TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to massage devices, and particularly to a leg massager that relieves aches and pains in the legs and that promotes circulation in the legs to alleviate edema and reduce the accumulation of fluids that might result in phlebitis or thrombosis in the legs.

BACKGROUND ART

Various medical conditions can result in pain and discomfort in the legs. Poor circulation from heart conditions, diabetes, and other ailments can result in the accumulation of fluid in the legs, particularly the lower legs and ankles, with resulting swelling (edema). These problems are exacerbated in the elderly, the bedridden, and the disabled, who may find it difficult to walk or exercise sufficiently to promote circulation in the legs. Many people find relief from such pain and discomfort by massaging the legs and ankles. However, the elderly, bedridden, disabled, or obese may find it difficult to bend over far enough to provide the legs with a good massage, and may be unable to afford a reliable caregiver to provide such therapy.

Thus, a leg massager solving the aforementioned problems is desired.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

The leg massager has a pair of elongated rods having handles extending substantially normal to the upper ends and complementary arcuate jaws extending from the lower ends. The rods are pivotally mounted parallel to each other so that rotation of the handles can open and close the jaws around the user's leg. A plurality of rollers is mounted on each of the jaws. The user can continuously adjust closure of the jaws around the leg and raise and lower the massager on the leg to administer a massage. The rods may be joined by an upper bracket in which both rods are rotatable, and by a lower hinge. The handles may have a suitable handgrip. The rollers may have a smooth surface, or an irregular surface. The jaws may be coplanar, but are preferably non-coplanar, or one jaw may be canted above or below the other jaw to permit overlapping closure of the jaws. These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is an environmental, perspective view of a leg massager according to the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the leg massager according to the invention.

Fig. 3 A is a top plan view of the leg massager of Fig. 2, shown in a partially closed position.

Fig. 3B is a top plan view of the leg massager of Fig. 2, shown in the open position.

Fig. 3 C is a top plan view of the leg massager of Fig. 2, shown closed in an overlapping manner.

Fig. 4A is a side view of an alternative roller for a leg massager according to the present invention.

Fig. 4B is a side view of an alternative roller for a leg massager according to the present invention.

Fig. 5A is a side view of an alternative handle for a leg massager according to the present invention.

Fig. 5B is a side view of an alternative handle for a leg massager according to the present invention.

Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.

BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a leg massager 10 that provides many therapeutic benefits to a user's appendage, especially the lower leg region. At times, a physical malady or overexertion may cause the leg to swell. A stimulating massage helps alleviate such swelling. To that end, the massager 10 provides a way to massage the limb in an easier and comfortable manner due, in part, to the user not having to stretch too far toward the affected area, a potentially harmful situation that may result in additional discomfort from back aches or hypertension, which have a greater impact on the elderly or one of limited physical mobility. Attention is directed to Figs. 1 and 2, which shows the leg massager 10 having a pair of elongated extension members or rods 12, 13. Each rod has a gripping portion extending substantially normal from the upper end and a massaging member or jaw extending substantially normal from the lower end. The rods may be formed from any rigid material that can be shaped to accommodate a gripping portion and a massaging member, e.g., steel rods having ¹ A" d X 36"1 (d = diameter, 1 = length) may be utilized. Alternatively, aluminum tubing may be used for lighter weight.

The upper end of rod 12 is disposed at an angle A, which may be about 90°, with respect to the longitudinal axis of the rod 12 to form the handle 14. The handle 14 has a handgrip 16 attached thereto. In the example shown, the handgrip 16 is a smooth cylinder retained on handle 14 a fastener 20. Any suitable fastener may be utilized to retain the handgrip 16 on the handle 14, e.g. a !4" acorn nut, so that the handgrip 16 may be rotatably or detachably mounted on the handle. The handgrip 16 may be composed of wood, but other types of handles may also be used, depending on the desired grip texture and comfort of the user. For example, the handgrip 16 may be a rubber sleeve retained on the handle 14 by friction fit or by resilience of the material. Instead of a smooth surface, the handgrip 16 may have a knurled or textured surface, or may have recesses formed therein for accommodating the fingers. As a further alternative, the handles 14, 15 may be disposed at more ergonomic angles conducive for easier or even one-handed operation of the leg massager 10. For example, instead of having the handles 14, 15 disposed 180° apart from each other as shown in Fig. 3 A, each handle 14, 15 may be oriented at an angle that is acute or other than 180° such that opening and closing of the jaws 18, 19 may be maintained

The lower end of rod 12 is also disposed at an angle C, which may also be about 90°, to form a jaw or massaging member 18. The jaw 18 is preferably semicircular in shape, and the jaw 18 has a plurality of rollers 22 disposed thereon. It is important to note that although a semi-circular shape is shown, the jaw may have any other suitable curvilinear or arcuate shape (e.g., ovoid, ellipsoid, etc.), so that the nonlinearity conforms to the shape of the limb to be massaged. Any number and dimension of rollers 22 are also possible, e.g., between two and seven rollers 22 with exemplary dimensions of 1 '/2" diameter by 1 ¹ A" in length.

Although the handle 14 and the jaw 18 have been described as being integral with the extension member or rod 12 and formed by bending, molding, or forging the extension member in one piece, the handle 14 and jaw 18 may be discrete components joined to the rod 12 by fasteners, by welding, by friction fit, or any other suitable method. The other extension member or rod 13 includes substantially the same features except in a mirror-opposite orientation, i.e. angles B, D, handle 15, handgrip 17, fastener 21, jaw or massaging member 19, and plurality of rollers 23.

A bracket or guide 30 is disposed between the pair of extension members 12, 13 to maintain proper spacing and relative orientation of the rods 12, 13. The bracket 30 has through holes for rotatably mounting the rods 12, 13.

To facilitate opening and closing the jaws 18, 19 relative to the leg of the user, a pivoting member 40 is provided between the lower ends of the rods 12, 13. In this embodiment, the pivoting member 40 is a hinge with one leaf coupled to the rod 12 and the other leaf coupled to rod 13. The hinge is pivotal about pintle 42.

As a further alternative, the handles 14, 15 may be disposed at more ergonomic angles conducive for easier or even one-handed operation of the leg massager 10. For example, instead of having the handles 14, 15 disposed 180° apart from each other as shown in Fig. 3 A, each handle 14, 15 may be oriented at an angle towards the jaws 18, 19 that is acute or other than 180° such that opening and closing of the jaws 18, 19 may be performed within a more comfortable range of handle motion. This will be especially beneficial to individuals with limited physical faculties.

Next, the operation of the leg massager 10 will be described. Attention is directed to Figs. 1, 3A, 3B, and 3C showing the leg massager 10 in use. The handles 14, 15 are gripped by the user and rotated (as indicated by arrows 50 in Figs. 3A and 3C) in opposite directions to pivot the jaws 18, 19 open and closed. When handle 14 is in the two o'clock position and handle 15 is in the ten o'clock position, the jaws 18, 19 are open, as shown in Fig. 3B, so that the user can place the device on leg L and rotate the handles 14, 15 clockwise and counterclockwise, respectively, to enclose or encircle the leg portion. When handle 14 is in the three o'clock position and handle 15 is in the nine-o'clock position, the jaws 14, 15 substantially describe a circle or an ovoid when viewed from above, as seen in Fig. 3A.

The overall length of the device, e.g., approximately 24", and subsequent location of the handles 14, 15 minimizes the amount of bending of the user's body necessary to place and operate the massager 10, thereby extending the reach of person's who are unable to bend at the waist or who are unable to flex the knee to massage the calf and ankle.

When the jaws 18, 19 are further rotated so that handle 14 is in the four o'clock position and handle 15 is in the eight o'clock position, the diameter or size of the opening between the jaws 18, 19 is further contracted, so that the massager 10 is continuously adjustable to conform to the diameter of the person's leg or limb, which may increase and decrease as the jaws are moved proximally and distally. This adjustment is possible because either the jaws 18, 19 are not coplanar, one jaw 18, 19 rotating in a plane above or below the other, as shown in Fig. 2, or because one jaw 18, 19 may be canted above or below the other jaw 18, 19, thereby permitting one jaw 18, 19 to overlap the other.

Once the jaws 18, 19 have been placed and the desired massaging pressure has been applied by the user via further rotation of the handles 14, 15, the user pushes and pulls the device in the direction indicated by arrows 52 in Fig. 1 to massage and stimulate the troublesome leg portion.

Throughout all phases of the operation of the device, the stabilizer 30 maintains the relative positions of the extension members 12, 13, and the pivoting member 40 provides a reliable controlled pivot point for the massaging members 18, 19. hi addition, when the curvilinear shaped massaging members 18, 19 are in the partially closed position of Fig. 3A, they form a circle of approximately 6". However, the members 18, 19 may be dimensioned or configured to accommodate appendages or limbs of various sizes.

It is noted that the leg massager 10 may encompass a variety of alternatives to the various features thereof. For example, the hinge 40 may include a biasing member, such as a coil spring or a torsion spring. The biasing member would keep the massager in a closed position and provide the added benefit of relaxing the necessary massaging pressure required from the user. The addition of a biasing member is not limited to the hinge 40, but may be disposed anywhere along the length of the extension members 12, 13. Moreover, more than one biasing member may be utilized.

The rollers 22 may be composed of different materials of varying density, hardness and texture. The rollers 22 may also include protrusions, such as the dimples 26 shown in Fig. 4A or circular bands 28 shown in Fig. 4B. The handgrips 16, 17 may be any desired handgrip, such as a molded handgrip 100, as shown in Fig. 5 A. Moreover, the handles 16, 17 may be rigid, or may be hinged so that the handle may be folded, as shown by handle 200 in Fig. 5B, allowing easier storage of the leg massager 10.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.