MASSAGE CELL ARRANGEMENT AND MASSAGE CELL SYSTEM

Abstract

A massage cell arrangement comprising a plurality of inflatable/deflatable cells arranged in a first series of successive cells, a plurality of inflatable/deflatable cells arranged in a second series of successive cells, the cells of a series of successive cells being substantially aligned along the main direction of extension of the series of successive cells, the first and second series being aligned such that the main direction of extension of the first series coincides with the main direction of extension of the second series, the first and second series being arranged such that two successive cells of the first series together cover 10-100% of a major surface area of a cell of the second series and wherein each of said two successive cells of the first series cover 5-95% of the major surface area of said cell of the second series.

Claims

1. A massage cell arrangement comprising: a plurality of inflatable/deflatable cells arranged in a first series of successive cells; a plurality of inflatable/deflatable cells arranged in a second series of successive cells; each cell having a first and a second major surface arranged on substantially opposite sides of the cell, the cell being arranged for connection with a fluid system for inflation/deflation of the cell, a surface normal of a major surface of a deflated cell being substantially orthogonal to a main direction of extension of the series of successive cells; the cells of a series of successive cells being substantially aligned along the main direction of extension of the series of successive cells; the first and second series of successive cells being aligned such that the main direction of extension of the first series of successive cells substantially coincides with the main direction of extension of the second series of successive cells, the first and second series of successive cells being arranged such that two successive cells of the first series of successive cells together cover 10-100% of a major surface area of a cell of the second series of successive cells and wherein each of said two successive cells of the first series of successive cells cover 5-95% of the major surface area of said cell of the second series of successive cells.

2. The massage cell arrangement of claim 1, wherein two successive cells in a series of successive cells are arranged at a distance from each other in the main direction of extension of the series of successive cells, the distance being 0-90% of a length of a major surface of a smallest cell of the series of successive cells in the main direction of extension of the series of cells.

3. The massage cell arrangement of claim 2, wherein cells of the first and second series of cells which are arranged to cover each other are directly connected to each other at a portion of the area of coverage.

4. The massage cell arrangement of claim 2, further comprising a support structure having a first and second major surface arranged on substantially opposite sides of the support structure, wherein the cells of the first series of successive cells are arranged on the first major surface of the support structure, and the cells of the second series of successive cells are arranged on the second major surface of the support structure.

5. The massage cell arrangement of claim 4, wherein the cells are connected to the first or second major surface of the support structure through at least a portion of their first or second major surface.

6. The massage cell arrangement of claim 2, further comprising a sheet material provided with a plurality of pockets one for each individual cell of the first and second series of successive cells.

7. The massage cell arrangement of claim 6, wherein the first or second series of cells comprise cells which are curved in the deflated condition such that the cells present a generally convex first major surface.

8. The massage cell arrangement of claim 7, wherein the cells are multi-cells comprising at least two connected sub-cells arranged on top of each other, the multi-cell comprising at least a base sub-cell and a top sub-cell, wherein internal spaces of the sub-cells in the multi-cell are in fluid communication with each other.

9. The massage cell arrangement of claim 8, wherein two successive cells of the second series of successive cells together cover 10-100% of a major surface area of a cell of the first series of successive cells, and each of said two successive cells of the second series of successive cells cover 5-95% of the major surface area of said cell of the first series of successive cells.

10. A massage system comprising the massage cell arrangement of claim 9, further comprising a fluid system for sequential inflation/deflation of the cells of the massage cell arrangement.

11. A massage system comprising two of the massage cell arrangements of claim 9 arranged such that their main directions of extension are substantially parallel and such that first massage cells of the two massage cell arrangements form a first pair of massage cells, and further comprising a fluid system for sequential inflation/deflation of the cells of the massage cell arrangement and for substantially simultaneous inflation/deflation of a pair of cells formed by the two massage cell arrangements.

12. The massage system of claim 11, wherein the fluid system is connected to or partly is incorporated in the support structure.

13. The massage system of claim 12, wherein all massage cells are connected to the same support structure.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0069] FIG. 1 shows a cross-section of a massage cell arrangement.

[0070] FIG. 2 shows a cross-section of an alternative massage cell arrangement.

[0071] FIG. 3 shows a massage system comprising two of the massage cell arrangements shown in FIG. 1 connected to the same support structure and the same fluid system.

[0072] FIG. 4 shows a curved massage cell.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0073] In FIGS. 1 and 2 are shown cross-sections of two massage cell arrangements 10, both arrangements having a first series 1 of a plurality of successive inflatable/deflatable cells 2a, 2b, 2c and a second series 1′ of a plurality of successive inflatable/deflatable cells 2a′, 2b′, 2c′. The first and second series of successive cells 1, 1′ being aligned such that the main directions of extension X of the two series of cells substantially coincide. Each cell 2a, 2b, 2c, 2a′, 2b′, 2c′ has a first and second major surface arranged on substantially opposite sides of the cell. Each cell 2a, 2b, 2c, 2a′, 2b′, 2c′ has an opening (not shown) for connection with a fluid system such that the cell may be inflated/deflated. The cells 2a, 2b, 2c, 2a′, 2b′, 2c′ are arranged in the first and second series of cells 1, 1′ such that a surface normal of a major surface of a cell in deflated condition is substantially orthogonal to the main direction of extension X of the series of successive cells 1, 1′. The two series of cells 1, 1′ are arranged substantially on top of each other and such that two successive cells 2a, 2b of the first series of successive cells 1 together cover 10-100% of a major surface area of a cell 2b′ of the second series of successive cells 1′ and each of the two successive cells 2a, 2b of the first series of successive cells 1 cover 5-95% of the major surface area of the cell 2b′ of the second series of successive cells 1′.

[0074] In the example shown in FIG. 1, two cells 2a, 2b of the first series of successive cells 1 together cover approximately 40% of a cell 2b ‘of the second series of successive cells 1’. Two successive cells 2a′, 2b′ of the second series of successive cells together cover approximately 40% of a cell 2a of the first series of successive cells 1.

[0075] In FIG. 2, two successive cells 2a, 2b of the first series of successive cells 1 together cover approximately 100% of a cell 2b′of the second series of successive cells 1′. Two successive cells 2a′, 2b′ of the second series of successive cells together cover approximately cover 100% of a cell 2a of the first series of successive cells 1.

[0076] In FIG. 1 two successive cells 2a, 2b; 2a′, 2b′ in a series of successive cells 1, 1′ are arranged at a distance from each other in the main direction of extension X of the series of successive cells. The distance being about 60% of the length of a major surface of a cell in the main direction of extension of the series of cells. Other distances between successive cells are possible and may be 0-90% of the length of a major surface of a smallest cell in the series of successive cells 1, 1′ in the main direction of extension of the series of cells.

[0077] In FIG. 2 two successive cells 2a, 2b; 2a′, 2b′ in the series of successive cells 1, 1′ are arranged to be in contact with each other, i.e. a distance of approximately 0%.

[0078] All cells in a series of cells 1, 1′ may be the same kind of cells having the same shape and dimensions. The cells 2a, 2b, 2c, 2a′, 2b′, 2c′ may alternatively be of different size and shape.

[0079] The distances between successive cells 2a, 2b; 2a′, 2b′ in a series of cells may not be the same but may vary along the extension of the series of successive cells (not shown).

[0080] In the arrangements shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 the coverage of cells is symmetric. It is possible, however, that two cells 2a, 2b of a first series of cells 1 does not cover equally much of a cell 2b′ of the second series of cells 1′ and vice versa.

[0081] The massage cells 2a, 2b, 2a′, 2b′ of the first and second series of cells 1, 1′ of the arrangements of FIGS. 1 and 2, which cells are arranged to cover each other, may be directly connected to each other at a portion of the area of coverage, such that the cells are held together in the series of successive cells 1, 1′.

[0082] The cells of the massage cell arrangement may alternatively not be in direct contact with each other and the massage cell arrangement may comprise a support structure 3 having a first and second major surface arranged on substantially opposite sides of the support structure. In FIG. 1 the cells 2a, 2b, 2c of the first series of successive cells 1 are arranged on the first major surface of a support structure 3, and the cells 2a′, 2b′, 2c′ of the second series of successive cells 1′ are arranged on the second major surface of the support structure 3, i.e. the cells are arranged on opposite sides of the support structure and may be connected thereto through at least a portion of their first or second major surface.

[0083] In FIG. 2 each individual cell 2a, 2b, 2c, 2a′, 2b′, 2c′ of the first and second series of successive cells 1, 1′ is arranged in a respective pocket provided in a sheet material 5. The sheet material 5 having a plurality of pockets, one for each cell.

[0084] It is possible that the arrangement of FIG. 1 could be placed in a sheet material with a pocket for each cell. It is possible that the first and second series of successive cells 1, 1′ of the massage cell arrangement 1, 1′ of FIG. 2 could be arranged on opposite sides of a support structure 3.

[0085] The massage cells may be welded to each other or to the support structure.

[0086] The massage cells used in the massage cell arrangement may be substantially planar. Alternatively, the first and/or second series of cells may comprise cells which are curved in the deflated condition, see FIG. 4, such that the cells present a generally convex first major surface 6. The curved cell may also present a complementary generally concave second major surface 7.

[0087] In a non-shown embodiment, the cells 2a, 2b, 2c, 2a′, 2b′, 2c′, 2″ are multi-cells comprising at least two connected sub-cells arranged on top of each other, the multi-cell comprising at least a base sub-cell and a top sub-cell wherein internal spaces of the sub-cells in the multi-cell are in fluid communication with each other.

[0088] Major surfaces of a massage cell and/or sub-cell in deflated condition may be substantially polygonal, semi-polygonal, round or oval. Examples of such polygonal or semi-polygonal surfaces comprise triangular, rectangular, square, diamond-like, pentagonal, hexagonal, heptagonal, octagonal configuration, nonagonal, decagonal surfaces etc. Corners may be round or sharp.

[0089] All cells and sub-cells in a series of successive cells may have the same shape. Alternatively, at least some of the cells and/or sub-cells may have different shapes. Preferable at least the sub-cells of a multi-cell have the same shape.

[0090] The massage cell arrangements of FIGS. 1 and 2 are connected to a fluid system 11 (not shown in FIGS. 1 and 2) arranged for sequential inflation/deflation of the massage cells 2a, 2b, 2c, 2a′, 2b′, 2c′ in the arrangement 10, forming a massage cell system. During inflation of the massage cell arrangement the order of inflation is such that for two successive cells 2a, 2b of the first series of successive cells 1, which together cover 10-100% of a major surface area of a cell 2b′ of the second series of successive cells 1′, a first one of the cells 2a of the first series of cells 1 is inflated, thereafter the cell 2b′ of the second series of cells 1′ is inflated and finally the second cell 2b of the first series of cells 1 is inflated, and so on along the main extension X of the series of cells. In other words every other cell which is inflated is from the first series of cells 1 and every other cell which is inflated is from the second series of cells 2. The inflation moving along the main extension X of the two series of cells.

[0091] In FIG. 3 a massage cell system 20 is shown comprising two of the cell arrangements of FIG. 1. The massage cell system could equally well comprise two of the massage cell arrangements shown in FIG. 2, or alternatively one cell arrangement of FIG. 1 and one cell arrangement of FIG. 2. The two cell arrangements are substantially parallel and aligned such that their main directions of extension X are substantially parallel and such that first massage cells 2a, 2b, 2c, 2a′, 2b′, 2c′ of the two massage cell arrangements 10 form a first pair of massage cells. The two massage cell arrangements 10 may be connected to the same support structure 3 and to the same fluid system 11 such that a pair of cells formed by the two massage cell arrangements 1, 1′ is substantially simultaneously inflated/deflated.

[0092] The fluid system may be connected to or, if of weldable material, at least partly incorporated in the support structure. Inflation of the massage cells 2a, 2b, 2c, 2a′, 2b′, 2c′ takes place along the series of fluid cells in a wave-like manner and results in a movement along the extension of the series of fluid cells 1, 1′. The cells of the series of cells could be inflated in either direction.

[0093] The fluid system 11 is connected to a pump for supplying fluid under pressure to the fluid system (not shown). Controllable valves 12, FIG. 3, are arranged in the fluid and arranged and controlled in such a way that sequential inflation/deflation of the cells/pairs of cells in the series of successive cells 1, 1′ as described above may be obtained. Such controllable valves are for example shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,153,282.

[0094] The massage cell system 20 may further comprise venting means for venting the fluid system 11 (not shown). The massage cell system 20 may further comprise a control unit or switch for controlling the operation of the pump (not shown).