EP0978269B1 - Massage device for application against the skin - Google Patents

Abstract

The device has external housing forming a suction chamber, and a second housing which can be displaced w.r.t the external housing . A hole connects the internal housing to suction source to generate a reduced pressure on the skin. The device comprises a hollow external housing (1) with walls (2,3) forming a principal suction chamber and having an open face which is applied to the skin. There is a connection (15) for a suction source designed to generate a reduced pressure in the principal suction chamber. The device also includes a second hollow internal housing (20), of dimensions less than those of the external housing (1), fitted into the principal suction chamber. This second housing has a peripheral wall (21,22) which delimits a secondary suction chamber and has a lower wall delimiting an open face which is applied to the skin. There are members (4,5,6) for displacing the chamber (20) with respect to the external housing (1) in a direction parallel to the open face of the external housing applied to the skin. There is also a hole (23) which connects the internal housing (20) to a suction source designed to generate a reduced pressure in the secondary suction chamber

Description

The invention relates to an improved massage device intended to be applied to the skin of a person, with a view to forming by suction a skin fold.

Such massage devices are in common use for many years in various fields such as: rehabilitation functional, sports, aesthetics and fitness ...

These massage devices mainly include a hollow housing defining a suction chamber with an open underside, means for connecting this box to a suction source capable of generating a reduced pressure inside the suction chamber, and gripping means of said housing capable of allowing it to be moved over the skin.

The operating principle of these massage devices is the following: the depression induced by the suction source sucks the skin inside from the suction chamber and leads to the formation of a skin fold which is rolled up when displacement of the housing on the patient's body.

Document US-2,519,790 describes a massage device according to the first part of claim 1.

In addition, most of these massage devices, such as described in patents FR-2,579,100, FR-2,057,514, FR-2,612,395, FR-272,310, have two parallel internal rollers housed inside the housing and suitable for forming a fold on the skin, said rollers being either associated with motor means to help move the case, be mounted free to rotate and arranged so to be able to roll on the skin.

Such massage devices, which mostly allow obtain a relatively effective massage action, however have two major drawbacks.

Indeed, and first of all, the massage action requires having to continuously move the massage device over the skin in order to reproduce the classic massage method known to the physiotherapist under the appellation "palpate-roll". Therefore, even with the help of motive means roller drive, little used in practice because of the cost and the size of the massage devices thus equipped, the practitioner is required to exert a continuous effort tending to obtain this displacement.

In addition, by design, such massage devices are all facing problems with sealing the suction chamber which in practice almost systematically turn out to lead on the one hand to the obligation to use a suction source of considerable power and bulk, and on the other hand, to difficulties in controlling the value of the pressure reduced to inside the suction chamber.

The present invention aims to overcome these drawbacks and has for main objective of providing a massage device to obtain an action very effective massage without having to be moved on the skin.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for massage requiring only a low suction rate to obtain pressure adequate reduction in the suction chamber.

• un boítier creux, dit boítier externe, comportant une paroi périphérique délimitant une chambre d'aspiration, dite chambre d'aspiration principale, et présentant un bord inférieur délimitant une face ouverte d'application sur la peau,
• des moyens de connexion du boítier externe à une source d'aspiration apte à générer une pression réduite dans la chambre d'aspiration principale.

To this end, the invention relates to a massage device intended to be applied to the skin of a person, comprising:

• a hollow case, called an external case, comprising a peripheral wall delimiting a suction chamber, called the main suction chamber, and having a lower edge delimiting an open face for application to the skin,
• means for connecting the external housing to a suction source capable of generating reduced pressure in the main suction chamber.

• au moins un deuxième boítier creux, dit boítier interne, de dimensions inférieures à celui du boítier externe, disposé dans la chambre d'aspiration principale, ledit boítier interne comportant une paroi périphérique délimitant une chambre d'aspiration, dite chambre d'aspiration secondaire, et présentant un bord inférieur délimitant une face ouverte d'application sur la peau,
• des moyens de déplacement de chaque boítier interne par rapport au boítier externe selon un mouvement sensiblement parallèle au plan de la face ouverte d'application sur la peau dudit boítier externe,
• des moyens de communication de chaque boítier interne avec une source d'aspiration apte à générer une pression réduite dans la chambre d'aspiration secondaire.

According to the invention, this massage device is characterized in that it comprises:

• at least one second hollow box, called internal box, of dimensions smaller than that of the external box, disposed in the main suction chamber, said internal box comprising a peripheral wall delimiting a suction chamber, called secondary suction chamber, and having a lower edge delimiting an open face for application to the skin,
• means for moving each internal casing relative to the external casing in a movement substantially parallel to the plane of the open face for application on the skin of said external casing,
• means of communication of each internal housing with a suction source capable of generating reduced pressure in the secondary suction chamber.

Such a massage device allows thanks to the combined action the main massage head and the secondary massage head, within respective suction chambers of which a reduced pressure prevails, to form a skin fold between the peripheral walls of the two housings.

In addition, the movement of the secondary massage head to the inside of the main massage head creates a "moving wave" leading to a massage of continuously variable intensity during which the skin is pinched between the peripheral walls of the massage heads, with for result an action of crushing and "crushing" of the dermis.

By this design, such a massage device allows obtain a very effective massage action without having to be moved over the skin. In addition, the main massage chamber case ensures perfect tightness of the suction chamber when applied to the skin, so that the suction flow required to obtain the reduced pressure can be relatively weak and is perfectly under control.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the edges respective lower of the outer housing and each inner housing extend in substantially parallel planes. In addition, the lower edge of each internal housing preferably extends slightly behind the lower edge of the housing external.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the means of communication of each internal box with a suction source include at least one opening in the upper wall of said internal housing, in view of communicating the secondary suction chamber with the chamber main suction of the external housing.

In addition, this massage device includes preferably a single internal housing, and means for moving said internal case adapted to move it substantially parallel to the lower edge of the external case.

In addition, the lower edges of the inner case and the case are preferentially homothetic, and advantageously have each a symmetrical shape such as circular.

• un arbre rotatif monté sur le boítier externe de façon à pouvoir tourner autour d'un axe sensiblement orthogonal à la face ouverte dudit boítier externe,
• des moyens d'entraínement en rotation de l'arbre rotatif,
• un excentrique solidaire de l'arbre rotatif, comportant un axe excentré sensiblement parallèle audit arbre rotatif, le boítier interne étant monté fou autour dudit axe excentré.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the means of displacement of each internal case comprise:

• a rotary shaft mounted on the external housing so as to be able to rotate about an axis substantially orthogonal to the open face of said external housing,
• means for driving the rotary shaft in rotation,
• an eccentric secured to the rotary shaft, having an eccentric axis substantially parallel to said rotary shaft, the internal housing being mounted idly around said eccentric axis.

In addition, the rotational drive means of each rotary shaft are preferably adapted to rotate said rotary shaft at a speed of rotation substantially between 30 rpm and 100 rpm.

According to another characteristic of the invention, each eccentric is pierced with a bore centered on the eccentric axis, each internal housing being carried by a shaft mounted mad in said bore.

In addition, the distance between the rotary shaft and the eccentric axis is preferably substantially between 4 and 10 mm. This center distance can be fixed or variable to adapt to the thickness of the skin.

According to another characteristic of the invention, each case internal is removably mounted on the eccentric, the massage device comprising, for each of the internal boxes, a set of at least two boxes interchangeable internals with open application faces on the skin different dimensions.

Furthermore, the external case advantageously comprises a leak valve mounted on the peripheral wall of said external housing for the adjustment of the reduced pressure in the main suction chamber.

It also includes an air inlet valve normally closed under the action of elastic means, mounted on the wall peripheral of the external casing for the atmospheric pressure of the main suction chamber.

• la figure 1 est une coupe longitudinale par un plan axial d'un appareil de massage conforme à l'invention, appliqué sur la peau d'un patient.
• la figure 2 est une vue de dessous de cet appareil de massage,
• la figure 3 est une coupe transversale par un plan A représentant l'excentrique de cet appareil de massage.
• la figure 4a est une coupe longitudinale partielle à échelle agrandie de la paroi supérieure du boítier externe de cet appareil de massage,
• la figure 4b est une coupe longitudinale à échelle agrandie d'un connecteur mâle pour la connexion de cet appareil de massage à une source d'aspiration et à une source de courant électrique.

Other characteristics, objects and advantages of the invention will emerge from the detailed description which follows, with reference to the appended drawings which represent, by way of non-limiting example, a preferred embodiment. On these drawings which form an integral part of the present description

• Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through an axial plane of a massage device according to the invention, applied to the skin of a patient.
• FIG. 2 is a bottom view of this massage device,
• Figure 3 is a cross section through a plane A showing the eccentric of this massage device.
• FIG. 4a is a partial longitudinal section on an enlarged scale of the upper wall of the external casing of this massage device,
• Figure 4b is a longitudinal section on an enlarged scale of a male connector for the connection of this massage device to a suction source and to a source of electric current.

The massage device shown in Figures 1 and 2 is intended to be applied to a part of the body to be treated in order to achieve an action of massage this part of the body.

This massage device comprises, first of all, a head main massage consisting of a molded hollow case 1 of general shape cylindrical defining a suction chamber delimited by a wall cylindrical device 2 and a circular upper wall 3.

This massage device further comprises mounted on the wall upper 3 of the housing 1, an electric geared motor 4 for rotating a motor shaft 5 extending axially in the suction chamber through an axial hole in the upper wall 3.

• un premier alésage 7 logeant l'arbre moteur 5 (avec interposition d'un joint torique d'étanchéité), dans lequel débouche un alésage radial logeant une vis 9 de solidarisation de l'excentrique 6 sur ledit arbre moteur,
• un second alésage 8 pour le montage d'une tête secondaire de massage décrite ci-dessous.

The main massage head also includes an eccentric 6 integral with the motor shaft 5 and consisting of a disc pierced longitudinally with two eccentric bores 7, 8 spaced by a center distance of the order of 5 to 7 mm:

• a first bore 7 housing the drive shaft 5 (with the interposition of an O-ring seal), into which a radial bore opens housing a screw 9 for securing the eccentric 6 on said drive shaft,
• a second bore 8 for mounting a secondary massage head described below.

This eccentric 6 further comprises a peripheral groove 10, and a linear transverse slot 11 opening into the bottom of said groove and in the second bore 8.

This eccentric is finally provided with a spring 12 consisting of a open ring of elastic steel of suitable shape to be accommodated in the groove 9 and the slot 10 of said eccentric.

The main massage head also has a tap 13 mounted on the upper wall 3 of the housing 1, and provided with a wheel 14 allowing manual adjustment of the reduced pressure in the suction chamber.

In addition, this main massage head has a air inlet valve 50 of conventional type, kept closed by a calibrated spring, mounted on the upper wall of the housing 1. Such a safety valve 50 has for first function to allow to put the suction chamber under pressure atmospheric in order to move the massage device and apply it on a another area of the human body to be treated. It is also a security organ able to open, depending on the spring setting, if the reduced pressure in the suction chamber exceeds a predetermined value.

This main massage head also includes a connector 15 for connection on the one hand of the gear motor 4, to a source low voltage power supply, and secondly, from the suction chamber to a suction source (not shown) such as an adjustable, rhythmic vacuum pump or constant.

As shown in FIG. 4a, this connector 15 comprises, first, a female tubular connector 30, made of a conductive material electrically, provided at its upper end with a flange 31 bearing on the cover 16 of the massage device. This female connector 30, which constitutes one of the poles of the connector 15, further delimits an internal shaped conduit frusto-conical flared upwards.

This connector 15 further comprises a central core cylindrical 32 made of an electrically conductive material disposed axially in the female connector 30, so as to extend on the one hand over a partial height to inside this fitting 30, from the base of the latter, and on the other hand, partially in the extension of this base.

Such a central core 31 constitutes, on the one hand, the second pole connector 15, and secondly, a tip 33 for communication with a conduit of connection with the suction source.

The lower section 34 of this central core 32 is, moreover, threaded so as to allow the connector 15 to be secured to the massage head main by screwing connector 15 into a tapped hole in the wall upper 3 of the external casing 1.

The connector 15 finally comprises a sleeve 35 in one electrically insulating material, housed in the lower portion of the female connector 30, intended to electrically isolate said female connector and the central core 32, and to ensuring the centering of said central core.

Such a connector 15 to which two wires are connected electric motors 36, 37 for supplying the gear motor 4 allows the device to be connected massage, on the one hand to a source of aspiration, and on the other hand, to a source of electric current, by means of a single male connector 38, of conjugate form, shown in Figure 4b.

This male connector 38 comprises, firstly, a tip tubular 39 of frustoconical external shape combined with that of the female connector 30 of the connector 15, adapted to be fitted into the latter.

This tubular end piece 39 has, in its extension, a cylindrical sleeve 40 with projecting external circular notches such as 41 allowing it to be fitted and secured inside a connecting pipe 42 with a suction source.

This tubular end piece 39 made of a conductive material electrically constitutes one of the poles of connector 38, supplied by means of a wire electric 43 extending in the pipe 42 and electrically connected inside the sleeve 40.

This connector 38 also has a central core tubular 44 of an electrically conductive material, arranged axially at inside the end piece 39 so as to extend from the base of the latter.

This central core 44 has an internal bore whose lower section 45 of larger diameter is adapted to accommodate the end piece 33 of the connector 15.

This central core 44 which constitutes the second pole of the connector 38 is supplied by means of an electric wire 46 extending in the pipe 42.

Finally, the connector 38 includes a sleeve 47 in an electrically insulating material placed in the end piece 39, in the annular space of the latter delimited by the central core 44.

This main massage head finally comprises a cover 16 protective gear motor 4, suitable for mounting on the top wall 3 of the case 1, and assembled to the said case by means of screws such as 17.

This cover 16 is, moreover, pierced with an opening such as 18 to through which extends the wheel 14, the connector 15 and the air inlet valve 50, and ventilation holes 19 for the gear motor 4.

The massage device according to the invention also comprises a set of secondary massage heads of different sizes, each adapted to be placed in the suction chamber of the main massage head, and secured removably to the eccentric 6.

Each of these secondary massage heads is presented under the shape of a hollow case 20 of cylindrical shape in a flexible or rigid material defining a suction chamber delimited by a peripheral wall cylindrical 21, and a circular upper wall 22 pierced with an axial orifice, and a orifice 23 for communication with the suction chamber of the external housing 1.

Each of these secondary massage heads is, moreover, secured to a rivet 24, the head of which is riveted to the upper wall 22 of the housing hollow 20, and whose rod which extends orthogonally above said wall upper through the axial hole formed in the latter, has a diameter adapted to be inserted and able to turn in bore 8 of the eccentric 6.

This rivet rod 24 further comprises a groove peripheral 25 arranged so as to accommodate a portion of strand of the spring 12, for the blocking in translation and maintaining the secondary massage head with respect to the eccentric 6.

Such a massage device allows, thanks to the combined action the main massage head and the secondary massage head, to create, when applied to a person's skin, a "moving annular wave radially "between the peripheral walls 2, 21 of the two housings 1, 20 which leads to a very effective massage action of the corresponding area of the patient, in causing a crushing and "crushing" effect on the dermis.

In addition, the interchangeable nature of the massage heads secondary allows to equip each massage device with a set of heads massage sockets of different sizes, mounted on the massage head main successively one after the other by increasing size, so as to obtain a massage action whose intensity gradually increases.

It should also be noted that the lower edges of the walls peripherals 2, 21 of housings 1, 20 can be either straight as shown in Figures 1, 2, or present undulations which have the effect of subjecting the skin over the entire periphery of said boxes a pinching effect having a alternative form.

In addition, these peripheral walls 2, 21 can be cylindrical, as shown in the figures, or have a slightly frustoconical, of decreasing section downwards for the internal case 20, and inversely of increasing section downwards for the external casing 1, and this in view to facilitate the "release" of the skin fold formed between said peripheral walls.

In addition, the reduced pressure inside the chambers can be kept constant, or can also be adjusted in mode continuous or sequential so as to vary the extent of the massage action.

In addition, the gear motor 4 can be integrated into the massage, as shown in the figures, or separate from the latter. It is the same from the suction source.

Finally, this massage device can be used as which, for example by an individual. However, for use professional, in particular by physiotherapists, beauticians ..., it is preferable to use a "multi-head massage" massage device comprising several massage devices as described above, supplied from a same generator.

Claims (16)

1. A massaging device which is designed to be applied to the skin of a person, comprising:

   a hollow case (1), known as the outer case, comprising a peripheral wall (2,3) which delimits a suction chamber, known as the main suction chamber, and has a lower edge which delimits an open surface for application on the skin; and

   means (15) for connecting the outer case (1) to a suction source which can generate reduced pressure in the main suction chamber,

   wherein said massaging device is characterized in that it comprises:

   at least one second hollow case (20), known as the inner case, with dimensions smaller than those of the outer case (1), which is disposed in the main suction chamber, the said inner case comprising a peripheral wall (21,22) which delimits a suction chamber, known as the secondary suction chamber, and has a lower edge which delimits an open surface for application on the skin;

   means (4,5,6) for displacement of each inner case (20) relative to the outer case (1), according to motion which is substantially parallel to the plane of the open surface for application of the said outer case to the skin; and

   means (23) for making each inner case (20) communicate with a suction source which can generate reduced pressure in the secondary suction chamber.
2. A massaging device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the respective lower edges of the outer case (1) and of each inner case (20) extend in substantially parallel planes.
3. A massaging device as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the lower edge of each inner case (20) is preferably slightly recessed relative to the lower edge of the outer case (1).
4. A massaging device as claimed in one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the means for communication of each inner case (20) with a suction source, comprise at least one aperture (23) which is provided in the peripheral wall (21,22) of the said inner case, in order to make the secondary suction chamber communicate with the main suction chamber of the outer case (1).
5. A massaging device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a single inner case (20), the means (4,5,6) for displacement of the said inner case being designed to displace the latter substantially parallel to the lower edge of the outer case (1).
6. A massaging device as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the lower edges of the inner case (20) and of the outer case (1) are homothetic.
7. A massaging device as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the lower edges of the inner case (20) and of the outer case (1) each have a symmetrical shape.
8. A massaging device as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that the lower edges of the inner case (20) and of the outer case (1) are circular.
9. A massaging device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the means for displacement of each inner case (20) comprise:

   a rotary shaft (5) which is mounted on the outer case (1), such as to be able to pivot around an axis which is substantially at right-angles to the open surface of the said outer case;

   means (4) for entrainment in rotation of the rotary shaft (5); and

   a cam (6) which is integral with the rotary shaft (5), comprising an eccentric axis which is substantially parallel to the said rotary shaft, the inner case (20) being mounted idly around the said eccentric axis.
10. A massaging device as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that the means (4) for entrainment in rotation of each rotary shaft (5) are designed to make the said rotary shaft rotate at a speed of rotation which is substantially between 30 rpm and 100 rpm.
11. A massaging device as claimed in one of claims 9 or 10, characterized in that each cam (6) contains a bore (8) which is centred on the eccentric axis, each inner case (20) being supported by a shaft (24) which is mounted idly in the said bore.
12. A massaging device as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that the distance between centres of the rotary shaft (5) and the eccentric axis is substantially between 4 and 10 mm.
13. A massaging device as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 12, characterized in that the means for entrainment in rotation of the rotary shaft comprise an electric gear motor (4).
14. A massaging device as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 13, characterized in that each inner case (20) is mounted on the cam (6) in a removable manner, the massaging device comprising for each of the inner cases (20) a set of at least two interchangeable inner cases, which have open surfaces with different dimensions, for application on the skin.
15. A massaging device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the outer case (1) comprises an outlet tap (13) which is mounted on the peripheral wall (2,3) of the said outer case, in order to regulate the reduced pressure in the main suction chamber.
16. A massaging device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the outer case (1) comprises an air intake valve (50), which is normally closed by the action of resilient means, and is mounted on the peripheral wall (2,3) of the said outer case, in order to establish atmospheric pressure in the main suction chamber.

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