FR2992169A1 - Portable massage apparatus for treatment of e.g. body organs, of human, has massage unit arranged with two vibrating plates and two paving radiators that are aligned in alternation according to longitudinal axis of pocket - Google Patents

Abstract

The apparatus has a pocket (1) that is made of an impermeable and tear-resistant flexible material, and a massage unit that is placed inside the pocket on a support block (2). A set of dimensions of the block correspond to dimensions of the pocket. The massage unit is arranged with two vibrating plates (4) and two paving radiators (3) that are aligned in alternation according to a longitudinal axis of the pocket. The support block is made of resilient flexible material, and the plates have a curved profile.

Description

The present invention relates to a portable massage device, more particularly to the vibration type, furthermore comprising heating means, for localized treatment of the various zones or organs of the human body without the need for adapt and adjust the device on a case by case basis depending on the patient's morphology.

More particularly, the invention relates to an electric massage apparatus in which a vibration is transmitted to elements partially in contact with the body of the patient. The use of electrical impulses to induce vibrations by means of which certain areas of the human body will then be stimulated to relieve pain or to allow the repair of affected or damaged organs, following an accident or because of bad positions , is known in itself. It is also known to use heating devices that heat the area to be treated to also facilitate treatment.

There are thus devices that are commonly used by professional physiotherapists or in rehabilitation centers, in the form of tables or seats with vibrating and / or heating elements to stimulate and massage. The patient is placed in a sitting or reclining position that he / she must maintain throughout the cycle. An elaborate example is described in document FR 2 659 550 concerning a massage mat composed of rows of massage cells, each row being able to be actuated in a differentiated manner. This solution has the disadvantage of requiring the patient to remain stationary until the end of the cycle. Moreover, it does not make it possible to carry out very localized treatments.

There are also manual devices, compact in size, having a vibrating end portion, and that the user or practitioner manually moves on the area to be treated. Efficiency remains limited and the use is restrictive, since the operator must show constant attention to keep the device in position. An example of an apparatus of this type is illustrated in the document FR 2 531 335.

These devices are not satisfactory, insofar as they require the constant presence of an operator, and where they can not be modulated. The prior art knows a few portable devices associating vibration stimulation means and heating means. Thus, document WO2010 / 016633, which constitutes the prior art closest to the invention, to the knowledge of the applicant, discloses a massage apparatus for the breasts, comprising a convex shaped casing made of a smooth material, such as silicone resin, capable of being in contact with the skin, inside which vibrating means are provided to vibrate said casing and produce a massage effect; a low frequency generator for generating stimulation; a power unit for the vibrating means and the low frequency generator; a wireless remote control for controlling the vibrating means and the low frequency generator, and a heating film producing infrared radiation. However, this device is specifically designed to treat a specific organ, namely the chest, and is therefore reserved for a female audience, with the claimed goal of providing a breast cancer prevention function. It does not have a universal vocation, is not flexible according to the morphology of the patient, nor adaptable to any area of the body. The present invention proposes to overcome these various disadvantages by providing a universal portable massage device, which can be positioned on any part of the body regardless of the morphology of the user, ensuring treatment cycles that can involve vibration and heat, without the need to provide the presence of an operator or heavy means to keep in place the device for the duration of treatment. The massage apparatus according to the invention is characterized in that the stimulation and heating means are supported by a flexible resilient material, placed inside a cover comprising quick hooking and unhooking means.

The invention will be better understood from the description given below of a nonlimiting exemplary embodiment, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a sectional side view of the massage apparatus according to the invention, and - Figure 2 is a plan view showing the positioning of the massage apparatus according to the invention on the leg of a user.

As can be seen in FIG. 1, the portable massage apparatus according to the invention is composed of a pocket (1) made of an impermeable and tear-proof flexible material, comprising on at least part of its periphery an opening provided with quick closing means (10), for example with slide. In the example shown in the figures, the pocket (1) is rectangular in shape, and the opening with the slide means is arranged on one of the lengths of the rectangle. However, nothing prohibits to consider a different shape, or a positioning of the opening on another part of the periphery of the pocket, without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims. The massage means are arranged on a support block (2), the dimensions of which correspond to that of the pocket (1). More specifically, the dimensions of the support block (2) are such that it can be introduced integrally inside the pocket (1) without forcing, but without leaving any game remaining once the pocket closed. The support block (2) is made of a hypoallergenic resilient flexible material, for example HR or closed-cell polyurethane foam. The massage means comprise at least two vibrating plates (4) and at least two radiating blocks (3), which are alternately aligned along the longitudinal axis of the pocket (1). Nothing prohibits, in particular according to the dimensions of the pocket (1) and the support block (2) to provide a higher number of vibrating plates and radiating pavers.

The vibrating plates (4) are each associated with a motor (5) housed in a cavity (15) g formed in the support block (2). The dimensions of the cells are defined so that the motor (5) can be integrally introduced into the cell (15) which corresponds to it and is held in position without play by the side walls and the bottom of the cell, each plate vibrator (4) is connected by its geometric center to the motor shaft (5) corresponding thereto. The vibrating plates (4) are arranged above the motors (5) so that their respective upper walls protrude from the horizontal plane formed by the upper wall of the support block (2). The vibrating plates (4) are characterized by their ergonomic shape. More particularly, each vibrating plate (4) is preferably but not necessarily substantially rectangular, and has a curved profile between two of its opposite edges, with rounded corners. Thanks to their ergonomic shape, the vibrating plates (4) can thus marry the contours of the organ or the area to be treated on which the device has been positioned, without any risk of irritation or injury to the user. Indeed, the vibrating plates (4) are entirely arranged inside the pocket (1) and are therefore not in direct contact with the skin or the body, since their respective upper walls are designed to transmit the vibrations driven by them. motors (5) remain positioned against the inner wall of the pocket (1).

Each assembly formed by the combination of an ergonomically vibrating plate (4) and a motor (5) is arranged within the support block (2) alternately with a supply unit (6) radiating pavers ( 3), each of said supply units (6) being also housed in a cell (16) of suitable size provided in the support block (2).

The radiating blocks (3), for example of the infrared type, are preferably circupires, with a diameter greater than the largest dimension of the supply units (6), so that the inner wall of an infrared pad ( 3) completely covers the outer wall of the power unit (6) with which it is associated. The outer wall of the radiating blocks (3) is curved and disposed outside the cover (1) to be in direct contact with the skin or the body.

The external surface of the pavers is of course treated so as to be non-allergenic and to allow contact and movement on the skin without risk of injury or irritation.

Figure 2 illustrates a mode of use of the massage apparatus according to the invention. In the example shown, it is to treat the leg (20) of a patient, but the following description remains valid with respect to any other organ or area of the human body. The massage apparatus, as shown in FIG. 1, comprises a rectangular pocket (1) inside which is inserted a resilient support block (2) receiving two vibrating plates (4) arranged alternately with two blocks radiating (3). Thanks to the flexibility characteristics of the cover (1), the resilience of the support block (2), and the ergonomic shape of the vibrating plates (4), the pocket (1) can be easily and easily the leg (20) to be treated. As seen in the figures, rapid hooking and unhooking means (7) are provided in the extension of one end of the pocket (1). The rapid hooking and unhooking means (7) may be composed of, for example, two crimped protruding strips, extending one end of the pocket (1) to join loop strips arranged in correspondence with one another. other end of the pocket (1), when the pocket surrounds the leg (20). At the end of the cover (1) opposite that receiving the projecting hook strips, there is provided an orifice (13) for the passage of the electrical wiring connecting the motors (5) of the vibrating plates (4) and the units of supplying (6) radiant blocks (3) to the power source (14). The vibrating plates (4) and the radiating tiles (3) are controlled by a programmable remote control (11). This remote control (11) can be of wireless or wired type, in which case the orifice (13) also allows the passage of the connection cable of the remote control (11).

The command (11) performs several functions. In the first place, it controls the starting or stopping of the massage apparatus according to the invention. It is possible to order separately the switching on and off of the vibrating plates, on the one hand, the radiating pavers on the other hand. Each vibrating plate, respectively each radiating block, can also be controlled individually and independently of the other plates and / or pavers. The stimulation function performed by the vibrating plates and the heating function performed by the radiating blocks can be dissociated or coupled. In the second place, the remote control (1) makes it possible to choose and adjust the intensity of the vibrations of the plates on the one hand, and the radiation of the blocks on the other hand. There too, it is possible to separate chaquelelement from others and customize the settings. For example, the first motor can be set to a first intensity, and the second motor can be adjusted to a different intensity, or the temperature of the first block can be set to a certain value, and that of the second block to a different value. Third, the remote control (11) can be programmed to perform massage cycles. In its basic version, it has three predefined programs, allowing you to perform either a continuous massage, a massage pulsations or alternating massage. Of course, other programs can be envisaged without departing from the scope of the invention. The above description shows that the invention fulfills the aims pursued.

1The appliance allows you to use either the vibrating plates or the radiant tiles alternately or in combination. The ergonomic shape of the vibrating plates and the resilience properties of the support block make it possible to adapt the device to the morphology of each patient and to marry the contours of the area to be treated. Finally, the specific arrangement of alternating vibrating plates and radiating blocks allows for a treatment both complete and differentiated.

Claims (7)

REVENDICATIONS1. Portable massage apparatus comprising a pocket (1) made of an impervious and tear-proof flexible material and massage means arranged inside the pocket on a support block (2), the dimensions of which correspond to that of the pocket (1), characterized in that the massage means comprise at least two vibrating plates (4) and at least two radiating blocks (3) alternately aligned along the longitudinal axis of the pocket (1). Portable massage apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the support block (2) is made of resilient flexible material. Portable massage apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the vibrating plates (4) have a curved profile between two of their opposite edges to thus conform to the contours of the organ or the area to be treated. . 4. Portable massage device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the vibrating plates (4) are each associated with a motor (5) housed in a recess (15) formed in the support block (2), the dimensions of the cells being defined so that the motor (5) can be integrally introduced into the cell (15) which corresponds to it and is held in position without play by the side walls and the bottom of the cell, 5. Portable massage device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the vibrating plates (4) are arranged inside the pocket (1) without direct contact with the skin and in that the outer walls of the radiating pavers (3) are arranged outside the cover (1) to be in direct contact with the skin. 6. portable massage device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one end of the pocket (1) is extended by means of quick hooking and unhooking (7). 7. Portable massage device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the vibrating plates (4) and the radiating blocks (3) are controlled by a programmable remote control (11) for controlling each vibrating plate, respectively each pad radiating, individually and independently of the other plates and / or pavers. 15 20 25 30 35