035] FIG. 5 shows a cross-section of a two-layer fabric; and

[0036] FIG. 6 shows a cross-section of a three-layer fabric.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] FIG. 1 shows an overlay 10 providing a barrier between a patient 100 lying face down on a massage table and the massage table 102. Massage tables are typically padded for the patient's comfort. The massage table 102 has a head part with an aperture 104 for receiving the patient's face comfortably. The aperture 104 of the massage table 102 has a sidewall 106. When the patient 100 is lying face down on the massage table, the patients face partially extends through the aperture. In this case, the sidewall 106 (if the overlay is not present) will directly abut the patient's forehead and cheeks. This design of massage table 102 allows the patient 100 to relax on the massage table 102 and lie comfortably face-forwards, i.e. without turning their head either left or right. The overlay 10 lies between the patient 100 and the surface of the massage table 102 and extends at least partially through the aperture 104 so that, when the patient 100 is on the massage table 102, the patient's forehead and cheeks are in contact with the overlay 10 and not in direct contact with the surface of the massage table 102. The overlay 10 is removable from the massage table 102 and may be replaced with a new overlay or washed between uses. Thus, the use of overlays, such as the present overlay 10, allows for multiple different patients to use the same massage table, one after the other, in a hygienic manner Some other form of overlay may be used between the user's body and the massage table 102, such as a towel or paper, if required for hygiene. Alternatively, the overlay 10 may be sufficiently large to cover enough of the massage table/chair such that a separate overlay (e.g. towel or paper) is not required.

[0038] In other massage apparatuses (not shown), there may be an adjustable extended headrest portion. For example, some massage tables have the headrest movable relative to the rest of the massage table, and in massage chairs the headrest is typically movable relative to the seat of the chair. While the following disclosure generally makes reference to a massage table 102, it is to be understood that the overlay 10 of the present disclosure is also applicable to other massage headrests, such as those just described.

[0039] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the overlay 10 for a massage headrest. The overlay 10 comprises a first portion 12 that, in use, sits on the upper surface of the massage table 102. That is, the first portion extends generally in a first plane that is defined by the massage headrest. The first portion has an aperture 14 that is for receiving a patient's face. The aperture is defined by an inner edge 12a of the first portion 12. Thus, the aperture 14 is shaped and dimensioned to generally correspond to a normal human head. Thus, in various examples the aperture may be circular, oval, stadium-shaped or any other shape. The aperture will have characteristic length and width measurements in the region of 5 to 25 cm. This may provide a sufficiently large aperture that the patient's nose and mouth area is not covered. The first portion 12 also has an outer edge 12b that may define any suitable shape. In the example shown, the outer edge 12b defines a circular shape, however other shapes are envisaged. The first portion may have a characteristic length (e.g. diameter, for a circular first potion) of from 30 to 50 cm.

[0040] A second portion 16 is connected to the first portion 12. The second portion forms a tube that extends around the aperture and away from the plane of the first portion. Preferably, the second portion is connected to the first portion at or near the inner edge 12a. In use, the second portion 16 hangs down from the first portion 12 and extends at least partially through the aperture 104 of the massage table 102.

[0041] The second portion 16 is generally cylindrical having a first end 16a and an opposed second end 16b. The first end 16a is connected around the inner edge 12a of the first portion. Thus, in the disclosed embodiment, the shape of the second portion 16 matches the shape of the aperture 14 defined by the inner edge 12a. The second portion 16 may extend away from the plane of the first portion 12 by any length but preferably the generally cylindrical shape has a length of 5 to 15 cm.

[0042] A strap 18 may be provided attached to the second portion 16. In the embodiment shown, the strap 18 is connected at the second end 16b, however the strap 18 may connect to other areas of the second portion 16. The strap 18 may allow easy handling of the overlay 10. For example, the strap 18 may provide a convenient handhold by which to push/pull the second portion 16 through the aperture 104 in the massage table 102. The strap 18 may make it easier to place the overlay 10 in the correct position before use and make it easier to remove the overlay 10 after use. The strap 18 has been omitted from FIG. 1 for clarity. A first end of the strap 18 may be connected to the second portion 16 at a first location on the second end 16b, and a second end of the strap 18 may be connected to a second location on the second end 16b. Thus, the strap 18 may generally span across the aperture 14a between the first and second locations. In use, the strap 18 will be suspended beneath the patients' face and not touching the patient's face, for comfort.

[0043] FIG. 3 shows a second perspective view of the overlay 10. With reference to this Figure, the second portion 16 may be formed from a generally rectangular section of fabric that is formed into a tube by sewing together two opposing ends of the rectangle. Line 20 in FIG. 3 denotes the line of sewing. Alternatively, adhesive or some other form of joining could be used. The second portion is thereby formed into a generally cylindrical piece, as discussed above, having the first 16a and second ends 16b. The first end 16a may then be sewn, e.g. around the inner edge 12a, of the first portion 12 so as to extend around the aperture 14. Other attachment methods, other than sewing, are also envisaged. For example, the second portion 16 may be glued or heat-sealed to the first portion 12. Alternatively, the second portion 16 may be formed integrally with the first portion 12, such as by 3D weaving techniques.

[0044] FIG. 4 shows a plan view of the overlay 10. This example has a stadium-shaped aperture 14. A stadium shape is a shape having two parallel sides, joined together at either end with a curved (e.g. hemispherical) portionthis is similar to the shape commonly used for sports stadia.

[0045] The first 12 and second 16 portions are made of fabric. The strap 18, if present, may also be made of fabricthe strap 18 may be made from the same or different fabric as the fabric for the first and second portions, e.g. yarn, fibres, woven material, ribbon etc. A fabric is any cloth made from yarn or fibres by weaving, knitting, felting or the like. Many fabrics and garments are sufficiently robust to withstand repeated washing in a washing machine and such fabrics/garments are commonly called machine washable and will often be identified as such on a care label on the garment. By contrast, paper is generally not machine washable as, in a washing machine cycle, the cellulose structure will lose all structural integrity and fall apart and/or dissolve in the washing machine. Thus, paper is not considered washable or machine washable for this reason.

[0046] FIGS. 5 and 6 schematically show cross-sections of two-layer and three-layer fabrics, respectively. The fabric for the first 12 and second 16 portions is a two-layer fabric (see FIG. 5) or, optionally, a three-layer fabric (see FIG. 6). The top layer 30 is a fabric top layer. This layer is adjacent the patient's skin, in use. Therefore, the top layer 30 preferably has one or more of the following features: soft, hypoallergenic, stain-resistant, and smooth (i.e. untextured). The second layer 32 is to ensure the overlay 10 remains crease-free. Creases in known overlays (e.g. towels, terrycloth etc.) readily mark a patient's face during a massage and are therefore undesirable. The second layer 32 provides structural rigidity to the overlay 10 such that it holds its smooth, uncreased, shape during placement on the massage apparatus and during use. The second layer 32 is a breathable polymer membrane. In one example, the membrane is polyester. However other polymer membranes that maintain the overlay crease-free in this manner may also be suitable.

[0047] The fabric for the first and second portions may further comprise a third layer 34, as shown in FIG. 6. That is, the fabric may be a three-layer fabric. This three-layer fabric has the same layers 30,32 as the two-layer fabric, with the addition of a padded textile layer 34. For example, the padded textile layer 34 may be a microfleece or woolen layer. Preferably, the three layers 30,32,34 are bonded together, in order (i.e. first layer 30, second layer 32, then third layer 34), such that the membrane layer 32 is sandwiched between the first 30 and third 34 layers. The third layer 34 provides some padding to the overlay 10.