CA2142926A1

CA2142926A1 - Massager

Info

Publication number: CA2142926A1
Application number: CA 2142926
Authority: CA
Inventors: Greg J. Mcdougall
Original assignee: FINE PROJECTS LTD.
Current assignee: FINE PROJECTS Ltd
Priority date: 1994-02-23
Filing date: 1995-02-20
Publication date: 1995-08-24
Also published as: GB9503115D0; FR2716369A1; GB2286969A; DE19506176A1

Abstract

A hand holdable massager has a head support 23 which forms part of a universal coupling connecting the support head to be driven by a motor 11. Massaging wheels 23 are mounted to the support 23. When the support head is rotated about its central axis the surfaces of the wheels knead the skin and subcutaneous layers and provide lateral thrust towards the open nips formed by adjacent wheels.

Description

^ ~ 2142~21~
Massa~er The invention relates to hand holdable massagers.

The invention relates more particularly to hand holdable massagers having a drive motor to drive a head supporting S massaging pieces which in use are pressed against the s~in of a user. Various types of massager are already known having rotating and vibrating heads.

It is an object of the invention to provide a relatively mechanically simple massaging device.

According to the invention there is provided a hand holdable massager comprising a handle, a motor and a support head having a central axis arranged to be driven by the motor about the central axis, at least two normally freely rotatable massaging wheels mounted to the support head having planes of rotation extending generally along respective tangents of an imaginary circle having a centre on the central axis, in which the planes of rotation of ad~acent wheels converge together beyond the respective ~heels and the centres of rotation of all the wheels are in a common plane which is at right angles to the central axis.

The massager may comprise a handle, a motor, a support head arranged to be driven by the motor about a central axis~ at least two normally freely rotating massaging 21~2926 .

wheels mounted to the support head with the planes of rotation of adjacent wheels converging together beyond the respective wheels and the centres of rotation of all the wheels are in a common plane which is at right angles to S the central axis.

The massager may also comprise a handle, a motor in the handle, a support head connected for rotation by the motor about a central axis, at least two wheels freely rotatably mounted to the support head each wheel with an axis of rotation generally at right angles to the central axis and off-set from one another, the planes of the adjacent wheels converging in a direction away from the central axis to form an open nip between the wheels so that, in use, skin and subcutaneous layers thereof pressed into the nips are urged in a generally circular fashion by the surfaces of the wheels.

Three or more wheels may be mounted to and around the head support with open nips between adjacent wheels.

The head support may be coupled to the motor by a pivotable coupling. The coupling may be a universal coupling.

The wheels may be formed with regularly spaced pimples on their surfaces.

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Hand holdable massagers according to the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-Figure 1 is an exploded isometric view of the massager;

S Figure 2 is an assembled side view of the massager withouta cover;

Figure 3 is a completely assembled side view of the massager;

Figure 4 is a bottom plan schematic view of another massager; and Figure 5 is a section elevation of part of another massager.

Referring to the drawings, in Figure l the massager has a frame 10 for supporting an electric motor 11 and providing a central bearing 12 for a massager head assembly 13. The motor 11 has a worm gear 14 on its central shaft which meshes with a peripheral gear 15 of gear wheel 16, a central gear 17 of which meshes with a gear 18 attached to a central shaft 19 of the head assembly 13.

The head assembly 13 provides a universal coupling comprising three members 21, 22 and 23 pivoted together by ` `~ 21~2926 two respective pins pairs 20 and 24 (only one of pins 24 is shown). Normally, the coupling allows at least 15 of movement. The part 23 which is the head support, that is it provides support for massaging pieces, has three apertures 2~ set at 120 intervals about the central axis of the part 23. Axle pins 25 fit into the apertures 25 to support three freely rotatable massaging wheels 27. The peripheral surfaces of the wheels are formed with spaced upstanding pimples 2B.

In Figure 2, the assembled drawing is provided with arrows to indicate the normal rotation of the wheels 27 and of the head support 23 when the motor 11 is turned ON. In Figure 3, a cover 30 fits over the frame 10 and head assembly 13 and partially covers the wheels 27. The cover 30 serves as a handle for the massager and is provided with an ON-OFF switch 31.

Normally the motor 11 is supplied with power from a domestic mains supply via a suitable step-down transformer and control circuitry (not shown~. The motor may be arranged to operate at more than one selectable speed.

In use~ the user holds the cover or handle 30 and presses the wheels 27 against a part of the body to be massaged.
The motor 11 is turned ON and the head assembly rotated by the motor. The undulating surfaces of the wheels 27 press against the users skin, the universal coupling allowing 21~292~

the relative pitch of the head support 23 to alter so that the surfaces of the wheels 27 follow the contours of the body as required. The surfaces of the wheels press into the body pulling or kneading the skin and subcutaneous 5 layers thereof as the massager is moved over the body.

The universal coupling may be replaced by a resilient flexible shaft which allow appropriate movement during its driving rotation of the wheels support head. Stops can be provided to prevent over flexing of the resilient shaft.

The wheels are normally freely rotating although they may be arranged with some rotational resistance to increase the dragging effect on the surface of the skin. The massaging action is provided as the wheels 27 rotate about generally the same axis with their axles all extending along in the major plane of the head support 23 at right angles to the central axis. The planes of rotation of adjacent wheels converge so that each pair of wheels form an open nip between them. As-the head support 23 is rotated. the surface of the wheels gather up the skin and subcutaneous layers in the nips and urge them in a~ general circular fashion about the central axis. The lateral thrusting or circular motion enhances a massaging action and has good therapeutic effects.

In the described arrangement there are three wheels 27.
In another embodiment of the massager. there are only two - 214292~

wheels suitably mounted on a head support and rotatable at an angle to one another so as to form an open nip between them as required. Even with two wheels, the gathering up of skin and subcutaneous layers and lateral or circular S thrust relative the planes of the wheels can be achieved.
So while three wheels are believed preferable, massagers according to the invention may two wheels, or may also have four or more wheels distributed around a support head.

In Figure 4, it will be noted that the axis of rotation of the wheels do not pass through the central axis of the support head 23. The embodiment of Figure 4 serves to demonstrate in any event that such a condition is not an essential part of the invention. In fact, the arrangement of Figure 4 gives a wider area gathering of skin and subcutaneous tissues in use, which for massaging some parts of the body is prepared. It will be noted that the planes of rotation of the wheels 27 generally lie on tangçnts of the outer peripheral edge of the circular support head 23.

The embodiment in Figure 5 has wheels 27 which are - rotatable about axes X which are not in exactly the same plane. This gives the wheels 27 a "toed out"
configuration which also alters to some extent the 2~ characteristics of the massaging action as compared to the other described embodiments.

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It will be appreciated that the strength and form of massaging can be altered by the material used for the wheels 27 and, for example, the relative size of the pimples 28. For most parts of the body rigid plastic wheels can be satisfactorily used but for head massages a wheel formed of rubbery material are normally preferred.
The wheels may also be formed of rigid plastics material and rubbery material types fitted to provide the massaging surfaces of the wheels.

In a preferred massager, there are three wheels 27 with mean diameters of 40 mm and each having a maximum width of 17.5 mm. The radius of rotation of the wheels about a central axis, taking their outermost surfaces, is 33 mm and the speed of revolution is 100 to 120 r.p.m. The universal coupling has a freedom of at least 15.

For lighter massaging or for massaging the scalp, say, the exposed parts of the wheels 27 can be covered with a cloth cap for example. In such an arrangement the massaging takes place through the cloth which reduces the intensity to some extent and also prevents hairs on the scalp getting caught up by the wheels.

Claims

1. A hand holdable massager comprising a handle, a motor, a support head having a central axis arranged to be driven by the motor about the central axis, and at least two normally freely rotatable massaging wheels mounted to the support head having planes of rotation extending generally along respective tangents of an imaginary circle having a centre on the central axis, in which the planes of rotation of adjacent wheels converge together beyond the respective wheels and the centres of rotation of all the wheels are in a common plane which is at right angles to the central axis.

2. A hand holdable massager comprising a handle, a motor, a support head arranged to be driven by the motor about a central axis, at least two normally freely rotating massaging wheels mounted to the support head with the planes of rotation of adjacent wheels converging together beyond the respective wheels and the centres of rotation of all the wheels are in a common plane which is at right angles to the central axis.

3. A hand holdable massager comprising a handle, a motor in the handle, a support head connected for rotation by the motor about a central axis, at least two wheels freely rotatably mounted to the support head each wheel with an axis of rotation generally at right angles to the central axis and off-set from one another, the planes of the adjacent wheels converging in a direction away from the central axis to form an open nip between the wheels so that, in use, skin and subcutaneous layers thereof pressed into the nips are urged in a generally circular fashion by the surfaces of the wheels.

4. A massager according to any one of claims 1 to 3 having three or more wheels mounted to and around the head support with open nips between adjacent wheels.

5. A massager according to any one of claims 1 to 4 in which the head support is coupled to the motor by a pivotable coupling.

6. A massager according to claim 5, in which the coupling is a universal coupling.

7. A massager according to any one of claims 1 to 6, in which the wheels are formed with regularly spaced pimples on their surfaces.