"AN APPARATUS FOR APPLYING PRESSURE TO MUSCLES" FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an apparatus for applying pressure to muscles. In particular, the invention resides in an apparatus for use in triggering stiff or injured muscles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Most people, throughout their life, experience muscle soreness and/or injuries. Many locations for muscle soreness are in regions that are not easily accessed, such as the back. Muscle spasms, tightness or ropiness etc can occur causing pain and discomfort to the sufferer. Sitting at a computer for extended periods can produce postural problems such as tight trapezius and neck muscles. Sufferers of these conditions will attest to the reliance on another person apply remediation.

Massage and/or trigger point therapy can be used to treat this muscle soreness . Professionals like Physiotherapists/massage therapists etc can provide these services. A maintenance program of trigger point therapy can be used to support the practitioner's treatment. This can be done at home with the correct tools.

In order to trigger muscles at home, tennis balls are often used to place pressure in the area desired. However, this is at times difficult due to the location of the muscle soreness. For example, the upper trapezius muscle (between the side of the neck and the point of the shoulder) in some cases needs downward pressure across the top, to be triggered effectively. This is difficult to do with the tennis balls or without help from another person.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention to overcome and/or alleviate one or more of the above disadvantages and/or to provide the consumer with a useful or commercial choice.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one form the invention resides in an apparatus for applying pressure to muscles, the apparatus comprising: a body having at attachment portion to attach the body to a structure; and at least one pressure member attached to the body for applying pressure to a muscle.

Preferably, there are two pressure members. The pressure members may be located on the body in different orientations. The pressure members may be located perpendicular with respect to each other.

The pressure members may be removably attached to the body. The pressure members may be screwed into locating holes in the body. Alternatively, the pressure members may be integrally formed with the body.

The attachment portion may include a base plate. The base plate may have fastening holes for location of fasteners such as screws.

The body may have storage portions for location of the pressure members. Normally, the storage portions are storage threaded holes. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying figures in which:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an apparatus for applying

pressure to muscles according to a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 shows an exploded perspective view of the apparatus for applying pressure to muscles according to FIG 1 ;

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of an apparatus for applying pressure to muscles according to a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 shows an exploded perspective view of the apparatus for applying pressure to muscles according to FIG 4;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS 1 to 2 show a first embodiment of an apparatus 10 for applying pressure to muscles. The apparatus includes a body 20, a base plate 30 and four pressure members 40.

The body 20 includes a first cylindrical section 21 and a second cylindrical section 22. The first cylindrical section 21 is perpendicular to the second cylindrical section 22. Locating holes 23 are drilled into each the ends of each of the cylindrical sections 21 and 22. The locating holes 23 are threaded. Storage holes 50 are located on the first cylindrical section 21. The storage holes 50 are also threaded.

The base plate 30 is attached to an end of the first cylindrical section 21. Two wall fastening holes 31 are located in base plate 30 to fix the apparatus 10 to a structure such as a wall or piece of gym equipment. Fasteners(not shown) such as screws or bolts are located through the fastening holes 31. Two body fastening holes 32 are located in the base plate 30 to fasten the body to the base plate. Again, fasteners 33 are located through the fastening holes 32.

There are four different sized pressure members 40. Each

pressure member is formed from a head 41 with a threaded tail 42. The threaded tail 42 is used to attach the pressure members 40 to respective cylindrical sections 21 and 22 via the locating holes 23 or the storage holes 50. It should be appreciated that the size and the shaping of the head may be varied.

In use the apparatus 10 is fastened to fixed structure so that the first cylindrical member 21 is substantially horizontal and the second cylindrical member 22 points downwardly. A person then leans against either of the two pressure members 40 to apply pressure to the desired muscle. The pressure members 40 can be swapped for differently shaped pressure members 40 to apply different levels of pressure depending on the muscle to be triggered. In the example of the upper trapezius muscle group, the person can push up against the downward pointing pressure member 40 to apply the desired pressure. When the spasm reduces the person can move to another site, sometimes only 1 cm across and repeat the procedure.

FIG. 3 and 4 show a second embodiment of an apparatus 10 for applying pressure to muscles. In this embodiment, the apparatus 10 is mounted to a wall mounting bracket 60.

The wall mounting bracket 60 includes a guide rail 61 and two end caps 62. The guide rail 61 is C-shaped in transverse cross section and has two channels 63. A series of positioning holes 64 extend along the length of the guide rail 61 adjacent the two channels 63. Four wall fastening holes 66 are located in the guide rail 61 to fix the apparatus 10 to a structure such as a wall or a piece of gym equipment. Fasteners(not shown) such as screws or bolts are located through the fastening holes 66.

The two end caps 62 are located within ends of the guide rail 61. Fasteners 65 extend through the guide rail 61 and engage the two end caps 62 to hold the end caps 62 within the guide rail 61.

The base plate 30, in this embodiment, is shaped so that the base plate 30 Is able to slide along the length of the guide rail 61. The base plate 30 is attached to an end of the first cylindrical section 21. Two body fastening holes 32 are located in the base plate 30 to fasten the body 20 to the base plate 30. Again, fasteners 33 are located through the fastening holes 32.

Two slots 34 are located within the base plate 30 for the location of two lever pins 35. A lever handle 36 is attached to the end of each lever pin 35. A locating pin 37 is connected to each lever pin 35. Two locating pin holes 38 are located within the side of the base plate 30 for locating the locating pins 37. A spring 39 is located over each locating pin 37 to bias the locating pins 37 so that they extend outwardly from the base plate 30.

In use, the apparatus 10 is mounted within the guide rail 60 by sliding the base plate 30 within the guide rail 60. This is achieved by squeezing the lever handles 36 toward each other. This causes the locating pins 37 to be retracted within the base plate 30. The apparatus 10 can therefore be moved to any location along the guide rail 61. When a desired location is reached, then the lever handles 36 can be released to allow the locating pins 37 to extend outwardly from the base plate 30. Further movement of the apparatus 10 along the length of the guide rail 61 enables the locating pins 37 to become located within the positioning holes 64 to hold the apparatus 10 firmly within the guide rail 61. The end caps 62 are attached to the guide rail 61 once the apparatus 10 has been located within the guide

rail 61. This prevents unwanted removal of the apparatus 10 from the guide rail 61. The wall mounting bracket 60 allows the apparatus 10 to be moved to different heights to trigger different muscles and also to cater for people of different heights.

The apparatus 10 allows the user to apply pressure to the affected area by simply pushing up or back, into the pressure members 40 on the apparatus 10. Thereby, eliminating the need for help from another person. The various pressure member 40 sizes allow the user to start the treatment off with a larger pressure member 40 size to diffuse the pressure and then progress through to the smaller pressure member 40 size as the body adapts or requires it. The user controls the amount of pressure applied. The areas the apparatus 10 can trigger are numerous including muscles such as the trapezius, rhomboids, rotator cuff, levator scapulae and other muscles around this area..

It should be appreciated that various other changes and modifications may be made to the embodiments described without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.