EP0477790B1 - Scalp massaging device - Google Patents

Abstract

This scalp massaging device consists of a helmet (1) equipped with three first fixed points of contact (5) with the scalp of the user which are situated near the top of the helmet. It moreover comprises three second points of contact (8), one in the frontal zone of the helmet and the others in the parieto-temporal zones of the latter, these second points of contact comprising means (17, 18) making it possible to apply it to the scalp with a specific and adjustable pressure. Finally, the helmet moreover has an eccentric (26) driven in rotation by a motor. <IMAGE>

Description

The beneficial effects of scalp massage are well known. They especially promote hair regrowth or prevent it from falling out. In addition, the scalp massage causes relaxation, a feeling of well-being and helps to effectively combat stress.

Various scalp massage devices are known which are either complicated to manufacture or difficult to use.

Document WO-A-88/01500 describes a scalp massage device comprising a hoop along which massage blocks can slide. Each massage block includes a vibration generator transmitting these vibrations to a flexible wall intended to be in contact with the scalp. By modifying the position of the hoop on the user's head and of the massage blocks along the hoop, a massage of the entire scalp is obtained. Such a device is inadequate because it requires a plurality of complex massage bodies, containing a vibration generator, and is of long and tedious use, since it is necessary to move the hoop and said blocks successively a very large number of times to obtain a complete massage.

Document CH-A-663.537 describes a scalp massage device comprising a helmet formed by an external envelope and an internal envelope which can be displaced relative to each other, under the action of drive means . The internal envelope is provided with fingers applied pneumatically against the scalp of the user causing a massage of the latter, or of certain points thereof, when they are entrained in the movements of the internal envelope, l helmet outer shell being fixed on the head of the user. This device is complicated to manufacture and especially to use because it is necessary, the external envelope of the helmet being fixed to a support, that the user keeps his head in a determined position during the whole time of the massage.

Document CH-A-557,679 describes a scalp massage device comprising a helmet intended to be fixed on the head of the user by a frontal band. This helmet is provided with a plurality of fingers applied against the scalp of the user and driven by a drive system in opposite movements. Here also the number of fingers and their training makes the device complex and only a limited number of points on the scalp can undergo massage.

Document WO-A-79/00974 describes an apparatus for massaging the scalp, in which a plurality of massage elements are actuated by an electric motor. However the scalp is surrounded by an elastic hoop at a distance. Said hoop has a central ridge extending in the direction of the length of the head, from the ridge extending on both sides of the fan-shaped support bands with elastic bands guided by sliding therein. The central ridge supports training elements and the bands include massage elements.

The object of the present invention is the production of a scalp massage device which is simple to carry out, and therefore of a reduced cost, which makes it possible to act on the entire scalp automatically, it is that is to say without the intervention of the user or of a nursing staff, requiring no intervention during its use and being fixed directly on the head of the user so that the latter is free to move during the massage so that he can go on during this time to other occupations.

The massage device according to the invention is distinguished by the characteristics listed in claim 1. The dependent claims 2 to 10 show preferred embodiments according to the invention. The text of all claims is explicitly included in the content of the description by reference.

The attached drawing illustrates schematically and by way of example an embodiment of the massage device according to the invention.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device in the massage position on the head of a user.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section of the massage device illustrated in FIG. 1.

Figure 3 is a bottom view illustrating the interior of the massage apparatus.

The capillary or scalp massage device is based on a massage principle totally different from previous devices which all use massage fingers or organs, in contact with the scalp, with their own movements and causing localized massage areas. around each of these massage fingers.

On the contrary, the present capillary or scalp massage device has a limited number of points of contact with the scalp, one to three at the top of the skull, a frontal and two parieto-temporal which are all mounted on the same support. Means are provided for applying at least some of these contact points, generally the frontal contact point and the two parieto-temporal contact points, against the scalp so as to rigidly fix the support to the user's scalp.

The apparatus also includes means making it possible to set the support in cyclical alternating movements causing the scalp to be driven by the contact points and therefore an oscillating or rotary movement relative to the skull of the user, thus causing a massage. of the whole scalp.

In the preferred embodiment illustrated, the support consists of a rigid helmet 1 of molded synthetic material.

This helmet is provided in its central area with three fixed supports or adjustable contact points arranged in a triangle around the axis of the helmet. Each of these fixed supports is formed by an orientable pad 2 having a flexible pad 3 mounted on a ball joint 4 forming the end of a screw 5 passing through the helmet and cooperating with a nut 6.

The helmet is provided in its frontal zone and in its parieto-temporal zones with holes or holes 7, seven holes in each of these zones in the example illustrated, intended for fixing and positioning in each of these three zones with a removable contact point. At least one of these removable contact points is inflatable, in the example illustrated the three removable contact points are inflatable.

Each removable contact point comprises a guide formed by a tubular element 8 engaged in one of the holes 7 in one of the three zones secured to a washer or flange 9 which comes to bear against the internal surface of the helmet 1. Each of these removable contact points also comprise a piston, the rod 10 of which is engaged in the tubular element 8 and slides therein and the front part 11 of which is provided with a deformable pad 12 intended to come into contact with the scalp of the user.

A body 13 of elastic foam is located between the front part 11 of the piston and the washer 9 of the guide. A deformable and waterproof bellows 14 connects this washer 9 to the front part 11 of the piston creating a sealed chamber.

Each of these three sealed chambers is connected by a pipe 15 to a pressurization pipe 16, the free end of which is connected to a swelling bulb 17 by a valve 18.

The helmet 1 has in its central part or at its top an orifice giving passage to a tubular casing 19 rigidly fixed to the helmet 1 by screws 20 for example. This casing 19 contains an electric motor 21, the drive shaft of which drives a reduction gear 22 and the output shaft 23 of which is secured to a cylindrical yoke 24 by a pin 25. This yoke 24 is threaded into a housing d 'an arm 26 which is secured to the yoke 24 using a screw 27. This arm extends substantially parallel to the outer surface of the helmet over a distance of between 1/3 and 2/3 approximately of the height of the helmet. The free end of this arm 26 comprises an unbalance 28 trapped in the material of the arm during its molding or fixed in any other way to this arm 26. This arm 26 and this unbalance 28 constitute an eccentric.

The motor 21 is supplied by an electric cable 29, the end of which is provided with a male electrical supply plug 30. It is obvious that the electric motor 21 could also be supplied by batteries or accumulators which could be housed in the arm 26 for example in place of the unbalance 28.

• a. L'usager place les points de contact frontaux et pariéto-temporaux à l'endroit qui lui convient et qui est pour lui le plus agréable en choisissant l'un des trous 7 de chaque zone pour y introduire le guide tubulaire 8.
• b. L'usager place le casque sur sa tête, les appuis fixes 2-5 venant en contact avec le sommet de son crâne.
• c. L'usager gonfle les soufflets étanches 14 des appuis amovibles 8-14 à l'aide de la poire 17 à la pression désirée. Cette pression doit être telle qu'elle fixe le casque au cuir chevelu de l'usager sans lui occasionner de gêne.
• d. L'usager branche ensuite l'alimentation du moteur électrique 21 provoquant l'entraînement en rotation du bras 26 autour du casque 1. Cette rotation du bras, du fait du balourd 28, provoque des oscillations du casque 1 qui entraîne le cuir chevelu dans ses mouvements.

The operation of the scalp massage device described is as follows:

• at. The user places the front and parieto-temporal contact points in the place that suits him and which is most pleasant for him by choosing one of the holes 7 in each zone to introduce the tubular guide 8 there.
• b. The user places the helmet on his head, the fixed supports 2-5 coming into contact with the top of his skull.
• vs. The user inflates the waterproof bellows 14 of the removable supports 8-14 using the bulb 17 at the desired pressure. This pressure must be such that it fixes the helmet to the user's scalp without causing him discomfort.
• d. The user then connects the power to the electric motor 21 causing the rotary drive of the arm 26 around the helmet 1. This rotation of the arm, due to the imbalance 28, causes oscillations of the helmet 1 which drives the scalp in its movements.

This gives a global massage of the scalp and detachment of it from the skull promoting blood circulation and relaxation of the user.

The helmet 1 being fixed on the head of the user and the power supply of the motor being able to be done by accumulator, incorporated or not in the arm 26, the user is free to move and move during the massage.

In addition, this device is simple and inexpensive to manufacture due to the limited number of contact points and the fact that these are static and must not be driven individually in movement to cause the massage but are integral with the helmet 1.

Once the massage is finished, the user opens the valve 18 releasing the pressure in the bellows 14 which allows the helmet to be removed.

In variants, the helmet can be provided with a single fixed contact point which would for example be fixed on the end of the casing 19 extending inside the helmet 1.

Only one or two of the removable contact points 8-14 could be inflatable. In addition, in a simplified variant, the contact points 8-14 could only have one possible position relative to the helmet.

One can also imagine that the pressure applied to the removable contact points 8-14 can be obtained by elastic means, springs, silent block, etc. allowing to remove the conduits 15, 16 and the bulb 17 as well as the valve 18.

Most if not all of the components of the device are made of molded or injected plastic and are therefore light and inexpensive. In addition, the assembly of the assembly is very simple and does not require a precision template.

To vary the intensity of the massage, it is possible to vary the speed of rotation of the arm, by acting on the power supply of the motor or on the gear ratio. One can also act on the weight and the eccentricity of the unbalance 28.

In other variants, the arm 26 provided with its unbalance 28 can be replaced by an eccentric driven in rotation by the motor 21, eccentric which may for example have the shape of a disc provided with at least one perforation or a variable thickness disc. Any other space-saving shape or conformation can be provided for this eccentric.

Claims (10)

1. Scalp massaging device comprising a support (1) in the manner of a headset having at least a first point of contact fixed to the support located in the proximity of the top of the support (1) and of three second points of contact. one in the front zone of the support (1) and the others in the parietal-temporal zones of the support (1), the points of contact being formed by bearing components arranged on the inner surface of the support intended to come into contact with the scalp of the user, one at least of these second points of contact comprising means to apply to the scalp a specific and/or adjustable pressure, the said support (1) bearing an eccentric driven in rotation by a motor (21).
2. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the support (1) is a head-set.
3. Device according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that it comprises three first points of contact, each of these having a runner (2) complete with a flexible and deforming bearing (3), this runner (2) being connected with the support (1) by means of a ball-joint (4).
4. Device according to one of the previous claims, characterised in that the three second points of contact are mounted on the support (1) in a movable manner.
5. Device according to claim 4, characterised in that each moving contact point comprises a tubular guide (8) introduced into a hole (7) in the support (1) in which slides a piston (10) equipped with a flexible bearing (12).
6. Device according to claim 5, characterised in that the support (1) comprises several holes (7) in the front zone and in the parietal-temporal zones allowing the adjustment of the position of the moving points of contact in relation to the support (1).
7. Device according to claim 6, characterised in that a flexible component (13) is mounted between the guide (8) and the piston (10) of the moving point of contact tending to displace the piston (10) towards the inside of the support (1).
8. Device according to claim 7, characterised in that a bellows unit (14) connects the guide (8) with the piston (10) creating a sealed compartment connected to means for pressurising by way of a duct (15).
9. Device according to one of the previous claims, characterised in that the eccentric consists of an arm (26) stretching approximately parallel with the surface of the support (1) and of which the end is fitted with a counterweight (28).
10. Device according to claim 9, characterised in that the motor (21) is mounted in a cylindrical housing (19) passing through the head-set and secured to it at the top and in that the motor (21) drives the eccentric arm (26) by means of a reducing gear (22).

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