CA2084693A1 - Massage apparatus, especially for cosmetic facial massage - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

A heating and massaging device has its heater in the handle and positioned so as to transfer heat through a heat conductive shank to the massage head solely by thermalconductivity, thereby uniformly heating the massage head without requiring any electric elements in the head or shank.

Description

7gl2~ 3 MAS~AG~ P~PP~TU~, ESPECIA~?t FOR ~O~METIC ~h~IA~ SA~:~

~PECX~CA~ION

~y pr~ nt inven~ion r~ e~ ~o æl m~ag~ ~ppax~tll3~
5 e pe~ 11y ~o~ csc?sme~c ~ci~l ~a~age ~nd, mor~ partiou~rly, to an ~ppar~tu~ o~ thl~ ~ype ~lng ~ grip or h~ndle ln wh~oh a vi)~ration or e¢~entri~ d~ a3 provided whioh pr~er~bly i~L
controllable and aoope~a~e~ with a repla~e~ble or ren~ov~ble massage h~ad and w~iah al~:s m~y incslud¢ ~rl electric h~ing 10 d~3vic:~, al~o pr@~ra~y con~rollable.

~çk~round o~ th~ In~r~n~ciQn ~ c-r variou~ typ~s o~ muscular tr~ai~ment and to invigo~
~he body and to i~npxc~ve ~he tone o$ body ti~u~o hand-held massa~e d~vic~e~ h~e be~n p~o~ided hereto~re whi~h~ axe 15 t;:apable of o~aillating in a vari~ble frequenc:y r~n~ w1th ~a~ri~b~e ~trok~ and can have ~n~erchan~eable o~ replaaQable h~ads of ~ Variety o~ shape~.
Suah mas ag~ head~ can in~ïude doubly curved ~oon-~baped ~trua~ure~ ~r $urfaae ma~g~ o~ ball or ~;tud-typs he~a~ :Eor 30 ~o~n~ ~na~ ge or deep mas~ag~. Many ~f ~hesR m~0~e d~v1ce~;;
a~ in~nd~d for u~e in ~auna ~ilit ~ to loo~en or r~ væ
tigh~ mu~ s and oan includ~ a 'chermAl tr~at~nent vr qf~ac:~.

.:

: ', 791i~ rlR ~ ~3 DE- 0~ 27 ~9 ~83, ~or ~x~mple, dE3~:ri3:~e~ a vi~r~ n ma:~age ~;n~ whl5::~ p~ deG a h~ting de~ls::~3 dlr~c:tly in ~chq ma~a~ head. Th~ vibration driv~ ~E; w~11 a~ ~h~ hea'clng un~
in ~h~ h~ad ~an ~ contr~lled. A uni~orRI heat di~tr~butlon i~, h~e~ ul~ to a~ with ~ig3 d~vice an~ a d~awbac~k oP ~is ~ys~em iæ that e~ah 0~ a nu~aber o~
in~r~hangeabl~ mas~age head~ m~s~ ~a ~ovlâ~d wi~a resp~c:ti~e h~ating uni~. Thi~ appll~6 ~ w~ll for ~h~ ma~eage d~ se~
Q~ l~.S, Pa~nt. 851~51C and 4~427,00~.

the prin~ipal 0~3~ eçt ~ the pre~ent inYen'c~on ~o pr~vid~ an improv~d mas~a~e deYiqe wh~Lch i~ ~ap~ble c~iE body and ~acial ma~sa~, e~p~lally ~or co~meti a puxpo~e~ u~
loo~ening ~nd oombin~d ~ibxational and 'ch~rmal th~raE)y, which 15 wil 1 ove~oome dr~wback~ o~ the pr~or ~r'c; in~ur~ a uni~o~
h~a~ di~tributiGn and i~ ple to op~ate ~nd ~::ontrol.
Arlo~h~r obj~ot of th~ intr~ntion i~ to provide a low oo~
mas~ag~ d~vi~e which also ~an gue.r~nt~¢ he~d int:~rc~an~eability and uni~orm di~r~bution o~ he~t to th~
~0 head portiorl~ con'c~o'cing the body.

Su~nmary_of the ~m~en1~aon q~hs~e obje~ts and o~h~r~ which will beaom~ ~pparea~t ~or~ina~ter are attainQ~, in a~cordancQ w~th the inv~ntion ~y providing a ~sage devic~ in whiah ~h~ m~ag~ hsad i~
25 a2~re~op~d o~ a t~ lly aondua~iv~ m~ter~al and ha~ a ~h~n)c whi~h on~age~ within t,hQ g~ip or handl~ and the~ ~o 791~ ~

2, '9 ~
op~r~t:LYely -omlac~ o ~he vibr~tlon or e~:cent~i~ d~V~. In th~ grip nr h~ndle a he~tin~ d~v~aQ i~ pro7rid.~d wh~ch i~
~ux~ 0~ed with ~he shank ox ~old~r ~or the ~h~nk which ~
al~o ~ompo~ed oiE ~ h~ghl~ he~ ~orldu~ti-~3 mat~ri~ uah a~a 5 ~u~c:o-c:~ro~lu~ pl~ted ~r~ n~ 1~ re~ ~rom any elec:triaal uni~ w~ thin the he~d or ~haft and h~ s the h~ad ~nl~ by Qondu:::tion fr~m the ~e~ gen~atins~ ~o~r~e~ w~thin the handl6!.
Th~ hea~in~ of the h~ad i~ ~hu~ e~eate~ ~n part ~y ~h~
h~ater wl~ah ~ ar~ ~e cvntr41~able ~nd i~ ~spe~ ly provi~ed 10 ~or thi~ purpc~e, ana by ~hc he,~t ~enerated by the ~le~t~i~
dri~re whi~h ~uf~e~ th~ u~ual el~tromagrl~tic h~t lo~s~3~
w~ h norm~lly oannc~t be u~d but, in the pr~nt inven~ n, are aon~ucted to th~ h~ad by the ~han~
~inc~ the h~a~ing ~evlce i8 provid~d exclu~l~ely -~n the ~5 grip ~ l~he m~age h~Ad~ ~an be ~bric: ated ~t l~wer co~t ~nd can be readily ql~a~ed in a li~uid so~vent or ~cxubblng~
w~ tnou~ any dan~er sf e1eG~ia~1 ~hort ci~ uitinç~ .
~ ec:au~ ~h~ he~tlrlg uni~ is loc:ated ~xolu~iv~ly irl lth~
~andle an~ l~ran~mit~ heat to ~h~ ~hanX within the handl~, t~e 20 heat delivered to thQ he~d i~ ~upplisa exc:lusi~ly ~
c:onduc:ted heat and thu~ n ~e di~tribut~d uni~ox~y t:ver the ~nti~e! maæsage head.
'rh~ hea~ ~e~erated by ~he dri~fe can be t~an~m~t~d by hea~ conduc:tiv~ brldge~ he ~ha~t o~ aft holder~ Th~
25 aon~rol system aan provlde hçat ln~enæit~ reg~latlon ln addition to the ~tandard xes~ula~ion o~ the ~troka fm~
vibr~on frequencle~ o~ th~ dri~.re.

791~ 3 ~ ~ ~ 3 Acac~rdi~g ~o a fea~ure Or t~h~ inYention ~he ~h~ has~
r~b~ wl~hin Jshe ~h~nk an~. ~n whlah a h~at g~ex~ng ~:emi~:ondue~tor hea~lng un~t er~gage8 wi~h~n the! han~e., ~h~
c:ircuit for enexgizing ~he hea~-ge~nerat~ng ur~ c~n ~ ~;o 5 ~IUE~ ~ha~ upon ~ainang a prede~erm~ned temp~rature ~t the heil~ the h~g~t ~upply '~;her~tG c~n ~e ~ npsrarg,ly r~lu~ d un~l a çlxadierlt o~ heat ~;ran~er ~o the 3hank o~ ~h~ h~ad ~all~: below a ~artic:ula~ lev~l and ~ignal~3 the need ~or gr~ er heat outpu~.
A~ or~ing ~o another featur~ o~ the lnventiont ~ hold~r in ~he ho~ ns~ ~n ~h~ ~orm o~ a glee~ r~¢eiving tho free ~r~d o~ the ~hank i~3 pr~vi~,ed to tr~n~f~x th~ hQat to ~h4 ~han~
The hol~er can be ~orm~ wi~h at lea~t one ? nw~rdly ~x~nding longi~udin~l rib ~ixinç; ~he ~;hank and thus th~ h~ad a~ain~
15 rota~ion in th~ hou~ln~ pr~vidiny a meana ~or t~n~ in~
vibratory t~r o~cillAting movement to the ~han~c ~nd th~ head, and ~orming hea~ trar,~ r ar~e f~r promotin~ ~h~ tr~n~or o~
h~at to the ~hank, Th~ ~ib c~n b~3 p~ovid~d wi~h or aan ~orm th~ hoating devic~. The hold~ c~n have a ~tar sh~ped cro~
ao sect~on i~ d~sir~d ~nd ~he shank c~n have a c:ompl~mRn~y oonfi~u~ ion. ~he holder can al~ hava a ~ligh~y oon~c:Al inwar~l~r tap~3ring ~p~ning or p~ e and the ~hank a~n hav~ a ao~nplemerltary ~hap~ enablàn~ i~ to wedge in~o and ~y ~nugly held in the ~leev~. If ~he ~hank le l~ked in th~ hol~er with 251 A ~:~rtain ant~unt o~ pre~:r~ss, l~r~e he~ ~on~ct aroa~ ~r~
px~vid~d ~Qtween them ~o ~ch~t heat tran~fer loa~ ia h~l~ to a minimum, 7!~

~ h~ ~ha~t or sh~nk o~ ~;h~3 h~d ca~n ~ proY:~d~d Wl~h p~rman~en~ ~nagne~ ~hich oan c~opf~ri~Atf3 with ~ ~e~d ~wlk~h ln ~h~
h~a~er en~r~fizlng csl rcui~ ~o ~ha~ ~h~ h~a~r c~an ~ y ~nergi~ when ~ ahank i~ in~ ed ~n~ l;h~ h~a~ u~
5 wh~n ~he ~iassag~ d i~ e~oved ~nd thus heat ~cx~n~x t5~ th~
h~3ad i~ no ~onger po~;siblo. ~h~ c:irauic can b0 ~ p~ovid~l ~t~ up~n a~ ning a given 6et poin~ ~emperatu~e it will shu~ dt~wn 'che hea~e~ and. preY~n~ o~erh43~ting. In gener~1, the ;~rolllt can ~o ~3el~-r~gul atlng by r~d~c~ng the aurr~rlt æupply lO c~r in~rmit~en~ly or s::ompl~tely ~h~ttir~g down ~h~ hea~er~ A
l~im~talli~ o~ NTC~ o~ monitoring of th6~ ~yst~ n provid~d .
I~ ha~ been round t~ b~ ~dv~ntages~u~s to ~ he ~as~
h~a~l and shank ~f di~fer~n~ materlal~ with di~fersnt h~at lS &ondu~ti~tie~ and heat ~to~ge aap~ itie~, e, y . }~ra~e ~r ~h~
h~ad ~nd c:opp~r ~c)r th~ ~hank. In ~hiEi mann~r, the h~at o,an be dellv~d rap~dly t:o the he~d. and ~tored m~s~ ~P~at~rely l;-y the h~ad.
al~o ad~antageou~3 to f orm the head and t~e ~hank 20 part~ of a hollow body wl~h aan be filled by a noncorro~;i d or a liqu~d whioh prot~c:t a~a~n~t corro~ion. In a conare~s~ ex~mE~lR, the h~a~ 1~ provided as an ellipso~tl who~
longl~udinal or ~a~or axi~ is inaliJ~ed t4 the axl~ o~ th~
sh~nk and in~r~cts the latter b~yond th~ e~d o~ the ~hank.
25 ~hl~ inc~lin~d or~nta~i~n og ~h~ h~ad allow~ mas~age t,r~ he ~3ntire ~at~e oP the he~d.
~ t 1B adv~nta~eou~, ~nor~ver, to ~or~n the ~han~ in tw~
~art~, on~ o~ which is sc~lid arld is r6~ce!lv~d with~n the hantll~

7gl2 ~ ~ 3 whil~ th~ oth~r pax~ i~ h~llow or tlabul~ an~ ~qx~,en~ ~ th~
~:olid p~rt tc~ ~he he~d~ Th~ ~wo part~ maqy b6~ ¢orln~ by ~crew ~on~eo~ion which ~Ln alo~e ~che hollow c~r ~c~bul~r pE;Irt ~c~
retain arly li~ on~ain¢~ the~n.
~peai~ieally 'che devl~e o~ the inv~ntlon compr~
a hollow ~lor~ga~ handle ~c3rming a grip:
al~ ric drive ~n the handle;
a ~n~o~age head h~Ying ~ han3c extending into the hanc~le ~nd oper~tively coupled in th~ h~n~l~e with the~ e~ ri~ dri~e~
~or ~mpi~rting a ma~aging moYemen~ tc3 thl3 h~d 7 th~ h~ a~
the 6hank beln~ cs:;mpose~d of a heat cond~ tiv~ e~la~L ~Eor c:onduation s:~ hea~ ~rom th~ h~ndle to t]l~ ~ead;
mean~ on ~he h~dl~ ong~ging tho ~h~nk; ~nd a h~atq~r in th~ handl~ the~n~lly ~or~ ively coup~led wi~ th~ ~h~nk ~or tran~mitting h~t th2~uto.

ThQ al~ e and other ob~ Q~, f ea~ure~: an~ adv~ntag~
my inven~ion will bec~me more readily ~paren~ ~rom the ~llowing d~scriptic~n, ~e~eren¢e bein~ made to thæ
acoompanyin~ hi~hly diag~an~mati~ dxawing ~ra wh~ah:
FIGo 1 i~q a di~ mmatic ¢~0~3B ~eal:iQnal 'Vil3W ~rough a mas3a~e devic~ a~c~o~ding to th~ inv~n'clon, the int~rrlal w~ring b~ing unlllugtr~ted $or ~la~ity;
~IG. ~ imil~ View o~ ~ v~iant:
P"I~:. 21~ i~ a detail~d ~ec:ti~ll thro~gh the ~h~nk-rec~:lving ve showing ~h~ end O~e tX~ ~hank ~n ~leva~lon7 ~IG. 3 $~ an el~v~ onal v1~ th~ ç~;

7~12 an elevat~ on~l view of ~ns:~th~r ~a~ Q ~e~d whiah aan be e~x~hanged for th~ h~ o~ ~X~ 1 and ~; ~n~
FXG. 5 1~ a ~id~ el~v~ or~ w ~ ~he h~ o~ ~X~" 4 .

SE~ia ~p~
Th~ ma~ag~ ~vi~e~ of FIC~. 1 and ~ ~0~4pri~0 ~ ~na~ag~
he~d 1 with ~ ~3hank 2 re~ abl~ ln a holl~w elon~ted ~p ~3r hou~n~ ~.
~n ~h~ embod~m~nt o~ ~IGo 1~ tl~le ~harlk ~ t relea~a)~le ~r~ th~ handl~ 3~
sr~e ~hank ~ ln ~o~h em~odi~en~ pro~ d wl~h a ~s~r3c 4 whi~h c:an be ri~idly a~ixed to ~ four ~de~ end ~ ~h~ ~hank ~wo and wh~ah ex~elld~ ov~r ~n e~oen~ric 5 and l8 oc~up~es~
ther~to by a b~ll b~aring.
~e ~cc~ntri~ ~ i drlven by an ~l~ctrio motor~
~h~ ro~a~lan of the oc~entrlc 5 ~au~es 080ill~ 0~ oi~ th~
for~ 4 via tb~ b~:ll bearlng and ~hu~ vibrat~ or o~llate~
th~ ad 1, imp~rting ~ mas~gin~ moYemen~ reto.
~f cou~se, a mul~i~x~al m~em~nt, ~r ~xampl~, a wo~bliny mov~ment nan be impar~ed by i"cl inin~ the shank axiy or the ~0 mo~ox ~1Xi5 and ~he m4tion ~ran~mitting ~y~t~m~
The h~a~ unit ~or ~he head compris~ ~ h~ating d~vioe 7 Wh~ ch c~n in~lude a ~mic~nduoti~re h~dt ~n~rator 8 whio~ ~an b~ poa~d in ~ XI~ 8 of~ th~ ~hank 2. ~emp~atur~ ~ntrol ~r r~gu~ati~n i~ eoted v~a a potent~ometer ~
~5 ~witc:h 10 ~eeds t:h~ ele~rtc mot~ 6 whi~h o~n h~ve a nuw~r o~ l3p~ ep~ and 'cha h~atin~ devicn 7 ~1ther ~ olntly c~r nd~pendently .

7~12 ~ ~ j 9 ~

A~ no~eLq~ ~h~ wlring ha~; nr~ be~n f~hown ~ FIG$. 1 21n~ 2~
~n F~ h~ ~hank 2' i~ nolt p~nan~n~ly cc~nne~ed wi~h t~e. h~n~le ~ I but i~ r~elY~d in a holl~31e~ 11 in ~he P~
ve ~ Th~ ~leevQ 11 ~n have an ~X1A1 ri~ ea~l~in~ ~h~
hea~ing ~ev~ e 7~ ~ee FI~. 2A a~ wel73. ~he ~hanl: 21 h~
~rc:c,ve fo~m ~ittingly rec:eiving the ~omplemenl~ b 12 80 th~t ~he ~h~nk 2 i8 ~ec:ure~ ~ain~t ~o~tiorl re1~ti~ to the handlQ 3 ~ an~ ;o in~ure~ good he~t tr2lns~æer to ~h~ nk, Th~ ev~ 11 aan )~ mc~urlted in a r~b~r ~1¢ev~a to hol~
1~ the h~ad and ~hank in p~a~e in ~he h~ndlin~3 ~hi~ enal~1~n~ th~
~ran~er of tlle ma~;~age ~ovomen~ thereto. Alt~arn~t1YeIy or, in addi~ion, ~ ~prirlg ri~g ox ~ b~11 d~tent c~n ~ provi~d ~or ~an~a~em~nt in ~n annu1ar groov~ o~ ~h~ ~han}~
Potentio~eter~ 9~ ~n~ ~upplied ~t7itch 1~ ~r~ h~e provided by ana10gy ~o FIG, 1.
In ~he~e two ~odl~an~s, he~t brid~e~ 15 and 15' ~e provide~ to condu~tively trelns~er th~ heat: los~as o~ mott3rs 6 arld ~ ' to the shaft~ ox shan~c~ Z, 2 ' .
F~ S . 4 an~ 5 ~bow ~ r~plaoe~bl~ ma~sage head 1~ which 1~:
in¢lln~d to ~he ~xi~ of ~he ~hank î7. Ths ~hank 17 1~ ~ormed in two pa~ts, 0n~3 part 1~ be threaded into the l~ ul~ p~rt 18' ~o ~lo~ the interi4~ o~ th~ part whlch aan cuntain a liquis~ . The part 18 ' and the h~ad 1~ ' c:an b~ hollow for ~hi~
purpo~e. Par~cs 18 i~ d an~ the p~rt ~!CeiY~ ln th~
hasldl~ o~ FIG~ ~ 1 to 3 .
~ e he~d h2~ a 40nc:ave ~ace 19 with ~ ~hallow curvatu~a ar~d a ~tron~l~ aurv~d con~e~c rear ~aCQ 20. 'rh~3 r0ar ~c~ ~0 h~3 a xib ~ ture 21 oppo~its~ the r~ n at w21~h th~ ~a~t 7~ 3 or ~hank 17 i8 ~ffix~d ~:h~reto. ~he conoav3 ~aoe lg ~llow~
mas~ n~ o~ xound~ p~oc~ e~ c~ th~ body e~pe ~ lly th~ he~i~d wil~h ~ ional Q~a~ n~ ;rh~ U~U~
in~enalve ~a~ag~ at~en'c and ~he ~ir~;t ~lb ~ ~an 3~ a"
5 appro~imately ~oni~ h~ tha~ a jo~n~ or loc:al ma~3a~ n b~ ~pplisd.
In ~XG. 2 I h~e ~ihown at ~0 ~ r2ed ~witc:h whl~h i~
c:onneoted in o~ rcui~ wi~h ~he pot:enic)m~ter ~ ' and ~ h~in~
unit 7~ and 1~ alc~ed by a perm3.nen~: ~nagnet ~1 ~n tha ~hank a~
10 wh~n th~ l~,t~3r i~ ;ç~t~ so ~chat h~lng i8 only ~eatlve whon A ~hank and hea~ ar~ ~n pl~o~.

~

Claims (18)

1. A massaging device suitable for body massage and especially for cosmetic facial massage, comprising;
a hollow elongated handle forming a grip;
an electric drive in said handle;
a massage head having a shank extending into said handle and operatively coupled in said handle with said electric drive for imparting a massaging movement to said head, said head and said shank being composed of a heat conductive material for conduction of heat from said handle to said head;
means on said handle engaging said shank; and a heater in said handle thermally conductively coupled with said shank for transmitting heat thereto.

2. The device defined in claim 1 wherein said drive is a vibrator imparting vibratory movement to said head.

3. The device defined in claim 1 wherein said drive is an eccentric drive imparting oscillatory movement to said head.

4. The device defined in claim 1 wherein said means on said handle engaging said shank is a sleeve removably receiving said shank.

5. The device defined in claim 4 wherein said heater is juxtaposed with said sleeve for heating same and conductively heating said shank through said sleeve.

6. The device defined in claim 4 wherein said heater is juxtaposed with said shank directly.

7. The device defined in claim 4, further comprising control means on said handle for regulating a heat output of said heater and means for regulating a speed of said drive,

8. The device defined in claim 7 wherein said shank has a recess in said handle and said heater is a semiconductive heat generator extending into said recess.

9. The device defined in claim 7 wherein said sleeve is formed with at least one inwardly extending longitudinal rib engaging in a longitudinal groove formed in said shank for angularly fixing said shank on said handle, entraining said shank and said head for movement by said drive, and promoting transfer of heat from said heater to said shank.

10. The device defined in claim 7 wherein said shank is formed with a permanent magnet and said heater is provided with an energizing circuit in said handle including a read switch operable by said electromagnet and positioned to enable activation of said heater only when said shank is inserted in said handle.

11. The device defined in claim 7 wherein said shank and said head are formed from material of different heat conductivity and heat capacity.

12. The device defined in claim 11 wherein said head is composed of brass and said shank is composed of copper.

13. The device defined in claim 7 wherein said head and said shank are hollow and are filled with a noncorrosive liquid.

14. The device defined in claim 7 wherein said shank is formed with a solid region received in said handle and a tubular region extending from said solid region to said head.

15. The device defined in claim 14 wherein said regions are formed by parts of the shaft which are threaded together with a threaded connection closing said tubular region upon filling thereof.

16. The device defined in claim 7 wherein said head is formed as an ellipsoid which is the long axis inclined to an axis of said shank and passing the axis of said shank outside the latter.

17. The device defined in claim 7 wherein said head has a concave curved observe face of shallow curvature and a strongly curved convex reverse face, said head being fixed to said shank at an inclination thereto at a location close to a periphery of said reverse face and said reverse face is formed in a region opposite that at which said shank is attached with a rib structure having a generally conically shaped rib.

18. The device defined in claim 7, further comprising means forming a heat conductive bridge between said drive and said shank.