ANATOMICAL MASSAGE TABLE
A massage table has a table top with a padded upper surface and support frame which supports the padded table top in a raised, generally horizontal orientation. The padded upper surface can support a male or female user in a face down, prone position on the surface, and has a first, female anatomical recess and a second, male anatomical recess. The female and male recesses are designed to receive anatomical protuberances on the female and male body, respectively, when lying face down on the table.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention concerns a portable or stationary massage table.
2. Related Art
Massage tables are designed to support an individual lying face down or face up while undergoing massage therapy. Massage often involves manipulation of the spinal areas along the length of the spinal column by masseurs, athletic trainers and chiropractors, while the individual lies in a prone, face down position on the massage table. Massage tables may be stationary with fixed legs of adjustable height, or may have collapsible legs so that they can be carried to different locations for performing massage. Such tables typically have a padded upper horizontal surface, and may have a head rest with an opening for receiving the individual's face when lying face down.
SUMMARYThe present invention provides a portable or stationary massage table which has anatomical recesses or openings which are designed to receive anatomical protuberances of a person's body in a comfortable manner while they are undergoing a back massage.
In one embodiment, a massage table has an upper padded surface and a floor-engaging support frame which supports the upper padded surface in a raised, substantially horizontal orientation. The upper padded surface has a first end, a second end, and opposite sides and is of predetermined width and length to support an individual in a prone position with their feet in the vicinity of the second end of the padded surface. A head support region may be formed integrally at the first end of the upper padded surface or may be a separate head support pad which is secured to the first end of the padded surface, and has an opening for receiving the face of an individual who is lying face down on the table. At least one anatomical recess is provided at a predetermined location on the upper padded surface to receive an anatomical protruberance of a person's body in a comfortable manner while they are undergoing a back massage. In one embodiment, two spaced anatomical recesses are provided at predetermined locations in the upper padded surface, with the first anatomical recess adapted to receive the breasts of a female when lying face down on the table, and the second anatomical recess adapted to receive the genital region of a male when lying face down on the padded surface.
In one embodiment, the recesses comprise openings which extend completely through the padded upper surface, depending on the thickness of the padded surface, or they may extend only partially through the padded surface if it is of sufficient thickness. Where the openings extend through the surface, detachable privacy shields cover the lower end of each opening. Additional recesses may be provided in other embodiments for added comfort. Removable first and second insert pads are provided for fitting into the respective first and second anatomical recesses, with the second insert pad engaged in the second anatomical recess when a female is undergoing a massage, and the first insert pad engaged in the first anatomical recess when a male is undergoing a massage. Both insert pads are engaged in the respective openings when a person is lying face up during massage of front regions of the body.
The massage table is more comfortable for a person having a back massage since protruding parts of the front of their body are not unduly pressured or squashed while the masseur presses down on their back. The support frame may be stationary or collapsible to provide a stationary or portable massage table.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art after reviewing the following detailed description and accompanying drawings.
The details of the present invention, both as to its structure and operation, may be gleaned in part by study of the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts, and in which:
Certain embodiments as disclosed herein provide for a portable or stationary massage table with a padded surface having anatomical openings or recesses to receive female or male body protuberances when lying in a prone, face down position on the padded surface during a massage.
After reading this description, it will become apparent to one skilled in the art how to implement the invention in various alternative embodiments and alternative applications. However, although various embodiments of the present invention will be described herein, it is understood that these embodiments are presented by way of example only and not limitation. As such, this detailed description of various alternative embodiments should not be construed to limit the scope or breadth of the present invention as set forth in the appended claims.
In the illustrated embodiment, a separate head supporting pad 15 is adjustably secured to the head or first end of the upper padded surface or table top 12 by a pair of securing posts 16. As best illustrated in
Head supporting pad 15 may be a conventional, generally U-shaped pad surrounding an opening 20, which is designed to engage the periphery of a user's head when lying prone on padded surface 12. If the user is lying face down, the pad 15 engages the forehead and sides of the user's face, with central face region including the eyes, nose, mouth and chin extending partially through the opening, so that the user is comfortable and able to breathe easily during a massage treatment.
The padded support surface 12 has a first end 22, a second end 24, and opposite right and left sides 25, and has a first, female anatomical recess or opening 26 adjacent the first or head end of the table, and a second, male anatomical recess or opening 28 spaced between the first recess 26 and the second end 24 of the table. The recesses or openings are generally centrally located between the opposite sides of the padded surface. First and second padded filler members or insert pads 30 and 32 are removably engaged in the respective recesses 26 and 28 in
The recesses 26 and 28 are suitably positioned on the padded surface and are of predetermined shape and dimensions substantially matching the shape and maximum dimensions of an anatomical protuberance which is intended to extend into the respective recess. The first or female anatomical recess or opening 26 is generally elongate in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the table, and has rounded ends. Recess 26 is of predetermined shape and dimensions to receive the breasts of a female when lying face down on the support surface with their head engaging head pad 15, so that they can lie more comfortably on the table. As illustrated in
The female insert pad 30 is of shape and dimensions substantially matching those of opening 26 so that it substantially fills the opening when inserted, with the upper surface 34 substantially flush with the upper surface of the padded table top, as seen in
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
The male recess 28 is smaller in dimensions and is elongated in a direction parallel to the central longitudinal axis of the table, with tapered side walls 42 to define a generally triangular shape. In one embodiment, the recess 28 and aligned pocket had a combined depth of approximately four inches, the length of recess 28 was approximately four inches, and the maximum and minimum widths were approximately six inches and three inches, respectively, while the top end of the recess was located approximately 26 inches from the top end 22 of the table.
When a person is to lie face up on the massage table, insert pads 30 and 32 are both left in their respective openings or recesses so that the person's back is supported on a continuous padded surface. When a female is to lie face down on the surface while her back is massaged, insert pad 30 is removed from the first recess or opening 26, while insert pad 32 is left in place. The female can then comfortably lie face down on the padded surface with the breasts extending into opening 26 without being compressed during the massage. When a male is to lie face down on the surface during a back massage, the female insert pad 30 is left in place while the second or male insert pad 32 is removed. The male can then lie comfortably in a face down position on the surface with the genital region engaging in opening 28 to avoid compression during the massage.
Although two anatomical recesses are provided in the illustrated embodiment, only one anatomical recess, such as female recess 26 or male recess 28 only, may be provided on the padded surface in alternative embodiments. In other embodiments, more than two recesses may be provided to accommodate other protruding parts of a user's body, or the illustrated recesses may be extended. For example, suitably shaped recesses for receiving the arms or shoulders may be provided. In other embodiments, a larger opening may be provided for receiving the protruding abdomen of a pregnant woman lying face down on the padded surface, with a suitable padded filler member or insert pad for filling the opening when it is not needed.
The above description of the disclosed embodiments is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the invention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles described herein can be applied to other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is to be understood that the description and drawings presented herein represent a presently preferred embodiment of the invention and are, therefore, representative of the subject matter which is broadly contemplated by the present invention. It is further understood that the scope of the present invention fully encompasses other embodiments that may become obvious to those skilled in the art and that the scope of the present invention is accordingly limited by nothing other than the appended claims.
Claims
1. A massage table, comprising:
- a table top having a padded upper surface, a lower surface, a first end, a second end, and opposite sides;
- a support frame which supports the padded table top;
- the padded upper surface being adapted to support a male or female user in a face down, prone position on the surface;
- the table top having at least a first, female anatomical recess which extends at least partially through the table top from the upper surface, and a second, male anatomical recess which is spaced from the female anatomical recess and extends at least partially through the table top from the upper surface;
- the female anatomical recess being adapted to receive the breasts of a female lying face down on the upper padded surface; and
- the male anatomical recess being adapted to receive the genital region of a male lying face down on the upper padded surface.
2. The table of claim 1, wherein each anatomical recess is an opening which extends completely through the table top and has an open lower end, and first and second cover members extend over the open lower ends of the respective recesses.
3. The table of claim 2, wherein each cover member extends downwardly from the lower surface of the table to form a pocket beneath the respective opening.
4. The table of claim 3, wherein the cover members are of fabric material.
5. The table of claim 1, further comprising first and second insert pads which are adapted for engagement in the respective first and second anatomical recesses when not in use, each insert pad being of predetermined shape and dimensions substantially matching those of the respective anatomical recess, and having an upper surface which is flush with the upper surface of the table top when the insert pad is inserted in the matching recess.
6. The table of claim 1, wherein the first, female anatomical recess is of an elongate shape with rounded ends, and has a central longitudinal axis which extends transverse to the table top.
7. The table of claim 1, wherein the second, male anatomical recess is of smaller dimensions than the first anatomical recess and is elongated in a direction parallel to the central longitudinal axis of the table.
8. The table of claim 1, further comprising a head rest secured to the first end of the table.
9. The table of claim 1, wherein the first anatomical recess is located at a spacing from the first end of the table and the second anatomical recess is located between the first anatomical recess and the second end of the table.
10. The table of claim 1, wherein the upper surface has more than two anatomical recesses.
11. The table of claim 1, wherein the support frame comprises fixed legs.
12. The table of claim 1, wherein the support frame comprises foldable legs and the table is portable.
13. A massage table, comprising:
- a table top having a padded upper surface, a lower surface, a first end, a second end, and opposite sides;
- a support frame which supports the padded table top;
- the padded upper surface being adapted to support a user in a face down, prone position on the surface;
- the table top having at least one opening spaced between the ends and adapted to receive a protruding part of the body of a user lying face down on the padded upper surface.
Type: Application
Filed: May 28, 2009
Publication Date: Dec 2, 2010
Inventor: Adelaide Andrews (Encinitas, CA)
Application Number: 12/474,007
International Classification: A47B 3/00 (20060101);