WO2001035895A1

WO2001035895A1 - Rotatable endless belt massage device

Info

Publication number: WO2001035895A1
Application number: PCT/NZ2000/000231
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ian Barry Douglas
Original assignee: Douglas, Brent, Courtney
Priority date: 1999-11-18
Filing date: 2000-11-17
Publication date: 2001-05-25
Also published as: AU1902101A

Abstract

A massaging apparatus (1) having a rotatable endless belt rotatable about a body portion by a drive means, the drive means having a rotatable shaft and being associated with a driving roller assembly, the roller assembly rotating the belt, the body portion having positioning means to allow the user to position the device. The invention also includes an assembly including the massaging apparatus (1) assembled within a housing (15), the housing being adapted to releasably retain the massaging device and advantageously including a removable membrane (17) covering the exposed side of the belt.

Description

ROTATABLE ENDLESS BELT MASSAGE DEVICE

TECHNICAL HELD

This invention relates to devices and apparatuses for stimulating and massaging. More particularly, but not exclusively, the present invention relates to an apparatus that can stimulate a person's erogenous zones, and can massage skin, skin tissue and muscles.

BACKGROUND ART

Devices for stimulating blood circulation and light exfoliation of dead skin tissues have generally involved the use of brushes and rollers applied directly to the skin. With manually applied brushes and rollers a user has the option of contacting the skin in a circular or reciprocating motion.

For mechanical devices, circular rotating brushes have been applied directly on the skin. Although of benefit to exfoliate dead skin tissue, the use of these devices can be an irritation, particularly on sensitive zones of the skin. Further, the circular motion can be considered irritating compared to the stoking motion along the length of a muscle.

Conventional massaging or sexually stimulating devices, particularly desirable as female genital stimulating devices, are generally vaginal penetrating devices.

It is an object of the invention to provide a massaging and/or stimulating apparatus that overcomes at least some of the abovementioned problems, or which provides the public with a useful choice.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a broad aspect of the invention there is provided a massaging device, the device including a rotatable endless belt rotatable about a body portion at a desirable speed by a drive means, the drive means having a rotatable shaft and being associated with a driving roller assembly, the roller assembly being adapted, in use, to rotate the belt, the body portion being adapted with positioning means to allow a user to position the apparatus, in use, when the belt is being rotated.

Preferably the device further includes a belt guide means is provided at the opposite end of the body portion from the drive means to reduce the friction of the belt against the body portion.

Desirably the guide means is cylindrical with a central axis aligned transversely to the direction of travel of the belt, the ends of the guide means being rotationally coupled to the body portion with means to allow the guide means to be adjusted to increase or decrease the tension of the belt.

Preferably the drive means is encased in the body portion. Desirably the drive means is a direct current motor. Preferably the motor is powered by battery means. Preferably the drive means has a variable speed motor and a means to adjust the desirable speed of the drive means.

Advantageously the outer surface of the belt is provided with projections.

Preferably the central section of the body portion has a curved surface on either or both sides of the body portion.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a massaging apparatus including the device according to a first aspect of the invention, and including a housing having locating lugs projecting from one surface of the housing, each lug having a hole therein, and the sides of the body portion having projecting pins corresponding with the location of the lugs and being locatable to releasably attach the body portion.

Preferably the body portion is reversible within the housing to enable either a concave face or convex face to be exposed outwardly. Additionally the housing is adapted to retain a membrane that covers the exposed face of the belt. Preferably the membrane is releasably attachable to the housing. Desirably the membrane is made of a suitable flexible and resilient material.

Preferably the membrane is selected from a group of materials including latex, polyethylenes, polyurethanes, and derivatives based on these polymers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be illustrated, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1: Shows an exploded perspective view of a massaging device in accordance with a first aspect of the invention; and

Figure 2: Shows an exploded perspective view of the massaging apparatus according to a second aspect of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring to figure 1, a massaging device, generally referred to as 1, according to a first aspect of the invention, is illustrated.

The massaging device 1 includes a body portion 2 shaped to form a concave face 2a and a convex face 2b. The body portion 2 contains a power source means, such as, for example, standard A A or AAA batteries 3, housed in battery compartment 4. The power means 3 supplies power to a drive means 5 desirably in the form of a direct current (DC) motor.

The motor 5 is sufficiently compact to provide an adequate amount of power or torque for the purpose intended. The body portion 2 is made of any suitable resilient and durable material. A lightweight material is advantageous and can be selected from the group of materials consisting of a stainless steel, aluminum, alloy, plastics material, or a combination thereof.

A motor shaft 5a is advantageously mounted to the motor 5 at one end of the body portion 2 to rotate a driving roller assembly 6 at a desirable speed. The speed of the motor 5 is desirably variable and controllable by a user.

A belt guide means 7 is advantageously located at the other end of the body portion 2 from the driving roller assembly 6. The guide means 7 includes a roller 8 rotatable about a shaft 9. The guide means 7 is adapted to be adjustably attached to the body portion 2 and provide tension to a belt 11. It will be appreciated that the guide means 7 can be spring biased toward the belt 11 to enable a user to press the guide means 7 inwards to remove or replace a belt 11 and, in the case of reattaching a belt 11 , to release the guide means 7 to re- apply tension to the belt 11.

The guide means 7 in this embodiment of the invention is attachable and adjustable by including a roller shaft 9 located within slots 10, the shaft 9 being movable along the slots 10 for adjust or apply tension to the belt 11.

Any suitable method of tensioning the belt 11 can be employed in the guide means 7 such as, for example, a spring-loaded shaft 10 biased in the extended position such that the shaft 9 can be moved along the slot 10 toward the driving assembly 6 when a belt 11 is being removed or re-positioned about the driving assembly 6 and guide means7. Spring means (not shown) associated with the guide means 7, can be provided to spring bias the guide means 7 against the belt 11 when assembled.

The endless belt 11 is of a sufficient size to be placable over the body portion 2 to be acted on by the driving assembly 6 and the belt guide means 7.

The belt 11 is made of any suitable durable and resilient material such as, for example, a reinforced rubber material and/or a synthetic derivative that can be used as conveyor belt material and provide enough friction to cause the belt 11 to rotate about the body portion 2. It is envisaged that an outer layer of soft material may be integrated with the belt 11.

The type of material, texture and surface pattern of the outer surface of the belt 11 can vary depending on the particular application intended. In the case of the use of the device 1 for massaging skin tissue or muscles, or being in contact with non-sensitive skin, the belt 11 may comprise a synthetic rubber material. The device 1 can be desirably used after application of any suitable and known massage accessories such as an ointment, soap, tonic or gel or the like. It will be appreciated that the application of heat may also be required.

The belt 11 is desirably provided with protrusions 12 or any texture or pattern extending from the outer side of the belt 11 or forming part of the outer surface of the belt 11. The protrusions 12 in this particular non-limiting embodiment are dimples but it will be appreciated that any form of surface pattern or extension feature can be provided within the scope of the invention and that different designs of belts 11 can be used for different applications.

In the case of the device 1 being used to massage an erogenous zone, the outer surface of the belt 11 can be a soft fabric with string-type extensions. Generous amounts of suitable lubricant can reduce friction of the device 1 when used against an erogenous zone. Alternatively the apparatus as described with reference to figure 2 can be used for such applications.

A power switch 13 for switching the motor 5 between on and off states is located at the side of the body portion 2. A motor speed controller 14 associated with the motor 5, in the form of a dial or switch allows a user to conveniently adjust the speed of the motor 5 and hence the rotation speed of the belt 11 as required. Both the switch 13 and controller 14 can be sealed in position to provide a sufficient degree of water resistance.

A positioning means is associated with the body portion 2 such as to allow a user to handle the device 1, and use as required. In this non-limiting embodiment of the invention, the positioning means include pins 22 projecting from the body portion to locate on lugs and a housing as described in more detail below.

It will be appreciated that the positioning means may include a handle means attached to the body portion 2 or any other means of allowing the belt 11 to rotate and the device 1 to be held and/or positioned as required.

Referring now to figure 2, an exploded perspective view of the massaging apparatus, generally referred to as 20, according to a second aspect and preferred embodiment of the invention, is illustrated.

The apparatus 20 can be assembled so as to be usable within a housing 15. The housing 15 can be made of any suitable and durable material such as, for example, a moulded plastics material. Examples of such material include a polyethlene or polyurethane. The housing 15 may also be padded on the outside surface for comfort.

Lugs 16 projecting from the underside of the housing 15 are positionable on the housing 15 to locate pins 22 on the body portion 2 of the device 1. The device 1 is advantageously releasably attachable within the housing 15 such as to allow the belt 11 to rotate. The lugs 16 can be attachable to the housing 15 or be an integrated part thereof.

Advantageously the pins 22 are located relative to the lugs 16 such that the body portion 2 is reversible. This allows a user to choose whether they want to use the concave or convex face of the device 1.

A belt cover 17 in the form of a film or membrane can be releasably attachable to the housing 15. Desirably the releasable attachment means is provided adjacent the rim 18 of the housing 15 in the form of clips 19.

The membrane 17 is made of any suitable flexible and resilient material such as, preferably, a latex rubber. The underside surface of the membrane 17 adjacent the belt 11 is advantageously coated with a suitable substance, such as a silicon gel, to reduce friction from when, in use, the protrusions 12 from the belt 11 are frictionally brushed against the membrane 17. It will be appreciated that the main wearing surface of the apparatus 20 will be the membrane 17 and therefore it is expected that the membrane 17 will be replaced regularly as required.

In this particular embodiment of the invention, the power switch 13 and the motor speed dial 14 can be desirably mounted to the exterior side of the housing 15 for ease of access and control of the apparatus 1. Both the switch 13 and controller 14 can be adapted to be mounted to the exterior face of the housing 15 and sealed in position to provide a sufficient degree of water resistance (not shown).

In operation, the device 1 is attached to the lugs 16 and a membrane 17 attached across the rim 18 of the housing 15. Advantageously the membrane 17 will be stretched across the rim 18 such as to allow the belt 11 to align against the underside of the membrane 17. More particularly, the protrusions 12 can be pressed against the underside of the membrane 17 when the membrane 17 is pressed against an erogenous zone or other part of a person's skin.

When the device 1 is turned on via switch 13 and the speed of the belt 11 selected on the speed dial 14, the membrane 17 can be pressed against a user's skin or erogenous zone. When the membrane 17 is pressed inwards against the belt 11, the protrusions 12 will rub against and be felt by a user through the membrane 17 as the belt 11 is rotated.

It will be appreciated the apparatus 20 can be manufactured with a sufficient width or size of belt 11 and angle of curvature of the body portion 2 to provide a user with an easy to hold apparatus 20 or device 1. Given that the device 1 is reversible to present a convex or concave shape, it will be seen that the choice may be influenced by the area of skin or erogenous zone to which the apparatus 20 can be used.

It will be further appreciated that the housing 15 can be adapted to accommodate straps 21 that allow the apparatus 1 to be positioned in a desired area and held in place without having to continuously handle the apparatus 20. Wherein the aforegoing reference has been made to integers or components having known equivalents, then such equivalents are herein incorporated as if individually set forth. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that changes may be made to the above described embodiments of the invention without departing from the principles taught herein.

Additional advantages of the present invention will become apparent for those skilled in the art after considering the principles in particular form as discussed and illustrated. Thus, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular embodiments described or illustrated, but is intended to cover all alterations or modifications which are within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

Claims:

1. A massaging device, the device including a rotatable endless belt rotatable about a body portion at a desirable speed by a drive means, the drive means having a rotatable shaft and being associated with a driving roller assembly, the roller assembly being adapted, in use, to rotate the belt, the body portion being adapted with positioning means to allow a user to position the apparatus, in use, when the belt is being rotated.

2. A massaging device according to claim 1 wherein a belt guide means is provided at the opposite end of the body portion from the drive means to reduce the friction of the belt against the body portion.

3. A massaging device according to claim 2 wherein the guide means is cylindrical with a central axis aligned transversely to the direction of travel of the belt, the ends of the guide means being rotationally coupled to the body portion with means to allow the guide means to be adjusted to increase or decrease the tension of the belt.

4. A massaging device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the drive means is encased in the body portion.

5. A massaging device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the outer surface of the belt is provided with projections.

6. A massaging device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the drive means is a direct current motor.

7. A massaging device according to claim 6 wherein the motor is powered by battery means.

8. A massaging device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the central section of the body portion has a curved surface on either or both sides of the body portion.

9. A massaging device according to any one of claims 6 to 8 wherein the drive means has a variable speed motor and a means to adjust the desirable speed of the drive means.

10. A massaging apparatus including the device of any one of the preceding claims, and including a housing having locating lugs projecting from one surface of the housing, each lug having a hole therein, and the sides of the body portion having projecting pins corresponding with the location of the lugs and being locatable to releasably attach the body portion.

11. A massaging apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the body portion is reversible within the housing to enable either a concave face or convex face to be exposed outwardly.

12. A massaging apparatus according to either claim 10 or claim 11 wherein the housing is adapted to retain a membrane that covers the exposed face of the belt.

13. A massaging apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the membrane is releasably attachable to the housing.

14. A massaging apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the membrane is made of a suitable flexible and resilient material.

15. A massaging apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the membrane is selected from a group of materials including latex, polyethylenes, polyurethanes, and derivatives based on these polymers.

16. A massaging device substantially as herein described with reference to either figure 1 or figure 2.

17. A massaging apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to figure 2.