Abstract:
A massager with an improved interface preferably including a housing with a massage actuator positioned within the housing. The massage actuator is positioned in the housing so that the massaging head which is attached to the housing may receive the massaging impulses created by the massage actuator. The massaging head preferably has a portion of the head covered by a gel covering which is flexible to conform to the various contours of a user&#39;s body while at the same time effectively transmitting the massaging impulse to the users. The massaging head may have portions which are not covered by the gel bed to further increase the versatility of the massager so that should the user wish to focus the massaging impulse to a specific area it may be done at the users convenience. It is envisioned that the improved interface may be used on portable handheld massagers, foot massagers, and various computer and/or keyboard wrist rests and mouse pad rests.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to massaging units having soft pliable gel coverings to enhance the effectiveness thereof. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The present invention relates handheld and other types of massagers. Such massagers are often battery operated, but may also include adapters to be plugged into an AC outlet. Massagers may be used on a variety of areas on the body. 
     Handheld massagers are compact so that they may be held in the hand while being used on another part of the body. These massagers usually have a mechanism for creating vibratory motions in a head portion that is used to contact an area of the body. The massager works by transmitting vibrations from the head of the massager to the body to soothe the muscles underneath the skin and promote circulation. Typically the massager heads have hard surfaces made of a material such as rigid rubber or plastic for contacting the body. Since the head portion of the massager is typically made of a rigid material, it is not able to fully conform to the contours of the body part that it engages. This may reduce its effectiveness in transmitting the vibrations to the underlying muscle tissue. In addition, the vibrations that are transmitted to the body may be too focused on a particular area and not provide a significant amount of area to cover the body part that is intended to be massaged. Other types of massagers are also characterized by rigid surfaces for contacting the person. Some, however, have included gel packs. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,593,212 and 5,902,256 disclose massagers including gel-filled portions. 
     There is a need for massagers having flexible heads that are able to conform to the shape of the body to better transmit the vibrations from the motor in the massager. In addition, there is a need for massagers that provide soothing and circulation enhancing vibrations to the body, while at the same time not creating a situation where the vibrations may be too focused or intense in one area so as to be ineffective in providing satisfactory relief. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an advantage of the present invention to provide a massager having a flexible contact surface which easily conforms to the shape of the users body. 
     It is another advantage of the present invention to provide a massager surface that is not only flexible but which also distributes and transmits the massaging impulses from the massager to a part of the body being contacted by the massager. 
     It is further an advantage of the present invention to provide a massager that may be used in the form of a portable handheld massager or a foot massager. 
     It is still another advantage of the present invention to provide a massager having a gel covering to conform to the user&#39;s body while at the same time transmitting the massaging impulses from the massage actuator. 
     It is further an advantage of the present invention to provide a gel pad massaging unit which may be used as a wrist rest for either a computer keyboard or typewriter or computer mouse. 
     In accordance with one form of the present invention the massager has an improved interface having a housing which has a massager head attached to a handle that houses a massage actuator. The massaging head is connected to the handle which receives the massaging impulses from the massage actuator. In one embodiment of the present invention, the massaging head may be mounted pivotally to the handle so that it may be moved in various directions to accommodate the user. The massaging head has a massaging surface which may be partially covered by a gel covering. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention the portion that is not covered by the gel covering may be made of a rigid rubber or plastic material so that the user may focus the massaging impulses from the massage actuator to a specific area of the body. In another embodiment of the present invention the gel cover may completely cover the massaging head so that the user may have a comfortable surface with which to use the massager. 
     The gel covering may be made of a soft fabric to encase the gel which is enclosed therein. The gel is preferably of a consistency that is soft and pliable yet allows the massaging impulses of the massage actuator to be evenly distributed about the massaging surface of the gel covering. 
     The present invention also envisions using the gel covering on a foot massager. The foot massager may include a housing which houses the massage actuator and the foot massager may have at least one gel pad on the upper surface for the user&#39;s feet to contact. The foot massager may have depressions in the upper surface to indicate where the user may place his/her feet and the gel pads may be positioned within these depressions so that the massaging impulse from the massage actuator may be evenly distributed on the user&#39;s feet. In one embodiment of the present invention, the foot massager may have portions in the depressions where there are percussion nodes which create a tapping sensation on the bottoms or sides of the users feet. These percussion nodes may be made of a rigid rubber or plastic material and are preferably not covered by the gel pad. 
     The present invention may also be used in such items as a computer keyboard wrist rest and a mouse pad rest. The wrist rests may include a gel padding on the top of a wrist rest that is to be placed adjacent to the computer keyboard. A massage actuator may be housed within the wrist rest under a top gel covering to provide a soothing massaging impulse to the user. It is also envisioned that a mouse pad may be integrated with a wrist rest so that a user may comfortably use the wrist rests with a mouse pad. 
    
    
     A preferred form of each of the massagers having gel coverings as well as other embodiments, objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments thereof which is to be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a handheld massager of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the handheld massager as shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 2A is a bottom perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the handheld massager; 
     FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of a foot massager of the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a foot massager of the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a mouse pad/wrist rest of the present invention; 
     FIG. 6 is a side view of the mouse pad/wrist rest shown in FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 7 is a top plan view of a keyboard pad of the present invention; and 
     FIG. 8 is a side view of the keyboard pad as shown in FIG.  6 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to FIG. 1, one preferred embodiment of the present invention may be in the form of a handheld massager  10 . The massager  10  has a housing  12  having a handle  14 , so that the user may hold the massager  10  in one hand while using it and a head  16  that is mounted to one end of the handle  14 . One or more massage actuator  8  is provided for transmitting massaging impulses to the head  16 . The massage actuator  8  may include mechanical or electromechanical devices adapted to provide one or more various types of massaging impulses. To achieve such impulses, massage actuator  8  may include eccentric motors, solenoid driven actuators, rotating rollers or other mechanisms as is known in the art. In the preferred embodiment, the massage actuator  8  creates a massaging impulse that is described as a vibration action for exemplary purposes. The massage actuator  8  is shown schematically positioned in the handle  14  and may be positioned in or near the head  16 . The handle  14  may include a battery compartment  9  for use when the massager  10  is not plugged into an AC outlet. A power cord  17  is connected to the handle for connecting the massager  10  to a wall outlet. The massage actuator  8  is powered by either batteries or the cord  17 . 
     The head  16  may be pivotally mounted to the handle  14 . Preferably the head  16  is mounted so that it may rotate with respect to the handle  14  as shown by the arrows in FIG.  1 . The head  16  by being movable in relation to the handle  14  allows the user to more conveniently position the massager  10  where needed. In the preferred embodiment the head  16  has a triangular configuration. One advantage of having the triangular shape is that the user may use the corners of the head  16  to more specifically focus the vibration when needed. Any appropriate shape for the head may be used depending on the user&#39;s needs or aesthetic tastes. 
     In the preferred form of the present embodiment a gel pad  20  is attached to the head  16  of the massaging unit  12 . The gel pad  20  may be attached integrally to the head  16  by permanently attaching it with an adhesive. In the alternative, the gel pad  20  may be attached by a temporary adhesive or the use of a hook and loop closure, so that the gel pad  20  may be replaced at the user&#39;s convenience. The means of attachment is not deemed critical. The gel pad  20  is preferably shaped so that when in use, the user may press the gel pad  20  against the specific part of the body needed and not contact any other parts of the massager head  16  if so desired. 
     Referring to FIG. 2, the gel pad  20  may be filled with a silicon-based gel so that it is easily moldable and readily conforms to the contours of the body. Gel pad  20  is preferably encased by a resilient outer surface  22 . The head  16  may include a node  15  made of hard rubber this is not covered by the gel pad  20 . The advantage to having this configuration is that the user may more accurately focus the massaging impulses to a specific part of the body when needed. The node is preferably located where shown to allow the user to easily employ it for relieving tension “knots”. 
     One advantage of using the gel pad is that the vibrations from the head  16  are easily transferred through the gel since it is made of an incompressible material, thus the vibrations pass through the gel pad  20 . However, the gel pad  20  also has the further advantage of conforming to the user&#39;s body, so that the vibrations are dispersed over a wider area, namely, the entire gel surface  22 , which conforms to the user&#39;s body. Therefore, the vibrations from the massager  12  are more evenly disbursed along the gel surface  22 . On the other hand, the massager  10  is versatile in that it also provides a rigid surface should the user wish to “focus” the vibrations over a particular point on the body. 
     An alternative embodiment of the massager head  16  is shown in FIG.  2 A. The head  16  may have the gel pad  20  completely covering the head  16 . Since the head  16  will be completely covered by the gel pad  20 , the node  15  is eliminated in the alternative embodiment. 
     FIG. 3 shows a foot massager  40  of the present invention. In the preferred embodiment, the foot massager  40  has a housing  42  which contains one or more massage actuators  41 . The housing  42  may have a molded handle  39  so that the massager may easily be moved. The massage actuators  41  are well known in the art and are not described in detail. In the preferred embodiment, the massage actuators  41  create a massaging impulse which is described as a vibration action for exemplary purposes. On the housing  42  of the foot massager  40 , there are two depressions  44  where the user places his/her feet. One or more gel pads  46  are positioned over massage actuators  41 , and are sufficiently resilient to conform to the bottom and sides of the feet. The massage actuators  41  are positioned so that vibrations can be felt on the bottoms and sides of the feet. 
     In the preferred embodiment, the depressions  44  are positioned on the inclined top surface  39  of the housing  42 . The depressions  44  may be used as a visual indicator to the user for the correct placement of their feet on the massager  40 . Preferably, the depressions  44  will be shaped in the general outline of an average person&#39;s feet positioned in a side by side relationship. The depressions  44  are preferably shaped to follow the bottom contours of the user&#39;s feet to further increase comfort for the user. 
     The gel pads  46  are of the same general nature and construction as the gel pad used in the massager shown in FIG. 1, but are adapted to conform to the feet. The gel pad  46  is preferably about the same size as the depressions  44  and follow the contours of the depressions  44  to create a comfortable surface and aesthetically pleasing appearance. Preferably, in the center of each depression  44 , there is a cutout in the gel pad  46  so that percussion nodes  50  may be employed. Preferably the percussion nodes  50  are made so that they provide a stimulating repetitive type of tapping motion on the area of the foot touching the nodes  50 . The percussion nodes  50  may be of varying shapes and designs to both stimulate the user&#39;s feet and to provide an aesthetically pleasing appearance. A heat panel  52  is provided in the preferred embodiment, and is positioned between the depressions  44 . The heat panel  52  preferably has a smooth texture and is sufficiently warm to create a soothing heat. The user may use the heat panel  52  by placing a foot in close proximity or in direct contact thereon to increase comfort. 
     The massage actuators  41  may create vibration impulses that are transmitted through the gel pad(s) and/or the nodes. Tapping motors  51  may be provided for use with the percussion nodes  50  and are shown schematically in the drawings. Tapping motors  51  are well known in the art and are not described in detail. The user&#39;s feet would be placed on the gel pad surface  48 , so that vibrations from the massage actuator  41  would be felt along substantially the entire portions of the feet in contact with the gel pad. The gel pad  46  would conform to the individual shape of the person&#39;s foot to provide a deep and more soothing massage. The present invention envisions using percussion nodes  50  in only specific areas of the depressions  44  so that a more focused and/or different type of stimulation can be transmitted to the appropriate areas of the feet. The advantage of using a flexible gel pad  46  which disperses and transmits the vibrations from the massage actuator  41  and conforms to the individual user&#39;s feet is still retained in the foot massager  40  embodiment of the present invention. 
     An alternative embodiment of the foot massager  56  is shown in FIG.  4 . The foot massager  56  having a housing  58  with an integrally molded handle  60  so that the user may easily move the massager  56  when needed. The housing  58  may contain similar massage actuators  41  as described in the embodiment shown in FIG.  3 . The housing  58  of the foot massager  56  may have two depressions  62  where the user places his/her feet. One or more gel pads  64  are positioned in depressions  62  preferably over the massage actuators  41  or in close relation thereto. The gel pads  64  are sufficiently resilient to conform to the bottom and sides of the feet. The gel pads  64  are of the same general nature and construction as the gel pad used in the massager shown in FIG.  3 . 
     The depressions  62  may be of the same general construction as the depressions  44  as shown in FIG.  3 . The depressions  62  in the embodiment shown in the alternative embodiment are preferably only partially covered by the gel pads  64 . The gel pads  64  may be positioned so that they only touch the heel and ball/toes. An advantage to the design is that the gel pads  64  evenly distribute the massaging impulses to the areas of the user&#39;s feet where the most pressure is applied by the user, thereby increasing the comfort experienced. 
     The alternative foot massager  56  may have percussion nodes  66  positioned in the center of the depressions  62 . The percussion nodes  66  preferably have a half sphere shape and move in an up and down motion to provide a repetitive type of tapping motion. Any shape for the nodes may be used depending on the user&#39;s needs or aesthetic tastes. The percussion nodes  66  positioned in each depression  62  may alternatively move in relation to each other to further increase the user&#39;s comfort. A tapping motor  67  may be positioned under the percussion nodes  66  in each depression  62  to move the percussion nodes. A heat panel  52  is provided and positioned between the depressions. There may be a control panel  68  with controls to separately operate each of the devices to tailor the massager for the user&#39;s needs. 
     FIGS. 5 and 6 show a mouse pad/wrist rest assembly  80  according to the present invention. The assembly  80  has a housing  88  with a resilient pad  85 . Preferably the resilient pad  85  is a mouse pad that is well known in the art having a mouse pad surface  86  so that a computer mouse  81  may be used thereon. In the preferred embodiment the housing  88  has a gel pad  82  positioned on its top surface. A massage actuator  83 , is shown schematically, for transmitting massaging impulses through the gel pad  82  is provided in a compartment beneath the gel pad  82 , thus allowing the user to place his/her wrist on the top surface  84  of the gel pad  82 . In the preferred embodiment, the massage actuator  83  creates a massaging impulse which is described as a vibration action for exemplary purposes. 
     One advantage to the wrist rest assembly  80  is that the user has a convenient and comfortable place to use the computer mouse  81 . Preferably the housing  88  and resilient pad  85  are integrally manufactured thereby reducing the number of pieces in its construction. 
     A computer keyboard pad  100  is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. The construction of the keyboard pad  100  is similar to the wrist pad assembly  80  with housing  101  and a gel pad  102  positioned over at least one massage actuator  106 , which is shown schematically. The length of the gel pad  102  is preferably about the same length as the keyboard that is to be used. The keyboard pad  100  is positioned so that the user&#39;s wrist may rest on the gel pad  102 , no matter where the person&#39;s hands are on the keyboard. The user may turn on the massage actuator  106  to receive the massager impulse from the massage actuator(s)  106  through the gel pad  102 , which allows a soothing massaging motion to be experienced by the user, since the top surface  104  of the gel pad  102  conforms to the shape of the user&#39;s wrist. 
     Although the illustrative embodiments of the present invention have been described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to those precise embodiments and that various other changes and modifications may be effected therein by one skilled in the are without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention, and that it is intended to claim all such changes and modifications as fall within the scope of the invention.