GB2109253A

GB2109253A - Massage and exercise apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2109253A
Application number: GB08228958A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Lynda Margaret Clements
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1981-10-14
Filing date: 1982-10-11
Publication date: 1983-06-02
Also published as: GB2109253B

Abstract

The apparatus comprises a ring structure having dimensions and cross- sectional shape such that it may be located in spaced relationship around a human body and retained in substantially the selected location when the body is gyrated within the ring structure, and a series of nodes (3) extending around the inner circumference of said ring structure and projecting inwardly thereof. The ring structure may consist of a plurality of releasably interlocking arcuate elements. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFiCATION Massage and exercise apparatus This invention relates to massage and exercise apparatus and, in particular, to apparatus for trimming the waist and adjacent parts.

Various methods are known for trimming body fat from the waist, including gymnastic exercises, manual massage and vibratory pads applied to the body.

The object of the present invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive apparatus which, in conjunction with a simple body movement of the user, is effective to reduce body fat at the waist and other parts According to one feature of the present invention, there is provided massage and exercise apparatus comprising a ring structure having dimensions and cross-sectional shape such that said ring structure may be located in spaced relationship around a human body and retained in substantially the selected location when the body is gyrated within the ring structure, and a series of nodes extending around the inner circumference of said ring structure and projecting inwardly ofthe ring structure. According to another feature of the invention, there is provided an element for constituting, in combination with other such elements, the apparatus set out in the preceding paragraph, said element having the dimensions and cross-sectional shape of an arcuate section of said ring structure, and including means for releasabiy interlocking said element with the corresponding means of another such element.

These and further features of the invention will be apparent from the following description of certain embodiments of the invention, given by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which : Figure 1 shows a plan view of one embodiment of the apparatus; Figure 2 shows an enlarged scale cross-section on line A-A of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows an enlarged scale cross-section on line B-B of Figure 1; Figure 4 shows an alternative cross-section on line B-B of Figure 1; Figure 5 shows in plan view and partly in crosssection an element for forming the apparatus of the invention; Figure 6 shows an enlarged cross-section on line C-C of Figure 5; Figure 7shows an enlarged cross-section on the line D-D of Figure 5; and Figure 8 indicates diagrammatically the apparatus in use.

Referring to Figure 1, this embodiment of the apparatus comprises a tubular ring having an external circumference 1 and an internal circumference 2. Along the inner circumference there are nodes 3 spaced equidistant apart and extending along the whole inner circumference, as indicated by the broken line 3a. The nodes project inwardly towards the centre of the ring. As seen in Figure 2, the cross-section of the ring along line A-A is that of a cylindrical tube 4. Figure 3 shows a node 3, in cross-section on the line B-B of Figure 1, projecting inwardly from the tube 4.

The apparatus may be constructed of any suitable material, such as aluminium or wood. Preferably, however, the apparatus is constructed of a plastics material, such as P.V.C. (poly-vynil chloride). The tube 4, and the nodes 3, may be hollow as shown or one or both may be solid.

The nodes 3 may be attached to the tube 4 (which is one possible construction of the arrangement shown in Figure 3) or may be formed out of the wall of the tube 4, as shown in Figure 4.

Although it is preferred to locate the nodes 3 equidistant apart, it is envisaged that the nodes may be spaced at irregular intervals around the tube 4.

Furthermore, some or all of the nodes may project in the direction of the centre of the ring or at an angle to said direction.

In one specific embodiment, the external circumference 1 of the ring is 244 cms. and the internal circumferences 2 is 234 cms. The diameter of the tube 4 is 1-5 cms. and the nodes 3, of the form shown in Figure 3, project 1 cm. from the inner circumference and are 1 cm. in diameter. Adjacent nodes are separated by a space of 2-5 cms. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the dimensions given in relation to the foregoing specific embodiment.

In order to facilitate transport and storage, the apparatus of the invention may be constituted by a plurality of elements which may be assembled by the user to form the apparatus. Figure 5 shows one embodiment of such an element, intended to be moulded in a resilient plastics material, comprising an arcuate solid ring section 5 provided with a series of solid nodes 6. The cross-section on line C-C is shown in Figure 6 and the corss-section on line D-D is shown in Figure 7. One end of the element is provided with a projection 7 of rectangular crosssection including a pair of flexible locking lugs 8. The other end of the element, shown in cross-section, including a pair of recesses 10.

The arcuate length of the ring section 5 is such that a plurality, for example eight, of such sections when located end-to-end will form a ring similar to that described with reference to Figure 1. The projection 7 and lugs 8 are dimensioned so as to make a close fit when inserted into the bore 9 of an adjacent element, the lugs 8 flexing and locating in the respective recesses 10 to lock the adjacent elements together. The rectangular sections of the projection 7 and bore 9 prevent relative rotation of the adjacent elements.

If desired, the ring section 5 may be formed with a reduced cross-section intermediate the nodes 6, in order to reduce the weight of the assembled appar ratus In use, the apparatus of the invention is located around the body, at waist level, and the user gyrates the waist so as to sustain a rotation of the apparatus about the waist. This movement is indicated in Figure 8 in which the apparatus 11 moves around the body 12, in an anticlockwise direction indicated by the arrow, through the positions shown in the sequence a to d. In use, the apparatus may be allowed to move to other parts of the body, such as the hips and thighs. The apparatus may move around the body in either a clockwise or anticlockwise direction.

The nodes, projecting from the inner circumference of the ring, massage the body and pummel away the fatty layers lying under the skin. Slowly, but effectively, the fatty layers are broken down. The apparatus also stimulates blood circulation and increases the efficiency of the body to remove worn-out cell debris. In addition, the muscles are toned-up, thus replacing an unhealthy out-ofcondition body with a slimmer, shapelier and healthier body.

Claims

1. Massage and exercise apparatus comprising a ring structure having dimensions and crosssectional shape such that said ring structure may be located in spaced relationship around a human body and retained in substantially the selected location when the body is gyrated within the ring structure, and a series of nodes extending around the inner circumference of said ring structure and projecting inwardly of the ring structure.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said ring structure has the cross-sectional shape of a cylindrical tube intermediate adjacent nodes.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said ring structure is solid in cross-section intermediate adjacent nodes.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said nodes are spaced equidistantly around said inner circumference.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said nodes project inwardly towards the centre of said ring structure.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said nodes are formed integrally with said ring structure.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said nodes are solid.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said ring structure consists of a plurality of arcuate elements, each said element including means for releasably interlocking said element with the corresponding means of the adjacent element.

9. An element for constituting, in combination with other such elements, the apparatus of claim 1, said element having the dimensions and crosssectional shape of an arcuate section of said ring structure, and including means for releasably interlocking said element with the corresponding means of another such element.

10. Massage and exercise apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.