Hand held percussive massager with adjustable nodes

• US 6,432,072 B1
• Filed: 01/21/2000
• Issued: 08/13/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Brookstone Purchasing Incorporated (Bebe Stores, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Brookstone Company Incorporated (Bebe Stores, Inc.)
• Inventors: Harris, David, Woodard, Rudy
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Michael A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Koo, Benjamin K.
• Application Number:
  US09/489,049
• Time in Patent Office: 935 Days
• Field of Search: 601/134, 601/135, 601/97, 601/101, 601/103, 601/107, 601/108, 601/110, 601/111, 601/112, 601/113, 601/70, 601/72
• US Class Current: 601/108
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2007/009 having massage elements rotating on parallel output axis
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0153 hand-held
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1418 Cam
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1609 Neck
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1614 Shoulder, e.g. for neck stretching
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1635 Hand or arm, e.g. handle hand-held, A61H2201/0153; fore-arm support, A61H2003/006
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/164 Feet or leg, e.g. pedal
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1645 contoured to fit the user
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1669 moving along the body in a reciprocating manner
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/04 neck
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/06 Arms
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/062 Shoulders
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/10 Leg
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/0254 with rotary motor
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/0263 using rotating unbalanced masses
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 7/001 without substantial movement between the skin and the device

Abstract

A hand-held massager having a flat vibrating massage head and a pair of percussion massage nodes all being driven by a single internal drive unit. The percussion massage nodes are adjustable for width adjustments being manually controlled by the flat massage head on the opposite side of the massage head. Separate push button controls covered by a sealing membrane are carried on the body of the unit to control power, speed and type of massage.

Claims

1. A hand-held massager comprising:

an elongated handle connected to the massager body having a control means;

a first vibratory massaging element mounted to one side of said massager body, and a pair of percussive massage nodes mounted to the side opposite; and

a motor drive for powering both said vibratory massaging element and said percussive massager nodes;

wherein the percussive massage nodes are adjustable in width by rotation of said vibratory massaging element; and

wherein the vibratory massaging element is rotatably mounted on a shaft, said shaft driving a rack and pinion connected to a screw drive for causing changes in the width of the percussive massage nodes mounts attached to the massage nodes..

2. The hand-held massager of claim 1, wherein the motor drive comprises a single electric rotary motor having a rotating shaft extending from either side of said motor, said rotating shaft being connected to rotary drive arms eccentrically carried on a pair of canes, each said cam being connected to a reciprocal pivot arm attached to said percussive massage nodes, as wherein rotation of said motor causes rotation of the said rotary drive arms which in turn cause said cams to move said pivot arms whereby to induce percussive movement of said massage nodes.

3. The hand-held massager of claim 2, wherein the motor drive is powered by a rechargeable battery housed within the massager.

4. The hand-held massager of claim 1, wherein the vibratory massaging element is generally rounded in shape with a generally flat upper surface and having resilient insert elements.

5. The hand-held massager of claim 1, wherein said percussive massage node mounts are internally threaded to move laterally in opposite directions along the shafts of the said screw drives.

6. The hand-held massager of claim 1, wherein the percussive massage nodes are removably mounted on said mounts.

7. The hand-held massager of claim 1, wherein the percussive massage nodes comprise semi-spherical shaped elements.

8. The hand-held massager of claim 1, and including a control panel having an elastomeric membrane sealed to the handle and covering a plurality of touch sensitive control buttons or switches.

9. The hand-held massager of claim 8, wherein the control panel includes a power control button, a speed setting control button, and LED speed indicator, and a plurality of the massage program buttons for setting massage sensation and intensity of the vibrations of the massage elements.

10. The hand-held massager of claim 9, wherein the width adjustment mechanism is powered and is controlled by a switch on the control means.

11. The hand-held massager of claim 1, wherein phase of movement of the percussive massage nodes is adjustable.

12. The hand-held massager of claim 1, wherein the percussive massage node mounts are independently suspended from the width adjustment and connected to the motor by shafts.

13. The hand-held massager of claim 1, wherein the vibratory massaging element is connected to the massage node width adjustment mechanism by a shaft which transmits a generalized vibration to the vibratory massage element coincident with movement of the percussive massaging nodes.

14. The hand-held massager of claim 13, and further including springs operatively disposed on said shaft to dampen vibration.

15. The hand-held massager of claim 1, wherein the motor drive comprises a pair of electric rotary motors, each having a rotating shaft extending therefrom, each said rotating shaft being connected to a rotary drive arm eccentrically carried on a cam, each said cam being connected to a reciprocal pivot arm attached to said percussive massage nodes, wherein rotation of said motor causes rotation of its respective rotary drive arm which in turn causes a respective cam to move its respective pivot arm whereby to induce percussive movement of its respective massage node.

16. The hand-held massager of claim 1, wherein the motor drive comprises a pair of linear motors.

17. The hand-held massager of claim 1, wherein the vibratory massaging element is rotatably mounted on a shaft, said shaft driving a rack and pinion connected to a screw drive, which causes changes in the width of the percussive massage node mounts attached to the massage nodes.

18. The hand-held massager of claim 17, wherein said percussive massage node mounts are internally threaded to move laterally in opposite directions along the shafts of the said screw drives.

19. The hand-held massager of claim 17, wherein the percussive massage nodes are removably mounted on said mounts.

20. The hand-held massager of claim 6, wherein the percussive massage node mounts are independently suspended from the width adjustment and connected to the motor by shafts.

21. The hand-held massager of claim 6, wherein the vibratory massaging element is connected to the massage node width adjustment mechanism by a shaft which transmits a generalized vibration to the vibratory massage element coincident with movement of the percussive massaging nodes.

22. The hand-held massager of claim 21, and further including springs operatively disposed on said shaft to dampen vibration.