MASSAGE ROLLER WITH PRESSURE SENSORS

[0001] This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/086,793, filed on Oct. 2, 2020, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0002] Exercise is a popular way to improve a person's fitness and health. Often, during exercise, or as a result of other activities, a user may experience muscle soreness, such as knots, tight muscles, and so forth. One way to relieve pain and loosen knots and tight muscles is to receive a massage. Foam rollers are used to massage muscles and loosen knots and tight muscles.

[0003] In some embodiments, a roller includes a body having a cylindrical shape. The body has a first end, a second end, and a rolling surface that extends between the first end and the second end. A pressure sensor is located at the rolling surface.

[0004] In some embodiments, a method for performing a massage includes rolling a muscle along the roller and measuring a pressure profile of the muscle using the pressure sensor. In some embodiments, a method includes measuring a plurality of pressure measurements. A pressure change between two subsequent pressure measurements is used to determine if a massage program should be changed.

[0005] This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in limiting the scope of the claimed subject matter.

[0006] Additional features and advantages of embodiments of the disclosure will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by the practice of such embodiments. The features and advantages of such embodiments may be realized and obtained by means of the instruments and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. These and other features will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of such embodiments as set forth hereinafter.

[0013] This disclosure generally relates to devices, systems, and methods for a massage roller (herein “roller”) including one or more pressure sensors. The pressure sensors may measure the pressure applied by a user's muscles to the roller. The roller may develop a pressure profile of the user's muscles. By analyzing the pressure profile, the roller may identify knots, sore muscles, tight muscles, other muscular irregularities, and combinations thereof. The roller may analyze multiple pressure profiles generated over a period of time. A change in pressure profiles may indicate that the muscle has relaxed. This may help to increase blood flow to the muscles, thereby reducing soreness and improving recovery time from a workout or an accident.

[0014] FIG. 1 is a representation of a roller 100, according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. The roller 100 includes a body 102 having a first end 104, a second end 106, and a rolling surface 108 extending between the first end 104 and the second end 106. In the embodiment shown, the body 102 has a cylindrical shape (e.g., has a constant circular cross-sectional shape between the first end 104 and the second end 106.) In some embodiments, the body 102 may be generally cylindrical, or have a generally round, arcuate, curved, ovoid, or other round shape. In some embodiments, the body 102 may have a length that is longer than its diameter. In some embodiments, the body 102 may have a diameter that is larger than its length. Furthermore, it should be understood that the body 102 may have any shape, including prismatic (e.g., having a constant cross-sectional shape between the first end 104 and the second end 106), conical, pyramidal, any other shape, and combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the cross-sectional shape and/or size (e.g., cross-sectional area) of the body 102 may vary along the length of the rolling surface 108.

[0015] In some embodiments, the rolling surface 108 may be smooth. In some embodiments, the rolling surface may include one or more ridges, indentations, protrusions, other surface features, and combinations thereof. Varying the smoothness of the rolling surface 108 may help the roller 100 to vary the force applied to a user during a massage.

[0016] To massage a muscle using the roller 100, a user may place that muscle on the rolling surface 108 and roll the roller 100 along a support surface. This may release lactic acid buildup in the muscle, relieve tension in the muscle, or otherwise provide relief to the muscle. For example, to massage a user's back, the user would lay down on the support surface (e.g., the floor) with her back on the rolling surface 108. The user would rock back and forth to massage her back.

[0017] In some situations, the user's muscle may be tense, have a knot, be tight, be sore, or otherwise cause discomfort. The sore portion of the muscle may be harder than the rest of the muscle and/or a relaxed muscle. The roller 100 shown includes at least one pressure sensor 110. The at least one pressure sensor 110 may be configured to measure the pressure applied by the user's muscles to the roller 100. During a massage using the roller 100, the pressure sensor 110 may compare pressure measurements to determine if a user's muscle is loosening up. This may help the user to know when to stop massaging the muscle.

[0018] In some embodiments, the pressure sensor 110 may be located at any location on the roller 100. For example, the pressure sensor 110 may be located on the top of the rolling surface 108. In some examples, the pressure sensor 110 may be located underneath (e.g., embedded in) the rolling surface 108. In some embodiments, the roller 100 may include multiple pressure sensors located at different depths beneath the rolling surface 108.

[0019] In some embodiments, the pressure sensor 110 may be any type of pressure sensor. For example, the pressure sensor 110 may be a strain gauge, a piezoelectric element, a capacitive element, a mechanical sensor, any other type of sensor, and combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the roller 100 may include a single pressure sensor 110. In some embodiments, the roller 100 may include a plurality of pressure sensors 110.

[0020] FIG. 2 is a representation of a side view of a roller 200, according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. The roller 200 includes a plurality of pressure sensors 210 arranged along circumference of a rolling surface 208. In this manner, as a user rolls a muscle along the roller 200, the roller 200 may receive pressure measurements along the rolling length of the muscle. This may help to identify and provide relief for knots, sore muscles, muscle tension, other muscular pain, and combinations thereof.

[0021] FIG. 3 is a representation of a top view of a roller 300, according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. The roller 300 includes a plurality of pressure sensors 310 arranged along a rolling surface 308. The pressure sensors 310 are arranged along a length of the rolling surface between a first end 304 and a second end 306. In this manner, the roller 300 may measure pressure measurements of a user's muscles across the length of the user's muscle. This may help to identify and provide relief for knots, sore muscles, muscle tension, other muscular pain, and combinations thereof.

[0022] In some embodiments, the roller 300 may include a plurality of pressure sensors 310 arranged in a grid along the rolling surface 308. For example, the roller 300 may include a circumferential row of pressure sensors 310 (e.g., as seen in FIG. 2) at each longitudinal location along the length of the rolling surface 308. These pressure sensors 310 may allow the roller 300 to develop a detailed pressure profile of the pressure exerted by a user's muscles on the roller 300. The pressure profile may allow the roller to determine location of tight and sore muscles. By continually receiving pressure measurements and determining pressure changes (e.g., changes in pressure measurements), the roller may determine if a knot or sore muscle has been loosened.

[0023] FIG. 4 is a representation of a method 412 for performing a massage, according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. The method 412 includes rolling a muscle along a roller, the roller including a first end, a second end, and a rolling surface extending between the first end and the second end at 414. A pressure profile is of the profile is measured using a pressure sensor located at the rolling surface at 416.

[0024] In some embodiments, the method may include identifying a knot in the muscle using the pressure profile. For example, a knot may be identified by determining that a first portion of the muscle is exerting more pressure on the roller than a second portion. The pressure profile may then be analyzed over time to identify a reduction in the knot. In other words, pressure measurements taken by the pressure sensor may be compared over a period of time to determine if the knot has reduced or been eliminated.

[0025] In some embodiments, if the roller has determined that there is a reduction in the knot, the roller may provide a notification to the user. For example, the roller may provide a notification to the user to stop massaging the muscle. In some examples, the roller may provide a notification to the user to begin massaging a second muscle. In some embodiments, the notification may be an audible alert, a visual alert, a physical alert (e.g., a vibration), or any other type of alert. In some embodiments, the notification may be provided to a mobile device such as a cellular phone or other mobile device.

[0026] In some embodiments, the pressure profile may be measured using a plurality of pressure sensors. For example, the roller may include a plurality of pressure sensors located in a grid about the rolling surface of the roller. The pressure profile generated may then generate a three-dimensional map of the pressure of the user's muscle. The three-dimensional pressure profile may be compared to known pressure profiles for relaxed muscles. This may help to identify knots and/or areas of high tension. This may further help the roller to determine when a massage may be completed.

[0027] FIG. 5 is a representation of a method 518, according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. The method 518 includes performing a massage program using a roller at 520. The method 518 further includes taking a first pressure measurement of a muscle at a first time using a pressure sensor on a rolling surface of the roller at 522. A second pressure measurement is taken at a second time at 524. A first pressure change is determined between the first pressure measurement and the second pressure measurement at 526. The roller may analyze the pressure change. If there is a reduction in the pressure change at 528, the roller may change the massage program at 530. If there is no reduction in the pressure change, then the roller may take more pressure measurements.

[0028] In some embodiments, the method 518 may include taking a third pressure measurement and determining a second pressure change between the second pressure measurement and the third pressure measurement. In some embodiments, the massage program may be changed based on the first pressure change and the second pressure change. For example, if the second pressure change is less than the first pressure change, then the roller may stop the massage program. In some embodiments, if the second pressure change is zero (e.g., no pressure change) over a period of time (e.g., 1 s, 5 s, 10 s, 15 s, 30 s, 60 s), then the roller may stop the massage program.

[0029] In some embodiments, each pressure measurement may be taken at the same measurement location on the muscle. In some embodiments, the pressure measurement may be a pressure profile measured from a plurality of pressure sensors on the roller. Determining the pressure change may include determining a pressure change in an average measured pressure over a period of time.

[0030] One or more specific embodiments of the present disclosure are described herein. These described embodiments are examples of the presently disclosed techniques. Additionally, in an effort to provide a concise description of these embodiments, not all features of an actual embodiment may be described in the specification. It should be appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation, as in any engineering or design project, numerous embodiment-specific decisions will be made to achieve the developers' specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints, which may vary from one embodiment to another. Moreover, it should be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking of design, fabrication, and manufacture for those of ordinary skill having the benefit of this disclosure.

[0031] This disclosure generally relates to devices, systems, and methods for a massage roller (herein “roller”) including one or more pressure sensors. The pressure sensors may measure the pressure applied by a user's muscles to the roller. The roller may develop a pressure profile of the user's muscles. By analyzing the pressure profile, the roller may identify knots, sore muscles, tight muscles, other muscular irregularities, and combinations thereof. The roller may analyze multiple pressure profiles generated over a period of time. A change in pressure profiles may indicate that the muscle has relaxed. This may help to increase blood flow to the muscles, thereby reducing soreness and improving recovery time from a workout or an accident.

[0032] In some embodiments, a roller may include a body having a first end, a second end, and a rolling surface extending between the first end and the second end. In the embodiment shown, the body has a cylindrical shape (e.g., has a constant circular cross-sectional shape between the first end and the second end.) In some embodiments, the body may be generally cylindrical, or have a generally round, arcuate, curved, ovoid, or other round shape. In some embodiments, the body may have a length that is longer than its diameter. In some embodiments, the body may have a diameter that is larger than its length. Furthermore, it should be understood that the body may have any shape, including prismatic (e.g., having a constant cross-sectional shape between the first end and the second end), conical, pyramidal, any other shape, and combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the cross-sectional shape and/or size (e.g., cross-sectional area) of the body may vary along the length of the rolling surface.

[0033] In some embodiments, the rolling surface may be smooth. In some embodiments, the rolling surface may include one or more ridges, indentations, protrusions, other surface features, and combinations thereof. Varying the smoothness of the rolling surface may help the roller to vary the force applied to a user during a massage.

[0034] To massage a muscle using the roller, a user may place that muscle on the rolling surface and roll the roller along a support surface. This may release lactic acid buildup in the muscle, relieve tension in the muscle, or otherwise provide relief to the muscle. For example, to massage a user's back, the user would lay down on the support surface (e.g., the floor) with her back on the rolling surface. The user would rock back and forth to massage her back.

[0035] In some situations, the user's muscle may be tense, have a knot, be tight, be sore, or otherwise cause discomfort. The sore portion of the muscle may be harder than the rest of the muscle and/or a relaxed muscle. The roller shown includes at least one pressure sensor. The at least one pressure sensor may be configured to measure the pressure applied by the user's muscles to the roller. During a massage using the roller, the pressure sensor may compare pressure measurements to determine if a user's muscle is loosening up. This may help the user to know when to stop massaging the muscle.

[0036] In some embodiments, the pressure sensor may be located at any location on the roller. For example, the pressure sensor may be located on the top of the rolling surface. In some examples, the pressure sensor may be located underneath (e.g., embedded in) the rolling surface. In some embodiments, the roller may include multiple pressure sensors located at different depths beneath the rolling surface.

[0037] In some embodiments, the pressure sensor may be any type of pressure sensor. For example, the pressure sensor may be a strain gauge, a piezoelectric element, a capacitive element, a mechanical sensor, any other type of sensor, and combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the roller may include a single pressure sensor. In some embodiments, the roller may include a plurality of pressure sensors.

[0038] In some embodiments, a roller may include a plurality of pressure sensors arranged along circumference of a rolling surface. In this manner, as a user rolls a muscle along the roller, the roller may receive pressure measurements along the rolling length of the muscle. This may help to identify and provide relief for knots, sore muscles, muscle tension, other muscular pain, and combinations thereof.

[0039] In some embodiments, a roller includes a plurality of pressure sensors arranged along a rolling surface. The pressure sensors are arranged along a length of the rolling surface between a first end and a second end. In this manner, the roller may measure pressure measurements of a user's muscles across the length of the user's muscle. This may help to identify and provide relief for knots, sore muscles, muscle tension, other muscular pain, and combinations thereof.

[0040] In some embodiments, the roller may include a plurality of pressure sensors arranged in a grid along the rolling surface. For example, the roller may include a circumferential row of pressure sensors at each longitudinal location along the length of the rolling surface. These pressure sensors may allow the roller to develop a detailed pressure profile of the pressure exerted by a user's muscles on the roller. The pressure profile may allow the roller to determine location of tight and sore muscles. By continually receiving pressure measurements and determining pressure changes (e.g., changes in pressure measurements), the roller may determine if a knot or sore muscle has been loosened.

[0041] In some embodiments, a method for performing a massage includes rolling a muscle along a roller, the roller including a first end, a second end, and a rolling surface extending between the first end and the second end. A pressure profile is of the profile is measured using a pressure sensor located at the rolling surface.

[0042] In some embodiments, the method may include identifying a knot in the muscle using the pressure profile. For example, a knot may be identified by determining that a first portion of the muscle is exerting more pressure on the roller than a second portion. The pressure profile may then be analyzed over time to identify a reduction in the knot. In other words, pressure measurements taken by the pressure sensor may be compared over a period of time to determine if the knot has reduced or been eliminated.

[0043] In some embodiments, if the roller has determined that there is a reduction in the knot, the roller may provide a notification to the user. For example, the roller may provide a notification to the user to stop massaging the muscle. In some examples, the roller may provide a notification to the user to begin massaging a second muscle. In some embodiments, the notification may be an audible alert, a visual alert, a physical alert (e.g., a vibration), or any other type of alert. In some embodiments, the notification may be provided to a mobile device such as a cellular phone or other mobile device.

[0044] In some embodiments, the pressure profile may be measured using a plurality of pressure sensors. For example, the roller may include a plurality of pressure sensors located in a grid about the rolling surface of the roller. The pressure profile generated may then generate a three-dimensional map of the pressure of the user's muscle. The three-dimensional pressure profile may be compared to known pressure profiles for relaxed muscles. This may help to identify knots and/or areas of high tension. This may further help the roller to determine when a massage may be completed.

[0045] In some embodiments, a method includes performing a massage program using a roller. The method further includes taking a first pressure measurement of a muscle at a first time using a pressure sensor on a rolling surface of the roller. A second pressure measurement is taken at a second time. A first pressure change is determined between the first pressure measurement and the second pressure measurement. The roller may analyze the pressure change. If there is a reduction in the pressure change at 528, the roller may change the massage program. If there is no reduction in the pressure change, then the roller may take more pressure measurements.

[0046] In some embodiments, the method may include taking a third pressure measurement and determining a second pressure change between the second pressure measurement and the third pressure measurement. In some embodiments, the massage program may be changed based on the first pressure change and the second pressure change. For example, if the second pressure change is less than the first pressure change, then the roller may stop the massage program. In some embodiments, if the second pressure change is zero (e.g., no pressure change) over a period of time (e.g., 1 s, 5 s, 10 s, 15 s, 30 s, 60 s), then the roller may stop the massage program.

[0047] In some embodiments, each pressure measurement may be taken at the same measurement location on the muscle. In some embodiments, the pressure measurement may be a pressure profile measured from a plurality of pressure sensors on the roller. Determining the pressure change may include determining a pressure change in an average measured pressure over a period of time.

[0048] One or more specific embodiments of the present disclosure are described herein. These described embodiments are examples of the presently disclosed techniques. Additionally, in an effort to provide a concise description of these embodiments, not all features of an actual embodiment may be described in the specification. It should be appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation, as in any engineering or design project, numerous embodiment-specific decisions will be made to achieve the developers' specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints, which may vary from one embodiment to another. Moreover, it should be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking of design, fabrication, and manufacture for those of ordinary skill having the benefit of this disclosure.

[0049] Following are sections consistent with embodiments of the present disclosure:

• [0050] 1. A roller, comprising:
  • [0051] a body with a generally cylindrical shape, the body having a first end, a second end, and a rolling surface extending between the first end and the second end; and
  • [0052] a pressure sensor located at the rolling surface.
• [0053] 2. The roller of section 1, wherein the pressure sensor includes a plurality of pressure sensors.
• [0054] 3. The roller of section 2, wherein the plurality of pressure sensors extend in a row along a length of the rolling surface from the first end to the second end.
• [0055] 4. The roller of section 2 or 3, wherein the plurality of pressure sensors extend circumferentially around the rolling surface.
• [0056] 5. The roller of any of sections 2-4, wherein the plurality of pressure sensors form a grid along the rolling surface between the first end and the second end.
• [0057] 6. The roller of any of sections 1-5, wherein the pressure sensor is located beneath the rolling surface.
• [0058] 7. The roller of any of sections 1-6, wherein the rolling surface includes one or more ridges.
• [0059] 8. A method for performing a massage, comprising:
  • [0060] rolling a muscle along a roller, the roller including a first end, a second end, and a rolling surface extending between the first end and the second end; and
  • [0061] measuring a pressure profile of the muscle using a pressure sensor located at the rolling surface.
• [0062] 9. The method of section 8, further comprising identifying a knot in the muscle using the pressure profile.
• [0063] 10. The method of section 9, further comprising analyzing the pressure profile over time.
• [0064] 11. The method of section 10, further comprising identifying a reduction in the knot.
• [0065] 12. The method of section 11, further comprising providing a notification to stop rolling the muscle after identifying the reduction in the knot.
• [0066] 13. The method of any of sections 8-12, wherein the pressure sensor includes a plurality of pressure sensors, and wherein measuring the pressure profile of the muscle includes measuring the pressure profile using the plurality of sensors.
• [0067] 14. The method of section 13, wherein the plurality of pressure sensors form a grid along the rolling surface between the first end and the second end.
• [0068] 15. A method for performing a massage, comprising:
  • [0069] performing a massage program using a roller;
  • [0070] taking a first pressure measurement of a muscle at a first time using a pressure sensor on a rolling surface of the roller, the rolling surface extending between a first end and a second end;
  • [0071] taking a second pressure measurement of the muscle at a second time using the pressure sensor;
  • [0072] determining a first pressure change between the first pressure measurement and the second pressure measurement;
  • [0073] taking a third pressure measurement of the muscle at a third time using the pressure sensor;
  • [0074] determining a second pressure change between the third pressure measurement and the second pressure measurement; and based on the first pressure change and the second pressure change, changing the massage program.
• [0075] 16. The method of section 15, wherein taking the first pressure measurement, the second pressure measurement, and the third pressure measurement includes taking the first pressure measurement, the second pressure measurement, and the third pressure measurement at the same measurement location on the muscle.
• [0076] 17. The method of section 15 or 16, wherein changing the massage program includes ending the massage program.
• [0077] 18. The method of section 17, wherein ending the massage program includes ending the massage program when the second pressure change is less than the first pressure change.
• [0078] 19. The method of any of sections 15-18, wherein taking the first pressure measurement, the second pressure measurement, and the third pressure measurement includes taking a first pressure profile, a second pressure profile, and a third pressure profile, the first pressure profile, the second pressure profile, and the third pressure profile being measured from a plurality of sensors extending along the rolling surface.
• [0079] 20. The method of any of sections 15-19, wherein determining the first pressure change includes determining an average change in measured pressure over a period of time.

[0080] The articles “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements in the preceding descriptions. The terms “comprising,” “including,” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements. Additionally, it should be understood that references to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” of the present disclosure are not intended to be interpreted as excluding the existence of additional embodiments that also incorporate the recited features. For example, any element described in relation to an embodiment herein may be combinable with any element of any other embodiment described herein. Numbers, percentages, ratios, or other values stated herein are intended to include that value, and also other values that are “about” or “approximately” the stated value, as would be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art encompassed by embodiments of the present disclosure. A stated value should therefore be interpreted broadly enough to encompass values that are at least close enough to the stated value to perform a desired function or achieve a desired result. The stated values include at least the variation to be expected in a suitable manufacturing or production process, and may include values that are within 5%, within 1%, within 0.1%, or within 0.01% of a stated value.

[0081] A person having ordinary skill in the art should realize in view of the present disclosure that equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure, and that various changes, substitutions, and alterations may be made to embodiments disclosed herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Equivalent constructions, including functional “means-plus-function” clauses are intended to cover the structures described herein as performing the recited function, including both structural equivalents that operate in the same manner, and equivalent structures that provide the same function. It is the express intention of the applicant not to invoke means-plus-function or other functional claiming for any claim except for those in which the words ‘means for’ appear together with an associated function. Each addition, deletion, and modification to the embodiments that falls within the meaning and scope of the claims is to be embraced by the claims.

[0082] The terms “approximately,” “about,” and “substantially” as used herein represent an amount close to the stated amount that still performs a desired function or achieves a desired result. For example, the terms “approximately,” “about,” and “substantially” may refer to an amount that is within less than 5% of, within less than 1% of, within less than 0.1% of, and within less than 0.01% of a stated amount. Further, it should be understood that any directions or reference frames in the preceding description are merely relative directions or movements. For example, any references to “up” and “down” or “above” or “below” are merely descriptive of the relative position or movement of the related elements.

[0083] The present disclosure may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the disclosure is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. Changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.