| AT168576B | 1951-06-25 | |||
| US4989585A | 1991-02-05 | |||
| SU1724238A1 | 1992-04-07 |
| 1. | Massage device with a grip and at least one rolling massage means partly encased by said grip, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that said rolling massage means is/are a resilient ball/s/ (2) with fluffy, woolly, fleecy, crispy or terry outer surface or covering layer having a diameter of about 38 to 80 mm; said ball/s/ (2) is/are equipped with a pair of journals (3) extending from opposite sides of the ball/s/ (2); said grip (1) comprises a relatively stiff plate (4) with at least one pair of seats or holes (5) for rotably supporting said pair of journals (3) , and said relatively stiff plate (4) is convexly shaped to have an outer surface accomodating a human palm and an inner surface partly encasing said ball/s/ (2). |
| 2. | Massage device as claimed in claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that said resilient ball/s/ (2) is/are tennis ball/s/. |
| 3. | Massage device as claimed in any of the preceeding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that it comprises at least two resilient balls (2) , the rotation axes of the balls (2) being parallel with each other. |
| 4. | Massage device as claimed in claim 3, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the adjacent balls (2) of parallel rotation axes are almost tangentially arranged. |
| 5. | Massage device as claimed in any of the preceeding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that said pair/s/ of journals (3) is/are the end section/s/ of an axle (7) centrally intersecting said resilient ball/s/ (2) . |
| 6. | Massage device as claimed in any of the preceeding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that said journals (3) or axle/s/ (7) are provided with roundpointed ends. |
| 7. | Massage device as claimed in any of the preceeding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that said resilient balls (2) are encased by the convexly shaped stiff plate (4) around about the half of their spherical surface. |
| 8. | Massage device as claimed in any of the preceeding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that said relatively stiff curved plate (4) is laterally flexible to such an extent that its lateral deformation allows the journals (3) to become detached from their supports in the plate (4) so that the ball/s/ (2) can be easily replaced. |
| 9. | Massage device as claimed in any of the preceeding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that said fluffy or wooly outer surface or covering layer of the resilient ball/s/ (2) is impregnated with pharmaceutically active agent or odorent. |
MASSAGE DEVICE
Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a massage device comprising a grip and rolling massage means partly encased by said grip.
Background Art
Massage devices with different kinds of rolling massage means, such as plastic rollers, pulleys etc. are known. The massaging surfaces of such devices are rather rigid, so they do not resemble the activity of a human masseur and usually they are not suitable for considerate treatment, e.g. for massaging an injured muscle or backbone.
Summary of the Invention
An object of the invention is to provide a device for considerate massaging, similar to the action of a masseur. A further object of the invention is to provide a device which is simply variable and usable for different massaging purposes, and enables additional treating possibilities, such as embrocat- ing medicinal agents. A yet further object is to provide a device which is easy to be produced and doesn't need special facilities or technologies.
The invention is based on the recognition that resilient balls of appropriate flexibility and diameter rolling along a human body part can action
very likely to the acitivity of the thumb of a masseur. It was recognized, too, that a fluffy or woolly outer surface of the resilient balls may result in improved rolling features an more gentle treating sensation. It was also recognized that the diameter, flexibility and surface covering of the regular tennis balls is extremely favourable in all above respects.
The massage device of the invention comprises a grip and at least one rolling massage means partly encased by said grip, wherein said rolling massage means are a resilient balls with fluffy, woolly, fleecy, crispy or terry outer surface or covering layer having a diameter of about 38 to 80 mm; said balls are equipped with a pair of journals extending from opposite sides of the balls; said grip comprises a relatively stiff plate with at least one pair of seats or holes for rotably supporting said pair of journals, and said relatively stiff plate is convexly shaped to have an outer surface accomodating a human palm and an inner surface partly encasing said balls.
It has been found that a grip with a palm-shaped outer surface enables even more gentle massaging motion.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention the resilient balls are tennis balls.
In order to provide a wider range of treating facilities the device according to the invention shall comprise two resilient balls, said pairs of journals being supported by said convexly shaped
plate so that the rotation axes of the balls are parallel with each other.
In some cases it is advantegous if the adjacent balls of parallel rotation axes are arranged quite close, almost tangentially to each other.
The massage device of the invention is also suitable for embrocating medicinal or odorent agents into the skin of the patient during massaging. For such purpose the fluffy or wooly outer surface or covering layer of the resilient balls shall be impregnated with pharmaceutically active agent or odorent, before starting the massage.
Brief Description of the Figures in the Drawing
Further features and details of the invention will be described in the following with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein
Figure 1 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the invention;
Figure 2 is a top view of the grip part of the device of Fig.l, and
Figure 3 is a front view of a resilient ball of the device of Fig.l.
Detailed Description of a Preferred Embodiment
Figure 1 shows a massage device of the invention comprising a griff 1 and two resilient balls 2, preferably tennis balls.
The grip 1 is formed by a relatively stiff plastic plate 4 which has a convexly shaped elongate form to encase the upper halves of said resilient balls 2. The convexly shaped plate 4 is relatively siff though flexible enough to enable its side edges to be laterally forced in order to enable installing or
replacing the balls 2.
Referring now to Figure 3, a drilled tennis ball constituting one of said two resilient balls 2 is shown. There is an axle 7 passing through the centre of the resilientball 2 and holes 5 on opposite sides of the ball 2, so that the end pieces of the axle 7, i.e. journals 3 are extending from the opposite sides of the ball. The journals 3 have round-pointed ends.
On the side flanges of the convexly curved plastic plate 4 there are provided two pairs of holes 5 to receive the journals 3 of both resilient balls, acting as bearings for the axles 7. The rotation axes of the two balls 2 mounted within the grip 1 are parallel to each other.
Two pairs of rivet caps 6 are fixed, e.g. by gluing, on the outer surface of the curved plate 4 of the grip 1, to cover said holes 5.
The outer surface of the grip 1 acco odates a human palm which furthers a more gentle handling of the device, resulting in a very considerate massage treatment.
The grip 1 of the preferred embodiment encases the resilient balls 2 to a minimum extent, i.e. about their upper halves, which enables that the angular position of the device is rather free during its use.
When making a massage by means of the device of the invention, the device is pushed alternately forward- and-reverse along the body part, e.g. backbone or any bundle of muscles to be healed, in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axes of the balls 2, while the massaging surface of the balls 2 is gently
rolling on the skin. The massaging pressure can be easily and considerately changed by the treating person in a rather wide range. Due to the elasticity and the fluffy or woolly surface of the balls 2 the device of the invention can be used for massaging any part, even eventually injured parts of the body. Since the handling of the device is quite simple, and its action is very indulgent, it is extremily suit¬ able for self-massaging. The action of the rolling surface of the tennis balls is very smilar to that of the thumbs of a masseur.
The fluffy or woolly outer surface of the balls 2 can be impregnated with healing or odorent agents, enabling to embrocate it into the skin of the patient, thereby improving the positive effect and the pleasant sensation of the action of the device of the invention.