Patents Examined by Danton D. DeMille
  • Patent number: 6991609
    Abstract: A massage assembly (20) wherein a massage unit (40) comprising a therapeutic member (50) for massaging the body of the user by a kneading and/or tapping movement is reciprocatingly moved between a pair of frames (22) (23) and which comprises a motion converting mechanism for converting the reciprocating movement of the massage unit (40) to the kneading and/or tapping movement of the therapeutic member (50). The massage assembly (20) is incorporated in a backrest (16) of a chair (12) or a bed to provide a massage machine (10) of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuji Kan, Nobuaki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 6988997
    Abstract: An exercise and massage apparatus has a pair of elongate handles, each of the handles providing a curved distal end and a plurality of interchangeable massage heads. Each of the massage heads includes a massage plate supporting plural massage fingers. The massage plate is in face-to-face contact with a handle plate supporting the handles. A releasable engagement means enables the plates to be mutually secured and released so the handles are able to control the massage fingers with the massage fingers forming an acute angle with the handles whereby the massage fingers are positionable in contact with a user's back with the handles manipulated from over the user's shoulders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Inventor: Michael O. Stultz
  • Patent number: 6981954
    Abstract: A percussive massager is provided having a housing including a massage head portion and a handle portion, and a motor support unit affixable within the massage head portion. A motor is supported by the motor support unit, and an output shaft rotatably driven by the motor protrudes from the motor on either side thereof. The massager further includes a pair of vertical connecting rods each having a first end and a second end, wherein the first ends are operably connected to the output shaft such that rotation of the output shaft causes the connecting rods to reciprocate axially in an asynchronous manner. A rocker arm is attachable to the motor support unit at a central pivot axis thereof, wherein the rocker arm is operably connected to the second ends of the connecting rods and is moved about the central pivot axis by rotation of the output shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: HoMedics, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles Huang
  • Patent number: 6979302
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a fat-removal massager utilizing a speed-adjustable motor in combination with two corresponding gear sets for driving a plurality of eccentrically rotatable massaging balls. Moreover, every two neighboring massaging balls in rotation create a rapid squeezing effect upon muscles for achieving the expected fat-removing and massaging goal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Inventor: Jung-Tsung Chen
  • Patent number: 6979284
    Abstract: An exercise apparatus is provided which includes a chair, an arm-exercising station, and a leg-exercising station. The arm-exercising station is mounted in the armrests of the chair and includes a support frame attached to the base portion of the chair, a pair of elongated left and right exercise bars disposed within the left and right armrest portions of the chair operable for selective pivotal movement within the armrest portions, and a resistance device attached to the bars for resisting the pivotal movement of the bars. The leg-exercising station is associated with the underside of the footrest portion of the chair and includes a pedal assembly configured for rotational movement. The pedal assembly is automatically raised and positioned for use when the footrest is pivoted forwardly. The leg-exercising station is concealed within the chair when not in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Inventor: James Curtis
  • Patent number: 6974426
    Abstract: A massaging structure with a buffer function includes a threaded rod positioned in a frame, and a coil spring respectively provided at an upper end section and a lower end section of the threaded rod. When a moving member of a massaging roller moves to the highest point or to the lowest point of the threaded rod, a micro switch at the highest point and at the lowest point of the threaded rod is contacted by the moving member, turned on and activating a motor to reverse its rotating direction. If the motor stops in case of a disorder, the coil springs can let the moving member jump up and down so that a user may know a disorder happened and correct it. Thus, the threads of the threaded rod and the moving member can be protected from damage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Inventor: Ching-Yao Liang
  • Patent number: 6974427
    Abstract: A spinal and soft tissue mobilizer of modular construction for physical therapy has an elongate generally spool-shaped roller with a reduced diameter mid portion and larger diameter teardrop-shaped outer end portions rollers that apply pressure to the thoracic vertebrae, rib cage and muscles of the back without directly contacting the vertebrae. The mid portion may have lateral rollers with laterally spaced larger diameter portions that straddle the vertebrae of the spine and apply pressure to the muscles surrounding the straddled vertebrae without directly contacting the vertebrae. Interchangeable spacers of various lengths may be installed between the lateral rollers and/or between the lateral rollers and the teardrop-shaped outer end portions to provide proper lateral spacing for a particular individual.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Inventor: Roger Lapham
  • Patent number: 6969361
    Abstract: A leg massage device which comprises a power transmission means having an adjusting stand disposed on a chair. On the adjusting stand a driving shaft is defined having a lateral end connected to a power supplier. Two rollers are coaxially disposed at both ends of the driven shaft of the power transmission means, each of which is provided with a pair of opposite discs and a pair of opposite rotor discs respectively. An oscillating board assembly including two outer oscillating boards and two inner oscillating boards which is fixed to the rotor discs of the two rollers respectively in a manner that the outer oscillating boards located opposite to the inner oscillating boards in pairs. Two wheel units are coaxially disposed around the periphery of the two rollers respectively and located between the outer oscillating boards and the inner oscillating boards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Inventor: Wen-Hsu Hsieh
  • Patent number: 6966883
    Abstract: Removably attached leg cramp relieving and muscle massaging elements with a variable length handle. A non-pinching foot supporting loop combined with the handle permits a user to stretch a leg to alleviate leg cramps. Muscle massaging element combined with the handle permits a user to massage various areas of the body. The massage element can also be used as a foot and leg exercising and blood circulation device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2005
    Inventor: Ralph M. Pidcock
  • Patent number: 6955631
    Abstract: An adjustable step trainer including two straps and more than one slat through which the straps are passed. Each end of the slat has a fixing section through which the strap is passed. A press unit is disposed in a chamber of the fixing section for pressing and fixing the strap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Assignee: Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chun-Yueh Chen Wu
  • Patent number: 6932779
    Abstract: In operating a massaging machine having massaging members and a motor for causing the massaging members to vibrate to massage a patient, a pulsed driving signal is applied to the motor for repetitively switching on and off the motor for specified time lengths such that the motor is intermittently activated, rather than continuously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventor: Eiji Kasai
  • Patent number: 6926680
    Abstract: An apparatus for coupling a shockwave source to the body of a patient is provided. The apparatus may include a coupling bellows that is configured to rotate about an axis of rotation. The coupling bellows may include a coupling portion that is configured to provide a coupling surface relative to the body of a patient and is transmissive to shockwaves. The coupling bellows may also include an outer portion that is sound-insulating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: Dornier MedTech Systems GmbH
    Inventor: Harald Eizenhöfer
  • Patent number: 6923776
    Abstract: A counterpulsation device that operates without the use of compressed air or pressurized gas includes at least one inflatable cuff that is adapted to be placed about a selected portion of the patient's body. A first conduit connects the inflatable cuff to an air transfer device so that noncompressed air can be transferred from the air transfer device to the cuff through the first conduit to inflate the cuff. A second conduit connects the cuff to the air transfer device so that air can flow through the second conduit to deflate the cuff. The system is controlled using a computer-based controller that requires a series of initialization procedures before it will operate the system. A patient profile database includes historical treatment data for each patient and is automatically updated with each counter pulsation therapy session.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: CPC America
    Inventors: Paul Shabty, Willard D. Ferguson, Sr., Willard D. Ferguson, Jr., Timothy D. Smith
  • Patent number: 6916299
    Abstract: A massage device comprising a vibrator and a power cord wherein the first end of the power cord is connected to the vibrator and the second thereof is connected to a USB plug, and the USB plug is capable of inserting into a USB interface of a computer and then the direct current of the computer is able to provide power source to the vibrator so as to use the computer and the massage device at the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: I.E. Turbo Enterprise Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chien-Fa Fang
  • Patent number: 6908417
    Abstract: An exercise apparatus, a method of using the apparatus, and a method of exercising are disclosed. In one or more embodiments, the exercise apparatus comprises an exercise platform comprising a base and a lid, the platform defining an interior space accessible by moving the lid from a closed to an open position with respect to the base, at least one handle associated with the platform for use by a user in moving the exercise apparatus, at least one wheel movably mounted to the base and permitting the platform to be rolled along a surface, at least one riser for use in supporting the platform upon a surface to increase a height thereof and sized to fit within the interior space when not in use, at least one resistive element for selective attachment to the platform for use in an exercise by a user, at least one mount associated with the platform to which the at least one resistive element may be attached, and at least one hand/foot peg for use with the platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Inventor: Michael L. Jackson
  • Patent number: 6905508
    Abstract: A rotatable chiropractic treatment table for extension, flexion, traction, distraction and lateral movement of the spine of a patient includes a base adapted to rest upon a floor, and a system support assembly having an upper end and a lower end integrally secured to the base, the support assembly including a pivot axis proximal to upper end. The treatment table also includes a selectable reciprocal extension element having an upper end and a lower end, one end pivotally attached to the system support assembly, the selectable extension elements providing reciprocal movement of the one end relative to an opposite end. The table further includes a rigid support platform having an upper end and a lower end, the platform pivotally secured to the pivot axis of the support assembly and, further, pivotally secured to the one end of the selectable extension element to provide a resultant rotational motion of the support platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Inventor: David F. Cuccia
  • Patent number: 6899687
    Abstract: The invention provides a massage machine for health care which comprises a living body information sensor 5 for detecting living body information of the autonomic nervous system of the person to be massaged, a control circuit 6 for judging the psychological state of the person based on the living body information detected, and a memory 61 for holding histories of psychological states of persons to be massaged. The machine is adapted to judge the physical condition of the person based on the history of psychological states of the person, and to judge whether the condition of the person's health is improved by massage so as to utilize the result of judgement as guidelines for health care.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kunihiko Hori, Yoshihisa Fujiwara, Kazuya Hiyamizu, Toshiki Koma, Torahiko Nonoue
  • Patent number: 6896643
    Abstract: The actuator for the exercise machine is mounted to the seat to pivot about a vertically extending axis to permit the user to rotate her/his upper torso and vary the muscle groups being exercised to enhance the beneficial effects. A rotational connection between a shoulder harness element and the actuator arm facilitates this side crunching motion. A second feature which may be used separately or in conjunction with the rotational actuator, is an actuator arm with both a shoulder socket and an elbow joint that pivot, the elbow joint requires additional force to break over. This dual-pivot actuator arm permits the user to perform abdominal crunches with a predetermined resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: New Eagle Corporation
    Inventor: David L. Durfee, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6893385
    Abstract: A disk to be installed on a dumbbell around the middle bar and adjacent the weight at one end to protect the user's hand(s) from contact with the weight. A slot allows the disk to be installed without removing the weights. A cavity on the weight side of the disk provides clearance for the shoulder or collar which hold the weights in position on some dumbbells. The inner surface of the disk is convex while the outer is generally planar to lie flat against the weights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Inventor: Christopher J. Smithberg
  • Patent number: 6890313
    Abstract: A lie-down massager includes a base frame having an elongated top panel, through which an elongated top opening is formed centrally and lengthwise, a rider, a guide member movably engaged between the base frame and the rider so as to enable the rider to make a horizontally reciprocal movement, massage bumps that move vertically and horizontally along the top opening, and a lifter that holds the massage bumps and adjusts the height of the massage bumps. The lifter includes a top member, a bottom member, a screw shaft and a motor. The screw shaft engages with a nut block and the nut block is connected with the top member by two links so that rotation of the screw shaft is converted into horizontal movement of the nut block, and the horizontal movement of the nut block is converted into vertical movement of the top member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Inventor: Hakjin Kim