Title:
MASSAGING APPARATUS USING INFLATABLE BLADDERS
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO2001062201
Kind Code:
A3
Abstract:
A massaging apparatus (10) which utilizes an array of air inflatable bladders (A, B, C, D). The array is to be located in conjunction with a portion of the body of a human. The array can be mounted within a housing (172, 190, 280, 210, 230, 240) such as a flexible belt-type of device (172, 208, 210) or can comprise a rigid stand-type of device (190, 230, 240) within which is incorporated one or more pockets (192) in order to accommodate a human appendage such as a foot. A separate inflation apparatus (10, 232) is associated with the array which is to supply and extract pressurized air to and from the inflatable bladders. The inflation apparatus utilizes at least one opposed piston assembly (78, 80) so that when one piston (100, 102, 108, 110) is supplying pressurized air to certain bladders the other piston is extracting pressurized air from certain other bladders thereby achieving a sequence of alternating pressurizing and depressurizing which produces a desirable massaging effect on the human body.
Inventors:
MACKAY SPENCER L (US)
CRAWFORD ALAN D
WILSON CHRIS J
PETERSEN JOHN R
GRAHAM CLEVE A
CRAWFORD ALAN D
WILSON CHRIS J
PETERSEN JOHN R
GRAHAM CLEVE A
Application Number:
PCT/US2001/004827
Publication Date:
May 02, 2002
Filing Date:
February 16, 2001
Export Citation:
Assignee:
MACKAY SPENCER L (US)
International Classes:
A61H23/04; A61H7/00; (IPC1-7): A61H7/00
Foreign References:
| US4986260A | 1991-01-22 | |||
| US5341725A | 1994-08-30 | |||
| US3654919A | 1972-04-11 |
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