A VIBRATOR

Abstract: The invention concerns a vibrator comprising an engagement face (11) which is adapted to engage a part of a body, and which is driven by an electric motor (18). The vibrator moreover comprises a housing (1) comprising a shaft (9) connected with the motor, and the vibrator has a frequency regulating device and an amplitude regulating device (2) for regulating the frequency and the amplitude, respectively, of the upward and downward movement of the engagement face. The vibrator is characterized in that the amplitude regulating device (2) comprises an inclined shaft (15) in extension of the shaft (9) connected with the motor, said inclined shaft being slidably mounted in a conversion element (14) having a through hole. The conversion element (14) is rotatably and slidably mounted in a recess in an arm (13) which is directly secured with respect to the engagement face (11), said recess having a width greater than the width of the conversion element and having an extent in the width which is substantially perpendicular to the direction of the upward and downward movement of the engagement face.

Description: A vibrator The present invention concerns a vibrator comprising an engagement face which is adapted to engage a part of a body, and which is driven by an electric motor, and a housing comprising a shaft connected with the motor, a frequency regulating device and an amplitude regulating device for regulating the frequency and the amplitude, respectively, of the upward and downward movement of the engagement face. It is known that men suffering from paralysis caused by e.g. a spinal injury can ejaculate by imparting vibra¬ tions to the penis. However, the required vibration pat- tern and the necessary period of time for the action on the penis differ from person to person, and moreover de¬ pend on the type of injury received by the person con¬ cerned. Scientific studies have shown that the ideal vibration is performed at a frequency of 100 Hz and an amplitude of 2.5 mm. At the same time, a force is applied to the penis by the engagement face of the vibrator. The size of this force is difficult to measure, but tests have shown that the necessary counterforce on the other side of the penis is in the range from about 2 to about 15 N. Therefore, individual adaptation of the vibration pattern to a given group of patients is necessary. Thus, ejacula- tion may be generated for some patients already at an am¬ plitude of e.g. 1.5 mm, while for others an amplitude of 2.5 mm is necessary. In still others, the amplitude must e.g. be increased after repeated treatments to generate ejaculation. There is moreover a wish in this group of patients for the ability of vibration treating the penis in private, and accordingly there is an additional need for a vibra¬ tor which is easy to carry. Further, for several reasons, there is a need for a vi¬ brator which can be operated by just one hand. In the first place, one hand operation is desirable, because the other hand may then be used for holding a semen collec- tion container. In addition, many paralyzed men have dif¬ ferent hand functions, so that the vibration may be per¬ formed with the strongest hand, while the other is per¬ haps so weak that it cannot be used. Finally, one hand operation is also advantageous with respect to keeping the counterforce on the opposite side of the penis con¬ stant, which gives the best result. Vibrators as an aid for generating ejaculation in men are known. These vibrators are based on a loudspeaker/shaking table principle. This principle requires the use of a large magnet, and the vibrators are therefore constructed as large, heavy table models consisting of several sepa¬ rate units which are connected via wires . These vibra¬ tors, which are expensive to manufacture, are difficult to handle and adjust for safe and reliable treatment. Further, they are not suitable for domestic use, since they are stationary and take up relatively much space. US 827 133 discloses a massage instrument having a device for regulating the amplitude of the engagement face, which takes place by displacing an inclined shaft in a ball having a through hole, said ball being connected with the engagement face via a ball link and a rotary link. The device consists of many parts, which causes the instrument to have a rather high overall height. This is inexpedient, if the instrument is to be used for impart¬ ing vibrations to the penis by the use of just one hand. US 4 088 128 discloses an apparatus for use in connection with beauty treatment of e.g. cheeks and corners of the eye, which apparatus can be held by hand. The apparatus comprises an engagement face and a housing having an electrically driven motor, a self-supplying power unit and a device for regulating the frequency. US 4 088 128 provides no teachings of means for safe and reliable control of the vibration pattern, and the appa¬ ratus cannot therefore be used as an aid for the treat¬ ment of other parts of the body, such as the penis, be- cause the required, special vibration pattern of the en¬ gagement face cannot be generated. Further, because of its shape the apparatus is inexpedient for the treatment of the penis. US 3 664 331 discloses a vibrator for the treatment of gums, and also this vibrator has means for regulating the frequency and the amplitude of the engagement face. How¬ ever, in this apparatus the engagement face performs cir¬ cular movements, which will not bring about the same ef- feet as the scientifically demonstrated effect of linear upward and downward movements. The shape of the apparatus is moreover inexpedient for treating the penis, because it is not possible with one hand to provide a counterrest on the opposed side of the penis directly opposite the engagement face. Accordingly, there is a need for a vibrator which can be handled and be adjusted in a safe manner for safe and re- liable treatment, and which is portable and can be em¬ ployed using just one hand. The vibrator of the present invention is characterized in that the amplitude regulating device comprises an in¬ clined shaft in extension of the shaft connected with the motor, said inclined shaft being slidably mounted in a conversion element having a through hole, said conversion element being mounted rotatably and slidably in a recess in an arm which is directly secured with respect to the engagement face, said recess having a width greater than the width of the conversion element and having an extent in the width which is substantially perpendicular to the direction of the upward and downward movement of the en¬ gagement face. As a result, the vibrator may be built as a particularly compact structure having a low overall height which en¬ ables it to be used for the treatment of the penis with just one hand. The structure of the amplitude regulating device ensures that the amplitude of the upward and downward movement of the engagement face may be regulated steplessly and is independent of the applied force. Finally, the amplitude regulating device is formed by just a few mechanical com¬ ponents (inclined shaft, conversion element and arm), which - in addition to the compact structure - also makes the device very reliable. In use, the engagement face of the vibrator is placed against the part of the body, such as the penis, while the vibrator is held by hand. The treatment of the penis may be effected with one hand, as the compact structure allows the patient to use the thumb of the hand as a counterrest on the opposite side of the penis. Activation of the vibrator causes the engagement face to begin to vibrate, and the rotation of the motor will be converted into an upward and downward movement of the engagement face. By regulating the frequency regulating device and the amplitude regulating device and varying the force ap¬ plied by the engagement face to the body, the user him¬ self can adapt the vibration for safe treatment. Expedient embodiments of the invention are defined in claims 2-10. According to claim 2, the conversion element is formed by a ball, and the edges in the recess of the arm have a rounded shape corresponding to the rounded shape of the ball. This results in a structure having simple construc¬ tive elements which permit rotation as well as displace¬ ment of the conversion element in the recess in a simple manner. When the ball is ground flat on the sides perpendicular to the through hole, as stated in claim 3, then the ball may be introduced into the recess the "flat way", before the inclined shaft is mounted in the through hole of the bore. It is hereby possible to mount the ball in an arm which is made in one piece, as stated in claim 4. As stated in claim 5, the amplitude regulation may be performed by means of an adjustment screw which displaces the inclined shaft with respect to the conversion element via threads. The position of the conversion element on the inclined shaft is moved hereby, which results in a change in the amplitude of the engagement face. In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the fre¬ quency regulating device comprises a device which is adapted to regulate the supply of current and voltage to the electrically driven motor. This provides a simple frequency regulating device which may be made of elec- tronic components, enabling the vibrator to be given a compact structure. According to claim 7, the apparatus comprises an indica- tor adapted to apply a signal when the engagement face is subjected to a force which is greater than a given value. This ensures that the user is informed of the size of the force which is applied to the penis . This may be an ad¬ vantage e.g. to spinally injured men having no sense of touch, because they will be able to regulate the force applied to the engagement face on the basis of the emitted signal, thereby avoiding injury to the tissue be¬ cause of a too strong force. According to claim 8, the predetermined value, at which a signal is applied, corresponds to a load of between about 2 and 7 N. This ensures that the indicator applies a sig¬ nal when the engagement force is subjected to a force which is inexpediently great seen in relation to the ideal vibration pattern. This is an advantage in particu¬ lar for persons having no sense of touch in the body part which is affected. When the signal is applied by a light diode, a simple indicator is obtained, capable of step¬ lessly informing the user of the force to which the en- gagement face is subjected. The size of the signal, i.e. the amount of light, may thus vary as a function of the force. A light diode is a good and effective signal gen¬ erator for the user, and it has a small power consumption and is easy to incorporate in an electronic unit. As stated in claim 9, the electrically driven motor may advantageously be built into the housing, and when, as stated in claim 10, the housing is also provided with a self-supplying power unit in the form of an NiCd battery packet, a very compact, easily portable structure is ob¬ tained. An NiCd battery packet is an efficient power /32916 PC17DK96/00175 source which just takes up little space. The battery packet may moreover be charged, so that the user does not have to disassemble the vibrator when the battery packet is no longer capable of supplying a sufficient amount of power. It is moreover ensured that the user is not sub¬ jected to dangerous electric shocks, and that the vibra¬ tor may be used in all desired surroundings where there is no access to the mains supply. The invention will be explained more fully below with reference to the drawing, in which fig. 1 is a perspective view of the vibrator, fig. 2 is a sectional lateral view of the vibrator, fig. 3 is sectional top view of the vibrator, fig. 4 is an end view of the vibrator along the section A-A, and fig. 5 is a partially sectional view of the amplitude regulating device in four positions during rotation of the motor, and fig. 6 shows the vibrator used with one hand. Fig. 1 shows an advantageous embodiment of the vibrator of the invention. The vibrator, which is adapted to gen- erate ejaculation in men, comprises a housing 1 and an engagement face 11. The engagement face 11 is adapted to engage the penis externally. The housing 1 constitutes a storage unit for the technical components of the vibrator as well as a handle for the vibrator. The housing 1, see figs. 2 and 3, interiorly accommodates an electrically driven motor 18, which, via the motor shaft 9, drives a shaft 15 inclined with respect thereto. The motor shaft 9 is mounted in a supporting ball bearing 17. The motor 18 is connected via wires (not shown) to an electronic unit 38 which is supplied with power by the self-supplying power unit. The electronic unit 38 is mounted on a printed circuit board 29. In the shown embodiment, the self-supplying power unit is formed by a battery packet 35 which consists of charge¬ able NiCd batteries arranged side by side and in exten- sion of each other. The use of batteries allows the vi¬ brator to be used in all desired surroundings, including locations where there is no access to the mains supply. It is moreover ensured that the user cannot be subjected to dangerous electric shocks if the vibrator is used in moist surroundings, such as e.g. a steamy or wet bath¬ room. The batteries may be charged without being removed from the vibrator, through a charger socket 32 which is pro- vided in the side of the vibrator. A light diode 39 sig¬ nals the charged state of the batteries. The frequency regulating device is adapted to control the frequency of the vibration. This is done by regulating the voltage supply to the electrically driven motor 18, whereby the frequency, i.e. the number of the upward and downward movements of the engagement face 11 per unit of time, is regulated independently of the load. The fre¬ quency is typically regulated in the range from 0 to 200 Hz. The frequency regulating device is operated via a rubber knob 6 surrounding a potentiometer 31 which is connected to the electronic unit 38. The housing 1 moreover comprises a mechanical amplitude regulating device 2 which is adapted to regulate the am¬ plitude of the engagement face 11, i.e. the height of the upward and downward movement. The amplitude is typically regulated in the range from 0 to 5 mm, it being recom- mended to use as small an amplitude as necessary to gen¬ erate ejaculation. The reason is that the risk of tissue injuries increases when the amplitude is increased. The amplitude regulating device 2 comprises an arm 13 which is formed with a horizontal recess 7, see fig. 4. This recess 7 accommodates a ball 14 having a through bore. The bore of the ball 15 surrounds a portion of the inclined shaft 15, as is shown in fig. 3. Thus, rotation of the motor shaft 9 and thereby also of the inclined shaft 15 causes the arm 13 to perform an upward and down¬ ward movement. This mechanism is shown in greater detail in fig. 5, in which the amplitude regulating device 2 is shown in four different positions through a cycle of ro¬ tation. Fig. 5 shows each position partly from the end of the amplitude regulating device 2 and partly in a section through the arm 13. As the arm 13 is secured at its lower end with respect to the engagement face 11, said face will likewise perform an upward and downward movement. The motor 18 is connected with a threaded guide 21 via four shafts 22 and is thus movable to and fro inside the housing 1. This is done by rotating an amplitude regulat¬ ing knob 10 via a rubber part 3, which is arranged at the end of the housing 1, as this converts rotary movement to a linear sliding movement of the motor 18 via the threaded guide 21. The inclined shaft 15 will hereby also be moved to and fro in the ball 14. Depending on the po¬ sition of the inclined shaft 15 with respect to the arm 13, the amplitude of the engagement face 11 may thus be regulated. Thus, the amplitude increases when the motor 18 is moved in a direction away from the arm 13, and cor¬ respondingly decreases when the motor 18 is moved in a direction toward the arm 13. The reason is that the shaft 15 is inclined. The ball 14 has a smaller diameter in the direction of the bore, which appears clearly from fig. 5. The ball may hereby easily be mounted in the recess 7 of the arm, and the ball 14 cannot drop out when the inclined shaft 15 is positioned in the bore. This provides a very simple am- plitude regulating device allowing the amplitude to be regulated steplessly and to be independent of the force applied to the engagement face. Finally, the amplitude regulating device only has few mechanical components (inclined shaft, ball and arm). The amplitude regulating knob 10 is provided thereon with a rubber part having a scale 3 for the reading of the amplitude of the vibrator. The vibrator, which is shown in figs. 1-4, moreover com¬ prises a light diode 40 and a fluorescent tube 36 which signal the user when the engagement face 11 is subjected to a force which is inexpediently great seen in relation to the ideal vibration pattern, and which also emit an increasing amount of light when the force increases. Thus, the signal is variable, and in another embodiment of the invention the light diode 40 might e.g. have three different colours, each of which emits light at a differ¬ ent load. This reduces the risk of tissue injuries, one reason be¬ ing that a paralyzed person who cannot feel the force on the penis is informed via the indicator that the load is inexpediently great. The inexpedient force is in the range which corresponds to a counterforce on the opposed side of the penis of about 5 to 7 N and more, but differs from person to person. The force applied is registered by the electronic unit 38, as the voltage data associated with the force are known. The predetermined maximum value of the force corresponds to a counterforce on the other side of the penis of be¬ tween about 2 and 7 N. The light diode 40 thus signals when the vibration pattern is inexpedient. The necessary supply of current and voltage to the motor 18 increases in step with the load to maintain a prede¬ termined frequency. If the load is increased beyond a predetermined maximum value, the necessary supply of cur- rent and voltage no longer keeps step, and the frequency of the engagement face 11 will therefore decrease. If the load is increased additionally, the vibration stops completely. In the embodiment shown, the fluorescent tube 36 directs light from the light diode 40 to an area externally on the housing 1 which is located at the engagement face 11. At this area the housing 1 is surrounded by a transparent material 4 which causes the area around the engagement face 11 to be illuminated when the indicator is acti¬ vated, i.e. when the engagement face is subjected to a force which is greater than the predetermined value. The activation of the light diode 40 takes place in that the electronic unit 38 registers the power consumption of the motor 18. In the embodiment shown, the vibrator moreover comprises an on/off switch 30 which is provided at the opposite end of the amplitude regulating knob 10 of the vibrator. The on/off switch 30 is activated merely by pressing the end member 5 of the vibrator. The vibrator may thus be oper¬ ated with just one hand, e.g. by pressing the on/off switch 30 down against a firm base. The engagement face 11 is moreover secured to the arm 13 via threads 8 and may therefore easily be replaced by e.g. other types of engagement faces. It is shown in fig. 6 how the vibrator may be used for treating the penis by means of one hand. It will thus be seen that the low overall height of the vibrator, which is a consequence of the compact structure of the ampli¬ tude regulating device 2 of the invention, ensures that both the vibrator 1 and the penis 41 may be held between the thumb and the other fingers of the hand. It is hereby relatively easy to maintain a constant counterforce on the penis, which gives the best result in use. Further, the other hand is free e.g. for holding a collection con¬ tainer for the semen. The individual parts of the vibrator are assembled by means of screws 26 in the embodiment shown, but might also be assembled via snap couplings or the like. In another embodiment of the invention, the inclined shaft is formed by a bent shaft. This provides the same effect, but obviates the assembly between the motor shaft 9 and the inclined shaft 15. Many modifications are possible without departing from the idea of the invention. In the embodiment shown, the indicator is e.g. adapted to apply a visual indication. but this indication might also be provided by e.g. a sound signal. Further, both the frequency regulating device and the am- plitude regulating device 2 may be constructed in many ways, e.g. the frequency regulation might take place me¬ chanically, and the amplitude regulation might e.g. take place by displacing the arm 13 instead of the motor 18. In still another embodiment, the apparatus may have a spring arranged between the housing 1 and the arm 13. Then, depending on the dimensions of the spring, the natural frequency of the system might be regulated so that it e.g. corresponds to the treatment frequency, thereby permitting the battery consumption to be reduced. The frequency and amplitude regulating devices may like¬ wise be regulated automatically so that one or both of these parameters may vary in time according to a deter- mined pattern. The apparatus might also be provided with a counterrest which, like the engagement face of the vibrator, engages the penis, merely on its opposed side. The force applied by the engagement face to the penis might hereby be con¬ trolled by regulating the force applied by the counter¬ rest. Finally, the power supply might be separate from the vi- brator and merely be connected to it via a wire, and op¬ tionally the motor may also be located outside the hous¬ ing and be connected via a flexible shaft. The hand-oper¬ ated part of the vibrator will have a considerably re¬ duced weight in such embodiments, which may be an advan- tage for certain groups of patients.

Claims: P a t e n t C l a i s 1. A vibrator comprising an engagement face (11) which is adapted to engage a part of a body, and which is driven by an electric motor (18), and a housing (1) com¬ prising a shaft (9) connected with the motor, a frequency regulating device and an amplitude regulating device (2) for regulating the frequency and the amplitude, respec- tively, of the upward and downward movement of the en¬ gagement face, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the am¬ plitude regulating device (2) comprises an inclined shaft (15) in extension of the shaft (9) connected with the mo¬ tor, said inclined shaft being slidably mounted in a con- version element (14) having a through hole, said conver¬ sion element (14) being mounted rotatably and slidably in a recess in an arm (13) which is directly secured with respect to the engagement face (11), said recess having a width greater than the width of the conversion element and having an extent in the width which is substantially perpendicular to the direction of the upward and downward movement of the engagement face. 2. A vibrator according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r - i z e d in that the conversion element (14) is essen¬ tially formed as a ball, and that the edge of the recess has a rounded shape corresponding to the rounded shape of the ball. 3. A vibrator according to claim 2, c h a r a c t e r ¬ i z e d in that the ball (14) is ground flat on the sides perpendicular to the through hole. 4. A vibrator according to any of claims 1-3, c h a r - a c t e r i z e d in that the arm (13) is made in one piece. 5. A vibrator according to any of claims 1-4, c h a r ¬ a c t e r i z e d in that the amplitude regulating de¬ vice (2) additionally comprises an adjustment screw (10) capable of displacing the inclined shaft (15) with re- spect to the conversion element (14) in parallel with the longitudinal direction of the motor shaft via threads. 6. A vibrator according to any of claims 1-5, c h a r ¬ a c t e r i z e d in that the frequency regulating de- vice comprises a device which is adapted to regulate the voltage supply to the electrically driven motor (18). 7. A vibrator according to any of claims 1-6, c h a r ¬ a c t e r i z e d in that the housing (1) comprises an indicator adapted to apply a signal when the engagement face (11) is subjected to a force which is greater than a predetermined value. 8. A vibrator according to claim 7, c h a r a c t e r - i z e d in that the predetermined value is within a range of about 2 to 7 N, and that the signal is given by a light diode. 9. A vibrator according to any of claims 1-8, c h a r - a c t e r i z e d in that the electrically driven motor (18) is incorporated in the housing (1). 10. A vibrator according to claim 9, c h a r a c t e r ¬ i z e d in that the housing (1) also comprises a self- supplying power unit, and that this is formed by an NiCd battery packet (35).

Inventors: FRANCK HENRIK, FRANCK, HENRIK
Applicants: FRANCK HENRIK, MULTICEPT APS, FRANCK, HENRIK
Application year: 1996
Main classification: A61H23
IPC codes: A61H19, A61H23