Abstract:
Disclosed is a massage device for human face for driving vibration modules of a mask individually even without an external power supply to massage local or overall area of the human face and for driving vibrators of the vibration modules in various vibration pattern of pulse width modulation (PWM) to provide various massage functions such as appeasing, rubbing, picking, pressing, and knocking similar to massage carried out by human hands. The facial massage device includes a mask having an accommodation space therein and at least one vibration module accommodate in the accommodation space of the mask and having own power supply for allowing an independent operation.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims foreign priority of Korean Patent Application No. 20-2011-0006379, filed on Jul. 13, 2011, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety into this application. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a massage device for human face, and more particularly, to a massage device for human face for driving vibration modules of a mask individually even without an external power supply to massage local or overall area of the human face and for driving vibrators of the vibration modules in various vibration pattern of pulse width modulation (PWM) to provide various massage functions such as appeasing, rubbing, picking, pressing, and knocking similar to massage carried out by human hands. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     In general, in order to improve elasticity of skin and to prevent aging, various cosmetics and functional cosmetics such as massage cream are used and professional massage shops performing skin care using the functional cosmetics are increased. 
     Moreover, a massage device (hereinafter, referred to as a “facial massage device”) stimulating human face is provided and is configured to attach a vibration motor to a face-shaped mask to apply vibration to the human face such that blood can be easily circulated and skin aging can be delayed. 
       FIG. 1  shows an existing facial massage device, and as illustrated in  FIG. 1  the existing skin facial massage device includes a mask  10 , an electrode node (not shown) installed to the mask  10 , an LED indicators  20 , an input terminal  30 , a controller  40 , and wearing bands  50 . 
     The mask  10  is made of very soft silicon material having a standard face shape enough to cover human face. 
     The electrode node is installed inside the mask  10  and stimulates the human face by making electric current flow through the human face. 
     The LED indicators  20  are installed on the outer side of the mask  10  to visually indicate whether the electrode node is operated normally. 
     The input terminal  30  receives electric power and various control signals required to drive the electrode node and the LED indicators  20  from the controller  40 . 
     The controller  40  supplies driving electric power to the mask  10 , allows a user to input various preset values, and transmits various control signals to a driving circuit board (not shown) according to the input preset values. 
     Finally, the wearing bands  50  are attached to lateral sides of the mask  10  such that a user can wear the mask on his/her face. 
     However, the existing facial massage device is operated only when being provided with the controller because the mask is electrically connected through coupling between the input terminal of the mask and a connector of the controller and electric power is applied from the controller to the electrode node of the mask. In other words, in order to operate the electrode node of the mask for use of the facial massage functions, the facial massage device must be provided with the controller, and due to this it is inconvenient to use and carry the existing facial massage device and overall operation of the facial massage device is impossible when the battery mounted to the controller is discharged. 
     Moreover, since the existing facial massage device is a device in which the electrode node is driven or stopped by the electric power supplied from the controller, it is impossible to apply massage functions to a specific portion of face or vice versa. For example, it is impossible for a user to receive the massage functions to portions of his/her face excluding a wound. Due to this, a user must avoid using the existing massage device or must be massaged while avoiding the massage device. 
     Moreover, the existing facial massage device controls stimulation strength to a portion of face by adjusting current applied to the electrode node but cannot provide various stimulations like massage carried out by hands, resulting in providing only simple massage functions. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention has been made to overcome the above problem and provide a facial massage device including a plurality of vibration modules independently driven by own power supplies and operated with only a mask regardless of an external power supply. 
     The present invention also provides a facial massage device allowing a user to select a portion to which massage function is applied such as to select a specific portion of user&#39;s face or to exclude the other portion of the face. 
     The present invention also provides a facial massage device for providing various massage functions such as appeasing, rubbing, picking, pressing, and knocking by controlling vibration patterns of the vibration modules. 
     In order to achieve the foregoing and/or other aspects of the present invention, there is provided a facial massage device, including: a mask having an accommodation space therein; and at least one vibration module accommodated in the accommodation space of the mask and having own power supply for allowing an independent operation. 
     The mask comprises a first mask and a second mask circumstances of which are fixed to each other to form the accommodation space therein, and at least one of the first mask and the second mask has at least one of insertion holes for insertion and withdraw of the vibration module. 
     Moreover, the vibration module includes: a printed circuit board; a vibrator installed on the printed circuit board; a drive mounted on the printed circuit board to provide vibration force of the vibrator when electric power is supplied; a battery supplying the electric power to the drive; a supporting plate integrally connecting the printed circuit board to the battery; a power connecting member electrically connecting power terminals of the battery to power terminals of the drive on the printed circuit board; and an insulator attached to a contact region between the power terminals of the battery and the power connecting member and allowing contact between the power terminals of the battery and the power connecting member when the vibration module is separated from the battery. 
     The vibration module further includes a controller controlling the drive to control the vibration state of the vibrator, and the controller controls the drive in pulse width modulation (PWM) such that at least two different pulses are outputted to the drive while the at least two different pulses are sequentially output according to a preset reference or only one pulse is continuously outputted. 
     The facial massage device further includes a wearing unit for allowing the mask to be put on human head. 
     The facial massage device of the present invention can exhibit massage functions by driving a plurality of vibration modules of a mask which are independently driven by own power supply even without a separated external power supply so that user convenience and mobility can be improved. 
     Moreover, since a specific portion of human face is massaged or the other portion excluding the specific portion is massaged by user&#39;s choice, the facial massage device of the present invention can provide proper massage functions according to face skin conditions and personal tendency. 
     In addition, the facial massage device of the present invention can provide various massage function such as appeasing, rubbing, picking, pressing, and knocking by controlling vibration patterns of the vibration modules so that massage functions and effects thereof can be maximized. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating an existing facial massage device; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating a facial massage device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view illustrating the facial massage device according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a sectional view taken along the line A-A of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view illustrating a vibration module of the facial massage device according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of the vibration module of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIGS. 7A to 7H  are views showing massage operations of a facial massage device according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, which vibrates in different types according to output pulses outputted from a controller of the vibrator to a drive of the device. 
         FIG. 8  is a rear side view illustrating the vibration module of the facial massage device according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Hereinafter, a facial massage device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating a facial massage device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention,  FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view illustrating the facial massage device according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention,  FIG. 4  is a sectional view taken along the line A-A of  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 5  is a perspective view illustrating a vibration module of the facial massage device according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention,  FIGS. 7A to 7E  are views showing output pulses from a controller of the vibration module of the facial massage device according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 8  is a rear side view illustrating the vibration module of the facial massage device according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , a facial massage device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a mask  200  and a plurality of vibration modules  100  and configurations and operations of elements thereof will be described with reference to  FIG. 2 . 
     The mask  200  forms an accommodation space for the vibration modules  100  such that the vibration modules  100  are accommodated in the accommodation space of the mask  200  and provide massage function to human face during vibration. At least one vibration module  100  may be provided and has own power supply to be driven independently. Due to this, the facial massage device drives the vibration modules  100  of the mask  200  without an external power supply to provide various massage functions and massages a specific portion of human face or the other portion excluding the specific portion. 
     The facial massage device according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to  FIGS. 2 to 8 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 to 4 , the facial massage device includes a first mask  210 , a second mask  220 , and vibration modules  100 . The facial massage device may further include a wearing unit  300 . 
     The first mask  210  and the second mask  220  are fixed by the circumstance of the mask to form the accommodation space therein. At least one of the first mask  210  and the second mask  220  has insertion holes allowing the vibration modules  100  to be inserted or withdrawn therethrough or insertion holes  210   a  through which insulators  180  of the vibration modules are withdrawn out. In this embodiment, the first mask  210  has the insertion holes  210   a  for withdraw of the insulators  180 . 
     The vibration modules  100  will be described with  FIGS. 5 to 8 . Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , each of the vibration modules  100  includes a printed circuit board  110 , a vibrator  120 , a drive  130 , a controller  140 , a battery  150 , a supporting plate  160 , a power connecting member  170 , and an insulator  180 . 
     The printed circuit board  110  is configured such that the vibrator  120  is installed on a side thereof and the drive  130  and the controller  140  are mounted thereon. Thus, the printed circuit board  110  has a circuit pattern for electrical connection between the battery  150 , the drive  130 , and the controller  140 . The printed circuit board  110  may be a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) for the purpose of allowing the vibration modules  100  being bent along contours of a user&#39;s face and closed attached thereto. 
     The vibrator  120  is installed on the printed circuit board  110  and vibrates by receiving an electric power by the driver  130 . The vibrator  120  is a device stimulating user&#39;s skin with vibration therefrom. That is, the vibrator  120  is not only a device of the vibration module  100  directly performing facial massage but also a device transmitting power the facial massage to the whole vibration module  100 . The vibrator  120  may be inserted into vibrator holes  160   a  formed in the printed circuit board  110  and the supporting plate  160 . 
     This is because of reduction of overall thickness of the vibration module of the facial massage device  100 , and in other words, the overall thickness of the vibration module  100 , when the vibrator  120  is installed on a side of the printed circuit board  110 , becomes sum of the thickness of the vibrator  120  and the thicknesses of the printed circuit board  110  and the supporting plate  160 . Thus, the vibrator holes  160   a  are formed in the printed circuit board  110  and the supporting plate  160  and the vibrator  120  is inserted into the vibrator holes  160   a  and the thicknesses of the printed circuit board  110  and the supporting plate  160  is subtracted from the overall thickness of the vibration module  100  so that the overall thickness of the vibration module  100  can be reduced. 
     The drive  130  is mounted on the printed circuit board  110  and received electric power from the battery  150  to supply the received electric power to the vibrator  120 . The drive  130  may be any one of a vibration motor, a solenoid, a piezo device, and a linear vibrator. 
     The controller  140  is mounted on the printed circuit board  110  and controls the drive  130  to adjust vibration of the vibrator  120 . The controller  140  controls the drive  130  in pulse width modulation (PWM). That is, the controller  140  operates the drive  130  in various modes through the PWM, while outputting at least two different pulses wherein the different output pulses are sequentially outputted or only a preset one type pulse is continuously outputted. The vibrator  120  may vibrate to provide various massage functions such as appeasing, rubbing, picking, pressing, knocking, etc., according to the various output pulses and the operating conditions of the drive  130 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 7 ,  FIGS. 7A to 7H  are views showing massage operations of the vibrator which vibrates in different types according to output pulses outputted from the controller  140  to the drive  130 . That is, the colored portions in the drawings are portions to which vibration of the vibrator is transmitted and the other portion is portion where the vibrator is stopped or not attached. 
       FIG. 7A  shows a case where relatively strong vibration continues same intensity for a preset time,  FIG. 7B  shows relatively strong vibration of same intensity repeated every preset short time interval, and  FIG. 7C  shows relatively strong vibration of same intensity repeated for a preset time every short time interval. Moreover,  FIG. 7D  shows visually weak vibration being gradually stronger for a preset time after starting and  FIG. 7E  shows strong vibration being gradually weakening for a preset time after starting contrary to the case of  FIG. 7D .  FIG. 7F  shows early weak vibration is gradually stronger to the peak and is gradually weakened again. 
     Return to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the battery  150  is installed on the supporting plate  160  and supplies electric power to the drive  130  and the controller  140  through the power connecting member  170 . The battery  150  may be inserted into a battery hole  160   b  formed in the supporting plate  160  so as to reduce the overall thickness of the vibration module  100  and its description is omitted because this is substantially identical to the insertion of the vibrator  120  into the vibrator holes  160   a.    
     The supporting plate  160  is provided to connect the printed circuit board  110  to the battery  150  integrally. The supporting plate  160  may be made of a flexible material such that flexibility of the vibration module  100  can be guaranteed. Moreover, the supporting plate  160  may be configured such that the battery  150  and the vibrator  120  are mounted at the ends in the major axis on an oval side of the supporting plate  160 , respectively. Thus, devices are not mounted at the middle portion of the major axis and due to this the supporting plate  160  can exhibit elasticity and higher flexibility. 
     The power connecting member  170  electrically connects the power terminals (not shown) of the battery  150  to the power terminals (not shown) of the drive  130  on the printed circuit board  110 . In other words, the drive  130  receives electric power from the battery  150  through the power connecting member  170 . Moreover, the power terminals of the printed circuit board  110  may supply electric power to the controller  140  and in this case the printed circuit board  110  has circuit patterns connecting the power terminals to the drive  130  and the controller  140  in parallel. 
     The insulator  180  is attached to a contact area between the power terminals of the battery  150  and the power connecting member  170 . That is, the insulator  180  is attached to the battery  150  to interrupt the electrical connection between the power terminals of the battery  150  and the power connecting member  170  and the electrical connection between the power terminals of the battery  150  and the insulator  180  is made when the insulator  180  is separated from the battery  150 . The insulator  180  is detachably attached to the battery  150  and controls the electrical connection between the power terminals of the battery  150  and the power connection member  170  through the attachment and detachment of the insulator  180  to control the electric power to be supplied from the battery  150  to the drive  130  or not. 
     In other words, the insulator  180  can switch the electrical connection between the power terminals of the battery  150  and the power connecting member  170  and in this case the vibration module  100  can spend the electric power of the battery  150  only by the switching function of the insulator  180  even without a separated switch. That is, omission of the switch allows reduction of volume of the vibration module  100  and the electric power of the battery  150  may be spent only when the vibrator  120  is operated. 
     Although in this exemplary embodiment a thin sheet of the insulator  180  is detachably attached to the battery  150  to screen the power terminals, the present invention is not limited thereto but the insulator  180  may be attached to and detached from power terminal regions of the battery  150  and may be modified under the conditions of applying electric power between the power terminals of the battery  150  and the power connecting member  170 . 
       FIG. 8  is a rear side view of the vibration module of the facial massage device according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention in which the battery  150  and the vibrator  120  are inserted into the battery hole  160   b  and the vibrator holes  160   a  that are formed in the printed circuit board  110  and the supporting plate  160  and are fixed thereto. A buffering pad (not shown) may be attached to the rear side of the vibration module  100  (the rear side of the supporting plate) and may prevent direct contact between the vibrator  120  and human skin. In  FIG. 8 , the buffering pad is omitted for the purpose of showing the battery hole  160   b  and the vibrator holes  160   a  and ones of sides of the battery  150  and the vibrator  120  which are inserted thereinto. Moreover, the buffering pas may be made in various types such as nonwoven fabric or a sheet containing liquid material. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 to 4  again, the wearing unit  300  puts the mask on a human head and is like a hair band in this embodiment, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The wearing limit  300  consists of a pair of bands, ends of which are fixed to lateral sides of the mask  200  and the other ends of which are provided with hook and loop fasteners  310  for connecting each other. Lengths of the hook and loop fasteners are relatively long such that length of the wearing unit  300  cab e adjusted by contact portions between the hook and loop fasteners  310 . 
     As described with reference to  FIGS. 2 to 8 , the facial massage device of the present invention can exhibit massage functions by driving a plurality of vibration modules  100  of the mask  200  which are independently driven by own power supply even without a separated external power supply. Moreover, since a plurality of vibration modules  100  massage a specific portion of human face or the other portion excluding the specific portion by user&#39;s choice, the facial massage device of the present invention can provide proper massage functions according to face skin conditions and personal tendency. 
     In addition, since the drives of the vibration modules  100  are controlled in pulse width modulation (PWM) to drive the vibrators receiving power from the drives to be operated in various vibration patterns, the facial massage device of the present invention can provide various massage function such as appeasing, rubbing, picking, pressing, and knocking by controlling vibration patterns of the vibration modules. 
     While this invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the concept of the invention to those skilled in the art. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.