1. A portable massage device comprising:
a pole having a length of between three and twelve feet fashioned from a slightly flexible material having substantial tensile strength,
said pole having a distal end whereupon is attached an anchoring means for stably positioning said distal end of said pole during use, and said pole having a proximal end whereupon is attached a massage head element,
wherein said massage device comprises a class three lever such that the anchoring means comprises a fulcrum and the pole comprises a beam and the massage head applies a load to the body of a person.
2. The massage device of claim 1, further comprising a handle element attached to the pole at a position intermediate between the distal end and the proximal end.
3. The massage device of claim 2, wherein the position of the handle element is adjustable.
4. The massage device of claim 2, wherein the handle element comprises a handlebars, a crossbar, a rope, or any other handle apparatus known in the field of physical fitness equipment.
5. The massage device of claim 4, wherein the handle element comprises one or a plurality of elastic bands.
6. The massage device of claim 1, wherein the massage head element comprises one or a plurality of rollers.
7. The massage device of claim 1, wherein the massage head element comprises fingerlike protuberances.
8. The massage device of claim 1, wherein the massage head element comprises a means for delivering transcutaneous electronic nerve stimulation.
9. The massage device of claim 1, wherein the massage head element comprises the carriage and wheels of a landsurfing apparatus.
10. The massage device of claim 1, wherein the massage head element is removably attached in order to permit the attachment of a variety of interchangeable massage head elements.
11. The massage device of claim 1, wherein the device is waterproof and corrosion-resistant.
12. The massage device of claim 1, wherein the anchoring means connects to a vertically adjustable exercise apparatus such as a Smith Machine.
13. The massage device of claim 1, wherein the anchoring means connects to a mounting means, said mounting means acting to secure the distal end of the pole in a certain functional position.
14. The massage device of claim 13, wherein the mounting means is a bracket mounted to an external surface, wherein said external surface is a wall, floor, ceiling, or the like.
15. The massage device of claim 1, wherein the anchoring means comprises a knob fashioned from a material having a high coefficient of friction, wherein said material comprises synthetic rubber, plastic, wood or the like.
16. The massage device of claim 1, wherein the pole is fashioned from pressure treated lumber.
17. The massage device of claim 1, wherein the pole is fashioned from one or a plurality of plastic compounds.
18. The massage device of claim 1, wherein the pole comprises multiple sections and the length of the pole is adjustable.
19. A method for a person to perform self-massage using the portable massage device of claim 1, the method comprising the steps of:
stably positioning the anchoring means at a height ranging between several feet below floor level to several feet overhead,
positioning the massage head element against a location on the body of the person where massage and muscle manipulation are desired by the person,
and manipulating the pole by grasping the pole at a position intermediate between the distal and proximal end, such that the device acts as a class three lever and the massage head element applies a load which provides beneficial force to the location on the body.
20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the steps of:
continuously manipulating the pole during a bout of self-massage by applying varying degrees of pressure to the pole in one or a plurality of directions such that the massage head element dynamically manipulates the subcutaneous tissues at the location on the body.
21. The method of claim 19, further comprising the steps of:
achieving the manipulation of the pole by grasping a handle element attached to the pole.
22. The method of claim 19, further comprising the steps of:
engaging in a massage routine wherein the anchoring means is positioned at various heights and the massage head is applied to various locations on the body, and wherein the body is moved beneath the massage head to enhance the massaging effect of the massage head element.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A valve comprising:
a flexible tube having first and second end portions defining an inlet and an outlet, respectively;
a rigid valve body surrounding the flexible tube, the end portions of the flexible tube being sealingly fixed to the valve body to define an enclosed space between the exterior of the flexible tube and the interior of the valve body;
a fixed volume of a substantially incompressible fluid filling said enclosed space;
wherein the arrangement is such that, when the pressure at the outlet is greater than the pressure at the inlet, the flexible tube adjacent the outlet moves outwards displacing some of the fluid from the outlet region towards the inlet region so that the flexible tube is compressed in the region adjacent the inlet and the flexible tube is substantially collapsed so as to close the valve or allow severely restricted flow;
wherein, when the pressure at the inlet is greater than that at the outlet, some of the fluid is displaced from the inlet area towards the outlet area so that the flexible tube is expanded in the area adjacent the inlet.
2. A valve as claimed in claim 1 wherein the girth of the second end portion of the flexible tube is greater than the girth of the first end portion of the flexible tube.
3. A valve as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first portion of the flexible tube is closed in its relaxed state.
4. A valve as claimed in claim 3 wherein biasing means are provided to bias the first portion of the flexible tube to a closed position; wherein the biasing means comprise clamping means clamping each lateral side of the flexible tube together, but allowing expansion of the central part of the flexible tube.
5. A valve as claimed in claim 3 wherein biasing means are provided to bias the first portion of the flexible tube to a closed position; wherein the biasing means comprises stitching retaining each lateral side of the flexible tube together but allowing expansion of the central part of the flexible tube.
6. A valve as claimed in claim 3 further comprising a spigot and at least one reinforcement member, the spigot comprising a spigot inlet portion and a spigot outlet portion, the inlet of the flexible tube comprising an attachment portion adapted for sealing attachment to the spigot, and the at least one reinforcement member being adapted to pivot on the spigot outlet portion to reinforce the flexible tube against an externally applied pressure when the valve is closed, and move with the flexible tube when the valve opens.
7. A valve according to claim 6 wherein the reinforcement member is an inner stiff member or an inner stiff plate attached to an inner surface of the flexible tube, and the spigot outlet portion is extended as one or more inclined surfaces that reinforce the flexible tube against an externally applied pressure when the valve is closed.
8. A valve according to claim 6:
wherein the reinforcement member comprises an outer stiff member securely linked to an inner stiff member to form a composite reinforcement member;
wherein the outer stiff member is attached to an outer surface of the flexible tube;
wherein the inner stiff member is attached to an inner surface of the flexible tube;
wherein the spigot outlet portion is extended as one or more inclined surfaces that reinforce the flexible tube against an externally applied pressure when the valve is closed.
9. A valve according to claim 3 wherein the second portion of the flexible tube is biased by its construction towards being open in its relaxed state.
10. A valve as claimed in claim 1 wherein the length of the second portion of the flexible tube is longer than its first portion.
11. A valve as claimed in claim 1 wherein the flexible tube comprises two or more part tubes fixed together by clamping, or other suitable means to define a tube.
12. A valve according to claim 1 wherein outward excursions of the flexible tube towards a localized flattening in regions adjacent the outlet are restricted by means outside of the second portion of the flexible tube limiting such excursions, thereby preventing closure of the second portion.
13. A valve as claimed in claim 1 wherein a plurality of flexible cables or ligaments adjustable in length are located in flexible conduits embedded within the flexible tube and are used to control the shape of the flexible tube when it is closing.
14. A valve as claimed in claim 1 wherein the walls of the flexible tube in the first portion are more flexible than the walls of the flexible tube in the second portion.
15. A valve comprising:
a flexible tube having first and second end portions defining an inlet and an outlet, respectively;
a rigid valve body surrounding the flexible tube, the end portions of the flexible tube being sealingly fixed to the valve body to define an enclosed space between the exterior of the flexible tube and the interior of the valve body;
a fixed volume of a substantially incompressible fluid located in the said enclosed space;
wherein the arrangement is such that when the pressure at the outlet is greater than the pressure at the inlet, the flexible tube adjacent the outlet moves outwards displacing some of the fluid from the outlet region towards the inlet region so that the flexible tube is compressed in the region adjacent the inlet and the flexible tube is substantially collapsed so as to close the valve or allow severely restricted flow;
wherein when the pressure at the inlet is greater than that at the outlet, some of the fluid is displaced from the inlet area towards the outlet area so that the flexible tube is expanded in the area adjacent the inlet;
wherein reinforcing spokes are defined in the flexible tube adjacent the inlet;
wherein each spoke comprises a round section stiff bar with a first ball joint element disposed toward the inlet;
wherein one or more retaining rings disposed toward the inlet holds the first ball joint elements in sockets so as to dispose the first ball joint elements in a circular configuration.
16. A valve according to claim 15:
wherein each spoke further comprises a second ball joint element disposed toward the outlet;
wherein each second ball joint element pivotally engages a shoe adapted to move engagingly with the flexible tube as the valve closes and opens;
wherein the shoe provides an enlarged area over which forces from an externally applied pressure are distributed when the valve is closed.
17. A valve as claimed in claim 15:
wherein the reinforcing spokes comprise a plurality of pairs of the reinforcing spokes:
wherein each adjacent pair of reinforcing spokes are spaced apart by a plurality of links; wherein each link encircles both of an adjacent pair of the reinforcing spokes to allow rotation of each reinforcing spoke within each link while holding the reinforcing spokes in a spaced array;
whereby the spaced array provides a flexible tubular assembly of spaced reinforcing spokes.
18. A valve as claimed in claim 15:
wherein the reinforcing spokes comprise a plurality of pairs of the reinforcing spokes:
wherein each adjacent pair of the reinforcing spokes are spaced apart by one or more ligaments that are woven to encircle each spoke and hold adjacent reinforcing spokes in a flexible tubular assembly of spaced reinforcing spokes.