Abstract:
A massager system includes one or more gear trains coupled to a motor to rotate at least a pair of shafts that each supports a pair of nodules for rotation about the associated shaft. A pillow-shaped outer housing surrounds the motor and number of coupled gear trains with the nodules protruding above the outer housing to facilitate contact with a selected bodily region to knead or otherwise stimulate surface skin in a bodily region.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The invention relates to body massagers and more particularly to massagers including mechanical actuators. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Massaging of various regions of the body is considered to be beneficial for relaxing tense muscles structures and for promoting a sense of emotional tranquility and relaxation. Traditionally, body massages are performed by a trained masseur or masseuse who knead or rub regions of the body to promote the beneficial effects of massage. However, in the absence of such trained individuals, mechanical massagers have evolved to perform various forms of dynamic movements in contact with the body. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a mechanical massager incorporates a plurality of rotating nodules that may be positioned against selected surface regions of the body to mechanically knead the surface skin and associated subcutaneous muscle structures. The mechanical massager may be disposed within a pillow-shaped housing for convenient placement on or against selected body regions, with the rotating nodules disposed within or beneath a flexible membrane that is positioned against the body. Additionally sets of rotating nodules incorporate electrical heating elements to elevate the surface temperature for warming a body region disposed in close proximity to the rotating nodules. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a mechanical massager comprising two pairs of rotable nodules; 
           [0005]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0006]      FIG. 3  is a perspective exploded view of another embodiment of a mechanical massager, including four pairs of rotable nodules; 
           [0007]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 3  disposed within a pillow-shaped outer housing; 
           [0008]      FIG. 5  is a side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 4 , illustrating the protruding nodules for placement proximate a selected body region; and 
           [0009]      FIG. 6  is an end sectional view of the embodiment of  FIG. 4 , illustrating the orientation of components within a pillow-shaped outer housing, incorporating a flexible membrane disposed over the rotable nodules. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    Referring now to the perspective view of  FIG. 1 , there is shown a gear housing  9  and motor  11  forming the motive force for rotating the pair of discs  13 ,  15  that are attached to upstanding shafts  16 ,  18  and that each support a pair of nodules  17 ,  19  and  21 ,  23 . 
         [0011]    The nodules  17 ,  19  and  21 ,  23  thus mounted are rotable on the discs  13 ,  15 , for example, in opposite rotational directions in response to energizing the motor  11  to rotate in one or opposite directions. 
         [0012]    As illustrated in the exploded perspective view of  FIG. 2 , the gear housing  9  rotationally supports a pair of gear trains  25 ,  27  that couple a worm gear  29  driven by motor  11  to the upstanding shafts  16 ,  18  on which the discs  13 ,  15  are mounted. Thus, energizing motor  11  causes rotation of the discs  13 ,  15  in opposite directions. The housing  9  also supports electrical connection plates  31 ,  33  in concentric orientation about the respective shafts  16 ,  18 . Each electrical connector plate  31 ,  33  includes concentric conductive channels  35 ,  38  and  39 ,  41  that provide electrical conduction to a pair of brushes  43 ,  45  and  47 ,  49  associated with each nodule  17 ,  19  and  21 ,  23  on each disc  13 ,  15 . Heating elements and/or lighting components (not shown) may be disposed within each nodule  17 ,  19  and  21 ,  23  to enhance sensor stimulation or visual impact of the rotable nodules  17 ,  19  and  21 ,  23 . The nodules may be formed of, for example, polyvinylchloride, polypropylene, or the like plastic or polished jade stones. It is believed that jade stones, heated to elevated temperatures that are comfortable to the human body, may promote transfer of trace minerals such as calcium, magnesium and iron to a bodily region in contact or in close proximity to the heated jade nodules. 
         [0013]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , there is shown an exploded perspective view of a dual or tandem configuration similar to the embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Specifically, a pair of gear housings  9  are mounted to opposite ends of the motor  11  that includes worm gears  29  at each end shaft. The engaged gear trains  25 ,  27  in each gear housing  9  rotate shafts  16 ,  18  in response to energization of the motor  11 . Electrical connection plates  31 ,  33  are disposed with conductive channels  35 ,  38  and  39 ,  41  in concentric orientation about the shafts  16 ,  18 . Nodules  17 ,  19  and  21 ,  23  are mounted on platforms  51 ,  53  attached to the shafts  16 ,  18  for opposite rotations in response to energization of the motor  11 . Electrical contact brushes  43 ,  45  may be disposed to connect to the conductive channels  35 ,  38  as the platforms  51 ,  53  rotate in order to supply electrical power therethrough to heaters and/or lighting systems in the nodules  17 ,  19  and  21 ,  23 . The dual or tandem configuration of gear housings and associated rotatable nodules greatly facilitate the total area of a selected bodily region that can be massaged or otherwise stimulated by contact with the structure. 
         [0014]    Referring now to the partial perspective view of  FIG. 4 , there is shown an embodiment of  FIG. 3  disposed within a recess  59  in pillow-shaped outer housing  55  that surrounds the structure with sufficient relief around the nodules  17 ,  19 ,  21 ,  23  and supporting platforms  51 ,  53  to facilitate unobstructed rotation thereof. The outer housing  55  may be relatively soft and pliant to comfortably conform to a selected bodily region, but also relatively firm to inhibit crushing or deformation and obstruction of the rotatable members. A manual controller  57  may be wired to the structure, or arranged for conventional remote control of rotations, rotation rate and time, heating and/or lighting of the nodules  17 ,  19 ,  21 ,  23 . 
         [0015]    Referring now to the side view of  FIG. 5 , there is shown a profile of the outer housing  55  and the nodules  17 ,  19 ,  21 ,  23  protruding beyond an outer surface of the outer housing to facilitate engagement of the nodules with a selected bodily region. A flexible membrane (not shown to promote clarity) is disposed over the nodules  17 ,  19 ,  21 ,  23  to enclose the recess  59  within the outer housing  55  in which the structure is disposed. Such membranes may be formed, for example, of fabric webbing or rubber sheet, or the like, to promote sanitary environment and obscure the recess  59  and the structure disposed therein. 
         [0016]    Referring now to the end sectional view of  FIG. 6 , there is shown the motor  11  and attached gear housing  9  disposed within the recess  59  in the pillow-shaped outer housing  55 , with the upper surfaces of the nodules  17 ,  19 ,  21 ,  23  protruding above the outer housing from beneath the flexible membrane  61 . 
         [0017]    Therefore, the massager of the present invention incorporates a motor and engaged gear trains to rotate pairs of nodules that protrude from within a pillow-shaped outer housing to facilitate convenient kneading or other stimulation of a selected bodily region that is positioned in contact with the protruding nodules.