CA1322138C

CA1322138C - Oculofacial massager

Info

Publication number: CA1322138C
Application number: CA 554580
Authority: CA
Inventors: Nirmal S. Kalsi; Harjeet S. Kalsi
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1987-12-17
Filing date: 1987-12-17
Publication date: 1993-09-14
Anticipated expiration: 2010-09-14

Abstract

ABSTRACT
An oculo-facial massager for simultaneously providing a massaging action to the eye, nose and temple areas. A contoured frame contacts the face of the user and a vibration generating device provides vibration to the frame which is transmitted to the facial muscles contacted by the frame.

Description

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O~ULQFACIAL MASSAGER

INTRODUCTION

This invention relates to a facial massager and, more particularly, to a massager for use on the areas surrounding the nos~, eyes and temples.

~A~K&ROUND QF THE INVENTION

StresR and tension of everyday activities cause particular problems in the areas of the eyes, nose and templ s. This stress and tension is increasing due to the ~:~
widespread usa of computer screens which have not previously been encount~red until recent years. The facial muscles of the eye, nose and temple areas tighten which induce eye fatigue. Eye fatigu~ or eye discomfort can also be caused by long hours of reading, writing, driving, and lack of sleep and exercise. Such fatigue and/or eye ten~ion can result in eye discomfort, headaches and neck pain.

Nassagers ~re Xnown as relaxing and therapeutical devices. Previous massagers, however, utilize vibration generating means with an amplitude that is not conducive to ~entle stimulation of the sensitive acial muscles around the eyes, nos~ and temples. Such units are usually larger and cannot be easily carried unobtrusively on the person. Such units further have no means to retain them on the body of the user and, in any ev~nt, such massagers are not d~signed fvr the purpose of simultaneous massaging of the facial muscles in th~ areas of the eyes, no~e and tem~les~
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the invention, there is disclosed an oculo-facial massager for simultaneously massaging th~i facial areas adjacent the eyes and nose comprising a frame contoured to fit ~aid facial areas, said frame having an open area around said eyes and noss to allow vision from ~aid eyes and substantially unobstructed breathing from said nose~ a vibration generator connected to the outside of ~aid fxame between said open areas for said eyes, at least one cushioning pad connected to the inside of said frame and adapted to contact said facial areas, and a retainer opOEirable to ~.
maintain said ma~sager in contact with said facial areas.
In accordance with a further a~pect o~ the invention, there is provided an oculo-facial massager for simultaneously mas~aging the nose and temple facial areas and the areas adjacen' the eyes, nose and temples, said massager comprising frame means having an outer shell and an inner smooth ciubstantially continuous cushioning material connected to said outer ~hell, said cushioning material being contoured so as to simultaneously and ;
- contin~ously contact the nose and temple facial areas and the areas adjacent the ~yes, nose and temples of a user when in operation, vibration generating means connected to said frame means and retaining mean~ for retaining said frame means adjacent to and in contact with the nose, the temples and the facial areas adjacent the eyes, nose and tsmples.

In accordance with yet a further aspect o the invention, there is provided an oculo-facial massager for simultaneously mas~aging the ~acial areas adjacent the eyes and nose co~prising a frame contoured to fit said facial areas, said frame having an open area around said nose to allow unobstructed breathing from said nose and a vibration generator connected to said frame in the area of .- :: ~ . .... - ~. . . .
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said frame adjacent the eyes of a user, said vibration generator including two rotating offset weights, each of said offset weights rotating on opposite sides o~ the cPntre line axis of said massager.
BRIEF DESCRIP~ION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with the use of drawings in which:

Figure 1 illustrates the facial massager according to the invention in operating position on the face of the user:
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Figure 2 is a rearwardly directed assembly isometric view of the facial massaging apparatus;

Figure 3 is a side view of the appar~tu~ of Figure 2;

- Figure 4 is a side view similar to Figure 3 but illustrating the frame of the massager separated from the housing of the vibration generator;
Figure 5 is an exploded view o~ the vibration generator housing;
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Figure 6 is a view taken along VI in Figure 5; ~;
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Figure 7 is a side view taken along YII in Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a sectional vi~w taken along VIII-VIII of Figure 6;

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken along IX IX
of Figure 6;

~3~2~8 Figure 10 is a view taken along X of Figure 5; ~:
-Figure 11 illustrates a second embodiment of thevibration generating apparatus in a view similar to that of Figure 6;

Figure 12 is a view illustrating a third :~
embodiment of the vibration generating apparatus separated from the housing;
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Figure 13 is a view of the massager taken along XIII of Figure 5;

Figure 1~ is a side view taken along XIV of Figure 13; :

Figure 15 is a~full facial view illustrating the regions of:interest affect~d by the massager;
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; 20 ~igure 16 is a side ~iew illustrating the massager on~the back of the head of a us~r; and Figure 17 is a side view illustrating the mas~ager on~the top of the head of a user.
DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC~EMBODIMENT
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: Refe~ring now:to the drawings, an oculo-facial muscle massager is ~hown ge~erally at 10 in Figures 1 and 2. The massager 10 comprises a vibration gen~rator or housi~g generally shown at ll, a support frame generally shown at 12 and a retaining means or elastic strap portion generally ~hown at 13 for retaining the support frame 12 a~d vibratior~ generator 11 in operating position on a user ~Figure 1~.

With reference to Figure 2, the housing 11 is rigidly attached to the support frame 12 by means of ~32~38 adhesive using the location recesses 14 (Figure 4) and the adjustable elastic strap portion 13 is connected to the support frame 12 by a pin 20 on each side of the frame 12 which extends through the ends 21 of the elastic strap portion 13.

The housing 11 co~prises inner and outer sections 2~, 23, (~igure 3) respectively, both made from an impact resistant and durable plastic such as ABS
(Trademark~. As more clearly seen in Figure 5, the inner section 22 is illustrated separated from the outer section 23.

Referring to Figure 6, the outer section~23 includes a motor 30 with weights 31 mounted to rotate eccentrically about axis 32. An on-off switch 33 is connected within the electrical circuit, which Gircuit includes the motor 30 connected to the on off switch 33, . and which motor is also connected to the source of power throu~h the battery terminals Z6 and 28 (Figures 6 and 9). A jack 40 is posit:ioned to receive a plug (not shown~
which may bring ordinary house voltage through an AC
adapter or converter to the massager 10.

The frame 12, more clearly seen in Figure 2 and 4, is mads from a solid impact resistant plastic such as ABS ~Trademark) as an outer protective layer 41 (Figure 2). A soft foam rubber layer 42 is desirably mounted to the frame 12 and estsnds over the innsr sura e which is adapted to contact the~user. The frame 12 is contoured together with the foam layer 42 to contact the user at th2 bridge of the nose which is the support position as seen in Figure 1. The frame 12 is also contoured so as to simultaneously contact the faeial contours of the user in the glabella, templQ, supra orbital, infra-orbital, a~d zygomatic regions 44, 50, 52, 53, 54 respectively as seen in Flgure 15. These regions also include the paranasal sinuses (not shown).

. : -. :.:, . . :. : ~ . ., , -, The adjustable elastic strap 13 e~tends around the head of the user and holds the oculo-facial massager 10 securely in place during operation.

QPERATIpN

}n operation, the user will position the oculo-facial massager 10 in a comfortable position on the face as illustrated in Figure 1 and will ~ecure the massager 10 by properly tensioning and positioning the elastic strap 13 around the head. The AC adapter or converter (not shown) is plugged in~o ~he wall outlet.
The power cord (not shown~ from the AC adapter or cbnverter e~tends to the plug snd ~not shown) and is inserted into the jack 40 (Figure 6). The knob 34 of switch 33 is rotated about its a~is 60 one-half turn to switch the motor 30 to the on-mode, the motor being operablQ to stop when the knob 34 ;s rotated a further one-half turn to its off-mode. The shaft 36 will rotate toyether with the weights 31 at the desired predetermined speed of revolution. It has been found that the speed o revolution for a comfortable and effective period of massage o~ approximately 62$0 r.p~m.'s is ~uitable for a period of appro~imately 30 seconds to one minute.

Two techniques to use the massager 10 in its position on the face of the user have been found to he particularly beneficial. In the first techni~ue, the massager 10 is worn as one would wear a pair of reading 3~ gIasses with the ad~ust~ble elast~ strap 13 encircling the head of the user. The user sits erect in a chair in which he can tilt his head back to contact the rearward or back portion of the chair. The switch 33 is switched on a~d the apparatus provides the gentle predeterminted gyratory and percussive mo~eme~ts. This provides for appropriate relaxation and stimulation of th~ areas under and immediately adjacent to the massaged areas.

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The second teshni~ue has been to lie on ones back on a cushion of thickness of about three inches such that the hea~ may be tilted back to touch the floor. The oculo-facial massager 10 is then turned on for appro~imately one-half to one minute. It has been found that this posture may provide improved breathing, particularly when the sinus cavities are partially blocked as may be the case when a head cold is present. Such relief, however, is most certainly not promised nor is it the intent of the massager to provide such relief.

The massager 10 can be worn, alternatively, at the back of the users head with the strap 13 holding the massager 10 in place by going around the user's forehead as illustrated in Figure 16. This position of the massager has been found beneficial in inducing relaxation not only the brain and head and neck muscles but also to the eyes particularly if the user is s~nsitive to the direct application of the massager 10 in the forward position.

A further po~ition of the ma~sager 10 is illustrated in Figure 17. In this position, the massager 10 is worn on the top vf the head so that the strap 13 goes under the chin of the user. This application of the massager 10 in this position has been found beneficial in inducing a feeling of rela~atio~ which is transmitted throughout the body.

Many other embodiments vf the apparatus are envisioned. The dual weights which are offset the same amount on the same side of the a~is 32 as illustratad in Figure 6 can be replaced with a single offset weight 61 as illustrated in Figure 11 in which case the motor 30 is shifted in the outer section Z3 r01ative to the axis 25 in order to produce a balancQd vibratory action.
Alternatively, a pair of offset weights 62 and ~3 (Figure 123 positioned on opposite sid~s of the a$is 64 can be : ~

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13~2i3~8 utilized as illustrated in Figure 6. Such different weight configurations simply determine the most satisfactory combination of gyratory and percussive movements created by the motor operation. The embsdiment S specifically described utilizes house voltage applied to an AC adapter or converter and a motor designed to run from such adapter. Alternatively, a battery source 27 could used if desired by the user. Such a battery is shown in phantom in Figures 6 and 7 which battery is self-contained within the unit and which could be rechargeable if desired either from its location within the housing ll where a plug can be inserted into jack 40 or at a remote location. ~ battery cover 35 (Figures 13 and 14) may be used to e~pose a battery (not shown) and to allow for its removal either for replacement or for recharging.

The frame l~ with its attached foam layer 42 (Figure 2~ is adapted to contact the facial muscles in the eyes, nose and templ~ regions simultaneously. Because of the shapes~of various user faces, however it may be desirable to have a pliable frame which rould be contoured by the user to fit more closely to the desired regions.
Likewise, while the vibration generator housing ll is shown as being attached to the frame 12 at that location Q
closest to the br;dgé of the nose, the vibration generating means could be mounted at any other convenient location or, indeed, the vibration generating means could be located remote from the frame and the vibration would be transmitted to the frame such as would be the case, for example, in a water pulse apparatus. The only requirement is that the vibration be transmitted uniformly to the frame 12 and, thence, to the user.

A rubber pad 70 is illustrated in ghost in Figure 5 and in its entirety in Figure lO. Such a pad 70 is removeable from the outer section 23 of the housing ll by using appropriate resilient clips 71 ~Figure 10) which . . .
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are received by complementary plugs 72 (Figure 5? on the outer housing 23. The use of the cushioning pad 70 allows the apparatus to be used as a hand held massager and such use makes the unit more versatile. The cushioning pad 70 is contoured as illustrated.

While a revolution rate of the shaft 36 of the motor 30 of 6250 r.pOm.'s has been found satisfying, a user may well desire a revolution rate greater or less than this figure. Such a revolution rate may be obtained either by the use of a rheostat or the motor may ~e designed to operate at the dif~erent rate with the use of tha on-off switch.

Many other modfications to the invention may readily be contemplated in addition to the specific embodiment describad and such embodimants should be cvnsidered illustrative only and not as limiting the scope of the invention as:defined in accordance with the accompanying~ciaims~ :

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Claims

1. An oculo-facial massager for simultaneously massaging the facial areas adjacent the eyes and nose comprising a frame contoured to fit said facial areas, said frame having an open area around said eyes and nose to allow vision from said eyes and substantially unobstructed breathing from said nose, a vibration generator connected to the outside of said frame between said open areas for said eyes, at least one cushioning pad connected to the inside of said frame and adapted to contact said facial areas, and a retainer operable to maintain said massager in contact with said facial areas.

2. An oculo-facial massager as in claim 1 wherein said vibration generator is a motor with at least one weight rotatable about an axis and being offset to said axis.

3. An oculo-facial massager as in claim 2 and further including switch means to commence and terminate operation of said vibration generator.

4. An oculo-facial massager as in claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein said retainer is an adjustable elastomeric member connected to said frame and operable to encircle the head of the user.

5. An oculo-facial massager as in claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein said frame means is pliable.

6. An oculo-facial massager as in claim 3 and further comprising an adjuster to increase or decrease the frequency of said vibration generating means.

7. An oculo-facial massager as in claim 6 wherein said adjuster is a rheostat.

8. An oculo-facial massager as in claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said frame is an elastic structure and contoured so as to simultaneously contact the facial areas surrounding the eyes, nose and temples of a user.

9. An oculo-facial massager as in claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein said vibration generator is a motor within a housing with two eccentrically mounted weights rotatable about a single axis, said eccentrically mounted weights being located at substantially identical positions on opposite sides of the centre line of said housing.

10. An oculo-facial massager as in claims 1, 2 or 3 and further comprising a cushioning pad mounted on the vibration generator.

11. An oculo-facial massager for simultaneously massaging the nose and temple facial areas and the areas adjacent the eyes, nose and temples, said massager comprising frame means having an outer shell and an inner smooth substantially continuous cushioning material connected to said outer shell, said cushioning material being contoured so as to simultaneously and continuously contact the nose and temple facial areas and the areas adjacent the eyes, nose and temples of a user when in operation, vibration generating means connected to said frame means and retaining means for retaining said frame means adjacent to and in contact with the nose, the temples and the facial areas adjacent the eyes, nose and temples.

12. An oculo-facial massager as in claim 11 and further including switch means to commence and terminate operation of said vibration means.

13. An oculo-facial massager as in claim 11 wherein said retaining means is an adjustable elastomeric member connected to said frame means and operable to encircle the head of the user.

14. An oculo-facial massager as in claim 11, 12 or 13 wherein said vibration generating means is a motor with at least one eccentric weight rotatable about an axis, said weight being offset along said axis adjacent the longitudinal centre line of said frame.

15. An oculo-facial massager as in claim 11, 12 or 13 wherein said frame means is pliable.

16. An oculo-facial massager as in claim 11, 12 or 13 and further comprising adjustment means to increase or decrease the frequency of said vibration generating means.

17. An oculo-facial massager as in claim 16 wherein said adjustment means is a rheostat.

18. An oculo-facial massager as in claim 11, 12, or 13 wherein said frame means comprises an elastic structure.

19. An oculo-facial massager as in claim 11 wherein said vibration generating means is attached directly to said frame.

20. An oculo-facial massager as in claim 11, 12, or 19 wherein said vibration generating means is a motor with two eccentrically mounted weights operatively connected to said motor for rotation about a longitudinal axis, said weights being located adjacent each end of said motor, substantially equidistant from the longitudinal centre line of said frame.

21. An oculo-facial massager as in claim 11, 12 or 13 and further comprising a cushioning pad mounted on the vibration generating means.

22. An oculo-facial massager as in claim 11, 12 or 13 wherein said frame means is contoured and operable to fit the head of a user, said retaining means being operable to retain said frame means adjacent to and in contact with at least one area of said head other than said facial areas adjacent to the eyes, nose and temples.

23. An oculo-facial massager for simultaneously massaging the facial areas adjacent the eyes and nose comprising a frame contoured to fit said facial areas, said frame having an open area around said nose to allow unobstructed breathing from said nose and a vibration generator connected to said frame in the area of said frame adjacent the eyes of a user, said vibration generator including two rotating offset weight, each of said offset weights rotating on opposite sides of the centre line axis of said massager.