MASSAGE AND MUSCLE RELEASE TOOL

Abstract

A massage and muscle release tool having a base having four sides divided into two adjacent pairs of sides with the sides of each pair being of equal length. Each of the sides arms are joined by a corner defining a front and back corner and opposed side corners. A handle extends from the base. There are a plurality of rounded protrusions protruding from the bottom and the protrusions, corners, sides and handle can all be used to manipulate muscles in various ways to alleviate adverse physical conditions.

Claims

1. A massage and muscle release tool comprising: a base having a top, bottom and four sides divided into two adjacent pairs of sides with the sides of each pair being of equal length; each of said sides being joined by a corner defining a front and back corner and opposed side corners; a handle extending from said top; a plurality of rounded protrusions protruding from said bottom; said bottom surface being arched, having a convex curvature between said front and back corners and between said opposed side corners; whereby said protrusions, corners, sides and handle can be used to manipulate muscles in various ways to alleviate adverse physical conditions.

2. The massage and muscle release tool of claim 1, wherein said opposed side corners are rounded.

3. The massage and muscle release tool of claim 1, wherein said at least one of said opposed side corners is rounded and at least one of said opposed side corners has a knife-like edge.

4. The massage and muscle release tool of claim 1, wherein said four sides each have a knife edge defined by angled relief surfaces extending from said top and bottom.

5. The massage and muscle release tool of claim 1, wherein said front and back corners are defined by elongated columns, said columns forming the ends of said handle, said columns having an outwardly protruding semi-circular face.

6. The massage and muscle release tool of claim 5, wherein said columns have opposed rounded end surfaces.

7. The massage and muscle release tool of claim 1, wherein said front and back corners are defined by elongated columns, said columns forming the ends of said handle, one of said columns having an outwardly protruding semi-circular face, the other of said columns having an elongated knife edge.

8. The massage and muscle release tool of claim 7, wherein said columns have opposed rounded end surfaces with the front column having an edged front portion.

9. The massage and muscle release tool of claim 1, wherein said base has wing surfaces adjacent said opposed side corners, said wing surfaces forming pressure application surfaces for precise application of pressure to the human body.

10. The massage and muscle release tool of claim 1, wherein said handle has a flat upper elongated face that allows said massage tool to be positioned and rest upon said handle whereby said bottom can become said top.

11. A massage and muscle release tool comprising: a base having a top, bottom and four sides divided into two adjacent pairs of sides with the sides of each pair being of equal length; each of said sides being joined by a corner defining a front and back corner and opposed side corners; a handle extending from said top; a plurality of rounded protrusions protruding from said bottom; said four sides each have a knife edge defined by angled relief surfaces extending from said top and bottom; whereby said protrusions, corners, sides and handle can be used to manipulate muscles in various ways to alleviate adverse physical conditions.

12. The massage and muscle release tool of claim 11, wherein said opposed side corners are rounded.

13. The massage and muscle release tool of claim 11, wherein said at least one of said opposed side corners is rounded and at least one of said opposed side corners has a knife-like edge.

14. The massage and muscle release tool of claim 11, wherein said front and back corners are defined by elongated columns, said columns forming the ends of said handle, said columns having an outwardly protruding semi-circular face.

15. The massage and muscle release tool of claim 14, wherein said columns have opposed rounded end surfaces.

16. The massage and muscle release tool of claim 11, wherein said front and back corners are defined by elongated columns, said columns forming the ends of said handle, one of said columns having an outwardly protruding semi-circular face, the other of said columns having an elongated knife edge.

17. The massage and muscle release tool of claim 16, wherein said columns have opposed rounded end surfaces.

18. The massage and muscle release tool of claim 11, wherein said base has wing surfaces adjacent said opposed side corners, said wing surfaces forming pressure application surfaces for precise application of pressure to the human body.

19. The massage and muscle release tool of claim 1, wherein said handle has a flat upper elongated face that allows said massage tool to be positioned and rest upon said handle whereby said bottom can become said top.

20. The massage and muscle release tool of claim 19, wherein said bottom surface is arched, having a convex curvature between said front and back corners and between said opposed side corners.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the massage and muscle release tool of the present invention as viewed from the bottom.

[0029] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the massage and muscle release tool of the present invention as viewed from the top.

[0030] FIG. 3 is a top view of the massage and muscle release tool of the present invention.

[0031] FIG. 4 is a side view of the massage and muscle release tool of the present invention.

[0032] FIG. 5 is an end view of the massage and muscle release tool of the present invention.

[0033] FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the massage and muscle release tool of the present invention.

[0034] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of the massage and muscle release tool of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0035] The muscle release and massage tool of the present invention is generally shown at 10 in FIG. 1. The massage tool 10 has a generally kite shaped base plate 12 with four sides 15 (see FIGS. 3 and 6) divided into two adjacent pairs of sides with the sides of each pair being of equal length. The base 12 has protrusions or knobs 14 protruding from the base plate 12. These knobs 14 are generally rounded. Larger knobs 16 are provided at the four corners of the base plate 12.

[0036] The massage tool 10 includes a specific pre-defined pattern of rounded protuberances, or knobs 14 and 16 protruding from the bottom of a base plate 12 that provide a point contact and grooming or brushing effect to the muscle. These knobs 14 and 16 engage the muscle and pressure release through pointed pressure and then separate the muscle fibers through a combing motion. The massage tool 10 is versatile in that it can use a single knob 16 on the pointed end 17 for smaller muscles or a three knob 16 structure on the wide end 19 for larger muscles and a unique front to back planing motion that trigger release with the front point and then wipes, striates, neurostimulates with the wide back end when used in a planning or rocking motion from front to back with the device. The pointed end 17 can be used for specific knots or trigger points in large muscles. The multiple knobs 16 on the wide end or a combination of all knobs 14 and 16 on the bottom provide striations for large and small muscles to be released and separated so as to relax the muscle.

[0037] The kite design of the base plate 12 also provides a knife edge 30 of different lengths on the four sides of the base and rounded surfaces at the four angles 32 of the kite shape with four different angles for additional massaging of the muscles. The knife edges are formed by the angled relief surfaces 31 extending from the top and bottom of the base 12. The knife edges 30 provide two long rounded surfaces 34 for massaging across a larger muscle group, and two smaller rounded knife-like edges 36 for smaller muscles. The rounded knife edges 30 can be combed or brushed across the muscle to massage and release trigger points, lactic acid, and relax the muscle, also referred to as combing the muscle. The pointed front chisel edge 40 (see FIG. 7) can be used to trigger, pressure point, active release, knife, separate and striate in a variety of directions and methodologies. The rounded angles 34 provide surfaces to attack specific trigger points in the muscles. The kite geometric shape provides four different angles 32 for massaging the muscles and the ability to rotate the massage tool to reach any desired location. The tool 10 can reach muscles on the left and right of the body, by turning the tool 10. With the handle 22 and the four different angles 32, the massage tool 10 can be used for deep tissue massaging for the release of trigger points.

[0038] The base plate 12 is curved to form a slightly convex bottom surface from the opposed sides 29 and front 17 to back 19. In this way, the tool 10 can be rocked upon a muscle group to massage the muscle group in four different directions with varying degrees and angles. It also facilitates the brushing of the tool 10 across a muscle group. The curve extends from the pointed end 17 to the broad end 19 and from opposed sides 29. Stated another way, the base plate is rounded to provide a rocking motion to improve gliding, wicking, neurostimulating along muscles, tendons, muscle bodies, nerves and provides a front to back motion that starts with pointed release and then finishes with a striation finish with the three nob butt or broad end or back 19 of the bottom surface.

[0039] In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 6, the front end 17 and back end 19 of the tool 10 includes columns or barrels 18 that have facing rounded surfaces. Each of these columns 18 are topped with a rounded protrusion 20. A handle 22 interconnects the columns 18. The columns 18 and the handle 22 define an open space so that the handle 22 can be grasped for use of the tool 10. Knobbed end columns or barrel ends 18 provide additional messaging options, such as flat rubbing of muscles with the rounded surfaces of the columns 18, as well as targeted and trigger release of the muscles through the use of the protrusions 20.

[0040] The handle 22 of the disclosed embodiment has a flat upper surface 24. The flat upper surface allows the tool 10 to be positioned on a floor or wall for use in massaging hard to reach areas. The handle 22 allows for more controlled manipulation by a user and in the disclosed embodiment, the flat surface 24 on the top of the handle 22 allows the tool 10 to be placed on the floor or against a wall for laying or leaning on the device to release muscles and to apply massage pressure to the feet or back, for example.

[0041] Tool 10 provides a unique handheld massage tool to provide therapeutic pressure on specific points of the body for the release of body muscles. The device is used to massage specific muscles in specific ways to release contracted muscle fibers, also known as knots or trigger points, to release lactic acid, relieve pain, loosen tense tight muscles, improve circulation and improve mobility and posture. The present invention is particularly useful in the chest area, but is also useful on other muscle groups.

[0042] The foregoing invention has been described in accordance with the relevant legal standards, thus the description is exemplary rather than limiting in nature. Variations and modifications to the disclosed embodiment may become apparent to those skilled in the art and do come within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of legal protection afforded this invention can only be determined by studying the following claims.