Abstract:
An apparatus and method for massaging a selected body part is provided. Generally, the apparatus is a handheld massager having a first massage end separated from a second massage end by a handle. Each end of the massager can be independently activated using separate motors. If the user chooses, both ends can be simultaneously activated. With this handheld massager the user can apply massage therapy to any desired body part by guiding the massager with the fingers of the user.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention is generally related to massagers, and more particularly is related to handheld massagers.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Conventional handheld massagers may be grouped into different categories. Two examples of such categories are relatively large models that sometimes require two-handed operation, and more compact models that may be operated with one hand. Massagers in either category may have single or multiple massage heads allowing a user to apply desired massage therapy to a selected body part. Many massage units have a single motor therein that drives one or more actuating elements. The actuating elements may be, for example, vibrational or percussive, thereby providing the massaging action. Other units have shapes designed for massaging specific body parts and may include more than one motor.  
         [0003]     The larger “two-handed” massagers tend to be heavier, which may lead to the user becoming fatigued. The smaller handheld massagers typically provide a lower intensity massage due to their typically having the single motor design. In addition, smaller handheld massagers are typically limited in application to a specific body part.  
         [0004]     Thus, a heretofore unaddressed need exists in the industry to address the aforementioned deficiencies and inadequacies.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     Embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus and method for applying massage therapy to a selected body part of the user. Briefly described, in architecture, one embodiment of the invention, among others, can be implemented as follows. The apparatus has vibrating massage heads at opposing ends of the massage unit. Each massage head is controlled by its own motor. The motors share a common power supply, and either motor can be turned on or off independently. One massage head of the massage unit may be wider than the other massage head. Massage application by either massage head can be controlled by guiding the selected massage head with the fingers of a user.  
         [0006]     The present invention can also be viewed as providing methods for applying massage therapy to a selected body part of the user using a massager unit comprising a first massage head separated by an elongate handle from a second massage head. In this regard, one embodiment of such a method, among others, can be broadly summarized by the following steps: pressing a first button, resulting in closing a first switch so that power is provided from a first power source to a first motor; pressing a second button, resulting in closing a second switch so that power is provided from a second power source to a second motor; applying one of the first massage head or the second massage head to a selected body part; and guiding the one of the first massage head or the second massage head using the elongate handle and at least one depression, wherein the at least one depression is located on the massager unit and is shaped to fit a finger thereon.  
         [0007]     Other systems, methods, and advantages of the present invention will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the present invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]     Many aspects of the invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present invention. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.  
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the top of the massager unit illustrating the finger depressions in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment of the invention.  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the bottom of the massager unit illustrating the first massage head and the second massage head in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the invention.  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the massager unit illustrating internal construction of the massager unit, in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0012]     The following is a description of a massager unit having separate massage heads located at opposite ends of a central handle. Each massage head is individually controlled by its own individual motor.  
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of a massager unit  100  in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment of the invention. As is shown by  FIG. 1 , the massager unit  100  has a first massage head  120  separated from a second massage head  105  by an elongate handle  115 . In the first exemplary embodiment of the invention the handle  115  of the massage unit  100  has a convex contour to conform to the shape of the palm of the hand of a user. In alternative embodiments of the invention the handle  115  may have a cylindrical shape or the handle  115  may have a rectangular shape. In fact, the shape of the handle may even vary from the shapes described herein.  
         [0014]     In the first exemplary embodiment of the invention, a first button  130  is located on the handle portion  115  of the massager unit  100 , specifically, near the first massage head  120 . As will be further described herein, the first button  130  controls a first switch  132  ( FIG. 3 ) that is operatively coupled between at least one battery  190  ( FIG. 3 ) and a first motor  160  ( FIG. 3 ) to provide electrical power to the first motor  160  ( FIG. 3 ) when the first switch  132  is closed. When the massager unit  100  is held in the right hand of the user, the first button  130  and the first switch  132  allow the user to switch the massaging action of the first massage head  120  on and off by using the thumb of the right hand. In alternative embodiments of the invention, the first button  130  may be located on the opposite side of the handle  115  for users preferring to operate the massager unit  100  with the left hand. In addition, the first button  130  may be located on the top portion of the handle  115  or on the bottom portion of the handle  115 .  
         [0015]     In accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the invention, the top portion of the first massage head  120  has two first massage head depressions  125 A,  125 B to allow the user to place two fingers on the first massage head  120  to control massage application and pressure. It should be noted that alternative embodiments of the invention may differ by, for example, including additional depressions or excluding some or all depressions on the top portion of the first massage head  120  of the massage unit  100 .  
         [0016]      FIG. 2  is a bottom perspective view of a massager unit  100  in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment of the invention. Referring to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , the first massage head  120  of the massager unit  100  has a first active massage portion  135  to apply massaging action directed by two fingers of the user placed in the first massage head depressions  125 A,  125 B on the top portion of the first massage head  120 . In the first exemplary embodiment of the invention the first active massage portion  135  is a substantially oval shaped dome. Alternative embodiments of the invention may have a first active massage portion  135  of different shape for example, but not limited to, a hemispherical or conical shaped first active massage portion  135 . The first active massage portion  135  may also have multiple small features for example, but not limited to, multiple conical shapes or multiple hemispheres. Other embodiments of the invention may have a larger or smaller first active massage portion  135 .  
         [0017]     On an end opposite the first massage head  120 , the substantially convex lower portion  145  of the second massage head  105  is the active massage area. In accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the invention, massage application from the second massage head  105  is directed by one finger of the user placed in a second massage head depression  110  on the top portion of the second massage head  105 . It should be noted that alternative embodiments of the invention may differ by, for example, including additional depressions or excluding some or all depressions on the top portion of the second massage head  115  of the massage unit  100 .  
         [0018]     In the first exemplary embodiment of the invention, a second button  150  is located on the handle  115  of the massager unit  100 , specifically, near the second massage head  105 . The second button  150  controls a second switch  152  ( FIG. 3 ) the is operatively coupled between at least one battery  190  ( FIG. 3 ) and a second motor  170  ( FIG. 3 ) to provide electrical power to the second motor  170  ( FIG. 3 ) when the second switch  152  is closed. When the massager unit  100  is held in the right hand of the user, the second button  150  allows the user to switch the massaging action of the second massage head  105  on and off by using the thumb of the right hand. In alternative embodiments of the invention, the second button  150  may be located on the opposite side of the handle  115  for users preferring to operate the massager unit  100  with the left hand. In addition, the second button  150  may be located on the top portion of the handle  115  or the bottom portion of the handle  115 .  
         [0019]     In the first exemplary embodiment, two separate switches  132 ,  152  allow the massaging action of the second massage head  105  and the first massage head  120 , respectively, to be turned on or off individually or simultaneously. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, a single multiple-selection button, controlling a multiple-selection switch, placed in a predetermined location on the massager unit  100  may be used to control the second massage head  105  and the first massage head  120  individually or simultaneously.  
         [0020]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the massager unit  100  illustrating internal construction of the massager unit  100 . Referring to  FIG. 3 , the massaging action of the first massage head  120  is provided by, for example, but not limited to, the first motor  160 , which is located in close proximity to, and operatively coupled to, the first massage head  120  to transfer vibrations to the first massage head  120 . In accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the invention, the first motor  160  controls a first vibrating element  165  connected thereto. The first vibrating element  165  may be, but is not limited to, a first weight  168  coupled to the shaft of the first motor  160 , such that the first weight  168  is offset from an axis of rotation of the shaft of the first motor  160 . Activating the first motor  160  with the first switch  132  causes the first motor  160  and the first weight  168  to rotate. The offset placement of the first weight  168  causes vibration as the first weight  168  rotates.  
         [0021]     The resulting vibration is transferred to first massage head  120  through mechanical connection to the first motor  160 , thereby producing massaging action of first massage head  120 . As will be understood by those having ordinary skill in the art, additional components or structures may be employed to provide transfer of vibration from the first motor  160  to the first massage head  120 , for example, but not limited to, washers, grommets, housings, or encapsulants. As will also be understood by those having ordinary skill in the art, alternative embodiments of the invention may employ other methods for providing vibrational or percussive elements to provide massaging action at the first massage head  120  of the massage unit  100 , for example, but not limited to, pistons, cams, or magnetically coupled devices.  
         [0022]     The massaging action of the second massage head  105  is provided by, for example, but not limited to, the second motor  170 , which is located in close proximity to, and operatively coupled to, the second massage head  105  to transfer vibrations to the second massage head  105 . In accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the invention, the second motor  170  controls a second vibrating element  175  connected thereto. The second vibrating element  175  may be, but is not limited to, a second weight  178  coupled to the shaft of the second motor  170 , such that the second weight  178  is offset from the axis of rotation of the shaft of the second motor  170 . Activating the second motor  170  with the second switch  152  causes the second motor  170  and the second weight  178  to rotate. The offset placement of the second weight  178  causes vibration as the second weight  178  rotates.  
         [0023]     The resulting vibration is transferred to second massage head  105  through mechanical connection to the second motor  170 , thereby producing massaging action of second massage head  105 . As will be understood by those having ordinary skill in the art, additional components or structures may be employed to provide transfer of vibration from the second motor  170  to the second massage head  105 , for example, but not limited to, washers, grommets, housings, or encapsulants. As will also be understood by those having ordinary skill in the art, alternative embodiments of the invention may employ other methods for providing vibrational or percussive elements to provide massaging action at the second massage head  105  of the massage unit  100 , for example, but not limited to, pistons, cams, or magnetically coupled devices.  
         [0024]     In the first exemplary embodiment of the massage unit  100 , the handle  115  has a covered compartment  140  formed to hold at least one battery  190  operable as a single power supply for both the first motor  160  and the second motor  170 . In an alternative embodiment of the invention, power for the first motor  160  and the second motor  170  may be provided by an external power source connected to the massage unit  100  by a cable. The power source may be, for example, but not limited to, an external battery or batteries, or a power source connected to alternating current (AC) residential or commercial utility power.  
         [0025]     It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments of the present invention are merely possible examples of implementations, merely set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the invention. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiment(s) of the invention without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the invention. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure and the present invention and protected by the following claims.