Background of the Invention The stress of modern day life places a great deal of strain on the human body. Few people are free of neck, shoulder and lower back pain. Often, this discomfort results from stress or is exacerbated by stress. Most methods dealing with back problems either involve costly drugs and/or treatment by a professional, for example a chiropractor, a physiotherapist or even an orthopaedic surgeon etc. Alternatively the services of a masseur or masseuse may be employed. Each of these approaches is costly and requires a significant time expenditure.

Massage devices for home use often fail to relieve such pain either as a result of design limitations which limit their effectiveness or as a result of their inability to be easily placed in contact with the site on the body at where the pain is located. Thus, a need exists for a device capable of effectively reaching and massaging a desired body portion of a user thereof with minimal time and expense.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention relates to a device for messaging a desired body portion comprising a housing adapted for attachment to a mounting surface and at least one body contacting surface on the housing. The at least one body contacting surface has dimensions adapted for delivering a massage to the body portion and is located in a position on the housing adapted for contacting a desired point on the body portion such that contacting the acupressure point with the body contacting surface delivers a massage to the body portion.

In one embodiment of the present massage device, the housing has a plurality of body contacting surfaces thereon which are spaced from one another at distances which facilitate their simultaneous contact with desired points on the body portion.

The body contacting surfaces may comprise half spherical knobs which protrude from the housing. In some embodiments, the housing further includes structure adapted for attachment to the mounting surface by an attachment member selected from the group consisting of double sided tape, screws, and suction cups. In some embodiments of the massage device, the housing is movably connected to a mounting support which adapted to be connected to a mounting surface.

The mounting support may comprise an elongate body having a guide channel therein. In this embodiment, the guide channel is slidably engaged with the housing. The mounting support may have end caps at each terminus of the guide channel in the elongate body which prevent movement of the housing beyond the termini of the guide channel.

In some embodiments, the housing further comprises a locking mechanism for fixing the device in a desired position on the mounting support.

In further embodiments, the mounting support further comprises a clamp for holding the mounting support in place on the mounting surface. In some embodiments of the device the housing is in a fixed position.

In other embodiments of the device the housing is movable along a mounting support.

In some embodiments of the device, the device further comprises a vibrator in the housing for enhancing the effectiveness of the massage.

In other embodiments, the device further comprises a massage enhancer in the housing. The massage enhancer may be selected from the group consisting of an ultrasound generator, en infra-red source, a LASER source, a source of magnetic radiation and a source of low voltage electrical pulses.

In a further embodiment of the device, at least one of the knobs rotates so as to intermittently contact the desired body portion.

A further aspect of the present invention is a method of massaging a desired body portion. In the present method, a massage device is mounted on a support surface. The massage device comprises a housing adapted for attachment to a mounting surface and at least one body contacting surface on the housing, the at least one body contacting surface has dimensions adapted for delivering a massage to the body portion and is located in a position on the housing adapted for contacting a desired point on the body portion. The method also comprises contacting the body portion with the at least one body contacting surface, thereby delivering a massage to the body portion.

In one embodiment, the method further comprises moving the body portion about while contacting the body portion with the at least one body contacting surface.

In one embodiment of the method, the contacting step comprises flexing the legs while contacting the body portion with the at least one body contacting surface.

In another embodiment, the method further comprises the step of adjusting the position of the massage device on a mounting support to position the device at a location on the support which facilitates contacting the body portion with the at least one body contacting surface.

Brief Description of the Drawinos Figure 1 is a perspective view of the massage device of the present invention attached to a mounting support.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the first housing member of the present massage device showing the body contacting surfaces thereon.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the top of the massage device.

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view of the massage device and the mounting support taken along line 44 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a side view showing an embodiment of the invention in which the mounting support has a clamp thereon and the clamp is mounted on a seat.

Figure 6A is a side view of the massage device mounted on an alternate embodiment of the clamp. Figure 6B is an enlarged view taken along line 6B-6B of Figure 6A.

Figure 7 is a side view showing an embodiment of the invention in which the mounting support has a spring steel clip thereon and the clip is mounted on a seat. Figure 8 is a partial cross section of a massage device mounted on a sloped support surface.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the device having rotating knobs which intermittently contact a desired portion of the user's body.

Figure 10 is a cross sectional view of the alternate embodiment of Figure 9 taken along line 10-10. Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment The present invention relates to a massage device having a design which effectively relieves pain or stress at a desired body portion. The massage device comprises a housing with at least one body contacting surface thereon. Preferably, the body contacting surface comprises at least one protruding half spherical knob which is sized and shaped for relieving pain or stress when placed in contact with a desired location on the body. More preferably, the device includes a plurality of knobs spaced apart from one another. The knobs may have identical sizes and shapes or may have different sizes and shapes. Preferably, the knobs are of different sizes.

The knobs may be separated from one another by distances which facilitate their simultaneous contact with a plurality of acupressure points on the body. The placement of the knobs may be determined by reference to charts mapping the locations of acupressure points on the body. In a preferred version of the massage device, the knobs may be spaced at distances which facilitate their simultaneous contact with acupressure points along the user's back. For example, one knob may contact the trapezium bone while the remaining knobs contact other lower regions of the back.

Preferably, the housing is adapted to be attached to a mounting surface in order to facilitate its placement in contact with the desired body portion. For example, the housing may include means for attaching it to a mounting surface such as a car seat, a wall, a door, a chair or any other stable surface. In one embodiment, the housing is movably connected to a mounting support which facilitates its placement in contact with the desired body portion. Preferably, the mounting support is adapted to be attached to a mounting surface, such as a car seat, a wall, a door, a chair or any other stable surface. The mounting support may be attached to the mounting surface by a variety of attachment members, including double sided tape, screws, or suction cups. Alternatively, the mounting support may have a clip or clamp which frictionally engages the mounting surface to hold the mounting support in place.

Preferably, the massage device is slidably engaged with the mounting support to enable the user to position the device such that it contacts a desired body portion. In this embodiment, the user adjusts the position of the massage device along the mounting support until the user can easily place the desired body portion in contact with the device. Preferably, the massage device has a locking mechanism thereon which engages the mounting support to fix the massage device in position on the mounting support.

In an alternative embodiment, the massage device may automatically move along the mounting support. For example, the massage device may include a motor which engages the mounting support through a rack and pinion mechanism to drive the massage device back and forth between the ends of the mounting support. In this way, the massage device stimulates all the body portions with which it comes in contact while moving along the length of the mounting support.

The massage device may be fitted with a vibrator unit which causes the massage device to vibrate, thereby enhancing its massaging effect. Preferably, the vibrator unit is located inside the housing. The vibrator may be powered by a variety of sources. For example, the vibrator unit may be mechanically or electrically powered. Electrical power may be provided by supplies such as electrical outlets, vehicle electrical systems, or batteries. In some embodiments, the massage device may include a heater to enhance its massaging effect and to avoid placing a cold surface in contact with the skin of the user. The heater may be powered by a variety of means, including electrical outlets, vehicle electrical systems, or batteries.

In some embodiments, the device may include a massage enhancer such as an ultrasound generator, an infra-red source, a LASER source, a source of magnetic radiation or a source of low voltage electrical pulses to enhance its effectiveness.

One embodiment of the massage device is shown in Figure 1. The massage device 10 comprises a housing 12 having a plurality of protruding knobs 16, 18, 20, 22, 24 thereon. The housing 12 may be made of a wide variety of materials, including durable plastics and metal.

The housing 12 may comprise a first housing member 14 having a plurality of protruding knobs 16, 18, 20, 22, 24 on a surface thereof and a second housing member 26 which may be secured together in a variety of ways. For example, the first housing member 14 and the second housing member 18 may be secured together by screws or, alternatively, through a plurality of interlocking extensions which permit the first housing member 14 and the second housing member 18 to snap fit to one another. A variety of other means to secure the first housing member 14 and the second housing member together will be apparent to those skilled in the art. As best shown in the perspective view Figure 2, the protruding knobs 16, 18, 20, 22, 24 on the first housing member 14 may be a variety of sizes. In the embodiment of Figure 2, the most distal protruding knob 16, located at the distel end 28 of the first housing member 14 may be larger than the other protruding knobs 18, 20, 22, 24. In the embodiment shown in Figure 2, the protruding knob 18 adjacent to the most distal knob 16 is smaller than the most distal knob 18 but larger than adjacent knob 20. In the embodiment of Figure 2, the most proximal knob 24 at the proximal end 30 of the first housing member 14 is approximately the same size as knob 20, while knob 22 is approximately the same size as knob 18. However, as described above, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the number, dimensions, and spacing of protruding knobs may vary depending on the acupressure points on the body which the knobs are intended to contact.

As described above, in some embodiments the massage device 10 may include an electric powered motor, heater or vibrator 15 inside the housing 12. In these embodiments, the massage device 10 may include a power cord 11 for conveying electricity from an electrical outlet to the device. The power cord 11 may also provide electricity for powering a source of ultrasound, infra-red, LASER, magnetic radiation, or low voltage electric pulses.

As best shown in Figure 1, the housing 12 may be slidably engaged with a mounting support 32 having a guide channel 34 extending throughout most of the length of an elongate body 13. Preferably, the mounting support 32 has end caps 36 at each terminus of the guide channel 34 of the elongate body 13. The end caps 36 define the limits of movement of the housing 12 by contacting the housing 12 when it is positioned at the termini

of the guide channel 34 so as to prohibit further movement of the housing 12 beyond the termini of the guide channel 34.

As illustrated in Figure 3, the second housing member 26 has an extension 38 thereon which fits inside the guide channel 34 of the mounting support 32, thereby allowing the housing 12 to slidably engage the mounting support 32. Preferably, the housing 12 has a lock mechanism 40 thereon for frictionally engaging the mounting. support 32 to fix the device 10 in the desired position on the mounting support and to prevent unwanted movement of the device 10 along the guide channel 34. The lock mechanism 40 moves between a first position in which it does not engage the mounting support 32 and a second position in which ft frictionally engages the mounting support

32. In the embodiment of Figure 3, the lock mechanism comprises a tab 42 hingedly attached to the housing

12. When the device 10, is positioned in the desired location along the guide channel 34, the tab 42 is flipped in the direction of the arrow in Figure 3, such that the tab 42 frictionally engages the mounting support 32. The tab

42 may fit within a recess 44 in the housing 12 when in the first position in which it does not engage the mounting support 32. Figure 4 is a cut away top view showing the housing 12 slidably engaged with the mounting support 32.

The extension 38 fits within the guide channel 34 to allow the massage device 10 to slide along the length of the guide channel 34.

As described above, the mounting support 32 may be adapted to be attached to a variety of mounting surfaces, including walls, car seats, doors, chairs, and other stable surfaces. To facilitate its engagement with the mounting surface, the mounting support 32 may comprise a clip or clamp which frictionally engages the mounting surfaces to hold the device 10 in place.

Figure 5 illustrates one embodiment of the device 10 in which the mounting support 32 comprises a clamp

44 for frictionally engaging a support surface 46 such as a car seat. The clamp 44 comprises a cross bar 48 which is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the massage device 10 and a clamping bar 50 which is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis the massage device 10. The clamping bar 50 is movable along the longitudinal axis of the cross bar 48 such that ft may be positioned to frictionally engage the mounting surface 44 so as to fix the mounting support 32 in place on the mounting surface. In the embodiment, the clamping bar 50 is held in the desired position by a tightening screw 52. In one embodiment, the massage device 10 may be movable along the mounting support 32 to permit its position to be adjusted. For example, the massage device 10 may be slidable along the mounting support 32. Alternatively, the massage device 10 may be fixed in position on the mounting support 32. In a further embodiment, the massage device 10 may be directly joined to the clamp 44 without an intervening mounting support 32.

In an alternative embodiment, shown in Figures 6A and 6B, the cross bar 148 has a plurality of ridges 154 which engage a hook 156 on an end member 158 on the distal end 160 of the clamping bar 150. In this embodiment, the clamping bar 150 can move elong the longitudinal axis of the cross bar 148 until it is located at a position where it frictionally engages the support surface with enough force to hold the mounting support 132 in

place on the support surface. In the embodiment of Figure 6A, the massage device 110 is slidably mounted on the support structure 132. However, in other embodiments, the massage device 110 may be fixed to the mounting support 132. In a further embodiment, the massage device 110 may be directly joined to the clamp 144 without an intervening mounting support 132. In another embodiment, shown in Figure 7, the mounting support 232 has a spring steel clip 262 thereon which frictionally engages the support surface 246 to hold the mounting support 232 in place on the support surface 246. In Figure 7, the support surface is a car seat, but ft may be any stable support surface, including those specifically enumerated above.

In another embodiment, shown in Figure 8, the massage device 310 may be mounted on a sloped support surface 346 resting on the floor. As shown in Figure 8, the device may have a power cord 311 for powering a vibrator, motor, or heater inside the housing 312. The power cord 311 may also provide electricity for powering a source of ultrasound, infra-red, LASER, magnetic radiation, or low voltage electric pulses.

In a further embodiment, shown in Figure 9, the massage device 410 may include one or more rotating knobs 416 which intermittently contact the desired body portion of the user. In this embodiment, the first housing member 414 may have a cavity 464 therein through which the knobs 416 rotate. As illustrated in the cross section of Figure 10, the knobs 416 may be attached to a revolving drum 466. A rotating twin gear 468 engages the revolving drum 466, causing the revolving drum 466 to revolve. A motor 470 inside the housing 412 engages the twin gear 468, causing it to rotate. The massage device 410 may also include one or more stationary knobs 418. Of course, those skilled in the art will appreciate that a variety of structures other than that described above may be employed to rotate the knobs 416. It will also be appreciated that the massage device 410 may have more than one revolving drum 466 with rotating knobs 416 thereon. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the number, dimensions, and spacing of rotating and stationary knobs may be varied depending on the acupressure points in the body which the device is intended to stimulate.

Another aspect of the present invention is a method of massaging a desired portion of the body. The method comprises mounting a massage device on a support surface and contacting the body portion with at least one body contacting surface on the device to deliver a massage to the body portion. In one embodiment, the method further comprises moving the body portion about while contacting the body portion with the body contacting surface. For example, in this embodiment, the user can contact the desired body portion with the body contacting surface by leaning against the massage device when the device is supported on a support surface such as a seat, wall or door and slightly flexing the legs. The weight shift resulting from flexing the legs causes a deep tissue massage to be delivered to the desired body portion.

In a further embodiment, the method further comprises adjusting the position of the massage device on the support so that the massage device can contact the desired body portion. For example, the position of the massage device may be adjusted by moving the massage device along a mounting support. In a further embodiment, the method comprises applying a vibrating force to the desired body portion.