Percussive massager with variable node spacing

• US 7,128,722 B2
• Filed: 03/17/2003
• Issued: 10/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: FKA Distributing Company, Homedics (Lifetime Brands Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Homedics (Lifetime Brands Incorporated)
• Inventors: Ferber, Roman S., Lev, Mordechai, Huang, Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Michael A.
• Application Number:
  US10/495,738
• Publication Number:
  US 20050010141A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,324 Days
• Field of Search: 601/107, 601/108, 601/110, 601/111, 601129-131, 601134-135
• US Class Current: 601/108
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0153 hand-held
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0157 portable
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/164 Feet or leg, e.g. pedal
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1669 moving along the body in a reciprocating manner
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/12 Feet
• 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 percussive massager is provided having a housing supporting a motor having an output shaft rotatably driven thereby. At least one positioning member is movably connected to a percussion arm which is attached to the housing and operably connected to the motor output shaft. At least two massage nodes are operably connected to the percussion arm, one of which being attached to the positioning member, to form a massage surface and move toward and away from the housing to provide a percussive massage effect. A rotary mechanism is rotatable with respect to the percussion arm and drives the positioning member toward and away from a central region of the housing. An ancillary transmission has an output and an input for operably imparting rotation to the rotary mechanism such that the spacing of the massage nodes progressively increases and decreases.

Claims

1. A percussive massager comprising:

a housing;

a motor supported by the housing, having a rotatably driven output shaft;

a percussion arm movably connected to the housing and operably driven by the motor output shaft;

at least one positioning member;

at least two spaced apart massage nodes operably connected to the percussion arm, at least one of the at least two massage nodes being attached to the at least one positioning member, the at least two massage nodes forming a massage surface, wherein at least one of the at least two massage nodes is moved toward and away from the housing by operable connection to the motor output shaft to provide a percussive massage effect;

a rotary mechanism rotatable with respect to the percussion arm and engaged with the at least one positioning member such that rotation of the rotary mechanism drives a portion of the at least one positioning member toward and away from a central region of the housing; and

an ancillary transmission having an output and an input, the transmission output being connected to the rotary mechanism, and the transmission input being operably engaged with the motor output shaft;

wherein the ancillary transmission couples the motor output shaft to the rotary mechanism such that the rotary mechanism drives the portion of the at least one positioning member to progressively increase and decrease the spacing between the at least two massage nodes.

2. The percussive massager of claim 1, wherein the motor output shaft protrudes from the motor on either side thereof;

and

further comprising;

a pair of connecting rods each having a first end and a second end, wherein the first ends are operably connected to the motor output shaft such that rotation of the motor output shaft causes the connecting rods to reciprocate axially in an asynchronous manner;

wherein the percussion arm is further defined as a rocker arm attached to the housing at a pivot axis thereof, wherein the rocker arm is operably connected to the second ends of the connecting rods and is moved about the pivot axis by rotation of the motor output shaft such that the at least two massage nodes are moved asynchronously toward and away from the housing by each of the connecting rods to provide the percussive massage effect.

3. The percussive massager of claim 1, wherein the transmission output is further defined as an external gear engaged with a face gear rotationally connected with the rotary mechanism.

4. The percussive massager of claim 1, wherein the at least two massage nodes include resistors wired for conducting heat therethrough.

5. The percussive massager of claim 1, further defined as a hand-held massager.

6. The percussive massager of claim 1, further defined as a non hand-held massager.

7. The percussive massager of claim 1, further defined as a cushion massager.

8. The percussive massager of claim 1, further defined as a foot massager.

9. A foot massager comprising at least two spaced apart percussive massagers, each as specified in claim 1.

10. The percussive massager of claim 1, further comprising an actuation member cooperable with the transmission input for selectively engaging and disengaging the transmission input with the motor output shaft.

11. The percussive massager of claim 10, wherein a spring cooperates with the actuation member and the housing for disengaging the transmission input from the motor output shaft allowing a user-applied force applied to the actuation member, to bias the spring such that the transmission input engages with the motor output shaft.

12. The percussive massager of claim 10, wherein the actuation member is actuated by a user to a first position wherein the transmission input is continuously engaged with the motor output shaft and the actuation member is actuated by the user to a second position wherein the transmission input is continuously disengaged with the motor output shaft.

13. The percussive massager of claim 1, wherein the transmission input is further defined as a roller for rolling engagement with a crank arm rotationally driven by the motor output shaft.

14. The percussive massager of claim 13, wherein the ancillary transmission includes a reduction wheel rotationally driven by a belt interconnecting the roller and reduction wheel.

15. The percussive massager of claim 14, wherein the ancillary transmission includes a worm drive rotationally driven by the reduction wheel for imparting a further reduced rotation to a worm gear within the ancillary transmission.

16. A percussive massager comprising:

a housing;

a motor supported by the housing, having a rotatably driven output shaft;

a percussion arm movably connected to the housing and operably driven by the motor output shaft;

at least two slideblocks connected to the percussion arm and movable along a linear path with respect to the percussion arm;

at least two spaced apart massage nodes, each being attached to one of the at least two slideblocks, the at least two massage nodes forming a massage surface, wherein the at least two massage nodes are moved toward and away from the housing by operable connection to the motor output shaft to provide a percussive massage effect;

a cam rotatable with respect to the percussion arm and engaged with the at least two slideblocks such that rotation of the cam drives each slideblock along the linear path toward and away from a central region of the housing; and

an ancillary transmission having an output and an input, the transmission output being connected to the cam, and the transmission input being operably engaged with the motor output shaft;

wherein the ancillary transmission couples the motor output shaft to the cam such that the cam drives the at least two slideblocks to progressively increase and decrease the spacing between the at least two massage nodes.

17. The percussive massager of claim 16, wherein the motor output shaft protrudes from the motor on either side thereof;

and

further comprising;

a pair of connecting rods each having a first end and a second end, wherein the first ends are operably connected to the motor output shaft such that rotation of the motor output shaft causes the connecting rods to reciprocate axially in an asynchronous manner;

wherein the percussion arm is further defined as a rocker arm attached to the housing at a pivot axis thereof, wherein the rocker arm is operably connected to the second ends of the connecting rods and is moved about the pivot axis by rotation of the motor output shaft such that the at least two massage nodes are moved asynchronously toward and away from the housing by each of the connecting rods to provide the percussive massage effect.

18. The percussive massager of claim 16, wherein the transmission output is further defined as an external gear engaged with a face gear rotationally connected with the cam.

19. The percussive massager of claim 16, wherein the at least two massage nodes include resistors wired for conducting heat therethrough.

20. The percussive massager of claim 16, further defined as a hand-held massager.

21. The percussive massager of claim 16, further defined as a non hand-held massager.

22. The percussive massager of claim 16, further defined as a cushion massager.

23. The percussive massager of claim 16, further defined as a foot massager.

24. A foot massager comprising at least two spaced apart percussive massagers, each as specified in claim 16.

25. The percussive massager of claim 16, further comprising an actuation member cooperable with the transmission input for selectively engaging and disengaging the transmission input with the motor output shaft.

26. The percussive massager of claim 25, wherein a spring cooperates with the actuation member and the housing for disengaging the transmission input from the motor output shaft allowing a user-applied force applied to the actuation member, to bias the spring such that the transmission input engages with the motor output shaft.

27. The percussive massager of claim 25, wherein the actuation member is actuated by a user to a first position wherein the transmission input is continuously engaged with the motor output shaft and the actuation member is actuated by the user to a second position wherein the transmission input is continuously disengaged with the motor output shaft.

28. The percussive massager of claim 16, wherein the transmission input is further defined as a roller for rolling engagement with a crank arm rotationally driven by the motor output shaft.

29. The percussive massager of claim 28, wherein the ancillary transmission includes a reduction wheel rotationally driven by a belt interconnecting the roller and reduction wheel.

30. The percussive massager of claim 29, wherein the ancillary transmission includes a worm drive rotationally driven by the reduction wheel for imparting a further reduced rotation to a worm gear within the ancillary transmission.

31. A handheld percussive massager comprising:

a housing including a massage head portion and a handle portion;

a motor supported by the housing head portion;

a rotatably driven output shaft protruding from the motor on either side thereof;

a pair of connecting rods each having a first end and a second end, wherein the first ends are operably connected to the motor output shaft such that rotation of the motor output shaft causes the connecting rods to reciprocate axially in an asynchronous manner;

a rocker arm attached to the housing head portion at a pivot axis thereof, wherein the rocker arm is operably connected to the second ends of the connecting rods and is moved about the pivot axis by rotation of the motor output shaft;

at least two slideblocks connected to the rocker arm and movable along a linear path with respect to the rocker arm;

at least two spaced apart massage nodes, each being attached to one of the at least two slideblocks, the at least two massage nodes forming a massage surface, wherein the at least two massage nodes are moved toward and away from the massage head portion by each of the connecting rods to provide a percussive massage effect;

a cam rotatable with respect to the rocker arm and engaged with the at least two slideblocks such that rotation of the cam drives each slideblock along the linear path toward and away from a central region of the massage head portion;

an ancillary transmission having an output and an input, the transmission output being connected to the cam, and the transmission input being operably engageable with the motor output shaft; and

an actuation member for selectively engaging and disengaging the transmission input with the motor output shaft;

wherein the ancillary transmission imparts a reduced rotation from the motor output shaft to the cam such that the cam drives the at least two slideblocks to progressively increase and decrease the spacing between the at least two massage nodes.

32. The percussive massager of claim 31, wherein a spring cooperates with the actuation member and the massage head portion for disengaging the transmission input from the motor output shaft allowing a user-applied force applied to the actuation member, to bias the spring such that the transmission input engages with the motor output shaft.

33. The percussive massager of claim 31, wherein the actuation member is actuated by a user to a first position wherein the transmission input is continuously engaged with the motor output shaft and the actuation member is actuated by the user to a second position wherein the transmission input is continuously disengaged with the motor output shaft.

34. The percussive massager of claim 31, wherein the transmission output is further defined as an external gear engaged with a face gear rotationally connected with the cam.

35. The percussive massager of claim 31, wherein the at least two massage nodes include resistors wired for conducting heat therethrough.

36. The percussive massager of claim 31, wherein the transmission input is further defined as a roller for rolling engagement with a crank arm rotationally driven by the motor output shaft.

37. The percussive massager of claim 36, wherein the ancillary transmission includes a reduction wheel rotationally driven by a belt interconnecting the roller and reduction wheel.

38. The percussive massager of claim 37, wherein the ancillary transmission includes a worm drive rotationally driven by the reduction wheel for imparting a further reduced rotation to a worm gear within the ancillary transmission.

39. A percussive massager comprising:

a housing;

a motor supported by the housing, having a rotatably driven output shaft;

a percussion arm movably connected to the housing and operably driven by the motor output shaft;

at least two slideblocks connected to the percussion arm and movable along a linear path with respect to the percussion arm;

at least two spaced apart massage nodes, each being attached to one of the at least two slideblocks, the at least two massage nodes forming a massage surface, wherein the at least two massage nodes are moved toward and away from the housing by operable connection to the motor output shaft to provide a percussive massage effect;

a cam rotatable with respect to the percussion arm and engaged with the at least two slideblocks such that rotation of the cam drives each slideblock along the linear path toward and away from a central region of the housing; and

an adjustment mechanism rotationally cooperating with the cam and extending out of the housing such that manual adjustment thereof imparts rotation to the cam such that the cam drives the at least two slideblocks for adjusting the spacing between the at least two massage nodes.

40. The percussive massager of claim 39, wherein the motor output shaft protrudes from the motor on either side thereof;

and

further comprising;

a pair of connecting rods each having a first end and a second end, wherein the first ends are operably connected to the motor output shaft such that rotation of the motor output shaft causes the connecting rods to reciprocate axially in an asynchronous manner;

wherein the percussion arm is further defined as a rocker arm attached to the housing at a pivot axis thereof, wherein the rocker arm is operably connected to the second ends of the connecting rods and is moved about the pivot axis by rotation of the motor output shaft such that the at least two massage nodes are moved asynchronously toward and away from the housing by each of the connecting rods to provide the percussive massage effect.

41. The percussive massager of claim 39, wherein the at least two massage nodes include resistors wired for conducting heat therethrough.

42. The percussive massager of claim 39 further defined as a hand-held massager.

43. The percussive massager of claim 39, further defined as a non hand-held massager.

44. The percussive massager of claim 39, further defined as a cushion massager.

45. A foot massager comprising at least two spaced apart percussive massagers, each as specified in claim 39.

46. A percussive massager comprising:

a housing;

a first motor supported by the housing, having a rotatably driven output shaft;

a percussion arm movably connected to the housing and operably driven by the motor output shaft;

at least one positioning member;

at least two spaced apart massage nodes operably connected to the percussion arm, at least one of the at least two massage nodes being attached to the at least one positioning member, the at least two massage nodes forming a massage surface, wherein at least one of the at least two massage nodes is moved toward and away from the housing by operable connection to the motor output shaft to provide a percussive massage effect;

a rotary mechanism rotatable with respect to the percussion arm and engaged with the at least one positioning member such that rotation of the rotary mechanism drives a portion of the at least one positioning member toward and away from a central region of the housing;

an ancillary transmission having an output and an input, the transmission output being connected to the rotary mechanism; and

a second motor supported by the housing and operably connected to the transmission input;

wherein selective rotation of the second motor transmits a selective rotation to the rotary mechanism for driving the portion of the at least one positioning member to vary the spacing between the at least two massage nodes.

47. The percussive massager of claim 46, wherein the motor output shaft protrudes from the first motor on either side thereof;

and

further comprising;

a pair of connecting rods each having a first end and a second end, wherein the first ends are operably connected to the motor output shaft such that rotation of the motor output shaft causes the connecting rods to reciprocate axially in an asynchronous manner;

wherein the percussion arm is further defined as a rocker arm attached to the housing at a pivot axis thereof, wherein the rocker arm is operably connected to the second ends of the connecting rods and is moved about the pivot axis by rotation of the motor output shaft such that the at least two massage nodes are moved asynchronously toward and away from the housing by each of the connecting rods to provide the percussive massage effect.

48. The percussive massager of claim 46, further comprising a torque sensor in cooperation with the second motor for signaling a torque level of the second motor that exceeds normal levels, corresponding to a limit in the movement of the at least one positioning member, such that the signal discontinues the operation of the second motor.

49. The percussive massager of claim 46, further comprising a current sensor in cooperation with the second motor for signaling a current level of the second motor that exceeds normal levels, corresponding to a limit in the movement of the at least one positioning member, such that the signal discontinues the operation of the second motor.

50. The percussive massager of claim 46, wherein the at least two massage nodes include resistors wired for conducting heat therethrough.

51. The percussive massager of claim 46, further defined as a hand-held massager.

52. The percussive massager of claim 46, further defined as a non hand-held massager.

53. The percussive massager of claim 46, further defined as a cushion massager.

54. The percussive massager of claim 46, further defined as a foot massager.

55. A foot massager comprising at least two spaced apart percussive massagers, each as specified in claim 46.