RU2677788C2 - Massage device - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: medical equipment.SUBSTANCE: invention relates to the field of medical technology and is intended for mechanical massage. Massage device with an engine containing a drive shaft having an axis of rotation and a massage head with a surface interacting with the skin. Massage head is adapted to be attached to said drive shaft for simultaneous rotation around said axis and vibrating in the direction along said axis. Massage head contains a central hub and massage elements, each of which is located radially from the central hub and which are separated from each other in the circumferential direction around the axis, and the massage elements are petals forming with the central hub as a whole and located at equal intervals along the entire length of the circumference of the massage head, with the central hub having a surface protruding axially beyond the petals.EFFECT: invention allows for mechanical massage, providing a massage effect similar to the hands of a massage therapist, tapping and stroking techniques.12 cl, 8 dwg

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a massage device and, in particular, a massage device with an engine that is applied to the body to treat skin and muscles. While the device is mainly intended for use in facial massage, it can also be used to treat other parts of the body.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Japanese traditional hand massage techniques include stroking, bashing and kneading. Stroking is a gentle rhythmic sliding movement on the skin, which is aimed at relaxing the surface of the skin by acting on elastin and collagen fibers, as well as making contact with the muscles to release lactic and uric acids when pressure rises. Basting is an easy tapping movement or rhythmic tapping, which is aimed at stimulating the surface of the skin, relaxing muscles and stimulating sensitive nerve receptors in order to provoke a response nerve response. Kneading is a deeper and more intense massage, in which the main muscles are pressed with kneading, pressing and rolling skin movements.

The problem with manually performing the massage techniques described above is that they are slow and unstable, and they usually need to be performed by a qualified professional in order to be effective. Meanwhile, as there really is a large number of self-massage devices with an engine that can be held in your hand, and devices, they do not reproduce the massage techniques described above, or do it really badly. However, by reproducing the above techniques, commonly used by professional massage therapists, in a massage device with an engine, a number of positive effects can be obtained, including increased blood flow, relaxation and pain relief, increased lymphatic flow, improved nerve stimulation, tightening and vitality skin. In addition, the user can enjoy a more general sense of comfort. In addition, the massage device can perform movements that the person’s hand is not able to carry out and therefore can provide a more effective and efficient massage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The purpose of the invention is to provide a massage device with an engine that substantially reduces or overcomes the problems mentioned above.

According to the present invention, there is provided a massage device with an engine comprising a drive shaft having a rotation axis and a massage head with a surface in contact with the skin, the massage head being attached to said drive shaft to simultaneously rotate around said axis and vibrate in a direction along said axis.

By providing a massage device with an engine that has a massage head that vibrates in a direction along an axis towards the skin while rotating around that axis, a massage effect is achieved which consists in reproducing well-known Japanese massage techniques such as stroking and striking. The patient receiving the massage therefore receives pleasant and stimulating sensations, which they themselves could not achieve due to the lack of special knowledge and experience. It should also be borne in mind that movements carried out using a massage device with an engine are movements that cannot be carried out manually, i.e. using one hand, since a device with an engine can, for example, operate at 750 tapping movements per second.

In a preferred embodiment, the massage head comprises a central hub and a plurality of massage elements, the massage elements being located radially from the central hub and spaced apart in a circular direction around the axis.

Such a configuration of the massage head is effective mainly in providing a massage of the shocking type, in which the elements are repeatedly tapped on the skin in order to create a temporary deformation. Bobbing, i.e. light tapping movement, stimulates the surface of the skin and relaxes the surface of the muscles. It also promotes the outflow of lymph from tissues to the lymph glands and stimulates sensitive nerve receptors. These actions evoke a nervous reaction.

Massage elements may contain many petals, forming one with the central hub, and located at equal intervals along the entire circumference of the massage head.

Since the petals are spaced at equal intervals, a continuous and cyclical movement is created.

Ideally, there may be between 6 and 17 petals and the pitch between the petals may be less than 23 mm, but more than 6 mm. The step size is selected on the basis of the physiological nervous reaction to the tactile initiating factor, which creates a temporary deformation on the skin. It was found that a step of 6 mm is the minimum distance that leads to the fact that a person notices two different tactile irritations.

The size of the petals is related to the size of the human finger, so tapping the petals on the skin reproduces the tapping of the finger on the skin.

Each lobe preferably extends radially from the hub over a distance of 3 mm to 8 mm.

It has been found that a distance of 3 mm to 8 mm provides the optimum distance in order to maximize the massage effect and at the same time not cause pain to the user. It has been shown that this distance leads to sufficiently large deformations of the skin in order to stimulate the sensory system.

The tips of the petals are preferably rounded, with a radius of curvature between 8 mm and 10 mm, and they can extend axially from about 8 mm to 15 mm.

The radius of curvature provides a soft tapping of the skin without deepening into the skin or its damage, or causing any pain. The axial length of the petals is selected so as to approximately reproduce the size of the human finger.

In another embodiment, the central hub has a surface that protrudes axially beyond the petals.

In the case of a central hub with a surface that protrudes beyond the petals, the massage device can be used for various types of massage effect depending on the orientation in which the device is located. In particular, if the device is held in such a way that the petals are in contact with the skin, then a massage effect of the striking type is achieved, whereas if the device is held in such a way that the central hub interacts with the skin and not the petals, then a different type of massage effect can be achieved. such as stroking.

Preferably, a plurality of spokes extend from a central hub, and a freely rotating member is mounted on each spoke. An element that can rotate freely can be a round or partially round ball.

This configuration of the massage head moves in a way that cannot be achieved with the hand, and round or partially round balls squeeze and pinch the skin between them in order to provide the effect of kneading the skin in order to reach its deeper layers.

In another embodiment, the massage head comprises a support plate, the central hub comprises a first integral bulge protruding upward from the center of said support plate, and the massage elements comprise a plurality of second integral bulges protruding upward from a peripheral region of said support plate surrounding said first bulge and located on distance from her.

This configuration of the massage head causes deformation and stretching of the skin. In particular, the skin is stretched between the moving second bulges and the central bulge.

A massage device with an engine may, in accordance with any embodiment of the invention, comprise a control device configured to rotate the massage head in a first direction of rotation for a predetermined period of time before rotating the massage head in a second direction of rotation for a second predetermined period of time.

In the case of providing a level of control, the user can guarantee that an effective massage has been achieved. In particular, by causing the massage head to initially rotate in one direction before rotating in the other direction, the user can apply the massage device to one side of the face and then apply it to the other side of the face as soon as the direction of rotation changes.

The control device may be configured to prevent rotation of the massage head for an additional predetermined period of time after rotating it in the specified first direction and before rotating it in the second specified direction.

By stopping the rotation of the massage head for a short period between rotations in opposite directions, the user is given time to move from massage one side of the face to the other. This change in direction facilitates the outflow of lymph when the fluid in the tissues moves from the center of the face to the side of the face where the lymph nodes are located.

The control device is preferably in working condition in order to control the vibration of the specified massage head along the specified axis with a frequency of 30 to 60 Hz.

After testing on users, it was found that this frequency provides an effective and pleasant massage and cannot be achieved with a hand-operated device.

These and other aspects of the present invention will be apparent and clarified with reference to the embodiments described below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a simplified view of an embodiment of a massage device with an engine in accordance with the invention with a massage head attached to it;

Figure 2 shows a perspective view from above of the first massage head in accordance with an embodiment of the invention for use with the massage device shown in figure 1;

Figure 3 shows a perspective view from above of a second massage head in accordance with an embodiment of the invention for use with the massage device shown in figure 1;

FIG. 4 (a) shows a series of alternative massage heads in accordance with embodiments of the invention for use with the massage device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 (b) shows how the massage device shown in FIG. 1 is used in a first orientation;

Figure 4 (c) shows how the massage device shown in figure 1 is used in a second orientation;

Figure 5 shows a perspective view from above of another massage head for use with the massage device shown in figure 1;

Figure 6 shows a cross-section through the skin of the user, with the device shown in figure 5, in use;

FIG. 7 shows a top perspective view of another massage head for use with the massage device shown in FIG. 1; and

Fig. 8 is a diagram showing how the massage device according to Fig. 1 can be controlled in order to massage the face.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present invention provide a massage device with a head that rotates with the device and also vibrates in the axial direction. The massage head has the ability to massage the user's skin while it rotates and vibrates in order to repeat various known massage techniques, such as stroking, scrubbing and kneading, as described above. It is assumed that the massage device according to the invention will be used mainly for massage of the face and areas around the eyes.

1 shows a generalized view of a massage device 1 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The massage device 1 has a body or body 2 that contains an energy source, such as a battery 3, an engine 4, a vibrator 5, and a control device 6. These components are all connected so that the drive shaft 7, which has an axis of rotation AA, either clockwise or counterclockwise around the axis (i.e. in the direction of the arrows X or Y on 1) and in order to make the drive shaft 7 vibrate in the axial direction (as shown by arrow Z). The massage head 8 is detachably attached to the drive shaft 7 and has a surface 9 that comes into contact with the skin.

Figure 2 illustrates a first massage device in accordance with an embodiment of the invention for use with the device shown in Figure 1. As can be seen from figure 2, the surface 9, interacting in contact with the skin, is completely smooth and curved in shape so as to contribute to a soft stroking effect on the skin. Preferably, the surface 9 in contact with the skin is also soft and is formed from a material with a low coefficient of friction. Alternatively, the skin contacting surface 9 may be coated with a low friction material.

The massage device may be configured to rotate the massage head shown in FIG. 2 in the A or B direction and at a speed of approximately 100-180 rpm, while forcing it to vibrate simultaneously in the axial direction C with a vibration frequency in the range of 30-100 Hz Most preferably, the massage head rotates at a speed of 158 rpm.

The massage head shown in FIG. 2 reproduces a known form of manual massage technique called stroking when used with the device shown in FIG. 1.

3, an alternative view of the massage head 10 is shown for use with the massage device 1 shown in FIG. 1, which has a central hub 11 that connects the massage head to the drive shaft 7 and a plurality of integral petals 12 extending along the radius from the central hub 11 spaced from each other along the entire circumference of the central hub 11.

Petals 12 are designed to create temporary deformation on the skin, as the massage head 10 rotates. The distance between the vertices of the petals 12 is related to the size of the finger in order to reproduce a tapping movement similar to tapping a finger on the skin. A continuous cyclic movement is created, since the petals are arranged at regular intervals.

With the massage head shown in FIG. 3, an angular speed of rotation between 100-180 rpm is preferred based on user tests. Most preferred is 158 rpm.

Although the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 represents a massage head 10 with eight petals 12, the massage head 10 can be modified within the scope of the invention so as to have fewer or more petals 12. A preferred number of petals 12 is between six and seventeen .

Preferably, the distance or pitch P (see FIG. 3) between the petals is less than 23 mm, but greater than 6 mm. At distances less than 6 mm, the sensory response is little or not perceived.

The petals 12 may extend from the central hub 11 to a radial distance R of less than 10 mm. It was found that the ideal radial length R of the petals 12 is 3 mm to 8 mm.

In addition, each petal 12 has a curved tip 13. The preferred radius of curvature should ideally be of the order of 4-5 mm.

Preferably, the petals should extend axially at a distance of 8 mm to 15 mm.

The massage head 10 shown in FIG. 3 reproduces a well-known type of manual massage technique called stirring when it is used with the massage device shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 (a) illustrates a series of alternative massage heads that combine a smooth surface 9 that comes into contact with the skin, a massage head described with reference to FIG. 2, and a massage head with petals 12 described with reference to FIG. 3, in one massage head. As can be seen from each massage head shown in FIG. 4 (a), they have a plurality of petals 12 extending from the central hub 11, as in the massage head 10 of FIG. 3, but the central hub 11 also has a raised or domed upper surface 9, which extends beyond the petals 12 in the axial direction.

According to FIG. 4 (b), there is shown a massage device 1 in accordance with FIG. 1, to which one of the massage heads shown in FIG. 4 (a) is attached. The massage device 1 is shown in use in the first orientation, in which the domed upper surface 9 of the massage head 14 is located close to the face of the user for applying a massaging action such as stroking to the skin. It should be noted that due to the raised or rising profile of the central hub 11, the petals 12, which extend radially from the central hub 11, do not interact with the skin when the massage device 1 is used in this first orientation, therefore, a massaging effect similar to that felt when using the massage head 8 described above with reference to figure 2.

According to FIG. 4 (c), it can be seen that the massage device 1 shown in FIG. 1 is shown for use in a second orientation, in which the petals 12 are placed close to the face of the user for applying a massaging effect such as striking. It should be noted that the towering upper surface 9 of the central hub 11 does not interact with the skin when the massage device 1 is used in this second position, and only the petals 12 are in contact with the skin. Thus, in this orientation, a massaging effect similar to that felt when using the massage head 10 described above with reference to FIG. 3 is achieved.

The embodiment described above, therefore, includes a massage device 1 having a massage head 14, which is configured to perform various massage techniques depending on the orientation of the massage device 1 and without any need to change the massage head 14 for one of various configurations or designs.

Another type of massage head 15 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. As shown, the central hub 11 is formed with a row of spokes 16 (five are shown in FIG. 5). The spokes 16 extend radially from the central hub 11 and are located at the same distance from each other. The element 17 mounted on each spoke 16 can rotate freely. Preferably, each element has a smooth and rounded skin-contacting surface 18. Most preferably, the skin-contacting surface 18 on each element 17 has a round or partially round shape so that each of the elements 17 resembles a ball. When the central hub 11 rotates at a frequency in the range of 30-60 Hz and the elements 17 are pressed against the skin, the rotation of the elements 17 causes the skin to be squeezed, stretched and pinched, as shown in FIG. 6, which shows a device pressed against the skin surface S . Since the device 1 moves along the surface S of the skin, the elements 17 rotate, as shown by the arrow R, as a result of which the skin S is stretched and clamped between adjacent elements 17, as shown by T.

The degree of deformation depends on the force applied to the skin S by the user and the elasticity of the skin S. It should be borne in mind that the central hub 11 can have a different number of spokes 16 and therefore the number of balls 17 or elements mounted on them, as well as their diameter D can be different. For example, three, four or six elements 17 can be used instead of the five shown in FIG. Elements can be made of several different materials, including hard or soft plastics or elastomers, and they can be made of friction material with a low coefficient of friction or coated with a material with a low coefficient of friction. To increase the stretching of the skin, all of the following can be increased, namely the size or diameter of the elements, the number of elements, the angular velocity of rotation of the drive shaft, the surface friction of the balls and the pitch P between the elements 17.

The massage head of the device described above provides a massage effect that reproduces the massage of the kneading type when used with the massage device shown in FIG.

Another embodiment of a massage head 19, which provides a massage effect of a kneading type, is shown in FIG. In this embodiment, the massage head 19 has a flat base surface 20, and the central hub is a raised inner bulge, bump or protrusion 21 with a rounded outer surface 22 protruding upward from the center of the base surface having a common axis of rotation AA with the massage head 19. A number of peripheral bulges, bumps or protrusions 23 are located on the periphery of the massage head 19 and protrude from the base surface 20. All peripheral bulges 23 are spaced in the radial direction from the inner convexity 21 and spaced from each other around the circumference. The dimensions of the peripheral bulges 23 can be changed in order to provide the desired massage effect. In particular, the outer height (“H” in FIG. 7) of the peripheral bulge 23 should be between 4 and 5 mm. The width (W) of each peripheral bulge should be between 5 and 7 mm. The distance between each peripheral bulge should be between 6 and 12.5 mm. The length (L) of each peripheral bulge should be between 8 and 12 mm.

The number of peripheral bulges 23 should be between 2 and 4 and preferably should be an even number. Kneading provides a stronger deep movement, producing actions with the skin surface to elastic and collagen fibers and deeper in the muscles. This promotes the movement of intercellular fluids and stimulates blood flow, providing the conditions for better absorption of nutrients and relieve tension in the ligaments and muscles. According to the results of tests on users, it was found that these forms clamp and knead the skin and provide the most effective massage. Each peripheral bulge 23 may have a rounded outer surface 24, remote from the base 20. The degree of curvature can be changed, as well as the speed of rotation of the massage head 19, and the friction of the material from which they are made or coated, which is applied to them.

The control device 6 of the massage device 1 according to any embodiment of the invention may include a timer and may control the operation of the device in accordance with the massage program. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, face F can be divided into mating zones z1 and z2. When you turn on the device 1 for the first time, the massage head can rotate in the first direction, as shown by arrow K, for a predetermined period of time (a), which can be on the order of approximately 90 seconds, so that device 1 can be used to massage one side of the face F, t .e. zones z1.

When this initial period of time has elapsed, the control device 6 briefly stops the rotation of the massage head 15 for a second predetermined period of time (b), which may be of the order of 0.5 seconds. The control device 6 will then rotate the massage head 15 in the opposite direction, as shown by arrow L, for the next predetermined period of time to massage the other side of the face, that is, zone z2, until it stops. By providing a timer and causing the massage device 1 to stop between rotation in its first and second directions K, L, the user knows when to apply the massage device 1 to the opposite side of the face until the program is completed.

In order to make interaction with the user more intuitive and easier to operate, each massage head may contain an RFID tag that will store relevant massage device setting information 1 associated with the massage head, such as speed and frequency of vibration. Thus, when the massage element is connected to the device 1, it will be automatically detected, and the corresponding rotation and vibration settings will be activated.

It should be borne in mind that the term “contains” does not exclude other elements or steps, and that the singular forms do not exclude the plural. The mere fact that certain measures are listed in mutually different dependent dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage. Any reference position in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope of the claims.

Although the claims have been formulated in this application in specific combinations of functions, it should be understood that the scope of the disclosure of the present invention also includes any new features or any new combinations of functions described herein explicitly or implicitly, or any generalization thereof whether it relates to the same invention as is currently claimed in any claim or not, it reduces any or all of the same technical problems as the original invention does. Applicants are hereby notified that the new claims may be formulated in such features and / or combinations of functions during the review process of this application or any other application received from them.

Claims (13)

1. A massage device with an engine containing a drive shaft (7) having an axis of rotation, and a massage head (8) with a surface (9) interacting with the skin, the massage head (8) being adapted to be attached to the specified drive shaft (7) ) for simultaneous rotation around the specified axis and vibration in the direction along the specified axis, and the massage head (8) contains a central hub (11) and massage elements (12), each of which is located radially from the central hub (11) and which are spaced from each other in a circumferential direction around the axis, and the massage elements are petals ( 12), forming with the central hub (11) integrally and spaced at equal intervals along the entire circumference of the massage head (8), the central hub (11) having a surface protruding axially beyond the petals (12). 2. Massage device with an engine according to claim 1, containing from 6 to 17 petals (12). 3. A massage device with an engine according to claim 1, in which the pitch between the petals (12) is less than 23 mm, but more than 6 mm. 4. Massage device with an engine according to claim 1, in which each petal (12) extends radially from the hub (11) to a distance of 3 mm to 8 mm. 5. A massage device with an engine according to claim 1, in which the tips of the petals (12) are rounded, and the radius of curvature is between 8 mm and 10 mm. 6. Massage device with an engine according to any one of claims 3 to 5, in which the petals (12) extend axially from about 8 mm to 15 mm. 7. A massage device with an engine according to claim 1, in which spokes (16) extend from the central hub (11), and a freely rotating element (17) is mounted on each spoke (16). 8. Massage device with an engine according to claim 7, in which each element (17) is a round or partially round ball. 9. A massage device with an engine according to claim 1, in which the massage head (19) comprises a support plate (20), the central hub comprises a first integral convexity (21) made for one with it, protruding upward from the center of said support plate (20) and said massage elements (23) contain second convexities made for one whole, protruding upward from the peripheral region of said support plate (20), surrounding said first convexity (21) and located at a distance from it. 10. A massage device with an engine according to claim 1, comprising a control device (6) configured to rotate the massage head (19) in the first rotation direction for a predetermined period of time before the massage head (19) rotates in the second rotation direction during the second specified time period. 11. A massage device with an engine according to claim 1, in which the control device (6) is configured to prevent rotation of the massage head (19) for an additional predetermined period of time after rotating it in the specified first direction and before rotating it in the second specified direction. 12. A massage device with an engine according to claim 1, wherein the control device (6) is configured to act to control the vibration of said massage head (19) along the specified axis with a frequency of 30 to 60 Hz.

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