Massage table

Abstract

A massage table includes a two piece face cradle with a wide range of adjustment. The face cradle comprises a chin support and a forehead support. The chin and forehead supports are connected by rods which allow an open field-of-view to a patient lying prone on the massage table. The face cradle is connected to the massage table using a ball-joint providing a broad range of adjustability. A diagonal strut connected between the forehead support portion of the face cradle and the massage table and provide stability. The massage table may further have adjustable width by allowing the table to separate along a longitudinal axis and one or more leafs inserted into a gap between table halves.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to massage tables and in particular to a massage table with an improved face cradle. [0002] Massage tables are commonly used to support patients receiving massages. It is important to support the patient in a natural and comfortable manner to allow the patient to relax so that the patient's muscles may be worked to the greatest benefit. Such massages are generally received by patients laying in a prone position (i.e., face down) with the patient's face supported by a face cradle attached to one end of the massage table. Known face cradles may be adjusted in one dimension, either closer are farther from an end of the table. Such face cradle adjustment often does not provide adequate adjustment to allow the patient's head to be supported in a natural and comfortable manner. As a result, the patient may contract muscles and reduce the effectiveness of the massage. [0003] Further, known face cradles comprise a substantiall...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0004] The present invention addresses the above and other needs by providing a massage table which includes a two piece face cradle with a wide range of adjustment. The face cradle comprises a chin support and a forehead support. The chin and forehead supports are connected by rods which allow an open field-of-view to a patient lying prone on the massage table. The face cradle is connected to the massage table using a ball-joint providing a broad range of adjustability. A diagonal strut is connected between the forehead support portion of the face cradle and a table leg assembly of the massage table to provide stability. The massage table may further have adjustable width by allowing the table to separate along a longitudinal axis and one or more leafs inserted into a gap between table halves.

[0005] In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided an improved massage table. The massage table includes a table top, a table leg assembly supporting the table top, and an adjustable face cradle. The face cradle includes an arced chin support, an arced forehead support, and two adjustable bars connecting the forehead support to the chin support. The adjustable bars provide adjustment of the separation of the forehead support from the chin support. A face cradle arm connects the face cradle to the table through a first ball joint, thereby allowing vertical and horizontal adjustment of the face cradle with respect to the table top. A telescoping diagonal brace is connected to the face cradle by a third ball joint at one end, and to the table leg assembly by a second ball joint at an opposite end. The telescoping diagonal brace includes a brace spring resisting compression of the diagonal brace.

Problems solved by technology

Such face cradle adjustment often does not provide adequate adjustment to allow the patient's head to be supported in a natural and comfortable manner.

As a result, the patient may contract muscles and reduce the effectiveness of the massage.

A result is that some patients feel confined and therefore uncomfortable, and as a result have difficulty completely relaxing.

Known massage tables may also lack sufficient width to comfortably support patients having large girth.

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