Abstract:
A massage apparatus comprising a drive unit and a rotatable head coupled to the drive unit for rotation about an axis, and a rotatable head for use with such a massage device. The rotatable head has a skin-engaging end face to contact skin to be massaged. The massage apparatus is configured such that the skin-engaging end face lies in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the rotatable head. A method of using such a massage device.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to EP 09161813.2, filed Jun. 3, 2009. The entire content of this application is explicitly incorporated herein by reference. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a massage device and, more particularly, to a mechanical massage device having a rotatable head. 
         [0003]    Various devices are known for use in skin massage, and utilise various techniques such as rolling, kneading, suction, pressure, and so on. Such known devices include manually operated devices as well as mechanically automated devices. One such known automated massage device is disclosed in US 2003/0073937 and discloses a device having a pair of parallel rollers mounted in a housing, the housing including a suction port to enable the device to be connected to a vacuum supply to provide massage action through kneading by the rollers rolling across the skin and by suction from the vacuum supply. 
         [0004]    Other known massage devices having rotatable heads are disclosed in DE 10-2007-007610 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,906,940. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved massage device with improved operating movement. 
         [0006]    Accordingly, the present invention provides a massage device comprising a drive unit and a rotatable head coupled to the drive unit for rotation about an axis, the rotatable head having a skin-engaging end face to contact skin to be massaged and a cavity in the skin-engaging end face extending into the rotatable head which is sealed closed when the rotatable head is pressed against the skin to be massaged, and which is connectable to a source of vacuum to allow air to be evacuated from the cavity, wherein the skin-engaging end face lies in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the rotatable head, characterized in that the rotatable head is rotatable about its central axis and the inner walls of the cavity comprise an undulating surface such that, in use, skin drawn into the cavity is pushed by the undulations as the rotatable head rotates. 
         [0007]    The drive unit is preferably configured to oscillate the rotatable head back and forth about its axis of rotation. 
         [0008]    Preferably, the rotatable head includes a second end face opposite to the skin-engaging end face and, the rotatable head is coupled to the drive unit at the second end face. 
         [0009]    The rotatable head preferably includes a fluid passage extending therethrough and in communication with the cavity to allow air to be evacuated from the cavity when closed by skin being massaged. 
         [0010]    The fluid passage preferably includes a suction pipe mounted to the rotatable head in fluid communication with the cavity, for connection to a vacuum source to evacuate air from the cavity. In use, the evacuation of air from the cavity causes the skin to be drawn up into the cavity. Preferably, the suction pipe is mounted for rotation with the rotatable head relative to the drive unit. 
         [0011]    The inner walls of the cavity comprise an undulating surface such that, in use, skin drawn into the cavity is pushed by the undulations as the rotatable head rotates. This pushing of the skin folds creates the enhanced massage effect. 
         [0012]    The cavity in the rotatable head is preferably substantially circular with at least one element projecting from the inside circular wall of the cavity providing said undulating surface. 
         [0013]    Preferably, the at least one element comprises a post received in an aperture in the rotatable head. 
         [0014]    Preferably, the at least one post has a longitudinal axis substantially parallel with the axis of rotation of the rotatable head. The at least one post is preferably substantially cylindrical. 
         [0015]    Preferably, the at least one post is metallic. The at least one post may also be connected to a source of Radio Frequency or low impulse current to enable the same to be transmitted to the skin being massaged. 
         [0016]    Preferably, the fluid passage extends though the at least one post and the at least one post includes a suction hole open to the cavity and in fluid communication with the fluid passage. 
         [0017]    Preferably, the rotatable head may include at least one LED or a laser emitting means operable to transmit light and heat to the skin to be massaged. 
         [0018]    Preferably, the rotatable head comprises a transparent portion between the at least one LED/laser emitting means and the skin-engaging end face to allow light to be transmitted from the at least one LED/laser emitting means to the skin to be massaged. Preferably the transparent portion is made from plexi-glass. 
         [0019]    The massage device may include an outer housing enclosing the drive unit. The outer housing may include at least one handle to facilitate manipulation of the massage device. 
         [0020]    The massage device may further include at least one actuator to control operation of the massage device. The at least one actuator may be provided on the outer housing or on the at least one handle of the outer housing. 
         [0021]    The drive unit may be pneumatically powered. The massage device may further comprise a source of compressed gas/air to power the drive unit. The massage device may further comprise a control circuit to control operation of the massage device and drive unit thereof. The massage device may also include an electric valve controlled by the control circuit to regulate the supply of compressed air/gas to the drive unit. 
         [0022]    Alternatively, the drive unit may be electrically powered, and/or driven by an electric motor. 
         [0023]    The massage device may include a suction device connected to the fluid passage to evacuate air from the cavity in the rotatable head. 
         [0024]    Preferably, the massage device is configured such that the rotational speed of the rotatable head can be controlled within a range of different speeds. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0025]    A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0026]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a massage apparatus of the present invention; 
           [0027]      FIG. 2  shows another perspective view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1  but with a cross-section of the outer housing removed to show the drive unit within the outer housing; 
           [0028]      FIG. 3  shows another perspective view of the apparatus of  FIGS. 1 and 2  with the outer housing completely removed; 
           [0029]      FIG. 4  shows an exploded top perspective view of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0030]      FIG. 5  shows an exploded bottom perspective view of the apparatus shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 ; 
           [0031]      FIG. 6  shows a top perspective view of the drive unit of the apparatus of the invention; 
           [0032]      FIG. 7  shows a partially exploded top perspective view of the drive unit shown in  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0033]      FIG. 8  shows an exploded top perspective view of the drive unit shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 ; 
           [0034]      FIG. 9  shows a top perspective view of the drive unit of  FIGS. 6 to 8  with the support plate secured thereto; 
           [0035]      FIG. 10  shows a bottom perspective view of the drive unit and support plate of  FIG. 9 ; 
           [0036]      FIG. 11  shows an exploded top perspective view of the drive unit and support plate of  FIGS. 9 and 10 ; and 
           [0037]      FIG. 12  shows an exploded bottom perspective view of the drive unit and support plate of  FIGS. 9 to 11   
           [0038]      FIG. 13  shows a top perspective view of the rotatable head of the apparatus of the invention; 
           [0039]      FIG. 14  shows a bottom perspective view of the rotatable head of  FIG. 13 ; 
           [0040]      FIG. 15  shows an exploded top perspective view of the rotatable head of  FIGS. 13 and 14 ; 
           [0041]      FIG. 16  shows an exploded bottom perspective view of the rotatable head of  FIGS. 13 to 15 ; and 
           [0042]      FIG. 17  shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the rotatable massage device head of the invention during use on the skin of a user. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0043]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , an automated massage device  10  according to the present invention is shown, and generally comprises an outer housing  12 , a drive unit  20 , a support plate  50  and a rotatable head  70 . The outer housing  12  includes a pair of handles  14  to allow an operator to control the massage device  10 . The support plate  50  is fixed to the drive unit  20 , and the outer housing  12  is secured to the support plate  50 , as described in more detail below. The rotatable head  70  is moveable relative to the drive unit  20 , support plate  50  and outer housing  12 . 
         [0044]    The drive unit  20  is shown in more detail in  FIGS. 6 to 8 , and comprises an upper casing  21  and a lower casing  22  which are secured together to define the generally cylindrical outer body of the drive unit  20  and to enclose an inner chamber  23  of the drive unit  20  (see  FIG. 8 ). The lower casing  22  includes first and second ports  24   a ,  24   b  extending through the wall of the lower casing  22  into the inner chamber  23 . A drive shaft  25  is rotatably mounted within the inner chamber  23  with its central axis aligned along the central axis X-X of the drive unit  20 , and has top end (not shown) received in a fitting (not shown) in the upper casing  21 , and a bottom end  25   a  which extends through an aperture (not shown) in the middle of the end wall of the lower casing  22 . Thereby, the drive shaft  25  is freely rotatable within the inner and outer casings  21 ,  22 , with its bottom end  25   a  protruding out of the lower casing  22 . 
         [0045]    The drive shaft  25  has a piston  26  in the form of a square plate extending radially from one side of the drive shaft  25 . The lower casing  22  includes a pair of stops  27   a ,  27   b  within the inner chamber  23  such that the range of rotation of the drive shaft  25  is limited by the piston  26  abutting the respective stop  27   a / 27   b . The position of the stops  27   a ,  27   b  thereby define the maximum range of rotation of the drive shaft  25 . In the embodiment shown, the drive shaft  25  is able to rotate over about 90 degrees, although the stops  27   a ,  27   b  could be arranged within the inner chamber  23  such that the range of motion may be 180 degrees, 270 degrees, or many other angles as desired. 
         [0046]    The upper casing  21  is secured to the lower casing  22  by three bolts  28  (see  FIG. 8 ), which are spaced equidistantly around the top of the upper casing  21  and extend from the top of the upper casing  21 , through the side wall thereof, and are received in correspondingly positioned threaded holes  29  in the upper edge of the side wall of the lower casing  22 . Once the bolts  28  are tightened into the threaded holes  29 , the join between the upper and lower casings  21 ,  22  is sealed airtight, with the only fluid path into the inner chamber  23  being through the two ports  24   a ,  24   b  (the drive shaft  25  is mounted within the inner chamber  23  such that air cannot escape around the drive shaft  25  where it exits the lower casing  22 ). 
         [0047]    Each of the two ports  24   a ,  24   b  includes a right-angled connection pipe  30   a ,  30   b  to allow a source of pressurised air to be connected to the ports  24   a ,  24   b  of the drive unit  20 , which provides the power for operation of the drive unit  20 . The bottom end  25   a  of the drive shaft  25  which protrudes from the bottom of the drive unit  20  through the lower casing  22 , includes a flat face portion  31  on its side. A disc  32  is mounted to the bottom end  25   a  of the shaft  25  by the bottom end  25   a  of the shaft  25  extending through a central aperture  33  in the disc  32 . The disc  32  is secured in place on the shaft  25  using a grub screw  34  which extends through a threaded aperture  35  in the side of the disc  32  and which is tightened against the flat face portion  31  of the drive shaft  25 . The disc  32  includes two threaded holes  36  extending through the disc  32  parallel to the central aperture  33  and positioned diametrically opposite each other. 
         [0048]    In use, the drive unit  20  causes the drive shaft  25  to move back and forth in a reciprocating rotating motion about its central axis X-X, as shown by arrows ‘A’ and ‘B’ in  FIGS. 3 ,  6  and  11 . This motion is provided by a supply of pressurised air being connected to the two connection pipes  30   a ,  30   b  to supply the pressurised air to the inner chamber  23  through the ports  24   a ,  24   b . In use, pressurised air is alternately supplied to the first and second ports  24   a ,  24   b  of the drive unit  20  through the first and second connection pipes  30   a ,  30   b . Initially, pressurised air is supplied to the first port  24   a . The configuration of the inner chamber  23  of the drive unit  20  is such that the air pressure acts on one side of the piston  26  and forces it in the direction of arrow ‘A’ and thereby drives the drive shaft  25  clockwise until the piston  26  abuts the first stop  27   a . At this point, the supply of pressurised air to the first port  24   a  is stopped and pressurised air is then supplied to the second port  24   b . The configuration of inner chamber  23  of the drive unit  20  is such that the air pressure then acts on the opposite side of the piston  26  and forces it in the direction of arrow ‘B’ and thereby drives the drive shaft  25  anti-clockwise until the piston  26  abuts the second stop  27   b . It will be appreciated that rotation of the drive shaft  25 , also causes rotation of the disc  32  mounted to the drive shaft  25 . 
         [0049]    The above process of alternately supplying pressurised air to the first port  24   a  then the second port  24   b  is repeated and so the drive shaft  25  reciprocates back and forth in the direction of arrows A and B about its central axis X-X. This provides the driving motion for the massage device  10 . The above operation is possible with a range of air pressures, but is preferably more than 1.5 kg/cm 2 . When pressurised air is supplied to one of the ports  24   a / 24   b , the other of the ports  24   a / 24   b  acts as an air outlet port. The alternating supply of pressurised air is provided by an air compressor, electric air valve and a control circuit (not shown). The rotation speed of the drive shaft  25  is controlled by the control circuit which controls the rate of alternating pressurised air supply. For example, this rotation frequency may be between 1-2.5 Hz, although many other rotation frequencies are possible within the scope of the invention. 
         [0050]    Referring now to  FIGS. 9-12 , the drive unit  20  is shown with the support plate  50  mounted to it. The support plate  50  comprises a circular disc with a central aperture  51  through which the bottom end  25   a  of the drive shaft  25  and associated disc  32  extend. The support plate  50  is secured to the drive unit  20  by three bolts  52  which extend from the top of the upper casing  21 , through apertures  53  extending all the way through the side wall thereof and extending all the way though the side wall of the lower casing  22 , and are received in correspondingly positioned threaded apertures  54  formed in the support plate  50  (see  FIG. 11 ). It can be seen from  FIGS. 9 and 11  that the bolts  52  which secure the support plate  50  to the drive unit  20  are spaced equidistantly around the top of the upper casing  21 , and are spaced between the bolts  28  which secure the upper casing  21  to the lower casing  22 . 
         [0051]    The underside of the support plate  50  includes a wall  55  depending perpendicularly around the perimeter of the central aperture  51  which defines a cavity  56  within the perimeter of the wall  55  (see  FIG. 12 ). The disc  32  sits within the cavity  56  and is recessed inwards from the outer rim  55   a  of the wall  55 , as can be seen in  FIG. 10 . An annular bearing  57  is disposed within the cavity  56  adjacent the disc  32  and proximate the outer rim  55   a  of the wall  55  from the disc  32 . The outer diameter of the bearing  57  matches the inner diameter  56   a  (see  FIG. 12 ) of the circular cavity  56  such that the bearing  57  can make a press-fit within the cavity  56 . 
         [0052]    An arcuate slot  58  is formed around a portion of the circumference of the support plate  50  and proximate the outer perimeter thereof. The outer perimeter of the support plate  50  includes four mounting holes  59 . The support plate  50  is secured to the outer housing  12  by bolts  60  (see  FIG. 9 ) which extend though the mounting holes  59  and are received in correspondingly positioned threaded apertures  61  (see  FIG. 2 ) formed in the outer housing  12 . 
         [0053]    Referring now to  FIGS. 13 to 16 , the rotatable head  70  of the invention is shown and comprises an upper portion  71  and a lower portion  72 . The upper portion  71  comprises a plastic disc and the lower portion  72  comprises a transparent plexi-glass cylinder with a central cavity  73  extending from the bottom of the lower portion  72  part-way therethough, i.e. the central cavity  73  does not extend all of the way through the lower portion  72 . The central cavity  73  in the lower portion  72  is formed by a central circular aperture  73   a  with four smaller circular apertures  73   b  around the outside of, and intersecting, the central circular aperture  73   a  (see  FIG. 16 ). 
         [0054]    A metal post  74   a ,  74   b ,  74   c ,  74   d  is disposed in each of the smaller circular apertures  73   b . Three of the metal posts  74   a - 74   c  include threaded apertures  75   a - c  extending into the post  74   a - c  from their top faces, and the lower portion  72  includes three holes  76   a - c  extending therethrough from the upper surface of the lower portion  72  to the respective smaller circular apertures  73   b , one hole  76   a - c  located directly in line with each of the threaded apertures  75   a - c . The upper portion  71  includes three corresponding holes  77   a - c  extending all the way therethrough and aligned with the three holes  76   a - c  in the lower portion  72  (see  FIG. 16 ). The three posts  74   a - c  are fixed to the lower portion  72  by bolts  78   a - c  (see  FIGS. 15 and 16 ) extending through the holes  77   a - c  in the upper portion  71 , through the holes  76   a - c  in the lower portion  72 , and being secured in the respective threaded aperture  75   a - c  in the posts  74   a - c.    
         [0055]    The fourth post  74   d  does not have a threaded aperture like the other three posts, but instead, includes a hollow threaded shaft  79  upstanding from its top face. The lower portion  72  includes a fourth hole  76   d  extending therethrough from the upper surface of the lower portion  72  to the fourth smaller circular aperture  73   b  in which the fourth post  74   d  fits, the fourth hole  76   d  being located directly in line with the threaded shaft  79  and being sized to allow the threaded shaft  79  to fit though the hole  76   d . The upper portion  71  also includes a fourth hole  77   d  extending all the way therethrough and aligned with the fourth hole  76   d  in the lower portion  72 . The fourth hole  77   d  in the upper portion  71  is also sized to allow the threaded shaft  79  of the fourth post  74   d  to fit therethough. 
         [0056]    The rotatable head  70  includes an elongate vacuum pipe  80  which has an upper end  80   a  bent at 90 degrees to the rest of the pipe  80 , and a lower end  80   b  which has an internal thread (not shown) corresponding to the thread on the threaded shaft  79  on the fourth post  74   d . The fourth post  74   d  is fixed to the lower portion  72  by the threaded shaft  79  extending through the respective fourth holes  76   d ,  77   d  in the lower and upper portions  72 ,  71  and being secured in the threaded lower end  80   b  of the vacuum pipe  80 . 
         [0057]    The fourth post  74   d  is hollow such that a continuous hollow bore extends through the hollow threaded shaft  79  and through the fourth post  74   d . The fourth post  74   d  also includes a suction hole  81  which is in fluid communication with the continuous hollow bore of the fourth post  74   d  and the hollow threaded shaft  79 , and thus, it will be appreciated that air within the central cavity  73  can be extracted through the suction hole  81  in the fourth post  74   d , though the hollow threaded shaft  79  and through the vacuum pipe  80 . 
         [0058]    In use, the bottom face of the lower portion  72  and the bottom ends of the posts  74   a - d  are in contact with the skin being massaged, and so these surfaces are polished to be very smooth. Furthermore, in use, a vacuum is generated in within the central cavity  73  by extracting air therefrom via the fourth post  74   d  and vacuum pipe  80 , as will be described in more detail hereafter. Hence, the skin being massaged is drawn up into the central cavity  73  by the vacuum. The four posts  74   a - d  may further include an adhesive between themselves and the lower portion  72  to ensure that there is no path for air to escape around the posts  74   a - d  and through the holes  76   a - d  in the lower portion  72 , such that when the rotatable head  70  is pressed against the skin to be massaged (and so the skin makes an airtight seal against the bottom edge of the rotatable head  70 ), the only fluid path to and from the central cavity  73  is via the fourth post  74   d  and the vacuum pipe  80 , to enable a reduced pressure/vacuum to be maintained in the central recess  73 . 
         [0059]    The upper portion  71  may also include four additional holes  82  on its underside which are spaced around the perimeter of the upper portion  71  between the post-mounting holes  77   a - d . These additional holes  82  may contain LEDs or laser generating means, such that light and/or heat generated thereby can pass through the transparent lower portion  72  to the skin of the person being massaged. 
         [0060]    The four posts  74   a - d  are preferably metallic, and may be electrically connected to a source of radio frequency (RF) or low-impulse current (not shown) such that the RF/current can be conducted to the skin of the person being massaged. 
         [0061]    The lower portion  72  includes a pair of head-mounting holes  83  extending therethrough, and the upper portion  71  also includes a pair of head-mounting holes  84  extending therethrough and aligned with the head mounting holes  83  in the lower portion  72 . The rotatable head  70  is secured to the drive unit  20  by two head-mounting bolts  85  which extend through the head-mounting holes  83 ,  84  in the lower and upper portions  72 ,  71  respectively, and are received in threaded apertures  36  in the disc  32  (see  FIGS. 4 and 5 ). 
         [0062]    Referring now to  FIGS. 3 to 5 , the drive unit  20  is shown with the support plate  50  and rotatable head  70  attached thereto. The upper surface of the upper portion  71  includes a circular projection  87  which has an external diameter to match the internal diameter of the bearing  57  so that the circular projection  87  fits in the bearing  57  when the rotatable head  70  is secured to the drive unit  20 . Further, it can be seen that the vacuum pipe  80  extends through the slot  58  in the support plate  50 . Thereby, when the rotatable head  70  is driven by the drive unit  20  as described above, to oscillate back and forth about the central axis X-X in the direction of arrows A and B, the vacuum pipe  80 , which is fixed relative to the rotatable head  70 , is free to move back and forth along the arcuate slot  58  and so does not hinder the rotation of the rotatable head  70 . 
         [0063]    It can be seen from  FIGS. 2 to 5  that the massage device  10  includes a rotary air connector  90  comprising a support bar  91  having fixing holes  92  at each distal end of the bar  91 , and an air duct  93  rotatably coupled to the support bar  91  though a hole in the centre thereof. The air duct  93  includes an upper end  93   a  directed straight upwards away from the drive unit  20  and rotatable head  70  and aligned with the central axis X-X of the drive unit  20 /rotatable head  70 , and lower end  93   b  which is angled at 90 degrees to the upper end  93   a . The lower end  93   b  is sealingly coupled to the upper end  80   a  of the vacuum pipe  80 . The upper end  93   a  of the air duct  93  is connectable to a vacuum source (not shown) such that, in use, air in the central cavity  73  can be evacuated via the fourth post  74   d , the vacuum pipe  80  and the air duct  93 . 
         [0064]    The rotary air connector  90  is coupled to the outer housing  12  by bolts/screws (not shown) extending though the fixing holes  92  and into the outer housing (see  FIG. 2 ). Thereby, the air duct  93  is rotatable together with the rotatable head  70  relative to the support bar  91 , outer housing  12  and drive unit  20 . The vacuum source is to be connected to the upper end  93   a  of the air duct  93  by a flexible hose or similar means, to allow the rotatable head  70  and air duct  93  to move relative to the outer housing  12  and drive unit  20 , without the vacuum source becoming disconnected from the air duct  93 . 
         [0065]    The outer housing  12  includes a supply tube  16  extending therefrom distal to the rotatable head  70 . The supply tube  16  provides a passage into the inside of the outer housing  12  and in use, pipes (not shown) supplying pressurised air to the first and second ports  24   a ,  24   b  and a pipe (not shown) connecting the air duct  93  of the rotary air connector  90  to a vacuum supply are provided through the supply tube  16 . In addition, electrical connector wires (not shown) to power the LED/laser generating means in the upper portion  71  of the rotatable head  70 , and to supply RF/low impulse current to the four metal posts  74   a - d  are provided through the supply tube  16 . 
         [0066]    Operation of the massage device  10  will now be described. An operator holds the massage device  10  by the two handles  14  and places the bottom edge of the rotatable head  70  on the skin of a person being massaged. Thus, the highly polished lower face of the lower portion  72  of the rotatable head  70  and the highly polished bottom faces of the four metal posts  74   a - d  are in contact against the skin and thereby seal the central cavity  73  from the ambient atmosphere. 
         [0067]    The operator then switches the massage device  10  on, which causes the vacuum supply to draw air out of the central cavity  73  via the suction hole  81 , hollow bore and hollow threaded shaft  79  of the fourth post  74   d , through the vacuum pipe  80  and though the air duct  93  of the rotary air connector  90 . The resulting vacuum in the central cavity  73  sucks the skin up into the central cavity  73 , and thereby against the inside wall of the central cavity  73  between the posts  74   a - d , and against the posts  74   a - d  themselves which extend inwardly relative to the inside wall of the central cavity  73 . This is shown schematically in the solid line ‘a’ in  FIG. 17 . 
         [0068]    At the same time, the supply of pressurised air is provided alternately to the first and second ports  24   a ,  24   b  via the connection pipes  30   a ,  30   b  respectively, controlled by the control circuit, electric valve and air compressor (not shown). As described above, the alternating pressurised air supply causes the drive shaft  25  of the drive unit  20  to oscillate back and forth in a rotation motion about its central axis X-X in the direction of arrows A and B. Thereby, the rotatable head  70  is driven to oscillate back and forth as it is secured to the disc  32  mounted to the drive shaft  25 . 
         [0069]    As the rotatable head  70  oscillates back and forth, the folds of skin ‘a’ that are sucked up into the central cavity  73  against the inside wall thereof between the posts  74   a - d , are caused to be moved back and forth since the posts  74   a - d , which extend further inwardly than the inside wall of the central cavity  73 , push the folds of skin back and forth as the rotatable head  70  oscillates. For example, as the rotatable head  70  moves in the direction of dotted arrow B in  FIG. 17 , from the position shown in solid lines to the position shown in dashed lines, the fold of skin shown in  FIG. 17  moves from position ‘a’ to position ‘b’ shown in dashed lines. This repeated movement of the folds of skin sucked up into the central cavity  73  of the rotatable head  70  being pushed back and forth by the posts  74   a - d , creates the effective massaging movement of the massage device  10 . 
         [0070]    In addition to the massaging operation described above, the massaging device can further enhance the massaging effect by activation of the LED or laser means in the upper portion  71  of the rotatable head  70 . These transmit light through the side wall of the transparent lower portion  72  to directly heat the skin. Furthermore, RF or low-impulse current can be applied to the four metal posts  74   a - d  to be transmitted directly to the skin, to yet further enhance the massaging effect of the massage device  10 . 
         [0071]    The operation of the massage device  10 , including the operation of the vacuum supply, the actuation of the rotatable head with the pressurised air supply and its associated control circuit and the LED/laser means and RF/low impulse current, may all be controlled by various actuators such as switches, buttons, dials, etc (e.g. see feature  18  in  FIG. 2 ) mounted to the handles  14  of the outer housing. Thereby, all operations of the massage device  10  can be actuated by the operator with both hands still holding the handles  14 . The various controls provided on the handles  14  may also be operable to alter the oscillation speed and frequency of the rotatable head  70  and the suction force applied to the rotatable head  70  by the vacuum supply. 
         [0072]    Although the above embodiment is shown and described as having a drive unit  20  powered by pressurised air, it should be appreciated that the invention is not limited to such a drive unit, and alternative drive means may be included within the scope of the invention to actuate the rotatable head  70 . For example, such alternative drive means may comprise an electric motor. The variation in oscillation speed of the rotatable head  70  may be controlled by appropriate speed control of the electric motor. 
         [0073]    The support plate  50  as described in the above embodiment may be made of any suitable material, and can be, for example, made from plastic or metal. 
         [0074]    Although the lower portion  72  of the rotatable head  70  in the above-described embodiment is made of a plexi-glass material, other suitable transparent materials may be used, such as Perspex or glass, which would allow the LED/laser light to pass through the lower portion to the skin. Furthermore, the invention is not limited to embodiments having LED/laser means, and in such an embodiment of the invention which does not include LED/laser means, the lower portion may be made of one or more of a number of other non-transparent materials. 
         [0075]    Although the central circular aperture  73   a  of the central cavity  73  in the rotatable head  70  is shown and described as being substantially circular, with the posts  74   a - d  projecting into the central circular cavity  73   a  to form the undulating inside wall of the central cavity  73 , it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to such a shaped central cavity  73 , and many other configurations are envisaged within the scope of the invention, either with or without the above described posts  74   a - d  projecting into such recess. 
         [0076]    It is intended that the rotatable head for a massage device, and massage device incorporating such a rotatable head, may comprise any combination of two or more non-mutually exclusive features described in the above exemplary embodiment.