Massaging topical oils applicator

• US 9,211,228 B2
• Filed: 09/17/2013
• Issued: 12/15/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Young Living Essential Oils LC
• Original Assignee: Young Living Essential Oils LC
• Inventors: Young, D. Gary, Le, Son Q., Davis, James T. II, Schreuder, Marc, Woolley, Cole
• Primary Examiner(s): Yu, Justine
• Assistant Examiner(s): Miller, Christopher
• Application Number:
  US14/029,541
• Publication Number:
  US 20140163443A1
• Time in Patent Office: 819 Days
• Field of Search: 401/209, 401219-220, 222/196, 222/559, 222/561, 222/199, 222/200, 222/409, 137827-829, 251/331
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 15/0085 hand-held
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 15/02 adapted for simultaneous treatment with light, heat or drugs
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2015/0064 with freely rotating spheres
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2015/0071 with balls or rollers having built-in vibrating means
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/0263 using rotating unbalanced masses
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 35/003 Portable hand-held applicators having means for dispensing or spreading integral media hand-held massage devices with liquid delivery A61H7/003

Abstract

A massaging applicator device for applying topical oils to an individual, such as a person or creature, and methods of applying topical oils are disclosed. Some embodiments of an exemplary massaging applicator device may include an applicator body containing a vibration assembly. A roller ball foot is coupled to the applicator body. The roller ball foot houses a roller ball. A container is selectively coupled to the roller ball foot and is configured to hold a topical oil. A flow switch is disposed between the container and the roller ball to selectively control flow of topical oil from the container to the roller ball.

Claims

1. A device for applying topical oils to an individual, the device comprising:

an applicator body containing a vibration assembly;

a roller ball foot coupled to the applicator body, the roller ball foot housing a roller ball;

a container detachably coupled to the roller ball foot, the container being configured to hold topical oil; and

a flow switch disposed between the container and the roller ball, the flow switch comprising a channel and a post, wherein a continuous channel wall extending between the container and the roller ball defines the channel and the post is entirely disposed within the channel, wherein the post comprises a first end coupled to the continuous channel wall and a second end that is free standing, the flow switch being configured to selectively control flow of topical oil from the container to the roller ball.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the flow switch further comprises a post support wherein the first end of the post is coupled to the continuous channel wall via the post support and the second end is configured to vibrate in a side-to-side direction within the channel.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the channel is shaped and sized such that surface tension of the topical oil to limits fluid flow through the channel absent vibration of the post during activation of the vibration assembly.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the channel is shaped and sized such that when the post vibrates in response to vibration of the vibration assembly, the surface tension of the topical oil is changed to permit fluid flow through the channel.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the flow switch is selectively movable between a first position and a second position with respect to the container, in the first position a stopper of the flow switch is positioned adjacent an opening in the container, and in the second position a channel of the flow switch is positioned adjacent to the opening in the container.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one roller ball foot includes a retaining ring formed from metal.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the metal of the retaining ring comprises aluminum.

8. The device of claim 1, further comprising two or more roller ball feet.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the roller ball is formed from metal.

10. A device for applying topical oils to an individual, the device comprising:

an applicator body containing a vibration assembly;

a roller ball foot coupled to the applicator body, the roller ball foot housing a roller ball;

a container detachably coupled to the roller ball foot, the container being configured to hold topical oil;

a channel formed between the container and the roller ball, wherein a continuous channel wall extending between the container and the roller ball defines the channel; and

a post entirely disposed within the channel, wherein the post comprises a first end coupled to the continuous channel wall via a post support and a second end that is free standing, wherein the second end is configured to vibrate in a side-to-side direction within the channel when the vibrational assembly is activated, wherein vibration of the post changes the surface tension of the topical oil to allow flow of the topical oil through the channel.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the channel is formed within a flow switch disposed between the container and the roller ball, the flow switch being configured to selectively control flow of topical oil from the container to the roller ball through the channel formed through the flow switch.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the flow switch is selectively movable between a first position and a second position with respect to the container, in the first position a stopper of the flow switch is positioned adjacent an opening in the container, and in the second position the channel of the flow switch is positioned adjacent to the opening in the container.

13. The device of claim 10, wherein the first end of the post is coupled to a portion of the continuous channel wall nearest the roller ball.

14. The device of claim 10, wherein the channel is shaped and sized such that surface tension of the topical oil to limits fluid flow through the channel absent vibration of the post during activation of the vibration assembly.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the channel is shaped and sized such that to when the post vibrates in response to vibration of the vibration assembly, the surface tension of the topical oil is changed to permit fluid flow through the channel.

16. The device of claim 10, wherein the at least one roller ball foot includes a retaining ring formed from metal.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the roller ball is formed from metal.

18. A method of controlling the flow of topical oil in a massaging applicator, the method comprising:

placing topical oil in a container;

coupling the container to roller ball foot having a roller ball, wherein a channel is formed between the container and the roller ball, wherein a continuous channel wall extending between the container and the roller ball defines the channel, wherein a post is entirely disposed within the channel wherein the post comprises a first end coupled to the continuous channel wall via a post support and a second end that is free standing; and

activating a vibration assembly to apply massaging vibrations to the roller ball, the massage vibrations causing the second end of the post to vibrate in a side-to-side direction within the channel.