WO2018132078A1

WO2018132078A1 - Massage device

Info

Publication number: WO2018132078A1
Application number: PCT/SI2018/050002
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mihael RAJTERIC
Original assignee: RAJTERIC, Maja; RAJTERIC, Nina
Priority date: 2017-01-16
Filing date: 2018-01-16
Publication date: 2018-07-19
Also published as: SI25345A

Abstract

The massage device with USB charging ability is designed to massage especially the wrists in the area of the carpal tunnel, but can also be used to massage other parts of the body. The device consists of an upper (la) and a lower lid (lb) forming a casing in which there is at least one vibration electric motor (10.11) located with an excenter, which allows at least one level of massage strength, wherein the level of the massage strength is defined according to the number of revolutions of the vibration electric motor (10, 11); a power supply (12) that is a battery or an accumulator; a main switch (8) for turning the device on and off; a switch (9) for selecting the massage strength, i.e. the number of revolutions of the vibration electric motor (10, 11) and by pressing the switch (9) or moving it, the selection of the first or second position is enabled, the first position meaning that a weaker massage strength is activated, i.e., a lower number of revolutions of the vibration electric motor (10, 11), and the second position meaning that a stronger massage strength is activated, i.e. a higher number of revolutions of the vibration electric motor (10, 11); a connector (3) for connecting to the USB port for charging the massage device and a logical control circuit (13) that controls the operation of the device and, according to the selected position of the switch (9), determines the number of revolutions of the vibration electric motor (10, 11) and thus the level of the massage and, if necessary, the duration of the massage.

Description

MASSAGE DEVICE

The subject of the invention is a massage device with the possibility of charging via a USB connector, more specifically, an electronic massage device used primarily for massaging the carpal tunnel that can be easily handled. The field of technique in which the device can be classified is medicine - medicine of work, physiotherapy, etc.

According to the invention, the safe, convenient, pocket, reliable and easy to use, this is a massage device with the option of USB charging for massaging the wrists in the area of the carpal tunnel, however, it can also be used to massage other parts of the body. More specifically, it is a massage device with an anatomically shaped upper part of the casing, with the option of charging on battery or with a USB connection, with at least one vibration electric motor with anexcenter which, when the electric motor rotates, vibrates with different strengths and is intended primarily for wrist massage and prevention of carpal tunnel syndrome. The device can be used both in the home environment and while doing office tasks, i.e. when working with a computer, as well as in various areas of medicine. The essence of the massage device with the possibility of USB charging, especially for the carpal channel, is that the upper part of the casing is anatomically shaped to fit the wrist of the arm, and in addition, the device is easy to handle.

The technical problem that this massage device solves is the shape and the construction of the device, which eliminates the tension caused by the forced posture at work by means of optimum vibrations. In everyday work with a computer and a mouse, as a piece of computer equipment, the position of the body is forced and the movements recurrent, making the arm, especially in the wrist area, painful, tingling, and causing eventual deterioration in the sense of touch in the fingers. In its more advanced form, it also causes a decline and weakening of the muscles in the thumb. It is known that the nervous and the circulatory system should not be exposed to excessive vibrations; while on the other hand, vibrations accelerate the blood flow and soften the tissue. The device, according to the invention, enables the settings and selection of optimal vibrations to relieve the pain in the wrist, where there are a lot of nerves and veins, as well as the setting and selection of optimal vibrations for the massage of other parts of the body. The setting and selection of optimal vibrations is enabled by a logic control circuit and with selected vibration electro motors. According to the above, the massage device is intended for the massage of the carpal tunnel, where the vibrations must be lower in order to avoid unwanted damage to the tissue in the wrist, and for the massage of other parts of the body, where the vibrationsto ensure proper massage are higher, in which case higher vibrations are also desirable.

Several massage devices with USB charging ability are known, especially intended for massaging the carpal tunnel area. A preventive device used to prevent the carpal tunnel syndrome is especially known (US Patent Application No. US2011230805). It is a device with a closed rotating tape with rollers. The tape drives the electric motor, the disadvantage being, that it is not ergonomically shaped and has only one single-phase, non-vibrating electric motor.

Also known is the infrared light device (CN 202822495 (U)) with the possibility of USB charging. The device has, among others, the ability to scan the wrist, the program to set the device's operating time, a heating option, and ascreen for settings and monitoring the operation of the device. The disadvantage of this device is that it is more demanding both in terms of manufacture as well as for self-use. In addition, the device can be used only for massaging the area of the carpal tunnel.

There exists also a device that can be charged with a USB connector and which has a pressure sensor, the possibility to set the time, the duration of the operation of the device and the time when it switches on (Patent No. CN103500026). In this case, too, the device has many components, which is a drawback in terms of manufacture. This device can also be used only for massaging the carpal tunnel area.

Also known is a device with a sleeve and USB charging possibility (Patent No. CN201654726 (U)). The device works with the help of magnets and is similar to the aforementioned devices, intended only for massaging the carpal tunnel area.

In terms of functionality, the closest massage device with the possibility of USB charging, especially for the carpal tunnel, is the device that is designed for the massage of individual parts of the body (US Patent No. 6,916,299). The disadvantage of this device is that it has only one electric motor and does not have the ability to select or adjust the vibration intensity and it has no ergonomic shape.

The invention of this massage device solves all the above-mentioned deficiencies. The massage device is described below in its executable example and on the figures that show:

Fig. 1 the method of using the device according to the invention when massaging the carpal tunnel

Fig. 2 the executable example of the massage device according to the invention - side view

Fig. 3 the executable example of the massage device according to the invention - view from above

Fig. 4 the components of the device located inside the casing

Figure 1 shows the installation of the massage device 1 under the user's hand, to the area of the wrist 2. With optimum vibration, the device, while the arm is in such a position, prevents damage to the carpal tunnel and alleviates the consequences of injuries due to repeated movements.

Figure 2 shows the side view of the device, wherein the upper lid la is anatomically shaped so that the shape of the upper lid la follows the shape of the wrist 2; on the side of the cover there is a connector 3 for the connection to the USB connector and LEDs 4, 5, wherein the first LED 4 lights up when the device is being charged via the USB connector, and the other LED 5 lights up when the device is switched on. The bottom cover lb is flat and has pins 6 attached to the corners to prevent the device from sliding on the grounding and to reduce the volume of the device. The bottom cover lb can also serve as a holder when massaging the neck and other parts of the body.

Figure 3 shows the view from above of the sensor 7 in the middle of the upper lid la which, at the touch of the wrist, when the device is on, activates the weaker massage strength. At the edge of the top lid la there is the main switch 8 that turns the device on and off.On the opposite side there is the switch 9 for selecting the massage strength.

Figure 4 shows the components of the device located in the casing; two vibration electric motors 10, l l;the power supply 12, consisting of two batteries 12a, 12b; a connector 3 for USB connectionand LEDs 4, 5.

The massage device shown in figures 1 to 4 is comprised of an upper la and a lower lid lb, which serve as a casing in which there is: - at least one vibration electric motor 10,11 with an excenter, which provides at least one level of massage strength, wherein the level of massage strength is defined with the number of revolutions of the vibration electric motor 10,11, i.e. the speed - rpm; the characteristics of the vibration electric motor are as follows: 1.5 - 3.5V; from 1,000 to 8,000 rpm; amplitude 0.5-5G; force 50-400 mN; when the device contains one vibration electric motor 10, 11, the logic control circuit 13, according to the selected position of the switch 9, controls the number of revolutions of the vibration electric motor 10, 11 so that it operates at either higher or lower revolutions; when the device contains two vibration electric motors 10, 11, each of the vibration motors 10, 11 has a pre-set value of the number of revolutions , wherein, according to the chosen position of the switch 9, the logic control circuit 13 turns on one or the other vibration motor 10,11;

- a power supply 12, which may be a battery or a rechargeable accumulator, wherein the rechargeable accumulator preferably consists of two accumulators 12a, 12b and is adapted to charge with 1.2 V NiMh strength;

- a main switch 8 for switching the device on and off;

- a switch 9 for selecting the massage strength, i.e. the number of revolutions of the vibration electric motor, and by pressing the switch 9 or by moving it, the selection of the first or the second position is enabled; the first position means that the weaker massage strength is turned on, i.e. a lower number of revolutions of the vibration electric motor 10, 11, which is used for wrist massage, that is, the carpal tunnel, the second position means that a stronger massage strength is turned on, i.e. a higher number of revolutions of the vibration electric motor 10, 11, which is used to massage other parts of the body, for example, the neck area and the shoulder girdle;

- a connector 3 for USB connection that serves as a charger of the massage device;

- a logic control circuit 13 that controls the operation of the device and, according to the selected position of the switch 9, determines the number of revolutions of the vibration electric motor 10, 11 and thus the level of massage strength and, if necessary, the duration of the massage. When the device includes one vibration electric motor, the logic control circuit 13, according to the selected position of the switch 9, accordingly controls the number of revolutions of the vibration motor 10, 11 so that it operates at either higher or lower number of revolutions. When the device contains two vibration motors 10, 11, each of the vibration motors 10, 11 has a pre-set value of the number of revolutions, wherein one vibration electric motor has a lower pre-set speed value and the other a higher; the logic control circuit 13, according to the chosen position of the switch 9, determines which vibration electromotor 10, 11 will be turned on, thus the number of revolutions of each vibration electric motor 10,11 is determined and thus the level of massage strength.

Optionally the device may include a display indicating whether the device is charging and whether it is switched on. In the preferred version, the display is executed as two LEDs 4, 5, wherein the first LED 4, when lit, indicates that the device is charging, while the second LED 5 when lit, indicates that the device is switched on.

Optionally the device may include a sensor 7, which detects the pressure of the wrist on the device. Sensor 7 is active only when the device is switched on and the switch 9 is in the first position. When the wrist is placed on the device, the sensor 7 detects this information and communicates it to the control circuit 13, which controls and determines the number of revolutions of the vibration motor 10, 11 so that it operates at lower number of revolutions or activates the vibration motor 10, 11 with lower number of revolutions (rpm). The weaker massage strenght, i.e. the wrist massage, is turned on. When the wrist is lifted from the device, the sensor 7 detects this information and communicates it to the control circuit 13, which turns off the vibration electric motor 10, 11. When the device includes the sensor 7, the logical control circuit 13 controls the operation of the device according to the selected position of the switch 9 and the information provided by the sensor 7.

Optionally the device may also include a timer, where the duration of each selected massage mode is pre-set.This information is communicated to the logic control circuit 13, which controls the operation of the vibration electric motors according to the pre-set time.

In the preferred embodiment, the switch 9 for selecting the massage strength and the main switch 8 for switching the device on and off are positioned one next to the other on the upper surface of the top lid la at one of its edges.

In a preferred embodiment, the massage device consists of two vibration electric motors 10, 11, wherein the preferential characteristics of the electric motors are from 4,500-5,500 rpm, the amplitude of 3G and the force of 260 mN, with allowed deviations. The top lid la to which the skin, which is being massaged, is exposed, is suitably treated and made of wood or other natural or comparable material which is harmless to the skin; for example suitable plastics, so that the contact with the upper lid la does not cause the user an unpleasant feeling or possible allergic reactions. The lower lid lb is preferably made of the same materials. Since the device vibrates when in use, the internal surface of the upper lid la is designed to limit the possible movement of the vibration electric motors. This means that the inner surface of the upper lid la is made with recesses into which the vibration electric motors 10, 11 fit.

The top upper la and the bottom lid lb are interconnected in a known manner, preferably by screws positioned at the corners. Over the lower side of the bottom lid lb there are pins 6 placed over the screws.

The electric motor/s vibrates which has a particularly favourable effect on blood circulation and promotes lymphatic processes in the massaged area. Additional therapeutic effects and a more intense massage are enabled also with a multi-step switch, where the intensity of the massage can vary according to the pre- set values.

The advantages of the device are that it provides optimal massage effects on the entire upper surface of the casing of the device, while ensuring that the various movements of the device do not cause any pain or discomfort to the user's skin. The device can be used as a pad for the anatomical position of the wrist when using a computer mouse.

The massage device, according to the invention, is used as follows:

The device is activated by pressing the main switch 8. The device is activated at the level intended for the massage of the wrist area. A vibrating electric motor with lower number of revolutions is activated, the vibrations of which are not disturbing during work with a computer mouse, with a volume range of 0.01 - 20 dB. By pressing the switch 9 for selecting the massage strength, the vibrating electric motor with lower number of revolutions is turned off and the vibrating electric motor with higher number of revolutions is turned on. This level is intended for the local massage of the neck and shoulder, due to constant posture when sitting behind a monitor. It can also be used for other parts of the body. The vibration electric motor operates at a volume, higher than the volume range of the first vibration electric motor, i.e. 0.01- 40 Db. When the massage device is switched on, LED 5 turns on, while LED 4 is turned on when the batteries are charged. In the optional embodiment the device is activated by pressing the main switch 8. When the wrist is placed on the device, the sensor 7 detects it and sends the information to the control circuit 13, which turns on the vibrating electric motor with lower number of revolutions. The device works at the level intended for the massage of the wrist area. When the wrist is lifted from the device, the sensor 7 detects that and sends the information to the control circuit 13, which switches off the vibration electric motor.

When the first level of massage vibrations is switched on, i.e., the weaker massage level, the wrist should, without any garments or jewellery, rest on the device, since without any load and due to vibrations, the device will move itself across the table, which is not advisable due to the possibility of falling off the table and getting damaged.

It is recommended that the device is used every 20 minutes of work with the computer, advisably for 1-2 minutes of massage at the weak level of the massage, i.e., at a lower speed, or every 40 minutes of computer use for 5 minutes for the massage of the wrist area - for the purpose of the carpal tunnel. The device is used in proportion to the sense of need to relieve problems in the wrist area.

For the neck and shoulder girdle massage, it is recommended that the device is used every 60 minutes of work with a computer monitor with a higher level of massage strength, i.e., at a higher speed, from 5 to 10 minutes or proportionate to the feeling of pain in the neck and shoulder girdle area.

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS

1. A massage device for massaging primarily a wrist in a carpal tunnel area, characterized by comprising a top (la) and a bottom lid (lb), which form a casing which comprises:

- at least one vibration electric motor (10, 11) with an excentre, providing at least one level of massage strength, wherein the level of massage strength is defined according to the number of revolutions of the vibration electric motor r (10,11);

- a power supply (12), which is a battery or an accumulator;

- a main switch (8) for switching the device on and off;

- a switch (9) for selecting the massage strength, i.e., the number of revolutions of the vibration electric motor (10, 11), wherein pressing the switch (9) enables a selection of first or second position; the first position means that the weaker massage strength is turned on, i.e. a lower number of revolutions of the vibration electric motor (10, 11) and the second position means that a stronger massage strength is turned on, i.e. a higher number of revolutions of the vibration electric motor (10, 11);

- a connector (3) for connecting to a USB connector that serves to charge the massage device and

- a logic control circuit (13) that controls the operation of the device and according to the selected position of the switch 9, determines the number of revolutions of the vibration electric motor (10, 11) and thus the level of massage strength and, if necessary, the duration of the massage. 2. The massage device according to claim 1, characterized in that when the device contains one vibration electric motor (10, 11), the logical control circuit (13) controls the number of revolutions of the vibration motor (10, 11) according to the selected position of the switch (9) in such a manner that it operates at either higher or lower revolutions, and when the device contains two vibration electric motors (10, 11), each of the vibration motors (10, 11) has a pre-set value of the number of revolutions, with one vibration electric motor having a pre-set lower value of revolutions and the other a higher one, wherein the logic control circuit (13) according to the chosen position of the switch 9, determines which vibration electromotor 10, 11 will be turned on, thus the number of revolutions of each vibration electric motor 10,11 is determined and thus the level of massage strength.

3. The massage device according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the power supply

(12) consists of two accumulators (12a, 12b) and is adapted for charging with a 1.2 V NiMh strength.

4. The massage device according to the preceding claims, characterized in that it additionally includes a display in the form of two LEDs (4, 5), wherein the first LED (4), when lit, indicates that the device is charging, while the other LED (5) when lit, indicates that the device is switched on.

5. The massage device according to the preceding claims, characterized in that it additionally includes a sensor (7) which detects the pressure of the wrist on the device, wherein the sensor (7) is active when the device is switched on and the switch (9) is in the first position.

6. The massage device according to claim 5, characterized in that when the wrist is placed on the device, the sensor (7) detects this information and communicates it to the control circuit (13) which controls and determines the number of revolutions of the vibration motor (10, 11) so that it operates at lower number of revolutions or activates the vibration electric motor with lower number of revolutions, and when the wrist is lifted from the device, the sensor (7) detects this information and communicates it to the control circuit

(13) , which turns off the vibration electric motor (10, 11).

7. The massage device according to claims 5 and 6, characterized in that when the device includes the sensor (7), the logic control circuit (13) controls the operation of the device according to the selected position of the switch (9) and the information provided by the sensor (7). 8. The massage device according to the preceding claims, characterized in that the top lid (la) is anatomically designed in such a manner that the shape of the top lid (la) follows the shape of the wrist; the lower lid (lb) is planar, with plugs (6) attached to the corners to prevent the device from sliding on the grounding and to reduce the volume of the device.

9. The massage device according to the preceding claims, characterized in that the massage device comprises two vibration electric motors (10, 11), the characteristics of which are I, 000 to 8,000 rpm, the amplitude of 0.5-5G and the force of 50-400 mN, preferably the characteristics are from 4,500-5,500 rpm, of 3 G amplitude and 260 mN force.

10. The massage device according to the preceding claims, characterized in that the inner surface of the top lid (la) is made with recesses into which the vibration electric motors (10, 11) fit.

I I. The massage device according to the preceding claims, characterized in that the upper lid (la) is made of a material that is harmless to the skin, preferably of wood or plastic.

12. The massage device according to the preceding claims, characterized in that the lower number of revolutions of the vibration electric motor (10, 11) is used for wrist massage, that is, the carpal tunnel, and the higher number of revolutions of the vibration electric motor (10, 11) is used to massage other parts, for example, neck and shoulder massage.