GB2279257A - Massaging device - Google Patents

Abstract

A hand-held massaging device includes a housing 100 in which two cooperating massaging rollers 120, 130 are disposed. Each roller is connected via a respective shaft 122, 132 and a gear train 140 to a driving motor. The shafts 122, 132 are mounted off centre relative to the axis of the rollers so that, when rotated, the rollers move eccentrically to provide a pinch massaging action similar to that provided by hand. To increase the massaging effect each roller is provided with a plurality of projections 160 and to avoid overload of the motor and potential harm to a user, a torque limiter is provided in the gear train 140. <IMAGE>

Description

A MASSAGING DEVICE This invention relates to a massaging device, more particularly, but not exclusively, to a hand-held massaging device.

Massaging devices which simulate tactile therapeutic massage have been proposed which use vibration of a massaging member to provide a massaging action on the skin of a user. It is a disadvantage of such devices, however, that they do not provide an accurate simulation of tactile massage.

It is an object to the invention to provide a massaging device with an improved massaging action.

According to the invention there is provided a massaging device comprising first and second spaced massaging members, at least one member being drivably mounted to rotation drive means such that, upon rotation, the distance between the members is cyclically variable to provide a pinch massaging action therebetween.

Preferably at least one member is eccentrically mounted on a shaft. Both members may be eccentrically mounted on respective shafts and driven by the drive means in contrarotational directions.

A massaging device of the invention provides a more stimulating massaging action in that the motion of the massaging member(s) provides a pinching action (not vibration) which simulates a traditional pinch massage in particular the steps of touching muscles of the body, pressing the muscles and then releasing.

More preferably, the massaging members comprise elongate rollers having spaced projections along their length. The projections may be of axially elongate form disposed in lines, more preferably may have the width and profile of the tip of a human finger.

Furthermore, the driving means is preferably connected to the or each massaging member by a torque limiter to prevent motor overload. The torque limiter may comprise a spring clutch arranged to disengage when a predetermined torque is exceeded.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side view of an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is an end view in the direction of arrow 2' of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view through the plane 3'-3' of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a sectional view in a direction 4'-4' of Figure 3 showing the gear train of the device from the motor to the massaging member 120.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 showing detail of a torque limiter.

Figure 6 is a schematic view of rollers 120, 130 illustrating the massaging action.

With reference to the Figures, a hand-held massaging device is shown which comprises a casing 100 having a portion 110 to be grasped by the hand of the user and first and second massaging members 120, 130 rotatably mounted on respective shafts 122, 132. The shafts 122, 132 are connected via a gear train generally designated 140 to a motor 150 within the housing 100. The housing 100 further includes a battery compartment (not shown) connected to the motor 150 via an on/off switch 152.

Each massaging member 120, 130 is in the form of a cylindrical roller having a plurality of axially elongate massaging projections e.g. 158, 159 provided is spaced axial lines along the length of the roller and at equiangular radial positions. In this embodiment, there are four projections in each axial line and six radial lines at 60 intervals.

Each projection 158, 159 is axially elongate as shown by projection 158 in figure 1 having an arcuate side profile similar to the front profile of the tip of a human finger as shown by projection 159 in Figure 1.

The massaging members 120, 130 are not co-axially mounted on corresponding shafts 122, 132 but are mounted off-centre so that rotation of shafts 122, 132 produces an eccentric motion as illustrated in Figure 6 and described hereinafter.

Shafts 122, 132 are connected to motor 150 via a plurality of gears forming gear chain 140. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, drive shaft 154 of motor 150 is connected to gear 160 which meshes with gear 162. Gear 162 is axially connected to gear 163 which meshes with gear 164. Gear 164, as more clearly shown in Figure 5, is connected to a first axial gear 165 which engages a second axial gear 166 connected to gear 169. Axial gears 165, 166 each include a plurality of bevel gear elements 167 which having sloping sides 168.

The gear elements of the axial gears 165, 166 mesh with one another but can ride over one another and slip when a torque in excess of a predetermined magnitude is applied.

The gear 169 and connected axial gear 166 are biased into contact with axial gear 165 and gear 164 by means of a coil spring 171 which is mounted on an extension 173 of gear 169, being held between gear 169 and a reaction support 175 connected to housing 100. In general use, the spring 171 forces the axial gears 165, 166 into contact with one another so that rotation of gear 164 will result in rotation of gear 169. However, if the load on gear 169 is too great, the torque between the axial gears 165, 166 will become too great and the gears will slip relative to one another thus preventing motor 150 from overloading and protecting the user from harm.

Gear 169 meshes with gear 172 which is connected to gear 174. Gear 174 in turn meshes with gear 176 which is connected to gear 178. Gear 178 drives two gear sub assemblies, first sub-assembly 180, 2, 4, 6, with gear 186 being connected to shaft 122 and second assembly 188, 190, 192 with gear 192 being connected to shaft 132. As assemblies 180, 2, 4, 6 and 188, 90, 92 differ by one gear, rotation of motor shaft 154 and thus gear 178 will cause rollers 120, 130 to rotate in opposition directions.

In use, operation of switch 152 will cause motor 150 to rotate which through the described gear train 140 will in turn cause massage members 120, 130 to rotate in opposite directions. As the members are mounted off-centre on their respective shafts, this will cause the members themselves to exhibit an eccentric movement as illustrated in Figure 6 in which as the members rotate it can be seen that the projections 158, 159 progressively will knead and release the skin 200. As the device operates, this action illustrated in steps 1-6 is performed cyclically to provide a continuous massaging action.

Preferably, the massaging members 120, 130 are rotated by the motor at a rotational speed of approximately 60 revolutions per minute although higher or lower speed may be used depending upon the massaging action desired.

While an embodiment of a massaging device according to the invention has been described, this is not to be construed as limitative. For example, one of the massaging members may be formed by a stationary portion of the housing 100, with the remaining massaging member rotating and moving eccentrically as described with a pinching action being provided between stationary portion of the housing and the moving massaging member. Furthermore, the projections of the massaging member may be of different sizes and shapes according to the effect desired.

Claims (16)

1. A massaging device comprising first and second spaced massaging members, at least one member being drivably mounted to rotation drive means such that, upon rotation, the distance between the members is cyclically variable to provide a pinch massaging action therebetween.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one member is eccentrically mounted on a shaft.

3. A device as claimed in Claim 1 wherein both said members are eccentrically mounted on respective shafts.

4. A device as claimed in Claim 3 wherein said members are driven in contra-rotational directions.

5. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the members are of elongate cylindrical form.

6. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims where the members are provided with a plurality of outwardly extending projections.

7. A device as claimed in Claim 6 wherein the projections are elongate and of arcuate profile.

8. A device as claimed in Claim 5 wherein the projections have a profile similar to the front profile of the tip of a human finger.

9. A device as claimed in any one of Claims 6 to 8 wherein the projections are disposed in lines.

10. A device as claimed in Claim 9 wherein the said projections are provided in lines of four or more.

11. A device as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 10 wherein the projections are radially angularly spaced.

12. A device as claimed in Claim 11 wherein the projections are provided at six radially angular positions.

13. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the driving means is connected to the or each member via a torque limiter.

14. A device as claimed in Claim 13 wherein the torque limiter comprises a spring clutch.

15. A device as claimed in Claim 14 wherein the clutch comprising at least two members each having a plurality of bevel gear elements and held in mating contact by a biasing means, a torque of greater than a predetermined magnitude causing the bevel gears to slip relative to one another.

16. A massaging device by substantially hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.