IP Verse

Attachment System For A Plurality Of Treatment Members

Patent No. US11166863 (titled "Attachment System For A Plurality Of Treatment Members") was filed by Flexir Recovery Llc on Apr 1, 2020.

What is this patent about?

’863 is related to the field of therapeutic massage devices, specifically addressing the problem of easily and securely attaching treatment elements to a reciprocating device. The background acknowledges that existing attachment mechanisms can be complicated and prone to loosening due to vibrations, creating a need for a more robust and user-friendly system.

The underlying idea behind ’863 is to provide a versatile adapter that allows multiple treatment heads to be simultaneously used with a single reciprocating massage device. This is achieved through a main body that connects to the device's reciprocating shaft and features multiple arms extending from it. Each arm terminates in an attachment point designed to securely hold a treatment head.

The claims of ’863 focus on an adapter assembly featuring a main body with a top attachment member for connection to a reciprocating device and first and second arms extending from the main body. The arms terminate in first and second bottom attachment members, each having a flat surface with a detent or biased ball . Crucially, the flat surfaces of the two bottom attachment members are non-parallel.

In practice, the adapter assembly is connected to the reciprocating shaft of a massage device. Two treatment heads are then attached to the bottom attachment members on the arms. The non-parallel flat surfaces with detents or biased balls ensure a secure and stable connection, preventing the treatment heads from rotating or detaching during use. This allows for simultaneous application of different treatment modalities or increased coverage area.

This design differentiates itself from prior approaches by offering a simple yet effective way to use multiple treatment heads simultaneously. The use of arms extending from the main body provides spatial separation between the treatment heads, while the flat surfaces and detent/ball mechanism ensure a reliable connection that resists loosening due to vibration. The modular design allows for easy swapping of treatment heads to suit different therapeutic needs.

How does this patent fit in bigger picture?

Technical landscape at the time

In the late 2010s when '863 was filed, therapeutic treatment devices commonly relied on interchangeable components. At a time when X was typically implemented using Y, the mechanism for changing these components could be complicated, and the vibrations of the device could cause the components to come loose during use. Hardware or software constraints made B non-trivial, and there was a need for a system that overcame these issues.

Novelty and Inventive Step

The examiner allowed the claims because the prior art, specifically Matsushita, discloses an adapter assembly with a main body, arms, and bottom attachment members for connecting to treatment members. However, Matsushita lacks the feature where the first and second bottom attachment members each include a first flat surface on an exterior thereof, with detents formed on each first flat surface, and where the first flat surface of the first bottom attachment member and the first flat surface of the second bottom attachment member are non-parallel. Furthermore, modifying Matsushita to include these non-parallel flat surfaces would change the principle operation of the device, as its bottom attachment members are specifically cylindrical to allow the treatment members to rotate freely.

Claims

This patent contains 11 claims, with claim 1 being independent. Independent claim 1 is directed to an adapter assembly for a reciprocating treatment device, focusing on the structure and arrangement of attachment members. The dependent claims elaborate on specific features and configurations of the adapter assembly and its components, as well as a reciprocal treatment device incorporating the adapter assembly.

Key Claim Terms New

Definitions of key terms used in the patent claims.

Term (Source)Support for SpecificationInterpretation
Bottom attachment members
(Claim 1)		“In a preferred embodiment, the main body portion includes first and second arms extending therefrom and the first bottom male attachment member or first bottom female attachment member is disposed at the distal end of the first arm, and the second bottom male attachment member or second bottom female attachment member is disposed at the distal end of the second arm.”Components disposed at the distal ends of the first and second arms, each including a flat surface with either a detent or a biased ball.
First and second arms
(Claim 1)		“In a preferred embodiment, the main body portion includes first and second arms extending therefrom and the first bottom male attachment member or first bottom female attachment member is disposed at the distal end of the first arm, and the second bottom male attachment member or second bottom female attachment member is disposed at the distal end of the second arm.”Components extending from the main body portion, each having a distal end where a bottom attachment member is located.
First detent
(Claim 1)		“The first male attachment member includes an exterior surface with at least a first flat surface, and the exterior surface includes one of a first detent defined therein or a first ball biased therefrom. The second male attachment member includes an exterior surface with at least a first flat surface, and the exterior surface includes one of a first detent defined therein or a first ball biased therefrom.”A recess formed on the first flat surface of each bottom attachment member.
First flat surface
(Claim 1)		“The first male attachment member includes an exterior surface with at least a first flat surface, and the exterior surface includes one of a first detent defined therein or a first ball biased therefrom. The second male attachment member includes an exterior surface with at least a first flat surface, and the exterior surface includes one of a first detent defined therein or a first ball biased therefrom.”A flat surface on the exterior of each bottom attachment member, which includes either a detent or a biased ball.
Main body portion
(Claim 1)		“In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention there is provided an adapter assembly for use with a reciprocating treatment device, the adapter assembly includes a main body portion that includes at least a first top male attachment member or a first top female attachment member on a top thereof and at least first and second bottom male attachment members or first and second bottom female attachment members on a bottom thereof. In a preferred embodiment, the main body portion includes first and second arms extending therefrom and the first bottom male attachment member or first bottom female attachment member is disposed at the distal end of the first arm, and the second bottom male attachment member or second bottom female attachment member is disposed at the distal end of the second arm.”A component of the adapter assembly that includes a top attachment member and from which arms extend.

Litigation Cases New

US Latest litigation cases involving this patent.

Case NumberFiling DateTitle
3:25-cv-01074Sep 12, 2025Hyper Ice, Inc. v. Namirsa, Inc.

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US11166863

FLEXIR RECOVERY LLC
Application Number
US16837230
Filing Date
Apr 1, 2020
Status
Granted
Expiry Date
Nov 14, 2037
External Links
Slate, USPTO, Google Patents