Abstract:
Disclosed is a skin massage device, the proposed idea capable of a skin massage device of scrubbing a skin applied with a massage cream, then giving physical stimulus on the skin at a massage thus helping the relaxation of muscles and activating metabolism to serve an elastic, healthy skin, characterized in that an operation device  15  to reciprocally translate a beating member  21  back and forth is installed at a rotating shaft  14  of a drive motor  15  to which an electric energy of a battery  100  is selectively supplied/blocked according to change of on/off of a rotary switch  12 , comprised of the beating member  21  inflicting physical stimulus while interworking with the operation device  15.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority from Korean Utility Model Application No. 20-2008-0008378, filed on Jun. 30, 2008 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a skin massage apparatus which applies physical stimuli to skin to help muscles be relaxed and to activate metabolism, thereby maintaining the skin elastic and healthy, and more particularly, to a skin message apparatus which converts a rotational motion of a drive motor to a linear motion to tap skin with a massage plate including acupressure bosses, thereby applying physical stimuli to the skin so that the physical stimuli help muscles be relaxed and activate metabolism, while maintaining the skin elastic and healthy. 
     RELATED ART 
     In general, when skin is exposed to ultraviolet light, dead skin cells grow so thick that transparency and metabolism of the skin are lowered and moisture and nutrients fail to be smoothly supplied at the same time. 
     Due to this, skin care through massage is used as a means for preventing accelerated aging of the skin. 
     The skin care methods are largely classified into a method of applying functional cosmetics to skin to massage the skin, and a method of applying physical stimuli to massage the skin. 
     In the case of applying the functional cosmetics to skin, the moisture of the skin is maintained to prevent accelerated aging of the skin, and moisture maintenance is one of the absolutely necessary factors for maintaining the skin elastic. Further, when the moisture maintenance function is lowered, the skin loses elasticity to become crumble and is wrinkled due to sagging. 
     Thus, functional cosmetics are applied to the skin to supply nutrients to the skin, and moisturizer is applied to the skin to maintain the skin moist at the same time. 
     As described above, when the skin is massaged by applying the functional cosmetics to the skin, fingers of a human are chiefly used, but in the case where the skin is massaged while being rubbed by the fingers, the physical stimuli are not applied to the skin such that only the massage effect from the functional cosmetics is expected. 
     Accordingly, the effect can be doubled by using the skin massage apparatus which applies the physical stimuli to the skin to which the functional cosmetics is applied without rubbing the skin with the fingers to help the muscles be relaxed and to activate the metabolism, thereby maintaining the skin elastic and healthy. 
     The existing skin massage apparatus configured to apply the physical stimuli to the skin as described above is largely classified into a manual type and a motor-driven type. 
     Of the types classified as described above, the motor-driven skin massage apparatus which can be safely used without making an effort is now being widely used 
     The motor-driven skin massage apparatus is configured such that a massage unit taps the skin while reciprocating forward and rearward. 
     However, the massage unit taps the skin as described above such that a dermis layer and a subcutaneous tissue layer organizing the skin are also stimulated, thereby achieving improved massage effects as compared with the case where the skin is massaged, with the skin being rubbed by hands, whereas since the massage unit of the skin massage apparatus is directly connected to a driving motor so that forward and rearward reciprocation of the massage unit is performed by electric power of the motor, when the massage unit is excessively attached to the skin and an overload is generated, the overload is directly applied to the driving motor to frequently generate motor failures causing a functional loss of the skin massage apparatus, causing negative recognition for the products in consumers and also causing difficulties in securing market competitiveness. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Problem to be Solved 
     The present invention has been made to solve the disadvantages of the prior art, and provides a skin massage apparatus in which a forward and backward actuating unit of a tapping member of the skin massage apparatus is improved to minimize an overload occurring in a driving motor by effectively applying physical stimuli to skin when the skin to which a massage cream is applied is rubbed and massaged to help muscles be relaxed and to activate metabolism, thereby maintaining the skin elastic and healthy, so that distrust of consumers caused by a failure of the driving motor is solved, use of the skin massage apparatus at home is boosted by securing reliability of the skin massage apparatus such that the problem of having to care the skin in a special beauty shop is solved, the number of drops by special beauty shops is reduced such that there is an expected effect of lessening an economic burden, and skin care is enabled by using a free time without spending a separate time, which meets the requirements of the consumers. 
     In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided A skin massage apparatus which applies physical stimuli to skin to help a muscle be relaxed and to activate metabolism, thereby maintaining the skin elastic and healthy, wherein an actuating unit for reciprocating forward and rearward a tapping member is installed in a rotary shaft of a driving motor where electrical energy supply of a battery is selectively interrupted in response to on/off conversion of a rotary switch, and the tapping member is operated conjunction with the actuating unit to apply physical stimuli to the skin. 
     Effect of the Invention 
     According to the present invention, a forward and backward actuating unit of a tapping member of the skin massage apparatus is improved to minimize an overload occurring in a driving motor by effectively applying physical stimuli to skin when the skin to which a massage cream is applied is rubbed and massaged to help muscles be relaxed and to activate metabolism, thereby maintaining the skin elastic and healthy, so that distrust of consumers caused by a failure of the driving motor is solved, use of the skin massage apparatus at home is boosted by securing reliability of the skin massage apparatus such that the problem of having to care the skin in a special beauty shop is solved, the number of drops by special beauty shops is reduced such that there is an expected effect of lessening an economic burden, and skin care is enabled by using a free time without spending a separate time, which meets the requirements of the consumers. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic sectional view showing an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an exemplary view showing a state where a tapping member is operated by an actuating unit in a state of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic sectional view showing another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is an exemplary view showing a state where a tapping member is operated by an actuating unit in a state of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic sectional view showing another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is an exemplary view showing a state where a tapping member is operated by an actuating unit in a state of  FIG. 5   
         FIG. 7  is a schematic sectional view showing another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is an exemplary view showing a state where a tapping member is operated by an actuating unit in a state of  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic sectional view showing another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  is an exemplary view showing a state where a tapping member is operated by an actuating unit in a state of  FIG. 9 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 to 10 , an skin massage apparatus of the present invention includes a first case  10  in which a battery receiving unit  11  in which batteries  100  are received, a driving motor  13 , and an actuating unit  15  operated by the driving motor  13  are installed, and a second case in which a tapping member  21  operated in conjunction with the actuating unit  15  is installed. 
     Positive and negative electrical connection pieces  11   a  and  11   b  electrically connected to positive and negative electrodes of the received batteries  100 , respectively, to supply electrical energy of the batteries  100  to the driving motor  13 , and a rotary switch  12  configured to selectively supply the electrical energy of the batteries  100  are installed in the battery receiving unit  11  of the case  10 . 
     The driving motor  13  is installed adjacent to the positive and negative electrical connection pieces  11   a  and  11   b  which are electrically connected to positive and negative electrical connection terminals  13   a  and  13   b  thereof, respectively. 
     The actuating unit  15  operated by the driving motor  13  is installed on a side opposite to the battery receiving unit  11 . 
     The actuating unit  15  includes a driving member  16  connected to a rotary shaft  14  of the driving motor  13 , and a driven member  17  operated in conjunction with the driving member  16 . 
     The driven member  17  is installed within the second case  20  such that a repulsive resilient force of a spring  23  is applied thereto, and the tapping member  21  is installed in the driven member  17 . 
     The driving member  16  is keyed to the rotary shaft  14  of the driving motor  13  through a connector  16   a , and includes a disk cam  16   b  having an inclined surface  16   c  one side of which is low and an opposite side of which is high. The driven member  17  includes a disk cam  17   b  having an inclined surface  17   c  which corresponds to, and faces to make surface-contact with the inclined surface of the disk cam  16   b  of the driving member  16 , and a connecting pipe  17   a  formed at a lower portion of the disk cam  17   b  such that a connecting rod  21   b  formed on a head mounting disk  21   a  of the tapping member  21  is connected thereto. 
     A repulsive spring  23  which applies a resilient repulsive force to the disk cam  17   b  such that the disk cam  17   b  can reciprocate is installed on an outer side of the connecting pipe  17   a  of the disk cam  17   b.    
     The tapping member  21  installed in the driven member  17  of the actuating unit  115  located within the second case  20  includes the connecting rod  21   b  inserted into the connecting pipe  17   a  of the driven member  17 , and a tapping head  22  on which a plurality of stimulus bosses  22   a  are irregularly arranged is assembled with the head installation disk  21   a  formed at an end portion of the connecting rod  21   b.    
     The tapping head  22  is injection-molded of a rubber material. 
     A driving member  16  of the actuating unit  15  according to another embodiment of the present invention includes a driving bevel gear  16   d  installed in the driving motor  13 , a driven bevel gear  16   e  engaged with and operated in conjunction with the driving bevel gear  16   d , and a cam  16   f  installed on the same shaft to be operated in conjunction with the driven bevel gear  16   e , and a driven member  17  which contacts the cam  16   f  of the driving member  16  to move forward and rearward has a connecting pipe  17   a  to which the connecting rod  21   b  of the tapping member  21  is coupled, and is installed to bear the repulsive force of the repulsive spring  23  to be restored after moving forward. 
     A driving member  16  of the actuating unit  15  according to another embodiment of the present invention includes a driving bevel gear  16   d  installed in the driving motor  13 , a driven bevel gear  16   e  engaged with and operated in conjunction with the driving bevel gear  16   d , a cam  16   f  installed on the same shaft to be operated in conjunction with the driven bevel gear  16   e , and a crank rod  18  one end of which is hingedly connected to the cam  16   f  of the driving member  16  and an opposite end of which is hingedly connected to the connecting rod  21   b  of the tapping member  21 . 
     A rotating member  16  of the actuating unit  15  according to another embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIGS. 7-8  is installed to be fixed to the second case  20  such that a connector  16   a  is keyed to the driving motor  13 , a spiral groove  16   g  for guiding a guide protrusion  17   d  of the reciprocating member  17  is formed on an inner peripheral surface thereof, and a vertical guide  16   h  having a vertical guide hole  16   h ′ such that the reciprocating member  17  reciprocates forward and rearward without being rotated is located therein. 
     The reciprocating member  17  operated in conjunction with the rotating member  16  has the guide protrusion  17   d  formed to face each other on an outer peripheral surface thereof, such that the guide protrusion  17   d  pass through the vertical guide hole  16   h ′ of the vertical guide  16   h  and tip ends thereof are located in the spiral groove  16   g  of the rotating member  16 , and a connecting pipe  17   a  to which the connecting rod  21   b  of the tapping member  21  is connected. 
     Another embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10  may be configured such that a connecting rod  21   b  of the tapping member  21  is directly connected to a piston rod of a solenoid  19  to move forward and rearward. 
     When skin is massaged by the skin massage apparatus of the present invention including the above-described configuration, a massage cream is first applied to a portion of the skin to be massaged to make the skin moist, and then the skin is tapped by the skin massage apparatus, which doubles the massaging effect. 
     When the skin is tapped to be massaged by the skin massage apparatus of the present invention, the rotary switch  12  is rotated to be converted from an off state to an on state. 
     As described above, when the rotary switch  12  is converted from the off state to the on state, electrical energy of the batteries  100  mounted to the battery receiving unit  11  is supplied to the driving motor  13 . 
     As the driving motor  13  to which the electrical energy has been supplied as described above is driven, rotational power generated by drive of the driving motor  13  is transferred to the driving member  16  of the actuating unit  15  connected to the rotary shaft  14  to operate the driven member  17 , and the driven member  17  is operated in conjunction with the driving member  16  such that the tapping member  21  installed in the driven member  17  reciprocates forward and rearward. 
     As described above, when the tapping member  21  reciprocates forward and rearward, the stimulus bosses  22   a  of the tapping head  22  constituting the tapping member  21  sufficiently apply physical stimuli to the skin to help a muscle be relaxed and to activate metabolism, thereby maintaining the skin elastic and healthy, 
     An actuating state of the actuating unit  15  which reciprocates the tapping member  21  to massage the skin will be described for the exemplary embodiments. 
     As described above, in the actuating unit  15  shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , when the rotary switch  12  is converted from the off state to the on state such that the driving motor  13  is rotated by the electrical energy of the batteries  100 , the inclined surface  16   c  of the driving member  16  in surface-contact with the inclined surface  17   c  of the driven member  17  as shown in  FIG. 1  is continuously and repeatedly located as shown in  FIG. 2  such that the tapping member  21  installed in the driven member  17  moves forward and the driven member  17  is moved rearward by the repulsive force of the repulsive spring  23  compressed by the forward movement of the tapping member  21 , thereby continuously reciprocating the tapping member  21 . 
     As the tapping member  21  reciprocates as described above, the stimulus bosses  22   a  of the tapping head  22  constituting the tapping member  21  may apply physical stimuli to the skin to maintain the skin healthy. 
     In another embodiment of the actuating unit shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , when the rotary switch  12  is converted from the off state to the on state such that the driving motor  13  is rotated by the electrical energy of the batteries  100 , the driving bevel gear  16   d  constituting the driving member  16  is operated in conjunction with the driving motor  13 , and the driven bevel gear  16   e  engaged with the driving bevel gear  16   d  is operated in conjunction with the driving bevel gear  16   d.    
     When the driven bevel gear  16   e  is operated as described above, the cam  16   f  installed on the same shaft as the driven bevel gear  16   e  is operated in conjunction with the driven bevel gear  16   e  such that the cam  16   f  in a state of  FIG. 3  is located as shown in  FIG. 4  to move the driven member  17 . 
     As the driven member  17  is moved as described above, the tapping member  21  installed in the connecting pipe  17   a  through the connecting rod  21   b  moves forward, and the driven member  17  is moved rearward by the repulsive force of the repulsive spring  23  compressed by the forward movement of the tapping member  21 , continuously reciprocating the tapping member  21 . 
     As the tapping member  21  reciprocates as described above, the stimulus bosses  22   a  of the tapping head  22  constituting the tapping member  21  may apply physical stimuli to the skin to maintain the skin healthy. 
     In another embodiment of the actuating unit shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , when the rotary switch  12  is converted from the off state to the on state such that the driving motor  13  is rotated by the electrical energy of the batteries  100 , the driving bevel gear  16   d  constituting the driving member  16  is operated in conjunction with the driving motor  13 , and the driven bevel gear  16   e  engaged with the driving bevel gear  16   d  is operated in conjunction with the driving bevel gear  16   d.    
     When the driven bevel gear  16   e  is operated as described above, the cam  16   f  installed on the same shaft as the driven bevel gear  16   e  is operated in conjunction with the driven bevel gear  16   e  such that the cam  16   f  in a state of  FIG. 5  is located as shown in  FIG. 6  to move the crank rod  18  corresponding to the driven member. 
     One end of the crank rod  18  operated in conjunction with the cam  16   f  as described above is hingedly connected to the cam  16   f , and an opposite end of the crank rod  18  is hingedly connected to the connecting rod  21   b  of the tapping member  21 , thereby enabling the tapping member  21  to continuously reciprocate. 
     As the tapping member  21  reciprocates as described above, the stimulus bosses  22   a  of the tapping head  22  constituting the tapping member  21  may apply physical stimuli to the skin to maintain the skin healthy. 
     In another embodiment of the actuating unit shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , when the rotary switch  12  is converted from the off state to the on state such that the driving motor  13  is rotated by the electrical energy of the batteries  100 , the guide bosses  17   d  of the driven member  17  located at an upper portion of the helical groove  16   g  of the driving member  16  as shown in  FIG. 7  are located at a lower portion of the helical groove  16   g  as shown in  FIG. 8  such that the tapping member  21  in which the connecting rod  21   b  is connected to the connecting pipe  17   a  moves forward. 
     At this time, the reason why the driven member  17  is moved forward without any rotation is because the guide bosses  17   d  of the driven member  17  is guided by the vertical guide hole  16   h ′ of the guide pipe  16   h  fixed to the second case  20 . 
     In a state where the tapping member  21  moves forward as described above, the driving motor  13  is driven in a reverse direction such that the tapping member  21  continuously reciprocates. 
     As the tapping member  21  reciprocates as described above, the stimulus bosses  22   a  of the tapping head  22  configuring the tapping member  21  may apply physical stimuli to the skin to maintain the skin healthy. 
     In another embodiment of the actuating unit shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , the connecting rod  21   b  is directly connected to the piston rod of the solenoid such that the tapping member  21  is reciprocated forward and rearward by the solenoid  19 . 
     While the solenoid  19  to which the tapping member  21  is connected reciprocates forward and rearward by a stroke distance of the piston rod, the stimulus bosses  22   a  of the tapping head  22  may apply physical stimuli to the skin to maintain the skin healthy.