Rechargeable personal massager

• US 9,132,058 B2
• Filed: 01/09/2008
• Issued: 09/15/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LELO Incorporated (LELOi AB)
• Original Assignee: LELO Incorporated (LELOi AB)
• Inventors: Imboden, Ethan F., Wyatt, Roland J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thanh, Quang D
• Application Number:
  US11/971,835
• Publication Number:
  US 20080306417A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,806 Days
• Field of Search: 601/46, 601/72, 601/73, 601/74, 601/80, 601/135, 601/137, 601/138, 320/108, 320/128, 305/41
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 19/00 Massage for the genitals; Devices for improving sexual intercourse penis erection devices A61F5/41; vibration or percussion related aspects A61H23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 19/40 Devices insertable in the genitals
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 21/00 Massage devices for cavities of the body , e.g. nose, ears and anus for the genitals A61H19/00; Vibration or percussion related aspects A61H23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0111 watertight
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0115 used in water
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0134 Cushion or similar support
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0149 Seat or chair
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0153 hand-held
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0207 heated
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0221 Mechanism for heating or cooling
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0228 heated by an electric resistance element
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0278 by chemical reaction
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0292 with microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1609 Neck
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1623 Back
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/164 Feet or leg, e.g. pedal
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/169 Physical characteristics of the surface, e.g. material, relief, texture or indicia
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5005 for controlling frequency distribution, modulation or interference of a driving signal
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/501 connected to external computer devices or networks
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5015 using specific interfaces or standards, e.g. USB, serial, parallel
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5064 : Position sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5084 : Acceleration sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5097 : wireless
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/04 : neck
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/081 : Back
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/12 : Feet
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2230/06 : Heartbeat rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2230/065 : used as a control parameter for the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2230/105 : used as a control parameter for the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2230/255 : used as a control parameter for the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2230/425 : used as a control parameter for the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2230/505 : used as a control parameter for the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2230/605 : used as a control parameter for the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2230/655 : used as a control parameter for the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/006 : Percussion or tapping massage hand percussion A61H23/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/0263 : using rotating unbalanced masses
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 39/002 : Using electric currents electrotherapy A61N1/32
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 7/005 : hand-held
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/66 : Cooled
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 : using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 : of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 : specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence

Abstract

A personal massage device is disclosed. The massage device includes a housing having an exterior surface defining first and second oppositely-disposed operative ends and an interior surface defining a cavity. Each of the operative ends includes a substantially smooth and continuous surface thereon. The massage device further includes a first motor disposed within the housing and adapted for creating vibration and a battery disposed within the housing and adapted to power the first motor.

Claims

1. A personal massager apparatus, comprising:

a vibrator for sexual stimulation, the vibrator including;

a vibrator housing having an outer form in a configuration that is wearable on a human body and including a first operative surface and a second operative surface that are shaped for different types of contact with the body to provide sexual stimulation,

a first electric motive source contained within the vibrator housing for providing vibratory stimulation to the body through the first operative surface,

a second electric motive source contained within the vibrator housing and adapted to be positioned on a different axis from the first electric motive source for providing vibratory stimulation to the body through the second operative surface,

a rechargeable battery contained within the vibrator housing and connected to the first and second electric motive sources for powering the first and second electric motive sources,

a first inductive coupler contained within the vibrator housing at least partially under the first operative surface, the first inductive coupler adapted to charge the battery,

a flexible skin covering the outer form of the vibrator housing, including the first operative surface and the second operative surface, such that the massager is waterproof, and

at least one user control under the flexible skin and operable through the flexible skin for controlling operation of the vibrator; and

a base comprising;

a base housing having a first recess adapted to receive the first operative surface and to support the vibrator housing for charging at least partially through the flexible skin covering the first operative surface,

a power connector at least partially contained within the base housing, and

a second inductive coupler contained within the base housing at the first recess, the second inductive coupler powered through the power connector and positioned so as to couple electromagnetically across a distance between the first inductive coupler and the second inductive coupler at least partially through the flexible skin covering the first operative surface to charge the rechargeable battery.

2. The personal massager apparatus of claim 1 wherein the vibrator housing is sealed by ultrasonic welding and is further sealed by the flexible skin covering the outer form of the vibrator housing, and wherein the flexible skin is made of a bio-compatible silicone material.

3. The personal massager apparatus of claim 1, wherein the flexible skin covers at least 90% of the outer form of the vibrator housing.

4. The personal massager apparatus of claim 1, wherein the flexible skin covers 100% of the outer form of the vibrator housing.

5. The personal massager apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a remote control for controlling operation of the vibrator, the remote control having an ovoid shape with at least one flat surface.

6. The personal massager apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a remote control for controlling operation of the vibrator, the remote control configured to control each of the first and second motive sources separately.

7. The personal massager apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a remote control for controlling operation of the vibrator, the remote control configured with at least one button that, when pressed by a user, causes the vibrator to cycle through different vibration configurations.

8. The personal massager apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a remote control for controlling operation of the massager, the remote control having a wearable form.

9. The personal massager apparatus of claim 8, wherein the remote control is a wrist watch or a bracelet.

10. The personal massager apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second electric motive sources are motors positioned at opposite ends of the vibrator.

11. The personal massager apparatus of claim 1, wherein the rechargeable battery, the first inductive coupler, and the second inductive coupler are positioned to generate heat palpable on the surface of the vibrator housing when the vibrator is positioned on the base housing to charge the rechargeable battery.

12. The personal massager apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first recess of the base housing is an ovoid indentation in the base housing for receiving an end of the vibrator.

13. The personal massager apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one user control is a button protruding from the vibrator underneath the flexible skin that is molded over the vibrator housing, the button operable by the user pressing the button through the flexible skin covering the button.

14. The personal massager apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an enclosure configured to enclose the vibrator within, the enclosure providing privacy and allowing for travel with the personal massager apparatus.

15. The personal massager apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base further comprises a container that encloses the vibrator and comprises an LED.

16. The personal massager apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a second recess in the base housing, the second recess adapted to receive the second operative surface and to support the vibrator housing, wherein the first and second recesses are configured to support and guide the vibrator into a specific orientation that optimizes inductive coupling between the first and second inductive couplers.

17. The personal massager apparatus of claim 16, wherein the first recess matches a shape of the first operative portion of the vibrator housing, and the second recess matches a shape of the second operative portion of the vibrator housing.

18. The personal massager apparatus of claim 17, wherein the first and second recesses are shaped such that the vibrator can only fit in the base in a proper orientation for inductive coupling between the first and second inductive couplers.

19. The personal massager apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first recess is configured to support the vibrator standing vertically in the base.

20. The personal massager apparatus of claim 1, wherein the personal massager apparatus comprises an LED that illuminates to indicate that the vibrator is placed on the base in the proper position.

21. The personal massager apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second inductive couplers are wound inductive coils, and wherein the first recess of the base is positioned such that the second inductive coupler is wound around a portion of the first recess to provide closer alignment between the first and second inductive couplers when the vibrator is positioned on the base.

22. The personal massager apparatus of claim 1, wherein, when the vibrator is on the base, the vibrator is positioned in the first recess such that at least a portion of the first inductive coupler is within an opening in a center of the second inductive coupler.

23. The personal massager apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vibrator housing is substantially U-shaped.

24. The personal massager apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second electric motive sources are configured such that a motion imparted by the first electric motive source and the second electric motive source is a motion selected from a group consisting of:

vibratory motion, rubbing motion, tapping motion, undulating motion, swelling motion, contracting motion, bending motion, and pulsing motion.

25. The personal massager apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second electric motive sources are configures such that a vibration of the first electric motive source and a vibration of the second electric motive source produce positive interference.

26. The personal massager apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one user control is configured to operate with preset vibration patterns such that the first and second electric motive sources provide vibrations according to the preset vibration patterns.

27. The personal massager apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vibrator housing includes an antenna.

28. The personal massager apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a program configured to be executed on a phone and providing a graphical user interface for interaction with the vibrator.

29. The personal massager apparatus of claim 28, wherein the program includes instructions for generating user-programmed signals usable to interact with the vibrator.

30. The personal massager apparatus of claim 28, wherein the program includes instructions for one-to-one performances that generate signals sent to the vibrator.

31. The personal massager apparatus of claim 28, wherein the program includes instructions to access special vibration patterns.

32. A personal massager apparatus, comprising:

a vibrator for sexual stimulation, the vibrator including;

a vibrator housing having an outer form in a configuration that is wearable on a human body and including a first operative surface and a second operative surface that are shaped for different types of contact with the body to provide sexual stimulation,

a first electric motive source contained within the vibrator housing for providing vibratory stimulation to the body through the first operative surface,

a rechargeable battery contained within the vibrator housing and connected to the first electric motive source for powering the first electric motive source,

a first inductive coupler contained within the vibrator housing at least partially under the first operative surface, the first inductive coupler adapted to charge the battery,

a flexible skin covering the outer form of the vibrator housing, including the first operative surface and the second operative surface, such that the massager is waterproof, and

at least one user control under the flexible skin and operable through the flexible skin for controlling operation of the vibrator; and

a base including;

a base housing having a first recess adapted to receive the first operative surface and to support the vibrator housing for charging at least partially through the flexible skin covering the first operative surface,

a power connector at least partially contained within the base housing, and

a second inductive coupler contained within the base housing at the first recess, the second inductive coupler powered through the power connector and positioned so as to couple electromagnetically across a distance between the first inductive coupler and the second inductive coupler at least partially through the flexible skin covering the first operative surface to charge the rechargeable battery.

33. The personal massager apparatus of claim 32 wherein the vibrator housing is sealed by ultrasonic welding and is further sealed by the flexible skin covering the outer form of the vibrator housing, and wherein the flexible skin is made of a bio-compatible silicone material.

34. The personal massager apparatus of claim 32, wherein the flexible skin covers 100% of the outer form of the housing.

35. The personal massager apparatus of claim 32, further comprising:

a remote control for controlling operation of the massager, the remote control having an ovoid shape with at least one flat surface.

36. The personal massager apparatus of claim 32, further comprising:

a remote control for controlling operation of the massager, the remote control configured with at least one button that, when pressed by a user, causes the massager to cycle through different vibration configurations.

37. The personal massager apparatus of claim 32, further comprising:

a remote control for controlling operation of the massager, the remote control having a wearable form comprising a wrist watch or bracelet.

38. The personal massager apparatus of claim 32, wherein the rechargeable battery, the first inductive coupler, and the second inductive coupler are positioned to generate heat palpable on the surface of the vibrator housing when the vibrator is positioned on the base housing to charge the rechargeable battery.

39. The personal massager apparatus of claim 32, wherein the first recess of the base housing is an ovoid indentation in the base housing for receiving and end of the vibrator.

40. The personal massager apparatus of claim 32, wherein the at least one user control is a button protruding from the vibrator underneath the flexible skin that is molded over the vibrator housing, the button operable by the user pressing the button through the flexible skin covering the button.

41. The personal massager apparatus of claim 32, further comprising an enclosure configured to enclose the vibrator within, the enclosure providing privacy and allowing for travel with the personal massager apparatus.

42. The personal massager apparatus of claim 32, wherein the base further comprises a container that encloses the vibrator and comprises an LED.

43. The personal massager apparatus of claim 32, further comprising a second recess in the base housing, the second recess adapted to receive the second operative surface and to support the vibrator housing, wherein the first and second recesses are configured to support and guide the vibrator into a specific orientation that optimizes inductive coupling between the first and second inductive couplers.

44. The personal massager apparatus of claim 43, wherein the first recess matches a shape of the first operative portion of the vibrator housing, and the second recess matches a shape of the second operative portion of the vibrator housing.

45. The personal massager apparatus of claim 44, wherein the first and second recesses are shaped such that the vibrator can only fit in the base in a proper orientation for inductive coupling between the first and second inductive couplers.

46. The personal massager apparatus of claim 32, wherein the first recess is configured to support the vibrator standing vertically in the base.

47. The personal massager apparatus of claim 32, wherein the personal massager apparatus comprises an LED that illuminates to indicate that the vibrator is placed on the base in the proper position.

48. The personal massager apparatus of claim 32, wherein the first and second inductive couplers are wound inductive coils, and wherein the first recess of the base is positioned such that the second inductive coupler is wound around a portion of the first recess to provide closer alignment between the first and second inductive couplers when the vibrator is positioned on the base.

49. The personal massager apparatus of claim 48, wherein, when the vibrator is on the base, the vibrator is positioned in the first recess such that at least a portion of the first inductive coupler is within an opening in a center of the second inductive coupler.

50. The personal massager apparatus of claim 32, wherein the vibrator housing is substantially U-shaped.

51. The personal massager apparatus of claim 32, wherein the first electric motive source is configured such that a motion imparted by the first electric motive source is a motion selected from a group consisting of:

vibratory motion, rubbing motion, tapping motion, undulating motion, swelling motion, contracting motion, bending motion, and pulsing motion.

52. The personal massager apparatus of claim 32, wherein the at least one user control is configured to operate with preset vibration patterns such that the first electric motive source provides vibrations according to the preset vibration patterns.

53. The personal massager apparatus of claim 32, wherein the vibrator housing includes an antenna.

54. The personal massager apparatus of claim 32, further comprising a program configured to be executed on a phone and providing a graphical user interface for interaction with the vibrator.

55. The personal massager apparatus of claim 54, wherein the program includes instructions for generating user-programmed signals usable to interact with the vibrator.

56. The personal massager apparatus of claim 54, wherein the program includes instructions for one-to-one performances that generate signals sent to the vibrator.

57. The personal massager apparatus of claim 54, wherein the program includes instructions to access special vibration patterns.