CA2124904A1

CA2124904A1 - Massaging device assembly

Info

Publication number: CA2124904A1
Application number: CA002124904A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Cherng-Biau Shieh
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: SHIEH CHERNG BIAU
Priority date: 1994-06-01
Filing date: 1994-06-01
Publication date: 1995-12-02

Abstract

A massage device comprises a main body, a circuit board, a predetermined number of switches, a trembling member, and a power source. The main body has a receiving space in which the circuit board is housed. The switches are disposed on the main body such that they are in communication with the circuit board. The trembling member comprises a fitting body of hollow construction in which an eccentric cam is disposed in such a way that the eccentric cam is driven by the drive shaft of a motor. The loop circuit of the circuit board comprises an intermittent oscillation circuit unit for regulating the motor to drive the eccentric cam intermittently, thereby bringing about the intermittent massaging action.

Description

2 1~

MA.~,SAGING DEVICE ASSEMBLY

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a massaging device, and more particularly to a massaging device assembly having an intermittent massaging action.

R~C~OUND OF THE INVENTION

There are a variety of massaging devices available in the market place. These prior art massaging devices are generally defective in design in that they tend to make the massaged muscles and skins tense and stiff because the massaging actions they provide are continuous rather than intermittent. As a result, the prior art massaging devices often fail to achieve the intended and expected results.

- 21~ 01 SUMMARY OF THE lNV~ lON

It is therefore the primary objective of the present invention to provide a massaging device assembly with means capable of massaging the skin and the muscles intermittently so as to prevent the massaged skin and muscles from becoming tense and stiff.

The foregoing objective of the present invention is attained by a massaging device assembly, which comprises a main body, a circuit board, a predetermined number of switches, a trembling member, and a power source. The main body has a receiving space in which the circuit board is housed. The switches are disposed on the main body such that they are connected with the circuit board. The trembling member comprises a fitting body of hollow construction in which an eccentric cam is disposed in such a way that the eccentric cam is driven by the drive shaft of a motor. The loop circuit of the circuit board comprises an intermittent oscillating circuit unit for regulating the motor to drive the eccentric cam intermittently, thereby bringing about an intermittent massaging action of the device assembly.

The foregoing objective, features and advantages of the present invention will be more readily understood upon a 212~n l -thoughtful deliberation of the following detailed description of the present invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a longitudinal sectional view of the present invention as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of a circuit of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows a sectional schematic view of the present invention in action.

FIG. 5 shows a schematic view of another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETATT~Fn DESCRIPTION OF THE lNV~ lON

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As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a massaging device 10 embodied in the present invention comprises the component parts described hereinafter.

A main body 20 is made up of a left housing 21 and a right housing 22, which are symmetrical to each other and form a receiving space 24. Located between these two housings 21 and 22 are a top edge which has a first cut 25, a front edge having a second cut 26, a bottom end having a third cut 27, and a back surface provided with a receiving port 28, which are all in communication with the receiving space 24. The left housing 21 is provided in the inner wall thereof with a first pivoting portion 31 located at the edge of one end of the first cut 25, and with a second pivoting portion 32 located at the edge of one end of the second cut 26. Located between these two pivoting portions 31 and 32 is an insertion portion 34. The first and the second pivoting portions 31 and 32 are constructed respectively as a protruded rod provided with pivoting holes. The left housing 21 is provided therein with a first and a second connection portions 35 and 36, which are located respectively in the inner side of the second cut 26 and over the third cut 27.
Located between the first and the second connection portions and 36 are two constraining portions 37, which form therebetween a receiving portion 38. The right housing 22 is similar in construction to the left housing 21 as described above. The receiving port 28 is covered with a covering piece 39.

A circuit board 40 is provided with a predetermined circuit loops and is further provided on the upper and the lower end surfaces thereof with a first and a second microswitches 42 and 44, which are connected with the circuit loops. The circuit board 40 is lodged in the insertion portion 34 of the left and the right housings 21 and 22 such that the first microswitch 42 is corresponding in location to the first cut 25, and that the second microswitch 26 is corresponding in location to the second cut 26.

A switching member 50 is a composite switch and made up of a seat 52 and a moving switch 56. The seat 52 is of a hollow construction and provided at one end thereof with a pivoting portion 53 which is in fact a pivot, and at another end thereof with a pressing portion 54. The triggering switch 56 is a switching element and disposed in the seat 52 such that a button 57 of the triggering switch 56 is exposed through the top surface of the seat 52. The button 57 has a two-step switch. The switching member 50 is disposed at the first cut 2S of the main body 20 such that the pivoting portion 53 of the seat 52 is pivoted to the first pivoting portion 31 so as to confine the switching member 50 in the first cut 25, and that the pressing portion 54 is in contact 212~)0~
-with the first microswitch 42. Upon being pressed, the seat 52 is caused to turn on the pivoting portion 53 acting as a fulcrum. The triggering switch 56 is connected with the circuit board 40 via a connection line.

A press switch 60 is provided with a pivoting portion 62, a triggering portion 64 and an elastic element 66. The pivoting portion 62 is pivoted to the second pivoting portion 33 of the main body 20 so as to confine the press switch 60 in the second cut 26. Upon being pressed, the press switch 60 is caused to turn on the pivoting portion 62 which acts as a fulcrum. The triggering portion 64 is in contact with the second microswitch 44. The elastic element 66 is so disposed that it is corresponding in location to the first connection portion 35.

A trembling member 70 comprises a fitting body 72, a motor 78, and an eccentric cam 79. The fitting body 72 is made of a soft material and has a head 73 and a neck 74. The fitting body 72 is of a hollow construction. The head 73 of the fitting body 72 is provided therein with a receiving compartment 75 while the neck 74 is provided on the periphery thereof with a retaining portion 76. The neck 74 is further provided redially with a fitting hole 77. The motor 78 is mounted in the receiving compartment 75 of the head 73. The eccentric cam 79 is mounted on the drive shaft of the motor 78. The trembling member 70 iS disposed at the 21Z 190~

periphery of the third cut 27 by the retaining portion 76 of the neck 74. The fitting hole 76 of the neck 74 is fitted over the second connection portion 36. The motor 78 is in communication with the circuit board 40.

A power source 80 is a battery, which is disposed in the receiving portion 38 via the receiving port 28 of the main body 20. The power source 80 is in communication with the circuit board 40.

As shown in FIG. 3, the low and the high connection points of the output power of the motor 78 are controlled by the second microswitch 44, which remains at the low connection point when it is not triggered. The circuit board 40 is characterized in that it has a circuit unit 46 capable of bringing about an intermittent oscillating action. The circuit unit 46 has different times of the intermittent harmonious action. The two switching positions of the moving switch 56 are corresponding in location to the two connection points a and b which control the duration of the intermittent oscillation. The circuit of the first microswitch 42 is connected in a parallel manner with the circuit unit 46. The microswitch 42 is kept in an "OFF"
state when it is not actuated. Upon being triggered, the microswltch 42 is kept in an "ON'I state.

2124!)0~

The left and the right housings 21 and 22 are fastened by bolts engageable with the connection portions 35 and 36.

When the massaging device of the present invention is not in operation, the triggering switch 56 is kept at the "OFF" position without making contact with the two connection points a and b.

In using the massaging device of the present invention, a user holds the main body 20 with hand in such a manner that the user's thumb is free to move the switching member 50, and that the user's index finger is ready to press the press switch 60, and further that the fitting body 72 of the trembling member 70 is in contact with a body portion intended to be massaged. As the triggering switch 56 is turned "ON" to become connected with the connection point a, a massaging action is brought about by the eccentric cam 79 which is driven intermittently by the motor 78 in the state of low power. In other words, the intermittent massaging action of the fitting body 72 is made possible by the intermittent oscillation circuit unit 46, which is triggered via the connection point a to actuate the motor 78 to drive the eccentric cam 79 at a low power. Similarly, when the triggering switch 56 is turned on to become connected with the connection point b, the motor 78 is driven by the intermittent oscillation circuit unit 46 at a longer intermittent duration, thereby causing the massaging device 21~
-10 of the present invention to bring about the intermittent massaging action at a lower output power and a longer intermittent time.

Upon being pressed, the press switch 60 is caused to displace angularly even when the massaging device 10 of the present invention is in the state of a longer intermittent operation or a shorter intermittent operation, as shown in FIG. 4. When the triggering portion 64 is caused to engage the second microswitch 44, the elastic element 66 is obstructed by the first connection portion 35 and is therefore forced to bend, thereby causing the elastic element 66 to store an elastic force. Upon being triggered, the second microswitch 44 is caused to switch to the "HIGH"
connection point from the "LOW" connection point so that the motor 78 is driven with a greater power to bring about a stronger intermittent massage effect. As soon as the press switch 60 is relieved of the pressure exerting thereon, the press switch 60 is caused by the elastic force of the elastic element 66 to displace angularly to return to its original position as shown in FIG. 2. In other words, the triggering portion 64 disengages the second microswitch 44, which is caused to move back to the "LOW" connection point from the "HIGH" connection point. The motor 78 is therefore once again driven with a smaller power to bring about a weaker intermittent massage effect.

2 1 2 ~

When the loop is at work, the seat 52 can be pressed to displace angularly on the pivoting portion 53 which acts as a fulcrum, as shown in FIG. 4. The press portion 54 is then caused to trigger the first microswitch 42 to be turned "ON", thereby causing the motor 78 to be driven continuously to bring about a continuous massage action. In other words, the motor 78 is no longer being acted on by the intermittent oscillation circuit unit 46. As soon as the press portion 54 is caused to disengage the first microswitch 42, the motor 78 is once again acted on by the intermittent oscillation circuit unit 46.

As shown in FIG. 5, the massaging device of the present invention further comprises one or more fitting members 90, each of which is provided with a connecting portion 92 and a contact portion 94 having a toothed portion 94a, a spongy portion 94b and a tapered portion 94c. The connecting portion 92 is dimensioned to fit over the head 73 of the fitting body 72. The user of the massaging device of the present invention is able to select an appropriate contact portion 94 by means of the fitting members 90.

The advantages inherent in the present invention are therefore apparent and expounded explicitly hereinafter.

The massaging device 10 of the present invention is provided with an intermittent oscillation circuit unit 46 2 1 2 ~

for bringing about the intermittent massage effect capable of stimulating and relaxing the skin or the muscles without making the skin or the muscles stiff and tense.

The massaging device 10 of the present invention affords its user a variety of massaging actions, which are brought about by the high power and the low power for various intermittent durations.

The massaging device 10 of the present invention is easy and handy to use. In addition, the user may select various contact portions 94 for massaging specific areas of the body.

Claims

1. A massaging device assembly comprising:

a main body having therein a receiving space:

a circuit board provided with a circuit loop and disposed in said receiving space of said main body;

a predetermined number of switches, which are disposed on said main body and connected with said circuit board;

a trembling member comprising a hollow fitting body, a motor, and an eccentric cam mounted on a drive shaft of said motor, said fitting body having at least a contact portion for massaging a skin or a muscle; and a power source for driving said motor;

wherein said circuit loop comprises an intermittent oscillation circuit unit for causing said motor to drive intermittently said eccentric cam.

2. The massaging device assembly of claim 1 wherein said main body comprises:

a left and a right housings, a first cut and a second cut which are located between said left and right housings;

a switching member located at said first cut;

a press switch located at said second cut and provided with a first and a second microswitches which are disposed in said receiving space of said main body such that said microswitches are in communication with said circuit board, and that said second microswitch is corresponding in location to said first cut and said second cut, and further that said first microswitch is triggered when said switching member is pressed, and still further that said second microswitch is triggered when said press switch is pressed.

3. The massaging device assembly of claim 1 wherein said main body is provided at a bottom thereof with a third cut; wherein said fitting body of said trembling member has a head and a neck, said head having therein a receiving cell and said neck having on a periphery thereof a retaining portion and a connecting portion; wherein said motor is disposed in said receiving cell; and wherein said trembling member is disposed at said third cut of said main body by said retaining portion, said connecting portion being connected with said main body.

4. The massaging device assembly of claim 1 comprising at least a microswitch disposed in said main body and connected with said circuit board, said microswitch comprising a switching member provided with a seat and a switching element, said seat being provided at one end thereof with a pivoting portion and at another end thereof with a press portion, said switching element having a plurality of switching positions and being disposed on said seat, said pivoting portion being pivoted to said main body, said press portion being corresponding in location to said microswitch, said seat capable of turning on said pivoting portion acting as a fulcrum at the time when said seat is pressed so as to cause said press portion to trigger said microswitch, said switching element capable of being moved with finger so as to turn on one circuit loop, said seat capable of being pressed so as to turn on another circuit loop.

5. The massaging device assembly of claim 1 further comprising at least a microswitch disposed in said main body and connected with said circuit board, said microswitch comprising a press switch provided with a pivoting portion, a triggering portion and an elastic element, said pivoting portion being pivoted to said main body, said press switch capable of turning on said pivoting portion at such time when said press switch is pressed, said triggering portion and said elastic element being capable of moving along with said press switch so that said triggering portion triggers said microswitch and that one end of said elastic element is stopped by said main body to cause said elastic element to deform to store therein an elastic force energy capable of causing said press switch to displace angularly at such time when a pressure exerting on said press switch is removed.

6. The massaging device assembly of claim 2 wherein said switching member comprises a seat and a switching element disposed on said seat capable of being pressed to move to trigger said first microswitch, said switching element being in communication with said intermittent oscillation circuit unit and having at least two switching positions for regulating the intermittent time duration of said intermittent oscillation circuit unit; wherein said first microswitch has a circuit parallel to said intermittent oscillation circuit which is activated at such time when said first microswitch is not triggered; and wherein said second microswitch regulates an output power of said motor.

7. The massaging device assembly of claim 1 further comprising one or more fitting members, each of which is provided at one end thereof with a connection portion and on the periphery thereof with a contact portion of a predetermined construction, said connection portion being so dimensioned as to engage said fitting body of said trembling member.

8. The massaging device assembly of claim 1 comprising a microswitch disposed in said main body such that said microswitch is corresponding in location to a switch disposed on said main body, and that a circuit of said microswitch is parallel to said intermittent oscillation circuit unit which causes said motor to operate intermittently at the time when said microswitch is turned OFF or is not triggered, said microswitch capable of being turned ON to cause said motor to operate continuously at the time when said switch is pressed to trigger said microswitch.