MASSAGE DEVICES
A massager includes a holder having an opening and an insert insertable into and removable from the opening. The holder may be ball-shaped. Opposite ends of the insert may have different spherical curvatures, and the insert may have a cylindrical body. The holder may be softer than the insert. The insert may be inverted to provide an alternative surface for trigger point massaging or other applications. Alternatively, a massager may have a ball assembly in an opening of a holder, with the holder in the form of a truncated sphere. The cup may optionally have an outer surface having a curvature substantially matching the curvature of the holder. Balls or inserts may be provided on a strap loop, with the balls and inserts used in combination or individually.
1 . A massager comprising:
a holder having a cup opening;
an insert insertable into the cup opening, with the insert having a first end having a first curved shape, and a second end having a second curved shape different from the first curved shape.
2 . The massager of claim 1 wherein the holder comprises a truncated sphere having a radius RR and with the first curved shape comprising a section of a sphere having a radius equal to RR plus or minus 10%.
3 . The massager of claim 1 wherein the first curved shape comprises a section of a first sphere having a first radius and the second curved shape comprises a section of second sphere having a second radius, and wherein the first radius is at least two times the second radius.
4 . The massager of claim 1 with the insert having a cylindrical body between the first end and the second end.
5 . The massager of claim 1 with the holder comprising a material softer than the insert.
6 . The massager of claim 1 with the insert and the cup opening dimensioned so that with the insert fully inserted into the holder, the holder and the insert form a substantially continuous sphere.
7 . The massager of claim 1 with the cup opening including cylindrical sidewalls concentric with a central axis of the holder, and further comprising a plurality of ridges on the holder aligned parallel to the central axis.
8 . The massager of claim 1 with a rim on the insert contacting a lip in the cup opening when the insert is fully inserted into the cup opening, and with a gap between a spherical cup surface at the bottom of the cup opening and the first end of the insert.
9 . A massager comprising:
a holder having a cup opening; and
a ball assembly in the cup opening, with the ball assembly including a ball rotatably retained in a cup.
10 . The massager of claim 9 wherein the holder comprises a truncated sphere of a material softer than the ball.
11 . The massager of claim 10 with the cup having a cup plate closing off one end of a tubular body and a ball seat on an inner side of the cup plate.
12 . The massager of claim 10 with the cup having an outer surface having a curvature substantially matching the curvature of the holder.
13 . The massager of claim 11 further including a cap on an outer side of the cup plate.
14 . The massager of claim 13 with the cap having a curvature substantially matching the curvature of the holder.
15 . The massager of claim 9 with the ball assembly and the cup opening dimensioned so that with the ball assembly fully inserted into the holder, the holder and a cup bottom of the ball assembly form a substantially continuous sphere.
16 . The massager of claim 9 with the cup opening including cylindrical sidewalls concentric with a central axis of the holder, and further comprising a plurality of ridges on the holder aligned parallel to the central axis.
17 . A massager comprising:
a holder having a cup opening;
an insert insertable into the cup opening; and
first and second lengths of web extending through openings in the holder and in the insert, with both the holder and the insert slidable along lengths of web.
18 . The massager of claim 17 with the holder comprising a truncated sphere and the insert comprising an inner ball.
19 . The massager of claim 17 with the cup opening comprising a spherical recess.
20 . The massager of claim 17 with the first and second lengths of web forming an endless loop.