GB2287887A

GB2287887A - Face massage device

Info

Publication number: GB2287887A
Application number: GB9419368A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Tatsuo Katsunuma; Tomio Fujikawa; Seiya Mabuchi
Original assignee: Biopit Co Ltd
Current assignee: Biopit Co Ltd
Priority date: 1994-03-29
Filing date: 1994-09-26
Publication date: 1995-10-04
Anticipated expiration: 2014-09-26
Also published as: CN1119933A; JPH07265370A; GB2287887B; TW375931U; GB9419368D0

Abstract

An electrically operated face massage device has a housing 1, and an impact rod 5 axially slidably mounted in the housing. A cylindrical collar 9 is detachably mounted on a front portion 1F of the housing 1. An impact pad 8 is secured to a front end of the impact rod 5 and disposed in the cylindrical collar 9. The impact rod 5 is reciprocated by reciprocating means 37 so that the impact pad 8 is caused to impact a face of a user during use of the device. The collar is removable to allow the impact head to be changed and a safety device which engages with the collar prevents the motor B operating whilst the collar is off. The device improves beauty by stimulating the peripheral nerve and blood circulation in the face. <IMAGE>

Description

TITLE OF THE INVENTION FACE MASSAGE DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a face massage device, and more particularly to a face massage device having an impact massage member, whereby a face of the user is massaged by the impact member to promote the circulation of the blood and to stimulate the peripheral nerve in the face.

In the filed of the beauty culture, it is known that skin tissue of the face is activated by promoting the circulation of the blood and stimulating peripheral nerve in the face. In order to promote the circulation of the blood in the face, the face is heated with a steamed towel to moisten the skin, or massaged with fingers using face cream. Thus, somewhat effect of the beauty is obtained.

Recently, in place of the massage using fingers, there have been developed a face massage device having rollers. The roller has a rough surface for promoting the circulation of the blood in the face.

However in such a massage device, since the massaging by the rollers is not effective to stimulate a deep portion of the skin tissue, it is difficult to achieve sufficient effect for the beauty.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A first object of the present invention is to provide a face massage device in which a massage pad is used to massage the face, thereby promoting the circulation of the blood in a deep portion of a skin tissue of the face and stimulating the peripheral nerve of the face.

A second object of the present invention is to provide a face massage device which may reduce vibration and noises during the operation.

A third object of the present invention is to provide a face massage device in which a massage pad is easily and safely changeable.

For the first object, according to the present invention, there is provided a face massage device comprising a housing having a grip portion and a head portion which are arranged in a longitudinal direction of the housing, an impact rod disposed in perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and axially slidably mounted in the housing, a cylindrical collar detachably attached to a front of the head portion, an impact pad secured to a front end of the impact rod and disposed in the cylindrical collar, a reciprocating device for reciprocating the impact rod so that the impact pad impacts a face of a user, and a driving device for driving the reciprocating device. The driving device comprises an electric motor and a reduction gear device for reducing rotational speed of a rotating output of the motor.

The second object is achieved by the device comprising a mechanism housing mounted in the housing with resilient means, the impact rod being slidably mounted in the mechanism housing, the reciprocating device, the motor and the reduction gear device being mounted in the mechanism housing.

For the third object, a safety switch provided in the housing for detecting the collar attached to the housing and for closing a circuit for operating the motor.

These and other objects and features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a side view showing a face massage device of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a sectional side view of the device; Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the device taken along a line III-III of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a sectional view showing a driving mechanism of the device taken along a line IV-IV of Fig.

2; and Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the device taken along a line V-V of Fig. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to Fig. 1 showing a face massage device of the present invention, a hollow housing 1 of the device has a grip portion la and a head portion 1b which are arranged in a longitudinal direction of the housing.

The housing 1 comprises a front housing 1F and a rear housing lB,-both of which are made of plastics and formed by injection molding. A cylindrical collar 9 is detachably attached to a front of the head portion ib.

A slide switch 3 is provided on a side portion of the housing 1 between the front and rear housings 1F and 1B to be moved in the vertical direction for turning on the massage device.

A power supply adapter A having a plug a is connected to the massage device 1 through a cord b for supplying power to a motor in the device. The plug a is connected to a receptacle (not shown). Another end plug (not shown) is provided on the other end of the cord b and engaged with a socket 2 (Fig. 2) of the housing 1.

The adapter A has a transformer and a rectifier.

Referring to Fig. 2, the front housing 1F is secured to the rear housing 1B with an upper screw 4A and a lower screw 4B. The socket 2 is mounted in a base portion of the housing 1.

A driving mechanism housing 11 made of plastics is provided in the housing 1. The mechanism housing 11 comprises a front mechanism housing llF and a rear mechanism housing llB secured to the front housing llF with screws 4C. The rear mechanism housing llB has an upper hub 11a and a lower hub 11b. In the front mechanism housing 11F, an upper hub lic and a lower hub 11d are formed corresponding to the upper and lower hubs 11a and 11b of the rear mechanism housing llB opposite to each other.Resilient annular dampers 13A, 13B, 13C and 13D made of rubber and each of which has a flange 13a are mounted on peripheries of the hubs 11a, 11b, lic and lld, respectively.

The upper and lower hubs 11a and 11b of the rear mechanism housing 11B are engaged with upper stay 1c and lower stay 1d formed on the inner portion of the rear housing 1B, respectively, through the flange portions 13a of the dampers 13A and 13B. The upper hub 11c of the front mechanism housing 11F is engaged with an opening 7 formed on the front of the front housing 1F.

The flange portion 13a of the damper 13C mounted on the hub 11c is engaged with a shoulder 15 formed on a periphery of the opening 7. The lower hub 11d is engaged with a lower stay le formed on an inner portion of the front housing 1F through the flange portion 13a of the damper 13D.

Thus, vibration of the mechanism housing 11 is damped by the resilient dampers 13A, 13B, 13C and 13D and not transmitted to the housing 1.

An impact rod 5 is slidably mounted in the front mechanism housing 11F. The impact rod 5 has a front end 5a projected from the front mechanism housing 11F passing through the opening 7 of the front housing 1F.

A massage impact head 8 is detachably engaged with the front end 5a which will be described hereinafter in detail. As shown in Fig. 3, a rear end 5b of the impact rod 5 is secured to a slider 37 made of plastics. The slider 37 is slidably mounted on a pair of guide rods 35 at holes 39-.

The guide rods 35 are disposed in parallel with the impact rod 5 at opposite sides thereof. Front ends of the guide rods 35 are secured to inner hubs 11f formed on the front mechanism housing 11F and rear ends thereof are secured to inner hubs 11g formed on the rear mechanism housing 11B. A spring 41 is provided between the rear end 5b and a connecting hook 11e provided on the rear mechanism housing 11B. Each guide rod 35 has a buffer spring 43 provided between the inner hub lif and a retainer 43a slidably mounted on the guide rod.

To the front end Sa of the impact rod 5, a stopper ring 47 is secured and an O-ring 53 is engaged with an annular groove 49 formed on the front end. The massage impact head 8 is mounted on the front end 5a through the O-ring 53. The impact head 8 comprises a base plate 8c, a connecting disc 8b mounted on the base plate 8c and engaged with the front end 5a at a hole 51 formed on the underside thereof, and a massage pad 8a made of soft material and secured to the connecting disc 8b. The impact head 8 is mounted on the front end 5a by forcibly pushing the head toward the rod 5, thereby contracting the O-ring 53.

In a non-operative state, the massage impact head 8 is retracted in the collar 9 mounted on the front housing 1F. The collar 9 comprises a bayonet base 9a having a plurality of lugs 9c and an ornamental frame 9b having annular ornamental patterns. A plurality of grooves 9d are formed in the front housing 1F corresponding to the lugs 9c.

In order to attach the collar 9 to the front housing 1F, the lugs 9c are engaged with the corresponding grooves 9d and the collar is rotated at a predetermined angle about the housing. Thus, the collar 9 is secured to the housing 1. With a reverse operation, the collar 9 is removed from the housing 1.

In the driving mechanism housing 11, a rod reciprocating device and a driving mechanism for the reciprocating device are provided on the lower portion of the impact rod 5.

In the reciprocating device, a direct current motor B is mounted in the lower portion of the mechanism housing 11 and secured thereto with screws 19 which are engaged in the hubs 11b and lld. A drive pinion 21 secured to a drive shaft of the motor B is engaged with a large diameter gear 25a of a first reduction gear 25 which is rotatably mounted on a first shaft 23 provided parallel with the drive shaft. A small diameter gear 25b of the first reduction gear 25 is engaged with a large diameter gear 29b of a second reduction gear 29 which is rotatably mounted on a second shaft 27 as shown in Fig. 4. A small diameter gear 29a coaxial with the large diameter gear 29b is engaged with a gear 33a provided on a lower portion of a rotary disc 33 which is rotatably mounted on a shaft 31 secured to the front housing 11F.

Thus, a reduction gear train is formed by first reduction gear 25, second reduction gear 29 and gear 33a.

The rotary disc 33 has an eccentric pin 45 secured to an upper surface thereof, and a roller 46 is rotatably mounted on the pin 45. The roller 46 is engageable with a follower 37a projected on a lower portion of the slider 37. The follower 37a is provided on the slider at a position slightly inside from a revolution circle of the pin 45 when moved with the rotary disc 33. When the rotary disc 33 is rotated, the pin 45 is revolved so that the roller 46 mounted on the pin 45 is engaged with the follower 37a to move the follower in the rear direction in an angular range within one revolution of the roller 46.

Referring to Fig. 5, a safety switch 17 is provided on an outer wall of the mechanism housing 11. The safety switch 17 has a switch lever 17a electrically connected to a power supply circuit (not shown) of the motor B. The collar 9 has a projection 9e formed on a base portion thereof to be engaged with the switch lever 17a.

When the collar 9 is attached to the housing 1, the projection 9e engages with the switch lever 17a to swing the lever in the lower direction. In this state, the power supply circuit of the motor B is closed.

When the collar 9 is removed from the housing, in case of changing the impact head 8, the lever 17a is disengaged from the projection 9e to be positioned shown by a dotted line of Fig. 5. The power supply circuit of the motor B is opened. Thus, the impact rod 5 is prevented from operating at the change of the impact head 8.

The operation of the face massage device will be described. The slide switch 3 is operated to turn on the motor B. The motor B operates to rotate the drive pinion 21, the rotation of which is transmitted to the rotary disc 33 through the first reduction gear 25 and the second reduction gear 29. Thus, the rotary disc 33 is rotated at a low speed in the direction shown by an arrow of Fig. 4. The pin 45 is revolved in the same direction so that the roller 46 on the pin 45 is engaged with the follower 37a of the slider 37 to push the follower in the rearward direction.Thus, as shown in Fig. 3, the slider 37 is urged in the rear of the mechanism housing 11 to retract the impact rod 5 in the mechanism housing, and hence the impact head 8 is retracted in the collar 9 at a position where the stopper 47 engages with the hub llc. The spring 41 provided between the impact rod 5 and the rear mechanism housing 11B is compressed in the hole of the slider 37.

When the rotary disc 33 is further rotated and the roller 46 is disengaged from the follower 37a, the spring 41 is expanded to move the slider 37 in the forward direction along the guide rods 35 by elastic force of the spring. Thus, the impact rod 5 secured to the slider 37 is urged to project the impact head 8 from the collar 9, whereby the face of the user is impacted by the impact head 8.

During the operation of the device, the impact rod 5 is repeatedly reciprocated to massage the face by the impact head 8.

In order to change the impact head 8, the collar 9 is rotated to disengage the lugs 9c of the bayonet base 9a from the grooves 9d of the front housing 1F. When the collar 9 is removed from the housing 1, the impact head 8 is exposed from the housing 1. Thus, the impact head 8 can be pulled out from the front end 5a of the impact rod 5 by compressing the O-ring 53. When the collar 9 is removed from the housing, the projection 9e of the collar is disengaged from the switch lever 17a of the safety switch 17 to open the circuit of the motor B.

Since the motor B is prevented from operating, the impact head 8 can be safely changed.

After changing the impact head 8, if the collar 9 is mounted on the housing 1, the safety switch 17 is automatically turned on.

In the device, the mechanism housing 11 having the driving mechanism is mounted in the housing 1 through the resilient dampers 13A, 13B, 13C and 13D. Thus, noises and vibration of the mechanism housing are not transmitted to the housing. Consequently, a face massage device is quietly operated. It should be noted that various types of impact pads can be provided in dependency on purposes.

In place of the direct current motor B, an alternating current motor driven by commercial electric power may be used. Furthermore, a chargeable battery can be used instead of the power supply adapter A.

It is to be understood that the rod reciprocating device may be selected from known devices such as cam mechanisms.

In accordance with the present invention, the massage impact head repeatedly impacts the face with a strong force so that the deep portion of the skin tissue of the face can be massaged. Thus, the circulation of the blood is promoted and the peripheral nerve is stimulated, thereby achieving beauty effect.

While the invention has been described in conjunction with preferred specific embodiment thereof, it will be understood that this description is intended to illustrate and not limit the scope of the invention, which is defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. A face massage device comprising: a housing having a grip portion and a head portion which are arranged in a longitudinal direction of the housing; an impact rod disposed transversely to the longitudinal direction and axially slidably mounted in the housing; a cylindrical collar detachably mounted on a front portion of the head portion; an impact pad secured to a front end of the impact rod and disposed in the cylindrical collar; reciprocating means for effecting reciprocation of the impact rod so that the impact pad may be made to impact a face of a user during use of the device; and driving means for driving the reciprocating means.

2. The device according to claim 1 wherein the driving means comprises an electric motor and a reduction gear device for reducing rotational speed of a rotating output of the motor.

3. The device according to claim 1 wherein the reciprocating means comprises a rotary disc, a roller eccentrically mounted on the disc and operatively connected to the impact rod.

4. The device according to claim 2 further comprising a mechanism housing mounted in the housing with resilient means, the impact rod being slidably mounted in the mechanism housing, wherein the reciprocating means, the motor and the reduction gear device are mounted in the mechanism housing.

5. The device according to claim 2 further comprising a safety switch provided in the housing for detecting the collar attached to the housing and for closing a circuit for operating the motor.

6. A face massage device substantially as described herein with reference to the drawings.