US3424150A

US3424150A - Massage device

Info

Publication number: US3424150A
Application number: US522560A
Authority: US
Inventors: Samuel R Meranto
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1966-01-24
Filing date: 1966-01-24
Publication date: 1969-01-28
Anticipated expiration: 1986-01-28

Description

Jan. 28, 1969 s. R. MERANTO MASSAGE DEVICE Filed Jan. 24, 1966 INVENTOR. SAMUELR. MERAN-ro BY Y A TTORNE V United States Patent 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A massage device comprising a flexible massage element encompassing the brush portion of a combination handle and brush.

This invention relates to a massage device and, in particular, to a facial massage member which may be used in conjunction with a vibratory device such as an electric toothbrush.

It is well known that various beneficial results may be obtained by proper facial massage, such as nourishing of the skin and its structures, stimulation and strengthening of muscle fiber, reduction of fat cells, increase of blood circulation, improvement of skin appearance, and others. Men, in general, have fewer facial wrinkles than women because of the massage action of daily shaves.

There are available electrically operable facial massage devices of various sorts. These are generally rather cumbersome and expensive and by the nature of their operation, they leave something to be desired in the way of effectiveness and gentleness.

Accordingly, it is the general object of this invention to produce a facial massage device which is extremely gentle in its operation and yet which is effective to produce the same results as hand massaging.

It is a further object to produce a facial massage device which may be used in conjunction with a toothbrush, preferably an electrically operated toothbrush, the action of which is firm and yet particularly gentle and soothing upon the facial tissues.

It is a further object to produce a device as described above which is very inexpensive and which is selfoperable.

It is still another object to produce a facial massage device which is adapted to be used in combination with any of the various manually or electrically operated toothbrushes presently known so that anyone having such a toothbrush may readily convert it to a facial massage device without having to purchase the expensive components of conventional massage devices.

These and other objects will become more apparent from the following more detailed disclosure.

In general, the invention comprises a generally cylindrical member preferably formed of a soft, rubber-like material such as foam rubber. The member has an axial opening partway therethrough into which the brush portion of a toothbrush may be received. In one embodiment of the invention a plurality of longitudinally extending ridges are provided along the outer surface of the member. The outer end of the member may be radially slotted to provide a plurality of flexible se'g'ments which produce a particularly soothing massage action when the member is applied endwise to the massage area.

In a further embodiment the cylindrical member has the longitudinally extending ridges along one half of its circumferential surface and circumferentially extend ing ridges along the opposite half for reasons later to be explained.

In either case the underlying brush portion provides a relatively firm and yet resilient support for the outer "ice massage member. The multi-directional flexibility of the brush portion in combination with the softness of the outer rubbery cylindrical member produces a massage action which is particularly gentle, soothing and comforting.

A more complete understanding of the invention may be had by reference to the following more detailed description and figures of drawing, wherein:

. FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of one form of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view as seen looking in the direction of the arrows along line 22 of FIG. 1 but with the toothbrush removed;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of FIG. 1 with the end segments in a flexed position;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of a modified form of the invention; and

FIG. 5 is a view taken on line 55 of FIG. 4 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

In FIG. 1 a conventional electric toothbrush is generally indicated by numeral 11 and comprises a handle portion 12 having an opening 13 at one end insertable into a motor unit, partly shown at M. Depending upon the particular type of motor unit, the handle portion in the alternative may have a latching member engageable with a hook portion in the motor unit. Obviously, any suitable fastening arrangement may be employed between the handle portion and motor unit.

The opposite end of the handle has the usual brush portion 14.

The massage device includes a generally cylindrical member indicated by the arrow 15, and which is preferably formed of a soft, flexible material such as foam rubber. The member 15 has an axial opening 16 extending partway therethrough from one end thereof, which opening is generally rectangular and of a size which is slightly less than the brush portion of the toothbrush which is to 'be received thereinto.

In the embodiment of FIG. 1 the member 15 may further include a plurality of longitudinally extending ridges 17 equally spaced along the major portion of the outer surface of that member. The outer end portion of member 15 is tapered as shown at 18 and is provided with radially directed slots 19 to form a plurality of flexible segments 20.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3 is adapted to be used in conjunction with a toothbrush having a motor unit which eifects oscillation in a direction crosswise of the brush rather than lengthwise thereof. In use, the device is applied with the upper part of the brush portion 14 facing the area to be massaged. Two or more of the longitudinal ridges 17 alternatingly come into contact with the massage area. Depending upon the pressure exerted, very gentle to firm massaging may be obtained.

In areas such as around eye portions the massage device may be applied endwise to effect flexing of the segments 20 as seen in FIG. 3 to produce a very gentle action.

A modification is shown at 21 in FIGS. 4 and 5 which is similar to the device except that one half of the circumferential surface of element 21 includes a plurality of circumferentially extending ridges 22, the other half of that surface comprising longitudinally extending ridges 23 similar to those shown at 17 in FIGS. 1 to 3. Segments 24 are also provided similar to segments 20.

Some electrically operated toothbrushes have motor units which cause vibration of the brush in a direction lengthwise thereof, in which case the element 21 would be applied over the brush portion as illustrated in FIG. 4 so that the ridges 22 are caused to come into contact with the area to be massaged. This embodiment also permits the same massage element to be used in conjunction with a brush which oscillates in a crosswise direction merely by applying the element to the brush portion with ridges 23 uppermost, or 'by rotating the element 180 degrees with respect to the brush portion.

Although the invention has been disclosed as having particular application in connection with an electrically operated toothbrush, it is apparent that it may also be used in conjunction with a manually worked toothbrush with beneficial results although more effort will, of course, be required.

While two embodiments of the invention have been disclosed, it is to be understood that the inventive concept may be carried out in a number of ways, the invention is therefore not to be limited to the precise details disclosed, 'but is intended to embrace all variations and modifications falling within the spirit of the invention and scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. A massage device comprising a handle, a brush portion at one end of the handle, a soft, flexible massage element completely encompassing said brush portion and being generally cylindrical in form and including a plurality of longitudinally extending ridges provided along the outer surface thereof.

2. A massage device according to claim 1 wherein a plurality of flexible segments is provided at one end of said massage element.

3. A massage device according to claim 1 wherein said massage element includes a plurality of longitudinally extending ridges provided along a portion of the circumferential surface thereof, and circumferentially extend ing ridges along another portion of the circumferential surface.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 877,585 1/1908 Nicolai 128-62 1,517,615 12/1924 Chynoweth 12862 XR 1,611,510 12/1926 Brown.

1,631,133 6/1927 Jones 15244 2,206,726 7/ 1940 Lasater 128--62 XR FOREIGN PATENTS 1,095,847 12/ 1954 France.

L. W. TRAPP, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 15110