Networkable personal care device

• US 7,815,582 B2
• Filed: 02/01/2006
• Issued: 10/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: JJ Aquisition, LLC
• Original Assignee: Jimmyjane
• Inventors: Imboden, Ethan Frederic, Wyatt, Roland Jeffrey, Rees, John Richard, Koller, Ken Paul, Knapp, R. Benjamin
• Primary Examiner(s): DEMILLE, DANTON D
• Application Number:
  US11/345,455
• Publication Number:
  US 20070179413A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,721 Days
• Field of Search: 601/1, 601 46- 49, 601/56, 601/57, 601/70, 601/72, 601/73, 601/74, 601/79, 601/80
• US Class Current: 601/15
• 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 2201/0134 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 50/05 : using capacitive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 : using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 : of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 : characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 : specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence

Abstract

A massager (12) includes an inductively chargeable battery (48), avoiding the need to deal with batteries and cords while providing a pleasant exothermic warmth. Different embodiments of sealing and skinning (13) make the massager (12) hygienically safe and fluid- and water-resistant. Sophisticated controls (50) provide the massager with the ability to respond to direct-mounted user controls (20, 22), wireless communication controls such as remote controls (30) and a plethora of other protocol-compatible devices, systems and media. A mating base (14) supports the massager (12) for inductive charging in a stable, aesthetically pleasant and safe relationship.

Claims

1. A personal care device, comprising:

an element for interacting directly with the human body, wherein the element has an operative surface configured for massaging application to a part of the human body;

a controller connected to the element; and

a first radio frequency transceiver connected to the controller operative using a radio frequency transmission, wherein the transceiver is configured to;

(a) operate in a broadcast mode for transmitting data to another compatible device;

(b) establish bidirectional communications with the other device; and

(c) switch to a multicast mode that sends out data to one or more specified devices.

2. The personal care device of claim 1 wherein the first radio frequency transceiver a direct-sequence spread spectrum transceiver.

3. The personal care device of claim 2 wherein the first radio frequency transceiver conforms to the IEEE 802.15.4 standard.

4. The personal care device of claim 3 wherein the first radio frequency transceiver employs a ZigBee™

stack.

5. The personal care device of claim 2 wherein the first radio frequency transceiver is further operative using a radio frequency transmission to perform at least one of the functions selected from the group comprising multicasting data from the personal care device to other compatible devices and creating a mesh network between the personal care device and other compatible devices.

6. The personal care device of claim 1 and further including a remote control including a second radio frequency transceiver compatible with the first radio frequency transceiver.

7. The personal care device of claim 1 wherein the personal care device is a massager including an internal power source.

8. The personal care device of claim 1, wherein the transmitted data in the broadcast mode is configured to cause the other compatible device to self-organize with the personal care device, and wherein the personal care device operates in a plurality of modes of operation based on the self-organizing.

9. A personal care device, comprising:

an element for interacting directly with the human body, wherein the element has an operative surface configured for massaging application to a part of the human body;

a controller connected to the element; and

a first radio frequency transceiver connected to the controller operative using a radio frequency transmission, wherein the transceiver is configured to;

(a) operate in a multicast mode for transmitting data to multiple other specified compatible devices local to the personal care device; and

(b) establishing bidirectional communications with the specified devices and receiving data from each of the devices.

10. The personal care device of claim 9 wherein the first radio frequency transceiver is a direct-sequence spread spectrum transceiver.

11. The personal care device of claim 10 wherein the first radio frequency transceiver conforms to the IEEE 802.15.4 standard.

12. The personal care device of claim 11 wherein the first radio frequency transceiver employs a ZigBee™

stack.

13. The personal care device of claim 10 wherein the first radio frequency transceiver is further operative using a radio frequency transmission to perform at least one of the functions selected from the group comprising broadcasting data from the personal care device to other compatible devices and creating a mesh network between the personal care device and other compatible devices.

14. The personal care device of claim 9 and further including a remote control including a second radio frequency transceiver compatible with the first radio frequency transceiver.

15. The personal care device of claim 9 wherein the personal care device is a massager including an internal power source.