EP0667139A1

EP0667139A1 - Device for enhancing human work fitness: "kuznetsov applicator"

Info

Publication number: EP0667139A1
Application number: EP94900325A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Ivan Ivanovich Kuznetsov
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-10-30
Filing date: 1993-10-25
Publication date: 1995-08-16
Also published as: WO1994009610A3; EP0667139A4; RU92000824A; WO1994009610A2; RU2017478C1

Abstract

The device for enhancing human work fitness ("Kuznetsov applicator") comprises a perforated elastic base (20) and, in this case, a large number of needles (23, 4) arranged in a chamber (28) within guides (24) facing perforation apertures (25) in a base (20) on its distal surface (22) in such a way as to be moveable forwards and backwards. Each needle (23) is rigidly secured in a bolder (26) which is spring-loaded in the axial direction by means of a helical spring (27) which is coaxial with the needle (23). The chamber (28) is in this case formed by one piece of clothing which acts as the base (20) and a cover (29) which is hermetically joined with it. The chamber (28) is connected to a vacuum pump (30). The needle (4) is made in one piece with the spring.

Description

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a class of masseurs having the following feature: the device acts by its needles on a man's whole cutaneous covering or on separate parts thereof.

Prior Art

Known in the Prior art are devices called the "Kuznetsov's Iplikator": SU, 791378, A3, 1980; 986422, A3, 1982, 1153919, A3, 1985.
These devices comprise a base and needles secured thereon.
In a device according to document of title No.1153919 the needles are installed for adjusting the length thereof.
This device makes it possible to adjust the local action an human body. However this devise suffers from a disadvantage residing in a threat of spontaneous action on the cutaneous covering by the needles projecting from the device when this device is applied to human body and in impossibility of stopping the action of needles on human body without removal of the device, including the lack of possibility in keeping the device in readiness for action to realize the predetermined periods of action, i.e. the periods when the needles act on the cutaneous covering and the intervals following after the retraction of the needles from the cutaneous covering.
Also known in the prior art is a device comprising a perforated elastic base having a proximal surface and a distal surface, and a plurality of needles located in guides opposite to perforated through holes in the base on the distal surface thereof and installed for reciprocating motions and for being set in two positions in a first of which the needles are sunk in the guides and in a second position they project from the perforated holes provided in the base (SU, 1657183, A1, 1991).
In said device each needle is secured on a diaphragm disposed in a chamber separated into individual compartments and connected with a source of compressed air.
Such a design embodiment of the device provides only a small travel of the needle from the perforated through hole in the base which does not insure the efficiency of action on the cutaneous covering of a man, fails to insure an efficient action on human organism, and consequently, fails to enhance the working efficiency of a man.

Disclosure of the Invention

The present invention is essentially aimed at providing a device for the prophylaxis of health and enhancement of the working efficiency, wherein a unit acting on the cutaneous covering of a man is made so as to provide an effective action on the organism and consequently to enhance the working efficiency of a man.
This aim is attained by that in a claimed device comprising a perforated elastic base having a proximal surface and a distal surface, and a needle located in a guide opposite to a perforated through hole provided in the base on the distal surface thereof and installed for reciprocal motions and for being set in two positions in a first of which the needle is sunk in the guide and in a second position the needle projects from the perforated through hole in the base, according to the invention, the needle is fixedly secured in a holder axially loaded with a coiled spring installed coaxially to the needle.
It is desirable that the device be provided with a chamber which internally accommodates the needle together with the holder and which is hermetically jointed to the base and communicated with a source of vacuum.
This is attained by that in a device comprising a perforated elastic base having a proximal surface and a distal surface, and a plurality of needles located in guides opposite to their perforated through holes in the base on the distal surface thereof and installed for reciprocating motions and for being set in two positions in a first of which the needles are sunk in the guides and in a second position they project from the perforated through holes in the base, according to the invention, each needle is fixedly secured in a holder axially preloaded by a coiled spring installed coaxially to the needle, and provision is made of a well-known chamber formed at least by one detail of a clothing serving as a base and an enclosure which evelopes the needles disposed on this detail and is hermetically jointed with this detail and communicated with a source of vacuum.
It is likewise desirable that the distance between the needle holder in the first position and the distal end face of the holder be equal to the sum of distances between the distal surface of the base and the point of the needle in the first position and between the proximal surface of the base and the point of the needle in the second position respectively, and to the base thickness.
The needle holder and the coiled spring mad be made as an integral unit.
It is preferable that the guide for the needle be made in the form of a bushing.
The device may be advantageously provided with an adjusting means intended for controlling the travel of the needle from the perforated through hole in the base and installed on the distal end face of the bushing.
Such a design embodiment of the claimed device makes it possible to substantially enhance the working efficiency of a man.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to specific embodiments thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig.1 diagrammatically represents a claimed device, according to the invention, with one needle (shown in longitudinal section);
Fig.2 diagrammatically represents another version of a claimed device with one needle (a chamber is shown in longitudinal section);
Fig.3 diagrammatically represents still another version of a claimed device with one needle of Fig.2 (a chamber is shown in longitudinal section);
Fig.4 diagrammatically represents yet another version of a claimed device of Fig.2 (a chamber is shown in longitudinal section);
Fig.5 ditto as in Fig.4 but with a chamber in the form of corrugations;
Fig.6 diagrammatically represents a claimed device with a plurality of needles (a chamber is shown in longitudinal section);
Fig. 7 diagrammatically represents a general view of a chamber for a plurality of needles installed , according to the invention, as in Fig.6 (front view partially in cut-away, a chamber is shown on a reduced scale while a control unit and a source of vacuum are shown on an enlarged scale).

Best Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

A claimed device, the so-called "Kuznetsov's Iplikator" comprises a perforated elastic base 1 (Fig.1) having a proximal surface 2 and a distal surface 3, and a needle 4 located in a guide 5 opposite to a perforated through hole 6 in the base 1 on the distal surface thereof and installed for reciprocating motions in directions A and B, and for being set in two positions of which in position I the needle 4 is sunk in the guide 5 and in position II the needle projects from the perforated through hole 6 (in the drawing position II is shown by a dash and dot line).
The needle 4 is fixedly secured in a holder 7 axially preloaded by means of a coiled spring 8 installed coaxially to the needle 4.
A distance h between the holder 7 of the needle 4 in position I and a distal end face 9 of the guide 5 is equal to the sum of distances hi and h₂ between the distal surface 3 of the base 1 and a point 10 of the needle 4 in position I, and between the proximal surface 2 of the base and the point 10 of the needle 4 in position II, respectively, and a thickness h3 of the base i, i.e.
In a described version of a preferred embodiment of the device, according to the invention, the guide 5 for the needle 4 is made in the form of a bushing.
A version of a preferred embodiment of the device of Fig.2 is made in a similar manner to embodiment of the device of Fig.1.
The difference resides in that the device of Fig.2 is provided with a chamber 11 which internally accommodates the needle 4 with the holder 7 and which is hermetically jointed with the base 1 and communicated with a source 12 of vacuum by means of a pipeline 13 with a union 14.
Under common conditions a widely known vacuum cleaner may be used as the source 12 of vacuum.
A version of a preferred embodiment of the device of Fig.3, according to the invention, is made in a similar manner to embodiment of the device of Fig.2.
The difference resides in that the needle 4 (Fig.3), the holder and the coiled spring are made as a single unit and sections of said needle 4 are designated in Fig.3 by reference numbers 15, 16, 17.
A version of a preferred embodiment of the device of Fig.4, according to the invention, is made in a similar manner to embodiment of the device of Fig.2.
The difference resides in that the device of Fig.4 has an adjusting means 18 intended for controlling the travel of the needle 4 from the perforated through hole 6 and installed on the distal end face 9 of the bushing.
The adjusting means 18 may be made in the form of a set of shims the height of which depends on the requirements to be met by the action of needles on the cutaneous covering of a man.
In the versions of a preferred embodiment of the claimed device described hereinbefore the chamber 11 (Figs 2, 3, 4) is made of a film.
It will be readily understood by those skilled in the art, that the chamber may be made of any material suitable for the given purposes. For example, in a device of Fig.5, according to the invention, a chanber 19 is made in the form of corrugations.
The version of a preferred embodiment of the device described hereinbefore, according to the invention, is provided with one needle.
It will be readily understood that for enhancing the efficiency of action of the needles on the human organism, it is advantageous to use a device provided with a plurality of needles. Such a device is illustrated in Fig.6.
This device comprises a perforated elastic base 20 having a proximal surface 21 and a distal surface 22, a plurality of needles 23 and 4 located in guides 24 opposite to their perforated through holes 25 provided in the base 20 on the distal surface 22 thereof and installed for reciprocating motions in the direction of arrows A and B, and for being set in two positions of which in position I the needles 23 and 4 are sunk in the guides 24 and in position II said needles project from the perforated through holes 25 provided in the base 20.
In a device, according to the invention, each needle 23 is fixedly secured in a holder 26 axially preloaded with a coiled spring 27 installed coaxially relative to the needle 23. The needle 23 with the point 10, the holder 26 having the distal end face 9 and the coiled spring 27 may made so as is described hereinbefore with reference to Figs 2, 4. The needle 4 is made so as is illustrated in Fig.3.
In a device of Fig.6, provision is made of a well-known chamber 28 formed by one detail of a clothing serving as the base 20 and an enclosure 29 enveloping the hoders 26 of the needles 23 and of the needle 4, disposed on this detail and hermetically jointed with said detail, and communicated with a source 30 of vacuum through a control unit 31 and a pipeline 32 with unions 33.
The chamber 28 is essentially one part - a shin 34 of the well-Known "Kuznetsov's Iplikator Suit" illustrated in Fig.7 in which the reference numbers are referred to the human body:

35 - right-hand part of the head,
36 - back of the head,
37 - left-hand part of the head,
39 - ears,
40 - lower part of the face,
41 - neck,
42 - front part of the torso,
43 - rear part of the torso,
44 - element for flexing parts of the body,
45 - forearm and arm,
46 - mitten,
47 - element of the lumbosacral region,
48 - element of the pelvis
49 - lower part of the torso,
50 - fermur,
51 - talocrural articulation,
52 - sole.

The version of a preferred embodiment of the claimed device described hereinbefore comprises the chamber 28 formed by one detail of a clothing serving as the base 20 and the eclosure 29 intended precisely for the shin 34.
It will be readily understood that the chamber may be formed by two, three and more details of a clothing with a respective enclosure. Moreover, the "Kuznetsov's Iplikator Suit" illustrated in Fig.7, as well as any component or components thereof taken together or singly may serve as this chamber.
The principle of operation of the claimed device resides in the following.
A device of Fig.1, according to the invention, is applied to a small portion of the human body in which case any accidental injury to the cutaneous covering is eliminated as the point 10 of the needle 4 is sunk in the guide 5 and does not project relative to the proximal surface 2 of the base 1 facing the human body. Thereafter the needle 4 is actuated to exert a desired action on the human body for which purpose a force is applied to the holder 7 of the needle 4 resulting in a compression of the spring 8 due to which the needle 4 acts on the man's cutaneous covering for a desired period of time during which exercises may be performed. The action of the needle 4 is stopped by removing the force from the holder 7 after which the spring 8 returns the needle 4 in the original position, thereby bringing the needle 4 out of contact with the man's cutaneous covering.
After an interval the action of the needle 4 mad be reheated due to which the action of the needle 4 on the man's cutaneous covering may be accomplished in compliance with a predetermined periodicity. At intervals the needle 4 may be moved without causing any injury to the cutaneous covering along the surface thereof with the aim of increasing the number of points for acupuncture.
The principle of operation of the claimed device of Figs 2,3 is similar to the principle of operation of the device of Fig.1.
The difference resides in that the force to be applied respectively to the holder 7 (Figs 2, 4, 5) and the section 16 (Fig.3) of the needle 4 is set up by way of producing a vacuum in the chamber 11 (Figs 2, 3, 4) and the chamber 19 (Fig.5) by means of the source 12 of vacuum.
The principle of operation of the claimed device of Fig.6 is similar to the principle of operation of the device of Figs 2, 3, 4, 5.
The difference resides in that a selected area of a man's cutaneous covering is served by the device of Fig.6 providintg action of a plurality of the needles 23 (Fig.6) and 4 with the participation of one detail of the clothing or a plurality of details of the clothing, and including the whole "Kuznetsov's Iplikator Suit" illustrated in Fig.7. Vacuum is produced, for example, as is illustrated in Fig.6. in the chamber 28 with the aid of the control unit 31 and the source 30 of vacuum.
The control unit 31 provides the remote re- guationn of a press force both in separate parts and in the whole "Kuznetsov's Iplikator Suit".
Thus the claimed device makes it possible to rapidly change the areas to be acted upon by the needles without any rearrangement of the device on the human body due to which any discomfort and injuries which may be caused to the cutaneous covering by the needles are eliminated, to regulate the time of exposure to the action of needles, as the needles are caused to act on the cutaneous covering and are retracted therefrom only when required, i.e. mechanically or under the action of vacuum due to which there is no need for rearrangement of the "Kuznetsov's Iplikator Suit" on the human body, and to realize the predetermined periodicity and intervals of subjecting the human body to action of the needles.
All this makes it possible to rearrange the device on the human body without and injuries, to eliminate the action of needles on the cutaneous covering of a man before the beginning and upon the completion of the device action, to determine the time of the device action depending on the state of health of a patient, to provide the local action of needles on the body of a man in the "Kuznetsov's Iplikator Suit" which allows the therapeutic exercises with wide amplitudes of extension and contraction of the muscular tissues to be performed in compliance with the state of health of a patient. i.e. all the above advantages make it possible to widen the functional capabilities of the "Kuznetsov's Iplikator Suits" and the field of their application with due regard to individual features of a man. The "Kuznetsov's Iplikator" is a harmless stimulator which allows a man of any age to feel in a matter of a minute the state of an enhanced working efficiency.

Industrial Applicability

The claimed device may be used by ensur- ance companies for prophylaxis of the working efficiency of a man under the household conditions and also may serve as an addition to all existing prophylactic means.

Claims

1. A device called the "Kuznetsov's Iplikator" for enhancing the working efficiency of a man comprising a perforated elastic base (1) having a proximal surface (2) and a distal surface (3), and a needle (4) located in a guide (5) opposite to a perforated through hole (6) made in the base (1) on the distal surface (3) thereof and installed for reciprocal motions and for being set in two positions of which in position (I) the needle(4) is sunk in the guide (5) and in position (II) the needle (4) projects from the perforated through hole (6) in the base (1), characterized in that the needle (4) is fixedly secured in the holder (7) axially preloaded by a coiled sprang (8) installed coaxially relative to the needle (4).

2. A device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the provision is made of a chamber (11) which internally accommodates the needle (4) together wityh the holder (7) and which is hermetically jointed with the bse (1) and communicated with a source (12) of vacuum.

3. A device called the "Kuznetsov's Iplikator" comprising a perforated elastic base (20) having a proximal surface (21) and a distal surface (22), and a plurality of needles (23) or (4) located in guides (24) opposite to their perforated holes (25) in the base (20) on the distal surface (22) thereof and installed for reciprocating motions and for being set in two positions of which in position (I) the needles (23) and (4) are sunk in the guides (24) and in position (II) these needles project from the perforated through holes (25) in the base (20), characterized in that each needle (23, 4) is fixedly secured in a holder (26) axially preloaded by a coiled spring (27) installed coaxially relative to the needles (23, 4), and provision is made of a well-known chamber (28) formed at least by one detail of a clothing serving as the base (20) and an enclosure (29) enveloping the needles (23, 4) disposed on this detail and hermetically jointed thereto,and communicated with a source (30) of vacuum.

4. A device according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, or Claim 3, characterized in that a distance (h) between the holder (7, 27) of the needle (4, 23) in position (I) and the distal end face (9) of the guide (5, 24) is equal to the sum of distances (h1, h2) between the distal surface (3, 22) of the base (1, 20) and the point (10) of the needle (4, 23) in position (I), and between the proximal surface (2, 21) of the base (1,20) and the point (10) of the needle (4, 23) in position (II) respectively, and a thickness (h3) of the base (1, 20).

5. A device according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, or Claim 3, characterized in that the needle, the holder and the coiled spring are made as a single unit.

6. A device according to Claim 4, characterized in that the needle, the holder and the coiled spring are made as a single unit.

7. A device according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, or Claim 3, or Claim 6, characterized in that the guide (5, 24) thereof for the needle (4, 23) is made in the form of a bushing.

8. A device according to Claim 4, characterized in that the guide (5, 24) thereof for the needle (4, 23) is made in the form of a bushing.

9. A device according to Claim 5, characterized in that the guide (5) thereof for the needle (4) is made in the form of a bushing.

10. A device according to Claim 7, characterized in that it is provided with an adjusting means (18) installed on the distal end face (9) of the bushing for controlling the travel of the needle (4) from the perforated through hole (6) in the base (1).

11. A device according to Claim 8 or Claim 9, characterized in that it is provided with an adjusting means (18) installed on the distal end face (9) of the bushing for controlling the travel of the needle (4) from the perforated through hole (6) in the base (1).