Abstract:
A facial rejuvenating apparatus includes a pad having a concavity in an upper surface thereof. The concavity is configured to receive a human face. A pad breathing hole extends through the pad at a location to align with a nose of the face positioned in the concavity. A nonporous lining is provided to nest with the concavity in the pad. A lining breathing opening registers with the pad breathing opening. Stimulators, such as vibrators, are mounted in the pad to stimulate the face of a person using the apparatus.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority on U.S. Provisional Patent Appl. No. 61/527,651 filed on Aug. 26, 2011, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    This invention relates to an apparatus for stimulating and rejuvenating facial skin and tissue. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Vibrating and massage devices for are well known in the prior art and have been incorporated into many known objects. Such devices are generally used by people who need temporary relief from sore or strained muscles and do not have the time or resources to engage a professional masseuse. For instance, massage chairs and massage pads for chairs are popular products that offer quick relief. A massage chair has a series of vibrators disposed therein and is attached to an electrical connection. A user may have a control device to control the speed or location of vibration to bring relief to an affected area. Massage chairs and pads are ideal for working professionals who may sit in an uncomfortable position or those who engage in strenuous activity. However, massage chairs and pads can only bring relief to the back, neck and shoulders and are ineffectual for face massages. 
         [0006]    Several products have been developed for massaging a face. Generally, these devices are in the form of a handheld wand with at least one vibrating element disposed at an end. A user manually directs the vibrating element towards a desired area and applies pressure. There are several important benefits to using a face massager. Most importantly, the vibrations help bring blood to the surface and give a user a more youthful and healthy look. However, the above-described devices are disadvantageous because they require a user to manually exert energy, thereby mitigating the tension relief qualities typically associated with a massage. Thus, it would be preferable to have a hands-free face massaging device. 
         [0007]    A need also exists for a device to assist with the topical application of creams, soaps, and cleansers to the face. Typically, creams and cleansers are accompanied by instructions that require a person to dampen his or her face and massage a predetermined amount of the substance into the face using hands, a wash cloth, or a luffa for a predetermined length of time before rinsing the material away. Alternatively, a person can use a handheld face massager or the like to massage these substances into the face. While these substances generally help clean and moisturize a face, there are several limitations. First, it is difficult to apply the substance evenly and ensure that it is equally distributed and massaged into different areas of the face. Second, the massaging elements are often large, making it difficult to massage the substance into the area surrounding the eyes without causing damage. The area around the eyes is prone to wrinkles and other blemishes and is most in need of the cleanser or moisturizer. Third, a person must manually direct the massaging element to each portion of the face, increasing the possibility that some areas of the face will be missed. Thus, the current handheld massagers are not ideal for applying soaps and creams to the face. 
         [0008]    In view of the above, it is an object of the invention to provide a hands free apparatus for stimulating, rejuvenating and massaging the face. 
         [0009]    It is a further object of the invention to provide a hands free apparatus that can massage substances into the face. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    The invention relates to an apparatus for stimulating, rejuvenating and/or massaging the face. 
         [0011]    The apparatus preferably includes a pad having a front surface and a back surface and at least one side surface extending therebetween. The at least one side surface preferably comprises four side surfaces that define a substantially rectangular shape. The pad preferably is made out of a foam or other soft resilient material that can deform, but will return resiliently to a specified shape. The front surface of the pad includes a concavity that will generally conform to the shape and size of a human face. For example, the concavity in the front surface of the pad may be substantially oval. Thus, a person can insert his or her face into the concavity. The foam of the pad will conform to the specific shape of the face to achieve substantially surface-to-surface contact between the face and the portion of the front surface of the pad that defines the concavity. A substantially planar area may extend out from the concavity on the front surface of the pad to the side surface thereof. The rear surface of the pad can take any shape. However, forming the pad may be facilitated if the pad is of substantially uniform thickness. Hence, the rear surface of the pad preferably has a convex region that is opposite the concavity in the front surface. The thickness of the pad from the front surface to the rear surface preferably is in a range of about 2-8 cm. 
         [0012]    At least one pad breathing hole preferably extends through the pad from the front surface to the rear surface. More particularly, the at least one pad breathing hole preferably extends from a part of the concavity that will register with the nose of the person using the apparatus. The pad breathing opening also is dimensioned to comfortably receive the nose of the person using the apparatus. Alternatively or additionally, the at least one pad breathing hole may be disposed in the concavity to substantially register with the mouth of the person using the apparatus. 
         [0013]    The pad further includes at least one pad stimulator opening and preferably a plurality of pad stimulator openings for accommodating electrical, electro-mechanical, hydraulic or pneumatic means for stimulating and/or rejuvenating the skin of the face. The pad stimulator opening extends from the front surface in the concavity to the rear surface or to the side surface. Plural pad stimulator openings preferably are disposed to substantially align with areas of the face that are likely to be desired target areas for stimulation and/or rejuvenation. For example, pad stimulator openings may be disposed to substantially align with the cheeks, the forehead and/or the chin. The shapes of the pad stimulator openings are selected to conform to the shapes of the specific stimulators that will be employed as explained further herein. 
         [0014]    The facial rejuvenating apparatus preferably further includes a base with a top surface having a depression that conforms to the size and shape of the side surfaces and the rear surface of the pad. Thus, the pad can be nested into the depression in the base. In a preferred embodiment, the depression includes a concavity conforming to the convex area on the rear surface of the pad. The base further includes at least one base breathing opening that will register with the pad breathing opening in the pad. The base breathing opening communicates with ambient surroundings so that a person using the apparatus can breathe freely. The base also includes at least one base stimulator opening that preferably substantially registers with the at least one pad stimulator opening in the pad. 
         [0015]    The base preferably is adjustable with respect to height and/or angle to accommodate the size and/or position of the person using the apparatus. For example, the base may be mounted pivotally to a frame that can be supported on a horizontal surface, such as a table. 
         [0016]    The facial rejuvenating apparatus further includes at least one stimulator and preferably a plurality of stimulators. Each stimulator extends through the base stimulator opening and is mounted in the pad stimulator opening. The stimulators may comprise at least one vibrating stimulator that is electrically powered. Wires for powering the stimulator preferably extend to the base and to an external power cord. Controls for controlling the vibration of the vibrators may be mounted in a side wall of the base. The controls preferably include an on/off switch. However, other controls such as a timer or means for controlling the amplitude or frequency of the vibrations may be provided. The stimulators alternatively or additionally may include at least one heater and/or at least one source of moisture. 
         [0017]    The facial rejuvenating apparatus further includes a non-porous rubber or plastic lining that is removably positionable in the concavity of the pad. The lining preferably has a convex rear surface that conforms generally to the shape of the concavity in the pad and a concave front surface. The lining preferably is formed from silicone and is sufficiently deformable to conform to the shape of the face of the person using the apparatus. The lining includes at least one lining breathing opening that registers with the pad breathing opening, but does not require openings that register with the pad stimulator openings. However, certain embodiments may have perforations so that moisture can be delivered from a moisturizing stimulator in the base, through the pad and to the face of the person using the apparatus. 
         [0018]    The pad and the base of the apparatus may be preassembled to define a subassembly that is disassembled only for periodic repair, maintenance or cleaning. The lining, however, preferably is removed with each use of the apparatus. More particularly, the convex rear surface of the lining preferably is nested into the concavity in the base. A moisturizing cream may be applied to the concave surface of the lining. The person then positions his or her face in the concave area of the lining and operates the controls to stimulate the face. The stimulation may include vibration, heat and/or moisture. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]      FIG. 1  is a side elevational view of the base and frame of the apparatus of the invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  is a front elevational view of the frame shown in  FIG. 1   
           [0021]      FIG. 3  is a top plan view of the base with the stimulators projecting therefrom. 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  is a top plan view of the pad. 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  is a side elevational view of the pad. 
           [0024]      FIG. 6  is a bottom plan view of the lining. 
           [0025]      FIG. 7  is a top plan view of the base, pad and stimulators in their assembled condition. 
           [0026]      FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  8 - 8  in  FIG. 7  and showing the lining nested into the concavity in the pad. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0027]    A facial rejuvenating apparatus in accordance with the invention is identified generally by the numeral  10  in  FIGS. 1 and 8 . The facial rejuvenating apparatus  10  includes a base  12  and a support  14 . The support  14  is configured for mounting on a table T and the base  12  is adjustably supported on the support  14  to adjust the angular orientation of the base  12  relative to the table T. More particularly, the support  14  is a substantially U-shaped structure with a bottom wall  16  and side walls  18  projecting substantially perpendicularly up from the bottom wall  16  and hence substantially parallel to one another as shown in  FIG. 2 . Each side wall  18  is formed with an arcuate groove  20  having notches  22  formed therein. 
         [0028]    The base  12  is a substantially box-shaped structure with opposite side surfaces  24  spaced from one another by a distance slightly less than the spacing between the side walls  18  of the support  14 . The base  12  also includes a front surface  26 , a rear surface  28  and a top  30 . Parts of the sidewalls  24  near the front surface  26  of the base  12  are mounted pivotally to the sidewalls  18  of the frame about pivot pins  32 . The pivot pins  32  are disposed substantially concentrically with respect to the arcuate grooves  20 . The base  12  further includes adjustment handles  34  projecting out from the sidewalls  24  of the base  12 . The adjustment handles  34  can travel through the arcuate grooves  20  as the base  12  pivots relative to the support  14  and can be releasably engaged with the notches  24  when the base  12  is at a desired angular orientation relative to the support  14 . 
         [0029]    The top  30  of the base  12  includes a peripheral frame  36  and a depression  38  inward of the peripheral frame  36 . The depression  38  includes a generally planar portion  40  adjacent the peripheral frame  36  and a substantially oval base concavity  42  inward of the planar portion  40 . The base concavity  42  is larger than the size of the typical human face and includes a base breathing opening  44  that extends through the base  12  to areas external of the base  12  for providing communication with ambient air surrounding the apparatus  10 . The base concavity  42  also includes a base forehead stimulator opening  46  and base cheek stimulator openings  48 . 
         [0030]    Stimulators  50  project through the base stimulator openings  46  and  48  and into the base concavity  42 . The stimulators  50  in the illustrated embodiment are electrically powered vibrators. Wires for delivering power to the vibrators  50  are identified generally by the letter W in  FIG. 3 . A power cable C is connected to the wires W inside the base and to a control unit  52  that is accessible on one of the sidewalls  24  or on the front surface  26  of the base  12 . The control unit  52  preferably includes an on/off switch, timing controls and controls for adjusting the amplitude and/or frequency of vibrations. The power cable C is connectable to an external power source. Although the stimulators  50  illustrated and described herein are vibrators, the stimulators  50  may comprise heaters and/or moisture generators. 
         [0031]    The facial rejuvenating apparatus  10  further includes a pad  54 , as shown most clearly in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . The pad  54  includes a top surface  56 , a bottom surface  58  and side surfaces  60 . The pad  54  preferably is formed from a soft resilient foam. Parts of the top surface  56  adjacent the side surfaces  60  define a generally planar area  62 . However, a concavity  64  is formed in the top surface  56  inward of the planar area  62 . The concavity  64  generally conforms to the size and shape of a human face, and hence is substantially oval. The bottom surface  58  includes a convex region  66  opposite the concavity  64 . The convex region  66  is dimensioned to substantially nest with the base concavity  42  in the base  12 . 
         [0032]    The pad  54  includes a pad breathing opening  68  extending therethrough at a location to register with the base breathing opening  44 . However, the pad breathing opening has an upwardly facing region that is configured to nest with the nose of a person using the apparatus  10 . The pad  54  also includes a pad forehead stimulator opening  70  and pad cheek stimulator openings  72  that register with the base forehead stimulator opening  46  and the base cheek stimulator openings  48  respectively. The pad forehead stimulator opening  70  and the pad cheek stimulator openings  72  are configured to receive the stimulators  50 . 
         [0033]    The facial rejuvenating apparatus  10  further includes a lining  80  formed from 18 flexible nonporous material and preferably from silicone having a thickness that preferably is less than 1 cm, and most preferably about 0.5 cm. The lining  80  has a convex lower surface  82  configured to nest with the concavity  64  of the pad  54  and a concave upper surface  84  opposite the lower surface. The lining  80  further includes a lining breathing opening  86  disposed to register with the pad breathing opening  68  and the base breathing opening  44 . The lining  80 , however, does not include openings for receiving the stimulators  50 . However, in certain embodiments, parts of the lining  80  may include perforations to accommodate a flow of moisture through the lining  80 . 
         [0034]    The base  12 , the frame  14  and the pad  54  of the rejuvenating facial apparatus  10  typically are preassembled to define a subassembly that will be disassembled only periodically for repair, maintenance or cleaning. The lining  80 , however, will be replaced after each use. More particularly, the convex lower surface  82  of the lining  80  is nested in the concavity  64  of the pad  54 . A moisturizing cream or other flowable solution may be applied to the concave upper surface  84  of the lining  80 . The base  12  may be adjusted to an appropriate angle relative to the support  14  that is comfortable for the user. The user then places his or her face in the concave upper surface  84  of the lining and turns the apparatus  10  on by using the controls of the control unit  52 . The vibrators  50  will generate vibrations of the foam pad and the lining  80  that can be felt across the entire face, and particularly in the forehead and cheek areas. Upon completion of the use of the rejuvenating facial apparatus  10 , the user or an operator will remove the lining  80  and clean at least the concave upper surface  84  of the lining  84  a subsequent use. 
         [0035]    Although the disclosure herein has been described with reference to particular illustrative embodiments, it is to be understood that these embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles and applications of the present disclosure. Therefore numerous modifications may be made to the illustrative embodiments and other arrangements may be devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure, which is defined by the appended claims.