Acupressure instrument

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to the drawing, there is illustrated an acupressure instrument 10 according to the invention.
The instrument 10 comprises an elongated handle 12 having a length and diameter such that the instrument can conveniently be grasped by the operator.
According to a preferred aspect of the invention, the handle has a length of 35/8 in.
and a diameter of 5/16 in.
As an aid in handling the device, the handle 12 is provided with knurling 14.
A roller member 16 is rotatably mounted at one end of the handle 12 and has an axis of rotation in substantial axial alignment with respect to the longitudinal axis of the handle.
The roller member has an hourglass-like configuration, with a bulbous portion 18 at its distal end and a bulbuous portion 20 at its other end.
The portions 18 and 20 are joined by a thin neck 22 which blends into the curvature of the portions 18 and 20.
Means are provided to rotatably mount the roller member 16 on the handle.
To this end there is provided a pin 24 press-fitted into the other end of the roller member 16.
The pin 24 is rotatably mounted in a cylindrical bearing 26 which is pressed into a counterbore 28 in the handle 12.
A washer 30 is press-fitted onto a protruding end of the pin 24 and is received within a bore 32 in the handle.
The roller and its mounting means are retained by spinning or crimping the open mouth of the counterbore 28 radially inwardly to form a retaining flange 34 which captures the bearing 26.
Since the roller member 16 is freely rotatable with respect to the handle 12, the roller member may be applied to an acupressure point and gently moved back and forth over the point during therapy.
Moreover, the neck portion 22 ensures that the tool will not slip from a desired bone or muscle during the rolling treatment.
The invention is not restricted to the slavish imitation of each and every detail set forth above.
Obviously, devices may be provided which change, eliminate, or add certain specific details without departing from the scope of the invention