Therapeutic bolster and method of making the same

Abstract

A therapeutic bolster for applying a constant pressure or a rolling massage to a body portion which simulates the touch of a human thumb or palm. The bolster includes a rigid, non-flexible core having a curved outer surface, and a foam cover substantially surrounding the core. The covering is bonded to the core such that an inward surface of the covering remains in a continuous contact with curved outer surface of the core. A method of making the bolster is also disclosed.

1 . A bolster comprising:
 a rigid, non-flexible core having a curved outer surface; and   a covering of a resilient material substantially surrounding said core such that said covering remains in a continuous contact with said outer surface of said core when non-axially compressive pressure is applied to the bolster.   
   
   
       2 . The bolster of  claim 1 , wherein said covering forms a curved exterior contact surface. 
   
   
       3 . The bolster of  claim 1 , wherein said resilient material is of a closed-cell foam material. 
   
   
       4 . The bolster of  claim 1 , wherein said covering has continuous thickness from about 5.0 millimeters to about 8.0 millimeters. 
   
   
       5 . The bolster of  claim 1 , wherein said resilient material is of a material having shore hardness of about 15 A to about 35 A durometer. 
   
   
       6 . The bolster of  claim 1 , wherein said core has an outer diameter of about 9.0 centimeters to about 14.0 centimeters. 
   
   
       7 . The bolster of  claim 1 , wherein said covering is of a sheet material having an inward surface opposite of said exterior contact surface of a length substantially equal to the circumference of said outer surface. 
   
   
       8 . The bolster of  claim 7 , wherein said sheet material has a pair of opposed edges normal to said length thereof that are joined together in a mitered lap-joint forming said covering. 
   
   
       9 . The bolster of  claim 8 , wherein each of said pair of opposed edges are at opposing 45 degree angles. 
   
   
       10 . The bolster of  claim 1 , wherein said covering is adhesively attached to said curved outer surface. 
   
   
       11 . A bolster comprising:
 a rigid non-flexible core having a curved outer surface;   a covering of a resilient material substantially surrounding said core such that said covering remains in a continuous contact with said outer surface of said core when a non-axially compressive pressure is applied to the bolster;   said covering forming a curved exterior contact surface; and   said resilient material is of a material having hardness of about 15 A to about 35 A durometer.   
   
   
       12 . The bolster of  claim 11 , wherein said resilient material is of a closed-cell foam material. 
   
   
       13 . The bolster of  claim 11 , wherein said covering has continuous thickness from about 5.0 millimeters to about 8.0 millimeters; and said core has an outer diameter of about 9.0 centimeters to about 14.0 centimeters. 
   
   
       14 . The bolster of  claim 11 , wherein said covering is of a sheet material wrapped about said core and having an inward surface opposite of said exterior contact surface of a length substantially equal to the circumference of said outer surface. 
   
   
       15 . The bolster of  claim 14 , wherein said sheet material has a pair of opposed edges normal to said length thereof that are joined together in a mitered lap-joint. 
   
   
       16 . The bolster of  claim 15 , wherein each of said pair of opposed edges are at opposing 45 degree angles. 
   
   
       17 . A bolster comprising:
 a rigid non-flexible core having a curved outer surface and a diameter of about 9.0 centimeters to about 14.0 centimeters;   a covering of a resilient material substantially surrounding said core such that said covering remains in a continuous contact with said outer surface of said core when a non-axially compressive pressure is applied to the bolster;   wherein said covering forms a curved exterior contact surface;   wherein said resilient material is of a material having shore hardness of about 15 A to about 35 A durometer;   wherein said covering has continuous thickness from about 5.0 millimeters to about 8.0 millimeters;   wherein said covering is of a material selected from the group consisting of closed cell foamed thermoplastic elastomer and partially closed cell foamed polyvinyl chloride;   wherein said covering is of a single sheet material wrapped about said core and having an inward surface opposite of said exterior contact surface of a length substantially equal to the circumference of said outer surface, and a pair of opposed edges normal to said length thereof that are joined together in a mitered lap-joint forming; and   each of said pair of opposed edges are at opposing 45 degree angles.   
   
   
       18 . The bolster of  claim 17 , wherein said sheet material is adhesively attached to said core using a first adhesive. 
   
   
       19 . The bolster of  claim 18 , wherein said pair of opposed ends are adhesively joined using a second adhesive different from said first adhesive.