# US 12,005,020 B2 · Automated massage apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,005,020 B2 - Document ID: US12005020B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/975,123 - Filed: 2019-02-28 - Published: 2021-03-25 - Granted: 2024-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2018-02-28 - Applicants: Grey Technology Limited - Inventors: Nicholas Gerald Grey; Matthew Isted; Daniel Brooks - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12005020B2 ## CPC - A61H 15/00: Massage by means of rollers, balls, e.g. inflatable, chains, or roller chains - A61H 15/0078: {power-driven} - A61G 13/009: {Physiotherapeutic tables, beds or platforms; Chiropractic or osteopathic tables (with incorporated massage means A61H2201/0138)} - A61G 13/105: {Portable, foldable or collapsible tables, e.g. for surgery or treatment (portable, foldable or collapsible chairs for surgery or dental treatment A61G15/002)} - A61H 2015/0014: {cylinder-like, i.e. rollers} - A61H 2201/0142: Beds - A61H 2201/0161: Size reducing arrangements when not in use, for stowing or transport - A61H 2201/0192: Specific means for adjusting dimensions - A61H 2201/1207: with electric or magnetic drive - A61H 2201/1215: Rotary drive - A61H 2201/149: rotation-linear or vice versa - A61H 2201/1626: Holding means therefor - A61H 2201/1669: moving along the body in a reciprocating manner - A61H 2201/1671: rotational - A61H 2201/5002: Means for controlling a set of similar massage devices acting in sequence at different locations on a patient - A61H 2201/5064: Position sensors - A61H 2203/0443: substantially horizontal - A61H 2205/081: Back - A61H: PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY (electrotherapy, magnetotherapy, radiation therapy or ultrasound therapy A61N) - A61G: TRANSPORT, PERSONAL CONVEYANCES OR ACCOMMODATION SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PATIENTS OR DISABLED PERSONS (appliances for aiding patients or disabled persons to walk A61H3/00); OPERATING TABLES OR CHAIRS; CHAIRS FOR DENTISTRY; FUNERAL DEVICES (embalming corpses A01N1/00) ## Abstract The present invention relates to an automated massage apparatus (10) having a substantially horizontal bed (20) which provides a massage surface (12). A massage element or roller (14) can move relative to the massage surface to provide an automated massage to the whole or selected parts of the body of a user lying upon the bed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A portable automated massage apparatus having a massage surface and a massage element which is movable relative to the massage surface, the massage surface being provided by a substantially horizontal bed, the bed including a substantially rigid frame to which the massage surface is mounted, the frame including a set of legs which hold the massage surface above a floor in use, the massage element being mounted to a motor housing, the motor housing including a wheeled carriage, the wheels of the carriage being located to engage the floor during use, the bed having a guide rail for the motor housing, the motor housing being removable from the guide rail and the guide rail being removably mounted to the frame, the bed being assembled from separable components which enable disassembly of the bed. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The automated massage apparatus of claim 1 in which the massage surface is a fabric held substantially tightly by the frame. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The automated massage apparatus of claim 1 in which the massage surface is flexible and resilient. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The automated massage apparatus of claim 1 in which the massage surface is non-uniform and includes localised deformations. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The automated massage apparatus of claim 1 in which the massage surface is non-uniform and includes localised additional support. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The automated massage apparatus of claim 1 in which the massage element is located below the massage surface. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The automated massage apparatus of claim 1 in which the massage element comprises a roller. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The automated massage apparatus of claim 7 in which the roller is driven to traverse the massage surface. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The automated massage apparatus of claim 7 in which the massage surface has a length and in which the roller is adapted to traverse substantially the full length of the massage surface. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The automated massage apparatus of claim 7 in which the roller rotates as the roller traverses the massage surface. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The automated massage apparatus of claim 10 in which the roller is mounted upon bearings to rotate passively due to the roller's frictional engagement with the massage surface. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The automated massage apparatus of claim 1 in which a surface of the massage element is uneven. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The automated massage apparatus of claim 1 in which the massage element is adapted to exert a pressure upon an underside of the massage surface, the apparatus having means to adjust the pressure. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The automated massage apparatus of claim 1 in which the bed has a longitudinal axis and in which the motor housing is arranged to traverse in a direction substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The automated massage apparatus of claim 1 in which the massage element is movable vertically relative to the motor housing. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The automated massage apparatus of claim 1 in which the guide rail has a rack and the motor housing has a pinion. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The automated massage apparatus of claim 1 having a controller for the massage element, the guide rail having at least one indicator and the motor housing having a detector by which the controller is adapted to identify a position of the motor housing relative to the guide rail. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The automated massage apparatus of claim 17 in which the guide rail has respective indicators adjacent to each end of the guide rail. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The automated massage apparatus of claim 17 in which the guide rail has a length and has respective indicators along substantially the full length of the guide rail. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The automated massage apparatus of claim 1 in which the massage surface is at least approximately 1.9 metres long and at least approximately 0.6 metres wide.