Abstract:
A massage apparatus comprising a hand-held controller device adapted to be operatively engaged to one or more massage actuators is disclosed. The controller device comprises a controller body including a control panel for controlling a massage actuator operatively engaged to controller device through a cable. The cable of the massage actuator includes a screw nut and a DC jack adapted to operatively engage the massage actuator to the controller device, wherein the controller body is adapted to disengage the cable of one massage actuator in order to engage the cable of another massage actuator to the controller body.

Description:
FIELD  
       [0001]     The present document relates to a massage apparatus, and more particularly to a massage apparatus having a controller device.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0002]     In one embodiment, a massage apparatus comprises a controller device, the controller device including a body having a control panel operatively associated with a power source, and a plurality of massage actuators, each of the plurality of massage actuators being adapted to provide a massage function and including a vibratory component for providing the massage function, each of the plurality of massage actuators having a cable being adapted to permit engagement or disengagement of any one of the plurality of massage actuators to or from the controller device.  
         [0003]     In another embodiment, the massage apparatus comprises a controller device, the controller device including a body having a control panel for controlling the operation of the massage device with the control panel being operatively associated with a power source, and a massage actuator for providing a massage function, the massage actuator including a vibratory component for providing the massage function and a cable adapted for operative engagement with the controller device for controlling the operation of the massage actuator, wherein the controller device is adapted to permit operative disengagement of the massage actuator as well as permit operative engagement of another massage actuator to said controller device.  
         [0004]     In yet another embodiment, the massage apparatus comprises a controller device, the controller device including a body having a control panel for controlling the operation of the massage apparatus, the control panel being operatively associated with a power source, and a plurality of massage actuators for providing a massage function, each of the plurality of massage actuators being adapted to permit operative engagement with the controller device for providing the massage function.  
         [0005]     In another embodiment, a method for exchanging massage actuators comprises:  
         [0006]     a) providing a massage apparatus comprising a controller device, the controller device including a body having a control panel operatively associated with a power source, and a massage actuator for providing a massage function, the massage actuator including a vibratory component for providing the massage function and a cable operatively engaged to the controller device;  
         [0007]     b) disengaging the cable from the controller device of the massage apparatus; and  
         [0008]     c) engaging a cable from another massage actuator to the controller device.  
         [0009]     Implementation of the above embodiments may include one or more of the following features:  
         [0010]     The cable includes a DC jack for operative engagement with the controller device.  
         [0011]     The cable further includes a screw nut for engaging the cable to said controller device.  
         [0012]     The vibratory component includes a motor having a rotatable shaft operatively engaged to an eccentric mass for generating the vibration function.  
         [0013]     The cable is flexible.  
         [0014]     The cable includes a DC jack and a screw nut arrangement for operatively engaging the controller device to the massage actuator.  
         [0015]     The body further includes a threaded circular portion adapted to engaged the screw nut when operatively engaging the controller device to the massage actuator.  
         [0016]     The body including an upper casing engaged to a lower casing.  
         [0017]     A sealing element is interposed between the upper casing and the lower casing.  
         [0018]     The body includes electronics in operative association with the control panel, the electronics being operatively associated with the cable when the cable is operatively engaged to the controller device.  
         [0019]     The step of disengaging the cable from the controller device includes rotating the screw nut and disengaging the DC jack and the screw nut from the controller device.  
         [0020]     The another massage actuator includes another cable having another screw nut and another DC jack.  
         [0021]     The step of engaging the cable from the another massage actuator to the controller device includes rotating the another screw nut and engaging the another DC jack from the controller device.  
         [0022]     Additional features of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows or will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the drawings and detailed description which follows.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0023]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the massage apparatus showing alternative massage actuators;  
         [0024]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the massage apparatus showing the controller device and massage actuator;  
         [0025]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the controller device;  
         [0026]      FIG. 4  is another exploded view of the controller device; and  
         [0027]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of the massage actuator engaged to the controller device. 
     
    
       [0028]     Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding elements among the view of the drawings.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0029]     Referring to the drawings, an embodiment of the massage apparatus is illustrated and generally indicated as  10  in  FIG. 1 . The massage apparatus  10  may include a controller device  14  adapted to operatively engage a massage actuator  12 . As shown, the massage actuator  12  may include a vibratory component  16  operatively associated with the controller device  14  through a flexible cable  20 . In one embodiment, the controller device  14  may be adapted to permit operative disengagement of one massage actuator  12  having a vibratory component  16  from the controller device  14  and permit operative engagement of another massage actuator  12  to the controller device  14  having a different vibratory component  16 A or  16 B. Although three possible embodiments of the massage actuator  12  are illustrated herein, massage actuators  12  having different types of vibratory components  16  for operative engagement with the controller device  14  are contemplated.  
         [0030]     As further shown, the flexible cable  20  may include a screw nut  38  with a center hole  101  ( FIG. 2 ) that slides over a DC jack  40  to operatively engage the massage actuator  12  to the controller device  14 . In this manner, the massage actuator  12  may be operatively engaged to the controller device  14  by engaging the screw nut  38  to the controller device  14  that operatively associates the DC jack  40  with the controller device  14  for controlling the vibratory component  16  as shall be discussed below.  
         [0031]     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the vibratory component  16  may include an upper casing  22  adapted to engage a lower casing  24  that houses a motor  26 . The motor  26  may be adapted to rotate a motor shaft  28  for spinning an eccentric mass  30  mounted on motor shaft  28  that provides a massage function when activated by the controller device  14 .  
         [0032]     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the controller device  14  may include a controller body  18  having a front casing  34  adapted to engage a back casing  36  with a sealing element  44  engaged between the engaged front and back casings  34 ,  36  for providing a water-tight seal to the controller body  18 . The controller device  14  may further include a control panel  46  operatively associated with a microprocessor (not shown) for controlling the operation of the vibratory component  16  through flexible cable  20 .  
         [0033]     The control panel  46  may include an operational indicator  62  and membrane switches  64 ,  66  defined on a transparent plastic overlay  49  that communicates with a push button  56  and push button  58  which are operatively engaged with a printed circuit board  52 . In particular, the plastic overlay  49  may be engaged inside a recess  96  defining holes  98  and aperture  100  such that the operational indicator  62  corresponds with aperture  100  while membrane switches  64  and  66  correspond with holes  98 , respectively.  
         [0034]     The aperture  100  may communicate with a light emitting diode (not shown) operatively associated with the printed circuit board  52  such that a visual indication is given to the user through operational indicator  62  related to the operational state of the massage actuator  12 . As noted above, the printed circuit board  52  includes push buttons  56  and  58  that may communicate through holes  98  for actuation by respective membrane switches  64  and  66  that control various operations of the massage actuator  12 . Each of the push buttons  56  and  58  are engaged to switch caps  69  that facilitate the respective actuation of push buttons  56  and  58  by the membrane switches  64  and  66 .  
         [0035]     As further shown, the printed circuit board  52  may include a power socket  54  that is operatively associated with a circular portion  68  having external threads  108  defined by controller body  18 . Referring to  FIG. 5 , this arrangement of the circular portion  68  and power socket  54  is adapted to operatively engage the DC jack  40  to the controller device  14  when engaging the screw nut  38  of the flexible cable  20  to the circular portion  68  of the controller body  18 . In one embodiment, the DC jack  40  may include a circular slot  60  that may be engaged to a resilient rubber ring  94  in order to provide a water-tight seal between the DC jack  40  and the circular portion  68  when the screw nut  38  is tightened to the circular portion  68 .  
         [0036]     The top and back casings  34 ,  36  collectively house batteries  32  that provide power to the massage apparatus  10 . The batteries  32  may be operatively engaged to a conductive plate  88  as well as conductive plates  90  and  92  that each have a metallic spring for contacting batteries  32 . The conductive plates  88 ,  90  and  92  are secured to the top casing  34  and may be electrically connected to printed circuit board  52  for defining an electrical circuit. During assembly, the back casing  36  along with the printed circuit board  52  may be secured to the top casing  34  by a set of screws  152  inserted through holes  136 ,  138  and  140 , respectively. In addition, holes  136 ,  138  and  140  may be adapted to receive resilient rubber plugs  128  for providing a water tight seal at holes  136 ,  138  and  140  and for encasing screws  152  after the top casing  34  is engaged to the bottom casing  36 .  
         [0037]     In one embodiment, the top casing  34  may define an indentation  102  sized and shaped to affix a name plate  142  having a mark or identity of the manufacturer on the massage apparatus  10 .  
         [0038]     To encase the batteries  32  within the massage apparatus  10 , a battery cover  42  may have one end pivotally engaged to the back casing  36  by a pin  150  while another end of battery cover  42  is adapted to engage a clamping arrangement for opening and closing the battery cover  42  as shall be discussed below.  
         [0039]     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the upper half of the controller body  18  may be permanently covered by securing the back casing  36  to the front casing  34  using screws  152 , while the lower half of the controller body  18  may be removably covered by battery cover  42 . As shown, the battery cover  42  may include a hinge arm  70  that defines hinge holes  106  adapted to engage a pin  150  that pivotally connects the battery cover  42  to the back casing  36 . In particular, the back casing  36  may include a hinge block  76  defining a hole  126  adapted to be in registration with holes  106  of battery cover  42  and receive pin  150  therethrough for pivotally connecting the hinge arm  70  to the hinge block  76  such that one end of the battery cover  42  may rotate about pin  150 .  
         [0040]     As further shown, the battery cover  42  may define an undercut recess  72  adapted to engage a flange  116  defined by a locking hook  50 . The locking hook  50  also defines an extension  78  that may include a hole  114  with locking hook  50  being adapted to engage one end of battery cover  42  to the front casing  34 . In addition, the locking hook  50  may be pivotally connected to a clamping arm  48 . Specifically, clamping arm  48  may define holes  118 ,  120  and  122  for pivotally connecting the clamping arm  48  to the locking hook  50  and front casing  34 . Hole  114  of locking hook  50  is adapted to be in registration with holes  120  of clamping arm  48  such that a pin  146  can be inserted through holes  114  and  120 , thereby providing a pivoting connection between the locking hook  50  and clamping arm  48 . In addition, front casing  34  may define holes  110  and  112  adapted to be in registration with holes  118  and  122 , respectively, of clamping arm  48  such that a pin  144  may be inserted through holes  110  and  118 , while a pin  148  may be inserted through holes  112  and  122 , thereby providing a pivoting connection between the clamping arm  48  and front casing  34 . In addition, the front casing  34  may define an indentation  104  at one end that provides a recessional space for placing the clamping arm  48  in a locking position. This structural arrangement may then provide a toggle arrangement for securing the battery cover  42  to controller device  14 .  
         [0041]     As further shown, front casing  34  may define a battery chamber  74  adapted to receive a plurality of batteries  32  for providing a power source for massage apparatus  10 . A sealing element  44  may be adapted to engage a peripheral slot  132  ( FIG. 4 ) defined by the battery chamber  74  such that a water tight seal is provided between the battery cover  42  and the front and back casings  34 ,  36 .  
         [0042]     Referring to  FIG. 4 , back casing  36  may define a slot  134  adapted to engage a bridge portion  130  of sealing element  44  when the back casing  36  is secured to the front casing  34  in order to provide a water tight seal.  
         [0043]     In one embodiment, a method of exchanging one massage actuator  12  having a vibratory component  16  for another massage actuator  12  having a different vibratory component  16 A or  16 B may include the steps of disengaging the cable  20  of vibratory component  16  by rotating the screw nut  38  and disengaging the DC jack  40  and screw nut  38  from the circular portion  68  of the controller body  18 . Once disengaged, another massage actuator  20 , having either vibratory component  16 A or  16 B, may then be engaged to the controller body  18  by engaging the DC jack  40  of another massage actuator  20  to the circular portion  68  and then rotating the screw nut  38  such that the screw nut  38  becomes engaged to the circular portion  68 . It is contemplated that the above embodiment is not restricted to vibratory components  16 A or  16 B and that a massage actuator  20  having other types of vibratory components  16  may be utilized.  
         [0044]     It should be understood from the foregoing that, while particular embodiments have been illustrated and described, various modifications can be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications are within the scope and teaching of this invention as defined in the claims appended hereto.