Granted Patent B2

US 12,329,707 · App. 17/570,543 · Granted Jun 17, 2025

Inventor: Michael Rhyder (Janesville, WI)

A61H15/0092A61H2015/005A61H2201/0207A61H2201/0214A61H2201/164

Abstract

Claims (32)

1. A muscle massaging assembly for massaging the major muscles in a user's legs, said assembly comprising:

a leg ring comprising a first half being hingedly coupled to a second half such that said leg ring forms a closed loop when said leg ring is in a closed position wherein said leg ring is configured to surround a user's leg, said leg ring forming an open loop when said leg ring is in an open position wherein said leg ring is configured to be installed on or removed from the user's leg;

a plurality of balls, each of said balls being integrated into said leg ring wherein each of said balls is configured to compress against the user's leg when said leg ring is positioned around the user's leg, each of said balls being comprised of thermally dense material such that said plurality of balls can either be heated or cooled wherein said plurality of balls is configured to facilitate heat therapy or cold therapy on the user's leg;

a pair of tensioning units, each of said tensioning units being movably integrated into a respective one of said first half and said second half of said leg ring, each of said tensioning units being in communication with respective ones of said plurality of balls, each of said plurality of balls being urged away from said leg ring when said tensioning units are tightened wherein said tensioning units are configured to increase pressure against the user's leg from said plurality of balls, each of said plurality of balls being urged toward said leg ring when said tensioning units are loosened wherein said tensioning units are configured to decrease pressure against the user's leg from said plurality of balls;

a pair of handles, each of said handles being coupled to said leg ring wherein each of said handles is configured to be gripped by the user for urging said leg ring upwardly and downwardly along the user's leg thereby massaging the user's leg, each of said handles being positioned on opposing sides of said leg ring with respect to each other; and

a clasp being hingedly integrated into said first half of said leg ring, said clasp engaging said second half of said leg ring when said leg ring is in said closed position for retaining said leg ring in said closed position;

wherein each of said first half and said second half has a first end, a second end and an outer surface extending between said first end and said second end, said outer surface having an inward side and an outward side;

wherein said outward side comprises a resiliently flexible material having structural integrity wherein said outward side is configured to be gripped by the user;

wherein said inward side comprises a deformable material wherein said inward side is configured to cushion the user's leg thereby enhancing comfort for the user;

wherein said inward side is foraminous;

wherein said first end of said first half is hingedly coupled to said first end of said second half, said second end of said first half abutting said second end of said second half when said leg ring is in said closed position, said second end of said first half being spaced from said second end of said second half when said leg ring is in said open position;

each of said balls is partially recessed into a respective one of a plurality of holes in said inner side of said outer wall of a respective one of said first half and said second half of said leg ring, said plurality of balls being arranged into a plurality of rows of said balls; and

said tensioning unit comprises a plurality of bands, each of said bands being integrated into said leg ring, each of said bands extending through respective ones of said plurality of balls in a respective one of said rows of said balls, each of said bands being comprised of a deformable material.

2. The assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of biasing members, each of said biasing members being positioned between a respective one of said balls and said outward side of said outer surface of a respective one of said first half and said second half of said leg ring, each of said biasing members biasing said respective ball outwardly from said respective first half and said second half.

3. The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said tensioning unit includes:

a tension knob being rotatably disposed on said outward side of said outer surface of a respective one of said first half or said second half of said leg ring, said tension knob being rotatable in a first direction or a second direction; and

a linkage being coupled between said tension knob and each of said bands such that said tension knob is in mechanical communication with each of said bands, each of said bands being tightened when said tension knob is rotated in said first direction such that each of said balls is urged outwardly from said inward side of said outer surface of said first half and said second half of said leg ring, each of said bands being loosened when said tension knob is rotated in said second direction such that each of said balls is urged inwardly on said inward side of said outer surface of said first half and said second half of said leg ring.

4. The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein each of said handles comprises a stem extending outwardly from said outward side of said outer surface of a respective one of said first half and said second half of said leg ring, each of said handles comprising a knob being disposed on said stem wherein said knob is configured to be gripped.

5. The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said clasp comprises a central member extending between a pair of end members, each of said end members being perpendicularly oriented with said central member, said pair of end members including a free end member and a coupled end member.

6. The assembly according to claim 5 , wherein said coupled end member pivotally engages said outward side of said outer surface of said first half.

7. The assembly according to claim 5 , wherein said free end member engages said outward side of said outer surface of said second half when said leg ring is in said closed position for retaining said leg ring in said closed position.

8. The assembly according to claim 5 , wherein said free end member disengages said outward side of said outer surface of said second half to facilitate said leg ring to be positioned in said open position.

9. A muscle massaging assembly for massaging the major muscles in a user's legs, said assembly comprising:

a leg ring comprising a first half being hingedly coupled to a second half such that said leg ring forms a closed loop when said leg ring is in a closed position wherein said leg ring is configured to surround a user's leg, said leg ring forming an open loop when said leg ring is in an open position wherein said leg ring is configured to be installed on or removed from the user's leg, each of said first half and said second half having a first end, a second end and an outer surface extending between said first end and said second end, said outer surface having an inward side and an outward side, said outward side comprising a resiliently flexible material having structural integrity wherein said outward side is configured to be gripped by the user, said inward side comprising a deformable material wherein said inward side is configured to cushion the user's leg thereby enhancing comfort for the user, said inward side being foraminous, said first end of said first half being hingedly coupled to said first end of said second half, said second end of said first half abutting said second end of said second half when said leg ring is in said closed position, said second end of said first half being spaced from said second end of said second half when said leg ring is in said open position;

a plurality of balls, each of said balls being integrated into said leg ring wherein each of said balls is configured to compress against the user's leg when said leg ring is positioned around the user's leg, each of said balls being comprised of thermally dense material such that said plurality of balls can either be heated or cooled wherein said plurality of balls is configured to facilitate heat therapy or cold therapy on the user's leg, each of said balls being partially recessed into a respective one of a plurality of holes in said inner side of said outer wall of a respective one of said first half and said second half of said leg ring, said plurality of balls being arranged into a plurality of rows of said balls;

a plurality of biasing members, each of said biasing members being positioned between a respective one of said balls and said outward side of said outer surface of a respective one of said first half and said second half of said leg ring, each of said biasing members biasing said respective ball outwardly from said respective first half and said second half;

a pair of tensioning units, each of said tensioning units being movably integrated into a respective one of said first half and said second half of said leg ring, each of said tensioning units being in communication with respective ones of said plurality of balls, each of said plurality of balls being urged away from said leg ring when said tensioning units are tightened wherein said tensioning units are configured to increase pressure against the user's leg from said plurality of balls, each of said plurality of balls being urged toward said leg ring when said tensioning units are loosened wherein said tensioning units are configured to decrease pressure against the user's leg from said plurality of balls, each of said tensioning units comprising:

a plurality of bands, each of said bands being integrated into said leg ring, each of said bands extending through respective ones of said plurality of balls in a respective one of said rows of said balls, each of said bands being comprised of a deformable material;

a tension knob being rotatably disposed on said outward side of said outer surface of a respective one of said first half or said second half of said leg ring, said tension knob being rotatable in a first direction or a second direction; and

a linkage being coupled between said tension knob and each of said bands such that said tension knob is in mechanical communication with each of said bands, each of said bands being tightened when said tension knob is rotated in said first direction such that each of said balls is urged outwardly from said inward side of said outer surface of said first half and said second half of said leg ring, each of said bands being loosened when said tension knob is rotated in said second direction such that each of said balls is urged inwardly on said inward side of said outer surface of said first half and said second half of said leg ring;

a pair of handles, each of said handles being coupled to said leg ring wherein each of said handles is configured to be gripped by the user for urging said leg ring upwardly and downwardly along the user's leg thereby massaging the user's leg, each of said handles being positioned on opposing sides of said leg ring with respect to each other, each of said handles comprising a stem extending outwardly from said outward side of said outer surface of a respective one of said first half and said second half of said leg ring, each of said handles comprising a knob being disposed on said stem wherein said knob is configured to be gripped; and

a clasp being hingedly integrated into said first half of said leg ring, said clasp engaging said second half of said leg ring when said leg ring is in said closed position for retaining said leg ring in said closed position, said clasp comprising a central member extending between a pair of end members, each of said end members being perpendicularly oriented with said central member, said pair of end members including a free end member and a coupled end member, said coupled end member pivotally engaging said outward side of said outer surface of said first half, said free end member engaging said outward side of said outer surface of said second half when said leg ring is in said closed position for retaining said leg ring in said closed position, said free end member disengaging said outward side of said outer surface of said second half to facilitate said leg ring to be positioned in said open position.

Continuity (1)

References Cited (19)