GB2276822A - Massaging device - Google Patents

Abstract

An electrical massaging device is disclosed which possesses one or more rotating massaging heads 2. The heads are removable and can be replaced with different heads. The massaging heads have one or more protruberances 8 which are offset with respect to the axis of rotation of the heads. The heads are rotated in opposite directions so that the protruberances move together and then apart to produce a kneading or deep-massaging action. The device may also incorporate a protective feature which centres the protruberances if undue resistance is met. <IMAGE>

Description

ELECTRICAL MASSAGING DEVICE RAVING INTERCHANGEABLE ROTARY HEADS The present invention relates to an electrical massaging device possessing one or more interchangeable rotary heads.

The device according to the invention is defined in the claims.

The present invention also relates to massaging devices consisting of fingers or cones set in rotary movements. The apexes of these fingers or cones are excentric with respect to their axis of rotation and rotate alternately, one in one direction and the other in the opposite direction. In operation, these apexes, by their rotation, successively move closer together and further apart from each other.

Depending on their number, shape, separation and speed, it is possible to produce soft massaging (gentle stroking) or deep (squeezing, kneading) massaging devices.

In these known devices, particularly in the case of devices for deep massage, excessive forces could be applied to certain parts of the body with risk of lesion.

In order to overcome this drawback, it has seemed advantageous to provide massaging fingers or cones with a mechanism enabling these excessive forces to be reduced or eliminated.

According to the invention, the massaging elements (fingers or cones) are provided with means intended to enable, under certain forces, the apex of the element to be brought back towards or to the centred position, that is to say to move away, to move back with respect to their base, to decrease their excentricity (possibly to eliminate it), so as to reduce or eliminate the closer-together or further-apart movements of the apexes.

The squeezing (kneading) action is thus reduced or eliminated, as is the risk of lesion.

Features and advantages of the invention will emerge more clearly from the attached drawings and from the description which follows.

Figures 1 to 4 are perspective views illustrating one embodiment of the invention.

Figures 5 and 6 illustrate beneficial aspects of the invention.

Figure 7 is an elevation view of a cone massaging element according to the invention.

Figures 8 to 10 are three alternative forms of the element of Figure 7.

Figure 11 is an elevation view of the element of Figure 7 with a cut-out revealing the internal mechanism.

Figure 18 is a plan view of the element according to Figure 11.

Figure 13 is a view similar to that of Figure 12, with the apex in the centred position.

Figure 14 is a plan view of the element according to Figure 13.

The invention is described hereinbelow, by way of example, on the basis of a device possessing four massaging heads. Referring to the drawings, Figures 2 and 4 show the body of the device, the base of which is provided with four spindles 3 receiving various models of removable massaging heads 2 which will be described later.

The spindles 3 each possess an indexation groove 4. These spindles rotate in opposite directions, in pairs, and are driven by an electric motor built into the device and acting via a speed-reducing gear. The motor is supplied either by rechargeable batteries (which may or may not be incorporated into the device), or directly by the current from the mains or via a transformer.

Rotation is considered here in its most general sense, that is to say it may be performed continuously in the same direction or alternately or by sequence in one direction and then in the other, and for complete or partial revolutions, with a constant or variable speed.

The axes of the spindles may be parallel or inclined with respect to each other. In this case, a vertical component is combined with the rotational movement of the heads.

The removable heads 2 are held in place by pins 5 penetrating the base of the device through channels 6 and sliding in a groove 7 located at the base of each removable head. This retention system is indicated by way of example and could be replaced by any other holding system, such as a ball and spring, etc.

The massaging heads can be of several models and can fulfil the various modes of massage or of treatment.

By way of non-limiting example, we mention: 1. Massaging heads possessing one or more excentric protuberances 8 arranged at their surface. By virtue of the rotations of the spindles in opposite directions, the excentric protuberances of the heads successively move closer together and further apart from each other, thus creating a squeezing or kneading action.

Figures 1 and 2 show a particular protuberance model represented in the form of an off-centred cone, the apex of which is rounded. This head model is specially suitable for deep massage or kneading.

2. Massaging heads possessing, at their surface, one or more projecting balls 9 (Figures 3 and 4). These balls are held in cavities with a slight clearance enabling them to rotate freely. This head model is specially adapted to lighter treatments, such as friction, gentle stroking, etc.

3. The heads could also be covered with flexible projections, felt pads, or consist of brushes, etc. They could consist of a combination of various models or materials.

The heads may be used in identical groups or as a combination of several types.

As indicated earlier, the spindles are provided with indexation grooves. The purpose of these grooves is to position the heads in a predetermined manner and, consequently, to fix the relative orientation of the protuberances or balls. In their rotation, the massaging heads thus generate a defined manipulation upon mounting the device.

The device may be supplied with one and/or other of the gripping systems described hereinbelow.

1. An adjustable strap 11 of the camcorder type (Figure 5) enables the apparatus to be used with just one hand.

2. Two flexible arms 12, each terminating in a handle 13 (Figure 6), may be attached on either side of the device, for example by virtue of spigots pivoting in lateral housings. Retractable spigots guided by slideways 14 enable the arms to be mounted or dismantled in a trice. These arms are particularly useful for treating, accurately and comfortably, the region of the back, the backs of the thighs, the feet, etc.

In order to facilitate the passage of the supply cable 15, the arms are provided with openings 16. After passing through the inside of the handle 13, the cable is threaded in succession from both sides of the arm before being connected to the body of the device. In this way, the nuisance of a flapping supply cable is avoided.

As may be seen in Figure 7, the projecting massaging element represented, intended to equip a massaging device, the elements of which are set in rotational movements such as described hereinabove, is in the form of a cone 21, the rounded apex 22 of which is off-centred with respect to the axis of rotation 23 of the base 24.

The rotation of these excentric apexes 22 of the massaging elements 21 of the device generate a circular movement and, like the said elements, rotate, one in one direction and the next in the opposite direction, the apexes successively moving closer together and further apart from each other, thereby generating a kneading or deep-massaging action.

The massaging element in the form of a cone may exhibit various aspects such as the regular one as in Figure 7. It is possible to produce, for example, a massaging element 210 with a hollow 25, or a massaging element 211 with a movable ball 212 as apex or alternatively a massaging element 213 having a stepped cone (see Figures 8 to 10).

In order to prevent any accident or discomfiture, and, for example, any excessive massage at a defined point on the body, provision is made according to the invention to furnish the massaging element with means enabling, under certain forces, the rounded apex 22, 220, 221 or the ball 220 to be brought back into the centred position so as to reduce or eliminate the closer-together and further-apart movement, and therefore to reduce or eliminate the massaging action.

The means provided for bringing the off-centred apex back into the centred position are manifold. Thus, mention may be made of a cone sliding radially on its base and held in the excentric position by means of a spring 26 (Figures 11 to 14), or a cone pivoting on a pin (X) and held in position by a spring, or alternatively by rocking of the apex.

Provision may also be made for the apex to receed momentarily by means of a reverse rotation on the same pin as that for the movement, the base driving the excentric cone via a spring mechanism.

The spring mechanism may consist of metal or plastic elements and may act in torsion, compression, extension, etc.

Similar advantages may also be obtained by virtue of the sliding or slipping of the massaging cone or fingers with respect to their base.

The massaging elements stop on an obstacle, despite their base continuing to rotate.

The fingers or cones may also be made of the same or different flexible and/or elastic materials, the deformation of which, on an obstacle, enables the massaging action and, consequently, the risks of lesion, to be reduced or eliminated.

These mechanisms can be calibrated at the start or can be adjusted by the user.

Claims (18)

1. Electrical massaging device, the base of which possesses one or more rotary heads, characterized in that the massaging heads are removable.

2. Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that it can receive interchangeable heads of various types allowing a variety of massages or treatments.

3. Device according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the spindles receiving the massaging heads have a means for positioning the massaging heads according to predetermined orientations on their axis of rotation.

4. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the heads are held in the working position by a quick mechanism accessible from outside the device.

5. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the massaging heads have one or more protuberances.

6. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the massaging heads possess one or more balls rotating freely in cavities arranged at their surface.

7. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it can be manipulated by virtue of detachable flexible arms.

8. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the arms may be pierced with openings for the passage of the supply cable.

9. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it can be manipulated with just one hand by virtue of a strap of the camcorder type.

10. Device according to any one of the preceding claims; characterized in that the head comprises a finger or a cone set in a rotary movement and the apex of which finger or cone is off-centred with respect to the axis of rotation of the base; and in that the finger or the cone is provided with means intended to enable excessive forces, capable of causing risks of lesion, to be reduced or eliminated.

11. Device according to claim 10, characterized in that the means enable, under certain excessive forces, the apex to be brought back towards or to the centred position.

12. Device according to claim 10 or claim 11, characterized in that the head is resiiiently mounted.

13. Device according to claim 11, characterized in that the means comprises a spring on which the head is mounted.

14. Device according to claim 13, characterlzed in that the spring acts in a plane perpendicuiar to the axis of rotation of the or each rotary head.

15. Device according to claim 13 or claim 14, characterized in that the spring is a helical spring.

16. Device according to claim 15, characterized in that the apex is centred when the spring is substantially completely compressed.

17. Device according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the device is shaped to be held in the palm of one hand.

18. A massaging device substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.