The invention refers to a massage device, namely a mattress or a pillow.

A mattress is in particular used for supporting a person lying in a bed for sleeping. A pillow is used for supporting the persons head or other areas of the back of the person.

AT 508820 B1 comprising a massage device having a plurality of rollers adapted for treatment of a spine of a person lying on the device. The aforementioned device is conventionally used by a therapist for treatment of an insane spine.

A heat therapy device comprising a plurality of heated acupressure knobs are disclosed in US 2004/0082983 A1.

It is the object of the invention to provide a device, which enables a person to take care about his spine each day without the need to visit a professional therapist.

The object is solved by a massage device according to claim 1. Embodiments are subject of the subclaims and the description.

An idea is that in an embodiment the massage device is a sleeping mattress for the bed and can be used for sleeping as a usual mattress as well as for therapeutical application when the person is in supine position. In particular the application can be performed when the person is sleeping. The main advantage is that the treatment facility can be stored in the bed and does not require additional space for storing.

According to a similar idea in an embodiment the massage device is a pillow, which is used for a massage treatment for certain parts of the spine. In particular the pillow is mobile and can be carried by user e.g. during working at an office workplace, during travelling in a car, train or aircraft, or in a hotel during sleeping.

In an embodiment the treatment facility is located in a treatment recess of the massage device. In particular the treatment recess is located within a main body of the massage device below the level of the reclining surface. The reclining surface may part of the main body.

In an embodiment the treatment facility comprises at least one treatment device. The treatment device may be a treatment roller. The treatment device may be adapted to apply a force on the spine of the person. There may be provided several treatment devices, each located at a predefined cervical area of the massage device. In particular there may be provided a first treatment device located at a cervical spine area, a second treatment device located at a thoracic spine area, and/or a third treatment device located at a lumbar spine area.

In an embodiment a treatment actuator 32 is adapted to drive the treatment facility, in particular the treatment device, during force application. The treatment actuator in particular provides the treatment motion, which is in particular causative for the treatment effect.

In an embodiment the treatment facility comprises more than one treatment devices, in particular rollers, which are arranged subsequently along the length direction of the massage device in particular the mattress / along the body direction in different spine areas. In an embodiment at least two treatment devices are driven in opposite directions so as to apply diverging forces onto the spine. Here the areas of the spine can be stretched.

In an embodiment the massage device is adapted to amend the position of the treatment device during application of the force, in particular to amend the position along the direction of the body of the person, along a length direction and/or along a height direction of the mattress. The treatment facility may comprise a guiding drive for driving the positional amendment of the treatment device and/or the treatment facility has a guiding device, in particular a guiding rail, for guiding the treatment device within a predefined path of movement.

In an embodiment the massage device is adapted that during a sleeping condition the treatment facility is located below a level of the reclining surface, and during a treatment condition the treatment facility is at least partially lifted above the level of the reclining surface. This enables that the massage device in particular mattress can be used for sleeping without the treatment facility negatively influencing the sleeping comfort of the massage device . On the other hand the in particular the mattress can be used like a separate treatment couch, separate to a bed, which requires additional space in a private home.

In an embodiment the massage device is adapted that during a sleeping condition the treatment facility is covered by a cover, in particular movable cover; in particular during the sleeping condition the cover may form a part of the reclining surface. During a treatment condition the cover is transferred into a condition where it enables contact between the treatment facility and the spine of the person. Here the cover can be removed from covering the treatment facility.

In an embodiment the massage device comprising an infrared radiator in particular located at a leg area of the mattress. The infrared radiator is adapted to apply an infrared radiation in particular onto the legs of the person when the legs, in particular to the calves, of the person are located at the leg area. In case the massage device is a pillow the infrared radiator may be located sidewards of the treatment device.

The infrared radiator may be adapted to apply infrared radiation comprising light of the far infrared spectrum. The far infrared spectrum comprises in particular the frequencies between 5 and 350 micrometers, in particular between 10 and 200 micrometers.

In an embodiment the massage device has means for defining a predetermined orientation of the person on the mattress. The means for defining a predetermined orientation are adapted so that a person will intuitively contact this means by a predefined body portion. Then the person including its spine is aligned to the massage device so that certain areas of the body are in alignment with the corresponding area of the massage device . In particular the mattress or the pillow has a head supporting area defining a recess in which the head fits into. When the head lies in the head supporting area the cervical spine is located within a cervical spine area, a thoracic spine is located within a thoracic spine area and a lumbar spine is located within a lumbar spine area. Also a leg may be located within a leg area of the mattress.

At least some of the treatment facilities, in particular a treatment roller, can be heated, in particular to any temperature between 40°C - 60°C.

The invention refers also to a sleeping bed comprising such a mattress. The advantage is that the massage device can be use each day when the person goes to bed at night. Consequently the device can be used for regularly taking care of a healthy spine before the spine get sicken.

In particular the person goes to bed at night, starts operation of the massage device and often fells into sleep during the operation of the device. After a certain time the massage device stops operation and transfers into the sleeping condition. The person can stay on the massage device for the complete night. Consequently the device supports an improved process of falling into sleep.

A particular idea of the invention is to use the massage device in connection with a sleeping bed. In a first step the person uses the device as a massage device for treatment of the spine. Afterwards the person can use the device during sleeping. So the person does not change his/her position after the treatment of the spine and can in best case automatically fall asleep during treatment. So the device is adapted for daily use. This enables daily care of the spine long before any pathological conditions occur. So the device more than just a therapeutical instrument for the treatment of diseases, because it can help to prevent the occurrence of diseases, like the daily brushing of your teeth. The invention is described in more detail with the help of the attached figures; herein show: figure 1 two inventive massage devices in top view; figure 2 the massage devices of figure 1 in cross-sections according to section lines lla- lla / llb-llb of figure 1; figure 3 the massage device of figure 1 in cross-section according to section line lla-lla of figure 1 with a movable cover; a) in a sleeping condition, b) in a treatment condition; figure 4 an enlarged view of the movable cover 41 of the massage device of figure 1 in cross-section; figure 5 the massage device of figure 1 in cross-section according to section line IV-IV of figure 1 ; figure 6 two embodiments of rollers; figure 7 an inventive massage device; figure 8 the device of figure 7 in cross-section a) according to section line Villa-Villa in figure 7, b) according to section line VI llb-VII lb in figure 7; figure 9 a modification of the device of figure 7 in cross-section a) according to section line Villa-Villa in figure 7, b) according to section line VI llb-VII lb in figure 7.

Figure 1a shows an embodiment where the massage device 1 is a mattress; figure 1b shows an embodiment where the massage device 1 is a pillow. The features described below are in main applicable for both embodiments, so within this description all combinations are disclosed as well.

The device, in particular the mattress 1 according the invention is adapted so that a person 7 can use the mattress for sleeping on it at night. The mattress 1 is adapted so that the person can rest several parts along the spine on it, in particular the head or the back of the person.

The massage device 1 has a main body 2, which comprises in particular a resilient material such as foamed material. A reclining surface 23 is provided so that a person can lay on it or can lay parts of the spine or head on it. The mattress / pillow can have usual outer dimensions as shown in figure 1.

The massage device, in particular the mattress 1 , is located in a bed 6. The person 7 may lay on the mattress 1 in a defined manner. Therefore the device has a defined alignment surface 24 which is adapted so that the person will intuitively adopt a defined orientation on the mattress along the body direction B of the person. Here the defined alignment surface 24 is a head supporting area 24 having a recess, in which the person will intuitively put his head in, when the person lays down. When the head is located in the head supporting area 24 the cervical spine of the person comes to rest on a cervical spine area CS of the mattress, a thoracic spine of the person comes to rest on a thoracic spine area TS and a lumbar spine of the person comes to rest on a lumbar spine area LS of the mattress 1. Additionally the legs of the person, in particular the calves of the person come to rest in a leg area LA.

The main body 2 has a treatment recess 22, in which a treatment facility 3 is located. The treatment facility 3 comprises several treatment rollers 31, which are adapted to apply a therapeutic treatment to the spine of the person. The treatment rollers 31 are arranged along the body direction B.

In the present exemplary embodiment treatment rollers 31 comprise a cervical spine treatment roller 31a located within the cervical spine area CS, a thoracic spine treatment roller 31b located within the thoracic spine area TS and a lumbar spine treatment roller 31c located within the lumbar spine area LS.

All treatment rollers 31 are located so that it can contact the spine of the person lying on the massage device. Each of the rollers is equipped with a treatment actuator which is adapted to bring the roller 31 into a treatment actuation, in particular a rotational movement.

Each of the rollers 31 are supported at the massage device by a supporting structure 35.

Each of the rollers 31 can be moved in body direction B along the length direction x, guided by a guiding rail 34. A guiding actuator 33 can initiate movement of the roller 31 along the guiding rail 34, so that the position of the roller can be adapted to the person. In particular a smaller person requires the lumbar spine treatment roller 31c closer to the head supporting area 24 than a taller person. Additionally the position of the roller along the body direction B can be varied during the treatment. The guiding rail 34 defines a path of movement, along which the roller can be moved.

Figures 2 and 3a shows the massage device, in particular the mattress, 1 in a treatment condition. Here the treatment recess 22 is uncovered so that the treatment facility 3 can be brought into contact with the person lying on the massage device.

Figure 3a shows the massage device in a sleeping condition. In the sleeping condition the treatment facility is covered, so that the treatment device can not be brought into contact with the person lying on the device. In particular the treatment recess 22 is covered so that the treatment facility 3 can not be brought into contact with the person lying on the mattress. Additionally the treatment facility 3 is moved below a level L of the reclining surface 23.

Figure 3a shows the massage device in a sleeping condition. Here the treatment recess 22 is covered by a movable cover 41. During the sleeping condition the movable cover 41 establishes together with the main body 2 the even reclining surface 23. In Figure 3b the cover 41 is opened so that the treatment rollers can be moved upwards.

In an embodiment the cover 41 is made thicker as it may appear from the figure. The cover should be adapted to provide a comfortable surface so that the person can lie on it during the entire night.

For switching the massage device 1 between the sleeping condition and the treatment condition (including both directions) a cover actuator 42 is provided which is adapted to move the movable cover 41 between a position, in which the movable cover releases the treatment recess (treatment condition) and a position, in the movable cover covers the treatment recess (sleeping condition). Here the actuator 42 and the cover are adapted to operate similar to a rolling shutter gate. Accordingly the movable cover can have a plurality of supporting segments 43, on which a resilient coating 44 is provided. The resilient coating may be segmented as well.

Figure 5 shows the treatment rollers 31 which can be lifted in height direction z between a position below the level L (situation I) of the reclining surface 23 and a position above this level L (situations II, III, IV). At least one lifting actuator 36 is provided for moving one or all of the rollers 31 in height direction. The lifting actuator 36 can be part of the support structure 35.

During using of the treatment facility 3, the different rollers 31 may perform movements in opposite direction in length direction x. In particular when the roller 31b is moving in length direction (+x) (from situation II or IV into situation III) the roller 31c is moving against the length direction (-x) (from situation II into situation III). Consequently the thoracic spine and the lumbar spine of the person can be urged apart form each other.

In an embodiment the rollers 31 may perform a movement in y-direction, in particular in horizontal direction perpendicular to the Body direction B.

The massage device 1 further comprises an infrared radiator 5, which is located at the leg area LA. The infrared radiator 5 is adapted to radiate infrared light of the far infrared spectrum. In particular the radiator 5 is position to be in contact with the calves of the person, when the person is in defined position.

The far infrared spectrum comprises in particular the frequencies between 5 and 350 micrometers, in particular between 10 and 200 micrometers. The leg area LA is positioned at a position where the legs of the person are located when the head of the person is located at the head supporting area 24.

According to figure 6 a treatment roller 31 may be of various shapes. The roller 31 may have massage protrusions 37 on its surface. Figures 7 and 8 show an embodiment, where the treatment facility 3 can be transferred between two conditions. In a treatment condition the treatment device can contact the person lying on the reclining surface 23. In a sleeping condition the treatment device can not contact the person lying on the reclining surface 23. For transferring the treatment device the rollers are moved between a position at least partially above the reclining surface (treatment condition) and a position below the reclining surface (sleeping condition) through an opening 220 of the treatment recess 22.

Figure 8b shows the treatment facility 3 and a roller 31 of the treatment device in the sleeping condition. Here all rollers 31 are located below the reclining surface 23.

Figure 8a show the treatment facility 3 and rollers 31 of the treatment device in the treatment condition. Here the roller 31 is located above the reclining surface 23 and can contact the spine of the person for treatment.

Here the rollers 31 can be transferred between the condition trough an opening 220 of the treatment recess 22 in the main body 2.

The opening 220 of the treatment recess 22 is preferably located at the lower thoracic spine area TS and the upper lumbar spine area LS, in particular where the pressure between the spine and the main body is lower than at other spine areas. Alternatively or in combination thereto the opening 220 of the treatment recess 22 is preferably located at the lover cervical spine area CS, in particular where the pressure between the spine and the main body is lower than at other spine areas. The figure 7 show both aforementioned alternatives in combination.

The treatment recess 22 can be permanently open in a manner, that the roller can pass through the level L of the reclining surface 23.

The rollers 31 can be transferred through the treatment recess 22 from the sleeping condition (figure 8b) into the treatment position (figure 8a).

In the treatment condition the rollers 31 are moving above the reclining surface 23 along the spine areas. After the treatment has been finished the rollers 31 move above the reclining surface 23 back to the treatment recess 22. Subsequently the rollers 31 are lifted downwards into the recess 22 for storage in the sleeping condition.

During the treatment condition the rollers are support by the supporting structure 35. In the reclining surface 23 at least one supporting slit 25 is provided, which is arranged parallel to the body direction B. In each position of the rollers 31 along the body direction B the rollers are supported by the supporting structure 35. The supporting structure protrudes through the supporting slit 25.

Consequently, it is possible that the roller 31 can be supported by the supporting structure even if the rollers are distant to the opening 220 of the treatment recess 22.

In this particular embodiment there are two openings 220 of treatment recesses, through which rollers 31 can be transferred from below the reclining surface to a position above the reclining position.

Figure 9 shows another embodiment which is in main identical to the embodiment shown in figures 7 and 8. Additionally the reclining surface is covered by a cover 41, which covers the treatment facility 3, and in particular the treatment rollers also in the treatment condition (figure 9a). Here the treatment rollers 31 contact the spine in a non-direct manner. A treatment pressure acting of the spine is transmitted through the cover 41. The cover 41 serves as a protection during treatment, so the risk of injuries caused by the mechanical components of the treatment device is reduced.

Instead of the roller 31 any other kind of treatment device can be used.

list of reference signs

1 massage device, in particular mattress or pillow

2 main body

3 treatment facility

5 heat applicator / infrared radiator

6 bed

7 person

22 treatment recess

220 opening of treatment recess

23 reclining surface

24 alignment surface

25 supporting slit

24 head supporting area

31 treatment roller

32 treatment actuator

33 guiding actuator

34 guiding rail

35 supporting structure

36 lifting actuator

37 massage protrusion

41 (movable) cover

42 cover actuator

43 supporting segment

44 resilient coating

B body direction

CS cervical spine area

TS thoracic spine area

LS lumbar spine area

LA leg area

L level of the reclining surface x length direction y width direction z height direction