WO2011014621A1

WO2011014621A1 - Vibratory carriage massager

Info

Publication number: WO2011014621A1
Application number: PCT/US2010/043658
Authority: WO
Inventors: Roman S. Ferber; Mordechai Lev; Sara Robertson; Lilian Tao
Original assignee: Fka Distributing Co. D/B/A Homedics, Inc.
Priority date: 2009-07-31
Filing date: 2010-07-29
Publication date: 2011-02-03
Also published as: EP2459144B1; EP2459144A1; EP2459144A4

Abstract

A body massager has a housing having an opening to a cavity formed therein. A carriage is oriented in the housing cavity and cooperates with the housing for longitudinal translation in the housing. A kneading massage assembly is mounted to the carriage. A massage member is provided on the kneading massage assembly proximate to the housing opening for providing a kneading massage effect. A motor is operably connected with the housing and the carriage for driving the carriage along the housing. A vibratory massage assembly is mounted to the carriage for imparting a vibratory massage effect to the massage member. A flexible support member is mounted to the housing and extends across the carriage for supporting a body part of the user in regions of the housing cavity when the carriage is not present.

Description

VIBRATORY CARRIAGE MASSAGER

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional Application No. 61/230, 181 filed July 31 , 2009; the disclosure of which is incorporated in its entirety by reference herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Various embodiments relate to body massagers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a body massager according to an embodiment, illustrated partially disassembled;

FIGURE 2 is an exploded perspective view of the massager of Figure 1; and

FIGURE 3 is an exploded perspective view of a massage assembly of the massager of Figure 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale; some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention. Referring to Figure 1 , a body massager is illustrated according to an embodiment and is referenced generally by numeral 10. The body massager 10 includes a backrest 12, and may also include a seat support. The internal assemblies of the backrest 12 are collectively retained within a flexible cover (not shown).

Massage effects provided by the body massager 10 include a kneading massage effect provided in the backrest 12, which is operable to provide the kneading massage effect longitudinally along the length of the backrest 12. Additionally, a vibratory massage effect is provided from the backrest 12.

The backrest 12 is sized to be received upon a backrest of a conventional chair. The body massager 10 is portable due to its compact size and light weight so that the user may place the body massager 10 upon a conventional chair for receiving a massage when seated upon the chair.

The backrest 12 includes a height and width corresponding to the conventional chair and has a thickness that is adequate for housing a massage assembly 14 within the backrest 12 while avoiding disruption of comfort and support provided by the underlying chair.

The backrest 12 includes a backrest contact surface 16 for receiving and supporting the back of a user thereupon. The massage assemblies of the backrest 12 impart the respective massage effects through the backrest contact surface 16 through a cover (not shown) of the massager 10. The body massager 10 further includes a remote controller 18 connected to the massager 10 for controlling the operations of the massager 10. The backrest 12 includes a housing 20 for retaining the massage assembly 14. The massage assembly 14 includes a carriage 22 which cooperates with the housing 20 for limited longitudinal translation within the backrest 12. Accordingly, the housing 20 includes a longitudinal guide 24 mounted therein for cooperating with the carriage 22. The guide 24 includes a series of gibs 26 that cooperate with and retain a longitudinal key (not shown) formed laterally along the carriage 22. Various features of the massage assembly 14 are illustrated and described in greater detail in Ferber et al. U.S. Patent No. 7,128,721 B2, which issued on October 31, 2006, and is incorporated by reference herein. The carriage 22 includes a second longitudinal key (not shown) formed laterally thereupon in transversely spaced opposition to that of the first key. The second key is retained relative to the housing 20 by an elongate retainer gib 28 which is secured to the housing 20. The Ferber et al. 721 patent discloses the longitudinal keys.

The guide 24 of the housing 20 includes a pair of longitudinal rails 30, 32, which extend from the housing 20. A pair of keyways (not shown) are formed longitudinally through the carriage 22. The keyways are sized to receive the rails 30, 32. The cooperation of the rails 30, 32 and the keyways provides transverse guidance and support to the carriage 22 as it translates along the guide 24. The keyways, and roller bearings are illustrated and described in the Ferber et al. 721 patent. The housing 20 includes a substrate 34 with a plurality of sidewalls 36 extending forward of the substrate 34. The sidewalls 36 and substrate 34 collectively provide a cavity 38 within which the massage assembly 14 is housed. Foam or cushioning (not shown) may be provided about an exterior perimeter of the sidewalls 36 in order to provide cushioning outside of a massage region. Referring now to Figure 2, the massage assembly 14 includes a motor

40, which is mounted to the carriage 22 and retained by a cover plate 42. The cover plate 42 and the carriage 22 collectively provide a motor mount for the motor 40 and are fastened together. The motor 40 is operable to impart a massage effect from the massage assembly 14 and translate the carriage 22 along the guide 24 of the housing 20. The motor 40 includes a pair of output shafts 44, 46 extending from the motor 40 and driven thereby. A pair of worms 48, 50 are each provided on one of the motor output shafts 44, 46 to be driven by the respective shaft 44, 46. The first worm 48 drives a pair of worm gears 52, 54 in opposed rotational directions. Each worm gear 52, 54 is engaged with a reduction gear 56, 58 for driving the respective reduction gear 56, 58. Each reduction gear 56, 58 is mounted on a gear shaft 60, 62, which are rotatably connected to the carriage 22 and extend through the cover plate 42.

A pair of massage brackets 64, 66 are each fastened to one of the gear shafts 60, 62. The massage brackets 64, 66 are transversely spaced. Each massage bracket 64, 66 includes a first hemispherical massage node 68 and a second hemispherical massage node 70 mounted to the respective bracket 64, 66.

The gear shafts 60, 62 are oriented perpendicular to the guide 24 and extend in the direction toward the backrest contact surface 16. The massage nodes 68, 70 each rotate relative to the massage bracket 64, 66 about an axis that is offset from the respective gear shaft 60, 62. The massage nodes 68, 70 extend from the cavity 38 for imparting the massage effect to the user. As the massage nodes 68, 70 revolve around the corresponding gear shaft 60, 62 a rotary kneading massage effect is imparted upon the user, which is commonly referred to as a Shiatsu massage.

Each massage node 68, 70 is rotatably connected to the corresponding massage bracket 64, 66 to reduce friction generated in a rotary kneading massage effect. Further, each massage node 68, 70 may be axially translatable relative to the corresponding massage bracket 64, 66 and urged to an extended position by a spring retained between the corresponding massage nodes 68, 70 and the respective massage bracket 64, 66.

Additionally, the first massage nodes 68 have an overall height greater than that of the second massage nodes 70 to extend further from the corresponding massage brackets 64, 66. The first massage nodes 68 also have a diameter greater than that of the second massage nodes 70. These variations are utilized for varying the engagement of the rotary kneading massage effect with the user, resulting in a kneading effect that is nonsymmetrical and similar to a massage provided by the hands of a skilled massage therapist.

The second worm 50 drives a worm gear 72 on the carriage 22. The worm gear 72 is connected to a first pinion gear 74 that is driven with the worm gear 72. The first pinion gear 74 is engaged with a first reduction gear 76 which is rotatably mounted to the carriage 22. A second pinion gear 78 is provided beneath the first reduction gear 76 and driven thereby. The second pinion gear 78 is engaged with a second reduction gear 80 which is supported for rotation upon the carriage 22. A third pinion gear 82 is provided beneath the second reduction gear 80 and is driven thereby. The third pinion gear 82 is in geared engagement with a rack 84 provided along the retainer gib 28. Thus, operation of the motor 40 creates the massage effect and drives the carriage 22 along the guide 24 through reduced rotation through the transmission. Of course, the invention contemplates various transmissions, such as the transmission disclosed in the Ferber et al. 721 patent. The invention also contemplates utilization of two motors on the carriage 22 for independently controlling the massage in translation as disclosed in Ferber et al. U.S. Patent No. 7,470,242 B2, which is incorporated by reference herein.

The carriage 22 also carries a vibratory massage assembly 86 for imparting a vibratory massage effect to the massage nodes 68, 70 for imparting a rotary kneading and vibrating massage effect concurrently to the user. As illustrated in Figure 2, the cover plate 42 includes a pair of brackets extending from the cover plate 42. The vibratory massage assembly 86 is mounted to the pair of brackets 88 and oriented therebetween.

Referring now to Figure 3, the vibratory massage assembly includes a motor 90 with an eccentric weight 92. Power to the motor 90 rotates the eccentric weight 92 thereby imparting a vibratory massage effect. The motor 90 and weight 92 are disposed within a cushioned sleeve 94 for damping the massage effect. The cushioned sleeve 94 is disposed within a fabric sleeve 96, which is then consequently fastened to the brackets 88 by a series of mechanical fasteners 98 as in Figure 1. Thus, the vibratory massage assembly 86 is retained within the sleeves 94, 96 suspended between the brackets 88 of the cover plate 42 of the carriage 22 for imparting a vibratory massage effect to the carriage 22 and consequently the massage nodes 68, 70 as controlled by power to the motor 90.

Unlike prior art massagers, the massager 10 does not include a forward housing portion with apertures for permitting the nodes 68, 70 to pass therethrough.

Instead, the forward region of the housing 20 is left open, with a lengthwise central fabric ribbon 100 extending across the cavity 38 and mounted to opposed ends of the housing 20. The fabric ribbon 100 is maintained in tension for supporting an overlying cover of the massager 10 thereby supporting the cover in locations wherein the carriage 22 is not present and consequently supporting the back of the user.

Additionally, a strap 102 is provided on the cover plate 42 for retaining the ribbon 100 centrally relative to the carriage 22.

While embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it is not intended that these embodiments illustrate and describe all possible forms of the invention. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Additionally, features of various implementing embodiments may be combined to form further embodiments of the invention.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS: 1. A body massager comprising:

a housing;

a carriage oriented in the housing and cooperating with the housing for longitudinal translation in the housing;

at least one massage member provided on the carriage; a motor in operable connection with the housing and the carriage for driving the carriage along the housing; and

a vibratory massage assembly mounted to the carriage for imparting a vibratory massage effect to the at least one massage member.

2. The body massager of claim 1 further comprising a suspension connecting the vibratory massage assembly to the carriage.

3. The body massager of claim 1 wherein the mounting of the vibratory massage assembly to the carriage is damped.

4 The body massager of claim 1 wherein the vibratory massage assembly comprises:

a second motor; and

an eccentric weight driven by the second motor for vibrating the second motor.

5. The body massager of claim 4 further comprising a sleeve for retaining the second motor and the eccentric weight therein, the sleeve being mounted to the carriage.

6. The body massager of claim 5 wherein the sleeve comprises a fabric material.

7. The body massager of claim 6 further comprising a cushion sleeve provided in the fabric sleeve between the fabric sleeve and the second motor.

8. The body massager of claim 5 further comprising a pair of spaced apart brackets wherein a pair of terminal ends of the sleeve are each connected to one of the pair of brackets.

9. The body massager of claim 8 further comprising a plurality of mechanical fasteners each connecting one of the pair of terminal ends of the sleeve to one of the pair of brackets.

10. The body massager of claim 1 further comprising a kneading massage assembly for providing a kneading massage effect from the at least one massage member.

11. The body massager of claim 10 wherein the kneading massage assembly is driven by the motor.

12. The body massager of claim 1 wherein the housing has an opening to a cavity formed therein;

wherein the at least one massage member is oriented proximate to the housing opening; and

wherein the body massager further comprises a flexible support member mounted to the housing and extending across the carriage for supporting a body part of the user in regions of the housing cavity when the carriage is not present.

13. A body massager comprising:

a housing having an opening to a cavity formed therein; a carriage oriented in the housing cavity and cooperating with the housing for longitudinal translation in the housing;

at least one massage member provided on the carriage proximate to the housing opening;

a motor in operable connection with the housing and the carriage for driving the carriage along the housing; and a flexible support member mounted to the housing and extending across the carriage for supporting a body part of the user in regions of the housing cavity when the carriage is not present.

14. The body massager of claim 13 wherein the flexible support member is formed from a fabric material.

15. The body massager of claim 13 wherein the flexible support member extends along a length of the housing.

16. The body massager of claim 13 wherein the flexible support member extends centrally along the housing.

17. The body massager of claim 13 wherein the at least one massage member comprises a pair of spaced apart massage members; and

wherein the flexible support member extends between the pair of massage members.

18. The body massager of claim 13 wherein the flexible support member is maintained in tension.

19. The body massager of claim 13 further comprising a strap mounted to the housing for retaining the flexible support member upon the housing.

20. A body massager comprising:

a kneading massage assembly mounted to the carriage; at least one massage member provided on the kneading massage assembly proximate to the housing opening for providing a kneading massage effect;

a motor in operable connection with the housing and the carriage for driving the carriage along the housing; a vibratory massage assembly mounted to the carriage for imparting a vibratory massage effect to the at least one massage member; and

a flexible support member mounted to the housing and extending across the carriage for supporting a body part of the user in regions of the housing cavity when the carriage is not present.