Adjustable device for body and muscle therapy
View Patent ↗A device for the treatment of discomfort or pain in the body and muscles. The position of one or more pressure members of a therapy device which make contact with one or more areas of the body may be adjusted finely, readily, and independently with respect to their distance to a support base and/or with respect to other pressure members. Exemplary embodiments can be configured for muscle relief therapy for areas such as the head, neck, shoulders, back, hips, legs and feet.
1. An adjustable therapy device comprising:
a base;
a plurality of pressure members, including a first and a second pressure member;
a plurality of adjustable spacing units, including a first and a second adjustable spacing unit; wherein the first adjustable spacing unit allows controlled adjustment of a first distance from a first surface of the base to the first pressure member; and wherein the second adjustable spacing unit allows controlled adjustment of a second distance from the first surface of the base to the second pressure member; and wherein each adjustable spacing unit of the plurality comprises a threaded male fastener rotatably attached to a threaded female fastener, the first adjustable spacing unit having a first end attached to the base and a second end attached to a cavity of the first pressure member, so that a rotation of the first pressure member with respect to the base causes an adjustment of the first distance from the first surface of the base to the first pressure member; and
an opening in the base, wherein the opening is rectangular, the opening having a narrow span and a wide span, so that sliding the second adjustable spacing unit along the wide span of the opening causes an adjustment of a third distance from the first pressure member to the second pressure member.
2. The adjustable therapy device of claim 1 , wherein the adjustment of the first distance caused by the rotation of the first pressure member with respect to the base is fine relative to the adjustment of the third distance caused by sliding the second adjustable spacing unit along the wide span of the opening.
3. The adjustable therapy device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a nut fitted around the threaded male fastener; and
a bolt head affixed to a first end of the threaded male fastener, the bolt head allowing for securement of the threaded male fastener to the base when the bolt head contacts a second surface of the base at the opening in the base and the threaded male fastener passes through the opening; wherein the narrow span of the opening is shorter than a span of the bolt head, and the wide span of the opening is longer than the span of the bolt head; the nut and the bolt head allowing securement of the male fastener to the base when tightened, and the nut and the bolt head allowing repositioning of the male fastener along the wide span of the opening when loosened.
4. The adjustable therapy device of claim 3 , further comprising:
an angled shim, so that insertion of the angled shim between the first surface of the base and the nut, causes an angling of the second pressure member of the plurality of pressure members.
5. The adjustable therapy device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a third and a fourth pressure member of the plurality of pressure members;
a third and a fourth adjustable spacing unit of the plurality of adjustable spacing units, the third adjustable spacing unit attached to the third pressure member, and the fourth adjustable spacing unit attached to the fourth pressure member; and
a group spacing unit having a rectangular opening, the group spacing unit positioned between the base and the third and the fourth pressure members of the plurality of pressure members, allowing for a combined adjustment of a position of the third and the fourth pressure members with respect to the first pressure member.
6. The adjustable therapy device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a marking for positioning of the first pressure member of the plurality of pressure members.
7. The adjustable therapy device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a marking for positioning of the first adjustable spacing unit of the plurality of adjustable spacing units.
8. The adjustable therapy device of claim 1 , wherein the first pressure member of the plurality of pressure members has a first shape and a first hardness;
wherein the second pressure member of the plurality of pressure members has a second shape and a second hardness; and
wherein the first shape and the second shape are selected from the group of shapes consisting of a sphere, a hemisphere, and a cone.