Device for treating cellulitis

Abstract

A massage device includes at least one arcuate support having a plurality of adjacent rollers, wherein each roller is constrained on the arcuate support at a specific position and is also adapted to rotate about an axis that is a plane substantially parallel to a tangent plane of the arcuate support at the specific position, and each of the plurality of rollers converges or diverges relative to its adjacent roller.

Description

Invention Field

[0001] This invention relates to a device for treating cellulitis.

[0002] In particular, the present invention relates to a device that can be used by an operator or a patient to massage body parts affected by cellulitis. Background Technology

[0003] Cellulitis (edematous fibrosclerosing panniculitis) is a degenerative disease of subcutaneous adipose tissue (called the adipose membrane), which produces visible cavities or holes in the skin, giving it a so-called "orange peel" appearance. If blood and lymphatic circulation does not function properly, the tissue fat cells become trapped and tend to rupture, dumping their contents into the spaces between the cells and recalling excess water, ultimately leading to the "orange peel" surface deformity of the skin affected by cellulitis.

[0004] Cellulitis treatment devices are known, which can be used by operators or patients to combat the defects caused by the presence of cellulitis.

[0005] Known types of such devices have a frame on which rollers are mounted, the rollers being adapted to slide on the treatment area by applying a massage effect.

[0006] Sometimes, the roller has a shape with relief elements on its outer surface, which are adapted to contact the treatment area and apply appropriate local pressure.

[0007] The rollers can be arranged in a group of rollers side by side, wherein the axis of rotation of the rollers belonging to each group of rollers is oriented such that the rollers can cooperate to apply the required pressure to the site to be treated.

[0008] For example, rollers can be arranged on curved or flexible supports to apply pressure generally normal to the surface of the portion on which the rollers slide. These curved supports can be of different sizes and can be flexible and configurable to accommodate various body parts requiring treatment.

[0009] The object of this invention is to provide a device for treating cellulitis that allows for more complete and effective treatment of cellulitis compared to similar devices in the prior art.

[0010] Invention Summary

[0011] This objective is achieved through a device for treating cellulitis, which has multiple massage rollers configured to work together to apply the required pressure to the area to be treated and to properly tighten the treated area with a "squeezing" effect. This is very effective in combating cellulitis because it helps to drain excess water retained in the tissue.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment, the massage device according to this specification includes one arcuate support or two arcuate supports hinged at one end, such that the concave contours of the two supports face each other. Each of the supports includes a plurality of adjacent rollers, each of the plurality of rollers being constrained in a specific position to one of the two supports by, for example, two supports fixed to the ends of the support and adapted to receive the rotation axis of the respective roller. Thus, each roller is adapted to rotate about an axis that belongs to a plane substantially parallel to the contour of the support and tangential at the location of the roller, and furthermore, each of the plurality of rollers is arranged to converge or diverge relative to adjacent rollers. Thus, the massage rollers are configured to cooperate to apply the required pressure to the area to be treated, and to properly tighten the treated area with a “squeezing” effect, which is highly beneficial for draining excess water retained in the tissue (the ultimate cause of cellulitis).

[0013] Therefore, the advantage of this embodiment is that the rollers of the device work to lift, release, and then stretch the skin of the treatment area, which has the beneficial effects of crushing subcutaneous fat deposits, draining excess water, and stimulating blood circulation.

[0014] In fact, the rollers do not actually rotate parallel to the sliding direction of the device, but rather rotate in a convergent or divergent manner between them, causing the skin to move in different and alternating ways.

[0015] For example, rollers arranged with converging mutual inclinations allow the massage to tend to achieve "squeezing" pressure on the skin of the treatment area, while some roller pairs belonging to the device are arranged with diverging mutual inclinations and allow the massage to tend to stretch the skin of the treatment area.

[0016] Therefore, it is possible to simultaneously perform a massage that compresses and "squeezes" the skin being treated, as well as a massage that stretches the skin being treated, allowing the device to slide on the area to be treated. Brief description of the attached diagram

[0018] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, given as a non-limiting example, with the aid of the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0019] Figure 1A plan view of an apparatus for treating cellulitis according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0020] Figure 2 A plan view of an apparatus for treating cellulitis according to another embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0021] Figure 3 , Figure 4 and Figure 5 Depicted respectively Figure 2 Side view, rear view and front view of the device;

[0022] Figure 6 and Figure 7 Depicting Figure 2 Two different views of the device;

[0023] Figure 8 and Figure 9 Two further variations of the device according to the invention are depicted; and

[0024] Figures 10-12 Further variations of the rollers suitable for the device according to the invention are described.

[0025] The following description of exemplary embodiments is with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numerals in different drawings denote the same or similar elements. The following detailed description does not limit the invention. The scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims.

[0026] Detailed description of the attached figures

[0027] Massage devices used to treat cellulitis typically include multiple rollers fixed to a support, and these rollers can rotate freely about their own axis as the support moves and presses against the area to be treated.

[0028] In these devices, rollers can be arranged in side-by-side groups, with their axes of rotation oriented so that they can cooperate to apply the required pressure to the site of treatment. The rollers are typically anchored to curved or flexible supports to apply pressure generally normal to the surface of the area on which they slide. These curved supports can be of different sizes or are flexible and configurable to accommodate various body parts requiring treatment. Such devices can only apply one type of pressure and are only effective when one type of action and pressure is applied to the site of treatment. The devices according to this specification allow for the application of different types of pressure, resulting in a more complete, effective, and beneficial treatment.

[0029] Attached Figure 1 and Figure 2 A plan view of an apparatus for treating cellulitis according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown, the apparatus being generally indicated by reference numeral 10.

[0030] according to Figure 2 The device 10 for treating cellulitis of the present invention has a frame on which a roller 30 is mounted, the roller 30 being adapted to slide on the skin to be treated. In this preferred embodiment, the frame includes two arcuate supports 12, 14 hinged at one end such that the concave contours of the two supports face each other. In other embodiments of this specification, to accommodate different anatomical sites to be treated, only one arcuate and moderately flexible support may be present.

[0031] Each of the supports 12, 14 includes a plurality of adjacent rollers 30, each of the plurality of rollers 30 being bound in a given position to one of the supports by, for example, two supports 33 fixed to the support and adapted to accommodate the ends of the rotation axis of the respective roller.

[0032] Each roller 30 is adapted to rotate about an axis that is a plane that is generally parallel to the tangent plane of the support profiles 12, 14 at the location of the roller. Furthermore, each of the plurality of rollers 30 is arranged to converge or diverge relative to the adjacent roller.

[0033] exist Figure 2 In the illustrated device 10, the frame is divided into two arc-shaped supports hinged to one end, such that the concave contours of the two supports face each other. The hinge 20 connecting the two supports 12, 14 allows the two supports to approach or separate from each other and provides the possibility of adapting the device to various anatomical sites (arms, legs, hips, groins) to be treated.

[0034] Advantageously, each of the supports 12, 14 has a handle 16, 18, which allows for easy and comfortable gripping of the support.

[0035] Figure 3 , Figure 4 and Figure 5 Depicted respectively Figure 2 Side view, rear view, and front view of the device, while Figure 5 and Figure 6 Depicting Figure 2 Two different isometric views of the device.

[0036] exist Figures 1-7 In the preferred embodiment shown, each of the rollers 30 has a plurality of pins 32 on its outer surface. Depending on the application, the pins may be made of materials of different hardness. Common materials for the rollers 30 and their pins 32 may be plastic, natural rubber, synthetic rubber, or light metal. The supports 12 and 14 may be made of plastic or light metal.

[0037] exist Figure 1 and Figure 2 In the example, each of the supports 12 and 14 shown includes 7 rollers and performs 6 combined actions (three compressions and three stretches) on the treatment site during use.

[0038] These actions, together with those caused by the rollers placed on the opposing half-frames, result in a total of 12 actions exerted by the device 10.

[0039] Figure 1 and Figure 2 The example of the device according to this specification shows that two converging adjacent rollers rotate at a user-given pressure and begin to engage with the skin of the treatment site via rubber pin 32, at which point the ends of the contact surfaces of the two converging adjacent rollers are spaced approximately 2.5 cm apart during their converging rotation. When the rollers 30 and their pins 32 release the skin, the ends of the contact surfaces of the two converging adjacent rollers are spaced approximately 1 cm apart.

[0040] This process causes the treated skin to move toward the connection of the roller, creating a squeezing, pushing, or kneading massage.

[0041] Conversely, other pairs of adjacent diverging rollers produce the opposite effect described above. Specifically, the rubber pins 32 tend to extend and stretch the skin at the treatment site. This is because when the rubber pins 32 placed on the roller surface begin to engage with the skin, the ends of the contact surfaces of the rubber pins 32 are spaced about 1 cm apart from each other, and when rotating in the diverging direction, the rubber pins 32 drag the underlying skin, thereby causing skin traction or stretching until release occurs at a distance of about 2.5 cm between the ends of the contact surfaces of the rollers.

[0042] The greater the convergence or divergence between adjacent rollers 30, the greater the squeezing effect (or kneading or stretching effect); conversely, lower convergence or divergence will have a poorer effect on the skin.

[0043] Furthermore, the larger the diameter of the roller, the greater the kneading or stretching massage effect, even if the angle between the bases of the two rollers remains unchanged.

[0044] Preferably, the diameter of the roller 30 is in the range of 10 mm to 80 mm.

[0045] Obviously, the larger the diameter of the roller, the fewer rollers can be inserted into the device, resulting in a reduction in the number of rollers moving simultaneously.

[0046] In a preferred embodiment, each support member 12, 14 in the device 10 has an arcuate shape.

[0047] The oval shape of the closing device 10 is designed to easily massage both the area of ​​the leg above the knee and the area below the hip.

[0048] Because of the presence of hinge 20, device 10 can also be used and opened on both hips simultaneously.

[0049] Figure 7 and Figure 8 Two other variations of the device according to the invention are depicted, with Figures 1-5 The variation also differs in that it has cylindrical and pinless rollers 30' on its surface.

[0050] Figures 9-11 Further variations of the rollers suitable for the device according to the invention are depicted, which have surface grooves 302, 312, 322 instead of the aforementioned pin 32, the surface grooves serving a similar function to the pin 32.

[0051] These variations can be made using removable covers applied to smooth cylindrical rollers.

[0052] These variations can have shapes that are almost cylindrical 312, almost ellipsoidal 302, or almost spherical 322.

[0053] Obviously, the invention described herein can be modified or improved according to accidental or specific needs without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A massaging device (10) comprising: at least one arc-shaped support (12, 14); and a plurality of first rollers (30), each first roller (30) of the plurality of first rollers being constrained in a predetermined position along a concave surface of a first arc-shaped support of the at least one arc-shaped support (12, 14), the predetermined positions being in one radial plane of the first arc-shaped support, each first roller of the plurality of first rollers being rotatable about a rotation axis belonging to a plane substantially parallel to a tangent plane to a profile of the first arc-shaped support (12) at the predetermined position, wherein the rotation axis of each first roller (30) of the plurality of first rollers is inclined with respect to the radial plane of the first arc-shaped support and intersects the radial plane of the first arc-shaped support with an inclination direction opposite to that of the rotation axis of an adjacent first roller.

2. The massaging device according to claim 1, wherein The first arc-shaped support (12, 14) comprises a handle (16, 18).

3. The massaging device according to claim 1, wherein Each first roller of the plurality of first rollers (30) comprises a plurality of pins (32) made of a flexible material provided on an outer surface thereof.

4. The massaging device according to claim 1, wherein Each first roller of the plurality of first rollers (30) comprises a plurality of grooves (302, 312, 322) formed on an outer surface thereof.

5. The massaging device according to claim 1, wherein Each first roller of the plurality of first rollers (30) has a diameter comprised between 10 mm and 80 mm.

6. The massaging device according to claim 3, wherein Each first roller of the plurality of first rollers (30) and the plurality of pins (32) are made of a material selected from the group comprising a plastic material, a natural rubber, a synthetic rubber, and a metallic material.

7. The massaging device according to claim 1, wherein The first arc-shaped support is made of a material selected from the group comprising a plastic material and a metallic material.

8. The massaging device according to claim 1, wherein The at least one arc-shaped support comprises a second arc-shaped support having a second concave surface and hinged to the first arc-shaped support, the first arc-shaped support and the second arc-shaped support being arranged so that the respective concave surfaces of the first arc-shaped support and of the second arc-shaped support face each other.

9. The massaging device according to claim 8, wherein The second arc-shaped support comprises a plurality of second rollers, each second roller of the plurality of second rollers being constrained in a predetermined position along a second concave surface of the second arc-shaped support, the predetermined positions of the plurality of second rollers being in one radial plane of the second arc-shaped support, each second roller of the plurality of second rollers being rotatable about a rotation axis belonging to a plane substantially parallel to a tangent plane to a profile of the second arc-shaped support at the predetermined position, wherein the rotation axis of each second roller of the plurality of second rollers is inclined with respect to the radial plane of the second arc-shaped support and intersects the radial plane of the second arc-shaped support with an inclination direction opposite to that of the rotation axis of an adjacent second roller.

10. The massaging device according to claim 8, wherein The second arc-shaped support comprises a handle.

11. The massaging device according to claim 9, wherein Each second roller of the plurality of second rollers comprises a plurality of pins made of a flexible material provided on an outer surface thereof.

12. The massaging device according to claim 9, wherein Each of the second plurality of rollers includes a plurality of grooves formed on an outer surface thereof.

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