FR3066912B1 - MASSAGE DEVICE, ESPECIALLY FOR EYE CONTOUR - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a massage device (1) for the eye contour comprising: - a handle (2) extending along a main axis (X); - a first and a second arm (4, 5) each carrying a massage member (6), respectively extending along a first and a second secondary axis (Y1, Y2); - a connecting portion (3) connecting the legs (4, 5) to the handle (2) and comprising a first and a second flexible portions (34, 35) respectively conferring on the first and the second limb (4, 5) an elastic mobility relative to the handle (2) around a first and a second axis of flexion (F1, F2); in which the connecting portion (3) comprises a third flexible portion (32) conferring on the first and second limbs (4, 5) a common elastic mobility with respect to the handle (2) around a third axis of flexion (F) .

Description

Massage device, in particular for the eye contour

The present invention relates to a massage device intended in particular for the massage of the eye contour, making it possible, for example, to perform a lymphatic drainage.

More particularly, the invention relates to a massage device, in particular for the eye contour, comprising: a handle extending along a main longitudinal axis; a first and a second branch each carrying a massage member, said first branch extending along a first secondary longitudinal axis and said second branch extending along a second secondary longitudinal axis, said first and second secondary longitudinal axes belonging to a first same plane and forming between them an angle of separation; a connecting portion connecting the first and second branches to the handle and comprising a first flexible portion conferring on the first limb an elastic mobility with respect to the handle about a first axis of flexion and a second flexible portion conferring on the second limb a elastic mobility relative to the handle about a second axis of bending, said first and second flexion axes belonging to said plane.

The document FR2891731 describes such a type of massage device suitable for massage of the body or face and in which the branches can flex independently with respect to the handle when the massage elements that they carry are brought into contact with the zone to be massaged and that the user exerts a massage pressure through the handle.

Thus, independent bending of the branches relative to the handle can allow the device to adapt to different reliefs of the body or face, which can improve the effectiveness of treatment and / or comfort of use.

There is, however, a need to develop a massage device whose adaptation to the contours of the area to be massaged, the effectiveness of the massage operation and the comfort of use are improved. For this purpose, the invention proposes a massage device of the aforementioned type, in which the connecting portion further comprises a third flexible portion conferring on the first and second branches a common elastic mobility with respect to the handle around a third axis of distinct bending of said first and second bending axes.

Thanks to these arrangements, the connecting portion introduces additional elastic mobility into the massage device, common to the two branches carrying their respective massage member, which improves the adaptation of the massage device to the contours of the zone to be treated. massage, the effectiveness of the massage operation and the comfort of use. The presence of the various flexible portions within the massage device provide softness and tone to the massage, even with relatively rigid application members, such as metal balls.

Indeed, to perform a massage operation, in particular the eye contour, the user grasps the massage device by its handle and applies the massage members in contact with the area to be massaged. The user then exerts pressure on the area to be massed by applying a force through the handle and maintains this pressure during the movement of the massage members on the area to be massaged. A fraction of this effort is absorbed by the flexible portion common to both branches and is not transmitted directly to the area to be massaged. Another part of the effort applied by the user on the handle is absorbed by the flexible portions of each of the branches.

Furthermore, the provision of flexible portions dedicated to each of the branches allows them to independently adapt to the reliefs of the area to be massaged that the massage members they wear are brought to meet during a massage operation.

Finally, the flexible portions having different axes of flexion, the massage device according to the invention allows to marry with flexibility the reliefs / contours of the area to be massaged and thus to improve the comfort of use and the quality of the massage , in particular in terms of drainage, this massage is done in a pleasant and fluid manner, smoothly on the area to be massaged, the massage movement being continuous and regular, without saccade or jolt.

The flexibility of the various flexible portions can come from their shapes and / or the material or materials used to achieve them. The flexibility of the various flexible portions may be chosen according to the properties desired for the massage, for example by virtue of the choice of the material or materials constituting them, in particular their Shore hardness.

By "flexible portions conferring elastic mobility", it should be understood that the flexible portions are elastically deformable, that is to say that they can flex elastically about a bending axis when the massage members are placed in contact with the area to be massaged that a user applies a certain massage pressure through the handle and that he moves the massage device to the area to be massaged while maintaining this massage pressure. When the user releases the massage pressure, the resiliently flexible portions spring back to their initial position.

According to other advantageous aspects of the invention, the massage device incorporates one or more of the following characteristics, taken individually or in any technically possible combination: the angle of separation of the first and second branches is between 60 ° and 100 °, and especially close to 80 °. the first bending axis is perpendicular to the first secondary longitudinal axis and the second bending axis is perpendicular to the second secondary longitudinal axis. - The first and second branches each have a first end connected to the connecting portion and a free end, the massage members being formed by balls received at said free ends being free to rotate in three degrees of freedom. Thanks to these provisions, the massage members are able to roll without slipping on the area to be massaged regardless of the direction of movement of the massage device on the area to be massaged, which improves the comfort and flexibility of the massage. - The first and second flexible portions have substantially the same flexural stiffness, and the third flexible portion has a flexural stiffness different from that of the first and second flexible portions. Preferably, the third flexible portion has a flexural stiffness greater than that of the first and second flexible portions. - The third axis of bending is perpendicular or inclined relative to the main longitudinal axis of the handle. the main longitudinal axis of the handle forms an angle of inclination with the plane defined by the first and second secondary longitudinal axes of the first and second branches. Preferably, this angle of inclination is between 5 ° and 90 °, and in particular close to 40 °. - The massage device is symmetrical with respect to a plane containing the main longitudinal axis of the handle and cutting the gap angle in two. the connecting portion comprises: an insert made of a first material and having a generally Y-shaped shape, the main segment of which is fixed to the handle and the secondary segments of which are fixed respectively to the first and second branches, and an envelope made of a second material different from the first material and at least partially covering the junction portion between the main segment and the secondary segments of the insert. the insert has a thinned portion, in particular in a direction perpendicular to the third axis of flexion, at the level of the main segment adapted to define the third axis of bending and thinned portions, in particular in directions perpendicular respectively to the first and the second bending axes, at the secondary segments adapted to define the first and second axes of bending. the thinned portion of the insert situated at the level of the main segment has a thickness greater than the thickness of the thinned portions of the insert situated at the level of the secondary segments. A bending stiffness of the third flexible portion greater than the bending stiffness of the first and second flexible portions is thus defined. - The first material has a flexural stiffness greater than the second material. the first material may be a material or a combination of materials from the following list: nylon, HDPE, LDPE, linear PE, PT, PP, POM, PA, PET, PBT, this list not being limiting. the second material may be a material or a combination of materials from the following list: silicone, elastomeric material, thermoplastic, thermoplastic elastomer, LDPE, PVC, PU, thermoplastic elastomer polyesters, in particular copolymers of butene terephthalate and polytetramethylene oxide esterified glycol, Hytrel®, EPDM, PDM, EVA, SIS, SEBS, SBS, latex, nitrile, butyl, polyurethane, polyether amide block, polyester, this list not being limiting. the second material may have a hardness, for example between 25 Shore A and 80 Shore D, or even between 40 Shore A and 70 Shore D. The envelope is overmolded on the insert. - The massage members are spaced apart from each other by a distance of between 10 mm and 50 mm, preferably close to 35 mm. Thanks to these provisions, the spacing of the massage members is particularly suitable for massage of the eye contour. The invention will be better understood on reading the following description of nonlimiting examples of implementation thereof, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: - Figure 1 shows a front view of a device massage according to the invention; FIG. 2 is a side view of the massage device of FIG. 1; - Figure 3 is a sectional view along the line III-III of Figure 1; - Figure 4 is a sectional view along the line IV-IV of Figure 2; FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective front view of the massage device of FIG. 1.

The massage device 1 shown in Figures 1 to 5 and object of the present invention is particularly intended for the massage of the eye contour.

The massage device 1 according to the invention has a general shape of Y, the base branch of which constitutes the handle 2 for gripping the device and the upper branches form the first and second branches 4, 5 of the device, these branches 4, 5 each carrying a massage member 6.

As can be seen in FIGS. 1 to 3 and 5, the handle 2 extends along a main longitudinal axis X. The handle can be made of various plastic materials, such as nylon, HDPE, LDPE, linear PE, PT, PP, POM, PA, PET, PBT, this list is not limiting. Preferably, the handle is made of a metallic material, such as stainless steel or Zamak.

The first branch 4 extends along a first longitudinal axis Y1 and the second branch 5 extends along a second longitudinal longitudinal axis Y2.

The first and second secondary longitudinal axes Y1, Y2 lie in the same plane P and form between them an angle of separation a in this plane P visible in particular in FIG. 4.

Moreover, and as visible in FIG. 2, the main longitudinal axis X forms an angle β with the plane P in which the secondary longitudinal axes Y1, Y2 are inscribed.

The massage device according to the invention also has a symmetry with respect to a plane P 'containing the main longitudinal axis X and passing in the middle of the first and second branches 4, 5, this plane P' corresponding to the cutting plane of In other words, the plane of symmetry P 'of the massage device 1 intersects the angle of separation has branches 4, 5 in two halves of angle od, a2 equal. The spacing angle α in the plane P between the first and the second branch 4, 5 is preferably between 60 ° and 100 °. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated, the separation angle α is preferably close to 80 °. The angle of inclination β of the plane P containing the secondary longitudinal axes Y1, Y2 of the branches 4, 5 with respect to the main longitudinal axis X of the handle 2 is advantageously between 5 ° and 90 °. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated, the angle of inclination β is advantageously close to 40 °.

The massage device 1 according to the invention further comprises a connecting portion 3 forming the junction of the different branches of the Y-shaped shape that the massage device 1 has.

More specifically, the connecting portion 3 connects the first and second branches 4, 5 to the handle 2.

The connecting portion 3 comprises a first flexible portion 34 conferring on the first branch 4 an elastic mobility with respect to the handle 2 around a first axis of flexion F1. In other words, the first flexible portion 34 allows the first branch 4 to flex around the first axis of flexion F1 relative to the handle 2 when the first branch 4 is pressed against an area to be massaged and a user exerts a pressure of massage via the handle 2.

The connecting portion 3 comprises a second flexible portion 35 conferring on the second branch 5 an elastic mobility relative to the handle 2 around a second axis of flexion F2. In other words, the second flexible portion 35 allows the second branch 5 to flex around the second axis of flexion F2 with respect to the handle 2 when the second branch 5 is pressed against an area to be massaged and a user exerts a pressure of massage via the handle 2.

As can be seen in particular in FIG. 4, the first and second flexion axes F1, F2 belong to the plane P in which the first and second secondary longitudinal axes Y1, Y2 of the first and second branches 4, 5 are inscribed.

Moreover, still in relation with FIG. 4, the first flexion axis F1 is perpendicular to the first secondary longitudinal axis Y1 and the second flexion axis F2 is perpendicular to the second longitudinal longitudinal Y2.

The first and second branches 4, 5 each have a first end 41,51 connected to the connecting portion 3 and a free end 42, 52.

The massage members 6 carried by the branches 4, 5 are advantageously formed by balls, preferably metal, received at the free ends 42, 52 of the branches 4, 5.

Preferably, the massage beads 6 are received at the free ends 42, 52 of the branches 4, 5 being free to rotate in all directions. In other words, the ball 6 are received at the end of the branches 4, 5 being free to rotate in three degrees of freedom.

According to the invention, the connecting portion 3 further comprises a third flexible portion 32 conferring on the first and second branches 4, 5 a common elastic mobility with respect to the handle 2 around a third axis of flexion F3 distinct from the first and second bending axes F1, F2. In other words, the third flexible portion 32 allows the first and second branches 4, 5 to flex together about the third axis of flexion F3 relative to the handle 2 when these branches 4, 5 are placed against an area to be massaged and that a user exerts a massage pressure via the handle 2.

Preferably, and as visible in the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the third axis of flexion F3 is perpendicular to the main longitudinal axis X of the handle 2. As a variant, provision may be made for the third axis of flexion F3 to be inclined relative to the main longitudinal axis X of the handle 2.

According to an advantageous arrangement of the invention, the first and second flexible portions 34, 35 have substantially the same bending stiffness, and the third flexible portion 32 has a flexural stiffness different from that of the first and second flexible portions 34, 35, and preferably greater than that of the first and second flexible portions 34, 35.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the connecting portion 3 comprises an insert 30 made of a first material and having a generally Y shape. The main segment 302 of this Y is attached to the handle.

In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 3 to 5, the main segment 302 of the insert 30 is in the form of a cylinder, possibly slightly frustoconical, adapted to fit into a receiving housing 20 provided in FIG. the handle 2 to ensure the attachment of the insert 30 on the handle 2. This insertion can be performed with clamping of the main segment 302 in the housing 20 of the handle. Alternatively or in addition, the main segment 302 of the insert 30 can be held inside the housing 20 of the handle by interposition of a layer of glue.

Furthermore, the Y-shaped insert 30 has two secondary segments 304, 305 attached respectively to the first and second branches 4, 5.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 3 to 5, the secondary segments 304, 305 of the insert 30 are in the form of cylinders whose free ends define seats 306 adapted to each accommodate a massage ball 6.

As can be seen in particular in FIGS. 4 and 5, the massage balls 6 are retained on the free ends of the secondary segments 304, 305 of the insert 30 by means of covers 60 threaded onto the cylinders formed by the secondary segments 304. 305 and each having an orifice 600, of smaller diameter than that of the massage ball 6, so as to retain the ball 6 on the associated secondary segment 304, 305 while leaving through this hole 600 a portion of the ball 6 .

Thus, the massage beads 6 are retained on the secondary segments 304, 305 of the insert 30 being free to rotate in three degrees of freedom.

As apparent in particular in Figures 4 and 5, the connecting portion 3 further comprises a casing 31, made of a second material different from the first material of the insert 30 and at least partially covering the joining portion 303 of the insert 30 extending between the main segment 302 and the secondary segments 304, 305. The insert 30 has a thinned portion 307, particularly in a direction perpendicular to the third flexion axis F3, at the main segment 302, this portion thinned 307 to define the third axis of flexion F3. The insert further has tapered portions 308, 309, particularly in directions perpendicular respectively to the first and second flexion axes F1, F2, at the level of the secondary segments 304, 305 for defining the first and second axes of flexion. .

In the illustrated embodiment, the thinned portions of the insert 307, 308, 309 are joined and form the joining portion 303 of the insert 30 extending between the main segment 302 and the secondary segments 304, 305

Advantageously, the thinned portion 307 of the insert 30 located at the main segment 302 has a thickness greater than the thickness of the thinned portions 308, 309 of the insert 30 located at the secondary segments 304, 305. a bending stiffness of the third flexible portion greater than the bending stiffness of the first and second flexible portions.

Advantageously, the first material, in which the insert 30 is made, has a flexural stiffness greater than the second material, in which the casing 31 is made. Thus, the flexural stiffnesses of the various flexible portions 32, 34, 35 are essentially determined by the shape and / or the material of the insert 30. By way of non-limiting examples: the first material may be a material or a combination of materials from the following list: nylon, HDPE, LDPE, linear PE , PT, PP, POM, PA, PET, PBT, this list not being limiting. the second material may be a material or a combination of materials from the following list: silicone, elastomeric material, thermoplastic, thermoplastic elastomer, LDPE, PVC, PU, thermoplastic elastomer polyesters, in particular copolymers of butene terephthalate and polytetramethylene oxide esterified glycol, Hytrel®, EPDM, PDM, EVA, SIS, SEBS, SBS, latex, nitrile, butyl, polyurethane, polyether amide block, polyester, this list not being limiting.

According to an advantageous arrangement, the second material has a hardness of, for example, between 25 Shore A and 80 Shore D, or even between 40 Shore A and 70 Shore D.

Preferably, the casing 31 is overmolded on the insert 30. For this purpose, the insert 30 preferably has orifices 300, in particular formed in the joining portion 303 of the insert, allowing the material in which is formed the envelope 31 to penetrate so as to reinforce the cohesion of the assembly of the envelope 31 on the insert 30.

Advantageously, the massage members are spaced from each other by a distance of between 10 mm and 50 mm, preferably close to 35 mm.

In the exemplary embodiment illustrated, and as visible in particular in Figure 4, the massage ball centers 6 are spaced approximately 35 mm apart, so that the spacing of the massage beads 6 is particularly suitable for massage the eye contour.

Claims (10)

A massage device (1), particularly for the eye contour, comprising: - a handle (2) extending along a main longitudinal axis (X); a first and a second limb (4, 5) each carrying a massage member (6), said first limb (4) extending along a first secondary longitudinal axis (Y1) and said second limb (5) extending along a second secondary longitudinal axis (Y2), said first and second secondary longitudinal axes (Y1, Y2) belonging to the same plane (P) and forming between them a separation angle (a); - a connecting portion (3) connecting the first and second legs (4, 5) to the handle (2) and comprising a first flexible portion (34) giving the first leg (4) an elastic mobility relative to the handle (2); ) around a first bending axis (F1) and a second flexible portion (35) conferring on the second branch (5) an elastic mobility relative to the handle (2) around a second bending axis (F2), said first and second bending axes (F1, F2) belonging to said plane (P); characterized in that the connecting portion (3) further comprises a third flexible portion (32) conferring on the first and second limbs (4, 5) a common elastic mobility with respect to the handle (2) around a third axis of bending (F) distinct from said first and second bending axes (F1, F2). 2. Massage device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the first and second legs (4, 5) each have a first end (41, 51) connected to the connecting portion (3) and a free end (42). , 52), the massage members (6) being formed by balls received at said free ends being free to rotate in three degrees of freedom. A massage device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first and second flexible portions (34, 35) have substantially the same flexural stiffness, and the third flexible portion (32) has a flexural stiffness different from that of the first and second flexible portions (34, 35). A massage device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the third bending axis (F) is perpendicular or inclined with respect to the main longitudinal axis (X) of the handle (2). 5. Massage device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the main longitudinal axis (X) of the handle forms an inclination angle (β) with the plane (P) defined by the first and second secondary longitudinal axes (Y1, Y2) of the first and second branches (4, 5). Massage device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the massage device (1) is symmetrical with respect to a plane (P ') containing the main longitudinal axis (X) of the handle (2). ) and cutting the angle of separation (a) in two. 7. Massage device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the connecting portion (3) comprises: - an insert (30) made of a first material and having a generally Y-shaped whose main segment (302) is fixed to the handle (2) and whose secondary segments (304, 305) are respectively fixed to the first and second branches (4, 5), and - a casing (31) made of a second material different from the first material and at least partially covering the joining portion (303) between the main segment (302) and the secondary segments (304, 305) of the insert (30). 8. Massage device (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the insert (30) has a thinned portion (307) at the main segment (302) adapted to define the third axis of flexion (F3) and portions thinned (308, 309) at the secondary segments (304, 305) adapted to define the first and second bending axes (F1, F2). 9. Massage device (1) according to any one of claims 7 and 8, wherein the first material has a bending stiffness greater than the second material. Massage device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the massage members (6) are spaced from each other by a distance (d) of between 10 mm and 50 mm, preferably close to 35 mm.