Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
DOUBLE ROLLER MASSAGE DEVICE
=
FIELD OF THE APPLICATION
[0001] This application relates to the field of massage devices, and more
specifically, to foam roller
type massage and exercise devices.
BACKGROUND OF THE APPLICATION
[0002] Consumers are demanding high performance, flexible, and effective
massage devices. This
is especially so for consumers engaged in sports and activities such as
running, yoga, and swimming
that typically require stretching and massage both before and after
performance. In addition,
consumers are demanding massage devices that are effective in massaging and
relieving pain and
discomfort associated with tight muscles as well as other muscle or connective
tissue ailments such
as trigger points, foot pain, Achilles tendon ailments, plantar faseiitis,
calf and heel pain, carpel
tunnel syndrome, lower back pain, hip pain and thigh pain, etc. Such massage
devices should
provide an effective massage but must also be light weight and portable to
allow the user to take
them to the studio, gym, or pool for use before and after exercising and other
athletic performance.
[0003] One problem with existing massage rollers is that they often suitable
for massaging only a
limited number of muscle groups. In addition, such rollers are limited in the
number of textured
surfaces that contact the user's body requiring the user to employ different
devices to control the
level and intensity of massage and so obtain a satisfactory and effective
massage.
= [0004] A need therefore exists for improved massage device. Accordingly,
a solution that addresses,
at least in part, the above and other shortcomings is desired.
SUMMARY OF THE APPLICATION
[0005] According to one aspect of the disclosure, there are provided a massage
device, comprising: a
hollow cylindrical outer roller having a first texture formed on an outer
surface thereof; and, a
cylindrical inner roller having a second texture formed on an outer surface
thereof and sized to fit
concentrically within the hollow cylindrical outer roller; wherein the
cylindrical inner roller is
moveable between a first position within the hollow cylindrical outer roller
and a second position
outside of the hollow cylindrical outer roller. ,
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CA 3028783 2019-01-03
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] Features and advantages of the embodiments of the present application
will become apparent
from the following detailed description, taken in combination with the
appended drawings, in which:
[0007] FIG. 1 is a front view illustrating a massage device shown with the
inner roller thereof fully
inserted into the outer roller thereof in accordance with an embodiment of the
aPplication;
[0008] FIG. 2 is a rear view thereof;
[0009] FIG. 3 is a right side end view thereof;
[0010] FIG. 4 is a left side end view thereof;
[0011] FIG. 5 is a front perspective view thereof; ,
[0012] FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view thereof;
[0013] FIG. 7 is a front perspective environmental view thereof showing use of
the massage device
of FIG. 1 by a user;
[0014] FIG. 8 is a rear perspective view of the massage device of FIG. 1
illustrating movement of
the inner roller between first and second positions in accordance with an
embodiment of the
application;
[0015] FIG. 9 is a front view illustrating the outer roller of the massage
device of FIG. 1 in
accordance with an embodiment of the application;
[0016] FIG. 10 is a rear view thereof;
[0017] FIG. 11 is a right side end view thereof;
[0018] FIG. 12 is a left side end view thereof;
[0019] FIG. 13 is a front perspective view thereof;
[0020] FIG. 14 is a rear perspective view thereof;
2
CA 3028783 2019-01-03
[0021] FIG. 15 is a front perspective environmental view thereof showing use
of the outer roller of
the massage device by a user (i.e., use of the outer roller alone);
[0022] FIG. 16 is a front view illustrating the inner roller of the massage
device of FIG. 1 in
accordance with an embodiment of the application;
[0023] FIG. 17 is a rear view thereof;
[0024] FIG. 18 is a right side end view thereof;
[0025] FIG. 19 is a left side end view thereof;
[0026] FIG. 20 is a front perspective view thereof;
[0027] FIG. 21 is a rear perspective view thereof;
[0028] FIG. 22 is a front perspective environmental view thereof showing use
of the inner roller of
the massage device by a user (i.e., use of the inner roller alone); =
[0029] FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view of the massage device of FIG. 1 taken
along line 23-23 in
FIG. 3 in accordance with an embodiment of the application;
[0030] FIG. 24 is a cross-sectional view of the outer roller of the massage
device of FIG. 1 taken
along line 24-24 in FIG. 9 in accordance with an embodiment of the
application;
[0031] FIG. 25 is a cross-sectional view of the inner roller of the massage
device of FIG. 1 taken
along line 25-25 in FIG. 16 in accordance with an embodiment of the
application; and,
[0032] FIG. 26 is a cross-sectional view of the massage device of FIG. 1 taken
along line 23-23 in
FIG. 3 in accordance with another embodiment of the application.
[0033] It will be noted that throughout the appended drawings, like features
are identified by like
reference numerals.
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CA 3028783 2019-01-03
=
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS
[0034] In the following description, details are set forth to provide an
understanding of the
application. In some instances, certain structures, techniques, and methods
have not been described
or shown in detail in order not to obscure the application.
[0035] FIG. 1 is a front view illustrating a massage device 100 shown with the
inner roller 200
thereof fully inserted into the outer roller 300 thereof in accordance with an
embodiment of the
application. FIG. 2 is a rear view thereof. FIG. 3 is a right side end view
thereof. FIG. 4 is a left side
end view thereof. FIG. 5 is a front perspective view thereof. FIG. 6 is a rear
perspective view
thereof. FIG. 7 is a front perspective environmental view thereof showing use
of the massage device
100 of FIG. 1 by a user 1000. FIG. 8 is a rear perspective view of the massage
device 100 of FIG. 1
illustrating movement of the inner roller 200 between first and second
positions 101, 102 in
accordance with an embodiment of the application. FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional
view of the massage
device 100 of FIG. 1 taken along line 23-23 in FIG. 3 in accordance with an
embodiment of the
application. And, FIG. 26 is a cross-sectional view of the massage device of
FIG. 1 taken along line
.. 23-23 in FIG. 3 in accordance with an another embodiment of the
application.
[0036] According to one embodiment of the application, a massage device 100 is
provided. The
massage device 100 may be used by a user to massage various muscle groups of
the user's body
1000 as further described below. The massage device 100 is a cylindrical
double roller having a
hollow cylindrical outer roller 300 into which a removable or separable solid
(or hollow) cylindrical
inner roller 200 is inserted. The massage device 100 may be used in a first
configuration 700 in
which the inner roller 200 is inserted (e.g., fully inserted) into the outer
roller 300 and the two rollers
200, 300 are used together, a second configuration 1500 in which the inner
roller 200 is used alone,
and an optional third configuration 2200 in which the outer roller 300 is used
alone. These
configurations 700, 1500, 2200 are further described below.
[0037] Referring to FIG. 8, the inner roller 200 may be sized to fit
concentrically within the hollow
outer roller 300. The fit between the outer surface 230 of the inner roller
200 and the inner surface
340 of the outer roller 300 may be a snug or friction fit to hold the inner
roller 200 in place within
the outer roller 300 during use or transport of the massage device 100. The
inner roller 200 may be
moved between a first position 101 inside or combined or inserted in the outer
roller 300 and a
4
CA 3028783 2019-01-03
second position 102 outside or separate or removed from the outer roller 300.
To insert the inner
roller 200 into the outer roller 300, one end (e.g., 210) of the inner roller
200 may be inserted into
the inside 305 of the outer roller 300 through the opening (e.g., 321) formed
in one end (e.g., 320) of
the outer roller 300 and the opposite end (e.g., 220) of the inner roller 200
may be pushed in an axial
direction 810 until the inner roller 200 is fully inside the outer roller 300
(i.e., the ends 210, 226 of
the inner roller 200 are flush with the respective ends 310,320 of the outer
roller 300). Similarly, to
remove the inner roller 200 from the outer roller 300, one end (e.g., 210) of
the inner roller 200 may
be pushed in an axial direction 820 through the inside 305 of the outer roller
300 until the inner roller
200 is clear of the outer roller 300.
[0038] FIG. 9 is a front view illustrating the outer roller 300 of the massage
device 100 of FIG. 1 in
. accordance with an embodiment of the application. FIG. 10 is a rear view
thereof. FIG. 11 is a right
side end view thereof. FIG. 12 is a left side end view thereof. FIG. 13 is a
front perspective view
thereof. FIG. 14 is a rear perspective view thereof. FIG. 15 is a front
perspective environmental view
thereof showing use of the outer roller 300 of the massage device 100 by a
user 1000 (i.e., use of the
outer roller 300 alone). And, FIG. 24 is a cross-sectional view of the outer
roller 300 of the massage
device of FIG. 1 taken along line 24-24 in FIG. 9 in accordance with an
embodiment of the
application.
[0039] According to one embodiment, the outer roller 300 is an elongate,
hollow, cylinder having a
first or right base or end surface 310 at a first or right end 301 thereof, a
second or left base or end
surface at a second of left end 302 thereof, an outer surface 330, an inner
surface 340, an outside
diameter 350, an inside diameter 360, a central axis 370 (i.e., a line formed
through the centres of the
base surfaces 310,320 of the cylinder 300), and an axial length 375. Each end
surface 310,320 may
have a respective circular opening 311,321 formed therein for providing access
to the inside 305 of
the outer roller 300. In one implementation, the outer cylinder may have an
opening (e.g., opening
311) formed in one of the end surfaces while the opposite end surface may be
closed. Such opening
may provide access to the inside 305 of the outer roller 300.
[0040] In one embodiment, the outer roller 300 may have an outside diameter
350 of 132 mm or
approximately 132 mm, an inside diameter 360 of 106 mm or approximately 106
mm, and an axial
length 375 of 508 mm or approximately 508 mm. These dimensions are provided
for illustration
5
CA 3028783 2019-01-03
purposes only and the outer roller may have different dimensions without
departing from the scope
of the application. According to one embodiment, the first and second end
surfaces 310,320 of the
outer roller 300 may be flat or approximately flat surfaces.
[0041] In one embodiment, the inner surface 340 of the outer roller 300 may be
formed as a smooth
surface to reduce friction between the inner and outer rollers 200,300 when
moving the inner roller
200 between* its first and second positions 101, 102. According to another
embodiment, a smooth
lining (not shown) may be applied or attached to the inner surface 340 of the
outer roller 300 to
reduce friction between the inner and outer rollers 200, 300 when moving the
inner roller 200
between its first and second positions 101, 102.
[0042] According to one embodiment, the outer surface 330 of the outer roller
300 has a first texture
(e.g., feel, appearance, roughness, smoothness, softness, hardness, etc.) 380
formed thereon. The first
texture 380 may be selected to provide an effective massage for a specific
muscle group of the user's
body 1000 as further described below. Of course, the outer roller 300 may also
be used to massage
any part of the body that the user chooses.
[0043] In one embodiment, the first texture 380 may be formed by or consist of
a plurality (e.g., 15)
of longitudinal grooves 381 formed in the outer surface 330 of the outer
roller 300. Each longitudinal
groove (e.g., 382) extends between the first and second ends 301, 302 of the
outer roller 300 and
traces out a transverse wave-shaped pattern 383 having a first crest or curved
portion (or first
massage zone) 384 proximate the first end 301 of the outer roller 300, an
elongate trough portion (or
. 20 second massage zone) 385 proximate a midpoint (or approximate midpoint)
303 of the outer roller
300, and a second crest or curved portion (or third massage zone) 386
proximate the second end 302
of the outer roller 300. In one embodiment, the longitudinal grooves 381 may
be interrupted along
their length, for example between and first and second massage zones and/or
between the second and
third massage zones; and/or, the outer surface 330 of the outer roller 300 may
be flat or have a
=
different texture (e.g., a number of tabs).
[0044] In another embodiment, the outer roller 300 may further include a
sleeve (not shown) that is
extendable or placeable over the outer roller 300 such that the external
surface of the sleeve forms
the outer surface 330 of the outer roller 300. In other words, the outer
roller 300 is insertable into the
sleeve. In one embodiment, the sleeve may comprise one or more independent
parts such that each
6
CA 3028783 2019-01-03
part may be extended or placed over the outer roller 300 independently. Each
part of the sleeve may
cover only a portion of the outer roller 300. Each part of the sleeve may have
a different texture such
that when such parts are extended or placed over the outer roller 300 and
positioned along the length
of the outer roller 300 they form an outer surface 330 having different
massage zones. Using one or
more sleeves, the user may choose different textures which may be easily
changed by changing the
sleeve or part of the sleeve.
[0045] In one embodiment, the axial length of the first and third massage
zones 384,386 may be 214
mm or approximately 214 mm and the length of the second massage zone 385 may
be 80 mm or
approximately 80 mm. These dimensions are provided for illustration purposes
only and the massage
zones 384, 385, 386 may have any other lengths without departing from the
scope of the application.
In one embodiment, the portion of the wave-shaped pattern 383 extending from
the first end 301 of
the outer roller 300 to the midpoint 303 thereof may be a mirror image of the
portion of the wave-
shaped pattern 383 extending from the second end 302 of the outer roller 300
to the midpoint 303
thereof.
=
.. [0046] According to one embodiment, at least some of the longitudinal
grooves 382 are V-shaped
(or approximately V-shaped) in cross-section or sinusoidal (or approximately
sinusoidal) in cross-
section (as shown in FIG. 24). For illustration purposes only, the
longitudinal groove 382 may have
a depth from crest 387 to trough (or root) 388 of 8 mm or approximately 8 mm
and a spacing from
crest 387 to crest 389 of 25 mm or approximately 25 mm. Alternatively, the
depth from crest 387 to
root 388 and/or the spacing from crest 387 to crest 387 may increase or
decrease between adjacent
grooves.
[0047] According to another embodiment, the longitudinal grooves 381 may have
a straight,
diagonal, zig-zag or annual pattern or any variations or combinations thereof.
According to a further
embodiment, the first texture 380 of the outer roller 300 may be a smooth
surface.
[0048] According to one embodiment, the outer roller 300 may be formed from a
resilient closed
=
cell foam or other resilient or pliant material. In one embodiment, the outer
surface 330 of the outer
roller 300 may be more compressible (i.e., softer or less dense) than that of
the inner roller 200.
7
CA 3028783 2019-01-03
[0049] In one embodiment, the outer roller 300 may have a modular
configuration. For example, the
outer roller 300 may include two or more hollow cylinders (or modules) having
the same or
approximately the same diameter and wall thickness such that when the modules
are positioned or
placed adjacent or next to each other they form continuous outer and inner
surfaces 330, 340. Each
module may include a connector formed in proximity to .the side edge thereof
for joining the
individual modules together. For example, the connector may be one of a
VelcroTM tape, at least one
magnet, or any type of scarf or lock & key joints or a combination thereof,
that can provide for
locking of the multiple modules together to form a single outer roller 300.
Each of the modules may
have a different texture and/or compressibility.
[0050] In one embodiment, the compressibility of the outer roller 300 may vary
between the first
= and second ends 301, 302 of the outer roller 300. For example, the
compressibility proximate the
midpoint 303 of the outer roller (i.e., in the second massage zone 385) may be
greater than the
compressibility proximate the ends 301,302 of the outer roller 300, or vise
versa (i.e., in the first and
third massage zones 384,386).
. 15 [0051] FIG. 16 is a front view illustrating the inner roller 200 of
the massage device 100 of FIG. 1 in
accordance with an embodiment of the application. FIG. 17 is a rear view
thereof. FIG. 18 is a right
side end view thereof. FIG. 19 is a left side end view thereof. FIG. 20 is a
front perspective view
thereof. FIG. 21 is a rear perspective view thereof. FIG. 22 is a front
perspective environmental view
thereof showing use of the inner roller 200 of the massage device 100 by a
user 1000 (i.e., use of the
inner roller 200 alone). And, FIG. 25 is a cross-sectional view of the inner
roller 200 of the massage
device 100 of FIG. 1 taken along line 25-25 in FIG. 16 in accordance with an
embodiment of the
application.
=
[0052] According to one embodiment, the inner roller 200 is an elongate,
solid, right circular
cylinder having a first or right base or end surface 210 at a first or right
end 201 thereof, a second or
left base or end surface 220 at a second or left end 202 thereof, an outer
surface 230, an outside
= diameter 260, a central axis 270 (i.e., a line formed through the centres
of the base surfaces 210,220
of the cylinder 200), and an axial length 275.
[0053] The outside diameter 260 of the inner roller 200 is sized such that it
can fit and snug within
the outer roller 300. For example, the inner roller 200 may have an outside
diameter of 105 mm or
8
CA 3028783 2019-01-03
=
approximately 105 mm and an axial length 275 of 508 mm or approximately 508
mm. According to
one embodiment, the lengths of the inner and outer rollers 200,300 may be
equal or approximately
equal however the ,inner roller 200 can be shorter of longer than the outer
roller 300 without
departing from the scope of the invention. According to one embodiment, the
first and second end
surfaces 210,220 of the inner roller 200 are flat or approximately flat
surfaces. In one embodiment,
the inner roller 200 may further include a handle (not shown) formed on, in,
or at the first and/or the
second end surfaces 210, 220. For example, the handle may be a handle bar
extending outwardly
from the end surface 210, 220. In one embodiment, .the handle may be formed on
only one end
surface while the other end surface may be flat (i.e., has no handle thereon).
In yet another
embodiment, one or both of the end surfaces 210,220 may have an indentation
extending inwardly
from the end surface 210,220 forming the handle. The handle may be used to
pull out or push in the
inner roller 200 from the outer roller 300. In one embodiment, the one or two
handles may be used to
carry the massage device 100. The handles may be connected to the inner roller
200 or to the outer
roller 300. The massage device 100 may include a belt with a connector on each
end thereof for
removably connecting to the handle on each end surface 210, 220.
[0054] In one embodiment, the outer surface 230 of the inner roller. 200 has a
second texture 280
formed thereon. The second texture 280 is selected to provide an effective
massage for a specific
muscle group of the user as further described below. Of course, the inner
roller 320 may also be used
to massage any part of the body that the user chooses.
[0055] According to one embodiment, the second texture 280 may be formed by or
consist of a
plurality (e.g., 9) of transverse grooves 281 formed in the outer surface 230
of the inner roller 200.
Each transverse groove (e.g., 282) is an annual groove extending around the
outer surface 230 ofthe
inner roller 200. The transverse grooves 281 trace out a longitudinal wave-
shaped pattern 283 that is
uniform (i.e., uniform in height and depth) from the first end 201 to the
second end 202 of the inner
roller 200.
[0056] Alternatively, the transverse grooves 281 may trace out a longitudinal
wave-shaped pattern
that is non-uniform. For example, the height and depth of each transverse
groove 282 may increase
(or decrease) from the first end 201 of the inner roller 200 to the midpoint
203 thereof and then
decrease (or increase) from the midpoint 203 thereof to the second end 202 of
the inner roller 200.
9
CA 3028783 2019-01-03
= Alternatively, the depth from crest 287 to root 288 and/or the spacing
from crest 287 to crest 289
may increase or decrease between adjacent grooves 281.
=
[0057] In one embodiment, the portion of the longitudinal wave-shaped pattern
283 extending from
the first end 201 of the inner roller 200 to the midpoint 203 thereof may be a
mirror image of the
portion of the longitudinal wave-shaped pattern 283 extending from the second
end 202 of the inner
roller 200 to the midpoint 203 thereof.
[0058] In one embodiment, the transverse grooves 281 may be spaced along the
length of the inner
roller 200 such that each 201,202 of the inner roller 200 ends at a groove
crest 287 as shown in FIG.
16.
=
[0059] According to one embodiment, each transverse groove 282 is V-shaped (or
approximately V-
shaped) in cross-section or sinusoidal (or approximately sinusoidal) in cross-
section. For illustration
purposes only, each transverse groove 282 may have a depth from crest 287 to
trough (or root) 288
of 20 mm or approximately 20 mm and a spacing from crest 287 to crest 287 of
55 mm or
approximately 55 mm. According to one embodiment, the size of the grooves 281
on the inner roller
200 are larger than the size of the grooves 381 on the outer roller 300. In
one embodiment, the
second texture 280 may include a plurality of longitudinal grooves (e.g.,
similar to the longitudinal
grooves of the outer roller 300). In yet another embodiment, the second
texture 280 may include a
plurality of spikes extending radially and outwardly from the outer surface
230. In one embodiment,
the second texture 280 may have a textured pattern or combination of textured
and smooth surfaces.
In one embodiment, at least a portion (e.g., a middle portion) of the outer
surface 230 of the inner
roller 200 may be a smooth surface.
[0060] In one embodiment, the inner roller 200 may have a modular
configuration. For example, the
inner roller 200 may include two or more cylindrical modules with the same or
approximately the
same diameter and matching shapes such that when such modules are placed or
positioned adjacent
or next to each other they form a continuous outer surface 230. Each module
may include a
connector formed in proximity to the side edge thereof for joining the
individual modules together.
For example, the connector may be one of a Velcro Tm tape, at least one
magnet, or any type of scarf
or,lock & key joints or a combination thereof, that may provide for locking of
the multiple modules
CA 3028783 2019-01-03
together to form a single inner roller 200. _Each of the modules may have a
different texture and/or
compressibility.
[0061] In yet another embodiment, the inner roller 200 may further include a
sleeve (not shown) that
is extendable or placeable over the inner roller such that the external
surface of the sleeve forms the
outer surface 230 of the inner roller 200, In other words, the inner roller
200 is insertable into the
sleeve. In one embodiment, the sleeve may include one or more independent
parts such that each
part may be extended over the inner roller 200 independently. Each part of the
sleeve may have
different texture such that when such parts are extended over the inner roller
200 and positioned
along the length of the inner roller, they form an outer surface 230 having
different massage zones.
Using one or more sleeves, the user may choose different textures which may be
easily changed by
changing the sleeve or part of the sleeve.
[0062] In one embodiment, the inner roller 200 may include two longitudinal
halves as illustrated in
FIG. 26. Each of the halves may include an outside wall, two end walls, and an
inner hollow space
such that when the two halves are joined together they form the inner roller
200 having closed ends
.. and an inner cavity that may used for storage, for example, to store
additional massage props or
accessories. For example, one or more massage balls (or other sports balls)
may be stored in the
inner cavity of the roller 200, such that a user may open the two halves of
the inner roller, take the
balls out, and use them for a massage. The inner roller may be used with props
stored in the inner
cavity or with the inner cavity empty or hollow, that is, when the props are
taken out of the inner
cavity and the halves are joined together. The two halves may be detachably
connected using any
known connector. FIG. 26, for example, shows a dove tail joint closure,
however, any other suitable
connector may be used without departing from the scope of the application.
[0063] According to one embodiment, the inner roller 200 may be a hollow
cylinder similar to the
outer roller 300. According to another embodiment, the second texture 280 may
be a smooth surface.
In one embodiment, the second texture 280 may include a number of different
textures that change
axially along the length of the inner roller or radially. In one embodiment,
the hollow inner roller
200 may have closed ends. An inflating port with a closure may be formed at
one end to inflate or
deflate the inner roller 200. By changing the pressure in the inner roller
200, a user may
adjust/change the compressibility of the inner roller. In one embodiment, the
inner cavity of the inner
11
CA 3028783 2019-01-03
roller may include one or more pouches stacked therein that may be removably
inserted into the
inner roller 200. The pouches may be used for controlling the temperature of
the inner roller 200. For
example, the pouches may be microwavable to heat them up or may be placed in a
freezer to cool
them down before insertion into the inner roller 200. The one or more pouches
may also be used in
conjunction with the outer roller 300 for stacking the hollow inner cavity of
the outer roller 300
when the inner roller 200 is removed from the outer roller 300.
[0064] According to one embodiment, the inner roller 200 may be formed from a
resilient closed
cell foam or other resilient or pliant material that is less compressible
(i.e., harder or more dense)
than that of the outer roller 300.
[0065] In one embodiment, the inner roller 200 may include a ball that may be
screwed on one end
(or in some embodiments both ends) of the inner roller 200, such that the ball
may be use separately
by unscrewing it from the end of the inner roller 200. In one embodiment, the
inner roller may
include a bar and a plurality of balls. The plurality of balls may each have
an opening formed
therethrough so that the bar may pass therethrough for stacking the balls on
the bar. A closure may
=
be provided on each end of the bar for keeping the balls in place. A user may
use the bar with the
balls as a massage roller or may take one or more balls off of the bar (by
removing the closure) and
use the balls separately for a massage.
[0066] According to one embodiment, there is provided a massage device 100,
comprising: a hollow
cylindrical outer roller 300 having a first texture 380 formed on an outer
surface 330 thereof; and, a
cylindrical inner roller 200 having a second texture 280 formed on an outer
surface 230 thereof and
sized to fit concentrically within the hollow cylindrical outer roller 300;
wherein the cylindrical inner
roller 200 is moveable between a first position 201 within the hollow
cylindrical outer roller 300 and
a second position 202 outside of the hollow cylindrical outer roller 300. In
the massage device 100,
the cylindrical inner roller 200 may be a solid cylindrical inner roller 200.
The fit between the inner
and outer rollers 200,300 in the first position 101 may be a snug friction
fit. In the first position 101,
the inner and outer rollers 200, 300 may be usable together. In the second
position 102, the inner
roller 200 may be usable separately. In the second position 102, the inner and
outer rollers 200,300
may be usable separately. The outer roller 300 may be made from a first foam
material having a first
compressibility, the inner roller 200 may be made from a second foam material
having a second
12
CA 3028783 2019-01-03
compressibility, and the first compressibility may be greater than the second
compressibility. In one
embodiment, the outer and the inner rollers 300,200 may be made or the same
material or different
materials with the same compressibility. In another embodiment, the second
compressibility (of the
inner roller 200) may be greater than the first compressibility (of the outer
roller 300).
[0067] In operation, according to the first configuration of use 700 as shown
in FIG. 7 where the
inner roller 200 is fully inserted into the outer roller 300 and the two
rollers 200, 300 are used
together, the user places the massage device 100 on the floor or ground (or
against another surface
such as a wall) 800 and then positions the muscle, muscles, or muscle group
1010 of the user's body
1000 that the user wishes to massage in contact with the top surface 710 of
the massage device 100.
The user then rolls his or her body 1000 back and forth over the massage
device 100 which applies a
varying pressure to the muscle, muscles, or muscle group to affect the
massage. The intensity or
depth of the massage received will depend on the texture 380 of the outer
surface 330 of the outer
roller 300 including the depth and spacing of grooves 381 thereon and on the
relative compressibility
of the inner and outer rollers 200, 300. The shallow and closely spaced
grooves 381 of the outer
roller 300 may be effective for massaging large muscle groups such as
hamstrings, quadriceps, and
deltoids. Of course, the massage device 100 may be used on other muscle groups
as well.
Advantageously, the wave pattern 383 of the longitudinal grooves 381 of the
outer roller 300 allows
the user to direct the massage at a particular portion of a muscle or muscle
group 1010 without
having to move off the massage device 100 in order to reposition the device
100.
[0068] According to the second configuration of use 2200 as shown in FIG. 22
where the inner roller
200 is fully removed from the outer roller 300 and the inner roller 200 is
used alone, the user places
the inner roller 200 on the floor or ground (or against another surface such
as a wall) 800 and then
positions the muscle, muscles, or muscle group 1020 of the user's body 1000
that the user wishes to
massage in contact with the outer surface 230 of the inner roller 200 of the
massage device 100. The
user then rolls his or her body 1000 back and forth over the inner roller 200
which applies a varying
pressure to the muscle, muscles, or muscle group 1020 to affect the massage.
The intensity or depth
of the massage received will depend on the texture 280 of the outer surface
230 of the inner roller
300 including the depth and spacing of grooves 281 thereon and on the
coMpressibility of the inner
roller 200. The deep and widely spaced grooves 281 of the inner roller 200 may
be effective for
massaging small muscle groups such as those of the back. Of course, the inner
roller 200 may be
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used on other muscle groups as well. Advantageously, the smaller outside
diameter 250 and larger
grooves 281 of the inner roller 200 allow the user to direct the massage at a
particular portion of a
muscle or muscle group 1020 with greater precision.
[0069] According to the optional third configuration of use 1500 as shown in
FIG. 15 where the
inner roller 200 is fully removed from the outer roller 300 and the outer
roller 300 is used alone, the
user places the outer roller massage device 100 on the floor or ground (or
against another surface
such as a wall) 800 and then positions the muscle, muscles, or muscle group
1010 of the user's body
1000 that the user wishes to massage in contact with the top surface 1510 of
the massage device 100.
The user then rolls his or her body 1000 back and forth over the outer roller
300 which applies a
varying pressure to the muscle, muscles, or muscle group to affect the
massage. The intensity or
depth of the massage received will depend on the texture 380 of the outer
surface 330 of the outer
roller 300 including the depth and spacing of grooves 381 thereon and on the
compressibility of the
outer roller 300. As mentioned above, the shallow and closely spaced grooves
381 of the outer roller
300 may be effective for massaging large muscle groups such as hamstrings,
quadriceps, and
deltoids. Of course, the outer roller 300 may be used on other muscle groups
as well.
Advantageously, without the stiffness added by the inner roller 200, when the
outer roller 300 is
used alone it may provide a relatively gentle massage depending on the
compressibility of the outer
= roller 300. If the outer roller 300 is very compressible, it may deform
to a certain extent under the
weight of the user's body 100 which will lessen the intensity of the massage.
In such a case, the
outer roller 300 may also be used as a headrest, for example, while the inner
roller 200 is used to
affect the massage. In one method of operation, the user may use both rollers
200 and 300
simultaneously to massage different parts of the body. For example, the outer
roller 300 may be used
to massage the user's hamstrings while the inner roller 200 may be used to
massage the thighs or
other tight muscles.
[0070] The above embodiments may contribute to an improved massage device 100
and may
provide one or more advantages. First, the two rollers 200,300 of the massage
device 100 provide a
user with a choice of massage textures 280, 380, groove sizes 282, 382, groove
geometries 283, 383,
and roller outside diameters 250,350 all in one portable package. Second, the
massage device 100
= provides a choice of roller compressibifities as the inner and outer
rollers 200, 300 have different
levels of compressibility.
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[0071] The embodiments of the application described above are intended to be
examples only.
Those skilled in the art will understand that various 'modifications of detail
may be made to these
embodiments, all of which come within the scope of the application.
=
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