Pneumatic vacuum vibrator apparatus

• US 5,336,158 A
• Filed: 11/12/1992
• Issued: 08/09/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Donald L. Fleming, Freddie L. Huggins
• Original Assignee: Donald L. Fleming, Freddie L. Huggins
• Inventors: Fleming, Donald L., Huggins, Freddie L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hafer, Robert A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KENEALY, DAVID
• Application Number:
  US07/975,060
• Time in Patent Office: 635 Days
• Field of Search: 601/14, 601/6, 601/11, 601/12, 601/13, 601/15, 601/16, 601/46, 601/78, 601/80
• US Class Current: 601/14
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/082 Breasts
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/02 with electric or magnetic drive
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 9/005 Pneumatic massage

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to a compact, portable hand-held electrical pneumatic vacuum apparatus which includes a vibrator. More particularly, it is concerned with a vacuum vibrator having a cup for receiving a body surface coupled with a unitary housing incorporating a handle, a blower for exhausting air from the housing and thereby creating a suction force in the cup, and structure for imparting a vibrating action to the cup.

Claims

1. An electrical pneumatic vacuum vibrator apparatus for contacting a body surface comprising:

(a) a housing having first, second, and third apertures and including a perforate partition segmenting said housing between said first aperture and said second aperture, said housing including a generally hollow cylinder flange member annularly surrounding said first housing aperture and projecting externally therefrom, said flange including an inwardly opening groove for supporting a vibrator conductive ring;

(b) a first body surface contacting assembly for cooperatively applying thereto a pressure differential and vibration force, wherein said first body surface contacting assembly includes a generally cup-shaped member including structure defining a cavity for receiving therein a body surface to be subjected to suction and vibration forces, said cup-shaped body surface contacting assembly including cushioning means for cushioning contact between said body surface and said first body surface contacting assembly, said first body surface contacting assembly further including a generally hollow cylindrical shank presenting a pair of opposed, slot-shaped apertures;

(c) a second body surface contacting assembly for applying thereto a vibration force, wherein said second body surface contacting assembly includes a generally bulb-shaped member having a generally arcuate head for contacting a body surface to be subject to vibration forces, said second body surface contacting assembly including a generally hollow cylindrical shank presenting a pair of opposed, slot-shaped apertures;

(d) a connector assembly including a generally hollow cylindrical sleeve member for supporting a body surface contacting assembly shank in telescoping relationship, said sleeve member having a first end adjacent said body surface containing assembly shank and a second end adjacent said housing, said first end including a pair of opposed clips for mating engagement within said slot-shaped shank apertures, and said second end including a shoulder presenting a recessed lip, said connector assembly including a generally hollow cylindrical bellow having a bore for telescopically receiving and fixedly intercoupling said housing flange and said sleeve member lip, wherein said first and second body surface contacting assemblies are interchangeably intercoupled with said housing b y said connector assembly;

(e) a blower fan coupled with said second aperture for exhausting air from said housing and drawing air therein through said body surface contacting assembly for creating a vacuum suction force in said body surface contacting assembly, said second aperture including a screen member in covering relationship for shielding said blower fan;

(f) a vibrator assembly having a pump, a conductive ring supportingly received within said housing flange groove, and a lead remotely intercoupling said pump and said ring for exerting vibrating action on said body surface contacting assembly;

(g) fan switch means for permitting independent control of said blower fan;

(h) vibrator switch means for permitting independent variable regulation of said vibrator;

(i) an adjustable baffle including a generally hemi-cylindrical sliding plate coupled in longitudinally sliding, overlapping relationship with said third housing aperture and positionable at open, closed and intermediate positions therebetween for permitting admission of air therethrough and adjusting said suction force exerted on said body surface, said baffle being oriented at a position of about 90°

from said handle stem to permit positioning by the thumb of a user; and

(j) a generally quadrant-shaped handle coupled with said housing for gripping said apparatus by a user, said handle including a generally arcuate portion coupled with a generally transverse stem, said stem further including groove members for facilitating gripping by the fingers of a user.

3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said cushioning means is comprised of foam.

4. The electrical apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said apparatus further includes a power supply.

5. The electrical apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said power supply includes a battery.

2. A method of cooperatively applying a pressure differential and vibration force to a body surface comprising the steps of:

providing an electrical pneumatic vacuum vibrator apparatus including

(1) a housing having first, second, and third apertures and including a perforate partition segmenting said housing between said first aperture and said second aperture, said housing including a generally hollow cylinder flange member annularly surrounding said first housing aperture and projecting externally therefrom, said flange including an inwardly opening groove for supporting a vibrator conductive ring;

(2) a first body surface contacting assembly for cooperatively applying thereto a pressure differential and vibration force, wherein said first body surface contacting assembly includes a generally cup-shaped member including structure defining a cavity for receiving therein a body surface to be subjected to suction and vibration forces, said cup-shaped body surface contacting assembly including cushioning means for cushioning contact between said body surface and said first body surface contacting assembly, said first body surface contacting assembly further including a generally hollow cylindrical shank presenting a pair of opposed, slot-shaped apertures;

(3) a second body surface contacting assembly for applying thereto a vibration force, wherein said second body surface contacting assembly includes a generally bulb-shaped member having a generally arcuate head for contacting a body surface to be subject to vibration forces, said second body surface contacting assembly including a generally hollow cylindrical shank presenting a pair of opposed, slot-shaped apertures;

(4) a connector assembly including a generally hollow cylindrical sleeve member for supporting a body surface contacting assembly shank in telescoping relationship, said sleeve member having a first end adjacent said body surface containing assembly shank and a second end adjacent said housing, said first end including a pair of opposed clips for mating engagement within said slot-shaped shank apertures, and said second end including a shoulder presenting a recessed lip, said connector assembly including a generally hollow cylindrical bellow having a bore for telescopically receiving and fixedly intercoupling said housing flange and said sleeve member lip, wherein said first and second body surface contacting assemblies are interchangeably intercoupled with said housing by said connector assembly;

(5) a blower fan coupled with said second aperture for exhausting air from said housing and drawing air therein through said body surface contacting assembly for creating a vacuum suction force in said body surface contacting assembly, said second aperture including a screen member in covering relationship for shielding said blower fan;

(6) a vibrator assembly having a pump, a conductive ring supportingly received within said housing flange groove, and a lead remotely intercoupling said pump and said ring for exerting vibrating action on said body surface contacting assembly;

(7) fan switch means for permitting independent control of said blower fan;

(8) vibrator switch means for permitting independent variable regulation of said vibrator;

(9) an adjustable baffle including a generally hemi-cylindrical sliding plate coupled in longitudinally sliding, overlapping relationship with said third housing aperture and positionable at open, closed and intermediate positions therebetween for permitting admission of air therethrough and adjusting said suction force exerted on said body surface, said baffle being oriented at a position of about 90°

from said handle stem to permit positioning by the thumb of a user; and

(10) a generally quadrant-shaped handle coupled with said housing for gripping said apparatus by a user, said handle including a generally arcuate portion coupled with a generally transverse stem, said stem further including groove members for facilitating gripping by the fingers of a user;

(b) placing a body surface to be subject to suction and vibration forces adjacent to said apparatus; and

(c) activating said blower and vibrator to cooperatively apply a pressure differential and vibration force to said body surface.