Battery operated flexible massage tube

• US 20040267173A1
• Filed: 06/26/2003
• Published: 12/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ingenious Designs LLC (Qurate Retail Group (f/k/a Liberty Interactive Corporation))
• Original Assignee: Ingenious Designs LLC (Qurate Retail Group (f/k/a Liberty Interactive Corporation))
• Inventors: Mangano, Joy
• Granted Patent: US 6,929,612 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 601/57
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 11/00 Belts, strips or combs for massage purposes
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/04 neck
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/0263 using rotating unbalanced masses

Abstract

A battery operated flexible massage device includes a ball-and-socket modular plastic spine and an electric vibrator unit, covered by a flexible foam tube. The tube containing the spine and the vibrator unit is covered with a padded fabric cylindrical shell. The ends of the shell are provided with zippers which allow access to battery compartments. According to the presently preferred embodiment, the vibrator unit is centrally located adjacent to the flexible plastic spine. Two battery compartments are provided, one at each end of the tube, each for containing two AA batteries. A control switch is mounted adjacent to one of the battery compartments.

Claims

1. A battery operated massage device, comprising:

a) a flexible tube having a hollow interior;

b) an articulated spine extending through said hollow interior;

c) an electric vibrator unit mounted in said hollow interior;

d) at least one battery compartment; and

e) an electrical switch electrically coupled to said battery compartment and said electric vibrator.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein:

said articulated spine is made of a plurality of ball and socket joints.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein:

said articulated spine is plastic.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein:

said articulated spine extends substantially the entire length of said flexible tube.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein:

said at least one battery compartment includes two battery compartments, one at each end of said flexible tube.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein:

said flexible tube is foam plastic.

7. The device according to claim 6, further comprising:

f) a fabric tube covering said plastic tube.

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein:

said at least one battery compartment includes two battery compartments, one at each end of said flexible tube, and

said fabric tube is provided with two zippers, one adjacent to each battery compartment.

9. The device according to claim 1, additionally including an additional flexible tube received on said spine.

10. A battery operated flexible massage device, comprising:

a) a flexible tube;

b) a ball-and-socket modular plastic spine extending through said tube; and

c) an electric vibrator unit communicating with said spine.

11. The device according to claim 10, wherein:

said vibrator unit is centrally located relative to said spine.

12. The device according to claim 11, further comprising:

d) two battery compartments, one located at each end of said tube.

13. The device according to claim 12, further comprising:

e) a fabric outer tube covering said flexible tube.

14. The device according to claim 13, further comprising:

f) a pair of zippers, one located at each end of said fabric outer tube, said zippers providing access to said battery compartments.