BATTERY-POWERED PERCUSSIVE MASSAGE DEVICE

• US 20190254922A1
• Filed: 08/21/2018
• Published: 08/22/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyperice IP Subco LLC
• Original Assignee: Hyper Ice, Inc.
• Inventors: Marton, Robert, Katz, Anthony
• Granted Patent: US 10,492,984 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0134 Cushion or similar support
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0153 hand-held
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0157 portable
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0165 Damping, vibration related features
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1207 with electric or magnetic drive
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1215 Rotary drive
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1436 Special crank assembly
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/149 rotation-linear or vice versa
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1664 linear
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1669 moving along the body in a reciprocating manner
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1685 interchangeable modular devices, A61H2201/0107
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/169 Physical characteristics of the surface, e.g. material, relief, texture or indicia
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/50 Control means thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5025 Activation means
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/006 Percussion or tapping massage hand percussion A61H23/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/0254 with rotary motor

Abstract

A percussive massage device includes an enclosure having a cylindrical bore that extends along a longitudinal axis. A motor has a rotatable shaft that rotates about a central axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. A crank coupled to the shaft includes a pivot, which is offset from the central axis of the shaft. A transfer bracket has a first end portion coupled to the pivot of the crank. A flexible transfer linkage has a first end coupled to a second end portion of the transfer bracket. A piston has a first end coupled to a second end of the transfer linkage. The piston is constrained to move within a cylinder along the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical bore. An applicator head has a first end coupled to a second end of the piston and has a second end exposed outside the cylindrical bore for application to a person receiving treatment.

Claims

1. A battery-powered percussive massage device comprising:

a main enclosure having a cylindrical bore, the cylindrical bore extending along a longitudinal axis;

a motor positioned within the main enclosure, the motor having a rotatable shaft, the shaft having a central axis of rotation, the central axis of rotation of the shaft perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical bore, the motor extending perpendicularly away from the longitudinal axis in a first direction;

a crank coupled to the shaft, the crank including a pivot, the pivot offset from the central axis of the shaft;

a reciprocating linkage having a first end coupled to the crank and having a second end;

a piston having a first end and a second end, the first end of the piston coupled to the second end of the reciprocating linkage, the piston positioned within the cylindrical bore of the enclosure and constrained to move only along the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical bore;

an applicator head having a first end and a second end, the first end of the applicator head removably coupled to the second end of the piston, the second end of the applicator head exposed outside the cylindrical bore;

a cylindrical battery assembly receiving enclosure extending from the main enclosure in a second direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the second direction opposite the first direction; and

a battery assembly positionable in the battery assembly receiving enclosure and removably secured to the battery assembly receiving enclosure such that a first portion of the battery assembly is positioned within the battery assembly receiving enclosure and a second portion of the battery assembly extends from the battery assembly receiving enclosure as a handle that is oriented perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis, the second portion of the battery assembly comprising a cylindrical outer gripping surface configured to be gripped by one hand to control the percussive massage device.

2. The battery-powered percussive massage device of claim 1, wherein:

the battery assembly receiving enclosure includes at least one engagement ledge; and

the first portion of the battery assembly includes at least one tab engageable with the at least one engagement ledge to retain the battery assembly within the battery assembly receiving enclosure, the at least one tab moveable to disengage the at least one tab from the at least one engagement ledge to enable removal of the battery assembly from the battery assembly receiving enclosure.

3. The battery-powered percussive massage device of claim 2, wherein:

the at least one engagement ledge of the battery assembly receiving enclosure includes a first engagement ledge and includes a second engagement ledge; and

the at least one tab of the first portion of the battery assembly includes a first tab engageable with the first engagement ledge and includes a second tab engageable with the second engagement ledge, the engagement of the first tab with the first engagement ledge and the engagement of the second tab with the second engagement ledge removably securing the battery assembly within the battery assembly receiving enclosure, the first tab moveable to disengage the first tab from the first engagement ledge to enable removal of the battery assembly from the battery assembly receiving enclosure.

4. The battery-powered percussive massage device of claim 3, wherein the second tab is moveable to disengage the second tab from the second engagement ledge.

5. The battery-powered percussive massage device of claim 2, further comprising a button having a portion that engages the at least one tab, the portion of the button biased away from the at least one tab, the button responsive to manual pressure to move the at least one tab to disengage the at least one tab from the at least one engagement ledge.

6. (canceled)

7. A method of massaging a body part using a battery-powered portable massage device having a main enclosure that houses a motor, the massage device having a piston that reciprocates along a longitudinal axis within the main enclosure in response to operation of the motor that rotates a shaft around a shaft axis, the shaft axis extending perpendicularly from the longitudinal axis such that the motor of the shaft extends away from the longitudinal axis in a first direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the method comprising:

coupling a removable applicator head to the piston;

attaching a cylindrical battery assembly to the main enclosure by engaging a first portion of one end of the battery assembly with a cylindrical battery assembly receiving enclosure extending from the main enclosure to mechanically connect the battery assembly to the battery assembly receiving enclosure, the battery assembly receiving enclosure extending perpendicularly in a second direction with respect to the longitudinal axis, the second direction opposite the first direction, the battery assembly containing at least one battery to provide electrical energy to the motor, the battery assembly extending along an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis when engaged with the battery assembly receiving enclosure;

applying power to the motor to cause the piston and the coupled applicator head to reciprocate; and

gripping a cylindrical outer gripping surface of a second portion of the battery assembly as a handle to direct the application of the applicator head to a body part to be massaged.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the cylindrical outer gripping surface of the battery assembly comprises a removable outer cylindrical cover.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the removable outer cylindrical cover of the battery assembly comprises neoprene.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the at least one battery within the battery assembly is chargeable when the battery assembly is engaged with the battery assembly receiving enclosure.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the at least one battery within the battery assembly is also chargeable when the battery assembly is not engaged with the battery assembly receiving enclosure.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein engaging the first portion of one end of the battery assembly with the cylindrical battery assembly receiving enclosure comprises:

engaging a first tab of the battery assembly with a first engagement ledge of the battery assembly receiving enclosure; and

engaging a second tab of the battery assembly with a second engagement ledge of the battery assembly receiving enclosure.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising disengaging the battery assembly from the battery receiving enclosure to enable removal of the battery assembly from the battery assembly receiving enclosure.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein disengaging the battery assembly from the battery receiving enclosure comprises applying pressure to a biased button to move at least a portion of the biased button against the first tab of the battery assembly to move the the first tab of the battery assembly out of engagement with the first engagement ledge of the battery assembly receiving enclosure.

10. (canceled)

16. A battery-powered percussive massage device comprising:

a main housing that encloses a motor and that encloses a piston that reciprocates along a longitudinal axis in response to operation of the motor, the motor having a shaft with a shaft axis that extends perpendicularly to the horizontal axis, the motor extending perpendicularly away from the horizontal axis in a first direction;

an applicator head removably coupled to the piston, at least a portion of the applicator head exposed outside the housing;

a battery assembly receiving enclosure extending perpendicularly from the main housing in a second direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the second direction opposite the first direction; and

a battery assembly positionable in the battery assembly receiving enclosure and removably secured to the battery assembly receiving enclosure such that a first portion of the battery assembly is positioned within the battery assembly receiving enclosure and a second portion of the battery assembly extends from the battery assembly receiving enclosure in the second direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the second portion of the battery assembly having a cylindrical outer gripping surface, the battery assembly configured as a handle to be gripped by one hand to control the percussive massage device.

17. (canceled)