Massagers having gel coverings

• US 6,679,857 B1
• Filed: 03/06/2001
• Issued: 01/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Conair Corporation
• Original Assignee: Conair Corporation
• Inventors: Bastia, Paul A., Strick, Alan E.
• Primary Examiner(s): DeMille, Danton D.
• Application Number:
  US09/800,154
• Time in Patent Office: 1,050 Days
• Field of Search: 601/46, 601/72, 601/73, 601/80, 601/3, 601/4, 601/2, D24/214, D24/215
• US Class Current: 601/72
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2023/002 having a percussion element combined with a passive spacer element for bearing against the skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1692 Enhanced rubbing effect
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 7/005 hand-held

Abstract

A massager with an improved interface preferably including a housing with a massage actuator positioned within the housing. The massage actuator is positioned in the housing so that the massaging head which is attached to the housing may receive the massaging impulses created by the massage actuator. The massaging head preferably has a portion of the head covered by a gel covering which is flexible to conform to the various contours of a user'"'"'s body while at the same time effectively transmitting the massaging impulse to the users. The massaging head may have portions which are not covered by the gel bed to further increase the versatility of the massager so that should the user wish to focus the massaging impulse to a specific area it may be done at the users convenience. It is envisioned that the improved interface may be used on portable handheld massagers, foot massagers, and various computer and/or keyboard wrist rests and mouse pad rests.

Claims

1. A massager with an improved interface comprising:

a housing having a handle and a massaging head;

a massage actuator in said housing for transmitting a massaging action to said massaging head; and

a gel on a portion of said massaging head, said gel being sufficiently flexible to conform to various contours of a person'"'"'s body and being sufficiently flexible for effectively transmitting said massaging action to a user from said massaging head over an area of said user'"'"'s body covered by said gel, wherein said massaging head further comprises a node for transmitting said massaging action mounted to said massaging head, wherein said node is a hard rubber.

2. The massager of claim 1, wherein said gel substantially surrounds at least a portion of said massaging head.

3. The massager of claim 1, wherein said massaging head is substantially triangular.

4. The massager of claim 1, wherein said massaging head is pivotally mounted to said handle.

5. The massager of claim 1, wherein said gel is a silicon based gel.

6. A massager with an improved interface comprising:

a housing having a handle and a massaging head;

a massage actuator in said housing for transmitting a massaging action to said massaging head; and

a gel on a portion of said massaging head, said gel being sufficiently flexible to conform to various contours of a person'"'"'s body and being sufficiently flexible for effectively transmitting said massaging action to a user from said massaging head over an area of said user'"'"'s body covered by said gel, wherein said massaging head further comprises a node for transmitting said massaging action mounted to said massaging head, and wherein said node is a hard rubber that does not cover said gel.